Prom Dress for $10 & a $370 Dress for My Book Party? Nah!

I've been agonizing over the right dress -- frugal & fashionable-- for my upcoming book launch party. (June 12th at Books & Books in South Beach.) I almost (gasp!) broke down and purchased a $130 dress (the Belted Bubble Dress) from the Armani Exchange. One problem: I would need to buy two versions of the same dress in order to make one dress that is modest enough for my lifestyle.

Going to a seamstress to create sleeves and a new, longer hemline would cost another $100+. Bottom Line: I would spend nearly $400 for a dress for my South Beach party.

Thank Goodness, Marshalls rescued me: I found a $20 dress that is so cute and will require only a minimum amount of adjustments. (I purchased a second dress for $20, just in case I need the extra fabric.)

Goodwill, the Salvation Army and other thrift stores are also a source of affordable fashion. Check out this release from the Goodwill in my area. The same logic applies to other areas of the country. Here's the release:

FRUGAL FASHION FINDS SALES ARE BRISK AT SALVATION ARMY FAMILY STORES: PROM DRESSES FROM $9.99-$29.99

"The housing crunch, rising gas prices and lack of consumer confidence in the economy are causing more families to drastically cut back and curtail their spending. According the Salvation Army, all six Salvation Army Family Stores in Broward County and the four in Miami Dade are seeing an increase in customers who want name brand labels at a low cost for their growing families.

"Everyone's a winner and everyone gets a deal when it comes to shopping for bargains at the Salvation Army Family Super Stores," said Melissa Zegans, Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Center Stores Supervisor.

Many of the items are either new or gently used but in excellent condition. 100% of the proceeds from sales at the Salvation Army Family Super Store go directly to the operation of The Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Centers.
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Mutiny: Rebellion Against Used Party Clothes: Frugal Event Planning Guide Pt.2

It's a frugal mutiny and I've been overruled by higher powers: The Grandparents! My folks -- who have worn recycled fashions to other galas (Recycled Cinderella: Same Outfits, Different Holiday Balls) -- will not let me dress up their grandson in either borrowed, second-hand or gently used clothing for his upcoming Bar Mitzvah celebration. And they have wired money -- directly to a seventh -grader -- to make sure he gets a new suit for his upcoming celebration. Thank you M&D!

What's more, the members of my household have loudly vetoed the hand-me down cocktail dress that I had planned to wear for the evening party. I guess I'll have to go shopping. (Sigh!) It'll be the first major clothes shopping outing in our house in over a year. The Result: Part 2 of my Frugal Event Planning Guide: The Clothes Budget is turning out differently than I had planned.

I had a plan to dress us up in borrowed or recycled fashions for the celebration, which includes a day-time religious service and an evening fete. I had planned to write about our borrowed fashions. And besides, we've saved money by making our own invitations: (DIY Invitations: Bar Mitzvahs, Weddings & Other Formal Parties) and selecting an elegant, but frugal party location: Big Party; Small Budget: A Frugal Event Planning Guide: Pt. 1. We've all been on the same page, but I now have a clothes war on my hands.

For the birthday boy, we were going to shop at an upscale consignment store in Coral Gables, a very wealthy community in South Florida. The Rationale: Somewhere in the racks, there would be a suitable dress suit (possibly a designer outfit?) that may have been worn once or twice by another middle-school boy to a formal event. But if my son will feel more celebrated and confident in a new suit and shirt, who am I to argue?

My wardrobe selection included a beaded navy and silver dress, with a jacket. The style is very art deco and the beading resembles the photo on this page. It's a very pretty hand-me down from a friend and I've received compliments when I've worn it before. But I have to admit that my friend last wore the outfit to a party in the early 1990s. And with a few alarming looks my family has given the dress a firm thumbs-down. It doesn't look like me, they say and -- horrors - it's look a little dated and less than gently worn. Okay, so I'll buy a new dress! Twist my arm and make me scream: Ann Taylor, Macy's, Marshall's, Bloomingdales or Saks! I'm there. (There is also a cute consignment store in South Beach that I plan to check out.)

