Show off your fun and flirty side in this short formal dress by Jane Fashions.  This dress has it all…

Funky, sweet, dressy and a really good price (currently $49).

A feminine style dress featuring a strapless bodice, ruched torso with a floral embellishment, and a layered three tiered skirt. Your Sweet 16 or semi formal will be a night to remember in this amazing dress in either pink, turquoise, white or black.

* You can find everything you need for a Sweet 16 outfit on Ebay, either brand new or barely worn. It amazes me how many times people sell things on Ebay that still have the tags and admit they bought the wrong size or just never got around to wearing it. Give yourself plenty of time before you need the dress to search Ebay and bid on the items you like. But don’t become too attached to one particular dress or you may find you can’t stop bidding, and your budget item ends up a pricey purchase!

* Search your local charity shops or nearly new shops as they often have beautiful dresses, and even designer labels, at a fraction of their original cost.

* Keep an eye out for the high street sales and see what you can get off-the-peg

* Retro and Vintage styles are very popular at the moment, and you may have a local Vintage clothes store where you can pick up a one-of-a-kind outfit at a good price. As with charity shop items, a good clean, a few adjustments and your own accessories will help create the perfect Sweet Sixteen outfit.

I hope this has given you plenty of ideas for finding Sweet Sixteen dresses on a budget. If you have any more, please add them in the comments section below.

* Ask an older relative if they have a suitable dress they no longer want. You may not want to wear a hand-me-down from your sister (especially if you are close in age and the dress was your sister’s Sweet Sixteen dress) but you probably wouldn’t mind a barely worn dress from a cousin. Special occasion dresses are so often left sitting in closets for weeks on end, that you could ask for a loan of a dress, if they are reluctant to part with it completely. Then customize it with jewelry and accessories that reflect your own personality.

* If you have a mum or Auntie with excellent dressmaking skills, they can make you a one-off dress for a fraction of the cost in the shops.

* New dresses are not as expensive as they once were – depending on where you look. Avoid boutiques, designer stores and specialist websites if you don’t have much money to spend. Instead you can find some fabulous dresses off the peg – and with the internet you are unlikely to be wearing the same dress as anyone else at the party. For some ideas, take at look at Lulu’s Fashion Lounge where almost all of the dresses are under $60 (a few exceptions) and you can even pick up some great dresses for around $30 or less. Then simply dress them up with accessories.

More ideas for Sweet Sixteen Dresses on a budget in the next post…

This dress is perfect and is currently on sale at PromGirl:

It comes in a variety of colors – white, black, chocolate, cornflower and pink (personally I like the white best) – with a cheeky bow below the bodice. Shoes and purse will depend on the color dress you choose.

Regardless of where you purchase the dress, once you’ve located the one she loves, you’ll need to spend some extra time locating appropriate accessories to enhance her outfit. Accessories can be just as important as the dress itself, and the kind of accessories she chooses will often reflect her unique personality.

Shoes are a good example. Is she the spike heel type or a casual, flat shoe girl? These days, girls can find stores that sell literally dozens upon dozens of shoes, so finding the right pair can be a lot of fun…and quite time consuming.

When purchasing a pair of shoes to complement the Sweet 16 dress, there are a few factors to keep in mind. The foremost issue is comfort. While those strappy sandals with 4 inch heels may look dazzling with her new dress, chances are they won’t be on her feet for long. Standing to greet guests and dancing in heels is never comfortable, even for the most seasoned high heel wearer. A better choice might be a ballet flat – named as such because they resemble a ballet slipper. They come in a huge variety of colors – from black, white, or silver to lime green – and they feel like a slipper. They provide ease in walking and are perfect for dancing the night away. Another option, especially in the summertime, is a fancy flip-flop with a glittery buckle or other ornamentation. They’ll also allow her feet to stay comfortable all day (or night) long.

When searching for appropriate jewelry, remember that pearls are timeless and usually look wonderful with formal dresses. If she doesn’t like pearls, consider a thin gold or silver chain with a heart or locket hanging from it. Such necklaces are dainty and appropriate for her age. Choose a pair of earrings that match. Fine jewelry makes a great Sweet 16 present so consider making the jewelry a gift from you to her.

Wraps or shawls are often needed for warmth, especially given the popular of strapless or spaghetti-strapped dresses. To add a special touch, choose a glittery wrap for an evening party or something in a whimsical print for a daytime Sweet 16 celebration.

There is so much choice in accessorizing Sweet 16 dresses that you and your soon-to-be sweet 16 will have a lot of fun in the process. Just make sure you give yourself enough time – you can guarantee there will be a lot of deliberating!

Clever shoppers can find loads of formal dresses on internet auction sites such as eBay. They are usually posted by people who wore them once or twice and realise they probably won’t wear them again. You may even be fortunate enough to find a dress that hasn’t been worn and still has the tags attached to it!

There are several advantages to buying a dress on eBay and other such sites. First of all, once you purchase it, it’s yours. You won’t need to worry about returning it after the party to the person you borrowed it from. That means you can make alterations, additions, and changes to the dress without worry. Secondly, a dress purchased from a person in a remote location (not from a local friend or relative) is more likely to be different from dresses friends have worn for their parties. That means you will feel unique and special.

Of course, buying a dress sight unseen does have its drawbacks. You’ll need to rely on the description of the seller to determine the size and condition of the dress and you may not get exactly what you think you’re getting. However, if you purchase the dress from a seller with a good feedback rating, you probably won’t be disappointed. Take time to read the description carefully and don’t be afraid to ask the seller questions about the item. If the answers avoid the questions, move on. Determine the return policy, just in case it doesn’t fit or isn’t as was described.

If a previously worn Sweet 16 dress is out of the question, look for sales at department stores. The best time to catch a sale on formal dresses is in June – after prom season is over – and after Christmas, when holiday formalwear in most stores is reduced to ridiculously low prices.

With some thought, planning and searching Sweet 16 dresses are not going to break the bank and you’ll look perfect.

Sweet 16 Dresses

No problem! A Sweet 16 dress doesn’t need to cost hundreds of dollars. You can find an ideal dress for far less, so there’s no need to break the bank for the perfect party dress.

Most girls who invest in a fancy Sweet 16 party dress only wear it once. After that, it normally takes up space in a closet, only to be resurrected and probably given away when they leave for college or move out on their own.

If the guest of honor is willing, consider borrowing a previously worn dress from a cousin or other relative or friend. Ideally, if the dress is borrowed from someone who doesn’t live nearby, chances are none of her friends will recognize it and the birthday girl won’t need to worry about being embarrassed. Be sure to inspect the dress beforehand, if possible, to check its condition and ask the owner if it’s okay if you make alterations where necessary. Give it a different and unique look by adding her own accessories so that the dress reflects her taste.

More on Sweet 16 dresses in the next post…