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Teenagers

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

Original poster

Prom dress

26 replies

LittleEsme · 26/02/2022 12:27

Its utter madness.
I bloody hate it.
Expensive.
Adult.
Cleavage and orange fake tan.
Paying for make-up and hair.
Dresses that look like bridal gowns.

Just, why??!

I thought DD would resist and remain 'natural' and original in her own beautiful style, but she's just asked me when are we booking into somewhere to buy a dress.

SadConfused

I don't like any of them!

OP posts:
sofakingcool · 26/02/2022 12:53

I know what you mean, but it's not really for you to like Sad. It's tough being a parent of teens that age, there's so much I don't like either but you just have to suck it up don't you

TeenPlusCat · 26/02/2022 13:03

We have a never worn one at home Sad (anyone with a 5ft DD want red dress?)

You don't need to pay for makeup and hair.
They don't need to look orange.

You can buy things online.

snowmanshoes · 26/02/2022 14:32

I’m going through this - driving me bloody crackers! Hate it too although I’m ordering online - which thankfully my dd is happy with - little win 😁

snowmanshoes · 26/02/2022 14:35

I’m resisting the trying to outdo each other road and sticking within our means too. Thankfully she’s happy to do her own hair and makeup but has requested a ‘gel overlay’ for her nails 🙄 tbh the only thing so I’m happy to indulge that request 😁 as long as it stops there 👍

TeenPlusCat · 26/02/2022 14:37

Prom budgets seem to be very flexible.

  • a simple dress, own hair and makeup, existing shoes, own car < £50
  • a fancy blinged up dress, external hair, makeup, nails, fancy shoes, fancy limo > £500
User405 · 26/02/2022 14:47

It's mad isn't it! They look like older ladies on a cruise with those encrusted dresses.

QuillBill · 26/02/2022 14:53

My perfectly sane dd asked if we were going to 'Fifi's' for a prom dress. Confused No! We are not going to Fifi's for a monstrosity of a dress.

We eventually ordered about ten from Asos and the one she liked was £24 I think. It was beautiful and suitable for a 16 year old rather than someone my age.

Asos tip - order by lowest price first.

This is nice (size eight only)

www.asos.com/prd/12893117?acquisitionsource=pasteboard

Suprima · 26/02/2022 14:56

Can’t you look on Pinterest/insta at some more minimalist/cooler looks?

My own prom was about 10 years ago- and the catty teen that I was would have rather died than look like a toddlers in tiaras monstrosity. I had a lovely black cocktail dress from cos.

The fake tan and hair is pretty universal- there will be pictures, but you can definitely try and steer from neon ball gowns.

90s fashion is in- I wouldn’t be surprised if some girls are wearing devastatingly cool cami dresses with spaghetti straps.

CrackerGal · 26/02/2022 15:07

There are actually some lovely prom dresses on Shein!

Original poster
LittleEsme · 26/02/2022 17:07

Thanks everyone. Glad I'm not alone.

I'm still looking - we both are - she's quite natural - a red head so glowy pale skin will be east to do (plus my close friends are great with things like that). Its just so depressingly boring - all the dresses are lacking in imagination - hate them!

OP posts:
euniceanddudley · 26/02/2022 17:16

My teen bought a dress in the Monsoon sale, £23 from memory, plus shoes, I did her hair and gave her a lift. Make up was really natural.

£90 all in with the ticket. There's no way £500 would be happening in this house.

WeAllHaveWings · 26/02/2022 19:37

My SIL showed me a photo of niece in her prom dress and shoes. She is stunning, but omg £700 😱

Reminds me I need to get ds suit sorted, but he says he can't yet because he needs to wait until his gf gets her dress so he knows what colour of tie to wear and needs a suit to match the tie 🤦🏻‍♀️

Eddmr · 26/02/2022 19:42

My DD is wearing a silk Monsoon dress of mine that I wore 23 years ago. She likes the fact that it was mine and that no one will have the same dress. She tried on some shoes of mine and they fit and she likes them. We have been out today to buy costume jewellery. The whole thing will cost about £100.

Original poster
LittleEsme · 26/02/2022 20:45

@Eddmr

My DD is wearing a silk Monsoon dress of mine that I wore 23 years ago. She likes the fact that it was mine and that no one will have the same dress. She tried on some shoes of mine and they fit and she likes them. We have been out today to buy costume jewellery. The whole thing will cost about £100.
Wow!
OP posts:
Original poster
LittleEsme · 26/02/2022 20:47

@euniceanddudley

My teen bought a dress in the Monsoon sale, £23 from memory, plus shoes, I did her hair and gave her a lift. Make up was really natural.

£90 all in with the ticket. There's no way £500 would be happening in this house.

That sounds lovely.

DD has succumbed to the group think and because all her friends are in Prom shops twirling around, she's feeling that she needs to do the same. Gutted that she's been influenced actually - she's usually quite a lovely quiet renegade.

OP posts:
Kenworthington · 26/02/2022 20:50

My dd wore A vintage 1950s frock. It was absolutely stunning. She did her own hair and make up. I can’t lie/ the dress wasn’t cheap but it was beautiful and she will wear it next year to her brothers wedding too. The standard prom dresses are ghastly I agree

Prom dress
FAQs · 26/02/2022 20:50

It’s so nice they are now going ahead, so many were cancelled during Covid and they’ve had such a tough time over the last couple of years. Something for them to look forward to.

overthethamesfromyou · 26/02/2022 20:59

We did the whole Prom dress shop thing, but we rented it for the night for £70 😀

Eddmr · 26/02/2022 21:28

This is the dress.

Prom dress
katienana · 26/02/2022 21:45

Those dresses are gorgeous. The less being ones can be worn again for uni balls. I went to uni in 2002 my friends had all had proms but we didn't do anything like that, we hired a room in a working mens club and someone's mum put a buffet on! It was all organised last minute by my friend and I. Then we went out boozing round the town centre the same as we did every week!

Snowdropsarelovely · 26/02/2022 21:49

@Eddmr

This is the dress.
That's gorgeous!
user1487194234 · 27/02/2022 19:25

To be honest when it was my DD' s prom 5 years ago I thought she would want low key but she really didn't
Dress cost 500 and extras another 200
She absolutely loved the whole thing
I know it was a total waste of money but they so much want to fit in at that age and in the grand scheme of things you end up spending on them it wasn't the end of the world

gogohm · 27/02/2022 19:40

Buy a dress online (I suggest ever pretty, been buying evening gowns from them for many years as mine are musicians), learn to do hair and book a make up session at boots at a cheaper counter so they can learn to do their own make up. Fake tan (if required) is £5 at Aldi and buy cheap nails at boots if required.

If she's really insisting on in person, Quiz sells them more reasonably. DD's best dress was chichi London

Flexitarian · 27/02/2022 19:43

There are dozens cropping g up on Facebook market place, many unworn due to cancelled events. Could that be an option?

Helenluvsrob · 27/02/2022 19:54

Eldest bought hers from oxfam. Was fab.