Prom night has become a date to remember for girls and boys with the decision about what to wear as important as their exam subjects...

THE end of school prom has become big business - and it seems Hampshire teenagers just love the excuse to dress-up.

IT'S every young girl's dream to look like a princess for her prom party.

So Living waved a magic wand for two lucky school-leavers from Romsey.

Louisa Tasker and her friend Charlotte Riggs, 16, from The Romsey School are preparing for their own prom celebrations later in June.

The 16-year-olds will sit their GCSEs this summer and to mark the end of their school days they will put on their party dresses for their school prom at the Chilworth Manor Hotel in June.

Both girls are looking forward to the big night - and to get them in the mood (and to ease the pain of revision) - Living organised for them to model some dreamy dresses.

The teenagers were given the star treatment - their hair and make-up was done by Harrington Storm and the dresses were provided by Fab Frocks of Westbourne.

Fab Frocks owner Tracie Billington-Beardsley explained that the prom phenomena had really exploded in the past couple of years.

"Girls as young as 13 are having prom parties when they leave middle school and go to their senior school.

"In the last two years it has really exploded and I have girls from across Hampshire coming to me for dresses.

"They will spend anything from £80 up to £400," she said.

But it's not just about the frocks.

There are the shoes and handbags, fake tan and nails and probably some jewellery.

Then there is the cost of hiring a limo and the ticket for the evening.

"It really can add up and get out of control if parents don't keep an eye on it," warned Tracie.

The tradition of proms has its roots in America - but where they lead, we soon follow.

"In America its really massive - they even have prom etiquette books there telling you who can ask who to accompany them and a set of strict rules for how you should behave.

"I'm sure it's only a matter of time before we are doing the same," she said.

OF course the prom ritual isn't just about the girls dressing up - the fellas can get in on the act too.

Rob Burner, 16, from Titchfield is looking forward to escorting his girlfriend Chloe to their prom at the St Mary's Stadium.

Rob, a pupil at St George's School has hired his dinner suit from Charles Gale formal wear hire in Fareham.

"It's been good fun getting the suit hired and preparing for the prom.

"We are hiring a stretched Hummer to take us to the prom and ten of us will be travelling together. It's a great way to relax and have fun after our exams," he said.

Charles Gale has seen a major increase in prom business during the past eight years.

Prices start from £53 for straightforward dinner suit hire but some will spend hundreds of pounds getting the right outfit.

For the more flamboyant there is always a white suit - a la John Travolta - and those with Scots ancestry often opt for a Highland outfit.

"The lads who come in aren't used to dressing up at all - it will be the first time they will have seen themselves looking like this.

"Their faces says it all when they see themselves in the mirror and they can't wait to wear it.

"We keep a box of tissues handy for the mums," he said.

Throughout the prom season Charles will hire out up to 600 outfits.

"They are all roughly the same size too.

"We have to have hundreds of 30-inch waist trousers and fourteen and a half inch neck shirts available.

"It's a great time for the lads and it will be the last time they go out and have a really good time without alcohol being in the way," he said.