With an abundance of options, whether it be shops at the mall or the convenience of an online store, students have been on the hunt for the perfect outfit that will allow their individual personalities to shine.

Traditionally, girls have chosen to shop in physical stores in order to ensure that their attire fits exactly the way they like. Shops like One Enchanted Evening in Butler have become lasting student favorites because of their ability to tailor a homecoming gown to the wearer. Other shops, such as Express, provide the perfect suit to guarantee that the customer feels confident on the night of the dance.

“People usually shop for either homecoming court or the actual dance,” Charlotte Bowers, an employee at Express, explained. “There are a lot of options at our store but men typically buy slim or extra slim suits. Girls get a blazer and jacket for homecoming court.”

Many students have opted for this traditional approach in order to ensure that their outfit has the perfect fit.

“I looked for my dress at Windsor in Ross Park Mall,” said senior Lyla Azzanni. “I liked shopping in a real store because I was able to try on dresses in order to find the perfect one.”

NASH senior Lacie Griffiths has been a loyal customer at Episode, a dress store in Ross Park Mall, for the past several years.

“In 10th grade, I bought my NAI homecoming dress there, and last year I went back for my dress for the NASH dance,” she said. “I returned this year because Episode has good dresses at less expensive prices.”

Other girls, however, choose convenience when deciding on the perfect outfit. Online stores such as Princess Polly and Lucy in the Sky offer dresses that are shipped directly to the customer’s home.

“I ordered a dress online from Princess Polly. It’s a halter dress in burgundy. I ended up picking it because of the flower embroidery on the skirt,” explained senior Addison Schroeppel.

Schroeppel was not alone in her decision to prioritize ease in the search for a dress for Saturday evening.

“I ordered my dress online this year from Windsor,” said Varshini Senthilkumar. “It’s a really pretty shade of yellow. The convenience of ordering it online was definitely helpful.”

Throughout the years, the process of purchasing homecoming dresses has evolved, but the sentiment behind the tradition still stands. This Saturday at 7:30 p.m. in the NASH gym, students can anticipate a night full of magic where they look and feel their very best.