8th grade dance dress

[havaneselover]

Any suggestions on where to look? Looking for something age appropriate. DD is petite but has an athletic build.

 

[lanejudy]

Try Justice. DD loves their stuff. I think I've seen a range from casual to dressy, but it's all tween style. Some have spaghetti straps if her school has a rule against those, but definitely other choices as well.

Congrats to the 8th grade grad!

 

[DisHmsklMom]

We had a wide variety of appropriate dresses at Macys this year. Lots on sale.

 

[DaisyJ]

I would say 8th grade is too old for Justice. Try Macy's, or even Kohl's, if that is more convenient.

 

[mjkacmom]

I got dd's at lulus.com, also a great site to pick up dresses for sweet 16 parties. I've had good luck with Nordstrom, too. Both have free shipping both ways (you need to send it back within 10 days at lulus).

 

[mjkacmom]

I think this is dd14's dress

 

[crisi]

Check nordstromrack.com and hautelook.com. Both usually have some really cute dresses - often age appropriate. This is out on Hautelook right now: https://www.hautelook.com/events/16...-bop-two-tone-lace-back-bow-dress?color=MELON

 

[Sagginit]

Nordstrom Rack is great, super fast shipping. I also have seen prom type dresses at my local TJ Maxx but prices are iffy (some are deals others are not so much depending on brand). If she is willing to try something used I love ThredUp, many items I got were actually NWT but for special events many people wear dresses just once anyways. If you sign up and then wait a while to order (maybe a week or two weeks) they send you a promo code for 40%. Most of what I have bought from ThredUp has been in great condition. You could order a few dresses so you get free shipping (free at $79) and then just pay for the return shipping fee to get a full refund on anything you don't keep.

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

Several of DDs friends got theirs from lulus. I would check places like Francesca's or Julie's if you have those near you. DD found hers at a local boutique, but their clothing is similar to Francesca's, which is a chain.

 

[Immadismom]

We got DD's at Dillard's. We tried on dresses at Macy's, Belk, JCP also. Dillard's really didn't have much on sale, but we ended up needing a Junior's size 15 to fit DD's bust, so that also limited us on our choices, and there was zero selection on clearance in that size either. If DD, wasn't so hard to fit, Dillard's had a great selection online also...they just aren't great with returns, so that also limited us. We did luck out that we didn't need the waist altered on the dress she chose because of the cut. Most that fit in the bust were enormous around her waist & would have needed alterations.

 

[QueenIsabella]

Modcloth (online) has cute choices, and many styles that are appropriate for a young teen.

My DD14 found just what she was looking for, in a hand-me-down from her older sister. My girls are 8 years apart, which can be bad for most things, but great for clothes--they're far enough apart that the clothes seem new and fresh, not "what Big Sis wore last year". In this case, it was my older DD's 8th grade graduation dress. We have several prom/formal styles available.

 

[havaneselover]

Thanks, all! I asked dd where her friends got theirs and one got it at Dillard's. I guess we'll try Macy's and Dillard's and maybe Francesca's this weekend. I'm nervous about ordering because dd's build--really need to try on to see what looks best on her. The juniors section scares me, but I'll survive!

 

[NinaBella]

Try Justice. DD loves their stuff. I think I've seen a range from casual to dressy, but it's all tween style. Some have spaghetti straps if her school has a rule against those, but definitely other choices as well.

Congrats to the 8th grade grad!

Please no, do not do that to an 8th grader. I do not know where you live or how old your daughter is but Justice is not a place to buy an 8th grade dance dress. Mine stopped wearing justice completely by 5th grade.

 

[NinaBella]

We went to a specialty boutique and purchased a Jovani dress. I know this is not budget friendly but that was our decision. At least 4 other girls in daughter's circle of friends went to the same boutique. The boutique specializes in formal dresses for homecoming, prom, pageants, and weddings. They register your dress and event so no one will pick the same dress for the same event. Many of DD friends who did not buy boutique dresses wore dresses from Dillards. I am sure it depends where you live, but where we live, girls wear the same style dresses as one would wear to a high school homecoming.

For reference, this is where we bought daughter's 8th grade dance dress and her cheer banquet dress.
http://www.nikkisglitzandglamboutique.com/

Editing to add a another popular local place. We also have a few boutiques that rent dresses.
http://georgettesfashions.com/

Mine has multiple events a year. When she outgrows the dresses or no longer wants to wear it for a new event we donate the dresses to either our great niece, friend, or local charity.

 

[kydisneyfans]

We are part of the "it's a school dance and you will only wear this dress once" club.
Macys is our go to spot. Between sale and clearance, they've always had what we wanted at a price we were willing to pay.

 

[lanejudy]

Please no, do not do that to an 8th grader. I do not know where you live or how old your daughter is but Justice is not a place to buy an 8th grade dance dress. Mine stopped wearing justice completely by 5th grade.

I guess that just depends on the child and trends in your area. My DD didn't start wearing Justice until about 5th grade, and I recognize lots of Justice items on the 7th and 8th graders around here. Our 8th grade dance probably isn't as fancy as some, either. It was a suggestion for OP; she is welcome to shop where she chooses.

 

[mjkacmom]

I guess that just depends on the child and trends in your area. My DD didn't start wearing Justice until about 5th grade, and I recognize lots of Justice items on the 7th and 8th graders around here. Our 8th grade dance probably isn't as fancy as some, either. It was a suggestion for OP; she is welcome to shop where she chooses.

We are in the northeast, Justice starts in early elementary, 6th graders won't be caught dead in it (although my 14 and 16 year old will only wear underwear from PINK or Justice, go figure). justice is great for tweets, but 8th graders are 14, solidly in juniors. My teens couldn't wait to finally fit in 00's (they are skinny).

 

[eeyoreandtink]

DD got her dress for the middles school spring social at David's Bridal. Picked up a leftover homecoming dress on clearance for $49.

 

[Cadiewampus]

Disney Dad here of two boys. Whatever you get do not spend too much. Girls do not need a expensive dress to stand around in or dance in a group with other girls. At least in my experience that's what generally happens at a dance with goofy 8th grade boys too embarrassed or scared to dance. ;

 

[nikkistevej]

Got my daughters 8th grade grad dress at Macy's, on the clearance rack, she's tiny, so they had lots of them(size 0), not many other sizes. $13- couldn't beat that price!!!