From the rack to the boutique

Written by Jenae Lee

Have you searched all over the department stores for that perfect prom dress and still have not found anything that you like? In order to save you a frustratingly lengthy experience, here are some new suggestions that might help sweep you off your feet.

Nordstrom Rack at the San Leandro Outlet Mall has luxury pieces at lower prices. They have great brand and designer pieces for lower prices than at the original Nordstrom. They have a great selection of shoes as well. The famous Jessica McClintock Outlet in San Francisco has everything you need. You can also look at high-end thrift stores such as Buffalo Exchange in Berkeley or San Francisco.

Is the sky the limit on how much you want to pay? Hit the local boutiques such as Armadillo Bay in the Irvington district of Fremont. Owner Alberta Dodge hand-picks some of the dresses specifically for prom. Some of the labels she picks include Betsey Johnson and Nicole Miller, which have been marked down for the occasion.

Another boutique in the area is the Envy.Me Boutique in Niles. They understand how costly prom can be, so they have a wonderful selection of donated long prom dresses that range from $20 to $50.

On-line store Unique Vintage features plenty of dresses for you to choose from. Short, long, solid, print, ruffles, this site has it all, and it’s all well-priced. They also have a great deal of shoes and accessories to go along with your dress.

With that, happy shopping!

This article originally appeared in print on March 2, 2010. It has been modified to correct style and grammatical errors.