Prom 2022
By Hannah Leffler and Carmen Wehbe
April 27th, 2022
May 14th from 7:30 to 10 pm, will mark the date of Sunset’s 2022 prom — that’s less than a month away! The theme this year is “Met Gala” and the event is located at Rock Creek Country Club.
During covid, all school activities and events, including prom, came to a halt. However, after what has felt like years, prom is finally here. For seniors, it will be a glimmer of normalcy to finish off a strange four years of high school.
Luckily, for prom shops, prom will be a huge boost for business. According to Pennlive, “prom shops have seen an increase in traffic for prom season this year compared to 2021, when many schools hosted scaled back prom ceremonies because of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Prom is less than a month away, so if you are still struggling to find the perfect dress, we researched the latest trends. Dresses range from statement pieces filled with sequins to classy ball gowns. In an interview from Pennlive, Jill Brown, store manager for Cocoa Couture points out, “Girls either want it completely plain or blinged out from head to toe. There is no in between.”
After the pandemic and being isolated, people want to stand out this Spring, almost to make up for the loss of events they experienced in high school. Megan Chornak, a junior in high school, agrees: “I debated on a lot of dresses between going casual and going more sparkly. I know since Covid, I didn’t have a prom before, so I wanted to go a little out this time.”
On the other hand, going classic is also trendy, which includes satin, silk, monochromatic and ball gowns. Brown told Pennlive, “This year we…sold 50 percent ballgowns and normally we don’t sell many ball gowns [at all].”
Unfortunately, after the pandemic, supply chain issues and inflation have made inventory low. This is putting pressure on stores and buyers because they are limited to specific sizes and styles. Supply chain issues have also caused prices to soar. A typical price for this 2022 season is looking to be around $150 to $700, compared to the average price of $250 from 2016. Renting a dress from places like “Rent the Runway” is a great alternative if you are looking for a cheaper option this year.
Surprisingly enough, tuxedo rentals are not cheap either with prices at around $250. Paige Fulkerson, a senior at Sunset, explained that her boyfriend’s tuxedo rental was $260 and he is only able to rent it for the day of prom. To top it off, Paige told the Scoop, “his shoes were $200 and his tie was $24.”
To get more insight on how students are reacting to prom after the pandemic and plans for their prom outfits, we interviewed Paige Fulkerson.
Are you going to prom? If so, are you excited?
I am going to prom, and I am excited because I always wanted a senior prom. And I really only thought that seniors should go to prom, not juniors. I also know we haven’t had dances in so long so it feels like this one is extra big, like bigger than it was even to start.
What are you planning to wear?
I’m wearing a dark-blue, vintage 1990’s gala dress that is beaded from head to toe. I’m also wearing 6-inch orange platform heels.
Because prom is the “last dance” for seniors, is it bittersweet?
I don’t really think so. I feel like if we had the other school dances then it would be, but I think this one is almost a little overdue. It was like…it feels like a long time coming. I think it will be bittersweet at graduation, but not necessarily at prom.
Where is your outfit from? How much did it cost?
It’s from Depop because it’s vintage, so I got it for $155, not including shipping. The brand is Scala. I’m getting it tailored right now for $200, because all of the beads had to be hand-sewn. I’m wearing orange platform heels that I got on Amazon for like $30.
All in all, prom is the last hoorah for seniors to dance their heart out before graduation and everyone is making the most of it.
Don’t forget! Tickets go on sale, Monday, May 9th for $35! On Tuesday and Thursday, May 10th-13th tickets will be $40!
