Need to find a pref dress cheap
 

I need to find a pref dress for under $40. I can't afford to through down $80-$100 like some of the dresses I've seen on GC. And most of the dresses I've seen in my price range are too short and cluby. Any advice on where to go or what to get?

Check the sales racks at department stores.

^^ Definitely that. Also check "discount" stores like TJ Maxx or Marshalls.

You could try DEB, sometimes (keyword SOMETIMES) they have nice dresses. Check the sale racks at Windsor as well. They only carry sizes 0-13, though.

Lulus.com has some dresses in that range.

Also see if there is a consignment store in your area. Sometimes they will have items like that and be willing to negotiate price.

Have you checked Rent the Runway? They have rentals for $50, but they run $20 off coupons all of the time, especially if it is your first rental.

(in fact, a quick google says that GOBACK15 will get you $15 off your rental)

I found these dresses online what does everyone think?

http://s.shld.net/is/image/Sears/031...arpen=1&qlt=75 http://s.shld.net/is/image/Sears/031...arpen=1&qlt=75 http://s.shld.net/is/image/Sears/031...arpen=1&qlt=75

http://c.shld.net/rpx/i/s/pi/mp/3883...ac53d4f8465e02 http://zoom.jcpenney.com/is/image/09...&resmode=sharp

http://zoom.jcpenney.com/is/image/09...&resmode=sharp http://zoom.jcpenney.com/is/image/09...&resmode=sharp

http://zoom.jcpenney.com/is/image/09...&resmode=sharp

I may be the wrong one to ask, since Laura Ashley floral prints were the height of pref fashion back in my day.

But... I'd go a for a little more coverage, and maybe not so shiny.

Anyone with a younger perspective want to weigh in?

Personally, I love it when PNM's wear something that isn't black. The red one at the bottom is too revealing, I think, but the others look good (as far as I can tell from the pics).

I hate satin. It looks cheap, and unless you have a flawless body, it shows EVERYTHING.

And ditto on the last one being too revealing.

Remember than you're dressing to impress women, not men. Color is nice, but plan on showing a little less skin.

i would say out of the ones you put, the first one is the best bet although I can't speak to how formal your school is

check the sales rack at MAcy's I know that where girls here go for nice dress that are affordable

I'd say all of them are great except the last one and the blue-ish one with the ruffles down the entire dress. It's just not a flattering look and it's a little too flashy.

I agree with everyone else that style wise they're all fine except for the red dress on the bottom. But you need to try dresses like this on in person before committing because shiny materials on inexpensive dresses can look cheap. The key is to find a dress that IS cheap, but doesn't look it. I've had success in that department with TJMaxx/Marshalls/Ross, the sales rack at Macy's, and on occasion consignment shops. Ask your friends, too. Whenever my budget is tight the key is TIME. Give yourself time to shop around so that you can find a dress that fits you well (especially if you can't budget in tailoring), doesn't look cheap (and by that I don't mean that it needs to look expensive either, it just needs to look nice), and hopefully can be used again at another event. The dress I wore as a PNM to pref got re-used as a semi formal dress twice when I went to other sororities functions as an active's friend date, and once I grew out of it I gave it to a sister to wear to a date function. I think she's now passed it on to anther girl. Because the styling is classic and the fabric is sturdy, it's been living it up for 5 years now! It's always nice to get mileage out of your dresses!

Check out TJ Maxx and Marshalls. And are there any outlets near you?

Don't know how tight your timeframe is, but I would generally discourage you from buying your dress online. I just ordered 2 dresses, and neither one of them looks like the picture- some things just don't show up. If you're on a budget, you're going to be out some shipping costs if the dress doesn't work.

Zara usually has very classy dresses for any shape
H&M had a range of pretty wrap dresses in store now, and they start at 29.95

OooooOOOOOooooooOOOO I know where I'm going over the weekend.

I was recently at Dillard's shopping for Prom dresses with my daughter. Their homecoming/winter formals were marked way down. We bought 2 short dresses for the upcoming school year + a prom gown. We paid $20 for a dress that had been $75. They always have a great selection of dresses appropriate for Prefs. Good luck, I love finding a bargain hope you do too!

I like the third red dress and the purple-blue fitted one (not the one shoulder). The rest seem a little low cut (although I don't know how they'd look on you).
If you have a Plato's Closet in your area, try there. I got a JCrew dress there for $12; I believe it was never worn and I wore it to prefs (as a sister). If you have time until you need the dress, try ASOS.com. They usually have decent prices, and shipping is free to the USA (though it's from the UK so it takes a while to ship, between 1 to 2 weeks).

