Missing the bargain: Oscar de la Renta - YouLookFab Forum

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About: Relaxing Into Missing the Bargain

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Missing the bargain: Oscar de la Renta

rachylou

Veteran

So I went to drop some stuff off at Goodwill today and had a look around the store. They had an Oscar de la Renta ball gown in there. Beautiful lavender polka dot frothy thing. It said size 12, so I figured I could squeeze my size 4 self into that, lol. Perfect in the waist, too long in the bodice (blast short waisted self!).

But I passed. A) I was in Goodwill to get rid of stuff. B) I'd look ridiculous at Christmas dinner next to everyone else and my cousin's rustic furniture. C) It would take fixing. D) Hello, I'm a starving student now! E) Gigantic overwhelming ruffles from shoulder to waist - I looked like a no-neck. F) Unpriced, hassle to get it priced. G) Rain coming off in sheets of water outside.

It made no sense, but still... One feels like when one finds an amazing steal, one ought to buy it on principle. Oscar at Goodwill. Blogs have been founded on less...

Anyways, working on the whole missing out thing...

Shopping

19 replies

Latest reply was from Beth Ann

Brooklyn

Veteran

Wow, what self restraint! I could never leave Oscar or any other truly "haute" label behind in a goodwill store (not that I am likely to find it here). My mind would just switch into "Bargain! Bargain!" mode. Well done you!

Anonymous

Rachylou - you always make me smile. I picture you sitting at your cousins' Christmas dinner in the dress. If anyone could have pulled it off, you could. But overall you did the right thing.

Maneera

(website)

Veteran

Oh man...I feel for you, Rachy. You did the right thing though!

Moments like this make me wish I could sew! Or that lived next door to Diane G or Sharan who could help save my new purchase

Glory

Veteran

Oh Rachy I love your posts...such a great writer. I can see you wearing that frothy lavender thing. But, I think you did the right thing. I am ever so pleased you saw it, tried it, and wrote about it.

unfrumped

Veteran

Haha, fitting into the silver slipper...

I know exactly what you mean.
At TJ Maxx I was going, but it's Eileen Fisher...
And that's not even the same level/steal.

Anonymous

Rachy, you are the best writer! It sounds like you did the right thing, however hard. And thanks to YLF you have a venue to vent with the added bonus of entertaining us all: Your Christmas dinner description is so evocative, I laughed out loud (and I need a laugh this morning, so thank you!).

cheryle (Dianthus)

(website)

Veteran

You are so funny Rachy. Probably a good decision but tough all the same.

donnat

Veteran

I would have loved to have seen that!

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

I dare say I'm actually faced with this sort of problem more frequently than most. Step 1 - look up item on ebay (but definitely not Vestaire, which seems completely overpriced) and see how many are available and how much the sellers are asking. If it seems encouraging go to advance search and check how many are actually selling at that price. Step 2 - consider how much work it would take to make said item wearable or salable. Step 3 - reconsider the item with this information in mind. This usually leads to the final step - Step Away!

Mary Beth (formerly LBD)

(website)

Veteran

Ahhhh! I don't know if I could have stepped away - IF I loved it.

Sometimes it's easy to be seduced by the label, so I always ask myself, "Would I love this if the label said 'Mossimo'?" If the answer is no, I walk away. Usually. Sometimes I buy it anyway.

Not to be an enabler or anything, but I loved reading how Jacqueline de Ribes would have couture pieces modified, and add other embellishments or additions, even in cheaper textiles, to create new things.

Maybe you could de-ruffle that gown.

Just call me the Great Enabler.

JAileen

Veteran

Sometimes I buy ridiculous things at thrift stores. But they have to fit! If I can "see" how something can be changed to work for me, and the price isn't also ridiculous, then I'll buy it. I bought a shin length shearling coat at GW a couple years ago for $20. I think it was a house brand from Saks. It fit and was in good shape. It was a little 80s, plus it was purple. I figured I'd NEVER be cold in it! Anyway, I ended up passing it along to a friend. I had by then found a really long down coat, and the advantage was 5 or 10 pounds lighter. It was only $10. And I've never been cold in it.

Gwennie

Ooh, I could see the temptation. Good call on the pass, and hilarious (and true) per the reasoning!

abc

Veteran

RL you always make me laugh and I enjoy your storytelling. I'm so sorry you missed this beauty. Let's hope another better one comes along.

rachylou

Veteran

I'm still pondering on how the neckline could have been modified to be more flattering. It was straight across, like a boat neck, but covered all of the clavicle. It would have been more flattering without the ruffles, but they're key. Ho-hum without them. If only I sewed (and cut) better! If I didn't have to go to a tailor for the kind of alterations it would take, the scales might have tipped the other way and I'd have spent the money the can man gave me on it... This is, yes, another story... The guy who rifles thru our trash for cans knows I'm a starving student now. He gave me a dollar, lol.

Right. It's a good thing I have to work today and tomorrow, or I'd be tempted to go back and spend the can money...

catgirl

Veteran

Not even a picture?!

rachylou

Veteran

I know! It's my bad. Tried to find it on the net. I swear I saw this dress in a magazine a couple of years ago... But no luck.

LaPed

Veteran

Hah, that happens to me with ballgowns and other designer dresses in thrift stores *all the time*... I remember one Catharine Malandrino Black Label dress that I must've gone in and tried on 3-4 times. Had to keep talking myself out of it. It was *almost* perfect but I would never have worn it -- my friends' weddings and other parties are always 100% casual and usually outdoors. So it was a total fantasy-wardrobe piece. Fun to play dress-up though.

abc

Veteran

Go spend the can man's money - or are you sure it's gone? It's been a long day / week so forgive me if I forgot that teeny detail ...

Beth Ann

Veteran

Being open to unexpected opportunities is essential to great living -- but so is saying, "What a wonderful opportunity, but I'll pass..." Life and closets both need constant adding and editing. Now, if it had been a cocktail dress, or a great Oscar jacket...........