Very few, I try to wear what is in my closet. I have so many classic dresses, I just go for one in a nice color and add more festive accessories, like golden sandals, a clutch, nice jewelery. I dont send much because I have so few special ocasions, I feel I don't want to spend the budget on something I won't wear much.

You can count on one hand the number of dressy affairs I have been to in the last few years that require stand-alone pieces. I have been making do with separates or very versatile dresses (LBD). For the most part, this has worked brilliantly and feels much less stressful or wasteful to me. I used to feel that I needed a new outfit for every event, but have come to prefer spending my dollars on items that get more wear.

Laura, this used to be really stressful for me. I now have a couple of dresses that work for a variety of special occasions. They don't get worn a lot but they are there when I need them. They are both black but can be worn with different accessories to create different looks. Dressing for special occasions is now a breeze:)

I'll be honest. I do not have a dressy capsule.

In the past, when something came up, the first thing I did was panic. Intense panic!!

I shop for days/hours on end until I find "just the right wardrobe combination." In my case, I usually have to build the entire outfit from scratch (shoes, hose, undergarments, dress, purse, makeup, and hair). In my panic, I end up paying top dollar for everything. By that point I don't even care how much I am paying. I am just so relieved to find something that works I buy it. I wear it once. I clean it and put it away. The next time something comes up I repeat the entire process all over again.

I have no idea WHY what I bought one year cannot be used again. It just can't. It all comes down to this panic that I experience that makes all rational thought fly out the door. It happens every single time. It has happened for as long as I can remember.

We were just in Vegas and it is really really warm in the desert still. Even though the A/C keeps it chilly inside, you won't want something wool or heavy.
I like the colors in pic 6.
I also agree that you could find some killer deals on summer dresses that might be Vegas perfect and then be the start of a dressy capsule for next year.
Have FUN!

Hi Laura --

You said:
> I could easily cobble together something acceptable from what I already own, but I don't want acceptable - I want perfect for the occasion. A little flashier than my usual style, but not too crazy; fun but not outlandish; and preferably something that I can wear again which is not too expensive.

Lots of great "de-enabling" ideas upthread. In theory I agree with them -- which is why I've gradually added dressier workhorses to my closet.

But sometimes the workhorses don't feel appropriate enough, or special enough, or fun enough! Obviously YLFers are interested in clothing as more than just something to cover nakedness, and I think it's ok to WANT to wear something that contributes to the overall experience, even if that's "impractical."

To me spending on a special occasion whatever is like any other "want" where you can get what you need (food, haircut, away time) for less -- the fancy dinner out, the uber-relaxing spa service, the weekend getaway with some ambiance.

Now granted the above stems from not getting the chance to dress up as much as I'd like to -- it's still exotic to me, ha.

But the times I've splurged on S.O. stuff I've had no regrets, even when it meant buying the dress meant no fun for months after so I could pay my bills. Obviously to others that might be ridiculously stupid and not worth it!

Anyway, I really think it all comes down to where you are right now, and I think you said that in your initial post.

And for Vegas I'd totally look at Rent the Runway's glitzy dresses!

I find events in Las Vegas difficult because what I WANT to wear isn't compatible with the dry, dry heat, and lots of walking = sweaty blistered feet and sunburned skin outdoors, smelly smokey interiors indoors. There's not much carry-over from my usual wardrobe or dark neutrals. Black seems too 'heavy' in spirit. My pretty vintage things don't pack well and have to be dry cleaned afterwards, every time. What to do?

Here's two different theories: My BFF's advice would be to wear something that photographs well so you preserve the memories. It drives her shopping list. She wears a simple medium blue sheath dress, and she looks sleek and amazing in photos.

For a family event, I would wear something splashy colorful for the moment, and feel great and dance all night. One drawback is that I look like a crazy-salad in photos

Whatever you choose to wear, have a great time in Las Vegas and don't let clothes get in the way!

Suz is right, you sound like you would be sad if you had to wear something you already have, and I've been there too. I think the key here is to "have fun with fashion". Most recently I've chosen to wear what I already have because it would make me sad to have to go out and hunt for something special and then end up spending $$$ on a polyester dress that I will never use again. Sometimes that can be fun, but other times it stresses me out. But I totally understand the need to bust out the wallet and splurge on something to look great in.

Last Fall I had a film premiere to go to (which I had a part in). I had been sick with shingles all Summer and I was itching to get dressed up and knock some socks off. I splurged on some black Joe's skinnies with leather knee patches and the leopard Okalas, and the combo made me feel like a million bucks. Neither of these items ended up being very useful in my daily life--both are on the chopping block as we speak--but it was so very important for me to have some serious fun at this event. So I say follow your heart!

Thank you, everyone, for your detailed thoughts and advice. I realized, last night, that part of my agitation is that I don't really know what the event will be like - how dressy, what everyone else will be wearing - and I don't have any additional methods to try to get more information than I already have. That and general life annoyances have me displacing my frustration onto this one thing - if only I could find a dress, then everything would be perfect! (ha)

I honestly don't know what I'll do, at this point. I tried on dress #6 for DH and he said it looked nice - and I think it does, in general, it's just not the total wow and up-to-date stunner my ego would like to find. I guess what this whole thing has made me realize that I've got clothes for going out to a nice dinner, I've got clothes for a funeral or a church wedding, but a Vegas wedding is a new category for me.

For myself, since the wedding is in Vegas, my first assumption would be that there is a spirit of fun at play, so I'd guess that guests would wear what is fun for them to wear, and/or slightly Vegas-y dresses (more cocktail than conservative, while still being appropriate). This could lead to a lot of variety in dress as well to my mind, so gives some latitude.

If it were me (and I didn't already have fun options in my closet), I'd go to Ross, the Rack, Marshalls, T J Maxx and just try things on. Especially with summer dress clearances the prices would be akin to a lunch out, so fine for one or two occasions, and I'd just look for something that I'd feel fab in for the occasion, and not worry about whether it got out more than that (but actually I find as long as these dresses aren't super formal, they usually can get worn again).

I'd figure out how many dressy occasions you anticipate over the next year or two and spend the time and money proportionate to that. My last wedding I went to was well over 5 years ago. Last funeral 10. Opera over 15 years ago. I did buy 2 'fancy' dresses online over the last 5 years for 'just in case' and neither one was quite right. I ended up giving away and selling them off this year, unworn.
I have a sheath LBD from lyn* that I have for just in case right now in the closet and will shop if/when an occasion arises in the near future.

Hey, would you consider a fascinator? It might be just what you need to Vegas up your existing formal wear. (I'd suggest a British Wedding Hat, but well, you kind of have to go to England to acquire one, and they're hard to travel with.).

Anyway here is an inexpensive one from nordies, and etsy is a good source too.

http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/ta.....egoryId=BR