It wakes you in the middle of the night to panicked breaths and sweat dripping from your forehead. It leaves you weak in the stomach whenever you think about it, and has even caused you to skip meals.
This thudding worry is all-consuming, devouring every thought of your day and replacing it with the kind of dread usually reserved for a family bereavement.
That’s right – your prom is only a few weeks away and you’ve got nothing to wear.
You’ve had nightmares about showing up to the biggest event of your teenage life wearing little more than a few tatty rags, like a beggar woman from the cast of Les Miserables. But no matter how many nightmares or heart palpitations you have, the situation remains the same – you simply don’t have the cash to splash on a thousand dollar dress.
There’s no need to worry, because we’ve got you covered. So stop quaking in your boots and take a look at our top tips to looking glamorous at your prom on a shoestring budget.
A dazzling dress
Your dress is the central part of your outfit, that shimmering piece of material that’s designed to catch the eye and stun anyone who passes you by. But, as we said in the intro, finding one cheap sounds like a bigger pipedream than travelling to the moon on a turbo-charged unicorn.
But finding the ideal prom dress doesn’t have to severely impact your savings account. You simply need to know where to find the right dresses on a budget.
One of our favourite sites is AX Paris, which has a selection dedicated to slinky prom dresses suitable for any swanky soirée. A fantastic looking pink midi bodycon dress, for example, is the price of a song, but no one at your prom will notice the difference.
A clutch bag to match
The perfect clutch bag is a mysterious object, a little like tracking down the holy grail. In a perfect world, it’d be small enough to carry around on the dancefloor while still having the same amount of room as a travel suitcase owned by Mary Poppins.
But while you won’t be able to hold much in your clutch, you can still make sure it looks good. Most high street retailers can offer you a clutch bag that’s the can accommodate your lipstick and purse – just make sure it matches the rest of your outfit.
Killer heels for maximum appeal
Watching someone walk in heels that don’t fit is a terrifying affair. Their bow legs creaking under the pressure, every Bambi-like step precarious and uncertain – you’d never wish such pain on yourself.
Make sure your heels aren’t a ridiculous height unless you can walk in them. It’ll help you enjoy your night all the more.
Have you got any other tips to enjoying the perfect prom fashion on a budget? Then let us know in the comments below.