My daughter is going to drive me NUTS!

[always quiet]

My oldest DD, Jeana is 14. She is in the 9th grade. In our district, they don't move the kids into the HS until 10th due to building size restrictions. At the end of 9th grade, they have this "dance". In my opinion, the school should set limits regarding "appropriate" clothing but they don't. When my son went to his dance last year, I was blown away at the dresses many of the girls came out it! I don't remember senior prom dresses being this extravagent!! One girl's gown looked more like a wedding dress than a prom dress!! This dance is not until June...my daughter has been nagging me for months already to buy her gown. She actually started last summer BEFORE she entered 9th grade. She wants a "Princess" gown, preferably Belle's......all the frills and ruffles and lace. She found one that she would "settle" on since she can't have a "Belle gown"...it's only $180!! I have no idea when my "tomboy" turned princess but I think the "tomboy" dress would of been much easier on the wallet!!

Funny, when we were in Disney last month, she would see all the little girls wandering around the parks in Princess dresses. She would look at me and say "When I was that age, I didn't have a pretty dress that that" or "You never bought be a tierra........" When she was that age, she wouldn't of worn a Princess gown!! I told her I would buy her one of those gowns now! (in those sizes!!) She found no humor in that!!

 

[minkydog]

Ahhh, ya gotta love girls Frankly, $180 is getting off pretty easy, I think. Just don't take the tags off and hang on to the reciept--you know she's gonna change her mind before June

 

[SC Minnie]

Anyway she can put up half or part of the $?

 

[always quiet]

Even if she wanted to put up half the money...or all of it...I can not see spending that kind of money for a dress that will be worn for 3 to 4 hours. This is why I said I wish the school would set a limit on the appropriate clothing. I saw girls walk out of the dance in everything from dresses that made them look like street walkers to ones that were fancier than many wedding dresses. Guys would come out in anything from full tuxs to dress pants and shirts with no ties.

When they sent letters home about their "graduation" from the middle school, they did clearly indicate on there what was acceptable......they should do the same for the dance.

 

[liamsaunt]

While I agree with you that the cost is crazy, look at the bright side...at least she is asking for a princess dress, not a dress that has no back, or exposes her midriff, or is cut all the way up her leg, etc. It could be worse!

 

[SC Minnie]

My suggestion on her putting up the $ was that is may change her mind on how much a dress should cost.

I agree on the types of dresses some of the girls are wearing to the prom are waaayyy too revealing for their age.

Do you have any friends that have daughters a little older than yours that you would borrow or buy a dress from?

 

[diskids2]

I had the same issue - only with the 8th grade dance - we move into HS in 9th grade. And it wasn't only the dress - which I help my ground and she found one she loved for $90 (I just didn't give in and kept taking her to store after store until she finally couldn't help to find a dress she liked within my budget of $100).

I also had to pay for new shoes - sandals, a haircut, blow dry, Someone did her makeup, I mean a friend of mine - no charge, just a coffee And a manicure and pedicure which was a the nail salon.

Plus the cost of the dance - $50 for the ticket.

I only have one girl - I dealt with it, LOL

 

[ead79]

I guess I have a little bit of a different perspective.

I can remember like it was yesterday how important the middle school and high school dances seemed at the time. They were a HUGE deal to me then. I would’ve been devastated not to get a pretty dress.

That being said, as another poster suggested, maybe she can pay for part of it.

 

[sweet angel]

Our school district (100 years ago) worked the same way. Junior high was 7, 8 and 9. We had a "9th Grade Farewell" dance. The girls wore sundresses or Easter-type dresses. I don't even remember if any boys went.

 

[greenyskp]

Think of it this way.

As an adult, how many times do YOU get to wear a "belle" dress.

I know when I go to Disney, I wish I had been interested in those dresses more as a child. Because now, I NEVER have an opportunity to wear one of those, especially now that I can afford them.

She's only gonna be young once.

Also, I dont know If you have a Dilliards. But they generally have HUGE sales on dresses throughout the year. (if no dilliards, just keep looking at the department stores at the mall..)

When i was nominated for Homecoming queen my senior year, I found a 250 dollars dress for $60. At one of these sales.

Halloween is one of the only times in your adult life you can wear a flouncy princess dress, let her have her cake when shes young, ya know?

 

[jbdreamer]

I'd give her $100 to buy a dress, if she wants a more expensive one, she can earn the money herself. Give her odd jobs around the house to do for money. It's a great way to help her understand the value of money.

 

[always quiet]

SC Minnie, my friend has a daughter in the 12th grade now. She is just about my daughter's height. That would be fine, but...ahhh...my DD is ahh...porportioned different (nice way to put it! ) and I am not sure it would fit. Also, her DD like straighter dresses where mine wants to be a "princess".

ead 79, I never said I was not going to let my DD get a "pretty" dress...we even saw one on line that was $85 and I was willing to order that one...I just think over $100 is a bit much. Some of the girls I saw at last year's dance had dresses that resembled your WEDDING dress!!