As prom season approaches, students are beginning to look for the prom dress of their dreams. Whether it is their first prom as a junior or the final mark they will leave on Oak Hills as a senior, students want the perfect prom dress to make the perfect night. While the style and fit of a dress play a huge role in deciding which dress works best for a student, another important detail is affordability. For many parents, spending $300-500 on a prom dress is just not in the price range. But for others, finding a magnificent, ballgown-type dress is all they dream of. While a prom dress is a one-night-only outfit, students are planning to dress to impress, and luckily, there are stores to accommodate any price range.
Windsor
Windsor is a fast fashion type store that can sell cheap, yet trendy dresses for all price points. With the average dress priced around $60-100, this store provides many options for all. There are many pros about Windsor. One of these is that this store is one of the most affordable out of the options I will be listing today. Personally, as a girl who has always been cautious about money, three out of my four homecoming dresses were from Windsor. There are many trendy options and colors, and with Windsor being a physical store, there is less worry about guessing if the dress will fit or not. But on the other hand, the quality of the dresses is not equal to that of a boutique store. The dress could be see-through or cheaply made, which is something to stay cautioned of when searching for the person’s dress. Another slight issue would be that some of the prom dresses are going to be more casual than the traditional prom dress with glitz and glam today.
Macy’s
On a higher level, Macy’s, a national department store, has options galore for prom and homecoming season. There are options for all body types and preferences. Whether that is a poofy ballgown dress or a tight bodycon dress, Macy’s will have the size and color that anyone could ask for. Another pro to getting a dress from Macy’s is that it will be of a higher-quality fabric and brand compared to Windsor. Also, because Macy’s is a department store, there are many locations for easy access to returns and in-store tryons. Although due to this same deal, trendy styles might sell out quicker because the store is so popular and affordable to many. Dresses here cost around $100-$300, but for a dress of this quality and this occasion, this price is good compared to other stores.
Kotsovos
On the complete other end, Kotsovos is a unique boutique-type formal store that will provide the best dresses for any formal occasion. Kotsovos is a dress store in the Cincinnati Bridal District, with dresses usually found between $200-$700. While this is on the pricer side of dresses, the reason is sincere. Dresses from Kotsovos are found through the professional fitting and styling process of the store. Usually, there will be a limit to how many dresses you can try on at a time at these stores: likely five at a time. This keeps fitting rooms moving for the line of customers, while also not overwhelming the person trying on the dresses. This nice store provides easy access to designer dresses that other students might not have at prom. Whether you want a fully-beaded gown or a simple satin dress, Kotsovos is going to have an option for you, but you have to be willing to pay.
Prom shopping can feel overwhelming and pressured, but being able to find a dress for you is always the goal. Fast-fashion retailers such as Windsor, Oh Polly, and Amazon can be great options for a wide selection online, and on the cheaper end of the spectrum. While Club Dress and Kotsovos in the Cincinnati Bridal District provide girls with options that are designer and a dress that they might dream of wearing. Ultimately, the best prom dress is always going to be one that fits your style, budget, color, and comfort. Sometimes that does not always mean the most expensive option, but for others, that does. With so many options available to students, finding a prom dress that makes you confident and comfortable should be no issue.