So I've learned these lessons:

• Be Flexible: Sometimes recycled fashion works; sometimes it doesn't. It's important to keep an open heart and an open mind.
  
• Don't embarrass your family


• Listen to your folks, especially if they offer to pay the bill.
  
• Remember the bottom line: The purpose of a party is to celebrate and it's important not to let other issues: clothing budget, frugal planning or other concerns disrupt the party.
  
• Have Fun!

And finally, when I have to make a choice between a funny frugal story and my family, the family always comes first.

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Previous Posts
Fourth Grader Joins Flea Market, Hires 4 Employees, Sells Crafts and Prints Money

Full-Time Teacher, Weekend Cook: Part-Time Jobs To Pay Bills
How to Get More Value From Your Home
Squeeze In Exercise Without Spending Lots of Time & Money

What Gas Leak? Mom's Nose vs Car Dealer & $49 Service Bill
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Sharon Harvey Rosenberg is the author of The Frugal Duchess of South Beach: How to Live Well and Save Money... Anywhere!, which will be published in the Spring of 2008 by DPL Press.

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Recycled Cinderella: Same Outfits, Different Holiday Balls

Who cares if you wore that same outfit to last year's holiday party: "No one goes crazy and says: You had that on last year," my dad tells me. In fact, for a recent holiday party, my mom wore a 10-year-old red suit that was purchased for a retirement party. No one else knew or cared. The outfit was expensive at the time, but a decade later the suit still sings: "I got so many compliments," said my mother after returning from the party.

Cinderella had a fairy godmother and I have my parents, who provide lots of advice about recycling party outfits. I've needed their magic wand. In the last few weeks, I've been on the party circuit: 3 weddings, 2 bar mitzvahs and a few other dressy events.

And for the last seven events, I've trotted out the same three outfits: two embroidered silk suits and one long black skirt, with a bolero jacket. By the way, all three outfits (designer labels) are hand-me downs, from either relatives or wealthy friends. I've learned about the art of recycling formal wear from my mom and dad. "We make use of things we already own. We don't go out and buy something new every week," my father says.

Here are M&D's rules for dressing for formal events without spending a lot.

1. Check out your closet. "The first thing you need is a clean closet so that you know what you have." That's my mom quoting Suze Orman. This advice makes sense, my mom says, adding that through better organization, she has learned to stop buying the "same thing over and over." That saves money.

2. Organize clothes & shoes by color: A whole new wardrobe emerged when my mom started to arrange her outfits by color. She had a clearer picture of what she owned and which pieces worked well with others. She's even done that with her shoes and that bit of color coordination has saved money because she realized that she had way too many black shoes and didn't need to shop for more.

3. Play dress up: Try it on. Mix it up. Create your own dress rehearsals.

4. Play with accessories: Dollar Stores, thrift stores, discount chains are all great sources for playful jewelry, dress-up pieces and trendy items. "I just change up accessories," says my dad. "I just switch around." With the same basic suit, he'll wear different ties, shirts, etc. By mixing it up, he creates a new look.

5. Purchase quality basics: Although my mom will pickup accessories on the cheap, she enjoys shopping for quality for the basics: the dress, the suit, the slacks. "Buy things that you really like and feel comfortable in," she says. Above all, make sure the garment fits.

6. Don't dress for praises: "People don't look at the details of what you're wearing," she says. "They look at your overall appearance and the fit of your clothes." And if by some weird chance someone notices that your outfit has been recycled: "I would say so what!?!," my dad says.

7. Avoid trendy items. Wear elegant, but non-basic clothing.

8. Buy vintage fashion at a (real) thrift store. My parents love the Goodwill outlet near their home. Some of the items --especially the formal clothes -- are new or barely worn. (My father, however, scorns used shirts or pants, which may be too worn for another wearing.

