Formal time (for the ladies)
 

Since Formals are coming up soon (within Months)

Have you ladies started looking for dresses or are you going to just recycle a dress/borrow a dress?

I have not started looking yet because trying to decide if I wanted to recycle one of my dresses that I only wore once and it's such a classic black dress strapless dress.

But I will start soon;)

Do you have a set limit or is it just buy the dress that see regardless of the price?

FSS

I'm a big fan of recycling dresses. Out of all my homecoming/prom/formal/semiformal experiences I've only bought one dress ever. It just seems like a lot of money to spend on one night (that I often don't have:p ) and just as exciting to wear someone else's dress that is "new" to me!

I was in a wedding of a friend last March. the dress was so beautiful that I am using it for Sapphire Ball this year.

I've recycled dresses before. I wore my highschool formal (prom) dress to my first Pi Phi formal. Last year I bought a new dress. This year I might buy a new dress, or I might just do the classic black dress thing since I already have one.

I don't spend a fortune on my dresses because I know I probably won't wear it again.

I've started looking, but I don't know if I want to buy a dress or have my mother make me one... I have about 10 dresses that I could recycle, but most I think there are only two that have only been worn once.

Looking back I know I should have recycled my formal dresses because I've only worn them once and I know I'll probably never wear them again, I don't have any events to go to! The only dress that I was able to wear a few times was this black strapless knee length dress from Arden B. that I wore to a fraternity formal... was able to wear that to another fraternity formal and my sister wore it to a dated party and fraternity formal so that got a lot of use.

Good point! If you buy a new dress, go for something simple, elegant and basic that you can wear again after college. There will most likely be a million weddings you will have to attend after college and you will need nice dresses.

I don't go to sorority formals anymore. I attend weddings and events. I happily recycle dresses. I always 'shop' in my sister's closet. :)

sisters closets are a great place to go shopping!! most of the older girls have been to a bunch of formals and have a bunch of dresses. thats what i did for my first formal. its way less expensive than buying a dress for every one that you go to!!!

Our Formal is April 3...I'll definately just be wearing a dress I already have! I have a gorgeous formal I wore to the Dinner of Honors at the SAI national convention this summer, along with the shoes and jewelry and all...just makes sense to save money. :) Especially since I am going to New York for spring break and will be broke after that! :p

I'm all about recylcling dresses. I currently have two formal dresses. One is dark shimmery blue and from my prom, and the other is a gorgeous light green one, empire waist with silver embroidery on the bodice area. For the last two years I had 2 formals each spring, one for PSP and one for AXiD, so I just alternated dresses. I'll probably wear the green one again next year because I like it so much!
Sadly, there will be no formals for me this year, since I'm studying abroad...

I've got a few formal dresses at home, but only two that keep making an appearance. One is an iridescent blue swing-style dress, and the other is actually a mint green satin ball gown skirt, both of which Mom made. For Scherzo, the School of Music formal, I bought a plain white sleeveless top to go with the skirt; for Carnation Ball last year, I made a sleeveless top out of a really pretty satin brocade. The green leaves matched the skirt perfectly! I don't know what I'm going to do this year, but I'd love something different. Whether that's a brand-new dress or some thrift-store fabulousness (all of my sisters seem to be either bigger/thinner/shorter than me!), well, that remains to be seen. :)

I wore a high school prom dress to my first formal in college and have bought a new dress for every formal since. What I can I say, I just can't bring myself to wear something like that twice. It can get a little spendy though since I usually attend 2 formals a year sometimes 3 or 4 depending on how many fraternity formals I get invited to. So I like to hit up places like Forever 21 and Charlotte Russe for Smei-formals because they have great cheap, one time wear dresses.

Tee-hee! I just got a dress today (sort of) - I got it from E-bay, so I just have to actually get it and put it on to make sure it fits right...I'm pretty sure it should fit though. Here are pictures (note that the mannequin is only a half mannequin so it looks funny, my hips are obviously a little less pointy and more round):

http://i12.ebayimg.com/02/i/01/4b/a0/10_1_b.JPG

http://i24.ebayimg.com/02/i/01/4b/68/cb_1.JPG

The back is my favorite!! If the dress doesn't fit, it's no big loss - I'm only paying $5.50! :D

But I hope it does work!

Speaking of formals...

Ours is March 6th. I have my dress. I have shoes and have have my jewlery (although I might get a few different pices and see with ones I like best)

I don't know how to do my hair. It's short and in layers (the longest layers is about to the middle of my neck). Any ideas on how to do short hair for a formal?