Tips for Finding the Cheap Prom Dresses

Buy a Vintage Prom Dress

Scour your local vintage shops and you may find a prom dress that’s one-of-a-kind and a whole lot cheaper than department store dresses. (Admit it: wouldn’t it be rad to show up to the big dance in a vintage 80′s prom dress, or a strapless A-line dress from the 60′s?) If the thought of vintage shops makes you nervous, these tips for buying vintage can help you out.

Raid Some Closets

Why spend money on a prom dress when someone you know might have a perfectly good one gathering dust somewhere? Raid the closets of your older sister, your college-aged friends, your cousins – even your mom, your aunts and your grandma if you want to score something vintage. If you find a dress they’re willing to part with but it doesn’t quite fit, save money by letting it out or taking it in yourself.

Don’t Be Afraid to Discount Shop

Pretty sure you want to wear a brand-new dress, but don’t want to spend all your college savings on it?  You can find a super-hot prom dress at Forever 21 or H&M for under $30, and JCPenney has some stylin’ prom picks this season for under $100.

Make Your Own Prom Dress

You can score an awesome prom dress for cheap if you channel your inner Project Runway contestant and sew one yourself. These free dress patterns aren’t too hard to follow.

Don’t know how to sew? Make a prom dress out of duct tape. Yes, seriously. Wouldn’t you love to show up to prom looking like this?

Get a Free Prom Dress

If your family’s in a rough spot financially, you might qualify to get a donated dress. Visit DonateMyDress.org to find out where to pick one up. These aren’t slim pickings, either – girls from all over the country, including celebrities, donate their old prom dresses. You can potentially land your dream prom dress for free.

Buy a Simple Prom Dress & Accessorize

You don’t need a $500 prom dress to feel like a princess. Instead, think about getting an affordable, simple dress and accessorize it with a statement necklace and some statement earrings. This simple, chic black lace party dress is only $12.49 at Target and looks hot with the right jewelry and heels.