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

[Melawati]

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

Proms existed when I left school in 2004 but they were called Balls...

(Year 6 Proms don't require all this flippery do they? Although DH has already offered both children a lift to the year 11 Prom on his motorbike... (200m from school, no way are we paying for transport!)

We can't buy one yet for our year 11. The school are extremely toxic and take away/ reinstate prom privileges every couple of weeks . My daughter is currently not allowed to attend after having to be in hospital. If I had the money I'd be throwing a 'fuck you school' party.

Don’t buy a cheap one from China if your leaving it to the last moment
They never fit and you’ll end up paying for it to be altered.

I've been looking online as it hadn't even crossed my mind until the other thread. There's lots of choices from places like JJs where you can get a dress made in almost any colour, and delivery was showing as mid April, so that would be plenty of time. It depends how particular your dd is about the colour and style of dress, in combination with ebay, ChiChi London, Coast, Quiz, etc you'll definitely find something.
I can't tell whether CremeEgg Thief is joking about the hair and beauty salons booking up months in advance. Surely most girls don't have all these appointments, and all the proms will be on different dates?

DD got hers from Depop - it needed a slight adjustment (it was a bit low cut on her for her liking) but I think she only got it a couple of weeks beforehand. She's also worn it to at least one do at university now as well.

Hair and makeup done by her and friends with a glass of wine at home before leaving.

@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.

It's not really an either/or situation

Ideas for off the shelf online include chichi London, ever pretty, jjs house, goddiva, agown. If she is under 5'9 most may need hemming so I would suggest looking for recommendations for a local seamstress unless you / family and talented in this way.

My DD's have bought from these successfully and i have learnt to alter, they are semi pro classical musicians so needed them from young, plus the balls at school etc

For make up you might be able to to book it at boots, I did once, another time they had a free makeover a couple of weeks before then money for a bit of new makeup, cheaper than professional makeup

DD is not really a hair and make up appointment type. Of course it's hard to tell what the norm is as there hasn't been one for two years but I don't get the sense that this will be expected.

For my high school prom some girls had their dresses specially ordered according to their measurements and the like. There was also one boutique that took prom dresses very seriously and you had to book a consultation. They kept a list of who bought what dress from what school so no one would end up wearing the same dress as a classmate.

If DD isn’t bothered about this then you should be fine. I had to do with a £40 shift dress from Next that I loved. Most said my dress was boring but in hindsight, looking back at the photos, it was actually a timeless classic piece that stood the rest of time better than the designer bubble skirt/meringue monstrosities that were considered cool at the time.

My niece wore a jumpsuit to her prom, and she looked fab. She really didn't care that all her female friends were in fancy dresses - in fact, she enjoyed being a bit different.

@Hbh17

My niece wore a jumpsuit to her prom, and she looked fab. She really didn't care that all her female friends were in fancy dresses - in fact, she enjoyed being a bit different.

I've suggested that for DD, and it wasn't totally rejected. It may be an issue getting it right for her mile long legs though.