Can't wait to get dressed up! Places for cheap dresses anyone?

[jordgubben]

Ok, I'm the first to admit that I have the stash of bridesmaids dresses, etc. in my closet but I really don't want to wear any of those. I can't wait to get dressed up!

So, I'm dying to get a dress that's at least new to me. I might break down and just buy a new dress but the economical side of me is saying to explore my options.

Aside from checking the local consignment shops, anyone know of any place on the web to get a good deal on a dress?

P.S. I just mentioned this "nifty cruise formal wear place that delivers right to the boat" to my husband. I'm sure he's just waiting for me to ask him if he'll wear a tux.

 

[clh2]

I think that a shop that sells "New Year's Eve" types of dresses would have them on sale right now!

 

[lbgraves]

JCP has their big clearance sale this month. Also Coldwatercreek.com has alot on sale right now in their outlet section. I bought a couple of their long dresses last year & hemmed them up for our cruise last month. They also had some pretty tropical prints.

 

[staylor]

Great time right now, many places have their new years eve clothes on sale. Places I would look is Ross, TJ Maxx, Stein Mart. Are you in Jersey? Don't you have a Century21 there? If not, a great one in NYC.

 

[pfishgirl]

I bought my Dress for the New Years Cruise at Boscovs for $32. It was on sale at 70% off and this was BEFORE New Years...

 

[lkohawaii]

JCP has their big clearance sale this month. Also Coldwatercreek.com has alot on sale right now in their outlet section. I bought a couple of their long dresses last year & hemmed them up for our cruise last month. They also had some pretty tropical prints.

Thanks for posting. I never heard of coldwatercreek. I just ordered a dress from them. Shipping was reasonable not like shipping for JCP to Hawaii. Just hope it looks and fits like what I'm thinking it should. I see a dress in there I really like. I thought I'd wait for one to come in befoere ordering anymore. This just may become my favorite store.

 

[bubbasmom99]

Chadwicks.com

Ebay at this time of year... people trying to get rid of their NYE outfits!

 

[ohMom]

Kaufmann's was were I bought my cruise dresses very cheap!

Also, don't forget about consignment stores!

 

[tkd lisa]

I've used Chadwicks on line, and also JC Penneys at this time of year. I've never paid more than $40 for my formals and they look great if I do say so myself!

 

[webray]

Good time to shop..right now. Check the clearance racks in all the finer department stores. Check Penney's all year round, or Dress Barn if you have one near you.

 

[princess Snow]

My favorite is Ross. Department store brands minus the department store prices.

 

[lkohawaii]

My favorite is Ross. Department store brands minus the department store prices.

If I'm correct Ross will bring in Holiday formals after the holidays. Like now since they have to get them from the department stores. Or am I too late to be looking at Ross now?

 

[princess Snow]

I was at Ross today, and this location had both winter and spring formals--some really pretty ones. I don't think you're too late. Good luck!

 

[alexandrew]

Loehmanns.....

 

[momsgoofy]

Dressing up for our formal and semi-formal nights were such a blast as we don't do this ever at home. I found a great dress at JCPenny Outlet store...a $140 dress for $40 and shoes to match for $5. Yep! Whattabargain! It was a crepe dress, floor length, taupe, tank with a two piece look (tank and skirt) with beadwork around the neckline and a georgette jacket to match with the same beadwork. It's a classic and will be used again. The shoe were a low heel pump in metalic bronze/gold. I received many compliments. For semi-formal I had a nice pair of rayon black wide legged pants...very flowing...that I matched with a mauve top that had silver thread shot through it and finished it off with nice black sandals. That outfit came in at $15 thanks to clearance racks.

Both DH and DS wore tuxes from the cruiseline formal place...it was a great deal since DS is still growing and the thought of putting money into a suit for him is ridiculous. They both wore them for formal and semi-formal nights and also received many compliments! The photo from formal night is one of my most treasured...we hadn't looked that daper since our wedding 3 1/2 years ago. The tuxes are actually quite affordable...two shirts, pants, jacket, tie, cumberbund, cufflinks, and shoes...for a couple dollars you can buy insurance to cover minor repairs.

Go for it! Dress up to the nines! And to find a great bargain outfit...start scouring the clearance racks at fine department stores, bridal shops, etc.

Laura ºoº

 

[Cyndiu]

I bought both of my dressy cruise dresses from Ebay stores. They were brand new and super inexpensive! I think one was $45 and one was $30.

 

[jordgubben]

Bargain shoppers of the world unite!

Thanks so much for all the great ideas. I'm sure that if I had thought of the whole dress thing while at work my entire lunch hour would have been spent roaming from store to store checking out the bargain racks.

Last year I bought a fabulous dress at Marshall's. It's long but I'm going to wear it for semi-formal night anyway (i had honestly thought about cutting it down so that I can wear it more often but it just looks so pretty long...). Anyway, I'm going for something slightly more gowny for formal night (because I can). I placed a bid on a dress on ebay (and another, and another...). It's not super cheap anymore but it's still a great bargain and an awesome dress. Keep your fingers crossed.

Update on the tux, tonight I also bought my husband a tux from an ebay store. The tux, full vest and tie came to $75 (ok ok, + $15 shipping) but I thought that was a pretty good deal and I'm excited that he was all for dressing up. Fun, fun!

 

[momsgoofy]

A note on the tuxes...DH owns a black tux, but decided to go with the cruise line formal place just so he didn't have to lug his in the suitcase. Those things do get heavy!

Lauraºoº

 

[LoveMyBaby]

Ebay, ebay, ebay!
We bought a tux for my son for our cruise a year ago when he was 11 months old. I paid $5 for it, then resold it for $10 after we got home. It was adorable. We even used it for our Christmas card pictures taken on the boat.

 

[virginiamama]

I wore a dress 3 out of the 4 nights on our recent cruise (2 of them really "dressy" dresses). Although we didn't have a formal night, I saw lots of ladies really dressed up. It was fun and we have great "dressed up" family pictures. I don't have many places to wear a spaghetti strapped dress, so I took advantage of the opportunity. My favorite one was a super-nice dress I got at Value City for around $15 and 2nd favorite was a silk dress from TJ Maxx for $25.
As far as I'm concerned getting dressed up is one of the best parts of the cruise. It was interesting to have my DH interested in planning what he was going to wear too - very odd for him.