Where to Find Cheap Prom Dresses

by Deborah Ng on May 5th, 2008

Prom Dress

I’ve been writing a lot about proms lately for a few of my b5 blogs. In my neck of the woods, the last weekend of May is prom, and right now teens all over are booking hair and makeup appointments and looking for the perfect dress. Through my two year stint as a wedding writer, I learned about some great ways to find cheap prom dresses and other formal wear, and I’d like to share some of those findings with you today.

Here are some great ways to find inexpensive prom dresses:

Vintage Shops - Not only do vintage shops have some adorable retro-styles, but they also have some very inexpensive finds.
Thirft Stores - A lot of women balk at the idea of second hand formal wear, but when you consider most formal dresses were only worn once - and for a few hours at that - it doesn’t seem so terrible.
Consignment stores - Consignment stores won’t generally accept any merchandise unless it’s in tip top condition. For the best formal wear or designer duds, visit consignment stores in upscale neighborhooods.
Ebay - You can find some great deals at eBay.
Borrow from friends or relatives - Do you know anyone with prom dresses languishing in closets or attics? There’s nothing wrong with borrowing.
Wedding shops - Wedding shops often have clearance racks where you can buy last season’s model at a great price.
Make your own - If you’re handy with a sewing machine, buy a pattern and some material and make your own.
Rent your prom dress - More and more formal wear rental places are springing up. This might be a better alternative than buying a dress you’ll only wear once.

A Note About Buying Second Hand Prom Dresses

Not all second hand clothes are in pristine condition. Always examine all merchandise thoroughly before purchasing because most second hand stores don’t allow for refunds. Check for rips, pulls, tears, stains and other damage. Ask yourself if you’re sure you can repair said damage, and if so, go ahead and buy the dress. You might even use that imperfection to haggle for a discount. You’ll also want to try on the dress before you buy it. The worst thing that can happen is that the dress doesn’t fit you and you can’t return it. If the shop doesn’t allow for try ons ask if you can return it that same day if it doesn’t fit.

Even though the dress might look clean, do dry clean your garment before wearing it, just in case.

A Note About Buying Prom Dresses Online

There are some great bargains on eBay and other online shops, but you can’t examine the merchandise. Ask the retailer for full disclosure on any damage and what happens if you receive the dress and it’s damaged or doesn’t fit. Unless you buy it with enough time to make repairs and alterations, it’s best not to buy formal wear online.

There’s no reason to miss out on prom because you’re low on funds. Plenty of shops have inexpensive formal wear - and the best part is - no one ever has to know.

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