Prom Dress

[ptcruisermom]

Going to be in Chicago the end of the month for a dance convention. DD 17 wants to look for a prom dress while we are there; It is my hope that maybe we can find a leftover holiday dress at a good price. Any suggestions where to look. I know 2 years ago we looked at Macy's at Water Tower for a possible homecoming dress and they had absolutely nothing. We are staying at the Marriott on Michigan Ave. and will mo
re than likely be walking everywhere.(don't want to spend the $$ on cab fare)

 

[NotUrsula]

You won't find bargains in the touristed areas unless you get lucky at Filene's Basement.

I've heard that the most popular prom dress shop in Chicago is Peaches, which is near MDW. I've also heard good things about a bridal shop called Kasia's in Irving Park, and there is also a local chain called Mom, Dad & Me that has several suburban mall locations. I'm not sure how close you can get to any of these on the EL, you might want to Google.

 

[Fire14]

I personally nver found anything to my liking in Downtown Chicago. I actually had better luck at DEB and other chains in mall. KOhls has some cute dresses at good prices IMO.

 

[Gr8t Fan]

Filene's Basement is closed. Their last day of operation was 12/30/11.

About 2 miles south of Water Tower on State Street are Macy's, TJ Maxx, Agaci, H&M, Nortstrom Rack and Forever 21. They carry prom dresses every year, but I'm not sure if they'll have them by the end of the month. They have dresses year round, of course, just not sure if they're fancy enough for prom.

As another poster mentioned, Peaches has formal dresses year-round. They're at Archer Avenue and Central and you can get there by taking the CTA Orange Line to Midway and catching the 62H bus. It's about a 1 hour trip each way, but they have a HUGE selection year round.

 

[Psychodisney]

I love Lord and Taylor for dresses. Last spring I scored a couple of gorgeous dresses for my daughter off the clearance racks. There used to be a Lord and Taylor and Water Tower but that is where American Girl is now. I usually go to the Woodfield Store(Schaumburg).

 

[clh2]

My sister took my niece to Peaches last year for a prom dress. The dresses they had were "super-skanky" according to my sister.

It might be a little early for Prom-dress shopping at the sotres like Macy's etc. The next set of dresses typically ends up being for the "Feb dances, like a sweetheart's dance or turn-about.

Now - my guess is a left-over holiday dress isn't going to be the same as a prom dress...no way no how. HOWEVER - in our neck of the woods - the girls wore long 'princessy' types of dresses to prom. At DD's prom (last May - may 5 girls had short dresses, and when DD went to her boyfriend's prom - also last May - there were maybe 2 girls in short dresses.

In general - have fun prom-dress shopping. DD and I had a wonderful experience with that. (Went at the end of Feb on a MONDAY night. Had the prom-dress salesperson all to ourselves.) Of course, we'll need to see pics!

 

[MrsPete]

I don't know Chicago, but my girls and I are going out this weekend to check on marked down holiday dresses. For my oldest, we've never found a prom dress, but we always have great luck with short dresses for her February semi-formal dance.

 

[ptcruisermom]

Thanks everyone for your replies-I did tell her not sure if we will find anything, but we will look. the only reason we thought about it was because teh first or second time we went when she was either 8 or 9 one of the older girls did find a dress for prom, and my DD comment at the time was when I'm big I want to get my dress here when we come for dance. Hard to believe she has grown and is old enough now. She's ok if we don't find anything, or even open to the idea maybe she would find a short dressy dress for next fall's homecoming. It will be fun to look, I love looking, just never know what you will find.

 

[clh2]

Thanks everyone for your replies-I did tell her not sure if we will find anything, but we will look. the only reason we thought about it was because teh first or second time we went when she was either 8 or 9 one of the older girls did find a dress for prom, and my DD comment at the time was when I'm big I want to get my dress here when we come for dance. Hard to believe she has grown and is old enough now. She's ok if we don't find anything, or even open to the idea maybe she would find a short dressy dress for next fall's homecoming. It will be fun to look, I love looking, just never know what you will find.

Looking for a homecoming dress is a perfect idea!!! My DD always found those style of dresses off-season, and really great bargains. The bargains on dresses were so good that I often said "DD's jewelry was ALMOST as much as her dress" ** that was the year her homecoming dress was $20**

Is she a junior this year? What about casually looking for senior picture outfits?

 

[ptcruisermom]

Looking for a homecoming dress is a perfect idea!!! My DD always found those style of dresses off-season, and really great bargains. The bargains on dresses were so good that I often said "DD's jewelry was ALMOST as much as her dress" ** that was the year her homecoming dress was $20**

Is she a junior this year? What about casually looking for senior picture outfits?

