By: Nora Scarbro

What are you wearing to the school dance? No idea? Here are some ideas.

If you need a quick dress you can try on, some places to consider are Windsor at Fairfield Commons Mall, David’s Bridal by the Dayton Mall, Pure Couture in Beavercreek, or even a department store like Von Maur or Macy’s. Be advised that Windsor only carries up to an XL in person and Pure Couture caters to a higher-end price range. 

For a quick-to-ship dress online, LuLu’s or Revolve offer really beautiful pieces. LuLu’s only goes up to an XXL but the pieces themselves are size forgiving, making it a size-inclusive option.

However, always check the legitimacy of online sites. Senior Whitney Zheng faced this problem first-hand this fall. “Do you know how stressed I was waiting for the dress to come in?” Zheng said. “It was a week before the dance and all of the sudden it was just delayed, delayed, delayed.” 

Sometimes the best places to get fast dresses are not conventional. Places like Urban Outfitters can have really good dress options, with a good blend of trendy and timeless pieces. They can also go up to a size 3XL and a US size 16 online, occasionally carrying those sizes in person. 

Other places to look in person that are not super conventional but require far more rummaging are places like H&M or Hollister, both of which can be found in the Dayton Mall, or even chains like Marshalls and TJ Maxx. These places on occasion can have really good basic options or at a minimum provide accessories like shoes or bags.   

A very cost effective and environmentally conscious choice is thrifting. It requires time and patience but can have amazing results. Some places to look are vintage stores in the Oregon District or your local charity shop.

Thrifting a dress doesn’t always mean going to a Goodwill or vintage store. Plato’s Closet is a good option. Plato’s Closet is a chain consignment store that buys in clothes so everything they have is hand selected by the employees, making this option more accessible for those not used to thrifting. “I got my dress for like $17 and it fit me perfectly,” senior Evie Shift said.  Each piece is also freshly laundered making it a bit more clean than typical thrift stores.

There is also the option for Depop or Ebay if you are willing to wait a little longer for shipping, both of which are online resale stores that can have some really interesting options especially for more vintage pieces. 

When budget is not an issue, there are some really incredible designers and brands that offer unique pieces. Selkie focuses on more princess style dresses and offers a wide size range. Anthropologie is a really good in-person and online option. Although they are not a company targeted towards formal dresses, they have some amazing pieces. Anthropologie does carry a size variety in store but it is not a guarantee. Sherri Hill is known for their iconic dresses and can be found in any higher-end dress store. 

Two brands that have really unique pieces are Tyler McGillivary and Rixo. They specialize in pieces that are playful and colorful, guaranteeing that your dress will be completely unique to you. Both are size inclusive and are on the more expensive side but the quality of the pieces matches the price.