Prom Dresses

The Big Spree

Financially, shopping for a prom dress is not for the faint of heart. In a recent survey conducted by a leading fashion website, 37 percent of respondents said that they will spend close to $200, while 20 percent said they would spend as low as $100 to as high as $300. If that isn't shocking your wallet enough, 7 percent said that they will spend $400, and 13 percent stated that they will spend over $500 – on the dress alone!

So if you are one of the big spenders out there, or you are lucky enough to have a parent footing the bill, then take your time when looking. Prom dresses usually hit the stores months in advance, and with many other businesses selling nothing but wedding and prom dresses year round, you are sure to have plenty of dresses to choose from!

So, why do girls spend so much on their prom dresses? In certain cases, it is the fact that they feel as if it is a beauty contest socially. No one wants to show up with the simplest or ugliest dress, and so more and more girls are choosing designer labels and elaborate fabrics as if they are on their way to the academy awards.

Another reason is because many high school ladies really do feel as if it is their Oscar night. Too old for dress up and too young for their wedding day, the prom is the time where buil- up princess fantasies come out to play. The weather is getting warmer around prom time, leaving girls with the options to buy what is perhaps their first strapless dress, or to purchase a dress that is big in glamour albeit low in practicality.

Every girl wants to feel like royalty on her prom night, and that sometimes comes with a hefty price tag!

What's In, What's Out

Satin is a very popular fabric for prom this year, dresses are getting more feminine and softer looking than ever before. Sequined dresses are not a popular buy as they have been in the past, and if you are going for a sequined look, it is recommended that you choose a dress with subtle sparkle top.

Ballroom skirts and one shouldered dresses are becoming popular thanks to their glamorous introduction on the red carpet. Dresses that are hemmed shorter in the front and longer in the back are another favorite of the prom dress purchasers. Simple is more when it comes to patterns and embellishments.

Color is critical this year, with black and pastels still acceptable, but vibrant colors more welcomed than ever before. So live it up with glorious skirts and punchy shades, and have the prom your inner royalty has always dreamed of!

What About After Prom?

So what do you do with prom dresses after the big night is over? Some girls choose to save them in their closet as a memento of a fun night, but realistically there is something much more productive you can do with your gowns.

Many schools and organizations around the United States take prom dress donations every year so they can "sell" them to low-income teen girls for very low prices and often for free. This ensures that every girl has a chance to go to prom no matter what her financial status.

While it may sound like buying your dress at a thrift store, the truth is that many of these prom dresses that are handed down are simply gorgeous and typically have only been worn once. Why should your dress just live in the darkness of your closet when it can spend a second night partying it up in the life of a girl who otherwise could not afford to go?

These organizations have been started for a multitude of reasons ranging from inner city Christian outreach to high school students getting together to honor the memory of a friend who passed away before he/she got a chance to attend a prom.

Donating your prom dress makes you feel even better inside than you did when you were wearing the dress yourself, and you can make a world of difference in the situation of another.

Prom is a great excuse to dress up, go out late, and to make memories that you will cherish forever. Without prom dresses, the night wouldn't be nearly as special, so take the time to find the dress that is absolutely perfect for you and make it part of the prom you have always dreamed of!