Buying a prom dress is a major part of being a teenage girl—something to anticipate with excitement, not apprehension. Our guide, how to buy a prom dress, will walk you through the steps to buying the perfect prom dress.

Buying a prom dress is a major part of being a teenage girl—something to anticipate with excitement, not apprehension. Our guide, how to buy a prom dress, will walk you through the steps to buying the perfect prom dress.

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  (CC photo by Christopher Vasquez)

• Buying a prom dress is a rite of passage for many teenage girls, one that may not feel so important until it's time to shop for a wedding gown. Yet this purchase can be hugely nerve-wracking: will you find "the dress"? Can you track down that perfect vintage look you saw in a magazine... in fourth grade? Perhaps most anxiety-ridden of all, can you afford it?

• Prom-going guys and gals can shell out $1000 or more on clothes and a limo rental. But you can get the look you like for much less.

• Keep reading to learn a few tricks to help you buy the dress that's right for you and your budget.

(Creative Commons photo by Christopher Vasquez)

• For a dress this important, you'll want to start browsing early on to get a sense of what you like.

• Your budget is a critical factor to consider before hitting the shops.

1. Talk to your parents long before dress shopping to figure out what their expectations are.
2. In a recent study in North Dakota, researchers found that 1/4 of teenagers' parents paid for all prom expenses.
3. So you might need to compromise with parents about who pays for what: will you chip in for your dress like Evin Roper or be willing to opt for a less expensive gown?
4. Don't forget to factor in all the additional costs: shoes, an evening bag, hair, makeup, other accessories. According to Your Prom, teenage girls spend an average of about $500 on prom.
5. Also note that there are many options for finding prom dresses that are either less expensive or have been donated. Finding a program like the Fairy Godmother Project, for example, may take time, so start your research now.

• Because about, oh, a gazillion girls are all looking for the perfect dress, you've got some competition on your hands.

1. Start by checking out Mahalo's guide, How to Choose a Prom Dress, to learn how to look for your dream gown.
2. Boutique owner Vee Smith says that girls start shopping in December or January for prom.
3. She also reminds girls that dresses will likely need alterations, which can take time, especially as the season heats up.
4. If you plan to scour all the vintage stores in your area, set aside a few Saturdays well in advance to dig through the goods.
5. You're also likely to avoid overpaying for an expensive dress at the last minute. Leaving yourself plenty of time will help you stay calm and find the right dress at the right price.

(Creative Commons photo by Chris Gladis)

• There are multiple options for where to buy your dress. Best check out each before committing to any one vendor.

• You can browse online for hours for the perfect dress. Just make sure that before you click "Purchase," it's the right one and the right size.

1. "Window shopping" online is a great way to start figuring out what you like. Whether you buy the dress online or not, you'll start to get an idea of what you are looking for in a dress.
2. Check out a site like PromSpot, which will let you enter in info about the designers and price you're looking for, and then will tell you what stores in your state carry dresses that meet your specifications.
3. eDressMe also has a great selection of prom looks, along with a guide that helps you choose dresses by silhouette, color, style and price.
4. It may be easier to track down a dress you've seen on a favorite celeb by going online, like with this Avril Lavigne style by Jessica McClintock.
5. If you see a dress you like online, you might want to see if it is also available in a store near you. That way you can see it in person and try it on before making a commitment. If the online retailer is less expensive and the dress fits, head home to order.
6. If you ultimately decide to purchase your dress online, be sure to have your measurements taken first: bust, waist, and hip. Then compare your measurements to the size chart you can find at most online retailers to be sure you are ordering the proper size.
7. Remember to factor in shipping to your price comparison!
8. Online retailers to consider:
   • Expensive
     • Bergdorf Goodman
     • Bloomingdale's
     • Intermix
   • Offer a Range of Prices
     • eDressMe
     • Bluefly.com
     • Macy's
     • Dillard's
     • Nordstrom
     • ShopShop
     • Jessica McClintock
     • Alfred Angelo Prom Collection
     • Prom Dress Shop
     • eBay (Sponsored)
     • TJ Formal (Sponsored)
     • Loralie.com (Sponsored)
   • Less Expensive
     • J.C. Penny
     • Overstock.com

(Photo by H Assaf)

• The benefit to shopping at a small boutique in your area is the personal attention you will receive.

