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Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

Original poster

Prom dresses which hit the floor. Really?

55 replies

Spidermama · 25/01/2015 17:00

Am I really going to have to fork out a load of money for a long prom dress DD will probably never wear again?

They're all getting excited about the prom. Fair enough. Obviously I want her to feel beautiful if that's what she wants and to have a good time but why LONG DRESSES? At least if we bought a shorter dress there's a chance she'll wear it again.

OP posts:
KatyMac · 25/01/2015 17:05

DD wore hers (short one) again & again - mind you she does have that sort of lifestyle Hmm

Hang on I'll find a photo.....

Prom dresses which hit the floor. Really?
KiaOraOAotearoa · 25/01/2015 17:08

I'm afraid it's one of those things that we fork money out for, knowing that we might as well have trown them down the drain.
Unless...you get a very very beautiful (ie expensive with no 'satin' in sight) classic ball gown that she can use in years to come.
I 'made' mine look at old photos of ball/prom gowns to see which ones look terrible/outdated. We agreed not to go anywhere near satin meringues.
We've got a few years to wait for that though.

Original poster
Spidermama · 25/01/2015 17:09

That's really lovely. I think a short one is far more sensible, but dd seems to think 'all the other girls will be wearing maxis'.

OP posts:
KiaOraOAotearoa · 25/01/2015 17:09

katymac, what a beautiful daughter you have!!!!

Greencurtain · 25/01/2015 17:10

Can't you just ebay it straight after the prom in nearly new condition and get most of the money back?

TessTackle · 25/01/2015 17:10

Asos is your friend here.

Then pop it on eBay after prom.

Lyndie · 25/01/2015 17:11

How old is she? If she goes to Uni she'll need one for balls and things.

mrscumberbatch · 25/01/2015 17:11

My Dsis was beautiful, floor length but could be dressed up or down.
It's part of her holiday wardrobe staples now and she wears it at least a few times every year (for the last 8!)

KatyMac · 25/01/2015 17:11

I have a couple of very OTT ones we are selling - if I can find pictures I can PM them to you & it might put her off

Thanks Kia

GraysAnalogy · 25/01/2015 17:12

This isn't even a new thing. Leavers do's here have happened for decades and all were really OTT floor length dresses.

ladyisabellawrotham · 25/01/2015 17:13

Gosh Katy that's made me realise I've been reading with interest about your daughter and her dancing for years and years - so strange to actually see her lovely face after such a long time. Grin at the inevitable ballet feet. Pretty dress too.

arlagirl · 25/01/2015 17:15

Dd got a beautiful Grecian style dress from Oasis...full length..£60. She's worn it since.

thenightsky · 25/01/2015 17:16

DD had a long one, buy straight sheath style with a slash up one side to just above the knee. It is lovely and classic looking and we have both worn it a lot since. It came from an upmarket dress agency and was second hand.

bruffin · 25/01/2015 17:21

dd had this one She tried on some long ones but preferred this one.

dementedma · 25/01/2015 17:24

If anyone is selling a long one size 14/16 which would suit an ...ahem...older lady who has a formal awards dinner to go to, then give me a shout. No pastels, frills or flounces!!!

stareatthetvscreen · 25/01/2015 17:25

try debenhams a dept called quiz sells lovely long dresses £60

museumum · 25/01/2015 17:27

If she's gojng to uni it might well get trotted out for every formal occasion. My first year ball dress was worn right through uni to lots if black tue dos.

TranquilityofSolitude · 25/01/2015 17:32

Don't make the mistake we made! Bought one for DD at Christmas when she was a size 14. By the time we'd made it through GCSEs she was a size 10 and we had a frantic foray into TK Maxx to find a new one with only a couple of days to go! Just bought a full-length dress for DD2 in the John Lewis sale for £40, so it's possible to find a bargain if you're prepared to look.

bruffin · 25/01/2015 17:39

Quiz have their own shops as well, we were in the Westfield one yesterday.

StainlessSteelBegonia · 25/01/2015 17:43

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

stareatthetvscreen · 25/01/2015 19:28

i love that dress bruffin

TheOriginalWinkly · 25/01/2015 19:32

It isn't wasted money though. The dress is so important. I could tell you exactly what all my friends wore to our school formal, 16 years ago. Mine was a lovely floor length fuschia dress with a sweetheart neckline, I felt so beautiful :)

BestIsWest · 25/01/2015 19:37

As PPs gave said, Quiz. DS and DNeice had theirs last year and she had a lovely dress from there. TK Maxx is also worth keeping an eye on. There were some parents who went over the top and spent £500 but they were few and far between.

snowflakesandsparkles · 25/01/2015 21:02

I feel your pain OP! DD's going to her boyfriends school formal soon and has her heart set on a Sherri Hill dress, she enthusiastically showed me it. Saw the price and laughed her straight out of the room, £600 quid! I felt a bit bad though but it's bloody ridiculous for a one off. Confused

Theas18 · 25/01/2015 21:07

Dd1 found hers in oxfam for a tenner! Full length red and stunning. Dd2 will probably have a 50s style one from lady v of London - she's 50s shaped and will look fab in it.

Buying DS a new Dj was more ££ but he'll wear it lots.