Let’s talk about formal dresses – are you Team Buy or Team Rent? Personally I love a good floor length dress or ball gown, but not the price that comes with it! For so long, I’ve rented dresses for formal occasions thinking I’m saving myself money, considering the use and practicality of a gown hanging in my closet. However, after our third black tie invitation this year, I decided it was time to invest in a formal, floor length dress for my closet – without breaking the bank.

Buying Vs. Renting

Let me say that I love Rent the Runway – I’ve been able to wear a variety of dresses I could never imagine affording right now at 25 years old. While “discounted”, the dresses still come in around $100 once all said and done which is a hard price to justify paying for only one weekend.

When an invitation landing on my desk for a black tie work event, I decided to head to local department stores and discount dress shops looking for something to beat RTR. Luck had it I found this absolutely gorgeous black sequin dress at Nordstrom Rack for less than $150 (Retail over $400!) In that moment, I decided to bite the bullet and buy this classic, timeless dress that I can wear year after year, instead of throwing away $100 on a one-time wear rented dress.

10 Dresses Under $100

Now that I have a formal gown of my own, I believe everyone in their 20s should find their “WOW” dress that makes them feel like one million bucks, while only spending $100 or less. I’ve rounded up 10 classic options that will never go out of style and will be the perfect addition to your wardrobe for galas, weddings, work functions and anything you may be going to that’s F-A-N-C-Y!

CALL MY NAME BLUSH PINK BACKLESS |AIR OF ROMANCE SLATE BLUE |GLITTERY LACE DEEP-V SKINNY STRAP DRESS | DRAPEY JERSEY V-NECK SHEATH WITH GATHERED WAIST | OFF-THE-SHOULDER FAILLE MERMAID GOWN | SEQUIN HEARTS SCUBA CREPE COLD SHOULDER |  ONE SHOULDER SEQUIN DRESS | ILLUSION GOWN | OFF-THE-SHOULDER |MUSIC OF THE HEART BLACK LACE |