PHILLY
EVENTSHigh-School High
Forget about the balloon-filled gym, dyed satin shoes and virginity clichés that defined your high-school prom. As prom season kicks off around Philly, local graduating classes are kicking the iconic rite of passage up some serious (and seriously expensive) notches. Here, a look at where all that prized allowance money will be going over the course of the next few months.
The dress: $300-$900
Downtown, Leehe Fai Goldberg is seeing girls opt for celeb-inspired dresses in punched-up colors, while Suky’s babydoll dresses and metallics are all the rage in Ardmore and South Jersey. Leehe Fai, 133 South 18th Street, 215-564-6111; Suky, multiple locations, sukyrosan.com.
The tux: $50-$2,000
Whether they rent or buy, studly seniors skip the cummerbunds and bow ties and opt for long ties, longer jackets and the occasional pinstripe accent. Black Tie Formal Attire, 1120 Walnut Street, 215-925-4404, blacktiephilly.com; Boyds, 1818 Chestnut Street, 215-564-2876, boydsphila.com.
The prom-perfect body: $650 and up
Todd Scott’s “Prom Boot Camp” offers personal training (at $65 an hour) and unlimited outdoor training ($80 per month). Scott recommends a minimum of 10 sessions a month before the big day, and guarantees his barely pubescent clients will look good in their gowns — or get their money back. Platoon Fitness, 888-PLATOON; platoonfitness.com.
The tan: $45/session
Tanning beds are taboo, but pale skin won’t do; that’s why Pierre & Carlo offers one-on-one airbrush spray-tanning. Pierre & Carlo Trilogy, 8460 Limekiln Pike, Wyncote, 215-572-6300; pierreandcarlo.com.
The ride: $2,300
For the MySpace generation, only a 22-passenger stretch Hummer will do. Phila Coach, 215-701-0611; philacoach.com.
The corsage: $60
Buh-bye, roses; hello, cattleya orchids, this year’s It Flower for girls. Fleur, 1216 Locust Street; 215-772-2777.
The hair extensions: $300-$1,400
Britney may be a baldie, but every other starlet’s obsession with luscious locks has trickled down to the teen masses. $300 can buy Precious temporary extensions; it’s $1,400 for the kind that last up to four months, with a haircut and style. ToppersSpa, multiple locations; toppersspa.com.
The dress: $300-$900
Downtown, Leehe Fai Goldberg is seeing girls opt for celeb-inspired dresses in punched-up colors, while Suky’s babydoll dresses and metallics are all the rage in Ardmore and South Jersey. Leehe Fai, 133 South 18th Street, 215-564-6111; Suky, multiple locations, sukyrosan.com.
The tux: $50-$2,000
Whether they rent or buy, studly seniors skip the cummerbunds and bow ties and opt for long ties, longer jackets and the occasional pinstripe accent. Black Tie Formal Attire, 1120 Walnut Street, 215-925-4404, blacktiephilly.com; Boyds, 1818 Chestnut Street, 215-564-2876, boydsphila.com.
The prom-perfect body: $650 and up
Todd Scott’s “Prom Boot Camp” offers personal training (at $65 an hour) and unlimited outdoor training ($80 per month). Scott recommends a minimum of 10 sessions a month before the big day, and guarantees his barely pubescent clients will look good in their gowns — or get their money back. Platoon Fitness, 888-PLATOON; platoonfitness.com.
The tan: $45/session
Tanning beds are taboo, but pale skin won’t do; that’s why Pierre & Carlo offers one-on-one airbrush spray-tanning. Pierre & Carlo Trilogy, 8460 Limekiln Pike, Wyncote, 215-572-6300; pierreandcarlo.com.
The ride: $2,300
For the MySpace generation, only a 22-passenger stretch Hummer will do. Phila Coach, 215-701-0611; philacoach.com.
The corsage: $60
Buh-bye, roses; hello, cattleya orchids, this year’s It Flower for girls. Fleur, 1216 Locust Street; 215-772-2777.
The hair extensions: $300-$1,400
Britney may be a baldie, but every other starlet’s obsession with luscious locks has trickled down to the teen masses. $300 can buy Precious temporary extensions; it’s $1,400 for the kind that last up to four months, with a haircut and style. ToppersSpa, multiple locations; toppersspa.com.
Originally published in Philadelphia magazine, April 2007
