1. Buy a Vintage Prom Dress
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Scour your local vintage shops and you may find a prom dress that's one-of-a-kind and a whole lot cheaper than department store dresses. (Admit it: wouldn't it be rad to show up to the big dance in a vintage 80's prom dress, or a strapless A-line dress from the 60's?) If the thought of vintage shops makes you nervous, these tips for buying vintage can help you out.
2. Raid Some Closets
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Why spend money on a prom dress when someone you know might have a perfectly good one gathering dust somewhere? Raid the closets of your older sister, your college-aged friends, your cousins - even your mom, your aunts and your grandma if you want to score something vintage. If you find a dress they're willing to part with but it doesn't quite fit, save money by letting it out or taking it in yourself.
3. Don't Be Afraid to Discount Shop
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Pretty sure you want to wear a brand-new dress, but don't want to spend all your college savings on it? You can find a super-hot prom dress at Forever 21 or H&M for under $30, and JCPenney has some stylin' prom picks this season for under $100.
4. Research to Find Prom Dresses on Sale
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Before running out to the mall and paying retail, do some searches online to find sale prom dresses. Sites like PromGirl.com and ChristinaGowns.com have discount dresses, and you can find sale items at Nordstrom and Macy's that they might not carry at your local brick and mortar stores.
5. Make Your Own Prom Dress
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Don't know how to sew? Make a prom dress out of duct tape. Yes, seriously. Wouldn't you love to show up to prom looking like this?
6. Get a Free Prom Dress
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If your family's in a rough spot financially, you might qualify to get a donated dress. Visit DonateMyDress.org to find out where to pick one up. These aren't slim pickings, either - girls from all over the country, including celebrities, donate their old prom dresses. You can potentially land your dream prom dress for free.
7. Bid on Dresses at eBay
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8. Buy a Simple Prom Dress & Accessorize
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You don't need a $500 prom dress to feel like a princess. Instead, think about getting an affordable, simple dress and accessorize it with a statement necklace and some statement earrings. This simple, chic black lace party dress is only $12.49 at Target and looks hot with the right jewelry and heels.