8 Budget-Friendly Ways to Shop for an Evening Gown

Looking flawless for your evening event doesn’t have to break the bank. The modern world is full of breathtaking options for formal and semi-formal dresses. With the right strategy and a little bit of creativity, you can put together a perfect outfit for your next big event. Here are 8 budget-friendly ways to shop for an evening dress.

Rent An Evening Dress

When you want to look your absolute best during your black-tie or white-tie event, dinner party, or any other formal occasion, renting a dress is the best budget-friendly road to take. Renting an outfit is also a great option for those who rarely attend formal events and are unlikely to wear the same outfit again. Here, you can acquire an evening dress at a fraction of the cost you might otherwise pay for a designer outfit. What’s more, getting a dress on rent allows you to wear different dresses for different events. 

Go for Classic Looks

Choosing classic outfits is often the most affordable way to put together an evening outfit. For instance, if you’re attending a cocktail party, all you have to do is to find a little black dress, pair it with a nice set of accessories, and you’re ready to go!

Classic looks such as a simple jumpsuit or a long dress that might be living in the corner of your wardrobe can be elevated with the help of a statement piece of jewelry to arrive at a decent party look. Neutral colors, simple silhouettes, and statement jewelry not only help put together a formal outfit on a budget but also make the outfit blend perfectly with the event’s dress code. 

Take the Road Not Taken

Another way to create a formal look on a budget is to think out of the box. If you have an eye for fashion, you can assemble certain pieces you already own. Or, you can extract different areas of your outfit from different sources. For instance, if you have a simple dress that you purchased several years ago, you can elevate its look by investing in a designer belt, borrowing a fancy necklace from your friend, and getting matching shoes off the rack. If you’re looking for a little inspiration, YouTube and Pinterest are full of ideas!

Head to a Consignment Shop

If you have a super-tight budget but want a designer dress that is in almost perfect condition, a consignment (or a secondhand) store is your best bet. Once you pick the dress you love, you can have it altered with the help of a local seamstress to achieve a perfect fitting. You can also visit special stores that sell pre-owned, high-end outfits if you want to take your look up a notch. 

Negotiate

If you want a brand-new formal dress, you can head to a formalwear store with the intention to negotiate. You may not score big savings on the outfit itself. But you can always try to extract a package deal by investing in other accessories. Once you have the look together, make a reasonable offer to the store manager on the pieces you’re buying. Remember, you can negotiate only when you offer to pay in full instead of paying the sum in installments. 

Hunt for Discounts Online

It is common to believe that high-end fashion is far from affordable. But nothing could be more wrong! Many online stores offer occasional sales that make way for massive savings. Some stores also lay out a host of designer collections at heavy discounts. At these stores, you can even buy designer items at less than half the original price.

Shop During Discount Days

Another way to be a smart shopper is to plan your outfit far in advance. Keep an eye out for some of the biggest sales days including January Sales and Black Friday sales. Focus on stores that offer styles you love. Then, once the sale begins, you’ll know exactly where to find that perfect full-length gown or that flirty cocktail dress. 

Borrow It from Your Friends and Family

If you’re unlikely to wear a designer piece again, you can simply borrow it from your nearest or dearest who share the same size. If you can take the time out for a little tour of their wardrobe, chances are, you can find some truly outstanding pieces to borrow. You can return the favor by allowing your friends and family to borrow something of yours the next time they’re attending an event!

Getting the Perfect Look for Your Formal Event

From online marketplaces that offer designer wear at markdown prices to elevating simple outfits with statement jewelry pieces – there are countless ways to look stunning at your next big event. A few right strategies and a good fashion sense are all it takes to find that perfect evening dress!

Author Bio:

Jonah Levine is the Creative Director of TheDressWarehouse.com. TheDressWarehouse.com was launched in 2018 as the go-to online source for amazing designer dresses at affordable prices. With 10 years of experience in the industry, Jonah works daily to scour the markets to find the hottest styles and negotiate the best prices for special occasion wear on the internet.