Homecoming season is upon us, which means parades, Spirit Days, football games and, of course, the dance.
Ah, the Homecoming dance. I can’t help but feel that society got it right nowadays because everyone who wants to go can, whether in a friend group or as a couple. Back when I went to high school (you know, in the days of dyeable shoes and Aqua Net hairspray) the Homecoming dance was reserved just for couples.
Many things have changed, but not the excitement. (Photo credit: Katy Clark)
Our daughters are still excited about Homecoming
What has remained the same, though, is the excitement that comes with shopping for a Homecoming dress. Sure, our daughters aren’t flipping through the latest issue of a magazine, drooling over the Jessica McClintock ads. Rather they’re checking out TikTok or Instagram or some other social media site that popped up in the last hour.
But no matter where our daughters are looking for #HoCo dress inspo, they are still flush with anticipation about looking amazing and having an even more amazing time at the dance. Whether you have taken your teen shopping for a dress in previous years or your daughter is going for the first time and it’s a new experience, I bet you can relate to the bevy of emotions I felt when I took my teen shopping for her Homecoming dress.
Five phases of shopping for a Homecoming dress
1. Browsing
“I’m so lucky to have a beautiful teenage daughter who I can take shopping for a Homecoming dress!” I gush, ready to savor our shopping trip and help her find something beautiful.
“Wow! There are so-o-o many dresses to try on,” I say as we grab dresses in every color, cut, and style. “I don’t remember having so many choices when I was your age. This is going to be fun.”
2. Try before you buy
“Oh that one’s gorgeous,” I say as I look at my daughter in a lovely gown, in a shade that complements her coloring and emphasizes her figure. “Just gorgeous.”
She shakes her head no and tells me it’s disgusting.
Confused, I push back. “Are you telling me you don’t like that one because I think it’s gorgeous?” I ask. “Or do you truly think it’s disgusting and not just because that’s the one I said was gorgeous?”
She moves on to another frock, as if the one I like has a disease.
The next one’s definitely a big no. As in Nn Nnn. No way. Thankfully, she agrees.
When she emerges wearing the next one, I make a critical error. “That’s pretty,” I say. “What do you think about trying on a bigger size? Then you might be able to sit down comfortably at dinner.”
Her face freezes.
Uh oh.
“I love your body!” I clarify, drawing on all the body positivity tips I’ve learned. “Your body is strong and beautiful! I was just thinking the next size might help you breathe. And eat.”
She looks irritated.
Retreat! Retreat!
“Did I tell you your body is strong and beautiful?”
3. Decisions, decisions
My hands start to cramp from taking so many pictures of my daughter from different angles in these dresses. And they are all starting to look the same.
“I think I’m gonna lay down on that couch I saw just outside the dressing room while you text your friends back and forth about which dress you should get.” Then I tell her she should wake me when she’s decided which dress she wants.
I’m kidding. Sort of.
Finally, it appears she is close to a decision. “So you’ve narrowed it down to this one and that one,” I say, pointing at two beautiful choices.
“What? You don’t like those two anymore? Well, of course you are allowed to change your mind. I’m not saying you can’t change your mind. But I thought… Yes, I’ll take another picture of you in the black one. And the maroon one. And the green one.”
4. The purchase
We have it. The dress. It’s fabulous and she looks gorgeous in it.
I check the price. This teeny tiny piece of fabric that they call a “dress” costs how much?
Oh, well, I think. She really does look beautiful in it.
“Pardon me, you need new jewelry?” I ask as she browses necklaces, earrings and more at the check out register.
“What’s wrong with the jewelry you already have? They don’t fit your aesthetic?”
At least she’ll wear her high tops to the dance like they do nowadays and she already has those. “Wait, you want blush dress shoes, just for pictures?”
I think I smell smoke from my credit card as it keeps getting swiped.
5. The dance
I watch my daughter and her friends gather before the dance. They look fantastic and happy. I snap tons of pictures and soak it all in, celebrating this special night in her young life.
“You are beautiful. I hope you have a great time wearing that dress,” I tell her, swallowing hard.
“I’m so lucky to have a beautiful teenage daughter who I could take shopping for a Homecoming dress!” I gush, as nothing but sweet memories of our shopping trip and helping her find something amazing flood my brain and my heart.
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