It is that time of the year - prom time. A designer prom dress is not cheap and just buying a designer label is not going to guarantee you are going to look beautiful. There is an alternative. There is a plethora of cheap online dress designers offering their services with the same quality of a designer label at affordable prices.

There seems to be a misconception that designer prom dresses are expensive and they can be. Even though a designer dress can cost $600 and up, many can be purchased much cheaper than this. The reason? Because you can still have a designer dress but with a few changes like the quality of material used, the amount of material and, most importantly, the artisanship on making the gown. A similar gown designed and made this way could mean a savings of up to $400 or more.

There are a variety of reputable designers that have been around for years and have terrific reputations for designing and producing gowns for under $200. Jessica McClintok is one such designer that has been a favorite for many years and is said to design beautiful gowns each year for as little as $150. What you would be getting is a unique creation, beautifully made that would make any debutante proud. Flirt is another designer who caters to the affordable scene with strapless gowns as well as full-length formal attire. The Jovani prom dress is the cream of the crop and very well known as celebrities around the world purchase these creations for a variety of formal affairs. Some of these designs can be duplicated with minor changes for as little as $300, a little more spendy than the others but still affordable.

Another way to beat the price is by considering buying last year's creations. The styles do not usually change that much year to year and would you rather have a year old Jovani or a brand new design by Target?

Start looking for your prom dress online. Find a designer or a particular dress you like from last year then go to your retail shops and see if they still have it in stock. You can then negotiate since they will want to move last year's inventory and you may get even a better deal.

There is nothing better than wearing a designer prom dress to make yourself feel special on one of the most memorable nights of your adolescence. And with a little work and perseverance, you can get a designer creation for the same price as your peers who buy a department store dress. It takes a little effort, but with a little work and determination, you could be the star among your friends and the designer queen of the prom. Why not go for it!