A couple of months ago I was sat with Miss Frugal watching a TV show about a group of girls getting ready for their proms and the cost of some of the dresses they were wearing was astronomical – I’m talking a month’s worth of food shopping budget on the dress alone. By the time you add on the shoes, the bag and the professional hair and make up, you could probably pay for a family holiday!
We have a good year or so left before we need to start thinking about prom and all that comes with it but I decided to prove to Miss Frugal that you don’t need to spend a small fortune on a dress by challenging myself to find three prom dresses that she loved for under £10 each.
Let’s see how I did….
Outfit 1 – eBay used prom dress £3.49 + £3.49 P+P
This was described as a dress in immaculate condition and aside from a teeny tiny click at the bottom which you really can’t see. It’s clearly a bit grown up for her right now but very on trend for the dresses that the girls were wearing for last year’s proms which is why we picked this particular one over the three or four others that we could have bought for this price. She’d definitely need a shawl of some kind but that wouldn’t cost much I wouldn’t imagine.
Outfit 2 – eBay custom made two piece prom dress £2.70 + £2.95 P+P
I’m not sure what to say about this one other than it looks NOTHING like it does in the picture on eBay. It looks so tacky and cheap and the skirt is totally see through which makes it unwearable, hence the leggings she’s wearing in the photo – not that she’d wear it anyway having seen it.
Outfit 3 – eBay custom made floaty prom dress – £7.49 + Free P + P
This one is easy to tell you about because it never arrived after seven weeks so the seller refunded the money. It was all floaty and pretty in the picture but after the state of outfit number 3 I think it’s probably a good thing that it never arrived!
If it wasn’t for the first dress then I would have totally lost my challenge to find her a prom dress she would wear for £10! I’m pretty sure when it comes to the real thing that she’ll have her sights set on something more expensive bu hopefully I’ve shown her that you don’t need to spend a fortune. Plus buying something from a site like eBay or finding it in the charity shop rather than in one of the local shops that all the girls go to is the best way to make sure you don’t go wearing the same dress as someone else.
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Wow that is super cheap. I wouldn't even imagine you can get these.
I love eBay! That first one is such a lovely colour, and looks way more expensive than it is. eBay is definitely hit and miss but there really are some gems out there if you look hard enough.
The first dress is lovely and such a bargain too! x
I'd take a look at my fave online clothes store "Everything five pounds". I bought some lively dresses for a cruise from them, as well as party dresses and wedding guest outfits. There are often some gorgeous embellished maxi dresses, can even get a pretty clutch bag and shoes too. Worth a look for anyone.
The first dress is gorgeous, and there are a lot out there that were only ever worn the once. Hope you find your bargain when her time comes!
I bought my wedding dress off ebay it was a sample and i got it for 50 quid. I have a 30 jj chest and it fitted perfectly. In the photos it looks no less expensive than my sisters vera wang.
wow I would have never thought to look on eBay – some fab bargains (and could even sell on again afterwards)
I think I ended up buying my prom dress from Wallis of all places! We'd trapsed around every shop in Bluewater & tried every single dress on before we found it y chance. I think we spent £40 ish, but it is a dress I will probably wear again.
I think that first one will be totally suitable for her prom & it really suits the colour of her hair. Bargain!
My mother and I spent about £7.00 on fabric and trimmings and spent quite a few enjoyable hours adapting a paper pattern and making a beautiful prom dress for me. Shame that no-one asked me to the prom. It was ages ago- my school only allow couples to attend and so I never wore the dress to a dance. But I still use the knowledge gained from those sewing lessons. Adding embellishments to a dress found in a charity shop can take to a completely different level and/or modify the dress to be more fitting and age appropriate.
You can pick up some brilliant bargains on ebay but, like you, i’ve had some bad experiences so i’m really cautious now when it comes to purchasing stuff. That first dress is absolutely beautiful though xx