OT Grad Dress Shopping in Orlando?

[shaycamp21]

We are cruising on the Fantasy in May and are planning to stay one day prior and one day after our cruise. Since my oldest dd is graduating from grade eight this year I figured this would be the perfect time to do some grad dress shopping. DD does not want to shop in the GTA for fear of getting the same dress as someone else (Buffalo is another option but several of her friends are planning to go there shopping so she worried about shopping there too---oh the preteen drama lol) and I was thinking it would be less likely to happen if we purchased the dress in Orlando. The thing is I don't know where to go shopping? Can anyone recommend somewhere to shop for a grad dress in Orlando (or even around Cocoa Beach)? Any advice would be much appreciated.

 

[dancin Disney style]

You will need to hit a mall. The big stores like JC Penny and Macy's will be the place to find grad dresses. There are also stores that only carry those fancy dresses. A place that my DD used to like in the Florida Mall is Papaya. They have all types of clothes from dressy to casual....and the prices are really great.

 

[cey]

You should try Ross and Marshall's as well. I searched and searched in Canada for a Mother of the Groom dress and basically all the styles were very old fashion and were more suitable for "grandmother of the groom". I ended up getting a dream dress with matching jacket at Ross and had tons of compliments on it. Because it was a sample size, the price was incredible! The dress and jacket were under $50! Everyone thought I had spent thousands on my outfit! I also saw many one of a kind dresses suitable for grad.

 

[dancin Disney style]

OP...don't know where you live but we have Marshalls now in Canada. It's all the same company as Winners/Homesense and in the US they also have TJ Maxx under the umbrella. Some of the merchandise is the same in all stores both in Canada and the US. Prices are great though.

 

[mtmbyck]

We bought DDs dress there 2 years ago at Macy's. Fantastic selection and decent prices. I got 10% off for some reason and then they offered me another significant discount for applying for a credit card. Do not do this! They have to charge the purchase which you will be billed for BUT Macy's doesn't allow Canadians to pay by credit card, online payment, nothing. I called, emailed.......I had to send a US bank not to them to pay. Pain in the butt and I cut up the card!

 

[KellifromCanada]

My daughter is graduating from middle school this year too. I have NO idea what style of dress to look for! What is appropriate?

Thanks,

Kelli

 

[dennise]

I got a Macy's card in November to get the discount and paid it off at the same time. I had no problem doing this. I had the cash,but wanted the discount.

 

[hockeymomNS]

Another vote for Macy's here. My niece got hers there last year.

fyi there is a GKTW meet in Nova Scotia this summer

 

[Gigi22]

I just purchased a formal online through Nordstrom. I went through the Air Miles website, so I get Air Miles too!

 

[shaycamp21]

My daughter is graduating from middle school this year too. I have NO idea what style of dress to look for! What is appropriate?

Thanks,

Kelli

I think it depends on the school and what kind of dress code is enforced. At my daughter's school and the school where I teach the dress code does not usually allow for students to wear spaghetti straps or strapless tops, however this is waived for grad. I think as long as the dress is not too low cut, short or tight your dd should be ok.

 

[dancin Disney style]

My daughter is graduating from middle school this year too. I have NO idea what style of dress to look for! What is appropriate?

Thanks,

Kelli

You will see everything from simple dresses that you would wear to church all the way to full on formal wear. Some girls will have high heels and go to get hair and makeup done.

Personally, I don't care what my kids have to say about what 'everyone' is wearing or doing. I decide what is appropriate. I'm not overly conservative but I constantly tell my 13yo that if I give her what she claims 'everyone else' has then where does it go from there. When she was in grade 5 she had friends with Blackberrys.....sorry, but 2 years later she still doesn't need a cell phone never mind a Blackberry or Iphone.

Thanks...rant over.

 

[alohamom]

All I can tell you is give yourself a lot of time!!! We did the Buffalo thing and ended up doing very well in Eastern Hills Mall in a boutique there but that was after many stops elsewhere. I found that anything she "loved" was waaaay too much money, like over the 500 dollar amount and anything I liked she didnt! LOL, it was amazing when she finally found a great dress she loved and I loved the price tag of!