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Original poster

Prom dress cost

33 replies

Promdressquestion · 25/04/2025 19:44

Please could I ask how much your DD’s prom dress cost either this year or last year (to get the most up to date prices)?
I’m trying to figure out a budget and yes, I know it’s been left very late 😩

OP posts:
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Original poster
Promdressquestion · 26/04/2025 20:26

the prom dress shops were around £350-£600 and the dress agency with damaged dresses were still £300. No luck in charity shops or vinted or eBay. I’m just going to be hard up for a while. Thanks for all the replies and I hope all the dds have a wonderful prom x

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Cyclingandrunning · 25/04/2025 21:44

Dd1 has a beautiful dress last year from jjhouse which I think cost £125

Dd2 has her heart set on one dress - which has sold out....

I have spend £30 on fabric and am making it this weekend. I used to sew complex outfits many years ago so am dusting off the mannequin. It could go really well or really badly.....

strawlight · 25/04/2025 21:37

£112 from JJ’s House plus £18 beforehand for them to send four sample dresses to try on. You can then order in whatever fabric and colour and tweak the measurements for free. I’m very impressed, and have looked at some of her friends £400 dresses and think they’re a bit of a rip off if I’m honest.

TheHappyBug · 25/04/2025 21:36

Promdressquestion · 25/04/2025 21:01

There’s nothing on vinted or eBay so far that match or are similar to what she wants. We are going to a dress agency tomorrow and I’m praying there’s something she will like and that’s the right fabric. It’s got to be a sweetheart neckline, corset back and satin with a semi-fitted skirt. The one she liked was boned and had sequin flowers on the bodice.

www.jjshouse.com/all/prom-dresses/neckline/sweetheart?sort=new-arrivals&fabric=satin,silky-satin,matte-satin#/

Itchybritches · 25/04/2025 21:31

£320 which is an awful lot, but it’s a lovely dress she can also use at Uni for black tie/balls etc. Shoes and bag from Next!

IggyAce · 25/04/2025 21:19

Got dds from Quiz it was around £85.

Hoppinggreen · 25/04/2025 21:19

DDs was a couple of years ago, it was the year after Proms had been cancelled due to Covid so there were a load of unsold dresses.
DD's had been £600 and we got it for £300

LaserCatToyLunacy · 25/04/2025 21:18

Coast, £60

JackieDaytonaLuckyBrews · 25/04/2025 21:15

I never had to fork out for one as DD prom was cancelled because of covid, but I'm staggered by how much they are now.
When I went to mine in the 90s, we all got ours from places like Topshop, or in my case, a random shop in Carnaby Street for £20. They were more party style dresses than ball gowns -nobody wanted an actual princess dress. How times change! I know a few of the fellow mums who got prom dresses for their younger ones the year after DD prom was cancelled and they spent anything from £100 up to a ridiculous £875.
I'd also suggest looking for 2nd hand on Vinted and similar sites. Do you know what she wants?

Simbaonedaythiswillallbeyours · 25/04/2025 21:14

DD was £150 custom made (Stacees). I was very skeptical but their customer service was great and it fits her perfectly. Shes doing her own hair and make up. Shoes and bag from Primark.

Paaseitjes · 25/04/2025 21:11

It's relatively easy to add lacing to the back of a dress, especially if there's a zip there. Plenty of brides replace the zip with laces when they've not lost the planned amount of weight

WinterMorn · 25/04/2025 21:06

Reallyyyyyy · 25/04/2025 20:21

Who's paying £100s for a dress a teen will only wear once.... that's crazy. Look at vinted!

Agreed. Its absolute madness.

Original poster
Promdressquestion · 25/04/2025 21:01

There’s nothing on vinted or eBay so far that match or are similar to what she wants. We are going to a dress agency tomorrow and I’m praying there’s something she will like and that’s the right fabric. It’s got to be a sweetheart neckline, corset back and satin with a semi-fitted skirt. The one she liked was boned and had sequin flowers on the bodice.

OP posts:
Nutsabouttopic · 25/04/2025 20:38

We're in Ireland so it's debs here but the dress is the most important aspect. Dd went to four debs in a year including her own. For three of them we bought dresses off Shein. Love and Lemonade label, beautifully made and very good quality. About £40 each. Dd is a size 6 ,ordered an xs and didn't need altering. For her own we bought a dress in a boutique that was closing down so it was half price, still cost £350 but it was her dream dress.

Reallyyyyyy · 25/04/2025 20:21

Who's paying £100s for a dress a teen will only wear once.... that's crazy. Look at vinted!

Springadorable · 25/04/2025 20:17

Vinted, JJ House or ever pretty would be my recommendations

StartingAgainFGS · 25/04/2025 20:15

Lots on vinted, some unworn from these poor kids who bought them then it was cancelled due to covid! Also Facebook market place and I also found a group called 2nd hand prom dresses for sale uk

Original poster
Promdressquestion · 25/04/2025 20:12

Is there anywhere near Manchester that hires dresses? We found the perfect style and colour in Leeds on a day trip but sadly not in her size which meant the lace up back detail was lost and even at its tightest it was still too big. She’s a size 4 and there weren’t many dresses in that size. Dd is very particular on what she wants but we can’t seem to find it. It’s taken around a year to settle on what she likes and now time is very short.

OP posts:
TheHappyBug · 25/04/2025 20:09

DDs was £175 from JJs house and it was lovely and fantastic quality.

RamblingEclectic · 25/04/2025 20:07

Tenner for the dress from a local charity shop that put out a display of their prom dresses and suits. Spent similar on a dressy jacket and again on shoes.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 25/04/2025 20:03

Add in the share of the limousine fare.......

Kneeslikethese · 25/04/2025 20:03

£65 from an online shop

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