Where to find Affordable Formal Dresses for $150 or less
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 1 ต.ค. 2024
- Where to find Affordable Formal Dresses for $150 or less
I give a few suggestions on where you can buy affordable formal wear, prom dresses, bridesmaids dresses, wedding dresses for less than a $150.
If you have any other suggestions be sure to add them to the comments
Do you have any other suggestions of affordable Formal Dresses? Put your suggestions in the comments.
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I've had luck with eShakti. They can customize based on your measurements for a fee. I ordered maybe 5 dresses from them, mostly cotton based, but the quality was surprisingly good for the price. They have fancier fabrics & more formal dresses too. Plus you can customize things like dress length, add sleeves, remove sleeves, change the neckline. I haven't ordered a formal dress from them. Just note that when ordering custom sizing measure REALLY carefully. I had one dress come in that just didn't fit right, but I was able to return it with no problems. Also, if ordering custom give yourself 2 or more months, you want to leave time for making the dress and shipping it. I'm glad to see they are introducing more plus size models back into the advertising, it's what initially drew my attention to the company, then for some reason it was just skinny models for a while but I think it will help them to have a wider range of sizes for the models on the site again.
Back in the day for my senior formal we found a used wedding dress, got some ritz dye and extra tule. Cost like 80$ we cut the satin over-skirt and added the tule. Unique dress and could have been made simpler if I'd just worn a tule skirt under it instead of sewing the thing on
It’s been a long time since I bought a prom dress. My mom made my prom dress. It was beautiful!
For my prom, I actually went for a pair of palazzo pants (the kind that lays like a skirt when your legs are together) with a gauze-y/sheer layer over a sleek under layer both in black + a bright blue-teal camisole + a jacket-y type thing with sheer black sleeves to match the pants. I got the pieces at a couple of retail stores in-person, both geared towards budget friendly formal options (one resale red/“designer clearance” style, the other a dedicated women’s clothing with half the store dedicated to ”plus-size” selection)
It wound up being a really unique style and was extremely comfortable to wear the whole night, and I was really happy with the look for myself. I also still have all of the pieces and have worn them in different contexts for different levels of formality, so it’s a great option for a low budget stretching out over time + avoiding one-time-use fast fashion culture.
I know not everyone wants to go non-traditional for prom, but finding a great top & skirt combo or dressing up a simpler dress with a jacket/underskirt combo, etc are great options for tighter budgets in general and I highly recommend keeping them in mind.
I know I got mine at Macy's or Dillard's back when they were the go-to and never saw anyone wearing the same thing I was/ did. Of course there are places like FB Marketplace and similar. Something that has happened near where I live, is having people donate their barely used/ good condition prom and other formal dresses for those who can't afford to pay much for their own, which I think is really awesome.
For my prom I went to a locally owned bridal shop and found a discounted bridesmaids dress for $50. It was kind of plain so I grabbed a bejeweled belt on Amazon for $15. It was awesome because then I had a bigger budget for my shoes which I was able to wear many times after prom and got a lot more use out of.
I worked until recently at JCPenney. It may be surprising to some, but they have a great event dress department! Very affordable, lots with a "wow" factor. Prom, holiday, and mother of the bride, in petites to plus.
I just commented about getting my daughters prom dress from there!
i always got mine from jcp! such cute options.
I got my prom dress at JC Penny for a great price back in the day!!!!
I got my prom dress and college graduation dress from jcpenney one of them was 50 bucks!!
Macy's and Century 21 have great selections as well
People miss places like Ross, TJ Maxx and Marshall’s for this stuff. I got all my homecoming dresses at Ross. They were always unique, adorable, and they they looked amazing on me because *I got to try them on first* -
Oh and they were under $50 👀
Were they amazing quality that would last forever? No. But for something I would wear one night? They killed it.
Totally agree. My daughter got a dress at Ross. It looked great on her and was $25!! I know some want a better quality, but my daughter just wanted something pretty for one event.
Thank you..!! Ross ALL THE WAY..!! I go to their clearance rack first. You would be surprised, I have found some diamond in the rough on there..!!
I got a semi formal one piece Calvin Klein pants suit at Marshall's for a family wedding and it fit me perfectly and is my favorite color teal. It was maybe $50? You do have to dig through a lot of options and this was the only one of any size, but I was super pleased to find it.
I've seen a lot of fabulous designer clothes and OOAK samples at Marshall's including some cocktail and formal dresses that were marked with very low prices.
