Prom Dress questions

[clh2]

Yikes - going online tonight...trying to figure out what prom dresses cost. Trying to figure out a reasonable budget to give DD. (And then she will have the opportunity to spend more of her money...)

FWIW - The last 4 dresses DD has needed, she has spent less than $20, $20, $29 and $35. This was 2 homecoming and 2 turn-about dresses. All were short ones. So - she certainly can find bargains.

There is only a junior prom in our high school. You generally wouldn't go as a senior unless you are dating a junior.

What did your DD spend on her prom dress? Did any of you encourage them to at least look at consigned prom dresses?

If I gave DD a budget of $200 - is that enough to work with? She will definitely need shoes...they can't wear heels to any dances at the school (i.e. homecoming or turn-about) so she doesn't even own appropriate shoes either.

And - when is a good time to start shopping?

This is just starting to stress me out...

 

[kidzmom3]

I think that if I could afford it, $200 for a once in a lifetime occasion is very reasonable. I would pay up to $100 more for shores, accessories and nails. If she went over, then it would be up to her to pay the rest. Locally it costs about $125 to rent a tuxedo.

 

[golfgal]

$200 for a dress is defiantly doable-especially at Deb or the Macy's sale racks. There are plenty of more expensive dresses out there. Shoes can be easily purchased at Payless, Target, etc. for not a whole lot but lot of kids borrow shoes (not so much dresses).

I just had this conversation with my sister-her Dd is going to her first formal dance (not prom but probably more like your homecoming) and she wanted to borrow one of DD's dresses. I was more than fine with that but a LOT of the fun of going to a formal or prom is going out and buying the dress and stuff. My niece thanked me for telling her mom that because a bunch of her friends were going out shopping and she wanted to be included in that.

Now, since your DD only has one chance at prom, let her get a dress at the mall or wherever her friends are going. If they all go to consignment shops, great, but let her go where her friends are going.

The hair, nails and all the OTHER stuff is what ads up so cut back on those if necessary.

 

[momof1princess]

DD13 went to the valentine's dance at her middle school last year, and it was her first dance with a "date". we bought her a gorgeous dress at jcpenney for about $40.00. her updo was $40.00, purse was $5.00 (a last-minute find at tj maxx) and shoes were less than $20.00. i would think $200.00 would be pretty reasonable. if we had a decent consignment store, i would definitely encourage looking there. i'm hoping someone will ask her to go this year, because i want to go fancy dress shopping again! lol

 

[kellydizfan]

We were looking in Debs tonight and their dresses are $149.99 for prom dresses then altering if need be, plus shoes, etc. My mom for Christmas gave each of my girls a gift cert to have their nails done and a pedi. She is keeping it for that. She will be purchasing her dress, which we may need to help her with the cost and she has shoes galore from all her other dresses. My DD is a Junior also and our school does have a Sr. Prom. Then the cost of tickets - usually the guy pays but the kid she was seeing doesn't work where she does so who knows, flower for her date, etc. Don't forget hair being done. It isn't till the beginning of May.

 

[jenrose66]

$200 should be more than enough. I mean some girls will spend more on prom attire than most women spend on their wedding attire...but I guess if the money is not an issue to each his own.

My own prom was 10 years ago. I originally bought a sequined dress with a full tulle skirt and it was $100. I then found a dress I liked better that was $60 so I bought the $60 one and returned the $100 one. I spent $30 on my shoes and I did my own hair and makeup. I bought my dress and shoes from just regular department stores.

My step sisters on the other hand...they bought their dresses at boutique shops. Their entire ensemble was at least $500. That was like 4 years ago.

 

[golfgal]

$200 should be more than enough. I mean some girls will spend more on prom attire than most women spend on their wedding attire...but I guess if the money is not an issue to each his own.

My own prom was 10 years ago. I originally bought a sequined dress with a full tulle skirt and it was $100. I then found a dress I liked better that was $60 so I bought the $60 one and returned the $100 one. I spent $30 on my shoes and I did my own hair and makeup. I bought my dress and shoes from just regular department stores.

My step sisters on the other hand...they bought their dresses at boutique shops. Their entire ensemble was at least $500. That was like 4 years ago.

Which brings up another point-stores have gotten VERY tight with the return policies for "occasion" dresses. DD's homecoming dress had a 3 DAY return policy. Just an FYI.

Oh, and check in your area to see if they have a place to donate the dress after your DD is done with it. Our school district has a dress collection/sale for kids that can't afford to buy all the prom stuff for girls all over the metro area. There is also a big one at the Mall of America every year.

