Would you buy this dress?

[foodfiend]

I don't know how to do the photo paste thing, so here's the link:
http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/2905523?Category=&Search=True&SearchType=keywordsearch&keyword=laundry+segal+in+Women%27s+Apparel&origin=searchresults

It's on sale at a store nearby for half price. Here is my list of "shouldn'ts":
1) I don't have an occasion to wear it
2) I already own a few lovely evening dresses which haven't gotten much use
3) Money is not free-flowing right now

Here's my list of shoulds:
1) I'd look hot in this dress

So what would you do? Thanks.

[misskitty100]

3) Money is not free-flowing right now

.


Based on the above reason, I would not buy it.

[mcgeiger]

From the vet student who made the cashier rering the $6 bottle of wine for the $5 sale price...I'd hold out (that said I bought a new $100 dress for my HS reunion, but that was also my first new dress in over 5 years:rolleyes: )

[avariell]

i was all prepared to tell you to go for it and buy it - then i saw it was $300 :eek: if money is tight... maybe you should pass this time...
man. sorry. i love shopping so i hate causing someone else to have retail depression :D ;)

[laughsandlaughs]

The fact that you went through the trouble to write this whole thing---does that mean you really really want it? I think it really depends on your finances---only you know whether they're prohibitive. Good luck!

[ClaraB]

Looking hot in the dress doesn't do you any good if you don't have any opportunity to wear it. If the money is tight, I'd say skip it this time - there will be other dresses :) .

[Hammster]

I wouldn't buy it. Not my style. :p ;) :D

[Peweh]

I wouldn't buy it. Not my style. :p ;) :D

Oh come on Hamm this would've looked great on you at the French Laundry... :p

I would buy it despite money being tight only IF I had an occasion planned to wear it... so like Clara said, I'd pass as there will be other dresses when money and the occasion arise.

Where are all the dress mavens? I fear we are a bunch of sensible people talking you out of a splurge!!

[aggie94]

Personally, for half of what Nordstrom is selling it for, if I *knew* I'd look hot in it, I'd snatch it up in a heartbeat. Heck, you can MAKE an occasion to wear it!

[foodfiend]

It looks like popular opinion is telling me to take a pass.
Maybe I should wait for more opinions :D

[Cookin4Love]

If you know that you will pine over it forever if you pass on it, then go ahead and splurge. First, though, remind yourself that it IS only a dress, and there will be many other dresses you love just as much. If your heart still says you can't live without it, run--don't walk--to the store. (And if I could only apply that logic to cookbooks....)

[boisewinesnob]

Although it is hard to resist anything by Laundry, I'd probably wait. That does seem like a lot for a "just because" dress.

[blazedog]

If money is tight, then don't buy it -- of course no one really knows what your financial situation. Are you planning to charge it as part of credit card debt? Do you have a bare bones budget or would you be allocating your "mad money" portion of the budget to the dress in lieu of something else.

That you are seeking "permission" (at least in my opinion) seems to indicate that the expenditure is one that you shouldn't be making -- at least in my experience I have learned not to buy stuff that I need to second guess about -- either I love it, need it and can afford it or it doesn't come home.

My closet is jammed with clothing that I bought because I liked it and it was a good deal -- some of which I never wound up wearing and most of which were worn very seldom.

[badunnin]

Would you hang that much money in your closet and never do anything with it?

[mikesmom]

I would pass.

[Lauren]

Love the dress! But I would pass. :o

[lindrusso]

Would you hang that much money in your closet and never do anything with it?

Great way to look at it.

Money is tight here and I make yes or no decisions on $50 purchases, so you'd never in a million years catch me throwing out $300 on something that would be likely to gather dust in my closet.

Give the $300 to charity - it would serve a better purpose and you'd still know you'd look hot in that dress......... ;) :)

[AndreaU]

If I had the body, maybe. $150, probably not. I do love the color but given the "circumstances" you mentioned, I could not justify purchasing it. Now, if it were $50 and I had nowhere to where it, I'd probably consider it!

[foodfiend]

I'm sure there will be other dresses, but there's something a little different about this dress that makes it special for me. Maybe I will take a pass, though.

[raka1214]

I could never justify spending more $$$ on a dress - with no where to wear it - than I spend on 1 of my house notes. Sorry, I wouldn't buy it although I'm sure you would love lovely in it.

