33 Insanely Beautiful Formal Dresses You Can Actually Afford
All under 80 smackaroos. Hello, summer soirées!
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1. A lovely floral medley with daring cutouts begging you to ~look back at them~.
Get it from ModCloth for $44.99. Sizes 2-16.
2. A sexy, curve-hugging charmer that flatters all your finest assets and then some.
Promising review: "My girlfriend and I absolutely love this gown. Very sexy, beautiful color, and great fit. We are planning to order this in other colors. If you believe in turning heads and dropping jaws, this is a MUST BUY for your wardrobe." —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $23.99. / Sizes S-XXL. / Available in apricot, navy, wine red, and black.
3. A gorgeous floral applique number graced with an elegant sheer bottom for ethereal spring fairy vibes.
Get it from Forever 21 for $78. / Sizes S-L.
4. A classic black sateen dress that adds a little extra swing and ~flair~ to your ensemble.
Get it? Cause the skirt is ~flared~.
Get it from Torrid for $35.98. / Sizes 10-30.
This hot pink number is another lovely sateen option from Torrid.
5. A zigzag tulle dress that's basically a magnet for compliments from people in all directions.
Promising review: "Cannot say enough wonderful things about this dress. This is the first dress I've ever ordered from Amazon; I found it because it was listed in a BuzzFeed article on Top Items trending on Amazon. I was shocked at the quality and fit — it's such a unique, beautiful dress. I wore it to an afternoon date at the Met Opera and I lost count of how many compliments I received from complete strangers." —Paulina
Get it from Amazon for $36.99. / Sizes XS-XL. / Available in five colors.
6. An elegantly sexy floor-length dress you can take to prom...and all the other fancy events you'll be invited to.
Promising review: "I bought this dress for a formal party at my school. It was cheap for something that fit the bill and more fabulous than anything I could have found at the mall. I got a ton of compliments on it — one girl even asked me if I was renting it for the night." —Rachel
Get it from Amazon for $39.99. / Sizes S-XL. / Available in three colors.
7. A flirty sequined fringe beauty that'll make you feel like a disco ball in the best possible way.
Get it from Forever 21 for $48. / Sizes S-L.
8. A majestic strapless head-turner with iridescent embroidery reminiscent of a peacock.
Promising review: "This dress is SO pretty! It was for an awards ceremony I attended in LA and I felt so glamorous! It was SUPER comfy and I had no problems with it falling down. I'm 5'8" and it hit the floor perfectly with two-inch platform sandals. The detailing is really beautiful. It looks really elegant and amazing, even on my plus-size mama figure." —Katie Reed
Get it from Amazon for $50.79+. / Sizes 2-22. / Available in five colors.
9. An one-shoulder dress with a mid-thigh slit that feels slightly James Bond-esque.
*pulls up dress to reveal a gun holster*
Promising review: "Gorgeous prom dress for my special night! It is more beautiful in person, I'll tell you, and it has a pull-on closure so it's really easy to get on. It feels comfortable all evening and I can give at least one of my shoulders the night off." —KK
Get it from Amazon for $23.99. / Sizes XS-4X. / Available in six colors.
10. A tasteful deep V-neck gem that's a surprisingly soft and comfy option for breathtaking photo shoots.
Promising review: "The lace top is unexpectedly soft and not a bit scratchy. I've never gotten so many compliments. A little girl told me I looked like the queen of Ireland." —Amazon Customer
"It flattered my 40G chest and hid any lumps and bumps with the flow of the dress." —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $29.99. / Sizes S-3X. / Available in four colors.
11. A sequin-adorned mini perfect for any Gatsby-themed parties on your cal.
Promising review: "Super cute, forgiving style and just the right amount of sparkle. Wore on NYE to a 'black tie' event. Felt confident and pleased with the size medium (I'm 5'3" and somewhere around a size six). I liked that I could eat a meal and not feel like every little bulge was being exposed in this dress." —J+C Seymour
Get it from Amazon for $33. / Sizes XS-XL. / Available in black and gold.
12. A dainty one-shoulder dotted mesh midi that's probably lighter than air.*
13. Or a super flattering floor-length option also inspired by the roaring '20s.
Promising review: "Wow, this dress delivers! I am 5'5", 170 lbs, 38DD, and generally wear a size 16 in jeans. I purchased the 14/16 size and this dress fit like a glove. It's stretchy and super comfortable. I wore about a 3.5" heel and the length was perfect. The quality is very nice. The other nice feature of this 1920s-inspired dress is that I can wear it to a normal black tie event or to a dressy function in place of a black cocktail dress and not feel like I'm in a 'costume.' This dress is beautiful. Side note: when I walked out to show my husband his eyes nearly fell out of his head he loved it so much." —Katie Glass
Get it from Amazon for $43.99+. / Sizes 2-22. / Available in eight colors.
14. A darling cap-sleeved gown accented with a lacy bodice and a flowy pleated skirt.
Flattering and gives you room to breathe, 💯.
