To ask where to buy a prom dress in London?

[brodybear]

Any advice on where to look for a prom/formal dress for DD that doesn't cost £500

Also Comefromaway makes an excellent point. If you need to go in to order, return twice for fittings and then again to collect you're going to spending a lot of time travelling the length of the country over the next few months. Obviously your choice to do so, but worth bearing in mind and adding to the cost of the dress (I'm assuming budget is a concern as you mention it being not more than £500).

Less than £500 and not a chain store in London? Good luck op.

Again, that's why I was asking for adviceZ. Don't really need 'good luck' I was only asking if anyone knew of a place that might be worth checking out. I don't realise it was such a problem question.

Go to Debenhams. They are on the verge of going bust so need lots of folks to shop there to save the jobs of the several thousand of people who work there.
They sell dresses of loads of different styles. I am sure there will be something suitable for a prom.

We don't want to buy in Debenhams. We have already spent hours checking out the chains which is why I was asking about independent London shops.

I was trying to be helpful. You said you were from Scotland. I asked if you were currently living near London, you said no.

Prom dresses (unless from a chain) are sold in the same way as wedding dresses are. You choose your colour and style after trying on a selection of samples and the dress is ordered into the shop specially for you. You then go for regular fittings. You are not allowed to cancel your order as they are made to measure.

If you live near enough to London to take your dd in for fittings, then great, people have reccomended shops in Finsbury Park. But thats not what you said.

@Foslady I was just thinking about Vivienne's when I saw your comment. Wonderful place but only for their specific style (which I love).

There are some shops round Finsbury Park who could tailor make a dress. They sell occasion wear. They do a lot of cultural outfits too. It's a bit of an odd place but would fit your price range and you might find a treasure.

Failing that, massive topshop on Oxford St! If nothing, then you can try the Oxford st department stores.

Also Comefromaway makes an excellent point.

If you need to go in to order, return twice for fittings and then again to collect you're going to spending a lot of time travelling the length of the country over the next few months. Obviously your choice to do so, but worth bearing in mind and adding to the cost of the dress (I'm assuming budget is a concern as you mention it being not more than £500).

But my point that I'm looking to buy in London isn't valid?

Does it have to be Londin though? Why not just google prom dress shops and see where you can find something she likes and go there? Find the dress then find the place?

Fonthill road in Finsbury park. All independent stores where you can try on a variety of different styles of prom dresses. You can also get alterations done while you wait

I was trying to be helpful. You said you were from Scotland. I asked if you were currently living near London, you said no.

I didn't find it helpful. I found it frustrating because I am having to reply to things that are irrelevant.

I will be checking out the Finsbury Park suggestsions.

You’re coming across as very rude when people are just trying to give you advice.
Fonthill Road in Finsbury Park has loads of prom dress shops.
Personally I went to a bridal shop near me (North London) and found a dress.

Brodybear you're being over-sensitive. Where did I say it wasn't valid? Buy wherever you want. Fly to Dubai and buy a dress there if it's what you want to do. But be prepared for the possibility that it may not be as simple as going in and buying a dress and walking out with it if you're shopping in independent boutiques, but may require multiple return visits. Also, the smaller and more exclusive the shop, you may find you need to book an appointment to even look at dresses in the first place.

If you don't live in London I certainly wouldn't be buying a dress which will require 1-2 fitting appointments from a shop in London. It seems a very bonkers idea when literally any large city will have shops which stock long prom style dresses.

You are finding it frustrating becasue we are not giving you the answers you want to.

If you had said I am willing to travel into London 4/5 times for the initial appointment/fittings/collection then fine, I would not have questioned that.

I just got the impression you thought you could rock up to a shop (many are appointment only) try a dress on, buy it and take it home the same way as you can in a chain shop.

If that's not what you want to hear then I'm sorry but I'm not going to mislead anyone.

Can I just point out chain shops in London, especially central London, have much more of a selection than elsewhere. The Oxford Street House of Fraser and John Lewis have loads of formal dresses.

There’s also Dress 2 Party bear Selfeidges, but I’m not sure how much you’d find under £500.

Do you want to buy or rent? There are some amazing rental dress shops in London for prom.

Fonthill road in Finsbury Park is what you’re looking for and I don’t think you are asking a stupid question at all

There were some beautiful ones in Oxford Street John Lewis when I went last year.

I'm not trying to be rude. Honestly.

I'm frustrated to the max because I asked about shops in london and have spent most of the thread trying to reiterate that I want to buy in London. Posters questioning why and what I should be doing and making me feel that I have to constantly reply to things that I didn't ask is making me frustrated.

Apologies if I came across as rude. It wasn't intended, I just feel like I am tearing out my hair trying to make my question valid.

Elsa in Muswell Hill has an 'outlet' downstairs with more affordable dresses.

I'm pretty sure you could take the dress away with you and use a dressmaker near home rather than coming back to London (same for a lot of the shops). You can always call the shops in advance before you go to narrow down ones where you can take the dress away.

Good luck & happy shopping!

You are finding it frustrating becasue we are not giving you the answers you want to.

That's because I am asking about a dress and you are telling me about everything but.

If you had said I am willing to travel into London 4/5 times for the initial appointment/fittings/collection then fine, I would not have questioned that.

Why are you questioning it though? I literally asked about shops to consider in London. How I get there, how many times, where I live, etc etc is not really relevant to anyone but me.

Why London though? As people have said it's a big place. If you live just outside Zone 6 and getting into London is a half hour train journey then that makes sense but if you are coming from somewhere like Swindon or Leamington Spa or Corby or wherever then it does make a difference.
I think you are being a bit rude to those responding to your query.
Oh and personally I think most prom dresses are ugly and look daft on 16 year old girls (I assume that's who you are buying for). But that's my opinion.

I was also going to suggest Fonthill Road in Finsbury Park (its right next to the station). A few years ago I met a lady on a bus who had bought her dd her prom dress from one of the shops there and she said she had a huge amount of choice.

If you don't live in London I certainly wouldn't be buying a dress which will require 1-2 fitting appointments from a shop in London.

That's great. But it's me buying the dress, not you, and I am asking about shops in London.

It seems a very bonkers idea when literally any large city will have shops which stock long prom style dresses.

But London is our city of choice. Not sure why that is a problem.

People have said I am being rude, and I really don't mean to, but this is an good example of why I am coming across so. I am asking about shops in London. Not opinions on where I should buy. I'm sorry to keep saying it, but it's really wasting my thread now.

Why London though?

Because we chose London. Sorry I don't have a better explanation.

As people have said it's a big place.

As I have said, I know.

If you live just outside Zone 6 and getting into London is a half hour train journey then that makes sense but if you are coming from somewhere like Swindon or Leamington Spa or Corby or wherever then it does make a difference.

I have already said I live in NE Scotland.

Ithink you are being a bit rude to those responding to your query.

No, I have thanked people who responded to my query for their advice. I am constantly reminding people, like you, who have come on to question my query but with no actual relevant input to the query, that is not what I am asking.

Oh and personally I think most prom dresses are ugly and look daft on 16 year old girls (I assume that's who you are buying for). But that's my opinion.

Personally, I don't give a fuck what you think (yes that WAS rude, but it was rude in response to your rudeness, so that's ok)

She isn't 16. She is 18.

Don't make assumptions. The thread of full of needless assumptions already.

I don't care for your opinion on prom dresses.

Thanks again to everyone for the suggestions.