Need to find a cheap prom dress for daughter, help!

HairyHandofDartmoor

My daughter has a prom in June. She's in year 11 and all the other girls seem to be acquiring dresses, but we are very short of money at the moment and I just can't afford to spend very much.:o

I want her to feel and look lovely at her prom! I don't possess an evening dress myself, so don't have anything she could borrow.

Has anyone any idea of how much prom dresses cost and where I could get a reasonably cheap one?

border_collie

TK MAXX always have cheap beautiful dresses. Or have you been round the charity shops?

ThriftyBelle

hello, i would say to have a rummage through all of your local tkmaxx's. in the past i have bought a prefect dinner dress (i didn't go to my prom), for only £15, and it would be suitable for a prom.

if you don't want to go to tkmaxx, then you could get a dress what is on the high street, but customize it so it looks different to everyone elses. also have a look at car boot sales and charity shops, if your daughter doesnt mind

how much are you willing to spend? and what styles is she into? i'm online for a bit, so i will look on a few online shops to see what i can find

HairyHandofDartmoor

The charity shops are a bit rubbish round here, but I will check out TK Maxx.

I just don't know where you buy posh dresses. I'm a jeans kind of person myself!

ThriftyBelle

bordercollie, you beat me to it, haha.

Poppy9

check small or ebay ads for second hand. You can always sell back on ebay.

HairyHandofDartmoor

Thanks thriftybelle. She likes quite simple, elegant styles, not strapless or low cut (she's very modest!) and favours black or red ideally. I would love to get away with £50 or less, but I have no idea what these things cost.

I've told her to find out from all the other girls where they bought their dresses and whether they're long or short, to at least give me an idea.

dieselhead

Ebay is great for things like this! Its a shame as there are often loads of prom dresses in the sale after christmas but charity shops or ebay.

Are you or your daughter any good at sewing, or does she have a sympathetic sewing teacher at school (sorry textiles teacher!) as that means if you saw 'the dress' on ebay but it is the wrong size you could make the alterations!

Also the prom tickets can be quite pricey add to that the extras that the teenagers like, if she gets pocket money she could do to start putting some aside now!

HairyHandofDartmoor

Ebay is a good idea. She usually fits a size 12. I don't have a sewing machine, and my sewing is limited to sewing on buttons and taking up trouser hems, but a size 12 should fit her, so I will check out ebay in the morning when I am less knackered!

HairyHandofDartmoor

Need to go to bed now, but will check back in the morning. Thanks everyone for the suggestions!

ThriftyBelle

http://www.newlook.co.uk/1637092/163709201/ProductDetails.aspx
http://www.newlook.co.uk/1653918/165391809/ProductDetails.aspx
http://www.topshop.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?beginIndex=0&viewAllFlag=true&catalogId=19551&storeId=12556&categoryId=151405&parent_category_rn=42344&productId=1101203&langId=-1 (comes in grey as well)
http://www.asos.com/Asos/Asos-Pleat-Neck-Detail-Dress/Prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=564961&cid=5186&clr=Black&sh=0&pge=1&pgesize=504&sort=_None

hope these may have helped you.
i am not sure if they are too casual though

don't forget you can accessorize nicely with bows and corsages

good luck on your search! x