Gotta love ROSS! I don't think I've bought a dress there, l but I've seen some nice ones.
Thrift stores! And you’ll have money left over for professional cleaning and alterations. Several thrifts in my area get overstock or unsold dresses from major retailers that still have tags on them. Even a real used dress likely was only worn one time. I mean you go to hotels and use towels and linens that have been used and eat with used utensils at restaurants so wearing a dress that has been cleaned and altered to fit your body perfectly for just a fraction of a retail price seems like a no brainer.
I got my NFB Ohio dress from a thriftr a year ago. It looked great
I work for Goodwill. We have an annual prom event where we sell beautiful prom dresses and other formal attire. Some of these dresses are breathtaking!
Goodwill may have beautiful dresses some places but mine has out of style dresses for too much. Plus the company is not good to the community. They won’t give to fire victims or even a bowl to those coming out of homelessness. Try Marketplace and give your money to an actual person, not a greedy company that says they are non profit
@@chrishubbard5073 : Goodwill is NOT a nationwide organization. There are regional stores, and each region has different policies. I work in central NC, and we do help fire victims. Our mission is job training and job placement, which is our priority. There are organizations that deal more with disasters, such as the Red Cross. I wouldn't expect to go to the Red Cross for job placement services, so why would I expect Goodwill to provide disaster services?
The Mexican dress shops that sell dresses for quinceaneras, first communion, or wedding dresses have beautiful formal wear and not too expensive.
Dress swap or borrow from a friend. You can make the dress personal by accessorizing and focus on the dance experience rather than the dress.
Definitely 🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾 Great suggestions
That would be ideal!!
Poshmark is great for this too! Just resell after the event less than 50 only used a few hours and you won’t have to wear something your friends already have pictures in
I have had the best luck at Ross and Nordstrom Rack in this price range. I got a junior prom and prom dress that were unique and very pretty. One was like $40 and the other was about $80. I think it's harder to find poofy princess style dresses there, but I have found lots of other really beautiful dresses. 2nd hand stores near me are actually more expensive and the dresses are usually very outdated, but they are different everywhere!
And TJ Maxx and Marshall’s. I used to be an event planner/fundraiser and did black tie events and other dinners and needed dresses ALL the time. I used to go early and found dresses for $29.99 - $59.99. You have to go early and often, but I still have some of those dresses and they can be worn today.
Not sure about in the us, but here in the uk our charity/thrift stores are super small, but some of them have a specific wedding sections where they send all their formal / wedding dresses. If youre looking for a thrifted dress in the uk youll have a much better luck if you look up the specfic wedding store.
I got my dress from the UK, but in a sample sale. The sizes do run a bit smaller but it's still worth looking at.
I am a huge proponent of modular outfits and accessorizing/layering existing dresses to get different style effects for anyone on a budget and/or waste-conscious. My prom “dress” was a pair of pilazzo pants, shiny camisole, and jacket to match the pants & the overall look was unique, fit my style perfectly, and comfortable to wear for an entire night + I’ve used most of the pieces in different events since for different levels of formality.
Don’t limit yourself to choosing one-night-only dresses because of social pressure/expectations, do what makes you happy and fits your needs & explore your options to find what works for you!
I work for Goodwill. We get absolutely beautiful formal dresses in excellent condition.
I shopped down in the fabric district of my city. At the time there were shops selling dresses mainly to stock other stores but I found a lovely dress for $60!
Yes .... my friend and I do that whenever we are going to an event ... We have found some amazing dresses ..
Thrift stores have hidden gems. Consignment shops too.
For my daughters prom we found a beautiful one shoulder red dress at JC Penney. It had lots of beading on the bodice and I believe the price was $80.
I got my prom dress back in the day at JCPenney too! It was so beautiful!
A few of the places you named like Dillard's and Jc Penny are closed in some areas. Other areas especially up North you can't really get anything for that amount and it's sad. But I recommend bridal shops you can find nice things for less
I'm up north as well - def bridal shops and lots of second hand formal wear stores.
Nordstroms for ideas then find something similar cheaper.
Windsor has beautiful prom dresses I really wish I could show pictures I have three daughters and all three of them got their prom dresses from that store and I didn’t pay 90.00 for any of them
I got my dress for my step-daughter's wedding on Thread Up for $30! It was just what I was looking for!
