Cinderella would be proud
I have a confession to make. I am a closet fashionista. Especially this time of year. My holiday fantasies involve me decked out in a flowing gown, strapless heels, and a glittery bag as I sashay into some fabulous party, wowing the men and sending the women into jealous tizzies. Like some Bond girl, I flit mysteriously into the throng, sipping bubbly from a crystal flute, heavily made-up eyes surveying the scene as I amaze one and all.
I finally accept the seat of a vacating tuxedo-clad stud muffin, whispering some breathless words of holiday cheer, scan the crowd, and revel in the well-deserved attention as it seems nobody can take their eyes off me and my fabulousness.
Finally, a smoky-eyed Brad Pitt lookalike approaches. Bending to pick up my outstretched hand, he plants a gentle kiss upon my fingers and asks the question that all are secretly wondering.
“Where did you get that ensemble, mon cheri?”
And rather than Cinderella beating the streets at the stroke of midnight, leaving only a glass slipper and hundreds of unanswered questions I proudly reply….
“A thrift store, baby!”
The stuff of dreams, never to be realized?
Not so fast, my romance-starved friends! Seems this scenario (at least the clothes part) could come true if you were brave enough to venture into your local thrift stores this holiday season. How many of us have longed to slip into something satiny, silky, beaded, bejeweled, and just a bit over-the-top but were afraid to part with the hundreds of dollars a chi-chi boutique would command for such a getup?
In many a shopping trip to my local Goodwill, I have found some lovely evening dresses, and not all circa 1970. It’s been my experience that some other poor party gal has paid an exorbitant fee for a prom, wedding, or other formal dress only to wear it once and find it sitting collecting dust in a closet corner, destined for obsolescence before the light of day catches on its sequins once again. If she’s got any trace of altruism in her, she’s then run into this dress once again, probably in a frenzy of spring cleaning, and either it’s too small or she’s too unwilling to be seen in it again, and then off it goes in the donation box to the local thrift shop.
And it’s in those hallowed walls that glamour shines again.
So next time you’ve been invited to a holiday party, wedding, prom, or other special occasion, take the time to visit your local thrift store. You may walk out with enough satin in your bag to merit your own catwalk on the runway.
And you might just get a mistletoe smooch from a stud muffin!
Peace on Earth, Goodwill to all!
If you don’t believe me, check this article out in the Orange County Register. Seems I’m not the only one vamping on the cheap.
http://tinyurl.com/thriftcoral
Dawn is a budgeting queen!
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
How true and you know the Salvation army store in Aurora Il has more evening dresses than any other second hand shop I have ever seen! My daughter got several of her high school function prom or homecoming type dresses there and she had enough that she was able to clothe some of her friends in style also! Thanks for your insights! I could not agree more with you!
Thanks, Donna.
I couldn’t believe it when I was at Goodwill and saw a lovely satin dress for under 10 bucks. I am always amazed when I hit these thrift shops to see what folks have tossed out. Their loss, our gain, eh?
Thanks for your support!