To want to do the prom 'relatively' cheaply

[SEmyarse]

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.

We managed prom for way under £100, try the on line shops like ASOS or BooHoo, dresses for £35-45. Shoes in the sale maybe, borrow shoes or cheap shoes from New Look or BooHoo. Get a friend to do hair & make up - maybe a group of girls or a couple of friends can get ready together and do each other’s hair & make up; or have a go hersel. If she wants a self tan try dove moisturising lotion with a little tanning in it. Prom can be done for a lot less money than many spend and still look fab!

OP try and get to an outlet centre! We went to Clarke’s village a few years ago and they were selling designer dresses quite cheaply. Actually the had a bridesmaid dress I wore to one wedding at about £60 but we bought it from the shop for about £180.

Good luck!

Sorry re: the shoes. Some people find wedge heals easier to walk in and they can still be very pretty (Am i old? Is that hugely unfashionable?) I would do the same thing with shoes. Once you have a dress try on different shoes. Half the girls at my prom were wearing flat sandals and especially if she's wearing a long dress you wont really see them

I just found some lovely dresses in the sale at Dorothy Perkins. m.dorothyperkins.com/en/dpuk/product/showcase-dove-grey-sadie-maxi-dress-7464282

You have time op and yanbu, have a look at www.jjshouse.com
But all the pps reccomendations are great too.
Not necessarily for the dresses although they are glam but the shoes are amazing.

It's worth paying the £15 delivery for quick shipment.

Could you go in a window shop spree to find her style and then bide you Time to get a cheaper one.

For the love of god, buy the dress in advance. Practise the makeup in advance.

I didn't like dresses or makeup either and a pissed friend of my mothers was co-opted to do it on the day. It was horrific and I was shoved out the door without realising how bad I looked. It was only in the toilets later that I saw myself and realised how fucking bad it was. Along with the cheap knock dress she had shoved me into when the original had looked amazing and was only a few quid more ( we were far from needing to save a few quid in those days ).

Nobody walks well in heels - clump clump clump - so don't worry about that. Get a cheap pair of staggerers if she wants, won't do any harm for a couple of hours.

Charity shops for dresses. Hours of fun!