Since she made a pact to go with her best guy friend sophomore year, Olivia Perrault, a senior at St. John’s Prep in Astoria, has fantasized about prom.
“Prom is the big one — we don’t really have school dances,” explains the 18-year-old East Elmhurst resident, whose big day was held at The Pierre hotel earlier this month.
A lot of pressure rides on prom — but with social media, the whole world is watching, not just classmates.
For the grand event, Perrault sported a sophisticated chignon from the Louis Licari salon on Fifth Avenue, where she spent $700 for a cut, highlights and style.
“My hair was really important to me,” admits the blonde, who normally wears her long locks cascading down.
The bling and bulging budget didn’t end there.
When she stepped into the sleek Mercedes S550 with her date and another friend ($100 each), the Pace-bound biochemistry student stunned in $3,000 Swarovski crystal-encrusted Louboutins.
“Honestly, it was crazy!” she says. “We felt like movie stars.”
Prom isn’t an easy — or cheap — proposition these days.
After all, you have Instagram followers (600 strong for Perrault) to think about.
“I posted my prom pictures on Instagram and one got 143 likes,” she gushes. “Of course, it’s a great feeling.”
When teens manage carefully curated Twitter, Instagram and Facebook accounts, the presence of social media in their lives drives this trend to spend — forcing them to up the ante on prom for their thousands of rapt social media followers.
“Teens can research everything and compare themselves to their peers, which further escalates the anticipation, but can also add to the pressure of looking great for the big night,” says Mary Kate Steinmiller, senior fashion market editor of Teen Vogue.
While a recent study revealed that families are shelling out 14 percent less on proms this year — with costs dipping to $978 and spending expected to drop 27 percent in the Northeast — local teens are still looking to stand out with one or two enviable touches.
And there’s no better way to show off these specific details than sharing them with your devoted followers.
When Amy Perez is schlepping home after 9 p.m. on the hourlong 5 train ride back to The Bronx from Soho, where she works in a trendy boutique several days a week, she tries to keep her goal in mind: prom.
“The main reason I got a job last year was for this,” says Perez, 18, a senior at University Heights High School.
Instead of an off-the-rack dress for her big day, Perez is commissioning a custom gown from her favorite designer on Instagram, Manuel Palferez.
“I shopped since junior year for a dress,” says the fussy fashionista of her nearly two-year-long hunt for an unforgettable outfit.
“Everybody really tries to look better than everybody else — no one wants to look the same or similar.”
So she’s shelling out $720 for a custom-made red-and-nude lace number with a high-slit leg.
“I wanted it to fit my body exactly,” says Perez.
“It’s crazy, but I told my mom we’d go half-and-half on it.”
“I’m not materialistic or anything, but I like to look my best.”
That price tag doesn’t include shoes, hair and makeup — or ticket cost, transportation and after-party.
All told, Perez will spend around $1,200. (She says she plans to resell the dress to recoup some of her expenses.)
“My Instagram is going to blow up,” she predicts of her feed post-prom.
But not all teens are drinking — or buying — the very expensive Kool-Aid, so to speak.
“Social media is definitely a part of the hype for going all-out for prom. It’s more acceptable to post about your expensive night rather than brag about it — it makes being pretentious OK,” says Joeann Salvati, a senior at Bronx Science.
“Most people want to show their followers they had a good time, almost as if their ‘likes’ are reassurance.”
The 17-year-old from Ozone Park, who holds down two jobs, was almost priced out of her prom next month at the Waldorf-Astoria, with an eye-popping $220 individual ticket.
Many of her classmates are shelling out serious dough on hotel rooms and boat cruises après-prom, causing some of her friends to opt out altogether in favor of a trip to the beach. But in the end, she decided to splurge.
“Personally, like most typical teenage girls, I can’t imagine saying no to a traditional prom night, regardless of its price tag.”
Guys don’t get off much easier.
Bronx senior Nicholas Pollard of University Heights High School has held down a cashier job for 20 hours a week since November — how else to pay for the pricey sunglasses and designer watch he plans to unveil at prom?
He’s looking at a minimum $600 for prom and related accoutrement.
“I need a new watch — I’m looking at Michael Kors or Movado — I want to look good!” says Pollard, who’s shopping at downtown watch mecca Shinola.
“A lot of the guys want the designer watch,” he notes.
Add that to the designer sunglasses prom-bound guys are coveting, and the pressure they feel to look a certain part stacks right up with that felt by their notoriously competitive female counterparts.
“Girls always try to outdo each other with dresses,” concedes 18-year-old Pollard. “But for the guys, we have to look good, too.”
You can’t blame him for not wanting to disappoint his 1,000-strong Instagram following: “These pictures are going straight to Instagram,” he says.
But what’s an entire life’s savings when it comes to the night of your life? “It’s the last time being together and socializing like that,” says Pollard.
“It’s going to be an amazing night, but not a cheap night.”