I have to admit to breathing a sigh of relief when my daughter decided to hang up her crown as the economy hit rock bottom. It would be one less expense to worry about. Let’s face it after all, pageants are an expensive hobby.
But once a diva, always a diva. She still managed to participate in a couple of specialty pageants over the last few years and do several plays where we had to buy costumes, so we managed to pick up a couple of Frugalista pageant tips. (Many of these tips are for children and Jr. participants, but they will apply to adult pageant participants as well.)
Stock a pageant closet. If you happen to come across a killer formal dress as Ross Stores, buy it. If you can get an awesome dress for less than $50.00, go for it. Now one has to know where you purchased it. When it is time for a pageant, or you need a costume or dress, you will know where to look.
Customize your dresses yourself. Pageant dresses are sparkly. Add extra stones to that lower cost dress to bring it up to the level of the more expensive dresses.
Resell dresses you can’t use. There will be discount dresses that you purchase that you find you can’t use. Selling these dresses for a profit will give you the money to pay for some pageant necessities.
Wear your dresses again. Many pageant contestants worry about being seen in the same dress twice. I have noticed however, that if a girl wins in a dress once, she will win in that dress again. If you look awesome it in, repeat it proudly. The same goes for your interview suit and accessories.
Consider renting pageant dresses. If you must have a $2000 gown, try renting it for a fraction of the price.
Buy classic peices. Earrings, shoes, necklaces, interview suits, all of the pageant extras should be classic items that will stand out without nicely at every event without being trendy and easy to recognize when worn with different items. Think of your pageant wardrobe as a versatile work wardrobe. You don’t buy a new outfit for everyday. Instead you purchase items that can be mixed and matched and worn time and time again.
EBay, EBay, EBay. If you can buy a pageant item on EBay, do it. Clear shoes, half price dresses, custom made children’s outfits, and many more pageant items can be found at a steal. Just remember to shop carefully and check feedback before handing over your money.
Have an old pageant dress remodeled. Update your old pageant dresses by removing sleeves, changing the back, adding or removing layers.
Keep a separate makeup box for pageants so that all of your items stay pristine. This way you will only need to replace one or two items at a time, and won’t need all new makeup for every pageant. (Remember to replace mascara every every few months, even if you;ve only used it once.)
Be particular about the pageant you enter. Don’t waste your time on pageants that don’t give good scholarships or move you closer to your professional goals…. unless you really need the practice.
Frugalista Beauty. e.l.f. Makeup Only $1.00 Each Piece
Frugalista Fashions for the Stage
Frugalista Fashions: Buying Clothes on Ebay