ITEM PHOTO BY OWEN O’ROURKE
St. Mary’s senior Larisa Bogomolov checks out her makeup.
BY BRIDGET TURCOTTE
LYNN — You may remember prom by your date’s dorky dance moves, wishing your hair wasn’t pulled back so tight, or wondering why you made it so big.
Your final grades were in, your braces were off, well, mine weren’t, and graduation was near. For many, it was a night of celebration, and feeling and looking like an adult, without any of the responsibilities.
For Larisa Bogomolov, senior class vice president at St. Mary’s High School, Thursday night was about being with her friends and seeing her classmates dressed to the nines.
If she is any example, getting ready starts early.
Her morning began at 11 a.m. with a hair appointment at Five Star Beauty Salon. She arrived with pictures of different styles found on Pinterest, a website used to search for creative ideas.
After a few hours of curling, pinning and coughing on clouds of hairspray, her do was done. She left the salon with curls pinned to one side and a thin braid framing her face.
Bogomolov has attended proms before, but said her senior prom is a little more special.
“For me, it’s a big deal to be with all my friends,” she said. “Just that aspect makes it more fun. I’m excited to actually be at prom and to see my whole class dressed up.”
An athlete, Bogomolov said she rarely wears makeup, and it’s a special occasion to visit a hairdresser for a polished look.
The days leading up to the main event were spent parading around the house in her heels, she said. A recently sprained ankle had her worried about walking in the strappy shoes.
By 2 p.m., Bogomolov was home, having her makeup done by a friend. With her lip gloss applied, and her winged-liner the perfect length, she put on her off-white, mermaid gown.
Bogomolov started dress shopping about three weeks ago, she said. She had been searching for a pink dress with gold accents. But when she and her mother discovered the white gown at Cristina’s Bridal in Andover, they knew they had found the right one.
The dress is one-shoulder and has a sweetheart neckline. It has an open back with intricate beading and a large bow. A train can be left down or pinned up while dancing.
“We came across it and my mom and I thought it was cute,” Bogomolov said.
Once dressed, she was ready to meet her friends, the senior class, and her date, Robert Haddow, for photos.
Coach buses took the students from St. Mary’s to the Royal Sonesta in Cambridge, where the event was held, and back.
As a senior officer, Bogomolov has been involved in planning the combined junior-senior prom for more than a year. She and other officers traveled around Boston in search of a place to hold the event, chose decorations and voted on a menu.
The results: a gray and white color scheme with small candles on each table, and plated chicken, mashed potatoes and vegetables, followed by chocolate cake and cheesecake.
“I have to say, I’m really excited for the food,” Bogomolov said before the event.
Her friends gathered at Bogomolov’s home for an after party, which included her mother’s homemade food. The girls spent the night and the boys were sent home, she said.
“I feel like I rushed around a lot today, but you get to relax once you get there,” she said.
Bogomolov will attend Trinity College, a private, liberal arts college in Hartford, Conn., and is considering a career in politics.
But, for now, she’s basking in the memories of her senior prom, likely still brushing out curls, and looking forward to senior week with her classmates.
Bridget Turcotte can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @BridgetTurcotte.