My daughter is going to homecoming in a few weeks. She picked out this long, blue gown to wear. The dress was $55 and it needs to be altered because it's too long on her. She has been checking around and the alterations will cost just as much as the dress or even more. I think all the seamstresses know that dresses need altering this time of the year, so prices are therefore increased. My daughter liked this other dress which is a very popular dress, so I had to locate one in my state and I drove many miles to purchase it in her size. Now, my daughter doesn't want to return the blue dress. A friend's mother told her to keep the blue dress for her junior prom next May. Grant you, it will stil need to be altered. I think she should just return the blue dress because by next year, it may not be the in style to wear or she may see another she likes. I don't want this dress to just stay in her closet , she may not ever end up wearing it and then I have to buy her another dress next year. Plus, she's growing, so the size might change. My daughter thinks I'm wrong here....she loves the dress, but wants to wear the other to homecoming! Moms, please help. What should we do?
This is one of those emotional things she'll remember with fondness or with resentment. I would let her keep it and have her pay for the alterations, whether from her saved money or chores around the house, etc.
Have her get an after school job so she can pay for her own alterations.
If she changes her mind about it, she can sell it on eBay.
She might grow taller and it may be perfect length for junior prom in May :) If she insists that she wants it for junior prom, make her a deal right now that IF she changes her mind and doesn't like the style anymore.....then its up to her to sell it and come up with the difference in money to buy a new dress :)
I re-wore some of my dresses, or swapped with friends. I think between 4 homecomings and 4 proms I only BOUGHT 3 dresses (some of the long one's I had altered to tea length, to switch it up), and like I said, swapping dresses with friends was a huge money saver! My friends and I, our parents would make us buy our own dresses (I think my mom bought my first homecoming dress)... so we all learned the value of a dollar and making things work REAL quick ;)
I would return it. OR look for a cheaper seamstress on Craigslist, one that might work out of her home may be cheaper. If you choose to keep it and she decides not to wear it next year (grrrr) you could sell it on Craigslist or Ebay and recoup your money.
Is the dress a classic style? Is your daughter a girl who appreciates that sort of thing? I was, and this would have worked for me. If she is more likely to change her mind from moment to moment, then I would point this out and take it back. If she insists on keeping it, have her invest in it by paying for the alterations (maybe around Spring Break time when there's no big rush).
Is the money an issue? We have tons of formal and semi formal dresses and wear them to all kinds of different activities. Like a Christmas party, a youth dance, a nice church activity, there are just all kinds of places to wear a pretty dress. I think if she likes it then she should be able to keep it. She might or she might not wear it, who knows, plus don't get it altered. Her body will change and you may find it fits just fine next time she puts it on.
If she loves the dress and it was only $55 I would let her keep it under the condition that she pay for the altering. If she wears it to Prom, that's a huge bargain of a price. My daughters dress, and all her firends dresses were closer to $500 and I am not wealthy! That's just what prom costs these days. Even if she doesn't wear it. its only $55 and she loves it. We blow that much on a regular basis with nothing to show for it. This way she will have it in the closet for things that come up. You never know when you will be invited to a formal Christmas or New Years ball or a trip to the symphony to see Nutcracker. I sound like a rich kook. I'm not! But teenage girls do come across opportunities to do super dressed up things and it will be nice to already have a dress to wear. Worst case scenario, she can put it on Ebay to sell it.
I'd say let her keep it.
If she does choose to wear it for Prom next year the money is already spent and you ( or her) can spend the money on the alterations. If she doesn't wear it then have her sell it on e-bay to help pay for the new dress.
might want to reconsider actually "hemming" it - depending on the dress, since it's floor length, sometimes you can use a sharp pair of scissors and just cut it off and not bother with the hem, simply because it is never worn but the one night; and for $55 you did well!
Return it. There is no guarantee she will still love it or it will even fit and if it doesn't, its even more for alterations besides hemming it. Good luck!
Hi! im not a mom, but i know teenage stuff, if she likes the dress this much then why not see if she knows anyone that will alter it for a cheaper price, my best friends mother used to be a seamstress, she altered a chorus dress for my sister when she needed it shortened. Personally all the teens now a days grind at dances and wear SHORTY short dresses, be lucky that your daughter doesnt want to wear a "inapropriate dress" i think that if you let her think about it, she will decide if she can find something better or something not so, good that will pronounce your decision to keep the dress or not. It also depends her body type, if shes short or tall, its been a couple years since my last homecoming but i remember i wore a nice appropriate dress to it, it was in style and not so short that if i sat down my butt would touch the chair. im short, and i know how to dress for my body type, tall girls however, should probably wear a mid sized dress:) so if she fights you on it go out to a macy's or something and look around to find the same dress for a better deal. I go shopping with my little sister (jr) and i got a wicked deal on the dress because i knew how:D even see if you can get a coupon online and bring it back to get the extra 5 bucks off! good luck, and dont forget this is her night too!
I think she should return it because there is no guarantee it will still be in style.
When my daughter was in high school I bought her one dress a year. After that those girls swapped dresses. Kinda funny really because there were some really wealthy girls in her school. They still didn't want to pay hundreds for a dress five times a year, more if they dated. She never looked bad at a dance. :)
$55 is great for a dress she loves, even altered. Is there another occasion such as a sport banquet, dressy outing, holiday parties, etc?
In my area, girls were short dresses to HC and long dresses to prom. Yep... We're looking at $200 for a HC dress and about $500 for prom. Thankfully, my daughter is wearing the same HC dress to the 2 HC she is going to this season at 2 different schools. Same will apply for prom.
Another thought is will the blue dress be in style next year? If it's a classic? Maybe yes but you have to watch all the fads.
I'd probably let my daughter keep both. Reason 1. It was a good deal, even with altering costs 2. We have a sports banquet, cheer banquet, numerous holiday parties so the dress would most likely be used for some event.
Teens also change their minds a lot!
Good luck!
I agree with YOU. Take the dress back. Her size, taste and style will change several times before she has the opportunity to wear that dress!
Sent by a mom of 3 grown girls!
return - but the $55 doesn't sound that out of line to me - if there is a lot to be done.
I certainly would return it. I have no doubt as a teenager she will change her mind by next year!! Save your money or keep shopping around to have it altered for cheaper.
She can either pay you $55 and keep the dress or you take YOUR dress and return it :)
Bring the dress back. I promise she WILL change her mind, especially if she picked out the dress for homecoming, prom dresses are way more involved and I can't imagine picking out my prom dress in high school that many months early.. she may get mad at you for a little while but she'll get over it, then be thankful that she can wear the dress she really wants to prom. Unless you're looking to get through prom pretty dang cheap then keep the dress and make her wear it.. either way she's probably not going to be happy at SOME point but she'll get over it.
