When did High School Homecoming become like the Pre-Prom?

[lacrosse_lady72]

DS17 just found out that he's nominated for Homecoming King candidate!! Looks like we'll be buying a new suit tomorrow (we've been stuffing him into the one we bought him in middle school, so it's about time anyway).

Just wanted to share - we're so excited!!! Do other schools still do the Homecoming King and Queen stuff?

Wow! Congratulations! I hope he gets it.

Yes, we had Homecoming King and Queen, those were always student body nominated at my school. There was no winter formal king/queen as it wasn't that big of a dance for our school and for prom, the candidates were academically nominated and were chosen from there, by the teaching staff and administration. There was a male and a female representative from each department.

 

[We_Love_Disney]

There are always parents more than willing to up the ante so to speak. They have no problem going over the top, having nails and hair done, shoes to match, which we all know end up under the table or chair because no one dances in heels.

As you can see, there are parents/girls that will justify and rationalize spending tons of money on one night. This is why other daughters are up against though. This is, in my opinion, why homecoming has become a pre-prom and why proms have become pre-weddings and why wedding have become ordeals that create more tears and heartaches than are necessary. People love to indulge themselves and create princesses out of little girls.

Not to belittle anyone, and I ask in the most respectful way.... Do you think your daughter or your own self would have had just as much fun wearing a dress that was $150 as she would in one the cost $1500 - assuming the cost was not disclosed to the wearer?

Every girl at last year's prom looked like a princess. It was a state of mind, not a garment. Glowing faces have a way of making clothing come alive.

 

[powellrj]

I am really old because we wore jeans and tee shirts to our homecoming dance. I still have the pictures of my senior homecoming because I went with DH and he bought us matching tee shirts from his college and we had our picture taken on the "set" which were haybales!

I don't even remember if the boys went to homecoming. They went to different high schools than DH and I did and I don't think it was a big deal dance like winter formal and prom.

DDs school doesn't have a football team so her homecoming will be during basketball season. She is just a freshman this year and we have no idea what the kids do for homecoming, it was just mentioned at the last PTO meeting, but no details were discussed.

 

[bethbuchall]

Homecoming here is still very informal, because they go straight from the evening football game to the dance.

 

[Tinkh]

When I was in high school (1989 graduated) ours were much more money for the outfits. Everyone wore suits. Like with a skirt and made out of tweed or whatever. Everyone got corsages and boutonnière which they do not do now. Fancy dinner out of course. This is my son's sophomore year and his second homecoming is in two weeks. Of course, I have it super cheap because he will wear the same outfit as last homecoming (black pants and a black button up shirt from Men's Warehouse) the only think that he will need new is his tie to match whatever color she picks for her dress. My nieces have gotten the short style party dresses for as low as 40 dollars. The kids do not get each other the flowers now either.

 

[MichelleVW]

When I was in high school (1989 graduated) ours were much more money for the outfits. Everyone wore suits. Like with a skirt and made out of tweed or whatever. Everyone got corsages and boutonnière which they do not do now. Fancy dinner out of course. This is my son's sophomore year and his second homecoming is in two weeks. Of course, I have it super cheap because he will wear the same outfit as last homecoming (black pants and a black button up shirt from Men's Warehouse) the only think that he will need new is his tie to match whatever color she picks for her dress. My nieces have gotten the short style party dresses for as low as 40 dollars. The kids do not get each other the flowers now either.

Same here....I remember those suits for the girls. I graduated in 85 and it was a much bigger deal back then at my school than it is now for my DD. They don't go out to dinner, they just dress up and go to the dance.

 

[acejka]

I graduated in 2002 and it was a big deal back then.

 

[Mimi1965]

Yes, I do. For a dress that will be used once, because, heaven forbid girls reuse their dresses ?

So how much does your DD spend on dressses for dances?
To me, $50 is pretty reasonable-i spend that on a blouse

 

[We_Love_Disney]

So how much does your DD spend on dressses for dances?
To me, $50 is pretty reasonable-i spend that on a blouse

The most we have spent was $25. And they are beautiful, well made dresses that are in fashion and DD looked amazing in them.

 

[Mimi1965]

When I was in high school (1989 graduated) ours were much more money for the outfits. Everyone wore suits. Like with a skirt and made out of tweed or whatever. Everyone got corsages and boutonnière which they do not do now. Fancy dinner out of course..

I'm older-but it was like that for us too-with that giant white Mum corsage

 

[Mimi1965]

The most we have spent was $25. And they are beautiful, well made dresses that are in fashion and DD looked amazing in them.

Good for you-I used to sew my formals, but even at the outlets like TJ MAxx-it would be hard to find a dress for $25

 

[We_Love_Disney]

Good for you-I used to sew my formals, but even at the outlets like TJ MAxx-it would be hard to find a dress for $25

It is actually easier than I thought. Here are some places we found bargains.

Burlington Coat factory - has some awesome dresses.
Macy's - especially on sale days.
Deb's - once you get past the um, streetwalking dresses have some nice stuff
Rave - that is a hit or miss type thing
Marshall's -had a few but also hit or miss
Kohl's - had some cute dresses.

For Macy's and Kohl's you can use their internet site. Kohl's has a wonderful wonderful return policy! We spent enough to forgo the shipping charges when we were shopping for summer clothing, DD tried on things, we kept what we liked and brought back what we didn't. It was awesome! Macy's has a similar policy if I recall correctly.

