D re-wore a bridesmaid dress for last year’s prom. We spent $200 on this year’s dress, but it is an $800+ dress worn once by a good friend, and it fits her perfectly. It’s red and white, her college colors, so surely she’ll wear it again!
$240 at nordstrom. We went to the store to try on dresses but had them order the right size and color. Gorgeous. D didnt want to spend that much. Lulus has them for around $100 but was out of the ones she liked.
We’ve had good luck with vintage + alterations.
For guys, last year we bought a Kenneth Cole slim-fit black suit on sale for around $110 at Macys. We added a black vest then found a brightly colored tie/pocket square to match the date’s dress - will wear the same suit this year and just buy a new matching tie/pocket square. The suit is so much nicer than renting a tux and cheaper, too!
@S18D20mom I love the fact that Ruby Slipper is open to everyone. My personal experience is that sometimes families in need don’t use resources like this. But when you normalize this option, particularly if you can get some of the “cool” girls to use it, then the embarrassment factor goes away and the kids who really need the free/discounted clothes can get them.
A couple of years ago, my D got a beautiful dress from Lulus online and it was only $100ish. She and I both liked it more than dresses costing considerably more (thank goodness!!!).
We live near SF, and looked for days for a prom dress. I know this sounds horrible but ended up paying $600 for the dress. I was just tired of looking and my daughter fell in love. She has never spend that much on any dress, and the junior prom dress she ordered was $60. I really can’t believe I spend that much, but it’s over and done. Prom is a big deal here (and my daughter is class officer) so has spend countless hours organizing and helping to organize it. After prom most of the students take a bus to Santa Cruz and rent houses and spend a few days there. I never thought I would let her do this, but my older daughter broke me into the idea. A group of moms will be going to Santa Cruz and will “be there” if they need anything.
- By the way I love how the kids now a days can go with a group or date. When I was in high school you would never go without a date. It just takes so much of the pressure off!
I buy all my DD dresses online.
Speaking of buying things our seniors are going to be wearing, I just saw an email about how much her stole for NHS will be and I started to really feel it, you know? Like, oh my gawd this is really happening!!! I almost started bawling right there and then, sitting in front of my computer at work. They are so grown!!!
Our favorite online dress store is Lulus.com!
Thank you all so much! Considering this is the only prom for me and I only need a dress (everything else I already have or will do myself), I think I’ve got a good budget. I’m about 5’10" and thin, so I won’t be going the online route since trying things on is a must for me, even for my everyday jeans. Again, thank you so much. Your information has been invaluable!
I love the prom talk… can. tell as we many of us are waiting for the next round of decisions it is good to be busy.
$0 is what we spent on a dress to the junior prom. We borrowed a dress from a similar opportunity as the Ruby Slipper. It was gorgeous, fit her like it was made for and when we goggled it at home it was an $800 dress.
We have an appointment this weekend to see if there is such a match again. I did tell her last year if she wanted to buy one senior year we could. She was fine with the whole idea until the night of the prom she expressed concern about spilling. One of her good friends was wearing a dress she had worn in a wedding and said she did not care what happened to it which is what made my daughter nervous about her dress. I told her to forget about it and enjoy the night if calamity happened we would deal with it as we had to dry clean the dress to return it (so I guess it cost $30). Nothing happened and she is willing to look there again this year so we will see.
@momtwin I’m with you in that I have little tolerance for long trips and for me it is sometime worth it to pay a little more to shorten the shopping trip and preserve my sanity.
All in all, we have been fortunate with thrift store dresses worn multiple times between my girls, so I guess if I’m splurging a little this time, maybe her last time,I don’t feel bad about it. D pays her own phone bill, buys her beauty products, and many of her clothes so it’s kind of nice to be able to treat her, especially since she wanted to contribute to the cost.
DD bought her prom dress online for $25 (new) and we got alterations done 2 weeks ago for $29- she needed a hem and the sides taken in a little from the top to the waist. Total cost $54- and she is thrilled- A line, beautiful material, floor length. Her prom ticket was $65 for one and more expensive than the dress!
DD is not picky at all. Online was amazon.
And, my daughter is off to the Jr. Prom (obviously not her prom;). They met at a landmark church for photos and rented a bus to take them to the prom. Afterward, most of the kids are going to the Jersey shore and renting hotel rooms. She is not going because her youth ensemble has a dance show on Sunday with a tech rehearsal on Saturday. The kids not going on to the shore are heading to a diner where we will pick them up.
She was invited to three proms plus she has her prom. She is not able to go to 2 of them because they are on the same night as her prom. So, that is also 2 potential dates who she cannot ask to her prom. That choice is looming large!
S18 waitlisted by his reach school (BC) but got in to Brandeis. He is pretty down but I sort of had a feeling that would happen. He had some great choices where he did get accepted so he will bounce back. I had ice cream ready in the freezer (and a BC tshirt that may need to be donated :))
Yay @Momma2018 congrats on Brandeis!!
Thanks @klbmom18! I think it is between Brandeis and Holy Cross now.
And, my daughter is off to the Jr. Prom (obviously not her prom;). They met at a landmark church for photos and rented a bus to take them to the prom. Afterward, most of the kids are going to the Jersey shore and renting hotel rooms. She is not going because her youth ensemble has a dance show on Sunday with a tech rehearsal on Saturday. The kids not going on to the shore are heading to a diner where they will eat again;)