My new excuse for not posting: my older daughter has been invited to go high school dance dress shopping. Well, not exactly, but you know what I mean.
If only they’d had this one in the store. (Also available in black and eggshell, but she was looking for a pretty color.)
Unfortunately, there was nothing so tasteful. As my hero says, there’s skanky and matronly. DD is neither.
So here’s my question for you: if you were 18, with a romantic and innovative personal style, and going to possibly your only formal dance ever, and you had to buy the dress yourself, and you still needed shoes, would you wear this?
And now’s your opportunity to ask me about dating, if you wish.
Honestly I’d ditch the crinoline. But that’s because I’m only 5’2″, and I always felt that hoop skirts and puffy crinolines make me look like some sort of weird inverted mushroom (cap on the bottom and my torso as the stem. Ick)
I’d say the most important thing is if she feels comfortable (as in fits in) and confident in it.
While I agree with Jenn’s comment about comfort and fit, and (from the picture) think the dress fits beautifully, I don’t think it’s at all appropriate for a high school winter formal. For one, it definitely looks more like a spring dress; and for another, I think it would be hard to pull off without looking like a costume.
If it’s your only formal dance ever, all the more reason to wear something you really love, right?
Shorter (knee length) dresses can look really luxe and glamorous with the right accessories (glamorous chandelier earrings, a faux-fur stole, gorgeous clutch bag?) and are easier to wear again than full length ones, and full length dresses could always be hemmed to a shorter and more versatile length after the event (if required).
Another thing to consider is consignment shops that specialize in bridal wear. They tend to have a selection of formal gowns that are lightly worn at reasonable prices, plus you can always take your formal wear in after the fact and recover a bit of cash, if you’re never going to wear it again 🙂
I graduated in 2004, so I guess I’m not quite 18, but I definitely went to school formals fairly religiously and had to pay for my own dresses and shoes. 🙂 Hope DD has a blast!
That’s great that she was invited to a dance! I would be happy to contribute (or shop here) for the dress as an early Christmas present. What is her budget? There is a terrific thrift store nearby that has really cute fancy dresses in the window.
I wouldn’t wear the Gunne Sax. It is quite old fashioned, and while her morals are decidedly traditional, her fashion is not. Maybe if it were a deeper color I would feel differently, but it just doesn’t seem bright and bold enough for her. I LOVE the Macy’s dress — I bet they would have it here, they just opened a new one.
When is the dance?
Actually I don’t mind the Gunne Sax, but it really depends on your daughter. If she is quirky and confident she should be able to pull it off, but if she’ll feel uncomfortable or will be worried about what her friends will think, it’s a definite no.
The other non-expensive option is to find someone who sews, material and a pattern and make it up yourself. My mum made my formal dress and it was wonderful. I think I may still have it stuffed in a cupboard somewhere, but it nowhere near fits anymore.
I do like Emily’s bridal consignment store idea.
Well, yeah … the crinoline is necessary to avoid having to hem. Or get the dress stepped on. And actually, this dress she really does love. But probably will not have the confidence to wear, only because she is going to a dance at a school where she doesn’t know very many people. She could definitely pull it off if she were going to be with people who already knew her. I think it’s really sad that she should have to find something ordinary.
Tomorrow we have more bridal stores to hit. We started at the consignment stores, have been to thrift stores, department stores, formal and prom stores, teen stores, discount stores, and grandma’s closet. Oh, and we’re going to sneak into the costume shop too. 😉 The dance is the 15th and she has known for some time she was going, but would rather not spend $200.
I disagree that the Gunne Sax is old fashioned. Have you priced them in boutiques recently? They are vintage, cooler than contemporary.
Does it make a difference if her date has a mohawk? lol
Ugh! This whole topic of discussion makes me feel so restricted that I think I shall ditch the lbd and wear my mother’s wedding dress to the work Christmas party.
well, since she loves it, can she put it with some black or wine velvet accessories to winter it up?
Ribbon around her throat? Little shrug jacket of some sort? She might as well wear it while she can – every minute older she gets, the harder it will be. Can she put her hair up?
Probably the wisest thing to do is keep looking, but for her to wear this dress for a more springy occasion. If she doesn’t get to go to another dance, perhaps a graduation banquet or something.
You’re right about it getting harder – she doesn’t think she can gain any weight and still have it fit. 🙂
I hope she finds just the right thing!
