Prom Season Hits Syosset Businesses

This Friday, a caravan of limousines, party buses and family cars will carry Syosset High School students into Manhattan to attend their senior prom at the iconic Cipriani Wall Street. But leading up to the memorable night, prom frenzy has sent teens running into the stores of Syosset, searching for the perfect dress (and hairstyle, makeup, accessories and flowers) for the evening. 

"Having the right dress is really important," says Alyssa Fogelfis, a student at Syosset High School. "In Syosset, all the girls are competitive."

Local dress shops are prepared to accommodate the rush. Their clothing racks are stocked with all the latest designer names and fashions.

"Print dresses are in this season," says Rachel, owner of It's Simply for You, a fashion boutique on Jericho Turnpike. "Girls want elaborate dresses: backless, strapless and designer names."

Girls and their parents are willing to pay for these styles. Her store opened in 2003, and even during the recession, she hasn't seen spending go down.

At the Entourage dress shop in Woodbury, girls spend an average of $350 to $500 on a dress.

"These girls know what they want," said an Entourage sales associate. "They come in with the exact webpage and pictures of the dresses."

After choosing a dress, the girls head to the salon for their makeup and hair.

"Money is no object when it comes to their prom," said Judy Saul, manager of Cappeli's NY hair salon on Jericho Turnpike.

While the girls are more than willing to spend, local businesses aren't looking to take advantage. Most salons, including Cappeli's NY, offer prom specials that discount hair and makeup treatments.

"The prom is a wonderful rite of passage, and like any other large party, it needs a lot of participation to bring the function to fruition," says Dr. Jorge Schneider, principal of Syosset High School. "When people spend money, it impacts the local economy."

After totaling the costs of clothing, salon treatments, transportation and after-prom plans, which for many students involve renting a house for the weekend, students can easily end up paying $1,000 to $1,500.

But Miss Fogelfis' reasoning is both simple and sound: "It costs a lot, but it's my only prom, so it's worth it."