“You can find homecoming dresses where?”
Mary Mahan, Staff Writer
It�s homecoming season and North Greenville University is finally having its first semi-formal dance this weekend. Semi-formal dresses are known for being slightly extravagant yet simple in design. Sometimes it can be hard to find the perfect dress without spending a lot of time and money. If you still haven�t had a chance to get a dress or maybe the choice of where to find the ideal dress is too overwhelming, don’t worry. Here are a few creative places to look for the perfect semi-formal, homecoming dress:
1. Thrift stores
Mary Mahan (Sophmore, Broadcast Media) looks through the dress rack at Goodwill.
Source: Adam Kelly
Thrift stores are the best places to look for that �diamond in a ruff� sort of dress. Most nice dresses at thrift stores are anywhere from $5 to $15, depending on the store and the condition of the dress. Lucky for NGU students, Greenville has some great thrift stores. Some near campus are Miracle Hill Thrift Store, Goodwill, Safe Harbor Retail Store, and Brown Roof Thrift. Ladies, take the time to sort through the dress racks at thrift stores to find that �one in a million� dress that doesn�t break the bank.
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Jeanne and Mark Mahan posing before prom.
2. A friend’s closet
Really want to go to the semi-formal, but don�t want to spend any money on a new dress? Try looking through a friend or a relative�s closet. Wear your mom�s old prom dress or borrow a friends old homecoming dress. It might be a bit unconventional, but you won’t spend a dime. I just hope your mom had a more modern style in high school then mine did.
3. Amazon.com
If you have a few dollars to spare then definitely check out Amazon. There are literally thousands of dress to choose from in all styles, colors and lengths. It might seem daunting to order online not knowing how a particular brand size will fit, or how a certain style will look on you, but Amazon is a great last minute place to look. I bought my bridesmaid�s dress for my sister�s wedding on Amazon and it fit perfectly and shipped in two days. Definitely, consider looking on Amazon before going to an expensive private dress shop.
4. Etsy
Another great online site to look for unique homecoming dresses is Etsy. Etsy is an online buy-and-sell site where most of the items are homemade or slightly used everyday items. The dresses Etsy offers can be anything from a Star Wars themed skater dress to a �one of a kind,� homemade floral dress. Any dress you find on Etsy is sure to be unique and will definitely make you stand out in a crowd.
5. Retail stores
Retail stores don’t really seem like a creative, unconventional place to look for a semi-formal dress, but there may be a few places that you don�t normally think of. Ross, Marshalls, and TJ Maxx all have trendy, �in-style� dresses that are cheaper than a dress boutique. They�re definitely a breath of fresh air form the normal JC Penny/Belk retail. Although retail is a bit more expensive than thrift stores, if you have a few extra dollars to spend, check those three out.
6. Your own closet
Ordinary closet.
Source: pixabay.com
Don�t want to spend money on a new dress, or time shopping? Wear something that you already own. Whether that be your one little black dress, your favorite floral number or an old bridesmaid dress. Throw on some accessories and the perfect pair of shoes and you�re set for a great time at NGU�s first semi-formal homecoming dance.
