I love the second one!

These are some I would've worn to pref ranked in order from lowest price to highest. I tried to find a range of prices and looks (safe to daring and very dressy to sort of dressy).

Colorblock Satin Dress, Forever21, $22.80
Pleats to Meet You Dress, Forever21, $24.80
Poised Sheen Shoulder Dress, $29.80
Pleated Rosette Dress, Forever21, $32.80
Rosette One Shoulder Dress, Forever21, $32.80
Grape Expectations Dress, Modcloth.com, $59.99
Bow Business Dress, Modcloth.com, $61.99
Scene of the Crimson Dress, Modcloth.com, $77.99
Nanette Lepore Glass Heart Sheath, Saks, $138.99
Milly Asymmetric Ruffle Dress, Saks, $141.99
Little Navy Tea Dress, Anthropologie, $188.00
Strapless Colorblocked Dress, BCBGMAXAZRIA, $298.00

Generally the cheap dresses (like Forever21) aren't as well made and don't fit as well, but if you order now you have time to try them on and tailor them if you need to. Forever21 can be very slow with shipping, also. Modcloth has flat rate $7 shipping and free returns, but because they use a huge variety of designers you HAVE to measure yourself and use the measuring guide on each garment to make sure you'll order the right size, and again, order early enough to tailor if need be. That last dress, by the way, I tried on for a spring formal and LOVED it. It's expensive, but you'll look like a million bucks in it and you'll be able to use it for other events later (that's true of most of these dresses). By the way if you have a Target near you it's a great place to find shoes.

I looooooovvvveeeeee online shopping, even if it's not for me. :)

You ladies are amazing!!! I took a look at some of the things you researched and I think some of the things are AMAZING. Please note: the continuity of color helps to lengthen you body. Please note: I am not saying that you need to be thin(er). You mentioned that you're not tall. LOVE the Nanette Lepore and the Milly (although the color may not be strong enough for the OP). Caution about satiny dresses and inexpensive fabric: they can look too shiny.

Actually......I think I am going to Saks.com...The red dress is stunning.

And you ladies rock...seriously.

That's what put the kibosh on the first one for me. The skirt looks like it's jersey/sweatshirt material. Comfy but not pref-like.

Also, big WHOO HOOS for suggesting Modcloth!!! They are based out of Pittsburgh.

Lovelovelove Modcloth. A sorority sister sent me to their site and I've been buying from there constantly ever since.

I want that red dress so badly and have no excuse whatsoever to buy it...rawr.

"When one buys a fabulous dress, even without a specific occasion at which to wear it, some occasion will come up. That is the magic of a good wardrobe."

Ellebud

I would strongly urge you to not wear something that's mostly black or white.

Does that same concept work with buying a dress a couple sizes smaller? I'm thinking not.

I'm still waiting for an occasion to come up for my latest fab buy. Going to a meat market bar at Station Square was NOT it. Or do Target dresses not count?

Target dresses count. Target dresses on sale, however, do not. =)

Hi tacitum! I'm rushing this year at a competitive SEC school as well & like you, haven't found the *perfect* outfit to wear for pref night. (Although I do have all my other outfits planned & ready to go!) :] And I know that I'm not in any position to give out Greek Life advice so I'm in no way saying "yes, that would be perfect!" or "no, don't wear that!"
But all things aside, I thought the second dress that you posted was really cute!

Good luck finding your pref dress & good luck rushing!! :]

If you love the dress/outfit it counts. Price is not the object, enjoying the dress/feeling special in the dress is what is importent. As for several sizes too small...I guess it counts if you fit into it. If all the dress provides is fustration and disappointment in oneself...NO.

If you're looking for a red dress...
Too cute & on sale too! ;) Except I would do gold heels instead of the weird black ones in the picture.
http://www.whitehouseblackmarket.com...&maxPg=2&size=


Whatever you chose, rock it with confidence & knock 'em dead!

I'm just going to leave this link here. Betsey Johnson dresses are always winners, in my opinion (although they can be quite pricy).

http://www.betseyjohnson.com/Women_D...pl/c/1101.html

I'm pretty sure this dress will be my crush for a while: http://www.betseyjohnson.com/store/p...d=9434&np=1101

In my own *personal* opinion, Forever21 is generally not appropriate for Pref...or really anything except the bar/club. They're kind of in the same category to me as Wet Slu...I mean Seal.

I do like the Nanette Lepore Glass Heart Sheath, and I LOOOVE Saks. We have an Off Fifth Saks here, and they constantly have 50% off clearance sales and FABULOUS deals. I just got this one from Chetta B (orig. $335) for $17.50:
http://www3.images.coolspotters.com/...c__profile.jpg

Too heavy for Pref, but the style is more what I would look for. Remember, you're trying to impress GIRLS, not GUYS.


(Alumiyum, nothing against your choice - like I said, I'm personally more conservative :) ).

This dress could be a dressier version of your original choice. Also a plus side of an all-neutral color dress is that you could really have fun with the colors of your accessories.