Prom dress shopping fiasco

[Cheshirecatwoman]

Yes IABU but want to vent after prom dress shopping nightmare with dd.

Yes I should have done research before booking and realised the (ridiculous) prices. They weren’t included on the website though.

Maybe we should have left when I realised that the price I had in mind was £115 pounds less than the cheapest dress.

Yes I should have stood firm instead of being cajoled and coerced by an overzealous saleswoman. (Even though I’d have looked like a horrible parent).

It’s not that we can’t afford it, more that it seems in particularly bad taste, especially in the current climate, to spend so much on one dress. Especially when it doesn’t tick all the boxes and needs altering. The whole thing feels a bit crude.

Dd is very easily led and loves being complimented. She is eager to please and not seem rude. She would look lovely in anything though. I feel that the sales pitch was directly at her, and my queries and misgivings were glossed over. An easy day for the sales assistant……

Basically I should have been an adult but I failed.

My £520 prom dress was bought during the run up to summer 2021. There was a huge shortage of dresses after the pandemic.

The shop had no option to order different colours/sizes. You went into the shop and bought what you could. We weren’t even convinced the prom was going ahead.

I hope things are better this year.

DD2 dress is hanging in her wardrobe. £420 down the drain. Her prom was also cancelled. No one seems to want to buy second hand, even though it’s never been worn.

That’s especially sad for your daughter.

Tbh I got to the point I’d have paid anything for it just to go ahead, which it did in the end. The 2020 leavers had a very sad time of it.

@Invasionofthegutsnatchers

Luckily my DD is a tomboy and wants a jumpsuit. She hates dresses.

I know two girls who wore jumpsuits last year and looked fantastic

Oh dear OP, you were daft! 😅. At least you realise it.

Maybe you can sell it afterwards.

One of my DDs wore a dress that was £7 (very marked down in sale) for her graduation. I joked that I was more proud of her thriftiness than her degree ( it was definitely a JOKE though). A lot of young women look amazing in anything.

We had the same problem last year , there were some lovely dresses in quiz and Debenhams closing down sale but limited sizes . After several shopping trips both high street and 3 prom shops later we had a £350 dress that I was not planning ! (And still needed adjustment)
My daughter is still grateful for her dress and the joy on her face when she found something perfect was worth it. Her shoes were a Christmas present , nails done herself and hair done at home . Friend also drove her in their nice car so pulled back on the rest .
So many girls were being fitted for a dress that never went ahead so we were very grateful that she got a chance to wear it ( and actually wore it twice )
Honestly if you can afford it just let her enjoy it now

holy shit!!! I'm American, never went to a prom, and those dresses cost more than my wedding dress!!! I am truly shocked!!!!

I think it's time for the Duck Tape Prom Attire Competition to cross the Pond!! www.duckbrand.com/stuck-at-prom

I too am shocked at the prices. My dd's prom was 6 years ago. She had in mind she wanted a red dress. She ended up with something blue. It was last season and cost us something in double figures, I forget how much exactly, but at least half my budget. She wore it for a few hours and hasn't touched it since. I can't imagine chucking multiple hundreds of pounds on a dress for a teenager.

@Lunalicious

Proms are a ridiculous American import. YABU for propagating it.

A lot of traditions are copied from different cultures and nations. The fact that the tradition was started in another country is not a reason to make your child feel like shit when 99% of kids in their year are taking part.

We are hiring! Have an amazing shop nearby that does all alterations and covers insurance for £69. She also checks that no one else is wearing the same dress at the same prom. Amazing and so much better for the environment!!