Gilroy
– A barrage of seniors infiltrated Dick Bruhn A Man’s Store
Thursday after school to pick up their tuxedos for senior prom.
They came out with formal threads and a bill to boot.
”
It all adds up,
”
said Uros Stojakovic, a senior at Gilroy High School.
Gilroy – A barrage of seniors infiltrated Dick Bruhn A Man’s Store Thursday after school to pick up their tuxedos for senior prom. They came out with formal threads and a bill to boot.
“It all adds up,” said Uros Stojakovic, a senior at Gilroy High School.
He estimated that senior prom is setting him back about $400. The breakdown: $60 for a 17 person limousine, $90 for two tickets, $40 for pictures, $120 for his tux and additional funds for dinner.
“It’s worth it though – you should see my date,” he said.
Saturday is senior prom night for all three Gilroy high schools. Students are shelling out the Benjamins for the occasion and local businesses are cashing in.
Dick Bruhn’s has rented more than 300 tuxedos this prom season and most are for GHS, said Sal Eseamilla, a clerk at the store.
“Monday we were swamped,” he said.
Tuxedos range from $27 to $100, not including shoes or vests. Socks are $5, suspenders are another $16 and to top it all off – a hat will set you back $25.
“It can be a nightmare,” said store manager Chris Lunde. “Especially when both Live Oak and GHS have prom on same night. I’m running around like a chicken with its head cut off.”
Students often don’t think about sizes running out, he said. But almost any request can be accommodated.
“We’ll pull something off the mannequin if we have to,” he said.
Down the street at Fidelina’s Custom Sewing, business is just beginning to wind down.
Fidelina Leos, owner and seamstress, has her final three alterations hanging on the walls waiting for their debut.
This season, Leos and her staff averaged 40 prom–related alterations a week.
“I do Hollister, San Jose, Gilroy …” she said counting. “They start coming in April.”
Depending on the amount of work needed to complete the dress, alterations run between $40 and $70.
“When I first started girls would pay $60 (for dresses),” she said. “Now they pay $500. It’s crazy.”
Last year, when Erica Rivera attended the GHS senior prom she was junior. She purchased her dress from JC Penney and had her hair styled at a salon. Her total expenditures were about $150, she estimated.
“This year’s a lot more expensive because it’s my prom,” she said.
Rivera spent more than $300 on her dress alone from Mafalda’s Bridal in Gilroy. By Saturday’s end, she believes prom will have cost $450.
“This is my favorite time of year – the girls look so beautiful,” said Mafalda Frietas, owner of Mafalda’s Bridal. “They look like Cinderella. It’s a day to remember.”
Frietas has another reason to be happy – prom is her busiest time of the year, too.
“(Students) come from all over,” Frietas said. “They drive five hours sometimes. They find me on the Internet. We even ship dresses.”
Prices start at $178. Dresses come in any color you could want – salmon, fuschia, sea foam, yellow, red, burgundy, white and blue.
But that’s not the secret to Frietas success.
“I do good business because I sell one of a kind dresses,” she said. “I make sure I only sell one dress per school (of the same type). The girls come back because of that.”
The store also profits from its jewelry and handbag sales. And sometimes, it’s those little purchases that add up.
The Gilroy Flower Shop will see some green from corsage and boutonniere sales.
“(Students) usually wait until the last minute,” said manager Gloria Anaya. Orders began trickling in late last week.
At least 50 orders are anticipated, the cheapest arrangement starting at $9.99.
“On Saturday they come running in,” Anaya said.
Some have found creative ways to save.
GHS’ senior prom will be James Stapleton’s second prom of the season, he attended GHS’ junior prom earlier this spring. For senior prom alone, he spent upwards of $310, not including dinner.
To cut corners on cost, he bought flowers at Safeway instead of an independent flower shop.
“I would prefer to pay for everything, being the guy …” he said.
Sierra Barroza is splitting the cost of some of the expenses with her boyfriend for GHS’ senior prom.
“He’s getting the tickets, I’m getting the photos,” she said.
Barroza also managed to get by without buying new shoes. She still fits into a pair from her middle school graduation that will match her yellow halter dress.
“This is the most expensive dress I’ve ever bought,” she said. “But it’s worth it.”
For seniors, prom is one of the last big class events before graduation.
“It’s the last dance,” Stojakovic said.
The cost of senior prom
• Tickets: $45 each
• Hair: Style $45
• Manicure: $20
• Transportation: $60
• Photos: $40 to 67 for prom package
• Flowers: $10
• Tuxedo: $27 to $100
• Dress: $187 to $400
• Alterations: $40 to $60
Other costs: Jewelry, handbags, make up, shoes, dinner
Costs calculated using prices from Image and Design Salon and Day Spa, Dick Bruhn’s and Gilroy Flower Shop.