Don't be afraid to check places like Goodwill. That's where any cocktail dress I've ever owned ended up. Also, don't be afraid to borrow from friends. I found out recently that even here in Dubai where the locals are gazillionaires and wear Miss America Pageant dresses to weddings, they pass them around! Who needs 20 cocktail dresses or ball gowns in their closet?

As far as the dresses you showed, I think they're all fine, presuming they are the right cut and fit for you (the red dress girl is pretty flat-chested). They aren't all to my taste but I think you're in the ball park. And as we've stated in another thread, the trend right now is pretty hoochie so I think a little extra cleavage wouldn't shock a 20 year old, but still aim at tasteful and if in doubt, go more conservative. The oft-stated reference still works... would you wear it to your Grandmother's house?

SRSLY?? Wow, your Plato's Closet kicks our PC's butt. I've never seen dresses or anything other than going-out tops and jeans in ours. :(

You have to go to the right one. It's the same with Goodwill. The one I found it at was in a nicer area of the city; apparently there's a bunch of designer jeans at the Goodwill and TJMaxx right near there too. However, I ventured into the Plato's in a another area of town and it was mostly what I'll call "clubwear;" Things that even if I had some strange desire to wear them, my mother wouldn't have let me out of the house wearing.

Basically you just have to go to consignment stores in the nicer areas of town. If the people who live there wear more high-end clothing, that's what they're going to be selling.

True^. Though I will say at the local Goodwill (not exactly the nice part of town) I've found two going out dresses from Express with tags still on them (that I happen to know were new to the store that season, because I'd been eyeing them at the mall), and one new pair of 7 jeans that just needed a new zipper (that ended up not fitting...grrr...but replacing the zipper cost me $35 and I sold them to someone for $75. :) ). If you dig, you can find treasures.

exactly. Shopping this way can be a treasure hunt. There are big rewards to be found but you can't walk in, find 10 dresses the same, pull out your size and off you go. I left off the part about having a used dress tailored because if she can't do it herself it would easily take the dress over her budget. But otherwise that's what I'd say. Dig through the stacks, find a dress you love, then have it altered to fit you like a charm.

And I know the Target in my home town donated stuff to Goodwill and there were clothes and housewares with the tags still on all the time. However, I don't know that they'd be a better deal than the expensive, even designer dress you might find that was previously owned.

Thanx everyone for your advice. I bought my dress last night from jcpenny for only $20! Its from their american living section, its the purplish/ bluish one I posted. I love the fit of the dress and I feel its a very classy dress for the price.

I'm glad for you! Make sure to let us know how it goes.

I got the blue-purple one for semi-formal last fall! had to pay full price though :(. I can send you pics if you wanna see how it looks on (it's more purple in person v. v. pretty)

Forever 21!! Like under $30 and SO CUTE

I love Forever21, but BE CAREFUL. I have found a couple of dresses that were made well and that I actually used during recruitment as an active, but it takes some searching and they can be a nightmare to order from. I've never once had an order just ship and arrive with no problems. For pref (or any occasion where you need nice, sophisticated looking clothing), I recommend Forever21 only if you can try it on in the store so that you know the material, cut, seams, etc. are all up to par. You don't want to show up in something that looks like cheap clubwear.

Am i the only person who can't find a decent appropriate dress at forever 21? it could be because i'm well endowed but everything i try on at that store seems way to risque.

It's extremely hit or miss, and yeah that could be part of the problem. I'm in the itty-bitty-titty-committee and those dresses I mentioned that were well enough made to work for recruitment probably would be too-too on someone who isn't as small chested as I. It's not the kind of place you should count on when looking for something nice...it's just a pleasant surprise when something does turn up.

A friend of mine turned me on to eShakti.com. They have great dresses and things, but the beauty is that they will customize the fit for you, and if you want, say, long sleeves on a sleeveless dress or you want the hem to be lower than it is in the standard dress, they'll do it for you. I just made my first purchase last night so I'll let you know when it gets here.

This beauty is $59....And usually when you sign up for an account, they send you a $20 off code.

http://www.eshakti.com/clothpdpage.a...L0020694&pcat=

Squee! I love some of those dresses! And I see several that have serious potential for fall recruitment in the south...lots of cute sundresses. Definitely post a review once you get it.

I agree 100%.I'm excited to try them out.