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

The most we have spent was $25. And they are beautiful, well made dresses that are in fashion and DD looked amazing in them.

I'm glad you were able to find them that cheap! I'd be thrilled but instead I'm jealous. The only ones I could find under $50 were crappy ones from Forever 21 or JC Penny and while I don't mind spending more money for quality, I don't want to throw money away for crap. I'm actually really glad I ended up getting so many cocktail-like dresses over the years, I have 12 from dances and other events all from Jessica McClintock but the Portland boutique for that store is gone now and I'm sad. But at least I'm stocked up.

 

[MichelleVW]

The most we have spent was $25. And they are beautiful, well made dresses that are in fashion and DD looked amazing in them.

And my DD looks amazing in her $80 dress we got her today...I don't see the big deal. It's not like I'm going to leave the price tag on, or she's going to laugh at someone because her dress didn't cost as much as hers did.

But I can't believe you actually found a nice dress for $25....because trust me, if I found a Nice dress for $25 we'd get it.

 

[Becky2005]

I don't know...our homecoming is just weird! Only dance I know of that gives you a "free gift with ticket" purchase! When DD went Freshman year I was definitely confused! She got a drawstring bag. Last year they gave everyone lanyards. I have no clue what the free gift is this year. I just thought it was the most hysterical thing ever thinking "what? No one goes to Homecoming dance, so they had to start bribing them with a free gift?" I guess it makes sense in a weird way since it's homecoming and it's always something in our colors/mascot on it.

We don't spend nearly as much on it as I'm assuming we would spend on Prom. I think most the dresses we are looking at are in the $40 range. I just asked DD if she could wear the bridesmaid dress she wore to her cousin's wedding (her cousin had an outdoor wedding & her dress was a halter style/short length)...her answer was "it's way too formal". I guess it's not THAT formal around here but definitely dressier. We haven't gotten her dress yet, so I was thinking as I typed this "hey that could work".

I know their Prom is definitely different than ours but I don't think over the top. No one arrives in limos because they take coach busses into the city & parents are invited to the send off....so basically the parents all gather in the gym, while the kids parade in, royalty is announced & then the kids walk the red carpet to their assigned busses. Theirs even include dinner usually at the Museum of Science & Industry. It's about $100 for tickets & that includes the bus. When I went to Prom, we were on our own for dinner and a banquet type of place.

 

[MichelleVW]

I don't know...our homecoming is just weird! Only dance I know of that gives you a "free gift with ticket" purchase! When DD went Freshman year I was definitely confused! She got a drawstring bag. Last year they gave everyone lanyards. I have no clue what the free gift is this year. I just thought it was the most hysterical thing ever thinking "what? No one goes to Homecoming dance, so they had to start bribing them with a free gift?" I guess it makes sense in a weird way since it's homecoming and it's always something in our colors/mascot on it.

We don't spend nearly as much on it as I'm assuming we would spend on Prom. I think most the dresses we are looking at are in the $40 range. I just asked DD if she could wear the bridesmaid dress she wore to her cousin's wedding (her cousin had an outdoor wedding & her dress was a halter style/short length)...her answer was "it's way too formal". I guess it's not THAT formal around here but definitely dressier. We haven't gotten her dress yet, so I was thinking as I typed this "hey that could work".

I know their Prom is definitely different than ours but I don't think over the top. No one arrives in limos because they take coach busses into the city & parents are invited to the send off....so basically the parents all gather in the gym, while the kids parade in, royalty is announced & then the kids walk the red carpet to their assigned busses. Theirs even include dinner usually at the Museum of Science & Industry. It's about $100 for tickets & that includes the bus. When I went to Prom, we were on our own for dinner and a banquet type of place.

They did this when my DD19 went to prom in North Dakota, it was pretty cool!

 

[The Princess]

Geez I'm afraid to even post this but I have 2 DD's a senior and a freshman, both got dresses and we paid 150.00 on each one and that doesn't count for shoes!!! I guess I'm nuts!!!!

 

[MichelleVW]

Geez I'm afraid to even post this but I have 2 DD's a senior and a freshman, both got dresses and we paid 150.00 on each one and that doesn't count for shoes!!! I guess I'm nuts!!!!

You're not nuts!! I'm trying to convince the child that she doesn't NEED new shoes...but we'll see.

 

[golfgal]

You're not nuts!! I'm trying to convince the child that she doesn't NEED new shoes...but we'll see.

Our DD will at least get her dress shoes at Payless or some place like that .

Homecoming here is a cocktail length dress for the girls, boys, dress pants, shirt, tie. Most of the girls shop at Deb or Macy's, spend under $50, DD's dress last year was $30. She wore her dress 3 other times last year and her friend borrowed it once. For her first "dressy" dress she looked amazing-and WAY too old for her parent's liking. The kids usually get a group of "couples" together and have a meal at someone's house-we hosted last year and probably will again because we have a large dining room table. No one got limos-they would get laughed at here for that.

We are probably going to go dress shopping today because we don't have time over the next few weekends to go because of marching band.

 

[agnes!]

DD hasn't been to Homecoming since freshman year...she said most of what they do at the school-dances here is line-grinding (and she's just not into that).

agnes!