Prom is all about fancy updos, flawless eyeliner, intricately manicured nails, but most importantly, extravagant, elegant dresses. If you do not know what kind of dress you want, this process may drag on for months. If you are someone who is currently facing this problem, look no further.
An important detail to keep in mind when prom dress shopping is your budget. The first piece of advice is to not let yourself even think about dresses that are out of your price range. I can promise you that you will fall in love with that one dress from Nordstrom that you just cannot swing paying for. When making your budget, consider the other things you will be buying for prom as well: shoes, hair, nails, or a purse can be extra costs you may not have factored in before buying the dress.
In addition to your budget, you must keep in mind what color, shape and style suits you best. You know what you look best in, so make sure to get something you love and makes you feel most comfortable. This can help narrow down the choices as well, if you feel overwhelmed by the hundreds of dresses in the stores or online.
Once you have figured out the type of dress you want, check out some of these trusty sites for your prom dress needs.
Lulus (www.lulus.com): This website has a plethora of options, whether you are looking for a short dress, long gown or even a pantsuit. In addition to the options this website gives, it also sells sandals and heels to match your dream dress. Lulus has a sale option, categorized by amount of discount or type of clothing. Not only are there constantly dresses and shoes on sale, but Lulus also offers free shipping on orders over $50 and has a money back guarantee if you are unsatisfied with your dress. “My sister got her dress from lulus, so next year that is going to be the first site I am going to check,” junior Bianca Shah said.
Tobi (www.tobi.com): Calling all underclassmen going to prom this season: here is your site. Although they do not have many long dresses, this website is the perfect outlet for your short yet formal dresses. Tobi offers 17 pages of dresses in all shapes, sizes, designs, and colors. In addition, this site offers sales every week, ranging from 30 percent to 60 percent off, also with free shipping on orders over $50 with free returns. Tobi offers sales on shoes and accessories as well as dresses, therefore it is easy to mix and match your options with this website.
Nordstrom(http://shop.nordstrom.com/): Nordstrom offers something the other sites on this list do not: the ability for an in-store try-on. This option will come in handy when buying a dress because you have the ability to see the dress before you purchase it, and even save money on not paying for shipping. Nordstrom also offers the options to purchase shoes, handbags, and other accessories to match your dress. This site gives the option to shop a certain designer, so whether you are a fan of Adelyn Rae or Marc Jacobs, you will find the dress you love at Nordstrom. “Nordstrom is the place to go for anything you need,” senior Nina Wagner said. “Accessories, shoes and dresses, they have everything.”
GoJane(http://www.gojane.com/): This site, which flies under the radar of most seniors, offers many different options of dresses as well. From mini to maxi or bodycon to two-piece, GoJane is bound to have a dress that fits your criteria. This site sorts their dresses by design or color, making it easier to narrow down your options. GoJane sells not only dresses and shoes, but also offers accessories such as jewelry, bags and cosmetics. Their site has a sale option as well as a final sale option, therefore you may be able to get more bang for your buck on this website. “No one knows about GoJane, it is a good place to get dresses,” senior Carly Steinberg said.
It may seem hard now, but there is a dress out there for everyone. Follow these guidelines and check out these sites, and you are more than set to find a dress that fits your criteria.
Katie Schreck
Features Editor
