If you've never been a poor girl in a rich school, you do not know the nightmare that prom can be. It is the one night of the year where everyone is dressed up in the most elegant and expensive clothing that they can find. Even wearing affordable prom dresses marks you as an outcast.

My family was poor. We never had time to buy new clothing, and so I learned to make my own. I sewed my own skirts, shirts, jackets, and dresses. I actually got a lot of admiring looks and compliments on my clothing, because it looked so unique and original. Unfortunately, prom was the one time of the year where I could not get away with it. People would judge me based on how much money I had spent on my dress. I needed to find an affordable prom dress, but one that looked good. Goodwill affordable prom dresses, or the homemade dresses that I made from scratch, would not longer do. I needed something that looked like I had spent a lot of money on it.

I was in a school, you see, where everyone was wearing Vera Wang dresses and prom evening gowns. I had no idea how to sew anything like that. The dresses that I made had a funky, patchwork look to them. I would use several different kinds of cloth and mold it all together into a seamless whole. Affordable prom dresses, however, needed to have a different look. They needed to be precisely tailored and seamless. I needed to find a sale with affordable prom dresses soon, or I would be out of luck.

Fortunately, fate stepped in. There is nothing more affordable than free. I mentioned to my great aunt that I was looking for affordable prom dresses, and she showed me the one that she had worn in high school. It wasn't quite a plus size prom dress, but it was a bit too big for me. Nonetheless, it was absolutely gorgeous. She even allowed me to get it tailored so that it fit me precisely. All the girls in school loved the antique prom dress that I was wearing. They didn't even suspect that I got for free! I was just lucky that my aunt came through for me. I was finding no affordable prom dresses that looked good. Without her help, I don't know what I would've done.