Elie Hancock

Finding your perfect dress for prom can be a stressful and long process, but finding a dress that represents your personality and makes you feel confident is what makes it fun!

The date for Benilde-St. Margaret’s prom is nearing, and people are preparing. Whether it’s scheduling hair appointments, nail appointments, or finding a date, prom season can be a stressful time. Of course, for most students, the most important part of prom is finding what dress to wear. Students at BSM have seen a variety of dresses in different styles and colors, depending on which store they bought them from. However, what stores are the most reliable, and what should you look for in your search for the perfect prom dress?

When looking for a prom dress, the first step is finding one that fits your personality. Senior Scarlett Lira found a navy blue polka dot dress that she fell in love with. She had previously looked for dresses on Revolve, a popular online retailer that sells hundreds of different fashion designer brands. Unfortunately, things sell out quickly on Revolve, and there is a cost to return an item. Despite not having any luck on Revolve, Lira unexpectedly found her prom dress from a Nordstrom ad while scrolling on Instagram. Nordstrom is another popular website for finding dresses, with many different options of dresses ranging from price, color, and style. Another upside to Nordstrom is that you can go to the store in person to try dresses on. This prevents size mistakes and allows you to see what the dress looks like before purchasing. “It was different but classy. I liked the polka dots because they had a mix of maturity, and navy is my favorite color, so it was all my favorite things in one dress,” Lira said.

Remember, you don’t always find the exact dress you’re looking for on the first try. Senior Esme Miller bought multiple dresses before finding the one she plans to wear for prom. Miller ordered two dresses from Princess Polly and one dress from Lucy in the Sky. Princess Polly is a great brand to buy a dress from because it offers affordable, trendy, and sustainable options for teenagers. However, reviews on the website complain about the quality of the products, leading to many returns. Lucy in the Sky is another popular online store from which many people buy prom dresses, but there are common shipping delays, which make it difficult for customers to know if their dress will arrive in time. After making her final decision on one of the Princess Polly dresses, Miller described what her experience was like: “When I tried on the dresses, I had to convince myself I liked them, but when I tried on the dress [I chose], I fell in love right away,” Miller said.

Finding the perfect prom dress is all about patience and staying true to your personal style. Wherever you discover your dress, either online, in person, or from an Instagram ad, keep in mind that there are many trusted retailers available that offer a variety of options for you to choose from. The main takeaway is that your dress should make you feel confident and excited to wear on the big night!