kewb Posted March 10, 2018 Share Posted March 10, 2018 (edited) My daughter decided to attend our local high school prom with some friends. Which is great. However, I hate shopping. Hate, hate, hate it. And Prom dress shopping! Ugh. Just ugh. But I will do it for my daughter who is excited to do this. I want to order it online. She wants to go to the store. Putting on my big girl pants. Of course, we have been discussing acceptable necklines and we disagree. I am not a fan of the deep v down to your navel. Not because of modesty, I just find it unflattering on everyone. Edited March 10, 2018 by kewb 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plansrme Posted March 10, 2018 Share Posted March 10, 2018 I also hate shopping, but I actually loved prom dress shopping, and my girl is what the professionals politely call a “difficult fitâ€: wide, wide swimmer shoulders and rib cage, narrow hips and 5’2â€. So I don’t wanna hear your whining if your daughter is one who can even remotely fit into a dress ordered online! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kewb Posted March 10, 2018 Author Share Posted March 10, 2018 I also hate shopping, but I actually loved prom dress shopping, and my girl is what the professionals politely call a “difficult fitâ€: wide, wide swimmer shoulders and rib cage, narrow hips and 5’2â€. So I don’t wanna hear your whining if your daughter is one who can even remotely fit into a dress ordered online! Lol. My daughter is also a swimmer and plus size. Her shoulders are next to impossible too fit. This will be an adventure for sure. Even if I do order online whatever we order will need alterations due to the shoulders. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marbel Posted March 10, 2018 Share Posted March 10, 2018 Prom dress shopping was torture for me. But we ended up with a great result - after going to several prom shops and a couple of big department stores, she found something perfect in Forever 21 for $20! And it didn't have a terribly low neckline. I wouldn't have wanted to do it online. Too many variables for me. But I hate online clothes shopping. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ottakee Posted March 10, 2018 Share Posted March 10, 2018 I hated that too. We actually found several cute ones at local nicer thrift stores. These dresses are not made to fit real size teens in most cases. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tsuga Posted March 10, 2018 Share Posted March 10, 2018 My daughter decided to attend our local high school prom with some friends. Which is great. However, I hate shopping. Hate, hate, hate it. And Prom dress shopping! Ugh. Just ugh. But I will do it for my daughter who is excited to do this. I want to order it online. She wants to go to the store. Putting on my big girl pants. Of course, we have been discussing acceptable necklines and we disagree. I am not a fan of the deep v down to your navel. Not because of modesty, I just find it unflattering on everyone. She can't bring her friends and you just sit at a cafe in the mall while she goes shopping? She can text you photos from the dressing room so you get veto power. Then once you're set you can go pay. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tsuga Posted March 10, 2018 Share Posted March 10, 2018 I hated that too. We actually found several cute ones at local nicer thrift stores. These dresses are not made to fit real size teens in most cases. Can I just say, if you do fit the frame because you are tiny, what are the chances of having DDs???? I'm a petite person and I always fit those dresses great... except the boobies. That's not how it works, designer people, just not. how. it. works. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janie Grace Posted March 10, 2018 Share Posted March 10, 2018 I hated it to but because of the constant battles over length. When my dd was going to prom, everything was SO SHORT. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plansrme Posted March 10, 2018 Share Posted March 10, 2018 Lol. My daughter is also a swimmer and plus size. Her shoulders are next to impossible too fit. This will be an adventure for sure. Even if I do order online whatever we order will need alterations due to the shoulders. Then you can not order online! Just find the store with the biggest selection, go on a weekday and ask for help from the professionals. My daughter is not plus-sized, just disproportional, and it was hard, but fun. She ended up with a lovely dress, thanks largely to the alterations lady! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kewb Posted March 10, 2018 Author Share Posted March 10, 2018 She can't bring her friends and you just sit at a cafe in the mall while she goes shopping? She can text you photos from the dressing room so you get veto power. Then once you're set you can go pay. I did suggest that. She wants to do it with me. She already made an appointment at one prom store for us. Although I told her not to get her heart set on something. We have a tight budget and I am not spending $$$ on a closet dress. Especially since I will have to also buy shoes to go with the dress. And she does not have petite feet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted March 10, 2018 Share Posted March 10, 2018 Times when I am glad to have boys. I ordered evening dress from the same company that supplied Hobbes' school suit. He tried it on and it fits perfectly. He loves it. Even Calvin with a 28inch waist at 5'11" just required one order from a specialist retailer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cave canem Posted March 10, 2018 Share Posted March 10, 2018 I did suggest that. She wants to do it with me. That's so sweet! