The epidemic of luxury, or How the prom in the UK turned into a VIP show-off

Proms have died down in British schools. Every year they look more and more like fashionable social gatherings than a celebration of farewell to childhood. Exclusive dresses and luxury cars, expensive jewelry and bouquets of hundreds of roses — the cool organization of the prom takes several months and worries the young rich more than exams.

Find out how much graduation parties with pomp cost parents of glamorous students in the UK from our material.Every year, the epidemic of luxury proms continues to spread around the world, absorbing millions from the wallets of parents of young dandies. In Russia, the USA and Europe, graduation turns into a secular party on an unprecedented scale. British graduates are not far behind them — they say goodbye to childhood effectively and expensively.

The usual celebrations with pinching in corners and drunken parties are a thing of the past. They were replaced by the "graduation virus" from the USA, where a semi-formal dance-promenade became a rite of passage for former high school students. About 85% of British schools have adopted this tradition. In America, graduation parties are sometimes celebrated even before the exams begin, but in Britain they still prefer to carouse after the full final.

A whole industry has developed on the organization and holding of proms in the UK with an annual turnover of about 90 million pounds (7.1 billion rubles). On average, to send one graduate to the ball, his parents spend 220 pounds (15 thousand rubles) on the ball, but some lay out much more to emphasize their status and demonstrate the level of family income.

The owner of the store says that graduates are more picky about choosing an outfit than brides, because the latter do not need to compete with anyone. Many stores offer a system of discounts and installments so that parents can buy the best dresses for demanding daughters. Those who can't afford to buy expensive outfits have to pick up something suitable in thrift stores.

There is a touching tradition in American schools: immediately after the graduation certificates are presented, graduates descend from the stage and head to the hall, each with a rose in his hand, to thank their parents.

If British graduates want to outdo each other with fashionable outfits and expensive cars, then in Australia former schoolchildren are trying to overdo each other. Alcohol flows like a river during proms, and drunk young people do completely unexpected things.