Where can I find a nice dress for Victoria and Albert's on a budget?

[FutureAshleyDukes]

My dad is paying for our dinner at V&A's, but I honestly only have beach and sundresses nothing that woud be appropriate. I only have about $75 to spend. Any suggestions as to where to shop? Keep in mind that I'm also 21 and am on my honeymoon. Thanks in advance!

[clh2]

Try a resale shop if there are any near you. Also - another option is checking on ebay.

[Tabetha]

Keep an eye on department store sales - I know Macy's has been known to have a real blow out or two.

[2princesses1pea]

Try Overstock.com...they usually have some nice stuff at great prices :flower:

[gdulaney]

Here are my suggestions:

"Discount" Stores such as Ross Dept Store, Marshalls, TJ Maxx usually have reasonably priced nice dresses...although you usually have to search through alot of yucky stuff to find them.

If you have any outlet stores nearby, you could try Liz Clayborne or Off Fifth.

Good luck!!
Ginny

[FutureAshleyDukes]

Thanks for all the ideas so far. When Macy's has big sales do they also have them online? I live in Oklahoma, and we do not have a Macy's.

[sskem96]

Depending on how fancy you want to get, there are a lot of nice dresses in the stores right now since Prom is coming up. Sears has a rack for 19.99. Some of them are probably too glitzy, but I've seen some nice black ones too.

[jenndisney]

Another idea is to "borrow" a dress from a friend. I know I have loaned out my fancier dresses to friends. I have a few since I seem to need them and I am more than happy to loan them out. You can use a bit of your budget to have it cleaned before you return it.

Have a great time on your honeymoon!

[disney4us2002]

When I worked outside the home I used to find great bargain-priced dresses at Chadwicks (www.chadwicks.com). I also checked the sales at JCPenney.com - sometimes they offer free shipping as well.

Good luck and have fun.

[smt218]

If you have a Filenes in your area, they've been having big clearance sales on their dresses. Dresses are going for $20. Not sure how dressy you have to be, but I saw a variety of dresses.

[twojo21]

i have purchased some nice classic, formal, romantic, even sexy dresses off of www.newport-news.com, you can also request a catalog & order through mail or phone. go under fashion, then dresses, then special occasion. they have a sale on now too.

i recently bought a red dress there "silk charmeuse dress" on pg 3, 3rd row middle, for $69.00 for a similiar romantic dinner at V&A's during our final planning session before our wdw wedding. another suggestion since your wedding is in may (i remember from the dis wedding & honeymoon forum) try an after prom sale, depending on your travel dates.

best of luck ashley!
twojo21

[pirateofthecarolinas]

Don't fret too much. V & A's is very dark inside. Catos sometimes has cocktail dresses for around $50.00. Their accessories are inexpensive but look great!

Lori

[ebarj1098]

Do you have Fashion Bug stores there? I just got a dress there for a formal wedding reception for $17 on a 75% off rack. We also have good deals at our Younkers and JCPenney stores. If nothing else you good try to borrow a friends former bridesmaid dress. They'll never wear it again anyway! (I don't know how fancy V&A is!)
~Jen

[KristiKelly]

I don't know how formal you're looking for but with all of the proms in a couple of monthes you might be able to catch some sales. I would also check consignment shops. We have some in our area that only take really nice, name brand clothing. Best of luck to you!!!

[DAWGPOUNDAJ]

Best of luck in your dress search! I totally understand b/c I could never justify spending more than that on a dress, and I HATE HATE HATE HATE shopping so make it a point to know where I can run to VERY quickly and be in and out with the dress I need in hand.

That being said there are surprisingly A LOT of very nice dresses at JC Penny. I know its a department store but there are usually 2 dress sections, and I let my bridesmaids find the dresses they wanted from any store and they found these BEAUTIFUL black evening gowns at JCPenny for only about $60. I wish I had the pictures downloaded to show you an example but if your looking for a black evening dress that is a good, inexpensive route to take.

Also just look in whatever random local stores you have in your area. I dont remember the names of ours in my area but most girl stores usually have a dress section in the back, with decent deals there. Good luck!

[boucheresq]

I agree with the Fashion Bug suggestion. I just bought a cute dress for a Gala for $23. Then you would have extra for shoes and accessories! :cool1:

[disneyeveryyear]

www.formalfashion.com

Check on the dresses under clearance. I went to Designer in Stock then to Special Occassions and then on to Clearance Sale - this link was at the bottom of the First page for Special Occassions.

They had some very nice dresses for $29.99.

[jeepgirl30]

Have a wonderful honeymoon!

When we were getting ready for our cruises I got some great dresses on ebay for $10. More like gowns actually.

Also we have a Talbots outlet and I get some awesome deals there.

JcPenny's has prom gowns on sale a lot too.

good luck!

