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Original poster

How much for a prom dress?

48 replies

Kixxy · 03/01/2025 17:25

DD sounded the warning bell today that, now Xmas is over, it's time to start looking for a prom dress (argh! More expense!)

Can I ask how much you've spent on a prom dress in recent years? Just looking for a rough average across the answers I get, so that I can budget accordingly!

Was also thinking of giving her an overall budget, so dress then any extras like nails, accessories, hair and makeup etc so that costs don't spiral!

OP posts:
HPandthelastwish · 03/01/2025 17:30

DD will want something from Disturbia so £100 should be enough and she'll wear it agan. Nice bridesmaids / Prom dresses on Sale at Debenhams right now for less than £50 right now or Next have some for £150.

Realistically she'll only be wearing it for 6 hours max so looking at a rental place might be better unless she's going to a College/Uni tha has formals.

I think it will depend on your school, private or a comp and the demographic of the families.

StoorieHoose · 03/01/2025 17:38

£120 for prom dress from America, £40 for alterations cos DD is a short arse. Most expensive was her hair extensions which she paid for herself (£400) but she had had them removed and re-added and she still has them in now

mitogoshigg · 03/01/2025 17:43

Dd bought an evening dress from jjs house online recently, looked amazing and fitted like a glove (she used their custom length service and it was spot on)

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Clothing
DPotter · 03/01/2025 17:47

DD bought her gorgeous jumpsuit in the January sales in House of Fraser. It was either £99-or £120. She's worn it many times since as well so worth the investment.

tarmactreacle · 03/01/2025 17:48

Paid £30 for a dress from Shein (don't judge me - it's the only time we've shopped there and only did it then because there was nothing she liked in the shops). It was perfect for the few hours she wore it.

My friend spent £600 on a dress for her daughter.

So ... somewhere between £30 and £600

FiloPasty · 03/01/2025 17:49

Honestly look at Vinted you can pick up some absolute bargains and new with tags items. My daughter got an Oh Polly dress for £7 brand new that was gorgeous

user23124 · 03/01/2025 17:51

Buy second hand. DD bought on DPOP for £40 and sold it for £40 4 days after the prom. Shoes same but £15. It cost nothing.

Cokezeroandlime · 03/01/2025 17:52

Ours was: Dress - £350, shoes £20-£25ish, Hair £30, Makeup £25, Nails £25. Accessories borrowed. No other costs/expenses.

RechargeableGnu · 03/01/2025 17:56

£80 off the rack, fitted perfectly.

Another £80 for hair etc. I thought we got off pretty lightly considering what some people spend!!

Wherehavetheyallgone · 03/01/2025 17:57

Dress £75, Sandals £35, Bag £15, Makeup £40 (had none!), Hairdresser to put hair up £25, Hairclip (vintage brooch) £10.

QueenMabby · 03/01/2025 18:38

Bought DD's in October for her prom next June. Local shop. Dress extortionate at £495 but it's stunning and dd looked amazing. It's something that she can wear again.

Everything else will be bought much more cheaply! Dd isn't into the whole fake tan, nails, hair extensions etc so at least we'll save a bit of money on that!

Hoppinggreen · 03/01/2025 18:41

We were really lucky and we were 1 year post covid so all the shops had huge amounts of unsold stock and were offering it for lower prices than usual.
we bought a beautiful 2 piece for £150 (down from £450). Cost £50 for alterations

Silvertulips · 03/01/2025 18:44

DD1 was £300 and DD2 was £60
Sear fried paid £600 for hers!

DD1 had her hair done but not makeup nails spray tan and her shoes were cheap from ASOS

RenegadeKeeblerElf · 03/01/2025 19:05

£90 from Amazon of all places! Shoes were from Deichman, hair was about £50, she did her own makeup, not interested in nails or fake tan. So less than £200 all in.

AyrnotAir · 03/01/2025 19:06

My dd was £550 three years ago.

Fantina · 03/01/2025 19:13

There’s secondhand prom dress groups on FB - we bought DD’s from there for £150, it was local as we wanted to be able to try it on first. We started looking in autumn 2023 for prom summer 2024 so you are right to think about it now.

MillieMollyMandi · 03/01/2025 19:15

My DD bought one from JJsHouse online and it was perfect. About £100 and much better quality than I was expecting from an online shop!
We just couldn't find one in an actual shop that wasn't outrageous money

MimiSunshine · 03/01/2025 19:17

There are loads of 2nd hand prom dresses around. Also look in the sales and TK MAXX, not a chance would I be spending over £100 (£400-£500 is insanity for a 16 year old to wear to a school party).

Anon1274 · 03/01/2025 19:18

tarmactreacle · 03/01/2025 17:48

Paid £30 for a dress from Shein (don't judge me - it's the only time we've shopped there and only did it then because there was nothing she liked in the shops). It was perfect for the few hours she wore it.

My friend spent £600 on a dress for her daughter.

So ... somewhere between £30 and £600

This. DD’s had 2 proms for school and 6th form, one dress was custom made and cost £300 (bargain for custom). The other she found in a market in Liverpool, not sure on the price but I think it was round £25. Have her show you a rough idea of what she’s got in mind, then work out a budget. Ignore anyone putting in their two pence what they think you can afford, whether it’s too much or too little

ArgosOrArgoose · 03/01/2025 19:18

About £200 all in with dress, shoes, bag, hair and make up.
Friends have spent upwards of £800 just on outfits though, which was more than my wedding dress and seems absurd to me.

HaggardyOldSkin · 03/01/2025 19:21

Cokezeroandlime · 03/01/2025 17:52

Ours was: Dress - £350, shoes £20-£25ish, Hair £30, Makeup £25, Nails £25. Accessories borrowed. No other costs/expenses.

This was similar to us and a lot of local friends. She did her own makeup though.

LampLass · 03/01/2025 19:21

We just bought DDs today for £339- a lot, but she is not confident generally and I think it's worth it for something that she feels amazing in!

Waitingfordoggo · 03/01/2025 19:24

DD's was £30 from Shein (like a PP- I'm not a fan of Shein at all but that's what she chose and I wasn't going to make a big scene about it. She buys the vast majority of her clothes on Vinted so at least she does her bit environmentally).

And that was it. She doesn't do nails or tans or fake eyelashes. She did her own make up and brushed her hair. She looked gorgeous, as they all do at 16 ❤️

Original poster
Kixxy · 04/01/2025 01:04

Really grateful for all of your input! Thank you.

So far, it seems like I probably won't need to be spending anywhere near as what I thought! Phew!

OP posts:
Pieceofpurplesky · 04/01/2025 01:13

Last prom (I'm a teacher) lots of girls had dresses from ASOS