Homecoming is an adored tradition. It is an event to hang out with friends, to make new memories, and to find the perfect attire. Scoring the perfect dress or suit, along with shoes that compliment the look, can exhaust even the most experienced shoppers. Over the years, fashion trends changed from modest to modern. The shopping experience for the perfect dress can be full of stress and confusion as one seeks to find a dress that complements their style, yet doesn’t look like the average homecoming dress.
Teens have struggled with what to wear to homecoming since the adored tradition began in America in the early 1900s. Homecoming evolved over the years from a plain gathering to the present-day exciting “hoco dance” and all-weekend event. The common stressful thought that pops into the minds of teens across America is, “What do I wear to homecoming?” In today’s reality, there are two main shopping points teens go to, online ordering and in-person shopping. Online ordering offers hundreds, and sometimes thousands, of options with a variety of colors and sizes. However, there are often long wait times for shipping, and sizes and colors can be limited–especially during busy times like homecoming. In-person shopping offers the chance to actually try on the clothing, find something unique, and walk away with a dress in hand. Some downfalls of in-person shopping include a limited range of options and increased prices.
Shopping online is a quality tool to have while in the midst of this demanding time of homecoming shopping. The convenience of online shopping leads students to popular online stores like, “Lulus” and “Lucy in the Sky.” Greta Slease, an 11th grader at Wilmington Friends School, prefers to shop online at these two stores. Slease, like many other online shoppers, likes the price point of these stores. “I feel like $50.00 is the perfect amount for a homecoming dress. It’s a good price for me because of the importance the event has to the school, it just feels like the right amount.” Slease also feels that the outcome of online shopping isn’t always worth the wait and the money, “If it doesn’t fit when it gets here you can be stuck in a difficult situation, also no returns.” The return policy for online stores tends to be much less dependable than in-person shopping. Often, teens start giving up on online shopping and find themselves stuck looking for a store that has fashionable inventory.
As the homecoming dance gets closer, looking to find the ideal dress becomes more complicated. Most online stores get backed up quickly and sometimes the dress you have your eye on isn’t in stock until after the dance. These hurdles affect how fast you need to make a decision and whether you are making the best choice when it comes to style and fit. Sofia Dattani, a 9th grader at Wilmington Friends, struggles with this exact problem, “Homecoming dresses have been tough to order, especially from Lucy in the Sky, because many are on backorder and will not be shipped until after the dance.” While online shopping can offer convenience, it can also create challenges that leave you scrambling last minute for the perfect dress.
Selecting a unique and fashionable homecoming dress takes time and patience, but with the right determination and flexibility, you can put your best foot forward as you dance your way into this adored homecoming tradition.