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frogger Posted March 10, 2018 Share Posted March 10, 2018 Just want to commiserate on the shoulder issue. My daughter started sewing her own shirts because she needs a 2xl for shoulders but that makes the rest of the shirt a tent on her. She just wears men's t-shirts and shorts around the house but she needed a few nice going out clothes so she learned to sew. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mytwomonkeys Posted March 10, 2018 Share Posted March 10, 2018 I hate shopping too & my daughter has been to several dances over the past year. She absolutely loves shopping & would not consider ordering anything online. We did try to make a day of it... lunch out together and she brought a friend along. For me, having her friend along was great. They could giggle and take pictures and advise one another.... and I would sit in the dressing room across the way while my daughter would model each gown for me. It wasn’t so bad. She had a wonderful time & I just reminded myself these moments won’t always be here. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SquirrellyMama Posted March 10, 2018 Share Posted March 10, 2018 I also hate shopping, but I actually loved prom dress shopping, and my girl is what the professionals politely call a “difficult fitâ€: wide, wide swimmer shoulders and rib cage, narrow hips and 5’2â€. So I don’t wanna hear your whining if your daughter is one who can even remotely fit into a dress ordered online! I have a wide shoulder, petite swimmer also. No ordering online for her either. She did find a dress finally that fits shoulders and waist :) Kelly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tap Posted March 11, 2018 Share Posted March 11, 2018 I love shopping online for formal gowns...soooooo much easier than in the store. I use places that have free shipping and free returns (sometimes requires going into store to return). We start early and order 5 or 6..maybe more and have them delivered to the house. DD would try them on and get a better idea of what she wanted and return what doesn't work. Then we would place another order. We would go through several shipments and Always found something unique and beautiful If you happen to have a nordstrom card, they do 'free' alterations up to $100 per year. You pay for the alterations and then you get a Nordstrom Note for the same value but for us it worked out great! I shop there all the time, so it was truly like free alterations. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peaceseeker Posted March 11, 2018 Share Posted March 11, 2018 Well I love shopping and can't wait for the day my daughter asks me to take her prom dress shopping. But she dislikes dresses and skirts and chooses only to go to casual homeschool socials where she can wear jeans. I couldn't even talk her into going to the semi formal. I thought we would have a fun day shopping and doing nails and hair etc... I am starting to realize if she ever makes it to a prom it will possibly be in a girls pants suit and some chucks. Sigh... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bettyandbob Posted March 11, 2018 Share Posted March 11, 2018 I suggest a hybrid approach. My DD and I went a couple of years ago. First, we went to Nordstrom. In Nordstrom we visited ladies formal Wear first. It was very civilized to he dressing room was a dream with an elevated for the guest stand and twirl in front of mirrors while guest friends sat in comfortable seating drinking sparkling water. DD tried on a variety of dresses with different necklines and fits. She and I made note of the style that suited her body. I also noted which sizes by which designers/brands. We did see some nice things, but generally out of our price range. We looked at juniors and checked out junior departments in other stores. Then I got on eBay plugging in size and designer/brand names. DD picked out a dress she liked there. Because she knew her fit with the designer we felt confident buying without trying. It worked. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mschickie Posted March 14, 2018 Share Posted March 14, 2018 We actually just went to a local event called Fair Godmothers. They have dresses (mainly used) in all different sizes. The girls get a personal shopper who helps you find dresses in your size. They do minor alterations there although this year they were running behind and did not have time to do the hem or add straps for dd so we have to get that done ourselves. Last year her dress was brand new with tags and they were able to hem it and take a bit in. They also have them shop for accessories: necklaces, earrings, purse, shawl. Dd got her dress, earrings, necklace, purse and a brooch for the dress and it cost us $8. They then gave out $10 gift cards to Payless for the girls to get shoes. Well worth the few hours we were there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kewb Posted March 14, 2018 Author Share Posted March 14, 2018 Will have to look into fair godmothers. I like a bargain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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