Dress for Less

The holiday season means there are many opportunities to pretty up and head out. We tuck away our comfy go-to jeans that are a smidge too loose and kick around cowboy boots in favor of dresses cut down to there a la Lola and va va voom heels. This time of year gives us girls a chance to glam up and our men to clean up. I rather enjoy the dress up season but loathe the fretful costs.

Mac Daddy and I recently went to a black tie party that left me squirming about what to wear. One peek into my closet made me want to dry heave. One step into a dress boutique made want to retch. Even if I had diamonds on the soles of my shoes I cannot imagine spending upwards of $400 on a damn dress. Simply on principle I cannot muster the balls gumption impulse stupidity to do it. I can’t help but think what I can do with that money. If I had that kind of cash to throw around and spent it on my wardrobe instead of helping the hungry, I would have to get a brass nameplate for the special place in hell for me. It’s just not my style.

That’s not to say that I don’t appreciate nice things. I love a designer handbag as much as the next girl, but I don’t believe in paying full price. Let’s just say that I also get my knickers in a knot when I score a good deal. Mac Daddy chastises me for always telling people what I paid for stuff when they compliment me. I can’t help it. It’s a physiological reaction. I think bargain shopping is a sport, but not the extreme couponing variety. I don’t buy what I don’t need (well, Mac Daddy might beg to differ.). I don’t hoard or buy 400 pairs of socks because they’re on sale. I look for a good deal on good quality brands I like. Quality is key, and I don’t often fall prey to trendiness. Note that being trendy and being stylish are mutually exclusive.

So back to this black tie party…

I popped into every department store and boutique in town in search of the right dress. By “right” I mean stylish, comfortable, and affordable. I need a dress that has ample room for eating and dancing, and by all means, I would never (again) buy a dress that requires fashion tape.

In the end, I scored a deal at a consignment store. The dress is a mall store brand in a good quality silk brocade with excellent stitching and attention to detail (including boning to keep the strapless dress from falling down). I had the shoes (purchased on sale last year) and bought the faux fur cape just for kicks (at Marshalls for under 30 bucks).

So take a gander at the photos below and guess what I paid for the dress.

Sorry for the poor quality photos. Our babysitter indulged us while Bird and Deal were boys gone wild. No time for proper lighting or striking that “we always look like this and are casually cool about it” look.

Try not to fall into lala land by focusing on the handsome devil standing next to me. He’s taken.

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A close up. See, you can totally tell that’s the kind of dress that will stay up when I bust a move.

That’s me with the cape. It’s definitely a love it or hate it kind of buy, but I happen to love it. I can dress it down with a knit turtleneck, jeans, and boots.

And a close up. That’s fake fur but not a fake smile.