When's the Prom?

magenta321 · #1 04-21-2008, 06:13 PM

I need a prom dress... Sorta.

I'm going on a cruise at the end of May and I need two formal dresses. It just so happens I have two, but I don't fit into them any more

So now I need 2 more dresses, and I have a budget of $0 to buy them with. Ok, really I can spend slightly more than that, but, not much.

So... one of my beautiful formal dresses I am too fat for has a price tag on it. I paid $16 for it. Down from $200. I bought it after prom time. It's really not something I picture a 16 year old wearing, but, I think they clear out ALL their dresses after the prom.

So when is the prom? Is it in May? Am I SOL unless I am cruising in June?

(Alternatively, anyone have a great crash diet so I can lose 20 lbs in 1 month?)

I did try a consignment store today, but they wanted $70 and up for used dresses... I didn't think that was such a great deal. The selection wasn't big either.

Leslie2k · #2 04-21-2008, 07:10 PM

Our area has prom early. We went to Chuck E Cheese's to celebrate my youngest's birthday on Saturday and were joined by half a dozen prom goers in full outfits.

**mjfrombuffalo**[$] · #3 04-21-2008, 07:13 PM

I have some size 10 mothers-of-the-bride-ish formal dresses from OES.

*emeleel* · #4 04-21-2008, 07:24 PM

As early as most schools are letting out these days (usually mid-May), I would imagine we're right smack in the middle of prom season right now.

magenta321 · #5 04-21-2008, 07:35 PM

I guess it's regional. Local schools aren't out until mid to late June.

*emeleel* · #6 04-21-2008, 08:05 PM

Around here, the schools have started letting out in mid-May and starting back in mid-August. They did it so they can get in all of the first semester before Christmas break so kids can relax during Christmas/New Year's and not have to be studying for the mid-year tests when they get back.

**thinkerlady**[$] · #7 04-21-2008, 08:09 PM

Prom season really hasn't started yet---About the 2nd-3rd week of May
usually

**conradd** · #8 04-21-2008, 10:12 PM

Try Ross Dress-for-Less if they are in your area. I've gotten a number of formal dresses there for less than $30.

Ross Home Page

**jgibson2**[$] · #9 04-21-2008, 11:25 PM

Freecycle or Craigslist?

**lynnzop**[$] · #10 04-22-2008, 09:55 AM

Or Goodwill/Salvation Army. I've seen some decent things there year round.

*emeleel* · #11 04-22-2008, 10:19 AM

Oh yeah! I saw a beautiful dress at our local one before it closed for like 7 bucks.

**mtomm**[$] · #12 04-22-2008, 02:44 PM

Quote:

magenta321 said

I need a prom dress... Sorta.

(Alternatively, anyone have a great crash diet so I can lose 20 lbs in 1 month?)

Everybody hates crash diets don't they. I mean they have such a bad rap but occasionally they are a must. Do a search for "PSMF" that is a protein sparing modified fast. Basically it is a protein-only diet with low calories to boot. It is very effective. And it is the least retarded of crash diets. This diet should be done with little to no exercise (maybe walking) but really should include some weight lifting to keep the loss of muscle to a minimum. Because you don't want to lose "weight" you want to lose fat. And if you are over-fat enough it shouldn't be a huge concern either.

You most likely will be hungry on this diet, but then it wouldn't be a crash diet if you weren't, right? However, since this is a low carb diet ketosis kicks in pretty quick and it is known appetite suppressant.

I can help you out with specifics if you'd like.

magenta321 · #13 04-22-2008, 06:42 PM

I did try the Goodwill today. I didn't see anything. Yes, something there probably would have covered my body, but I wouldn't have felt "pretty" in anything I saw (except some of the size 8 and under dresses, LOL). Also, the prices were pretty high. I still think there's a brand new dress out there in a store with my name on it, screaming for me to rescue it for under $30. And the Goodwill dresses were $45, so there ya have it.

I am sure this idea will get stolen, and I will get no money for it... but...

I know I'm not the only person going to a function who wants to look pretty but doesn't have a big budget. They have everything else under the sun at Walmart or Target. They even have designers like Isaac Mizrahi designing for Target. Why can't they make a formal dress. Better yet, one that is both formal, and smart. By smart, I mean, why can't they create one dress that can be worn two ways, maybe it's a removable sash, maybe it's a jacket, maybe the neck drapes down or can be removed or something. I don't know what they need to do, but I'm sure there are a lot of people out there that would LOVE to buy a formal dress that could be worn more than once but still make you feel pretty and unique every time you wear it.

I should design clothes for Target, me thinks. Or, be the person who tells the designer what to design. That sounds better to me

**amykhar** · #14 04-22-2008, 06:49 PM

My senior banquet dress was a two-way dress. It had a shorter tea-length overskirt and a long underskirt. So, after the formal event it could be worn as a nice dress for less formal events. I paid $150 for it and absolutely loved it.

*emeleel* · #15 04-22-2008, 06:55 PM

Do you have a Dillard's up there? They have high-end stuff, but often have it at greatly reduced prices. Of course, this time of year is probably *not* one of those times - too early in spring for that. But it wouldn't hurt to try. And don't forget places like Penney's, Parisian's, etc.

You'll never see formalwear at Target. They have nice stuff, but they don't go *that* nice.

magenta321 · #16 04-22-2008, 08:04 PM

If I can buy cashmere sweaters at Target, I want to be able to buy a formal dress too

I don't have most of the stores listed in this thread, except Pennys. I will try them when I've exhausted my usual places and my unusual places, like Burlington Coat Factory.

I actually went on the Walmart website and found a dress that online looks pretty formal. At worst, it might be a good dress for the "smart casual" night. I haven't seen it in person yet, but I have ordered it. How that dress fits will determine how nutty I make myself looking for a dress.

If worst comes to absolute worst, I think I will buy a little black dress, they shouldn't be more than $150 full price, and I will just dress it up with different jewelry both nights.

**theworm**[$] · #17 04-22-2008, 09:36 PM

Do you have a Loemans (sp) near you?

**jgibson2**[$] · #18 04-23-2008, 02:45 PM

Value City near you?

They even have Tuxes

**amykhar** · #19 04-23-2008, 03:17 PM

One year in high school, I bartered a formal dress from a lady who sews well. I bought the fabric and then gave her a pastel drawing I had done that she loved. We were both happy and the dress only cost me about $20 in fabric.

magenta321 · #20 04-27-2008, 07:12 AM

No Loemans or Value City, but I'm ok now (phew!)

I bought a $25 dress from Walmart.com. It was only available online. I wasn't sure if it would be formal enough but it is, and it looks FANTASTIC with my costume jewelry that I really did wear to a prom or some school formal (snowball? havest ball?)

I've been doing South Beach for a couple days now (this is day 3) and it's definately making a difference already. I had a dress I could nearly zip, that I can now zip. That one is from college and it's a timeless dress (yay!).

The only sucky thing is one dress is red and the other dress is black. The shoes I would have to wear with each dress are different, so I'm taking two MORE pairs of shoes, on top of the flip flops, sneakers, and the shoes I need for "smart casual" night, where both my red strappy shoes and my black beaded shoes won't go with. Sigh.