Leesville’s Homecoming football game is set for October 10 versus Enloe High School. The following day, October 11, the “Luau at Loonieville” Homecoming Dance will take place.

Homecoming Week is a whirlwind of social events for students, including spirit week, the pep rally, the football game, the in-school dance, and friend-group plans.

Finding a Homecoming dress can be one of the most exciting parts of the season, but it can also come with a surprising amount of stress. For Leesville students, there is less than a month left to search for a “perfect dress.”

The search often feels like a balancing act, wanting to look unique, but not too flashy; trendy, but true to your own style; flattering, but also comfortable enough to spend the whole night in.

Dresses can sell out quickly, and scrolling through endless websites or going from store to store adds another layer of urgency. Budgets, alterations, matching shoes and jewelry to the dress, and, for some, coordinating with dates adds to the pressure.

Cadhla O’Dwyer, senior, said, “I want a dress that’s not going to be cringe looking back on my senior Homecoming. I want it to be timeless, but of course, the dress that I found is sold out everywhere.” 

Some popular online brands for Homecoming dresses include: Beginning Boutique, Hello Molly, Oh Polly, Revolve, Princess Polly, Stacees, Lulus, and Lucy in the Sky.

Boutiques are also a good option if you are looking for a more unique dress; however, the price points are usually higher.

Buying a second-hand Homecoming dress can be one of the smartest decisions and typically the most budget-friendly for students. Formal dresses are often only worn once, so you can usually find secondhand dresses in almost-new condition for a fraction of the original price. There is also always a chance of finding something unique that no one else will be wearing. Whether it be resale shops, thrift stores, or through apps like Poshmark, Depop, or Mercari, buying secondhand adds a sustainability factor.

Over the past few years, renting a dress has increased in popularity. Rent the Runway and Trendline are two of the most popular websites, but there are also numerous Instagram accounts that you can rent from. Most are run by high school or college students.There is also the option to make your own Homecoming dress; this ensures that you will not be matching with anyone else. 

No matter how you go about finding it, whether buying new, secondhand, renting, or even making your own, the Homecoming dress hunt has become a tradition.