9. Buy a fun outfit on eBay. I've seen amazing formal wear at eBay for less than $10, including shipping.

10. Party with strangers: My parents have gotten extra mileage by wearing the same outfit to different events with different crowds of friends and strangers.

My Previous Posts

Today:

Saving Money with CFLs: A Formula for Bright Lights & Lower Expenses

Yesterday:

My Jane Austen Biz Plan: 10 Smart Career Moves: An English Major's Aria

Brewing Ideas in the Hot Tub & Other Tips from Carnival of Smarter Investing

Turn Garbage Into Liquid Cash: Save 1000s of Gallons of Water

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The Frugal Duchess Booktique
The Frugal Duchess of Beauty Store

Book Shop of Fear
The Poetry & Drama Queen
Frugal Jazz & Blues
Frugal Comic Book Connection
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Salvation Army Request, "Please no more used toys!"

The ongoing recall of defective or hazardous toys has prompted the Salvation Army to take a stand against used toy donations. Here are details from the local Salvation Army outlets in the Miami area:

"Effective immediately, the Miami Salvation Army, Adult Rehabilitation Center Thrift Store will no longer be accepting any used or previously owned toys. This action is a national Salvation Army directive, and includes following all recommended guidelines of The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission for recalled products from China.

"Due to expenses incurred by having to pay for the disposal of hundreds of toy from our four Miami/Dade stores, it is essential that we don't accept further items that will result in even more disposal expenses," said Miami Division Captain Eric Nickell."During this season of giving, toy donations are well intended, but simply not an option at this time. We will continue to accept clothing, used furniture and household items," said Nickell.

"We are always appreciative of the positive intentions behind all donations." The action was initiated early last week after the Salvation Army issued a state-wide directive resulting from Consumer Product Safety Commission findings of unsafe levels of lead in numerous Chinese-made products. Consumers are encouraged to donate other items that provide tremendous benefit to the community and store visitors."
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The Frugal Duchess Booktique
The Frugal Duchess of Beauty Store

Book Shop of Fear
The Poetry & Drama Queen
Frugal Jazz & Blues
Frugal Comic Book Connection
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Thrift Shop Overload: 5 Warning Signs for Secondhand Shoppers

A few of my friends have pulled back from thrift stores. They love thrift stores, garage sales and other second-hand markets. But their closets and storage spaces are stuffed with random trinkets and other used items.

Based on our conversations and my own experiences, I've put together a warning list for thrift store shoppers.

You know that you've hit one too many thrift stores when....

1. You recognize all of the antique dealers and professional buyers who pick through used items in order to resell the merchandise for 1000 percent markups at their own high-end stores.

2. Your garage looks like a storehouse for vintage lamp shades.

3. The used bookstore dealer calls you and asks you for a specific title.

4. You have bins and bins of children's clothes sorted by size, color and gender.

5. You have so many bins of used books, clothes and trinkets that you have trouble finding what you need.


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The Frugal Duchess Booktique
The Frugal Duchess of Beauty Store
Book Shop of Fear
The Poetry & Drama Queen
Frugal Jazz & Blues

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January: Great Time to Pick up Thrift Store deals

Forget the January sales in department stores and discount chains. January is a great time for picking up great deals and new merchandise at thrift stores. That's the word from my friend Fey. I wrote about her this week in my column in the Miami Herald.

For less than $5, she has found ceramic dishes, vases, paintings and other household items. Fey enjoys the sport of shopping at many area thrift stores.

Here's the link.


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The Frugal Duchess Boutique
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Natty, but Cheap. Thrift-Store Tricks from a CQ Fashion Insider

How do you shop at Salvation Army, Goodwill and no-name thrift stores, but still look like something that stepped off the glossy pages of an upscale fashion magazine like GQ (Gentlemen's Quarterly Magazine)?

