Help: Need Cocktail Dress

[LJSquishy]

Help!!!

My husband's boss just invited us to a dinner auction at the Country Club this Saturday in benefit of an autism center. The invitation states: Cocktails, dinner, silent & live auctions .... Cocktail attire requested.

I'm a housewife on a major budget and only have casual dresses right now. I honestly don't feel like I should go but my husband expressed he would really like us to attend. It's easy for him to say, he has suits! I am short, only 5'3" and am a size 10 with a 34F (=34DDD) chest. I don't know where to try and find something that will be appropriate without breaking the bank. We don't have a lot of extra money to spend on things like cocktail dresses...especially when I can only wear it a few times. Please help!

Any suggestions?

 

[ziggystardust]

Try loft. I believe they are having a 50% off sale right now. And sale stuff is an additional 40% off. At least it was this past Sunday.

 

[kid-at-heart]

Try Nordstorms clearance rack JR area. We picked up a very nice cocktail/school dance dress for my daughter for $20ish, marked down 75%, from Yonkers, a midwest store similar to Nordstorms. I assume Spokane still has a Nordstorms? I have not lived there since the 80s.

Good luck.

 

[rcraw45425]

It's Prom season, check consignment stores, thrift shops and even Goodwill. People will frequently consign or donate these type items. I know with two teen aged girls I do both regularly.

 

[dzneelvr]

If you feel more comfortable in slacks, black and white with a statement necklace or earrings would be fineCheck Goodwill for a nice top, you probably already have the slacks. Add blingy necklace/bracelet/earrings/pin and you are set. I was shopping at Bergners over the weekend and they have crazy good sales on the bling. Don't forget to ask your friends for any bling they have in their jewelry boxes! They would be be happy to loan you something and you could get them some lotto scratch-offs or a bottle of wine in appreciation Paint your nails a shiny red and MOST OF ALL...stop worrying what you have on. Enjoy the night out, be friendly and confident and you will have a Magical time.

 

[thebeesknees]

Do you have a friend in a similar size that could loan you something for the evening? If not, I would echo checking the thrift stores in the area. Especially now that it is prom season, a lot of cute dresses will end up there in the next couple weeks. Ours had a whole rack FULL of them this past week for under $20.

 

[LJSquishy]

Thanks, ladies.

I am embarrassed to say, but I don't have any friends. Not a single one. Unfortunately I don't have any family members that I could borrow from, either due to major size differences.

I guess I will have to try a few thrift stores and Ross/TJ Maxx to see if I can find something. I never seem to have any luck there but it is worth a shot. Loft was the first store I thought of, but it looks like that great sale isn't going on anymore. Oh, well!

Thanks for the suggestions, I will start hunting around!

 

[Fueledbycoffee]

I'd go on a hunt for little black dress that you could where again & probably start at TJ Maxx/Marshall's or even Target. Borrow a cute pair of heals or check out Payless. Add some bling from friends like others had suggested & you are good to go. You can never go wrong with a little black dress!

 

[wallawallakids]

Have you thought about looking into renting something? There are places that will rent formal wear (cocktail dresses and such). Might be worth it if you think you may never need to wear the dress again and I am sure it is much more affordable then buying new.

I have had good success at Marshalls and at Nordstroms for dresses in the past but it seem like they are always more then I really want to spend in the end.

Good luck and have fun this weekend!

PS: How about Dress Barn?

 

[gonemousin']

Try White House Black Market. They have a lot of cocktail dresses on their sale racks right now and I find most of their dresses to be forgiving on me (32G, so I understand your challenge well). Their full price items are steep but they have decent sale prices and their clothes are classically stylish IMO.

Good luck!

 

[MinnieFan4ever]

If you feel more comfortable in slacks, black and white with a statement necklace or earrings would be fineCheck Goodwill for a nice top, you probably already have the slacks. Add blingy necklace/bracelet/earrings/pin and you are set. I was shopping at Bergners over the weekend and they have crazy good sales on the bling. Don't forget to ask your friends for any bling they have in their jewelry boxes! They would be be happy to loan you something and you could get them some lotto scratch-offs or a bottle of wine in appreciation Paint your nails a shiny red and MOST OF ALL...stop worrying what you have on. Enjoy the night out, be friendly and confident and you will have a Magical time.

Well said. Go for some slacks if you are more comfy in that. Don't worry too much about it. I have been to many of those kinds of events and I see ladies wearing just about anything but jeans.

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

Try White House Black Market. They have a lot of cocktail dresses on their sale racks right now and I find most of their dresses to be forgiving on me (32G, so I understand your challenge well). Their full price items are steep but they have decent sale prices and their clothes are classically stylish IMO.

Good luck!

I agree. I love white house/ black market.
I am a size 6 with a 36 DD chest.
I bought a beautiful dress there last year. Its a layered ruffle look. Love how it makes everything look proportional.

Good luck!

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

Do you have Macy's where you live? That is usually our go to place to dresses, along with Nordstrom. Target has some cute spring dresses - I don't know if they are dressy enough for you.

Do you have Platos' Closet? It is a consignment shop for teen wear - you might find a prom/cocktail type dress that would work.

I haven't been in Dress Barn for years, but a friend just bought several dresses there for spring.

 

[crisi]

I'd try Goodwill and second hand stores first.

Try and find a "little black dress" or a black skirt and shirt to go with it. You can get a lot of mileage for a lot of years (if your size doesn't change) from a classic cut LBD - mine is 25 years old and still serviceable. I now wear different jewelry and colored heels with it than I did when I first bought it.

 

[MineMail]

My DD needed a dress for a play she's in, so she asked to go to the local thrift sHop. I was really impressed by the amount of business and dressy clothes they had n the racks in good condition.

Get a little black dress and it works for all sorts of social settings. You can pair it with a jacket for a business meeting or conference.

 

[Sagginit]

to give you more inspiration i would also suggest a nice skirt and dress shirt combo as an option. a simple white dress shirt with a good french cuff is versatile and then i would pair it with a fancy skirt. here is the type of skirt you could pair it with (obviously not budget). http://www.talbots.com/online/brows...t&section=Regular&conceptIdUnderSale=cat70008

are you near an outlet mall? black house white market has outlets now and you might find separates at the talbot outlet. i always get great dresses at bcbg outlets but they are often form fitting (im only a 32 D).

i have gotten some great stretchy jersey type dresses at clearance at the limited and they often have coupons. i just checked their website and they have this one that may work for you:http://www.thelimited.com/Sophie-Th...rCode=799&start=12&ppid=c12&cgid=sale-dresses

 

[NotUrsula]

Do you have a thrift shop associated with the National Council of Jewish Women locally? I have no idea why, but around here they have far and away the best selection of secondhand special occasion dresses that are suitable for grown women, as opposed to teenaged girls.

 

[dres40]

Try JC Penny, has lots of dresses.

 

[JessM]

Have you tried JCPenney? My mom and I have both had some excellent luck getting inexpensive dresses in there.

 

[missycj96]

You can get great discount coupons or codes for ny and co. They will generally have a nice dress and accessories for a good price - especially if you get a sale or discount.