Poor girl’s prom can still be fabulous

Anyone who knows me knows that I’ve raved about prom since seventh grade and watched both A Cinderella Story and Taylor Swift’s “You Belong With Me” music video more times than I have opened a textbook during high school. Every year until senior year, I discussed prom with the girls, fantasized about my promposals and planned a look, from bejeweled toenails to one stray curl in a gorgeous up-do I’d envisioned since sophomore year.

To me, prom was the “you did it” of high school. Nevermind graduation; prom was it, prom was “the one.”

But it only remained “the one” until about a month before my senior prom, which was scheduled for Cinco de Mayo. I got hit with a crushing blow from the Gmail app when it notified me that I had less than $25 in my bank account. Suddenly, the gorgeous ballgowns, tiaras, princess-cut dresses, stilettos and glass slippers that cost hundreds of dollars were well out of my reach. Not to mention that I didn’t have the budget to invite Taylor Swift to be my date. And, if you’re wondering, no, I didn’t have a date — would

you have asked this promzilla? What I did have, though, were the three best friends in the world, DIY photographers, a backpack and some thrifty shopping tips. There’s no reason to spend hundreds of dollars on one look that you’ll display for three hours in a dark room where people are either grinding in the inner circle of the dance floor, fist-pumping in the outer circle or eating cake at the dining tables (like me). Yes, the photos are timeless, and yes, you need to wow Cheryl from the seventh grade who said you “could never be beautiful,” but the point is, you can create great prom memories regardless of the bill. So here’s a few tips for you to consider for prom:

Check thrift stores before cashing out on the full department store price tags. Savers had great options and designer labels for under $10. Your dress also is more likely to be one of a kind.

Try on high-end dresses in stores to figure out what size you are, then buy a used dress from the same brand online. This way you get something cheap without the risk of it not fitting.

Shop sales and ask for deals. My dress was on sale, but I asked if there was another promotion I could stack on top of it, and lo and behold there was: 15 percent off. My friend got a discount from Dillard’s after agreeing to volunteer for its prom fashion show.

After prom, consider reselling your dress, and buy shoes you can wear for any occasion. Senior year is full of banquets, ceremonies and even graduation — all for which I have or will reuse my prom shoes.

Use items you already own. Yes, I wore a backpack to prom instead of bringing a clutch, and it did not matter. Matching your clutch to your shoes isn’t necessary, because chances are it’ll be out of the photos anyway, and you can always carry your phone in your spandex.