Teen Contestants- Pageant Dresses under $250

The evening gown competition is an extremely important part of a pageant, especially considering this is the garment you will most likely be wearing for the longest period on stage. You wear it for evening gown, top-5 announcement, on-stage question, and crowning. So its important that you love the dress and that it also looks amazing. Now I know there are so many beautiful pageant dresses out there, and you can find great deals on these dresses through different sellers on sites like eBay and Pageant Resale. If you are like me though when I was competing as a teen, my budget for a dress was usually $250 or less. It is definitely possible to find a great stage dress for $250 or less, you just have to do the research, try things on, and know when to shop and what to avoid. The following are 15 dresses I think could work on stage for a teen contestant.

Some quick tips
Evening gown means floor length dress. These are NOT floor length dresses:

If the dress doesn’t actually sweep the floor, then you should avoid it. Especially now when the trend is long swooping dresses, you will stand out, in a bad way.

Next, avoid shiny fabrics. Typically, polyester fabrics that are shiny look cheap. If a dress is going to cost $250 or less, avoid super shiny satin-like fabrics like these:

Dress Examples

Prints: For teen contestants, print dresses can be flirty, attention grabbers on stage. Prints should be worn carefully, however, choosing patterns and colors that are subtle and work together. 

Zebra Print- $149.99 @ Camille La Vie
Pink Floral Print- $158 @ unique-vintage.com
Night Moves 6045- $238 @onlineformals.com 

Avoid patterns and colors like these: 

Waist Details: A fitted dress with waist accents can help show off shape. Having a bow or different color band at the waist are popular styles. 

Studio 17 12161- $218
Royal Blue Dress- $216 @ unique-vintage.com 

Ball Gowns: Ball gowns are great dresses for younger contestants, especially in the Miss America’s Outstanding Teen competition, where girls as young as 14 can compete. It’s important to embrace youthfulness. Look for styles that are still fitted throughout the bodice so your shape doesn’t get loss in fabric. 

Sequined Gown- $218 @promgirl.com
Flirt 4372- $229 @promgirl.com 

Tulle Dress- $198 @unique-vintage.com 

Grecian: This has definitely been a popular style for the past year in pageants, especially with the ability to “Fly” dresses on stage. To freshen up the trend, many of these styles are coming in bright, jewel tone colors. Look for styles that cinch in at the waist. 

Bari Jay Shimmer 59114- $210 @promgirl.com
La Femme 15188- $259 @promgirl.com (a little over $250, but only by 9 bucks!)
Bari Jay Shimmer 59914- $210 @promgirl.com 

Flirty Dresses: Dresses that are more fitted with flirty cut-outs are more appropriate for older teens. When choosing dresses that are a bit-more body hugging, go for jewel tones and pastel colors, and avoid dark colors like black or gray. Also, if going with a more revealing dress, keep that detail just to one part. For example, if doing a completely open back dress, make sure the front stays classy with no low cut top or really high slit.

Blue Dress- $169 @ Macy's
Blush Prom S010 $238 @ promdressshop.com
Red Dress- $179.99 @ Camille La Vie
Flirt P4403S- $238 @promgirl.com

Lastly: The most important thing to remember is to be confident on stage. I have seen pageants where the winner was wearing a not-so-great dress compared to other girls, but because she was confident and having fun on stage, she won. There will be girls with dresses that cost $2,000+, do not let this discourage you! Stay focus on your goal, have fun and remember the judges do not know how much you spent on your dress.

Winning Miss Colorado Teen USA 2006 
Dress: Jessica McClintock- on sale for $215