How to Save Money on a Pageant Evening Gown

You do not need to spend a lot of money to look like a million bucks. The same goes for an evening gown for a beauty pageant. You can easily find your perfect competition dress without going bankrupt.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. 
   Miss Florida Teen Latina 2007, Stephanie Gilbert

   Borrow, since pageants are so popular chances are that someone in your family, friends, school or co-workers or a friend of friend as competed in a pageant. Ask a former competitor to borrow their gown.

2. Barter. If you can’t find someone you will lend you a dress, find a business that will. Find a store that specializes in formal gowns and offer them publicity in exchange for your dress. You can offer that business word of mouth publicity, your services as a model or spokesperson and even an ad in the pageant’s program book in exchange for their goods.

3. 
   Miss Florida Latina 2007 contestants in their evening gowns

   If you prefer to buy a dress, look for thrift shop deals. There are thrift shops that specialize in designer gowns, where you can obtain a pricier gown for less.

4. Look for an end-of-season sale or store outlets. Formal gowns are priciest during graduations, proms and holidays. You can look for a formal gown after the formal season has ended which is when stores want to clear out their inventory.

Tips & Warnings

• Wedding dresses can also serve as pageant gowns. In fact many pageant winners have won in wedding dresses.
• Don’t discard an on-sale gown because it is available in larger size. If the price is right, you can pay to have that gown professionally altered to your size and still save money.
• Some thrift store clothes or sale gowns have been worn out, causing stains and tears on the garment. Examine gowns carefully as you would any used item.