Where to Find Glam Prom Dresses

We are in the throes of prom season. Throngs of harried parents stand in the middle of malls, eyes skyward as daughter's lament ever finding a cute dress. You meanwhile lament whether designers have given any thoughts to making dresses that mere mortals can afford. Well there is good news on both fronts and it does not even include the mall.

Vintage Clothing Stores

Before you break the bank buying the latest Parisian haute couture original, check your local Vintage clothing stores. Many carry dresses from a variety of eras. For full on glamour nothing beats the Dior New look silhouette of the 1950's but regardless of what era you're looking for, you're sure to find something beautiful. The great thing about shopping at vintage clothing stores is that you are more likely to have something that is one of a kind. If you're here in Houston there are a number of vintage stores you can visit. Take a read of R. Ann Sipper's article "Top Three Vintage Clothing Stores in Houston" to find out about three of the most popular, The Way We Wore, Buffalo Exchange and Vintage Oasis. Buffalo Exchange is unique in that they offer up to date clothing as well as vintage items.

Resale Shops

Resale shops or as they are more commonly known, thrift stores are different from vintages stores. Most often vintage clothing stores include items that have been placed there on consignment by people who are looking to recoup some of the money they spent on the item when it was new. Thrift stores, on the other hand tend to get gods when people bring them in to give them away either in a recycling effort or because the clothing no longer suits their needs. Vintage clothing stores or as they also known, consignment stores can usually charge a higher price for their merchandise. Thrift stores items are usually priced significantly lower than similar retail priced items. For a great article on the difference between thrift stores and consignment stores, check out Linda Ann Nickerson's article, "Consignment shops: Understanding the difference from thrift stores".

Thrift stores offer access to some wonderful and unique finds. Many don't need anything done except maybe a quick run by the dry cleaners. If you are a vigilant and patient shopper you'll find great looks for a little of nothing and besides free, you can't beat a little of nothing. I have a very successful friend who runs a lucrative and thriving Public Relations firm who keeps her costs down by buying the vast majority of her clothes from Goodwill. No one is the wiser unless she chooses to tell them. She consistently makes best dressed lists in and around Houston. The list of resale shops in Houston is quite long. For the best selections at Resale shops and thrift stores, it is best to arrive early and on days when the trucks come in. This way you'll have first pick on the items that come in. Also shopping at thrift stores in affluent areas is another way to find fantastic deals.

Local Houston Resale Shops

Blue Bird Circle Resale Shop

The Guild Shop

Houston Junior Forum Resale Shop

TheCottage Thrift Shop

Salvation Army Thrift Store

On the Internet

Amazon.com

Books aren't the only bargains to be had at Amazon.com. The book giant has a great marketplace that allow sellers to offer all sorts of items from gadgets and gizmos to groceries and everything in between. So if you're at your wit's end and you and your daughter have stopped speaking, why not make up over a shopping session on Amazon.com. There are a wide selection of beautiful, contemporary, fun and reasonably priced dresses available from an array of online retailers who sell through Amazon.

Overstock.com

Overstock.com is another site that offers parents a safe haven to shop, unmolested, for the latest in glam prom fashions. Currently Overstock is offering free shipping on orders placed before May 4. So grab a cup of coffee or tea and peruse their large selction of formal dresses that are suited to prom or any other function that calls for formal wear.

Facebook also has access to Auctions where customers can put items up for bid and bid on things that catch their fancy.

Ebay

Just in case you haven't heard about Ebay. Ebay is based on the adage 'one man's trash is another man's treasure'. That has kept garage sales going for what seems millenia. Ebay allows people who have things they've outgrown, inherited or no longer want to post on the internet so that other's can bid on them. Ebay also includes the 'Buy it Now' option which allows purchasers to dispense with waiting through an auction to purchase whatever item catches their interest. Ebay also offers users the ability to open an online store.

Ebay has access to vintage clothing as well as new items.

Looking for what you want on Ebay requires patience and quickness in equal measure. Don't be put off, because there are great bargains to be found. Many of the items are family treasures that have been preserved lovingly. There are also opportunities to pick up new designer duds as well.

With time and preparation you can find a unique dress for the prom or any other function.

Shop.com

Shop.com is a great site because it allows users to compare prices from a variety of online stores to find the most competitive price. Again patience is a virtue when using Shop.com but the payoff is the knowledge that you are getting your purchases for the best possible price.

Prom is a signature event in a young person's life in a parents life. Use these options to find something unique and reasonably priced.