Best Places to Shop Prom Dresses 2024

Looking for prom dress ideas this year? Prom season is and prom dress shopping can be somewhat stressful. The more options, the better. Here are some of the best places to buy a prom dress for teens.

Where to Shop for Prom Dresses in 2024

What do high schoolers wear for prom night? Usually prom is a more formal look than Homecoming, so girls tend to wear long dresses. I’ve also seen them wear jumpsuits, pants, and short dresses if you really want to. It’s your prom, so wear whatever you feel best wearing. 

If you’re going to be dancing, you also want to keep in mind if you want comfortable shoes. Sure, heels look great, but long dresses can also hide shoes, so comfortable shoes may be a better bet.

There may be dress codes for some events or schools, so make sure to look up those guidelines. Weather is also a factor on what you decide to wear. I’ve noticed a trend in some proms being earlier this year, so it may be cold where you live.

My oldest daughter went to prom twice last year and opted for a long dress for one and a jumpsuit for another. There’s no right or wrong for your prom style.

Here’s a list of prom dress ideas on where to shop! Also make sure to read every store’s complete return policy, so there are no surprises.

Showpo

Showpo – Price: Mid-range, most dresses $80-$100, Sizes: 0-16, Returns: 7-day return for refund, 21-day return for store credit

Showpo has some great dresses which aren’t terribly expensive. The return window isn’t extremely generous, but it does give you enough time to decide whether you like a dress or not, so it’s fair. This online shop is popular with high schoolers and won’t break the bank. 

Petal and Pup

Petal and Pup – Price: Mid-range ($50-$110), Sizes: xxs-xxl/0-16, Returns: 30-day return policy

Petal and Pup carries different styles of clothing and offers dresses for different types of events. They sell a lot of affordable options. 

Red Dress

Red Dress – Price: Affordable to Moderate (mainly $50-$80), Sizes: xs-xl, Returns: 14-day return policy

Red Dress sells all kind of clothing, but they have a section for formal dresses on their website that are cute and trendy!

Hello Molly

Hello Molly – Price: Moderate ($65-$166), Sizes: xs-xl, Returns: 30-day return policy for store credit

Hello Molly is a popular online store for many high school girls. There was even a viral dress on TikTok earlier this year. They have many affordable options.  The main con is their return policy. You do have 30 days from delivery date to return anything, but you’ll only receive store credit, so you’ll want to order with plenty of time in case the first dress you pick is not the one. 

David’s Bridal

David’s Bridal – Price: Moderate to High, Sizes: 0-30/xs-5x, Returns: 7-day return policy

David’s Bridal has a prom section on their website, but if you have a store near you, you can try on the dresses as the return policy is pretty strict. The green dress below was on sale for $70 in the store and they also have a membership you can join for an extra discount.

Rent the Runway

Rent The Runway – Price: All different price ranges, Sizes: 0-22, Returns: No Returns as it’s a Rental

If you don’t want to spend a lot on a dress and don’t want another formal hanging in your closet, Rent the Runway is a good option, as you get to choose two different sizes to be delivered to your home. It’s also a good option if you want a designer dress.

Macy’s

Macy’s – Price: Moderate to High ($50-$500), Sizes: xs-xl (a few plus size dresses), Returns: 90-day return policy

As with department stores, you’ll find all kinds of price points and selection. When shopping for Prom Dresses in 2023, we even saw they had a special Prom section with Say Yes to the Dress.

You can even try other department stores in your area like Dillards, Nordstrom, and JC Penney.

My daughter found her dress at Macy’s in store. 

Amazon

Amazon – Price: Low to Moderate ($50-$150), Sizes: xxs-8XL, Returns: 30-day return policy

If you have Amazon Prime, then it’s worth trying on some dresses to see if you like any styles. You can find all kinds of price points and the return policy is pretty generous. And now with Amazon returns available at different stores without a box, it’s even easier. 

Lulus

Lulus – Price: Moderate ($70-$110), Sizes: xxs-3x/0-10, Returns: 30-day return policy

Lulus has a good selection and sometimes different styles come in and out of stock. It’s always a go-to place to order a lot of dresses and try on, then return what doesn’t work. Return shipping is free if you return the dresses within 10 days. 

Windsor

Windsor – Price: Budget to High ($20-$270), Sizes: 0-15/xxs-XL, Returns: 14-30 day return policy

Windsor has retail locations or you can order online. For the most part, the dresses are affordable and some a little lower quality than other places, but they usually have an assortment of colors and styles.

Altar’d State

Also check out your favorite retail stores, they sometimes stock some more formal dresses you can wear to prom. My daughter love Altar’d State and were able to find a few options.

Altar’d State – Price: Can be expensive from $89-$189, Sizes: XS-L, Returns: No specific window listed

Good luck in your search for the perfect prom dress!

And if your child is a junior, here are some Senior Parking Spot ideas to get ready for next year.