Custom-made ballroom costumes are expensive. The reason for this is because they cannot really be mass produces if each costume is unique. Consequently, the person making the costume has to design it, obtain all the materials, and put everything together. The materials alone can be as much as $700 if a lot of rhinestones are used. Also, the costume making is very labor intensive which comes at a cost.
When it comes to used ballroom dresses, many times they are sold below what it originally cost to make them. The reason for this is because many ballroom dancers simply want to recoup portion of the original cost and then apply whatever proceeds they receive to buy a new outfit.
If you are a smart shopper, you can get pretty good deals on ballroom dance costumes especially after major competitions. The following is a list of four websites that you can use to search for bargains.
In addition to these sites, you can also find good deals on eBay. If you do a lot of ballroom competitions, you might consider shopping for ballroom outfits on continuous basis and buy one even when you have nothing planned. If you wait until the last minute, you might rush into buying an outfit that you are not totally in love it, but if you plan ahead, you can have the luxury of being picky.