Yes she is a junior this year-hard to believe she will be a senior in the fall- don't want to think about it she is my baby and my only girl. Didn't think about looking for sr picture clothes.

 

[Gr8t Fan]

My sister took my niece to Peaches last year for a prom dress. The dresses they had were "super-skanky" according to my sister.

It might be a little early for Prom-dress shopping at the sotres like Macy's etc. The next set of dresses typically ends up being for the "Feb dances, like a sweetheart's dance or turn-about.

Now - my guess is a left-over holiday dress isn't going to be the same as a prom dress...no way no how. HOWEVER - in our neck of the woods - the girls wore long 'princessy' types of dresses to prom. At DD's prom (last May - may 5 girls had short dresses, and when DD went to her boyfriend's prom - also last May - there were maybe 2 girls in short dresses.

In general - have fun prom-dress shopping. DD and I had a wonderful experience with that. (Went at the end of Feb on a MONDAY night. Had the prom-dress salesperson all to ourselves.) Of course, we'll need to see pics!

I see the dresses at Peaches in the windows all the time. Some are super-skanky but there are plenty that are not. But there aren't many bargains to be had there, from what I understand they are $$$$.

 

[ptcruisermom]

I see the dresses at Peaches in the windows all the time. Some are super-skanky but there are plenty that are not. But there aren't many bargains to be had there, from what I understand they are $$$$.

Yes I understand that Peaches is $$$$ she has visited their web site. I have set an amount that I will pay, anything over and above that she has to pay. Might make a difference . Oh well like I said if we find something fine if not that is fine too.

 

[NotUrsula]

One other thing to think about: how does she feel about vintage? Chicago has some GREAT vintage shops, and she might easily find something she likes for under $50 if she is willing to get into the thrill of the hunt.

If you sew or could find someone who does, another really wonderful alternative is to buy a sari and have it made into a conventional dress. I was turned onto this by DH's cousin's wife who is Pakistani; she always wears saris for formal occasions because they are so forgiving re: sizing and never go out of style. Her daughter is more Americanized and doesn't like them so much, so her cultural compromise is to use the fabric, which is like nothing you will ever see in a conventional US fabric store; these silks are stunning. There are a huge number of South Asian merchants in Chicago on Devon Avenue; going up there is a fascinating experience.

Also, for those who have an adventurous sense of style but want a modest dress at a reasonable price, a churidar dress can be a really pretty choice (traditionally they are worn with leggings, but the dress top is usually knee-length, so you can skip the leggings and just wear it with heels to westernize it, provided you don't choose one with a sheer skirt.) Churidars normally cover the shoulders and have fairly high necklines, but are often sleeveless, so they work out nicely as semi-formal dresses for younger teens, especially. They usually have really beautiful beading and embroidery on them.

A would agree that Peaches is expensive; it's one of those places that has built a huge reputation and now charges accordingly. Personally I don't care for that sort of place; I don't like being told what I should want. And yes, I'd also agree that a fair amount of their stock really isn't appropriate for a teen (or anyone with good taste, if you want to be honest), but that stuff does sell, so naturally they are going to carry it.

 

[mrspaha]

Peaches is very expensive. Their appeal (at least it used to be) was that they would keep track of the style and color of dress you bought and what school prom you would be going to, and supposedly they would not sell that same dress to anyone else going to the same school's prom. What I'm trying to say is that you won't see anyone else with the same dress at the dance you go to.

My daughter wanted one of those princessy cinderella type dress, and we found hers at a bridesmaid store. It was from a rack of "tried on, sample dresses" sold at a discount. It was still, I thought, too expensive for a dress to weat one time only, but I fell for her tears and pleading plus we were running short on time and were not having much luck elsewhere.

 

[Anne34]

Peaches is very expensive. Their appeal (at least it used to be) was that they would keep track of the style and color of dress you bought and what school prom you would be going to, and supposedly they would not sell that same dress to anyone else going to the same school's prom. What I'm trying to say is that you won't see anyone else with the same dress at the dance you go to.

My daughter wanted one of those princessy cinderella type dress, and we found hers at a bridesmaid store. It was from a rack of "tried on, sample dresses" sold at a discount. It was still, I thought, too expensive for a dress to weat one time only, but I fell for her tears and pleading plus we were running short on time and were not having much luck elsewhere.

Yes, Peaches still does keep track of who bought what so you don't have someone with the same dress at your Prom. My DD18's friend got hers there last spring (around $600). My DD got a dress for around $200. We looked at bridal store, Macys & smaller boutique type places. We ended up getting it at a place that specializes in homecoming/bridesmaid/quincieniera type dresses. Very beautiful & not too expensive since it was a small store. I didn't see anyone in short dresses -- all were long. Only 2 of the 10 girls at the preparty had slinky type dresses -- all the rest were princessy.