With the seriousness of the current recession, more than ever, young ladies are being forced to downsize their expectations for their prom dress. Whatever your situation, with a little research and planning, you can still get a great looking dress at a very reasonable price. The key is not to wait till the last minute.

If you have the ability, making your own dress is probably the most cost effective. However, you shouldn’t attempt this unless you are absolutely certain you can complete it, or you have help from someone who can take over if you get in over your head. You don’t want to get caught in the position of buying all the materials, and then having to abandon the project and buy a dress after all. This hasn’t saved you anything.

Remember that more expensive doesn’t necessarily mean better or prettier when it comes to prom dresses. Just because one dress is more expensive than another, doesn’t mean that it will look better on you. Concentrate on finding a style that fits your body type and a color that complements your skin tone and hair color. If you need help with this, take your mom or a friend with you when you try on dresses.

The internet has become a girls’ best friend when it comes to prom. Buying a dress from a store at the mall is the most expensive way to go. Those stores have high rent, employees and other overhead to pay, and they price their dresses to cover those costs. Go to the mall to try on dresses, find a style and color that looks great on you; then find a similar dress online. While you’re starting your online search, it doesn’t hurt to hit the second hand consignment shops in your area, you could get lucky and find a beautiful dress that’s only been worn once. In addition, depending on where you live, there may even be stores that rent prom dresses. Check around...the newspaper, radio, Craigslist, yellow pages and sales clerks in clothing stores can all be good sources of information on where to find dresses.

When searching online, care should be exercised. You have to know your size. If you can find the same dress or brand name in a store to try on beforehand, do so. Sizing can vary between brands. Stick with reputable sources. If you can find a store that someone you know has used and been happy with, that is the best. Ebay is a wonderful source for all types of prom dresses from budget to designer labels. You can buy either second hand, directly from other sellers, or new from one of the Ebay stores. Always read the seller’s feedback, it’s your best source of information on them and try to deal only with sellers who have a significant history with Ebay. Remember to compare shipping costs and return policies among sellers, and most important....be sure to allow plenty of time to resolve any sizing or other problems with your dress.

Prom is still one of the biggest events in a girl’s high school life, and it is a night you will remember for a very long time. No one, especially your date, needs to know how much you spent for your dress. He’ll only notice that you look great and you’ll be glad that you didn’t have to break the bank to do it.