Published: Wednesday, April 20, 2005

Primping for the prom
Dollars are in the details for Palo Alto teens on prom night

by Carol Palinkas

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Paly juniors and seniors tour the Rotunda at San Francisco City Hall.

In April, the gross domestic product of Palo Alto takes a significant bump when high school students prepare for their senior proms.

Paly senior Khamille Sandifer is no exception.

Sandifer worked for about three months at the downtown Subway sandwich shop to come up with the $800 she spent on prom essentials: $200 for a custom-made dress, $200 for hair design, $50 for her date's tuxedo rental, $45 for shoes, $20 for nails, $80 for two tickets to the prom itself and $140 for her share of the limousine rental.

Dami Wusu, Jumia Kim and Sandifer have their picture taken outside City Hall for the April 10 prom.

Not everyone will go to such lengths to primp for prom. Still, her closest friends, Dami Wusu and Meron Nesfine, spent about $400 each.

"I don't get dressed up too much," Sandifer said, "One day out of the year, I decided to go all out."

But it is difficult to be frugal on prom night.

Tova Cobbins works on Sandifer’s hair as Natalia Headley does her make-up. Omobola Wusu, Meron Mesfine and Sami Wusu all 18. talk about the upcoming prom as their friend gets a preview of what she’ll look like on the big night.

Scott Lawrence, principal at Palo Alto High School, said students weren't allowed to drive into the city and the school contracted out with a limousine service so the teens would have transportation. But even sharing a limousine cost almost $150 per couple.

Sandifer and her date Nate McCloud of San Francisco, have their photo taken at Gamble Gardens in Palo Alto by her mother, Rhonda. The two left for the prom shortly after.

This year the prom was held at the San Francisco City Hall rotunda, a bit of a drive from Palo Alto.

"We've have held proms all over the place, from San Francisco to San Jose," Lawrence said, "so there's always been a tradition of finding venues -- they did a prom on one of those yachts on the Bay -- there's always been an attempt to find different types of venues."

"A lot of the cost has to do with tradition," Lawrence added, "the renting of the tux, the students who decide to take a limousine -- food costs and facility rentals have gone up pretty dramatically.

Jalyssa Clay, Sandifers, Christina Petelo, Dami Wusu and Emma Latu meet at the Gamble Gardens before heading up to San Francisco City Hall for the Paly prom.

"It's very difficult to go to a prom cheaply. By the time you pay for the corsage and the food and everything, it's not a cheap experience."

Sandifer said she probably spent more than was necessary, but added it was worth every penny when she stepped out of the limousine and felt like a celebrity surrounded by friends and flashing lights.

Khamille Sandifer and Nate McCloud get funky on the dance floor at the April 10 Paly prom.

"Yeah. I had a good time."

And the local economy can plan on another boost in the near future: Gunn High School holds its prom this coming Saturday.

Jalyssa Clay hugs Sandifer before heading to San Francisco City Hall

Khamille Sandifer and Nate McCloud get funky on the dance floor at the April 10 Paly prom.