How to survive school formal season in Melbourne
Formals were once a far cheaper affair. Now Melbourne families are forking out thousands to cover them. Here’s how social media has changed the traditional school party, and how to cut down your costs.
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The spray tan is flying thick and fast, trial hair appointments are being booked and social media vetting of dresses to ensure there are no awkward “twinsies” clashes has been going for weeks.
In coming months barely a week will go by without a school formal. In the past, formals were the preserve of Year 12 students but now they start as early as Year 10.
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Some girls are splashing up to $1000 on the night which includes the cost of a dress, shoes, make up, hair, fake lashes, eyebrow shaping, waxing, acrylic nails, jewellery, accessories, clutch purse, spraytan, limousines, entry and after-party costs.
While the formals will be scheduled over some months, some schools get in early and get it out of the way so the focus can shift to school work.
SOCIAL MEDIA’S ROLE
Girls within schools set up Facebook, Snapchat and or Instagram pages where people can post and “bags” a dress to warn others off their dress or get feedback on a potential dress.
While some girls are spending big on new designer dresses, others are trawling rental and buy, swap and sell sites. Others are hitting op shops.
“The cost of dresses for my friends has ranged a lot. Many people chose to rent their dress, which costs about $120 on average.
“A few of my friends have bought their dresses, with the prices ranging from maximum $600-$900,” one student said.
The cost for suit hire for boys is around $150.
Hawthorn’s One Night Stand offers rental dresses from $90 to $300. Renters agree to a long list of terms and conditions. The agreement covers dry cleaning and some dresses attract a bond of between $100 and $200. Designers include Sass & Bide, Thurley, Zimmermann, Nicola Finetti and Manning Cartel.
One Night Stand director Natalia Fiacchi said in these times of social media documentation of every moment, girls often preferred to rent a dress as they didn’t want to wear the same dress more than once.
She said girls typically Snapchat their inner circle to get feedback on a possible dress. Once they have chosen a dress they will post to a wider school group, telling other girls what they are wearing to avoid any double ups.
GET THE LOOK
Ms Fiacchi said the formal season runs from the start of the year to the first week in December.
Girls are already booking dresses for 2020, but Ms Fiacchi cautions the girls that their body shape might change in the intervening period.
Renters can have one dress swap without charge.
“The average price is $150 and all dresses are cleaned before they get picked up and when they are returned,” she said.
While there are strict terms and conditions, she said as formal nights were “dry” events and students changed before going on to after parties there were rarely any issues about damage to frocks.
Girls are advised to get their fake tan two days before the event because it will look its best and will not bleed over the fabric.
“Renting is ideal for some girls who might get invited to five or six formals over the two years,” she said.
She said black, white, red, blush and sequins were traditional favourites, with some seasonal variations.
“As far as what girls are wearing. It is either really simple, elegant, timeless or really out there, stand out pieces,” she said.
Girls tended to go either low key or all out.
Some girls buy a dress with plans to hire it out or onsell it through a multitude of platforms.
One Night Stand also sells shoes because they found people would come in to try on dresses and need shoes for the full effect.
Shoes are not hired due to hygiene issues.
“Not a dress gets in front of the mirror without a photo being taken for the whole community to see it,” she said.
While most dress cross checking goes to plan, occasionally there are some clashes.
Spurling Hire has an “insta ready” package available from $99 to $129 for suit hire.
At the higher end the “go all out” package starts at $229.
Richmond florist Hampstead Flowers said often mums would come in and organise a wrist corsage for their sons to give to their formal date.
She said students who did their homework would find out what their date was wearing and try to match it. Otherwise white flowers such as camellias, roses and freesias were matched with greenery were a good option, owner Jane Gilliam said.
She said boutonnieres were not as popular.
AFTER PARTIES
Behind the glitz and glamour of the formal are strict instructions about before and after gatherings.
With many children still under age, the potential issues of drinking alcohol are a concern.
While schools are keen to celebrate the milestone, they do read the riot act, warning students about keeping on their best behaviour, saying they do not condone any pre or post formal parties.
While formals are ”dry” events many students do pre-drinks or “pres” hosted at a student’s house.
Some schools ask students and parents to sign a form, agreeing that they understand the expectations about behaviour.
A few students at Belgrave’s Mater Christi got into hot water earlier this year when they had eyelash extensions applied to cover both the school photographs and formal two weeks later in February, this year. They were directed to remove them before the formal, which led some of the families to go the media.
THE COSTS
Female:
Formal ticket $100
Dress $400 or rental for around $150.
Shoes $100
Hair $50-70
Make up $90 to $120 at Mecca, redeemable on products.
Spray tan $50
Fake lashes $30. Can be included in the make up.
Acrylic nails: $50.
Jewellery $50
Limousine hire. $30
Taxi/Uber home $25
After-party: $35-70
Male:
Formal ticket: $100
Suit: prices start from $140 which includes a shirt.
Shoes. $120 (Hopefully you have black school shoes that might polish up}
Hair: trim $30
Wrist corsage: $45- $85 (male partner usually pays)
Buttonhole: from $25 (worn on the left side)
Limo: $30.
Taxi/Uber home $25
After-party $35-$70
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