[FutureAshleyDukes]

Thanks everyone. I plan to check out a few of the website posted, and I will definitely be going to JC Penney in late April since most of the proms will have already happened in my area. I do feel kind of silly buying a dress for one dinner, but hopefully I will be able to still fit in it in two years for our Disney Cruise.

[pearlieq]

I just got through buying a whole bunch of formal dresses for a local charity and I paid $20 for the most expensive one--most were $10-$15. My sources:

Kohl's department stores
DEB clothing store
Fashion Bug clothing store
TJ Maxx
Marshalls
Goodwill

All of these had lots of nice dresses, most about $10 - $15.

Good luck!

[Penny2]

I have to second the ebay solution! I buy all kinds of stuff and get great deals. If you are fluffy (plus size) email me and I'll send you something out of my closet. My dress up days are gone (yahoo)!

Another alternative is if you have a Lord & Taylor near you, they have incredible sales, especially at the end of any season. Right now their winter clothing is 70-80% and with coupons they send you...you can get unbelievable bargains. I got an $500 + Anne Klein suit for work for $60 a few weeks ago.

If possible, purchase a simple black dress that you can dress up or down. I have a knit black dress, much like a long t-shirt that I can dress up with a sequined scarf or fancy necklace and earrings and pumps or down with a pair of loafers and a belt. Can't go wrong!

Congratulations on your pending wedding....much love and joy!

[Tink the Rock Star]

I would defininely go to a Nordstroms Rack. I got my prom dress I wore to my boyfriend's Senior Prom there. It was a $300 dress and it only cost us $35, plus I found matching shoes for only $10. It would have cost me nearly $400 for the shoes and dress if I paid full price for them. That would be as best as I could find. If you're looking for places that would have dresses on sale after Prom, never go to a Mariposa... all the dresses that are on sale have a defect in some way, shape, or form.I've been to several Mariposas that are selling four to five year old dresses at full price. So if you want quality for an amazing price, go to a Nordstroms Rack.

[FutureAshleyDukes]

My options are pretty limited living in Oklahoma where we don't have a Nordstroms. I will probably be searching the J. Crew website for discounts on their dresses.

[2angelsinheaven]

Try deal.com's women's clearance section. They also offer an additional 65% off those prices with code sixfive, and shipping is $3.99. I've seen formal dresses for around 30.00$ shipped.

[Gillian]

One of the best dresses I own is a plain black tank dress. it's longish, with a little bit of shape through the waist. It's made of some kind of knit man made stuff that DOESSN'T WRINKLE! I can literally throw it in a suitcase & it looks beautiful when I take it out. I can dress it up with jewelry, a little sweater or a throw & it always looks nice.

See what you can find now, and get what you like, but if you ever see a wrinkle-free black knit dress on sale, buy it!

Happy hunting!

[vanyel]

I second or third the black dress suggestion. There's so much you can do with it and you can usually find a simple black dress for a reasonable price.

Kohls often have great sale prices as do most of the department stores in my area. It's easier to find better sales when you're smaller (I'm not) but that doesn't mean you won't find a good sale whatever size you are. You might even check with your bridal store for out of season discounted dresses.

If you have a Marshalls or TJ Max, they sometimes offer good deals if you hit them right.

Even Target has some adorable little black dresses right now that could be dressed up with accessories, jewelry, even a shawl/scarf.

Good luck and congrats on the honeymoon. Enjoy!

[heathriel]

Depending on your size, I could send you a gown or two of mine that I have no use for anymore.

I have many many many gowns from college (we had a Waltz Party every other week, and I wouldn't wear the same dress twice.) I'd be happy to take pictures and send some your way for free, provided they'll fit you.

[pixie08]

I agree w/ another poster who said TJMaxx or Marshall's..they have the best deals. You could even try target!!!! they have some nice plain black dresses that you could dress up with accessories- Issaac mizrahi(SP?) always has some well tailored clothes at GOOD prices..also since the dresses could be dressed up or down u could always use them over and over!!
GOOD LUCK :goodvibes

[Pooh_Friend#1]

My vote is for Dillards right now. They are having 50% off their clearance prices and I could have got a black coctail dress for $7.50 that was originally $56. My mom has lost a lot of weight and has bought several dresses for her 14 day cruise that was under $15. Try them if you have a Dillards in your area.

[2angelsinheaven]

One more suggestion... try Ross if it hasn't already been suggested. I bought a dress there for $11.99 yesterday. They had gowns, like prom gowns, etc for between $10-$19.99. GREAT deals... all their dresses right now or $19.99 or less...

[FutureAshleyDukes]

Thanks for the help everyone, I went to target and the dresses there always fit me kind of funny. I guess I'm lopsided or something. :confused3 Also I will definitely be checking out both TJ Maxx and Ross tonight. So much planning to do for my big day, I totally forgot about this thread or even the dinner. :rotfl: