DD has a mother with no style, needs prom help please!

[Promenot]

DD (10) has a prom at the end of the year and I'm trying to help her find a dress for it. Problem is I have only just enough 'style' to spare to get myself dressed in jeans and a t-shirt in the morning, have no idea how 'fancy' the prom will actually be and we're a bit strapped so if I could find something for a tenner or thereabouts that would be fab! So I, or rather poor dd with her grungey mother, need serious S&B help.

I'm thinking as we don't know how OTT the prom will be (school have only said 'suits/dresses' as dress code and no-one else seems to know) that DD should go somewhere in the middle - not too casual but not 'could pass for a bridesmaid' either, so she doesn't stick out like a sore thumb - is that right or will everyone be in 'gypsy wedding' regalia? Her only thought is the dress should be lilac or purple.

Found a few candidates on ebay - if anyone could say yay/nay or suggest something else that'd be fab;

the purple version of these

or this

this comes in purple but too casual? even with accessories?

more of a 'prom' one?

Schools ought to ask the PTA to draw up 'idiots guides' where I just choose the budget for the outfit and hand over the cash . TIA!

I think you're absolutely right about going somewhere in between - usually better to be underdressed than overdressed i think. Personally I prefer the plainer non patterned dresses you linked to and think they are somewhat more 'prommy'.

Bumping for you. I'm really glad DDs went to lazer quest and raft building as their Y6 leaving treats.

I think a simple bridesmaids party dress off E bay is your best.

That age are not going to wear a little girls party dress again. Anything over £20 is a waste if you aren't going to a wedding or similar.

Only suggestion that might get re-worn is a lace or lace top chiffon skirted dress which are worn by much older teens.
DD2(16)'s dressy dress is the latter. My 13y has a very adult playsuit, not a party dress.

This is pretty here not sure if it is purple enough?

or this one here

or here

I'm on a roll here

Bit fancier here

A bit more expensive but still under £20 here