M.D.
Maybe try to get them second-hand? There are usually formal-type dresses at Kid to Kid or Once Upon a Child, and there is also a large consignment sale this weekend in Grapevine called Divine Consign. Hours and directions on their website. My daughter is almost two, and we buy her holiday dresses at places like this, because usually she only wears them once. I found a black "velvet" dress with silver snowflakes for Christmas at one of these sales for $7 and she'll wear it for the holidays, then we'll sell it or pass it on. Hope that helps.