<p>My D had to wear a long white dress for her middle school graduation, many moons ago. We found hers in one of those discount stores you often find in cities – you know, lots of knock-offs, tacky party dresses, frilly confirmation dresses, etc. Hers cost less than $50, and it was quite pretty and did not look cheap at all. Her classmates went the gamut from a Vera Wang dress to… I guess my D’s dress, but it was a very interesting lesson for my D who discovered that the most expensive dress was definitely not the nicest or the most flattering. At this age, it’s the girl, not the dress.</p>