I got my prom dress for like $20 at Dillard's, that was nearly 20 years ago. $150 is wild to me. It's just prom
Girls are spending hundreds to a couple grand on dresses/shoes/etc. It's a bit much.
$150 is nothing, kids these days are spending $500-$2000 on dumb prom outfits. I wished I was kidding, my co-woker spent almost $2000 for her kid's prom. Its not like its a wedding dress, people need to chill. But in all reality, $150 for a well made dress is extremely reasonable. I used to work at Nordstrom, can confirm they have very beautiful and quality dresses there that can definitely be budget friendly. Of course they also carry $500 dresses, but people don't realize they also have moderate priced formal dresses.
Like you said, that was 20 years ago. I spent like $200 12 years ago but it was so worth it, I felt like a princess. I didn’t want to spend that much but it fit me perfectly with no alterations needed. But No telling what they spending these days!
150 is the new 20
Back in my day, you could rent dresses .
I was fortunate. At the church I went to, one of the parishioners, had this dress that had belonged to her daughter. It was very beautiful, and she gave it to me for free. All she wanted in return, was to receive a picture of how I looked in the dress. That was a no brainer for me.
I didn't hear you mention consignment shops. Some fabulous clothes turn up there at a fraction of the original cost.
2nd hand stores as you mentioned. A person might try high end resale. I saw a woman and her mother there looking at a pre-owned dress. The bride was very much looking to purchase the dress that she found. I dont know what she planned to spend but less than if she purchased the same dress brand new at a high end store.
For heavier set ladies, Macy’s, Dillard’s Nordstrom do not have larger sizes and their dresses are not nice looking. The buyers do not have everyone in mind.
Also Nordstrom Rack, Sacks Off Fifth, TJ Maxx, Marshall’s, Ross. If you go to the big department stores Boxing Day (December 26th). There are TONS of expensive dresses highly reduced. I used to go gown shopping every Boxing Day. I got stunning very expensive dresses for around 60%-85% off. Paying $100-$150 for a dress originally selling for $700+.
I definitely go in store - Dillards is my favorite!!
Lulu’s, ASOS, TJ Maxx, Macys, Dillards H&M, Zara, Rat and Boa, Nordstrom Rack Karen Millen. Rent the Runway, Thred Up. Going in a store is preferable to ordering on line
Love this topic and your helpful ideas! I’m glad you mentioned Azazie - we got bridesmaid dresses there for my best friend’s wedding and really loved them. I did the try on program first to try on a few different styles / fabrics / colors and then I shared pictures and notes with the bride and other gals in the bridal party so we could decide. There were so many great options to choose from. And it had the added benefit of extensive sizing which was really great because we varied quite a bit and a couple of us even had dresses made to custom measurements.
For things like formal events or special occasions, my tip is to wait for sales at department stores after the New Year. There are often a lot of beautiful dresses that go on a deep discount after the holiday parties are over, but they still look great for other formal events. So if you know ahead of time that you have something like a prom or a wedding to go to, check out the stores (both online and in person if needed) to snag a good deal!
My niece found her prom dress on the clearance rack of formal wear at Macy's. It was a final sale original price $149.00 she paid $40.00. My daughter got hers at Dress for Less originally $180.00 I paid $79.00. If someone looks they can usually find something amazing.
I got my wedding dress at a thrift store, It didn’t fit in the bust so I replaced that and then I sewed on a bunch of pearls and rhinestones to it.
Nordstrom Rack, Macy's, TJ Maxx and even Shein have all been winners for me. Knowing your fabrics and measurements is essential for online ordering.
Check if is a Dillards clearance center withinna day trip distance from you. Its a treasure hunt, but we got my daughter's fully sequined ball gown prom dress for $100. All sales final, so check carefully for damage like you would at second hand items.
I bought my wedding dress online from JJ’s house and I was not disappointed
Should have mentioned thrift stores. Get the dress super cheap then see local seamstress for alterations your almost guaranteed to have a dress no one else will. Or buy one base dress that's plain and get something with beautiful appliques or beading that can be cut up and added.
They are still there. I bought my 2nd wedding dress at Macy's and it was perfect under $100.
