Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To want to do the prom 'relatively' cheaply

57 replies

SEmyarse · 11/03/2018 07:50

I don't even know what I mean by that in terms of a number. And I certainly don't know how to go about it. Help!

My lovely dd1 is to leave school this summer. Of course, she wants to go to the prom, and I want to facilitate that, but I don't want to end up getting dragged into spending crazy money for her to stand in the corner for a couple of hours. She has significant social issues and tbh there's a good chance that she won't cope especially well with it at all. But she wants to go, so she will.

I don't do dresses. (Neither does she really). I'm a delivery driver that lives in grubby jeans - I've worn a dress 3 times in my life (for weddings - 2 my own). I've never been to a hairdressers. I've never worn make-up. I'm so far out of my comfort zone its crazy.
She's almost as bad as me although she does mess with a bit of make-up. But she lives in ripped leggings and a hoodie.

So please help me, how do I venture into this trying to navigate the dresses at the same time as managing expectations and costs? I live near Chichester if there are any recommendations of specific shops that are useful.

OP posts:
Fugitivefrombrusstice · 11/03/2018 07:53

It was a long time ago but for my prom girls got their dresses from t k max, they always have a load of stuff on sale for pretty cheap. What are you hoping to spend?

If she wants her makeup done professionally, book her in at a makeup counter for a particular brand and they will do a full face of makeup if she buys a product at the end.

Original poster
SEmyarse · 11/03/2018 07:58

Did you have to buy online? Or do TK maxx keep this stuff in store?
If I say everything together under £100, I honestly don't know if i'm being frivalous or tight such is my cluelessness.

I think she's ok with her friend doing her makeup.

OP posts:
Bettyfood · 11/03/2018 08:01

I'd have a look online with her first to see the sorts of things she likes. Is she a standard size? There is so much more choice online and it can be vastly cheaper.

Does she want to even wear a dress? Some of my female friends went and hired dinner jacket suits from a man's shop instead for a university ball, though we were a bit older and more confident, perhaps. Today I own a white tuxedo dinner suit bought inexpensively from Matalan.

There are tons of styles of dresses on Chichi, this is just using the "prom" filter:

www.chichiclothing.com/prom-dresses/

TheRebel · 11/03/2018 08:01

You could try looking online for a 2nd hand prom dress, lots of salons do a ‘prom special’ type offer which usually includes hair, make up & nails. There’s a bridal outlet shop in Worcester where you could get a bridesmaid dress fairly cheaply.

FairfaxAikman · 11/03/2018 08:02

15 years ago I got my dress in the Monsoon sale.
No one batted an eye at paying under £100 for a dress.

Maybe you could hire one? Some bridesmaid places round my way do that.

SavoyCabbage · 11/03/2018 08:03

You definitely can.

The standard booffy bejewelled dress, big hair and professional make up can be very ageing.

You may need the more kooky Topshop look by the sounds of her jeans and hoody look.

You could make her an ordinary hair appointment for the day if she wants her hair to look different without looking ‘done’.

TestingTestingWonTooFree · 11/03/2018 08:04

I’ve been horrified at the prices of second hand prom dresses on my local Facebook selling sites. Teenagers (or more likely their parents) seem to have been spending £400+. I agree that Tk maxx might be a good bet. Especially if you start looking now. They have deliveries all the time, so if you have one locally, it may be worth a few trips. (Check their returns policy to see if you can buy and then return if not suitable and she’s not with you).

Heismyopendoor · 11/03/2018 08:05

Tk maxx have lots instore. Otherwise just try department stores, maybe if she trys things on it will give you an idea of what she likes/suits and you could find something online cheaper.

Don’t go to the bridal stores, they will have nice prom dresses, but ridiculous money. Maybe have a look On Facebook too as people sell these dresses on.

IHateYourCarpet · 11/03/2018 08:07

Oh! I remember getting my prom dress in Chichester Grin

It was from Pushka, I'm fairly sure it's still there. It was relatively cheap, I think around £90. But it was a proper ball gown type dress. They do (or did) a variety of styles in there. I was like you and your DD, never really worn a dress before, and went with something plain and simple.

IHateYourCarpet · 11/03/2018 08:09

Another thought - Lipsy do really nice cocktail/prom dresses, as do warehouse. They won't break the bank and they're quite fun Smile

There's also a pretty big shop in Havant that isn't too expensive. It's half wedding, half prom dresses.