[foodfiend]

Kinda wish I hadn't started this thread:rolleyes:

[AvrilH]

I have to say that it is a FANTASTIC dress. And perfect for all but the coldest or hottest weather, and for any dressy event. If I owned it, I would probably have it for 10 years, and wear it every other year or so..........

So I guess if I could *reasonably* buy it without having to starve as a result, I would likely buy it.

Darn. Now I WANT the darn thing, and money is tight for me too! But of course I'm no where near a store that has it, so I guess I don't have the dillemma.

[greysangel]

For me I dont think it's spectacular enough for $300...especially if money is tight.

[SugarNSpice]

I agree with the majority, don't waste your money on a want, especially if money is tight right now. Use your money for a need! That being said, it looks like a beautiful simple silk dress with just a bit of lace for texture, so why is it $150 on sale!! Go to TJ Maxx, Marshalls, etc and find yourself the same thing for around $50 at the most. It looks like a dress where you pay a premium for a label that says Shelli Segal. I don't see much craftmanship that warrants a high price tag.

[Shechef]

Here's my list of shoulds:
1) I'd look hot in this dress


Normally, that would do it for me!!!!

Honestly, the price seems a little steep. And don't be mad, but it reminded me a little of a nightgown.

[funnybone]

It's on sale at a store nearby for half price.

So it's about $150 then? I think most of those that responded didn't see that, and thought it was $300, but I could be wrong. Not knowing what kind of social events might be coming up in your life, it's hard to say, but you know how it goes, when you absolutely need to shop for a dress, you never find one you really love (or I don't anyway).

[seathyme]

I could never justify spending more $$$ on a dress - with no where to wear it - than I spend on 1 of my house notes. Sorry, I wouldn't buy it although I'm sure you would love lovely in it.

Just envying you the size of your mortgage.;) :o

[blazedog]

I realized it was $150 on sale but based my response on the initial post -- she already has "fancy" dresses and no particular place to wear them.

As for the dress I don't think it's a particular bargain at $150 or $300 especially in terms of after Christmas sales when all of the party dresses are on sale -- a lot of them at give away prices.

I am not sure how anyone else can give someone advice though without knowing what their income is; what their fixed expenditures are -- all one can do is extrapolate that for most of us, if money was tight -- and $150 represented enough of a sum to ponder, then most of us wouldn't choose to spend it on an unnecessary piece of clothing.

Everything is relative though -- If one has lots of disposable income, then the expenditure might be wasteful in the general scheme of things but not foolish.

If one is choosing between spending the money on this or other items which are more functional OR is charging the item and has any kind of consumer debt, then -- at least in my opinion -- it's a stupid purchase. At that point, even if one HAD an occasion, one should wear what is in the closet.

[funnybone]

I just realized you are in Toronto, foodfiend. That's a great price for a dress there. What the people in the US don't realize is that the kinds of sales we find here, don't exist up there (not when I lived there and not from what I see when we visit). Things just cost more there.

[TKay]

I'm a terrible person to ask, being such a non-shopper. On the other hand, when I find something I love and look good in, I tend to go ahead and get it. I'm rarely in the mood to buy and when I am, I have to sieze the opportunity. Good luck with your decision!

[rosen]

Don't get it. Here are some reasons why:

1) Analize the cost per wear. Would you rent this dress for $150 + tax?

2) Will you need to buy new shoes as fab as the dress?

3) It's only dry cleanable. Bad for the enviroment.

4) How many years will this be in style? That trendy neckline screams "not much longer!"

5) It's only January! What about all the cute Spring & Summer clothes just waiting out there to be bought?? Will you curse not being able to buy them?

[blazedog]

Regarding the dress itself -- elasticized puff sleeves are extremely unflattering for most women -- I have no idea whether you have the arms to carry them off though.:p

[ChristyMarie]

As a total cocktail dress junkie....I'd buy it IF:

1. You do not need the $150 for other necessities.
2. It really does look fabulous on you.
3. You already have accessories to go with it.

Almost all of my cocktail dresses have been true steals like this - half price or more. When I bought them I had no event in mind but happened to find a fantastic deal on an expensive dress that looked incredible on me. And now I have quite a collection of classic, well made dresses and I can be dressed for anything from cocktails to black tie in minutes --- and that is priceless. Not having to search for a new dress when you are under time pressure for some unexpected event and forced to pay retail is really nice. Of course, we have events and dinners and such that require that type of clothing several times a year so while they aren't worn all the time I do use them.

