As homecoming approaches, the minds of many students are turning towards a very important question – “What do I wear?” For many students, homecoming is the highlight of their fall semester; something to look forward to as people adjust to all the homework, tests, projects and stress that yet another school year brings. However, many feel like the stress over school continues beyond academics. Deciding what to wear to homecoming is a challenge in and of itself – and some do not even know
where to start.

Senior Scarlett Smith says that finding a dress that makes you feel confident is important.

“I feel like you just want to feel good at homecoming…and I think it makes having a nice dress important, because you want to remember it and look at photos and think it’s cute in 20 years,” Smith said.

Sophomore Leah Shikher agrees, “I think a person’s homecoming dress is important because if they feel like they look good, it can really make them feel good as well,” she said.

Having a dress you like is so significant, so it makes sense that the store you get your dress from matters as well. There is a surplus of stores to choose from, both in-person and online.

Princess Polly, Lucy in the Sky, Hello Molly and Windsor are all popular homecoming dress choices. However, these stores range in quality and pricing, two very important factors to consider when shopping for clothing in general. Additionally, some of these stores are only online, which can also be something to consider when one thinks of shipping, timing and sizing.

Sophomore Emma Hooper says there are pros and cons to shopping online versus in-person.

“[When] online shopping, you get a wider range [of options] , but in-person you can pick out a dress and see if it fits right away without waiting a month [for shipping].”

Some of the most popular stores, like Lucy in the Sky, are either online or have only one remote location, sometimes all the way across the country. However, Smith says that not only is this an inconvenience, but it raises questions concerning these store’s quality

“[The best quality stores are] definitely not the online shops. I feel like [they] are very one-use kind of dresses…I feel like you just have to look at the tag and see what they’re made of…” Smith said.

Shikher says that there are many stores with varying quality and pricing, but her go-to place to buy dresses has many benefits.

“Due to [Windsor’s good prices,] it is my go-to place to shop for dresses.”

Not only that, but its convenient location at Tysons Mall makes it a great place to shop.

Hooper’s go-to is also Windsor, but she also thinks Hello Molly and Princess Polly are good options.

“Windsor [is] cheaper, and the dresses are still of good quality. Hello Molly has some really cute options and Princess Polly [has] good quality dresses.”

Smith also mentioned another affordable option for people when choosing a dress to wear.

“Me and my friends [sic] sometimes will trade dresses. If one has one we liked from a year before, we’ll do that… So that’s always a good [option].”

Overall, where you choose to buy your dress should be a reflection of your personal style and the
dress you buy should help you enjoy the night.

“I feel like it’s definitely just about your own style. And I think homecoming kind of has this reputation of a tight, short dress, but it doesn’t have to be that. ” Smith said.