Black tie dress for a cash strapped student

[reluctantbrit]

DD is a member of a society which has a black tie event which looks like the women are wearing prom style dresses.

DD never went to prom so doesn't have anything suitable in her wardrobe.

Can anyone recommend a brick and mortar shop she can go to and try the dresses on?

Curvy shape, size 14 with a bit of tummy, cup size 34 E. Pastels don't suit her, she looks great in black or other strong colours, navy, wine for example.

She is in Lincoln but can go to Sheffield or York for a day.

Budget around £150 for the dress. The event was never really mentioned so it comes as a surprise and it wasn't budgeted for.

As she never went to prom I am happy to pay for it/towards it but also don't want to pay a fortune for a dress she may not wear again.

Thanks again, I will check in with her at the weekend.

Ordering is a definitely no-go unless she orders to a store. So Vinted is not possible.

I never thought about New Look.

@GingerScienceFreak - thanks, I will let her now.

I don’t think they stock them in store but I just got a Yumi Skater dress from Next for a black tie event. Everyone said the dress looked lovely. I am a curvy size 16 with the same bra size. I got a Navy one with a bit of a floral pattern. I ordered it at 9pm for next day delivery to the my local Next store. It fit so nicely!

I am a size 16 on top & a 34 back so it is possible

Monsoon or Coast used to be my go to bricks and mortar shops.

ASOS came up trumps for inexpensive prom-style dresses for my DDs.

But charity shops are a good idea, although she'll have to put in some legwork to find something.

TK Maxx is where I got most of my evening gowns at uni.

Also worth giving a few bridal places a call - for example, my local one is currently selling their sample bridesmaid dresses off at £25 each, which would make lovely evening gowns.

Thanks. She teamed up with two others and they will go to Sheffield next weekend

@Cakeisactuallymymiddlename Haven’t Coast closed?

I think some of the dresses suggested just aren’t what students wear. Some are what I would wear aged 70!

ASOS is the go to. Get them delivered to Lincoln and try them on. Return the ones that don’t work. Why travel to Sheffield? JL has closed - it’s hardly a Mecca for posh dresses. Most dc will wear something cheap and plain. A little black dress for example. Few students do “look at me” gold or sequins. Plus sequins are scratchy when your arms are against them. Jazz a dress up with some jewellery and sparkly shoes. A plain dress can be worn again as well.

Haven't read through comments, so apologies if it has already been mentioned.
Debenhams has a sale on at the moment and there are loads of dresses between £10-30 that are formal evening ones. I know it doesn't quite fulfill the brief as she won't be able to try on, but for that price it is probably worth the risk of ordering and either selling on/sending back. Had quite a lot of choice in size 14 as annoyingly I was looking for an 8 and an 18 and they had plenty with all the sizes in the middle!

Hi all, she is determind to shop in person, so please, no more suggestions for online. She can't handle the stress. Normal clothes are already difficult enough and a special occassion is just too much for her.

I leave this thread now, thanks for your help.

Ok. We always found shopping in person awful. No sizes and no choice. Anyway, no more suggestions from me.

Such lovely ideas x