 

[clh2]

We were looking in Debs tonight and their dresses are $149.99 for prom dresses then altering if need be, plus shoes, etc. My mom for Christmas gave each of my girls a gift cert to have their nails done and a pedi. She is keeping it for that. She will be purchasing her dress, which we may need to help her with the cost and she has shoes galore from all her other dresses. My DD is a Junior also and our school does have a Sr. Prom. Then the cost of tickets - usually the guy pays but the kid she was seeing doesn't work where she does so who knows, flower for her date, etc. Don't forget hair being done. It isn't till the beginning of May.

Funny - just yesterday - I bought DD a "groupon" for a mani and a pedi - for a bday present. DD's b-day is in April - so she easily could have a mani and pedi the day before prom. (Probably wouldn't work on prom day, since they have a full day of school, it'll be tough enough just getting hair and make-up done.) Cost of the mani AND pedi - $30. Whoo Hoo!

I'm assuming that for DD's prom, she'll have to pay for the tickets, because her "friend - they are not a couple yet" goes to a different school.

 

[FINFAN]

Our HS does not have Jr. Prom, just regular, but unless you go with a Senior due to crowding, you cannot go..so any year can go as long as one person of the couple is a Senior , kids going stag or in a group have to be Seniors.
Anyway, my DD went her Jr year as the rule had not started yet. She found a dress for $140 at Carson's, a regular Dept store. We were thrilled as she is a size 0 that there was one off the rack. The following year as a Senior she splurged, went the whole ballgown route ( which I NEVER thought she would do) dropped $350 total on that one by the time alterations were complete. However it was her $ and she still loves that dress.

 

[Hannathy]

My DD just went to her prom last year so I have an idea of recent prices. Yes $200 is good for a dress. I think my DD's was about $160-70 and then alterations were $30. Her shoes were another $35. Jewelry was probably $25 ish but she had a bracelet from another formal she was wearing. she also had a purse from another dance. she also had a good strapless bra already or that could be another $25 if new undergarments are needed.

She did her own hair or that could have been $35.

Prom isn't cheap and she really shopped to find a reasonable dress, It would have been very easy to spend $250-$450 at the mall Prom dress stores.

she should be looking at least 2 months before so if it needs shipped or any alterations. My DD found hers at a store over the computer. Just google Prom dresses. there are several sites that are a lot more reasonable than the mall.

Good luck!

 

[Christine]

My daughter's prom dress cost about $170 from Lord and Taylor. Stores like Jessica McClintock, though, are going to go for around $300 and some other "prom dress" stores are about that much. We didn't really have a budget. My daughter is fairly thin so the important thing was that the dress fit. I would have probably paid anything so long as the dress fit well.

 

[Anne MN]

I am looking now- DD has a JROTC military ball next weekend- still haven't found "the dress"
There are no consignment shops here- have looked at all major dept. stores- sticker shock! Dress HAS to be floor length. have been looking at the bridal shops- good selection, just sticker shock for alterations! one shop quoted $80 to bring the hem up just over 1/4 inch- that is crazy!
will be trying a couple other places today and tomorrow- they are formal/quincinera(don't know the spelling) dresses- we are in texas, so- when a girl of hispanic heritage turns 15, they have a big formal party- i have seen some where they spend upwards of $20,000 on a party
we are trying to stay under $200 for a dress. she has tried on about 50 dresses so far. if she was male, problem solved- they HAVE to wear their dress uniform(those are issued to them)

 

[Hollywoodhaha]

Last year for Junior prom I just re-used my brides maid dress from my sister's wedding, so that cost nothing!

This year, senior prom, I was in love with a $318 dress online. My mom told me to look for something cheaper, so we went to a dress shop.
Nothing was right for me..then I tried on the dress. I fell in love!

How much did it cost? $428.
We bought it. Guess mom should have stuck with the online!

But as I see it, I didn't buy one last year so this is like 2 years in one.

But, yes, $200 is a do-able budget!

 

[mjkacmom]

Cost of the mani AND pedi - $30. Whoo Hoo!
.

Lol - I live in a VERY high COL area. However, one of the perks is the insane amount of asian nail salons - I've never paid more than $23 for a mani-pedi! Probably why everyone here (except me) has weekly nail appointments (a manicure is $7). Oh, and a mani-pedi takes about 45 minutes, massage chair, leg and hand massage, exfoliating, lotion, heel oil, shoulder rub....