Jul 18th 2026
Under $150 Mermaid Prom Dress: Does It Actually Look Good?
I ordered this purple mermaid dress for prom and the first thing I remember is the tracking number. I was obsessively checking it like every twenty minutes because I paid for expedited shipping and it still wasn't moving. My mom kept telling me to chill but I was already planning my backup outfit in my head. It finally showed up two days late but prom was still a week out so I got lucky — but man, that was a stressful few days. If you're reading this and thinking about ordering, just don't bother with the fast shipping. It's a scam. Or at least it was for me.
Colour & Fabric Quality
Anyway, the dress. When I pulled it out of that plastic bag I was actually kind of nervous because the color in the product photos looked almost neon purple and I was scared it'd be too much. But in person it's way darker, more like a deep violet that changes in the light. Like indoors it's almost blackish, but outside in the sun it really pops. I held it up against my skin and was like okay this might actually work. The fabric is smooth and heavy, not cheap-feeling at all, and I'm super picky about stuff touching my skin because I get rashes easily. This one didn't bother me at all, even after hours of wearing it.
The Fit & The Lace‑Up Back
The fit though — so it's that mermaid shape where it's tight everywhere and then flares out at the bottom. I had to wiggle into it and my sister had to zip me up because I couldn't reach the back. There's this lace-up part that's supposed to be like a corset and honestly it does cinch your waist really well, but the laces are just plain cord, not the pretty ribbon they show online. I was a little annoyed when I saw that because the ribbon would've looked so much nicer in the back shots. But my sister was like "nobody's gonna stare at your back laces" and she had a point. Still, you have to tie them pretty tight or they slip, and I made my mom double-knot them just to be safe.
Outdoor Photoshoot at Capitol Park
For the photoshoot we went to Capitol Park in Augusta. I live like an hour from there but my friend knew a photographer who does a lot of prom shoots around that area. We walked around for maybe two hours, hitting the brick paths and the river overlook and that big stone bench everyone uses. The dress actually worked really well outdoors — the train dragged a little on the grass but it wasn't too long to trip me, except once on some gravel near the water where I almost ate it. My friend caught it on video and I'm still mad about it.
Sequins, Styling & Shoe Struggles
The sequins on the bodice are really pretty, especially when the sun hit them. They're silver and dark purple and they kind of sparkle without being obnoxious. I didn't do much with my hair or makeup because I wanted the dress to be the main thing. Just loose waves, some neutral eyeshadow with a little lavender shimmer, and pink lipstick. I wore silver earrings and a thin necklace but honestly you couldn't even see the necklace most of the time because of the V-neck. The shoes were strappy silver heels and they looked cute but walking on grass in heels is a nightmare. My heels kept sinking into the dirt and I had to pull them out every few steps. Not a graceful moment.
Final Verdict: Would I Buy It Again?
The photos turned out gorgeous though, I'll give it that. The purple against all the green trees and the blue river — it just worked. My favorite shot is me sitting on that curved stone bench with the pine trees behind me, and the dress is all spread out. You can't even tell I was sweating because it was warmer than I expected that day. Or that my hair was sticking to my lip gloss half the time.
Would I buy it again? I mean, for under $150, yeah. It's not perfect — the laces thing bugged me, the shipping was a mess, and the train got a little dirty on the bottom from walking around outside. But everyone at prom kept complimenting me and I felt really good in it. So I guess that's what matters. If you're on a budget and you like bold colors and that mermaid cut, this is a solid option. Just order it way early, ignore the expedited shipping option, and maybe have a friend help you tie the back because doing it alone is impossible. Also don't wear heels on grass. Learn from my mistakes.