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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To have not thought at all about buying a dress for DD’s ‘prom’ yet?

62 replies

Melawati · 26/03/2022 08:23

Not exactly a TAAT, but inspired by some of the replies. Should we really have bought a dress for DD’s 6th form leaver’s do (they don’t call it a prom) already?

I’m impossibly old (obviously) but whenever I’ve needed a party/event dress in the past, with the exception of my wedding dress, I’ve just gone to the shops a few weeks before and bought one.

But I’m seeing people saying ‘Easter is too late’. Is this all a lot more complicated than I think it’s going to be?
So
YABU - DD will have to go to the ball in rags
YANBU - there will be plenty of dresses to choose from in the shops in April/May/June

OP posts:
MindPalace · 26/03/2022 08:53

At both DDs’ proms, they and their friends all bought cheap lovely dresses from ASOS if they didn’t have a dress already, did normal hair and makeup themselves, no special cars etc laid on. They all had a great time. I was dreading the whole prom stress thing from everything I’d heard here or seen on TV, but fortunately it wasn’t like that. Just like a normal party.

So plenty of time I think. X

Whitefire · 26/03/2022 08:58

DD is massive, not sure exactly her height but her legs are longer than her Dad's and he's 6ft 2. She towers over me.

One of her friends has already got hers from a charity shop, but I guess you just have to have luck on your side there.

Crackercrazy · 26/03/2022 09:15

I feel the same as you OP. My DD isn’t even sure she’s going and I’ve no idea when it’s meant to be. I’ve told her it’s her
responsibility to find a dress but if she wants help then she has to ask - she’s notoriously lazy and lives in joggers.

Thankfully, the prom is going to be in the school hall so not too posh - I hope! I’m certainly not going to be spending a lot of money on it.

Bananabutter · 26/03/2022 09:19

I left school 15 years ago and everyone was buying their dresses months in advance. It’s not new. And yes, if you want a decent dress just anyone could have then Easter is too late.

Bananabutter · 26/03/2022 09:19

*not just

Dietcokeaddiction · 26/03/2022 09:23

Dd had one prom in year 11 and another in year 13. Both dresses bought off the internet a few weeks before. Shoes already owned. No accessories, tan, nails or fake eyelashes thank God. Just half an hour with her friends in our bathroom getting ready. They all look gorgeous.

2pinkginsplease · 26/03/2022 09:25

If she wants the experience of shopping for a dress at a boutique or actual prom dress shop then you need to get in quick, all my daughters friends who did this had their dresses by The end of March.

If you’re like dd who couldn’t make up her mind, didn’t want a huge dress and didn’t want me to spend a lot of money then we got it from Coast online.

balalake · 26/03/2022 09:26

Why not instead donate money towards the appeal to help those who have been forced to leave Ukraine, and your DD not attend the event.

LIZS · 26/03/2022 09:27

@Change123today

There did seem a difference between the y11 prom and year 13 prom - year 11 seemed to be much more fancy, dresses much more prom like, limo etc Year 13 dresses more asos/oh Polly. I know my daughter just had a simple black dress for yr13. Less fussy & alot easier (cheaper too!) No limos etc
That was our experience too. More £ and glamour for the year 11. Year 13 it was almost a competition for the best bargain.
Ionlydomassiveones · 26/03/2022 09:30

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn at the poster's request.

HPandTheNeverEndingBedtime · 26/03/2022 09:32

Some of my Yr 11s were telling me how the local bridal shop puts a tag on the dress hangers so that nobody at the same school can buy the same prom dress, I don't know how wide spread that method is though but my Yr 11s buying local will have less choice if they buy later. . Of course you can always buy online or from further afield.

Wiredforsound · 26/03/2022 09:33

Nope, mine has hers, but only because she was mooching around a charity shop and saw it on sale for £20. Job done.

Weightscales · 26/03/2022 09:34

Alot of people buy their prom dress from Wedding dress shops and they need to be ordered in. So yeah Easter in that instances might be too late.

But if you're buying one off the rack of course it's no issue.

lanthanum · 26/03/2022 09:45

We've had no official information about the prom yet (eg date, cost) other than £5 off ticket for attending 10 revision sessions. DD hates shopping and dresses. I wouldn't be surprised if her crowd, which includes a few non-binary kids, decide to all go in suits, which would be a lot easier. I have told her that we do need some notice for buying a dress...

Hankunamatata · 26/03/2022 09:45

Back in the day I just got mine off rack from tkmaxx

Notarealmum · 26/03/2022 09:51

Just out of interest, when did all this prom business start in the UK (I’m assuming OPs are in the UK)? I’m really quite suprised to read it’s such a big thing here now (I’m old and kids grown up).

materialrealitygirl · 26/03/2022 09:55

The only time of year it's difficult to buy a dress is in the early autumn IME. I noticed this as I used to attend a regular black tie event for work in the autumn, and I discovered that it's a rubbish time to buy a dress as the shops have stopped selling their summer dresses but not yet put out their Christmas party dresses. And autumn ranges tend to be separates. But even then it was perfectly possible, just took a little more effort.

Should be fine between now and June!

DeckTheHallsWithGin · 26/03/2022 09:59

@Notarealmum

Just out of interest, when did all this prom business start in the UK (I’m assuming OPs are in the UK)? I’m really quite suprised to read it’s such a big thing here now (I’m old and kids grown up).
I’m mid 40s and we had a prom with limos etc so it’s been a thing for a long time in the UK.
WhatIsThisPlease · 26/03/2022 10:00

No, me neither.

Easterbunnyiswindowshopping · 26/03/2022 10:02

Dd's is ordered and deposit paid. Fitting for hem is April..
Prom of July.
Dress shops in our area keep a log of school and dress +colour so no multiple girls turn up on the same dress!

MatildaJayne · 26/03/2022 10:03

My DS went in this suit. Good job he had fun because his sixth form do was cancelled in 2020.

To have not thought at all about buying a dress for DD’s ‘prom’ yet?
ButYouBetterNotTakeItFromMe · 26/03/2022 10:06

I don't think I even bought my wedding dress much more than a couple of months in advance. Some people do get a bit carried away with this kind of thing. When all said and done, it's just a kids' party. I wouldn't give it a second thought at this stage. Well to be honest, for an end of 6th form do I wouldn't give it a second thought at all as I'd expect them to be sorting it out themselves if they want to go.

Whitefire · 26/03/2022 10:10

@balalake

Why not instead donate money towards the appeal to help those who have been forced to leave Ukraine, and your DD not attend the event.
Go take your preaching somewhere else. I
CremeEggThief · 26/03/2022 10:10

Well there's still time, but it is a bit late to only be thinking of it now. Most salons will have had their bookings for prom hair and beauty open for a while by now too.

mizu · 26/03/2022 10:14

DD1 got hers from depop last year for £27!! Gorgeous burnt orange satin. DD2 has been looking but we have found nothing yet. And I don't want to be spending much either.

Of course it's not too late. Some people are just more organised than others Grin