1. A small boutique may also carry a different selection than the more mainstream stores, allowing you to find a unique look.
2. Some boutiques will actually catalog the dresses girls buy and will only allow one dress to be sold per school—no showing up to prom in your rival's gown!
3. There may be boutiques near you that specialize in prom dresses, like Dimitra Designs in Georgia, which may carry thousands of dresses and employ experts who will help you find the dress that is most flattering to your body type. These types of specialty stores often offer on-site alterations, as well.

• A good first stop after you've scoured the internet, department stores offer lots of choices and a bit more anonymity.

1. Vast departments stores often create entire floors around prom season for gowns of all colors, shapes, and sizes. This makes it easy to start figuring out what you might like to wear to prom.
2. Remember to bring a friend, or your mom or sister to help you wade through all the choices, since you will likely get a bit less of a personal touch at a big department store than a small, independently owned boutique.
3. It's likely that a mall near you will have a Macy's, Dillard's or Bloomingdale's where you can scout out the styles. Just use their store locators to find the closest store to where you live.

• Finding a vintage prom dress will set you apart from the crowd and is chicer than ever—and you'll do the environment good, too!

1. Websites like Fashion Dig provide all things vintage, from inspiration to a store locator.
2. You can also search eBay's vintage section to look for dresses.
3. And don't discount your local thrift or secondhand stores—you never know where you'll find the perfect dress, and it just might be lying under a slew of stonewashed jeans.
4. Flea markets are another great source for vintage treasures. Check out the Flea Market Guide to get the scoop on flea markets near you and what you might find there. Famous markets like Southern California's Rose Bowl are where many designers shop for inspiration, so you should too!

• TJ Formal: Check out their exclusive 2008 Prom Dress collection (Sponsored)

• Loralie: A premiere online site for prom dresses, shipped straight from Dallas, Texas! (Sponsored)

• eBay: You might be able to find a great dress for less at auction (Sponsored)

(Creative Commons photo by Rachel)

• Prom can add up to a huge expense when you factor in the dress, the shoes, the flowers, and for some, the limo and the beach house rental. To keep dress costs to a minimum, consider the following advice.

1. Seeking out alternative sources of style can work in your favor. Vintage dresses are hotter than ever (you'll get bonus points for "recycling"), so be sure to check out local boutiques and thrift shops for unusual finds.
2. Many areas have set up prom dress donation services, where girls can then go to get free dresses or to rent them for the evening. The Fairy Godmother Project is just an example, but there are different programs around the country.
3. Find information on a prom dress donation program near you thanks to the Glass Slipper Project, which has compiled a list of similar programs out of state.
4. Also check out PromSpot's advice for budget prom ideas that aren't cheap on style.
5. And CBS's video covering prom looks for less is a great guide, as well.
6. Don't neglect your mother's closet, either—that 60s mini she's been stashing at the back could be ready for its reemergence this season. With a little altering and the right accessories, you could have a special look that's all your own.

• No, it's not quite the same as picking up a new album or a pair of flip-flops, but shopping for a prom dress should be fun. Bring friends, break out your inner Molly Ringwald, and try on a bunch of dresses—the average gal zips and unzips 20 gowns before deciding on a winner. Remember to stick to your budget and that there are plenty of creative ways to beat blowing several hundred dollars on a dress you'll probably wear only once. Unless you plan to recreate it next year, that is, or donate it so that someone in your shoes next prom season has that many more options.

• Nordstrom

• Bergdorf Goodman

• Bloomingdale's

• Intermix

• eDressMe

• Bluefly.com

• Macy's

• Dillard's

• ShopShop

• Jessica McClintock

• Alfred Angelo Prom Collection

• Prom Dress Shop

• eBay (Sponsored)

• J.C. Penny

• Overstock.com

• Fashion Dig

• Flea Market Guide

• Rose Bowl Flea Market

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• Introduction
• Step 1: Start Early
• Step 2: Shopping Options
• Step 3: Ways to Save
• Conclusion