Get it from H&M for $79.99. / Sizes 14-26. / Available in blue-gray and natural white.
This dress is also available in non-plus sizing (2-16).
15. A bold mermaid evening dress that flows naturally over your curves for an "ooh-la-la" effect.
Promising review: "This is the most beautiful dress I've purchased on Amazon. Very beautifully stitched and the fabric is pretty good. It is somewhat shiny, hugs your curves, and fits perfectly. I really loved the falling neck too." —SP
Get it from Amazon for $39.99. / Sizes S-XXL. / Available in burgundy, blue, black, and white.
16. A fitted and poised sleeveless mini with contrasting white and beige lining.
17. An elegant semi-sheer high-neck dress peppered with embroidered flowers that'll win any garden party.
Because — and make no mistake — beneath all of the finger foods, it's a fashion competition.
Get it from Asos for $68. / Sizes 2-14.
18. A breezy ruched rose-print maxi that casually drapes over one shoulder for major Grecian goddess vibes.
Get the first dress from Asos for $60.50 (sizes 14-24) and the second dress from Asos for $72.50 (sizes 0-14). / Also available in a midi version.
19. A deep-cut lace maxi dress absolutely made for causing double takes.
You'll get used to them. 👀
Get it from Forever 21 for $58. / Sizes S-L.
20. A sparkling attention-grabber that proves one can never have enough sequins.
Promising review: "When I first saw this dress I couldn't believe it was so inexpensive. I almost thought it was too good to be true. I ordered the rose gold color and it came in the mail within a week and blew me away. This dress easily looks about $200-$300 with the beautiful sequins and overall style. I'm also a fairly curvy woman and it fit amazing." —destinyarcher13
Get it from Amazon for $33.99+. / Sizes 2-16. / Available in five colors.
Check out a detailed review of this dress (and others) here!
21. A muted but sophisticated satin gown tied together by a subtle front bow and deep V back.
Hello, I'm ready for my coronation. 👑
Get it from Forever 21 for $48. / Sizes S-L.
22. A dazzling layered tulle dress that looks like it easily belongs in a high-end boutique.
Promising review: "This gown is absolutely beautiful!! It arrived in just two short days — it did not come from overseas but from good ol' America. This dress has three layers of beautiful pink tulle over a very good quality pink fabric. It has beads and sequins that are so beautifully and elegantly placed. It is true to size as well and the shade of blush pink is perfect." —Joybells
Get it from Amazon for $66.99. / Sizes 2-16. / Available in seven colors.
24. A simple but elegant sweetheart dress that you can keep as is or easily dress up with the help of a few key accessories.
Promising review: "Love this A-line dress! Creates a nice silhouette for my pear-shaped body. Knee length, so not too short. Very comfortable and very nice material. Runs true to size, at least in my experience. Great for weddings or going out to town." —Anonymous
Get it from ModCloth for $29.99+. / Sizes XXS-4X. / Available in turquoise, purple, and black.
25. A comfy one-shoulder sweeper that's flattering in all contexts — from maternity photo shoots to military balls and everything in between.
Promising review: "I purchased this dress for a military ball and it didn't disappoint. I was skeptical purchasing online because I was unsure how it would fit my bust area (34DD) but the dress provided great support and the girls were contained. I was very impressed with the quality of this dress and the price was the cherry on top." —Rebecca Shirley
Get it from Amazon for $39.99. / Sizes 4-16. / Available in 14 colors.
26. A flirtatious choker-styled maxi intensified with subtle all-over sparkle.
Get it from Simply Be for $64.99. / Sizes 8-28. / Available in black and silver.
27. An embroidered mermaid dress that hugs your curves in all the right places and leaves an elegant train everywhere you go.
Promising review: "Everyone loved the train on the dress. Great value — saw a similar dress for $400 in a shop. Ordered and received this one in just three days." —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $69+. / Sizes 2-16. / Available in seven colors.
Check out a detailed review of this dress (and others) here!
28. A satin fuschia pink dress that isn't afraid to give you the cold shoulder...and cold arm.
Get it from Missguided for $70. / Sizes 0-12.
29. A luxurious gray kimono-inspired dress for a passable excuse to wear PJs to a fancy gathering.
Talking to the host: "Yeah, I'd rather be in bed, but I'm here, right?"
Get it from Missguided for $70. / Sizes 0-12.
30. A refined rose-patterned two-piece ensemble accompanied by a tiny peek-a-boo of skin.
31. A classy floral satin stunner that'll never go out of style.
32. A baby blue off-the-shoulder dress with breathtakingly intricate brocade detailing to boot.
Museum tour guide: "Yes, this piece dates back to the 1700s from the Duchess of Devonshire. It was considered quite scandalous for the time."
Get it from Asos for $76. / Sizes 2-12.
33. A heart-stopping lace slip dress to keep things heated, just in case the weather isn't warm enough.
These dresses deserve a grand entrance with everyone's eyes on them.
The reviews used in this post have been edited for length and clarity.