Flockoftreegulls · 11/03/2018 08:09

Debenhams have a lovely formal section, very reasonable prices and you could probably sell it afterwards.

acornsandnuts · 11/03/2018 08:10

Have you tried eBay. Dresses that have only been worn for three hours. You can always get any alterations done if you know anyone handy with a sewing machine.

The bonus with eBay is the photos are usually the actual girl wearing the dress so you can see what it really looks like not a photoshopped size 10 tall model. Primary or matalan for sandals and jewellery, go for low heel if she’s not used to it.

Can she do her own make up? If she wants to at all, lipstick and mascara can look lovely and fresh YouTube tutorials are great and she can practice again and again. But go for natural if she’s not used to it.

YouTube for hair as well. And practice with something she feels comfortable with.

Have a lovely scheduled weekly hour or two having a look on line.

Moonshinewithelvis · 11/03/2018 08:12

I agree with pp try eBay. I bought a long cocktail dress for a masquerade ball last month, it was an ex Quiz dress, paid £13 brand new with tags!

LIZS · 11/03/2018 08:14

It is perfectly possible to do it under £100. Dp have prom dresses online, some very reduced at the moment, also brands like quiz and Little Mistress may be in Debenhams.

ladylunchalot · 11/03/2018 08:15

If you've got a Next outlet shop near you have a look. I was in my local one a few weeks ago and they had great dresses including Lipstick for £10 upwards, think the dearest dress I saw was about £40. Quiz also have a lot of dressy dresses, more choice online and free to return.

shakeyourcaboose · 11/03/2018 08:16

Have mentioned already on another thread about dresses but how about looking at something from a more vintage style? Lollypop vintage or lindy bop have lovely dresses

Original poster
SEmyarse · 11/03/2018 08:17

I don't think she's even bothered about the hair and makeup especially. Makeup has been mentioned will be done by a friend (which she's ridiculously grateful for - she doesn't have many friends) and she's not even mentioned hair so I guess she just wants to wear it down as usual. It's just that she's got this mental image of a big glitzy dress, when actually I think she'll hate it when she puts it on even if we do find an achievable one. She won't even wear jeans, only leggings because she doesn't like the feel.

We've got the added complication that they had a careers day recently where they had to go in business dress. She had the plainest black dress from Primark and looked simply stunning and got loads of shocked reactions from people at school, since she had the reputation for being the extremely quiet kid who always hides in a corner and finds social situations very stressful. She actually says that she hated the attention and the other girls going on how skinny and pretty she is. But now she seems to have fallen into the trap of wanting the attention all over again, without actually wanting the attention.

OP posts:
Courgetti2203 · 11/03/2018 08:17

My daughter's dress came from www.everything5pounds.com. It was a beautiful turquoise dress, well made and incredibly flattering on her. We spent more on the jewellery and shoes and her grandfather bought her a bag from a recent trip abroad which matched perfectly.

tealandteal · 11/03/2018 08:18

I agree with pp, look on eBay for a dress. She can always wear pretty flats/sandals if she is not used to heels. If she is happy with her friend doing her make up, you could book a trip to the hair dresser even if just for a blow dry

Calvinlookingforhobbs · 11/03/2018 08:18

Make up wise go online and book in with your local MAC or Bobbi brown for them to do a make over on the day. They do them free on the hope you’ll buy the products but you don’t have to.

Calvinlookingforhobbs · 11/03/2018 08:19

Also the website, Want That Trend has lovely dresses from £20

Original poster
SEmyarse · 11/03/2018 08:20

Would the online thing be a nightmare? I've got visions of ordering and sending dresses back for weeks on end and spending more money at the post office than I might have saved anyway.

OP posts:
Carriemac · 11/03/2018 08:22

Look through the pictures of last years prom with her, discuss what looks nice, styles hair etc and ger a realistic feel of what would suit her.

FlyMaybe · 11/03/2018 08:22

TK Maxx

EBay

Also, surprisingly, Amazon.

I have to wear evening gowns for my work and have got several bargains from all of the above.

Also, another poster mentioned wearing a tux. Worn with attitude, it can look glam as anything, or as edgy and alternative as you want.

Hope your DD has a great time!