RoughCollie Posted March 16, 2009 Share Posted March 16, 2009 A Brazilian friend of DD's has invited her to a "sweet 15" birthday party. DD left the invitation at school, so I'm not sure what it is called in Portuguese. DD has the response card -- it is like one you would see come with a wedding invitation -- engraved, formal, white, thick paper, about 6" x 5". DD says she has to wear a formal dress to the party, which begins with a Mass at church and then moves to a rented hall (a place where one would have a wedding reception, for example). Now what do I do? This is not in my budget at all. We are lucky to have enough money to pay for heat and food, already canceled the health insurance, and so forth. This would insult the family big time if DD does not attend. I am not going to let DD wear an inappropriately informal dress -- nothing that does not fit the formal attire standard. What kind of dress is a formal dress for a 13 year old girl? I don't even know what type of dress to look for. Thanks, RC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nakia Posted March 16, 2009 Share Posted March 16, 2009 When is it? If you have time, maybe you can hit up the after-prom clearance. Can she borrow something from a friend, relative, or someone at church? As for what kind of dress, I don't know. I'm sorry, I'm not much help. I'll keep thinking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyJoy Posted March 16, 2009 Share Posted March 16, 2009 I see pretty formal dresses at Ross and TJMaxx for great prices all the time. I would think along the lines of a simple prom type dress. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bettyandbob Posted March 16, 2009 Share Posted March 16, 2009 I think it's called a quincenera. I don't spell well. Check thrift stores. Put a wanted ad on freecycle for a formal gown between sizes -- and --. Someone may be ready to get rid of a bridesmaid dress. We are entering prom season. My local community center collects dresses and lets girls come in and "shop" for free. See if you have a program for this. Call your sil, sister and best friend and see if they still have a bridesmaid dress or other formal. Put feelers out for a dress to borrow at your activities, mention it at Bible study, put it on your facebook wall, tell your neighbor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenny in Florida Posted March 16, 2009 Share Posted March 16, 2009 . . . for this sort of thing. I don't know about yours, but my daughter was wearing regular adult sizes by age 13. So, we just hit the sale rack in the prom/special occasion dress department. We bought the dress she wore for her graduation party--which was originally priced at $200 for--$75. I know that's probably still out of your range, but the point holds true. You could also check thrift stores. They often have racks of formal dresses that people buy for an occasion and then wear just once. In terms of what type of dress, I'd probably go for whatever your daughter feels comfortable in. And keep in mind that "formal" may well mean just "nice." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denise in IN Posted March 16, 2009 Share Posted March 16, 2009 I've heard that Goodwill and second-hand stores can be great for getting formal dresses. No experience myself, but one of my friends found a beautiful bridesmaid dress at Goodwill for next to nothing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
klmama Posted March 16, 2009 Share Posted March 16, 2009 If this party is anything like the traditional Mexican Quinceanera, it's a huge deal. Very formal, very fancy. Think prom dresses. Any good second-hand shops nearby? This is the time of year they pull out the formal gowns. I'm always amazed at the dresses at our Goodwill. Penney's has lots of gowns right now, but you'd have to have a great coupon and maybe a sale to get a really low price. Most of what I saw were strapless, but they might have something else in there somewhere. Does Burlington Coat Factory have outlets in your part of the country? They have flower girl/first communion gowns at more reasonable prices than you find elsewhere, so maybe their formal gowns are the same way. The return policy isn't very good, though, so you have to be sure of what you want. I hope you figure something out! I'll pray that God will send you just the right dress at just the right price! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoughCollie Posted March 16, 2009 Author Share Posted March 16, 2009 (edited) Thanks, you all. I will check out Salvation Army, sales, discount stores, and so forth. The party is on April 12, DD thinks (she left the invitation at school). Oh man, I am soooo behind the times. I don't even know what formal dresses look like these days. I certainly didn't expect to need one for a 13 year old! My entire current fashion knowledge consists of knowing the stock at Aeropostale and American Eagle Outfitters. (Hollister is too dark, maze-like, and expensive for me to venture in there.) Put it this way: I look at bread that costs $4 for one loaf, and remember when it cost $1 for four loaves. I am stuck in the 70s and that was more years ago than I can count. I am a living anachronism. Everything about me is out-of-date. I remember when ballpoint pens became standard issue in my elementary school -- before that, we used fountain pens. Yes, it's like the Quinceanera. Here's a link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quincea%C3%B1era I just realized DD will need to bring a gift. What would be suitable? We cannot give cash -- I'm stashing all the extra cash I can get my hands on for when the sky falls in -- probably in June. We may not be able to afford to let DD go to this party. It's kind of ironic -- about 5 years ago, the mother of girl in whose honor this party is being given was my maid. Now she is a U.S. citizen who runs her own company and has employees, owns a house, single mother. I admire her very much. Thank you very much for your help. As you can see, I desperately need it! RC Edited March 16, 2009 by RoughCollie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennifer in MI Posted March 16, 2009 Share Posted March 16, 2009 I third the SAlvation Army or other thrift store. What size is she? I have a black formal dress that I never wore. I bought it before I lost weight. It's long and has spaghetti straps. Worn with a shawl, I think it'd be appropriate. It's a 14. I'd be happy to mail it to you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoughCollie Posted March 16, 2009 Author Share Posted March 16, 2009 What size is she? I have a black formal dress that I never wore. I bought it before I lost weight. It's long and has spaghetti straps. Worn with a shawl, I think it'd be appropriate. It's a 14. I'd be happy to mail it to you! Oh my gosh, you are so generous. DD wears a size 8 or 9, though. I do appreciate your offer. You are a sweetheart. RC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bettyandbob Posted March 16, 2009 Share Posted March 16, 2009 I don't know what is typical for Quinceanara, but perhaps there is a meaningful book for a 15 year old good about becoming a woman. If I were in this situation, I might call a Catholic Church and ask for suggestions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris in VA Posted March 16, 2009 Share Posted March 16, 2009 Put out a thread here--maybe someone can help you; I'd certainly be willing, if I had a dress the right size! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doran Posted March 16, 2009 Share Posted March 16, 2009 ...do you have any friends or relatives w/ kids in a similar age or size range? Our dd borrowed a dress (semi-formal) for her first high school dance last fall. It was a terrific fit for her, and the perfect price for us. I've attached a photo of a group of the kids who attended that function. These girls are 9th - 11th graders, so older than your dd, but I thought this might give you a sense of the range of styles going around today as far as formal wear is concerned (though you may prefer something with a little more coverage...;)) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momofkhm Posted March 16, 2009 Share Posted March 16, 2009 Oh my gosh, you are so generous. DD wears a size 8 or 9, though. I do appreciate your offer. You are a sweetheart. RC That's a shame. I have a 4, purple full length from DD's cotillion that she'll never wear again. I was going to offer that. Gift I have no idea! Forgot to add that I found it at a second hand bridal salon - it's a bridemaid's dress. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reya Posted March 16, 2009 Share Posted March 16, 2009 Thrift shops are usually crawling with formals! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reya Posted March 16, 2009 Share Posted March 16, 2009 Oh my gosh, you are so generous. DD wears a size 8 or 9, though. I do appreciate your offer. You are a sweetheart. RC Just checked mine. They're all 6s! Sorry!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2cents Posted March 16, 2009 Share Posted March 16, 2009 You might try: http://www.craigslist.org/about/sites Find your local area and see what they have for sale. I've sold on Craigslist and my friend has bought lots of things with no problems for great prices. I bet you could find a nice dress and maybe even some type of gift! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.