Lovelyish reader Including_Sunshine asks:

Hello, Lovelies!

I’m a college student and just joined a sorority while my boyfriend just joined a fraternity which means a BUNCH of dress-up events I have to go to. I’ve never been the type of girl to have a million dresses but I only have two, and I have used them both already!

I have two formals coming up this next weekend – Friday and Saturday.

I was hoping that you could all give some advice on where to find some cheap but cute formal dresses! Of course, they wouldn’t be like Prom formal… Think more Homecoming. I do want them to be dressy-ish, not like a summer dress.

However, I do need them to be cheap! I am now paying for all my clothes, any activities I do, and my sorority while only working minimum wage.

Help! Thank you!

I will admit to being an absolute sucker for Forever21′s cheap dresses. When it comes to Forever 21, the most important thing is always making sure to pay attention to what fabric the dress is made of — typically, I tend to avoid anything that seems like a lot of, well, blends. Otherwise, they have a ton of great party dresses and it is possible to find some that work for more formal events. 

My fiance is a member of a fraternity, so I completely understand the casual-but-formal vibe of many events. Here are two dresses I think would do the trick!

Silk-Blend Floral Dress, $32.80 from Forever 21

I love the shape and the delicate sheen of this dress. It’s formal without being over-the-top prom style and at $32.80, it’s not a bad price. Plus, because of the casual shape of this dress, you can wear it other ways, such as with a dark cardigan and flat boots to class or on a date! I would pair it with a cute cardigan and your favorite pumps, as well as a great pendant necklace. 

Heritage 1981 Sheer Floral Dress, $24.90 from Forever 21

This is another great dress with a simple, gorgeous pattern. Plus, what an amazing color… and a ridiculously amazing price! I would pair this with some nude pumps and a heap of metallic bracelets. Throw on a cardigan for a little extra warmth and coverage. This is another dress that would look great for a casual day look — add a denim jacket, some black tights, and your favorite flat boots and you’ve got a class-ready or lunch date ready look! 

Readers, what do you think? Do you have any online stores for great, affordable dresses? 

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