I agree that large department stores are a great resource, especially just after the holiday season. I have purchased several formal dresses at a very reasonable price ($50-$100) to wear in the future for events planned or self created during the year.
your not wrong i work at macys and have personaly seen dresses in that budget
I suggest going for understated elegance rather than glam and bling. A good quality sequined dress will be expensive!! A dress covered in good quality lace will be expensive!! So go for a classic, elegant look: solid color, beautiful silhouette, high-quality fabric and workmanship. Then, like another commenter suggested, you can add a little bling with a sparkly belt, or you can get some sparkly or sequined trim for the hems and cuffs, or the neckline. And the best part is, you will be able to wear this dress to a lot of other places as well.
The reasons they don’t go to these stores is because they’re all closing
For NFB, (national federation of the blind)I went and bought, secondhand, a David’s hoco dress for $17 after applying all the discounts and the thrift shop I was buying from accounted for depreciation. I still cannot believe I got my dinner dress that cheap.
I have brought some great formal gowns that I loved from Shein people actually asked me if they were from a boutique and I spent 60.00 on a full beaded sequin dress that looked exactly like the picture
I found my wedding dress at David’s Bridal on the clearance rack. I had so many compliments on it because it was different and cute! It was about $150…for a wedding dress!
Back in 1985 I thought I was going to marry someone. I bought a dress for 50 dollars on sale at a bridal shop. It was very simple but stylish. You are so correct about going out and about to shop.
I just stumbled across this now and while the video was posted some time ago, I might have timely advice for anyone else looking at a future event like prom... while it's been a hot minute, my own prom dress was bought cheaply in January (At Macy's) because it was actually a New Year's Eve dress marked down after the day. It was a blue satin halter dress though. You can wear that any time. I wore it several more times, and eventually passed it on, because some things age well.
Which brings me to another option... an older friend might have a dress they'd be willing to part with.
Pretty sure I got my prom dress at Macy's for $70. Windsor is great too
So agree with you!!! Thanks for sharing your talents♡♡♡🎉
I swear the only good clothes left are in thrift stores
My sister & I surprisingly found some reasonably-priced, lovely dresses at JCPenney that we wore to a family-member's wedding.
Local businesses! We have one by where I work. I was going to take my sister there for her prom, but she ended up not wanting to go.
I would thrift on facebook or kijiji and spend most of the money on tailoring it to fit
Thrift stores, consignment stores, and bridal stores like the bridal chains have a close out rack with beautiful dresses marked way down. I’ve styled young ladies for prom with the entire outfit including shoes and jewelry for $50-$75. Also, Facebook marketplace had great deals on formal wear.
My comment isn't really relevant, but my mom made my (fabulous!) Junior prom dress, and I made my own Senior prom dress and all of my daughter's prom dresses. If you love to sew, making your dress is half the fun. Even if they turn out a little funky, they are guaranteed to be unique. :)
Try buying after Christmas and New Year’s. Cocktail dresses
Tjere is nothing wrong with a prom dress from JCPenney. That is where I bought mine, (less than $70, a week before my prom as well, so the original cost was about $110).
There was one girl I graduated with who actually had the exact same dress, but the way the fabric was (it was a swirly sorbet color, so it didn't look exactly the same).
This was in 2006.
But I qoiut absolutely agree and say to anyone who is looking for a prom dress...always go in store. Try that dress on and see how it sits on your actual body. Especially since the models for theae dresses are often a lot older than hifg school, so they have a bit of a different figure. To me it is stull unthinkable to get a dress such as a prom dress online.
Anyone tried Torrid? They might not have a big selection of wedding dresses but those with bigger bodies can guarantee getting a dress from them. Heck, you can send it back by mail if the dresses dont fit. I definitely swear by torrid (half of my closet from torrid frankly) since they are a plus size in/online store. Tj maxx, ross, ebay or poshmark definitely requires more sifting through tho. Its a hit or miss for me when finding dresses
I went to the prom many years ago, but bought my formal dress (long) at a women's clothing store downtown. I loved the formal dress, think was altered free then. I love that you are giving information to young women in buying affordable prom dresses, and not from rip-off places online.
Believe it or not. I would start at Goodwill. I have gone in and found nothing but then i found a beautiful and unique aqua and blue mermaid gown... For $8! Slight alterations and voila, prom dress for $20
How about second hand? There should be enough money left for some smaller alterations. Your only going to wear the dress once and it most likely won’t fit in a few years because the ribs are still growing.
I don’t fit in my dress anymore but I fit in my skirts from when i was 18.
My kiddo paid $80 for their prom dress from a smaller Macy's. They had a great selection. The rest of the store was having decent sales in other departments like jewelry, shoes, & lingerie making it very easy to shop for accessories, too.
