How do I go about getting a prom dress for DD?

[PrincessOfPreschool]

No idea where to start, really. She has a fixed idea of what she wants, which is a bit different to majority of dresses, but has not tried on anything so doesn't really know if she'd like it. Where do you go to try them on? What are best websites once we have an idea? Is buying online not a good idea?

DD was at an independent school and there was a broad mix of approaches, genuinely couldn’t tell on the night who’d spent what.
DD had tan, nails etc done by my regular beautician at regular prices. Hair and makeup were by two separate people a group of them hired to come to the house. She wasn’t over enamoured of results of either and for subsequent events has always done her own makeup. However I think the prom is a bit of a learning experience for some of this and assuming it’s manageable for family finances can be a useful life experience.
Her shoes were £100ish but actually shocking to realise it was nearly 7 years ago so with inflation might be more like £150 now. She has worn them to a lot of events subsequently to the extent they are really looking a bit scruffy now so they definitely earned their keep. Can hardly think of anything in her wardrobe with that longevity!
We didn’t hire any transport through indecisiveness and disorganisation but amongst her friendship group there were enough mid life crisis dad cars that they arrived in Porsches etc anyway which was good enough.

DD got hers for £100 from FB marketplace. The mother and daughter selling it were lovely and tried to recreate the ‘boutique’ experience in their home.

Around here they start being listed about now, DD’s will be on there soon as she says she’ll never have a reason to wear it again 🤷‍♀️

If the dress doesn't fit you can get it altered pretty reasonably, but will probably need to get in early. One of the recommended seamstresses round here now does a pop up prom dress shop.

DD's lace dress was £70 from Ever Pretty online. They do take a % if you send back more than a certain number of dresses though, so don't overorder if you use them. They have a huge selection of lovely dresses.

A lot of charity shops around here sell prom dresses which are either worn once, or are seconds from fancy shops. We also have a Next in the outlet shopping village which has cheaper dresses, end of lines etc.

DD isn't into nails or makeup, so I did them myself for her, and my hairdresser did her a lovely curly updo for about £25. Shoes were flat sandals (she doesn't do heels) for £15. Her handbag and jewellery were from vinted and her hair comb from Amazon.

My brother drove her in his truck, which I had valeted so that it was clean and shiny.

It depends on your budget. The wedding /prom/designer shops will have dresses in usually £500+.

Vinted/ebay /facebook marketplace etc are a cheaper option.

I'd avoid the cheap online ones like jjs house as they are often terrible quality/scam.

We managed to find an outlet shop near us that sold previous years stock cheap dresses ranged from £50 up.

High street stores may have some dresses in although they probably won't be the big Princess type ones.

Or if you know any older girls you could ask if they are willing to sell/lend their dresses.

Prom can get expensive through, for my eldest we left it too late, couldn't afford the ££££ dresses so she ended up in a borrowed dress. Second dd we started looking the year before and found the outlet store and got an amazing one for £200. But there was also makeup, hair, shoes, nails etc and transport. Both mine wanted to go in a hired car with their friends. I'd say I spent around £500 each despite trying to keep budget very cheap. That was 6and 8 years ago.

I bought DD's from TKMaxx.

Also worth looking at John Lewis Dress Hire
JL Rental or other dress hire shops

That is a brilliant idea! Thank you. Also to look on FB marketplace so we can try it on.

I gave her a £10 budget and she looked amazing

Dress was £8 from vinted. They did each other’s hair. I did her make up as she doesn’t really wear it. She’s never been into nails. Borrowed some shoes. I lent her a bag. Family member drove them to prom in their slightly fancier than average car.

The prom ticket cost more than the prom prep.

DD1's prom dress was from JJ's house and DD2's from Stacees https://www.stacees.co.uk

We did the same as @Bankholidayhelp , bought a range from Vinted (plus one at a flea market), spent less than £50 in total. Some still have the tags on. I might resell although I do like the idea of helping others

We're in Essex and the school is very NOT posh so I can imagine the fake tans will be dark and the dresses revealing. It does take some of the pressure off expensive dresses although DDs close friends are big spenders

I gave her a £10 budget and she looked amazing

£10?!

Any good?

www.jjshouse.com/ball-gown-princess-square-sweep-train-satin-prom-dresses-018310533-g310533?currency=GBP&utm_term=310533&utm_size=10&country=GB&country=GB&currency=GBP&ggntk=x&ggkey=&ggtgt=18&ggplm=&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADmGZzTKRvT2iB76B_vrgDBstvaeZ&gclid=CjwKCAiA7Y28BhAnEiwAAdOJUD0sSmG3KqrBQ3m5D9Qz8LarANeqS6aTeeJk656GIU5GRtGY9O6J2BoCwhkQAvD_BwE#/

Thanks. Will show her tomorrow. Got a bit over excited on Vinted too.

Ebay could be worth looking at.

Vinted or there are loads of dresses to rent on t'nternet

Meant to say charity shops too. It's a crying shame that so many dresses are only worn once

If you have a chance to go to London, go to Fonthill Road where they have loads of prom dress shops who usually sell wholesale. We bought a stunning one for DD for well under £100 when the same dress was on sale near us for £300. Very close to Finsbury Park tube station.

Brilliant tip, thank you. I really needed that. We've just had an argument in the car (this seems constant these days) as she was telling me about her friend's 'gorgeous' dress but it was 380.00. So, I said I've seen some similar on Vinted and there's loads, I'm sure we can get one for much less. She then said, "I am NOT getting my prom dress from Vinted." She is usually very undemanding so it's strange. So I said, why not. And then she just repeated that's she is NOT getting one secondhand. So I said she can have 100.00, no more. I'm not spending ridiculous amounts on a dress that we will likely not be worn again (she goes off things 🙄). Then she sulked and I got annoyed. I hate GCSEs. My genuinely delightful DD has turned into a stroppy monster recently.

If she doesn't want 2nd hand, try ChiChi London.

DD's friend's dress cost £600 and she didn't look better than DD.

Stick to your guns, OP 💪 it's a valuable life lesson.

How tall js she?

If she's petite this could be a maxi (it would be on me at 5'1!

https://clubllondon.com/products/parina-red-strappy-volume-hem-midi-dress-cl135424004?variant=42046217912362&country=GB&currency=GBP&utmmedium=producttsync&utmsource=google&utmmcontent=sagorganic&utmmcampaign=sagorganic&gaddsource=1&gbraid=0AAAAADCHewJqzkhzjB21hKwZtOPm0qlsF&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIkf2l5KPzigMVfIBQBh3wOjobEAQYCCABEgJRFPD_BwE

@PrincessOfPreschool when we went to Fonthill Road, DD's friend managed to get an amazing dress at around £50. I think the girls loved seeing other people trying on dresses and the choice was so vast that we knew they were not going to leave empty handed! Best to get there early if you go as we spent the entire day there!!!

@freefreezingmytoesoff , that's lovely. I think after seeing some she may be going slightly more glam... But who knows in the end.

@wondabar oh dear! Too much choice and she freezes. Might have to take some moral support for myself/ her - either a friend of hers or DH. Did you just go with your DD and one friend?

I searched Next Clearance for term like 'prom dress' 'occasion dress' and ordered lots for dd to try on. She found one on about the 6th order attempt very different from what she thought. We just returned the rest. They have lots of brands like Chi Chi and Lipsy. I think hers was a bridesmaid dress really.