WhatNews2Day

Teenagers
across the country won’t be attending school discos over the coming
weeks according to department store Debenhams but instead dancing at
American style school proms. 
 
The
phenomenon is so prevalent that in some areas nine out of ten secondary
schools will be hosting the events, sending sales of prom style dresses
soaring and creating a new sales peak second only to Christmas says the
store.
 
Unlike
the school disco, the prom is a much more formal affair with evening
wear and black tie being the required dress code.  Since the start of
the ‘season’ Debenhams has seen a 57% rise in sales of occasion handbags
and a whopping 1,322% sales increase on false lashes.
 
Party shoes have also sold faster than ever with ten styles selling out ahead of expectation.
 
The trend has been sparked by hit US tv shows such as Glee and Super Sweet 16 and seems to be growing each year.
 
However,
the move away from the disco has spawned another phenomenon - the
Promzilla, a teenage girl who is keen to out do her friends, according
to Debenhams research.
 
Promzillas
are so eager to be the bell of the ball that through ‘pester power’
they encouraging their parents to spend nearly £600 on attending the
prom.  With limo hire, false tan, expensive hair cuts and corsages
sending costs soaring.
 
As
a result Debenhams has briefed sales staff and personal shoppers to
encourage parents not to feel they need to splurge large amounts on what
is an end of term party and with dresses at Debenhams starting from
just £60 they don’t have to.
 
Says Carie Barkhuizen, Spokesperson for Debenhams, “Dancing at the school disco it seems has had its day.  All the focus is now on the prom and being the bell of the ball.
 
 “What’s fantastic about our store is that parents can get the designer names their kids are after, at high street prices.”
 
 ‘Ladette
to Lady’ Social & Etiquette Expert, Liz Brewer says: "Kate
Middleton, now the Duchess of Cambridge has been a brilliant role model
for girls as she has shown that clothes can not only be recycled but
also high street fashion is okay and appropriate."