I bought one gown (with money I’d earned myself) for the high school formals I went to. It was a simple empire waist spaghetti strap dress and had a chiffon overjacket. I wore the dress several times, and sometimes wore a different coverup. Then in university I shortened the dress.
My only addition to this discussion is to consider how to keep WARM at a winter formal. I’m always freezing at formal events! The guys get to wear (often wool) suits/tuxedos and the gals look lovely and feminine and goose-bumpy with their bare shoulder and arms.
The Gunne Sax would need a shawl or sweater, both kind of bad choices. Hard to dance or eat while futzing around with the shawl. And a sweater would really dull down the dress. I suppose a beaded sweater might be snazzy, though, and a good investment for the future. She may feel this is her last dance, but you’d be surprised. If she’s planning on college, she might get invited to a fraternity formal party. If she’s going in the work world, many offices still have holiday formal parties. A good dress with classic lines can last for years.
Heck, I’ve had dresses so great that I threw a formal party at my apartment just to wear it and let my friends get all dolled up, too! 🙂
I have two stretch velvet dresses that I love, love, love for winter dress-up. One is gunmetal grey, cocktail length, with long sleeves. It really sets off silver jewelry. The other is black with a faux fur scoop neck collar, really dramatic. The sleeves are long and the hem is almost, but not quite floor length. Really shows up fun shoes.
The best parts: stretch velvet is comfy and warm, and both dresses were bought at Ross or Marshalls for about $30. I watch the dress racks constantly in those stores because they have formal stuff all year.
Oh, and storing stretch velvet is a snap. Just roll it up and stuff it in a drawer. In my case, I keep mine in an old suitcase, under the bed.
The dress is fantastic and I’ve seen Gunne Sax going for a lot of money on ebay. However, when I was 18, being different was *very* hard to pull off (without being defiant, in a way, which isn’t exactly the happy medium I’d say I’m at now.) Being around people you’re not familiar with only makes it worse. Though ordinary may be, well, ordinary and kind of boring, I think having fun at the dance without feeling self-conscious might be more important.
I’ll be interested to see what the final choice is.
It’s not budget, but check out ldsprom.com for modest, tasteful formalwear.
Ah, ambika, I couldn’t have said it better myself. 🙂
Louise, you’re right, staying warm is an issue. Last year I went to a festive event wearing a sleeveless lbd and FROZE!!!
Today she found an ordinary dress which we think will work, for $9 at the thrift store. It is also a good candidate for shortening later, like Wendy’s dress, and would then be appropriate for subsequent work holiday parties, specified “cocktail”. And, although the style is pretty ordinary, the color is a vivid blue, similar to the picture but more intense, which is the color she really wanted.
If it passes dad’s inspection, I’ll see about posting a pic.
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Hey, “ordinary” can also be “classic” and a great way to set off funky jewelery that might be too “over the top” with a different dress.
Oh, and could I fit any more “quotes” in the last sentence?
What Jenn said about accessories!
I loved your line about the invitation to go dress shopping! It will be fun to see what she puts together to wear!
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Would I wear this? No, not unless it was a costume party or some sort of Society for Creative Anachronism event. At 18, in my high school (middle class suburban) this would have been the kiss of death, and the wearer would forever have been known as “Laura Ingalls Wilder.”
It’s harsh, I know, but that’s high school.
Molly
I need to find a sexy but sophisticated dress for WInter Formal and i dont know wheree to find one, and i dont want to buy it online becuase sometimes the prices run to high and the sizes run to small.
Ive looked a wetseal and forever 21, and i dont know where to find some.
PLease help!(:
I suppose it depends on where you are. If you were here, I’d say try Mariposa. I can’t remember which mall I was at the other day, but the Mariposa store there was closing — it could be a time for great deals.
Each of my daughters has an evening gown: one was thrifted for $9 and the other was new clearance at JCPenney for I think about $20. Another suggestion is to go to a bridal consignment store. I know alot of bridesmaid dresses are kinda frumpy, but they also have prom dresses and formals.
I suggest you shoot for elegant, rather than trying to be too sexy. Maybe I’ll try to hunt some cute ones and post some ideas.
One more thought: do you have the option of having one made for you? There are some fabulous pattern styles available.
I think the dress is very pretty.