Spending hundreds on homecoming dresses? Am I out of touch with reality?

[Anonymous]

This is DD 9th grade year. I was under the impression dresses for homecoming cost around the $60 range. She seems to have a list of options under consideration in the $139+ ranges.

What do you usually spend on a homecoming dress? Am I unreasonable?

We are by no means wealthy or rich, it seems expensive for one evening that is not Prom.

[Anonymous]

Try a vintage or thrift store. We found great options that were absolutely gorgeous and unique for under $60.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is DD 9th grade year. I was under the impression dresses for homecoming cost around the $60 range. She seems to have a list of options under consideration in the $139+ ranges.

What do you usually spend on a homecoming dress? Am I unreasonable?

We are by no means wealthy or rich, it seems expensive for one evening that is not Prom.

When I was in high school, Homecoming and Prom were equally important from a dress standpoint. Homecoming was not less formal. It was basically "fall formal" and "spring formal" and the only thing different was the color palette, sort of. This was in the Midwest in the 90s and I'm sure things have changed, but I truly doubt that the absurdity of teenage formal standards is one of the things that's changed for the better.

If you don't want to pay $150 on a Homecoming outfit, tell your daughter that and she can find stuff that's cheaper. I also agree that finding dresses at vintage stores and second hand is a solid bet, but they might not be current styles or the color she wants or whatever. It's better to agree to a budget for stuff like this imo that way everyone has clear expectations.

-- mom of 9th grader willing to pay no more than $100 all-in for Fall Formal (our school doesn't have homecoming).

[Anonymous]

My DD purchased from one of the online stores (Hello Molly). See if there is an older neighbor who you can borrow from to try on for sizing.

We tried to keep it all in for under $100.

With the online shops - read the return policy!
Credit / Refund

[Anonymous]

There are cheap online places like shein or lulus but then you don’t know if it will fit.

$130 seems reasonable to me for a dance. I’m not sure you can buy dresses for $60 unless it is the low quality stores. I used to shop at those low quality stores when I was a teen.

[Anonymous]

You can definitely get a cheap slutty looking dress at Windsor for under $100.

[Anonymous]

Thrift store or Goodwill.

I get all of my evening gowns for one time work functions at Goodwill.

[Anonymous]

Yes. You have to buy a new dress for each dance.

[Anonymous]

The $60 - $139 difference is unimportant. Prepare for much bigger headaches ahead, for this even, if you're focused on those numbers.

[Anonymous]

In MCPS, it's not as formal as prom. The dresses are usually short, like a cocktail dress. DD bought a dress at a consignment shop for < $30.

[Anonymous]

She could probably babysit for one evening and have the money to buy herself the $140 dress.

[Anonymous]

You are totally unreasonable. I went to prom in 1993 and my dress was $180 and we were middle class. $60!8: absurdly cheap.

[Anonymous]

I’m pretty sure my homecoming dresses were around $100 20-25 years ago and my prom dresses were more than that. I think you may need to adjust your expectations a little.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:She could probably babysit for one evening and have the money to buy herself the $140 dress.

I was just thinking the teen should be able to earn this from her parents or a job.

[Anonymous]

I think how much money is worth spending depends on how much you have. I would consider $130 to be inexpensive, even for one dance, but that doesn't mean it's reasonable for you. Kids have to learn to live with what we can afford.