Belk is a good place and have good sales too.
I got my daughter's designer prom dress at Bloomingdale's for $98. It was on sale during their friends and family sale.
I can't understand why people need dress like this. I from Asian and 99% of people never wear one. I guess that western culture things.😅
In Pinellas we have Belle of the Ball where a girl can borrow a prom dress. People donate dresses that they not using. My cousin still had all her daughters' dresses. She gave them to me. Beautiful stuff
This wasn't for prom, but I ordered an Adriana Papell gown on a sale and it was a great price, well made and fit so well!
Yeah, I think I did Dillards or Macy's for my prom dress, and no one had anything like it. I loved it :)
I have found the most amazing formal gowns at thrift stores! And for $150, you could get 2 or 3 dresses!
Macys and Nordstrom and retailers alike are selling mostly Chinese manufactured junk clothing. Poor quality and polyester materials makes it a no-no for me. I hate shopping online for my clothes, but I almost have to because the local retailers are not meeting my needs.
Consignment shops!
I’ve had great luck finding formal gowns on Poshmark.
I borrowed my prom dress from an older woman i worked part time with. She felt she'd worn it too many events, cocktail length. It looked great on me, i dry cleaned it after wearing and returned it to her. So it was only the cost of cleaning for my prom dress. Of course it wasnt about being all hoochie mama back then.
I've seen some really beautiful dresses at Ross. Hair, makeup, and accessories can go a long way into selling a look.
Thrift stores too. Saw 2 wedding dresses at a discount store that sells close out stuff & Amazon returns. You
Never know what you might find in there
Lord and Taylor,Bloomingdale’s , macys, shop clearance.
it's a chance JcPenny still carries formal dresses a during prom/wedding season.
Not wanting to come across insensitive but we got to be honest with the reality of Life right now. I mean taking into account the average minimum salary(even if is a Part Time)when it comes to a price we got to start with the equivalent of a weeks worth of pay.
I bought my last two formal dresses on Fashion Nova both less that $100.00
I agree, Amazon has prime but doesn’t come on time? So dumb, makes me not wanna pay or support prime membership
Most department stores do not carry anything unique anymore.. perhaps a bridal shop
Where dealers is too high furs and foremost you won't be able to get a dress there for $100 it'll be more like 6 to 7:00 to $800 for a dress
Lies four girls at my prom had the same dress the same color going that route.i customized my shoulders my dress to make it my own.
I would have looked in a charity shop, thrift store, eBay or on Facebook
I went to Windsor for my prom dress, and it was so pretty, and I paid $80
What about Stacey for prom,or wedding guest dresses?
Ebay is great. Often the quality is more than you can afford brand new
Short answer about the big retailers: they are hideous and overpriced.
Macy’s has a Last Act racks that the prices are low, you just have to check it and give time to shop
Visit your consignment store. I had.find very nice dresses
There are also places that take donated dresses and gives/sells them to people that cant afford a dress.
Excellent advice. When my daughters were constantly at the age of going to dances, we had the best luck at Dillard's, Mozelle, Macy’s and other stores, not online. We would drive all over town and the surrounding areas to every store/boutique I could think of. Best of luck to your client 💖
I've seen gorgeous formal gowns with the original tags on them at the Goodwill store, also.
I got mine in 2014 at Macys on clearance for $80
JJ’s House has great dresses for cheap too. You can rent as well.
They don't want to see themselves on the dance floor.
Accessories make the dress unique and give you more use!
I agree. They are all going on line and so many getting disappointed.
I got my junior prom dress from Dillards. It was beautiful and very classic. It was worn by three other girls and was stunning every time. I got my winter formal from Winsor which is also stunning and worn by two other girls. Those wars were all anywhere from 5 to 10 years apart and the dresses stillheld up in construction and taste
I was talking to a teacher and she said these made dresses were falling apart at the prom
Try rent the runway if you don’t want to keep the dress
My daughter has had great luck with Windsor. We're not talking high end quality, but they're a great option for high school dances.
Because department stores are $400+. I bought a prom dress from Macy’s in 2003 and it was $460. I can only imagine what they cost now.
I do recommend David’s bridal though. You can definitely get a $150 dress there.
I’ve bought a lot of dresses from Macys around the same time as you for under $200. All depends on what you choose to fit your budget.
Resale shops are everywhere, they’ve been worn only once!