For many high school students the spring season brings in the excitement of spring sports and the school year getting closer to the end, but it also ushers in the excitement of prom coming up. Prom is known to be a time of fun and anticipation but also comes along with some downsides like shopping. From personal experience, prom shopping can have stressful factors like going at the right time, finding a special dress, while also being mindful of the costs. Guys and girls have different expenses during the prom season which include: buying a dress/tux, shoes, accessories, flowers, on top of the ticket. On average the girls total cost tends to come out to be around 900 dollars and the guys about 300 according to Amarra, a dress designer company. My goal here is to find some alternatives to the traditional prom shopping options to help alleviate stress and maybe cost.

     The best time to start looking is around January and February; this way you have plenty of time in advance to get a dress you like before they are gone, advises Jovani, a dress designer company. It also is a plus if any alterations need to be made there is plenty of time. There are many options for finding a dress in stores; there are shops such as Ultimate, Revolve, Windsor, and Glitterati. These stores tend to carry designer brand dresses which are more on the expensive side. Senior Jordyn Knowlton says this year she spent “around $500” on her dress alone. This does not include what she has to spend on other accessories which she says, “will probably come out to $100.” She describes her shopping experience as, “overall well but a bit stressful at points.” A positive factor is that these stores keep lists of dresses bought for your prom, so it is guaranteed nobody will end up with the same look, compared to online stores, where you can buy the same dress as another girl. Senior Jimmy Bornstein says he “spent 300 on his tux for last year’s junior prom” and “did the shopping process a little last minute” so he hopes to be more prepared this year.

     A great alternative is shopping online for some more reasonable prices. For example, Lulus, Lucy In The Sky, Hello Molly and Rent The Runway. Rent The Runway allows you to rent the dress for the night you need specifically.  The prices on these sites can range from 65-300 dollars. There is a bit more of a selection shopping online and you can easily compare prices. There are limitless styles, colors, and sizes for you to find something you’ll love. This option is also convenient for those with busy schedules who don’t have the time to spend hours trying on dresses. Shopping online also comes with risks like the dress coming on time or it not looking the same as the photo or fitting right. Although there is still a  positive side to those, you are allowed to make returns or get a refund which most in store shops do not let you do.

     This year our school gave us the opportunity to donate dresses for those who are not interested in going shopping or spending money on a dress to wear one time. Ms. Lafrance has set up a little shop by the library filled with dresses for you to browse through. If you are still interested in going shopping, but want to keep the prices reasonable a great option is consignment shops. Consignment Shops consist of many items from different sellers. It is also a great option for those who want to sell old dresses for a little money to put towards their new dress. There are a few surrounding ones that sell dresses, for example Forget Me Not right in Ipswich, Frankies Boutique in Topsfield, Revival Fashion Consignment in Danvers, Consignment Bridal and Prom in North Andover, and The Dress Code in Gloucester. 

    To sum up it can definitely be a challenge to find the perfect dress in time and at an affordable price. However, there are plenty of options for those who are shopping on a budget or who want to try something different.  Hopefully, this article will help anybody that wants or needs a few extra ideas aside from the traditional shopping experience. Most importantly senior prom only comes once so have fun shopping and whatever dress you choose wear it with confidence!