I love formal. I love dressing up, doing my hair and going for a night with my friends. Formal is the one time I can acceptably wear an evening dress, which is quite the change-up from the typically leggings and activity shirt that I normally dawn. There’s just something about formal season that makes me happy.However, what I don’t love about formal is the price tag. There are some costs that are unavoidable, like tickets and shirts. But for the rest of the evening, there are a few ways to save money. A friend of mine told me about a website in which you could pay a mere fraction of the cost for designer clothing, such as dresses. To me, this sounded like a miracle. So I checked out Rent the Runway (www.renttherunway.com) and about kicked myself for not discovering this sooner. 

This site contains designer dresses and accessories that suit any occasion. They literally have a tab for, “college spring formals.” I mean, really! All of the dresses I’ve bought for previous formals that just sit in my closet and take up space could have been easily eliminated by just renting my dress. If you prefer not to find your shoes on Rent the Runway, there are other affordable options. 

I see these commercials all the time, “buy one pair, get the next free!” Yes, those annoying Shoe Fab and Shoe Dazzle commercials that plague our televisions. But, if you actually bother to visit these sites, you’ll find that they’re giving you a great deal. They have several styles of shoes, for any occasion, and they are all offered for $39.95 and under. Often times they’ll even offer a deal of extra savings for customers who make an account. So why not see about finding your formal shoes, too? 

My last favorites for formals is actually two, T.J. Maxx and Marshalls. Owned by the same company, these stores sell brand new, name brand clothing at a lesser cost than its original retail price. Depending on what you’re shopping for, this can be a great option. I highly recommend searching for shoes here, a cute clutch to carry, or even (because I have seen it a few times) your dress may be waiting in these stores. If you’re hoping for designer, there’s a good chance at scoring that here. Just the other day I found several Kate Spade purses, clothing, etc. So it’s worth a shot!


Reality is, formal is expensive. But it doesn’t have to come with a price tag to bring down the night. After already spending enough on spring break trips and other miscellaneous things, formal can feel like a burden. With these inexpensive options, you can surely find the best dress, shoes, and accessories to make your night perfect.