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It was a night akin to a trip to the Oscars with limos, a walk down a red carpet and a sea of elegant dresses and smart tuxes as the graduating class of St. Pius X High School and their dates celebrated prom in the grand ballroom of the Fairmont Château Laurier Hotel on May 31.
Girls were decked out in flirty dresses and floor-length gowns in fine silk, sequins, beads and organza ruffles. The boys looked dapper in new suits and tuxedos. Boutonnieres and corsages were worn by many of the partygoers, making sure the flowers matched dress colours.
Many of the girls, including 17-year-old Julia Morris, purchased their gowns at online retailers such as PromGirl.com, spending an average $300 to $400, while others raided the closets of sisters and friends, saving their hard-earned money for hairstyling, manicures, pedicures and sky-high heels.
Victoria Tegano, 18, and Kelsey Marie Madge, 18, bought their dresses at Poised on Sussex Drive and David’s Bridal at the Ottawa Trainyards respectively.
Olivia Besharah, 17, a Lisgar Collegiate student who attended the prom with boyfriend Nick Jordan, 17, spent $428 on a dress at Cantas in the ByWard Market, and says she liked it because, “it was long and pretty with a sparkly top.”
Sarah Vermaeten, 17, also of Lisgar Collegiate, who attended with boyfriend Adam Levy, 18, wore a dress borrowed from a friend and described it as “casual, but at the same time, it’s right for the occasion.” Levy bought his Ralph Lauren suit at Winners.
The Oscar-themed party was organized by teachers Stephanie Plazek and Lili Bastianelli, who began planning the event last September. Plazek summed it up by saying: “We do it all for them, to make their sendoff from St. Pius extra special!”
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