And I do love that dress. :D

[avariell]

Don't get it. Here are some reasons why:

1) Analize the cost per wear. Would you rent this dress for $150 + tax?

2) Will you need to buy new shoes as fab as the dress?

3) It's only dry cleanable. Bad for the enviroment.

4) How many years will this be in style? That trendy neckline screams "not much longer!"

5) It's only January! What about all the cute Spring & Summer clothes just waiting out there to be bought?? Will you curse not being able to buy them?

wow ... total retail depression setting in. :( i don't even want the dress but that made me feel bad!

[foodfiend]

I just realized you are in Toronto, foodfiend. That's a great price for a dress there. What the people in the US don't realize is that the kinds of sales we find here, don't exist up there (not when I lived there and not from what I see when we visit). Things just cost more there.

That's a point I never thought of. It's been years since I was in the U.S. -- about 12 or 13 years. We don't have the same shopping as you do in the
States, either in price or selection. In fact, this Laundry dress was one I found at a small woman's boutique. Laundry is actually not a common brand up here and neither is the dress style.
At first I did think it looked a bit like a nightgown, but then the style grew on me. And the silk is really beautiful to touch. This makes it sound like I'm going to buy the dress, but I don't think I will. There are other things the money can to right now.

[armel]

I guess I will chime on with the majority. If you don't have a need for the dress I would not buy it.

As a reformed, "the dress is a great deal and I love it even though I don't have anywhere to wear it", I know how it feels to want it.

What I ultimately discovered was that my closet was having a more exciting, glamorous life than me. So there many of the fabulous dresses stayed. Having a party by themselves.

I still loved them. Maybe I should have taken a picture of me in them, framed them and just admired them. At least I would have gotten some use out of them that way. :rolleyes:

[mbrogier]

If I lived in Toronto, I'd wear that dress to dinner. It is gorgeous, and I'd look gorgeous in it.

I have a rule when buying clothes. No matter how great a deal it is, if I don't look fabulous in it, I don't buy it. I also always look through the cocktail dresses so I can keep a few in my wardrobe. You never know when you'll need something like that. I have nothing like that now.

Are you sure there aren't some old dressy items in your wardrobe that don't need to be replaced?

[honeygirl1971]

What I ultimately discovered was that my closet was having a more exciting, glamorous life than me. So there many of the fabulous dresses stayed. Having a party by themselves.



Too funny! :D And I can relate...:o

[foodfiend]

And now I have quite a collection of classic, well made dresses and I can be dressed for anything from cocktails to black tie in minutes --- and that is priceless. Not having to search for a new dress when you are under time pressure for some unexpected event and forced to pay retail is really nice.


I now think this way about shopping. I used to hate clothes shopping, especially under a deadline. But over the past few years I've revamped my wardrobe. There's a certain security in knowing you have the right clothes, just in case. I no longer worry about what I'm going to wear. It is priceless.

[jmarie]

Buy the dress. There will come an occasion to wear it. Valentine's Day is right around the corner. I think the dress is exquisitite...You will recover once you buy it.

Go fo it....you only pass this way once and you want to look darned good when you do!:D

[foodfiend]

Thanks for your opinions, everyone. I appreciate you all chiming in - for or against. I've decided now is not the right time, at least for this particular dress. I've left it so long, I wouldn't be surprised if the store doesn't carry my size anymore! But thank you again. Laundry sure does know how to make a great dress :D

[blazedog]

I have no vested interested in what anyone does with his or her money or what they put on their back.

I have found it interesting that some posters seem to have missed that the original post contained the following

2) I already own a few lovely evening dresses which haven't gotten much use

To me (and I would assume) others, this was the operative reason for NOT buying something if money was tight since if an occasion arose, the original poster already had several LOVELY (her choices) to choose from.

Remove any of the premises originally stated (i.e. money not being tight) or poster NOT having anything suitable to wear to a formal type occasion and the responses would presumably be different since I would think everyone believes that one should have a wardrobe which contains clothing suitable for occasions that arise -- i.e. job interview, party, funeral etc.