Every year, the hunt for Homecoming dresses creeps up on students unexpectedly, especially considering Kilbourne’s early Homecoming date of September 21st this year. It is certainly overwhelming to begin searching for a dress: There are many options, ranging from online stores, department stores, and even thrift stores. Though all of these options exist, the companies are not always dependable or successful. WKHS students share their insights on the 2024 Homecoming season.
Online Shopping
As soon as school starts, it seems as though students are already scrolling through endless dress options online. Shopping for Homecoming dresses online certainly seems like an easier option: it is as easy as choosing your size and pressing “add to cart”, but in reality, online sites can be unreliable due to vague return policies.
Senior Hannah Wiley shared about her experience ordering from online dress store Hello Molly: “I really like the dresses on their website, but last year I ordered two dresses that didn’t end up fitting, but they don’t do refunds.” According to their website, Hello Molly only exchanges purchases for store credit only. In order to return, the garment must be returned within 30 days of original purchase, be completely unworn, and still have tags on. The buyer will also not be credited for shipping cost.
On the other hand, Wiley explains that she has “found the majority of [her] dresses from Lulus. Most of the time there is free shipping and also free returns. The website is easy to navigate and the prices are reasonable.”
Sophomore Kate Schumacher agrees with Wiley, sharing that she has been “most successful on Princess Polly and Beginning Boutique, which are both online.” Schumacher loves “how many options there are and that [she] can search for exactly what [she] wants and get results accordingly.”
The clear benefit of shopping online is how easy it is to find exactly what you may be looking for, although it is crucial to be aware of websites with tricky return policies before making a purchase. Always make sure to check a website’s return policy before ordering.
Thrift shopping
Thrift stores can be a great place to search for dresses if you are on a budget. They are also great to check out before going somewhere else to spend more money. There are cheaper options, such as Goodwill and Volunteers of America, but there is also more high end thrifting, such as Plato’s Closet and Uptown Cheapskate. All of these places are very close to Kilbourne, are very cheap, and very accessible. It is smart to check out places like these before heading to online or in person stores because there will be a smaller purchase.
Junior Abby White found one of her previous dresses at Uptown Cheapskate. While it did work out well for her that year, she also shares that “the only bad thing about Uptown Cheapskate is that if you find a dress that you like but it’s not your size, then you are out of luck.”
Clearly, since the company is a thrift store, buyers are unable to just order another size. The selections in store are the only options. Although options may be limited, it is worth searching through thrift stores in order to ensure the best deal.
In Person Stores
The easiest way to avoid the complications of ordering dresses online is to go try on dresses in person. After making the short drive to Polaris Mall, there is an array of stores such as Macy’s, Von Maur, Altar’d State, Dress Destination, and Windsor. If you don’t know exactly what you are looking for quite yet, Polaris Fashion Place is a great start to go and browse.
White also touches on department store shopping, stating, “Macy’s dresses can be a little more expensive but they always have a lot of cute dresses that are on sale.”
When shopping for dresses, it is important to consider your budget, your “dream dress”, and how those two aspects go together.
Though White has also bought a dress at Windsor, also located in Polaris Fashion Place, she shares that “if you go [to Windsor] too close to homecoming, there won’t be a lot of options and the wait for a fitting room could be multiple hours. So, I recommend going dress shopping early. That way, you don’t have to settle for a dress you don’t love.”
Considering White’s advice, it is important to begin the shopping process immediately to make sure you are getting a dress that you truly want.
Another unique place that is not well known is Gowntastic, located at 4699 North High Street. It is on the more expensive side of most budgets, but they offer a unique and personalized fitting experience where potential customers get personally helped and fitted by employees. It could be a great place if you are unsure of what you are looking for and need additional guidance. Gowntastic is not commonly discussed when looking for Homecoming dresses, but it is definitely worth checking out.
Though there are many different places to search for dresses and many pros and cons to each place, it is hard to go wrong. Based on student’s advice, make sure to start shopping early and to make sure you know all of your options.
