So we’re just a few weeks into the school year, the kids are settling into a routine, you finally have your carpools figured out, but if you have a high schooler, you may have something coming that will escalate your stress levels to max capacity. HoCo, also known as Homecoming, is right around the corner!
Homecoming is a BIG DEAL for high schoolers, especially the newbie 9th graders, way more than when I was in high school. It makes total sense though with social media in the mix. It’s their first big chance for a cool date, boys and girls alike. The big “asks” should be starting any minute and it will be GAME ON! Let the snap chat stories and instagramming begin!
Once you have the date, all you need is the dress. Sounds simple, right? Not so much. I’ve gone HoCo shopping for four years now, and every year I think to myself – where are all the cute high school dresses? It seems to me like boutiques should load up on cocktail dresses in the $75-$150 range and they’d make a killing. But the selections are scarce every year as the dresses get snatched up as soon as they hit the shelves. So start your shopping now, don’t wait for the date. Trust me, sometimes those come in the week of, terrifying but true. Your gal needs to be ready to go to the party – even if she goes with her best gal pals. HoCo is such a fun event!
The guidelines to finding the perfect dress are simple. It should be cute but not too casual, memorable but not too revealing, trendy but not too basic, and most importantly, something she feels comfortable in. Girls tend to wear short dresses for HoCo, save the longer dresses for prom. Don’t settle on a dress ever. Consider the amount of pictures that are going to be posted, you’re HoCo girl is going to want to LOVE the way she looks. This also includes jewelry, shoes, makeup, and hair. Make sure she does a dress rehearsal before the big day, just in case adjustments need to be made.
Back to the dress, here are some of my girls’ favorite HoCo dress spots, way in advance to give you time to find the perfect HoCo dress. Happy shopping!
KK Bloom Boutique
2823 Selwyn Avenue
Charlotte, NC 28209
KK Bloom has a great selection of dresses. This is a shop that you need to frequent on a regular basis, as new pieces arrive daily. We’ve had a lot of success here, especially with dressy earrings and accessories.
Monkee’s of Charlotte & Monkee’s of Lake Norman
2839 Selwyn Ave, Charlotte, NC 28209 | 605 Jetton Street Unit A, Davidson, NC 28036
Monkee’s dresses trend more upscale, but they have some really amazing finds that can be used for multiple occasions. We’ve also had great success at Monkee’s.
The Pink Hanger
2935 Providence Rd # 103
Charlotte, NC 28211
The Pink Hanger has a really fabulous selection of dresses, in a wide range of price points. New styles come in regularly.
Boem Boutique
3920 Sharon Rd Suite B150
Charlotte, NC 28211
Boem is hands down the most popular high school frock shop for all occasions, mostly casual. Girls pop in there all the time if they need a new top for a night out, or a necklace to complete the outfit or a dress. The key here is stopping in and often. They only get a few pieces of each item, so things sell out fast. And they don’t load up on a ton of dresses. So HoCo dresses will be snatched up in a skinny minute.
If you don’t find anything locally, I HIGHLY recommend Revolve online. With free shipping and returns, you don’t even have to leave your laptop. They have an amazing selection of dresses for all occasions and a wide range of price points, even HoCo court. My girls shop here often and we select a few different styles so we find one that’s just right. Personally, I think the quality of Revolve dresses are higher than all other online options.
Lulus offers the best prices of dresses that you can find, perfect for a one-time use. You just can’t beat a $49 price point for a party dress.
