For truly unique styles, I designed my Year 10 and Year 12 formal dresses and my mum made them. My Year 10 one is like the late-1800's ball gowns - Blood-red satin with faintly printed flowers, three layers of off-the-shoulder satin wave-frills plus a string of studs around the shoulders, a flower on the hip, a split down the left side to reveal a second layer and another round of wave-frills at the bottom . You really feel like a princess wearing one of these...
...But it was a bit over the top and so my Year 12 one was simpler and more modern - Swimming pool blue satin, mermaid shape, off-the-shoulder, scruched-up blue chiffon around the shoulders and straight down the back clipped by a brooch, two asymetrical columns of single studs running down the body to the knees, a string of studs around the knees and another brooch in front of that - It had a royal feel to it, like it can be worn to palaces and such.
Both dresses cost less than $200, buy the fabrics at Cabramatta - there's a bridal and evening gown fabric shop on the main street. The accessories were a bit expensive and it took around two weeks to sew...but they're the best dresses I've seen so far.
My point is, try have a vision of your dream dress, my vision always has a princess feel to it. You don't have to, just ask yourself what style you like, colour etc...HARTS always has the best dresses, and the price range is enormous...go there
![Smile :) :)](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)
One of my friends bought hers in the QVB, cost her $800 and was voted "Best Dressed" - It was peach, short, low-back low-front and had sequins all over it....So, make it if it's possible, it's way cheaper and no one else will ever wear that dress...there's no risk and that's truly unique.