Like a beautiful breeze, prom has come and gone. So, what do you do with your stunning gown now? Instead of letting it remain forgotten in your wardrobe, there are many creative things you can do to re-use it.
Over 20 million tons of clothes end up in landfill every year! Whether it’s your prom dress or any outfit you have lying lonely in your closet – you can always do your part to reduce, reuse, and recycle!
Here are a few super creative (and equally convenient) methods to help you reuse the prom dress of your dreams!
Find a Buyer for Your Dress
Possibly the best way to have your prom dress reused while making money along the way would be to sell it!
Websites like Poshmark, eBay, thredUp, and Facebook are great places to get a nice deal on your dress. Poshmark, especially, is super convenient to use. Just sign up, list your dress, set the price, and you’re good to go. Here, people place a bid when they bump across your outfit and even pay for shipping!
If you decide to sell your dress, make sure you do it ASAP. If you wait longer, your dress might go out of style and people may not be willing to pay a good price for it.
Find a Talented Tailor or Seamstress
If you’re a hopeless creative, what better way to reuse your prom dress than by having it altered? You can play around with the straps and neckline or even have your dress shortened! If you think your dress is too fancy to wear for casual events, you can even get the embellishments removed.
Don’t forget to factor in the cost of your alterations based on how technical you’re going to get. For instance, your tailor or seamstress may charge you an additional fee if you’re looking to redesign your dress entirely.
Donate It!
Prom is every girl’s dream. Unfortunately, many gorgeous ladies decide not to attend prom simply because they can’t afford a dress. If you have a stunning prom dress hanging unused in your wardrobe corner, don’t think twice before donating it!
G.L.A.M would be one of the best places to donate your dress. It stands for Granting Lasting Amazing Memories and has successfully supplied 12,000 beautiful ladies with the prom dress of their dreams. If you’re looking for a local organization to donate your dress to, take Google’s help and find the nearest donation center. If Google isn’t much help, check out donationtown.org. This website will help you connect with local charities.
Offer it To Younger Siblings
We get it – you’re super attached to your prom dress and the memories you made in it. If your heart is not ready to give it away or sell it yet – keep it in the family! Hand it down to a younger sister who you know will need a dress for her prom night. Your prom dress doesn’t necessarily have to be reserved for prom – especially if you invested in a piece that features a timeless design. If your younger sibling is looking to dress up for any of her upcoming fancy events, don’t hesitate to offer it to her. You can always have it back once she’s done dazzling in it!
Organize a Prom Dress Swap Party
Are you and your girl gang attending multiple proms? Organize a swap party! Dress swapping is a great way to get a different look (and have lots of glam pics taken). For this, you’ll most likely have to be similar in size. If not, you can have the dress altered. What’s more, if your close friend has a younger sibling looking for a prom dress, they get to look gorgeous in it too!
Wear it for Halloween!
One of the craziest, most creative ways to re-use your prom dress while having tons (and tons!) of fun is to use it for your next Halloween party! Wear it as it is or re-design it to match the Halloween theme. If you’re looking for a dark, artistic vibe, rip it strategically at different spots, perform some dark fashion magic, and look like Lady Gaga from Bloody Mary. For crafting a princess-y look, use glittery jewels and shiny embellishments.
Preserve It
Most prom dresses aren’t “only” for prom. If you got yourself a classic and timeless dress for prom, chances are, you can use it for multiple other occasions over the years.
But to be able to use it later, you’ll have to preserve it well. Have it professionally cleaned after every use and store it in a cool and dry place to prevent yellowing. Prom dress preservation is also a great plan if you want to pass it down or resell it later.
Want to Do Something Super Creative with Your Prom Dress? Here Are Some Ideas!
Looking for more ways you can get creative with repurposing your prom dress? Here are some ideas:
Shorten It
Long, formal gowns are not easy to reuse multiple times. If you have a floor-length prom piece lying lonely in your closet, go ahead and have it shortened! Work with a talented seamstress or tailor and clearly communicate the exact dress length and hem style you’re envisioning.
Transform it By Adding a New Hue
Another way to dazzle in the same dress on multiple occasions would be to transform it using fabric dye. Before taking this step, though, make sure you follow the label instructions and leave the task to a professional.
Do Some Magic on Sleeves or Neckline
Okay, we get it. You want to re-use your prom dress without making it look way too obvious. If your plan is to make your prom dress gorgeously “un-prom” – think about adapting its sleeves or neckline. For instance, if you have a gown with straps, make it strapless! Or, if the dress has long sleeves, have your seamstress shorten them creatively.
A Final Word
Prom is magical and absolutely unforgettable for all the ladies out there. Your prom dress is a valuable souvenir of that memorable school event. Given its value, it only makes sense to carefully consider what you’re going to do with it post-prom. Whether you choose to sell it, donate it, re-design it, hand it down, or simply preserve it – know that a little time and effort are all it takes to make the most of your prom dress.
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