Does buying a fabulous formal dress from the comfort of your own home sound too good to be true? It's not, and we'll show you how!
Difficulty: Average
Time Required: 1-2 hours of online "window shopping"
Here's How:
- Sit down with your parents to establish a budget for your dress. Once you decide on a price range, respect their decision -- or offer to dig into your savings.
- Narrow down your dress options to only a few colors and dress silhouettes, taking your skin tone and body type into consideration.
- Just as you wouldn't buy a dress from the first store you visit, browse through numerous online shops to get a sense of your options.
- Don't limit yourself to prom retailers. The online counterparts of ritzy department stores and designer boutiques often have major sales throughout the winter. After Christmas, expect a jackpot for fancy gowns.
- Bookmark all of the dresses that catch your eye, then go back through them, eliminating those from websites with unreliable return policies.
- Find the style numbers ("sku" for those in the biz) of your favorite gowns, then search them on eBay. You never know what you might find at a "gently worn" price.
- Once you decide on "the one," order it several months in advance to allow enough time for returns and exchanges.
- Don't mail back your beloved dress just because the fit isn't flawless. Consider paying a visit - or two - to your local tailor.
Tips:
- Hit up your favorite dress shop to do a little "pre-shopping" and take notes about your favorite colors, trends, and designers.
- As a rule, only buy from secure online retailers.
- While you're buying your dress online, take a peek at coordinating shoes and accessories.