<p>The prom isn’t until mid-June, but FB friend & parent of classmate of D1 posted yesterday that they bought her Ds prom dress this weekend. Another parent chimed in that they did too. I wasn’t approaching the topic until mid-May. Are we going to be dissappointed when we go to the mall?</p>
<p>Get started now! You want to have the best selection and if you wait until later, you might get a better price, but your daughter may not find what she’s looking for. Boy, I miss those days. :)</p>
<p>Don’t forget to check consignment shops! Save some money and buy a recycled dress.</p>
<p>Buy as soon as you can. There are not all that many prom dress designers. We were in fear of losing D’s “dream dress” (another girl was trying it on and they only had one.) I called another store and told them the model no, etc and they said they could order anything as long as it isn’t from the “prom line.” They said they only get one shipment of the prom line and can’t get more.</p>
<p>My D’s school has a facebook page where the girls all post pictures of their dresses, so no one else will buy that one. If you buy late, you would have to rule out a lot of dresses!</p>
<p>You’ll run out of options quickly if you don’t do this now. Dresses become “unavailable” once someone else from the same school picks the style/color. Most reputable stores won’t sell you a dress they already sold to another person in the same school, in the same color.</p>
<p>The earlier you start, the better your choices are.</p>
<p>yeah- joining in the chorus- now.</p>
<p>thanks…I’ll add this to my list. I don’t think she has a clue what she wants - she’s a bit busty, so strapless & halters are out of the question. She has favorite colors, so I guess we will start there. I thought we would just head to Lord & Taylor for something in May!</p>
<p>Oh Please!! DD bought her prom dress in September of her senior year. I asked…will it still fit in May? Will you still like it? Will you have a date for the prom? In the end the answer was yes to all. She got a GREAT deal on a previous year’s dress…a Jessica McClintock for $99. It was gorgeous.</p>
<p>If someone sees a dress they like…they should get it now.</p>
<p>Now! It’s already late in case there have to be alterations.</p>
<p>Happykid bought almost all of her Homecoming dresses at thrift shops - not even consignment stores. Don’t forget to visit those as well!</p>
<p>Her Prom dress was from Syms (after hitting all of the thrift shops, consignment shops, every store in the mall, Ross, and David’s Bridal), the shoes from DSW. The shoes may have been more expensive than the dress, but I don’t remember for certain.</p>
<p>Graduation dress #1 was from Ross, but after we popped next door to Annie Sez (now out of business at least in Maryland), it was demoted to Summer dress #1, and we had a completely different Graduation dress #2. Of all of these, Graduation dress #2 (summer sun dress in pastel versions of her school colors) with coordinating cardigan was the most expensive outfit, but still under $100.00.</p>
<p>DD2 borrowed her 10th grade one from an internet friend of mine; it arrived 2 days beforehand. She bought hers for senior year in Dec of her junior year. We were out of town for a wedding and it was on clearance so she snagged it - $30. </p>
<p>She spent just over $200 for dresses for 6 high school formals - thanks to borrowing and clearance. The only one she bought full price was senior year homecoming when she was queen, and it was “only” $150.</p>
<p>DD3 got hers a week or two before the prom when I happened to spot on in a store window of a store I didn’t even know sold them. It was $50.</p>
<p>Start shopping now!</p>
<p>My daughter and I were shopping this weekend (not for prom dresses) and I caught a look at a girl trying on a prom dress across the room. The dress fit her perfectly, matched her coloring and was simply stunning. I couldn’t help but tell her how beautiful she looked in the dress. Her mom commented that it was the first dress she had tried on, but it was “the one” and they were taking it home.</p>
<p>My daughter has her dress already, but I didn’t want to wait too long because I thought we’d have trouble finding the right dress. Like your daughter she is busty (very) and wanted plenty of coverage. No strapless (which seems to be the dominant style this year) or thin spaghetti straps.</p>
<p>We ended up finding THE dress at a thrift store. $20! and it’s perfect. The proper undergarment will cost more than the dress. LOL</p>
<p>We did want to try Macys but as of a few weeks ago, they did not yet have any prom dresses in. We were shocked!! So, it certainly may not be too late for you to go shopping.</p>
<p>Happy shopping!</p>
<p>Although they’re not prom dresses, the evening selection on bluefly(dot com) is quite good(and a lot chic-er than most prom dress lines).</p>
<p>When it was time for my girls, I got both girls’ dresses on Final Call at Neimans in January. Both were marked down from the 750 range to 110/15. When you see it at a great price, grab it.</p>
<p>My D purchased her senior prom dress when the dresses went on sale after prom was over her junior year (where we live this is in May). It cost $19.99 on clearance - it was actually a couple of years old and she’s never seen another dress like it. This past summer she was shopping and found a short semi-formal for $14.99 on clearance. She purchased it and wore it to her college’s semi-formal in December.</p>
<p>Saks has a little promotion on their website: 15% off select party dresses + 5% donated to Scholarship America. Use code PROM2011.</p>
<p>I second the consignment shops. D got hers at a “hip” consignment shop that opened a second location just for prom dresses. Paid $65 for a $200+. Plus another $40 for alterations (she’s short and it was involved). Of course the Toms she plans to wear with it were $55!!</p>
<p>Also we were shopping for sundresses this weekend at Ross and Kohls and were VERY surprised at the styles and prices of prom dresses there.</p>
<p>Another option is if you leave near a factory outlet. I purchased all my formals from a JC Penney outlet in the wedding department. One dress I used twice. Then a couple younger friends from church used it and 8 years later my sister had it altered and shorted and used it for homecoming. I think we paid $20 for a dress worn 5 or 6 times!</p>
<p>Depending on your school there may or may not be a limo involved. Kids get together and rent one for the evening. My son however, when told that his part of the rental would be $150, took my new Mercedes instead. (And they got out of the valet faster that the limos.)</p>
<p>On another subject: Where was your quirky wonderful son when my daughters and/or friends when it was prom time? And, as for crying…laugh…you have raised a wonderful son. (And given your post, I suspect that his parent((s)) are pretty darn terrific.)</p>