Opinion

Opinion Roundup: On Prom Eve, seniors share what price is right for prom outfits

Leslie Linzan, Hannah Fang, and Anya Basnayake • June 10, 2025

Students posing for a picture at prom last year.

Tomorrow night, members of the class of 2025 will celebrate at their senior prom. Though the night promises to be a memorable one, it is rarely an inexpensive one. Below, students at Townsend Harris voice their opinions on the affordability of prom outfits:

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“The price range for my suit is around $100-300. Buying suits are on the cheaper end in comparison to tuxedos ranging from $500-800 and even renting one is the same price, so that’s why I own instead of renting. …Today, the majority you’ll see is guys wearing a black suit with a colored tie or bowtie that matches their date’s outfit color. Of course not everyone is like that, but for the majority it seems people don’t have that luxury to own suits or tuxedos, maybe the idea of the costs discourages people to buy them especially nowadays when everything is more expensive. With that, people also buy cheaper alternatives that may not affect the way the dress or suit may look periodically.”

— Ian Pagcaliwagan

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“I know most people spend like $300-400 on prom dresses, but I didn’t want to spend that much money while also having a cute dress so I aimed for under $200 and was able to find the exact dress I wanted for around $180. I bought mine from an online store, and they had a lot of styles to choose from in the price range. I also think buying online was definitely cheaper than going to an in-person boutique style store, but there definitely are more affordable and still cute options at places like Windsor or big department stores like Macy’s. I definitely think prom culture is a big deal still especially for girls or just people into fashion. It’s like one last celebration and everyone wants to look their best for it so many people will spend more money just to have cute pictures and enjoy their big day. I don’t think it’s gotten boring, if anything it’s only gotten more fun and unique. Every year there’s new trends and new styles of dresses released which allows everyone to pick one that they think is suited best for them which is always the best part of prom, which is getting dressed up and being yourself.”

— Denise Chan

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“I wasn’t allowed to spend any more than $200, but ended up spending around $289, including alterations and accessories. I got a pretty simple dress with a corset torso in emerald green and gold jewelry. I went to a big store in Long Island, so there were plenty of options and styles for dresses under $250. If I chose to shop in the city, I’m sure I would’ve spent double the price for half the quality. I feel like prom isn’t nearly as romantic as it was years ago. Now, it’s more about making memories, dancing, and spending time with your friends before graduation, over getting a date. I feel that prom fashion has somehow gotten dramatic over the years, depending on where you are. In New York, I know that mermaid dresses or slip-on dresses are more in style, while in other states, big ruffle dresses and ball gowns are more popular. Either way, the styles can get repetitive, but I don’t think they ever get “‘boring.'”

— Felicia Granel

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“My price range for my dress was anything $250 or below. I know prices can get really high so I set a cap at $250, but realistically, I didn’t want to spend more than $200. I’m not sure if there were a decent amount of options within this range because I only tried on one dress and that one ended up being the one I picked, only costing $150. I have seen some dresses online that can cost up to $500 and above but it’s very easy to find similar dresses for a lower price. When it comes to expensive dresses you usually end up paying for the brand rather than the style and color of the dress.”

— Katherine Giler

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About the Contributors

Anya Basnayake, Opinion Editor

Anya is a junior at Townsend Harris High School, and plans to pursue a career in law. Outside of journalism, Anya enjoys playing guitar, spending time with friends, and watching movies. Her favorite Classic project she has worked on is an opinion roundup on cultural representation in events at Townsend Harris. In general, her favorite piece on the Classic is a feature article on the gender gap in MAGA and its affect on social life.

Bella Chen, Sports Photography Editor

Bella is a senior at Townsend Harris High School who hopes to pursue a career that gives her the opportunity to help people. Outside of journalism, she enjoys playing volleyball and cooking. Her favorite Classic piece she worked on is Scenes from Prom 2024, where she remembers the seniors’ happy faces and the delicious ice cream. Her favorite Classic piece made by others is an article titled “Mr. Wang Retires After Ten Years Serving as a THHS Guidance Counselor,” by Intishar Chinho. Mr. Wang was her guidance counselor and she agreed with all the kind things said about him.