I discovered a few answers to that question quite by accident when I picked up the November issue of GQ, which featured a cover shot of Miami Heat's Dwyane Wade. The entire issue, dedicated to sports legends and superstars, offers excellent profiles and smart features. Check it out at the library.

My favorite piece was a savvy and surprisingly frugal article called "The Art of Wearing Vintage." The article features fashion maven Derrick Miller, creative director of New York-based Barker Black shoes.

The author of the piece --The Sartorialist (www.thesartorialist.com) -- is "shocked" that Miller wears vintage (translation: thrift-store garments) but always looks as if his outfits are "tailor-made for him." Miller and his brother both look natty, but nice in the photo by Scott Schuman, who also wrote the piece.

The GQ question for Miller:
Q. How do you shop at thrift stores and "not end up looking like a dorky college student?"

Here are the style tips that answered that question:


1. Avoid Vintage stores, which are usually overpriced, Miller said. He loves going to the Salvation Army in upscale neighborhoods, even when he's on vacation.

2. Shop for quality fabrics.


3. Don't obsess about labels. If something is ugly or looks terrible on you, a fashionable, trendy or expensive label will not change that harsh fact. Put the ugly thing back.

4. Fondle the sweaters: "If you're hunting for sweaters, this is the one time it pays to touch every piece in the store."


5. Obsess about buttonholes and shirt-patterns: Make sure buttonholes work and are not frayed. Seek out shirt patterns you like.

6. Socks and underwear: Don't buy used socks and underwear!!!

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The Frugal Duchess Boutique
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My Stuffed Couch: A Thrift Store Find

After carrying a heavy, feather-stuffed couch to my apartment, the delivery men looked out our window and laughed when they spotted an ocean-front tower. The building was quite familiar. That’s because the furniture crew had recently picked up a couch from that ocean-front building and days later crew delivered the same couch to my home.

The previous owners — according to a second-hand account — bought the couch, were allergic to the feathers and promptly donated the item to the thrift store. Spotting the piece during a shopping trip, my husband Avi spent $200 for an almost-new couch that was perhaps worth thousands.

For my husband, an interior designer, thrift shopping is a passion and a profession. The walls of my home are decorated with second-hand paintings; our living space is lit by lamps from thrift stores and our chairs provide second-hand comfort.

Diverse Crowd of Shoppers

And we’re not alone. Driven by frugality, creativity or community spirit, the pool of thrift-store shoppers is as diverse as the furniture and knick-knacks stocked on store shelves.

Shoppers range “from interior designers to the indigent and everyone in between. They approach decorating with fun and generosity,” said Heather Klinker, founder of Grubstake, an organization and thrift store that supports underprivileged families, especially women and children.

The $18,000 Discount


Grubstake offers an unusual showroom of value. Past merchandise includes armoires, tables, sofas and chairs that sell for an average price of $150 to $200. On the higher end, recent sales included a black lacquered Roche-Bobois dining room table and chairs set, featuring inlaid wood base and a glass table top. Grubstake was selling the set for $2,000, which is far below the original $20,000 ticket price.


Deals for a Dollar

Prices drop still lower at the end of every month, when Klinker literally cleans house with a bargain sale. To make room for new donations, most items tables, lamps and other merchandise are priced at $1.

At many thrift stores, merchandise is often scooped up quickly by antique dealers and interior designers. Almost daily, professional shoppers begin their hunt early and are known to make purchases quickly after delivery trucks arrive with donated items, according to several thrift store managers in South Florida. (The merchandise is typically sold as antiques in a prettier setting and a higher price.)

“We have a lot of dealers who come here,” said Terry Mack, store manager of the Douglas Gardens Thrift Store in Miami. “Frequency is the key.”

Tips for Shoppers

To get the most mileage out of thrift stores, he recommends that consumers calculate any cost of reupholstering or refinishing second-hand furniture. It also helps to keep an open mind and to explore alternative uses and placements of furniture in the home.

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The Frugal Duchess Boutique
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