How Much Do You Spend on Event Outfits?

[Deleted]

Was just looking at some smart outfits as I am feeling the need to get a little more stylish.

LK Bennett Pumps - $350
Ready to Wear Suit/Dress (pick a designer with ready to wear) - $2000
Leggings (designer ready to wear - Neiman Marcus) - $400

Gulp . . . 

No wonder I feel frumpy compared to my mega-bucks friends.  I usually shop Macys & the prices are nothing even approaching above.

I think my high end outfit would be a $200 suit, $70 blouse, $80 shoes

What do you spend when you have a special outing/event where you need to smarten up and dress nicely?

[swamp]

$100 for a cocktail dress, max. 

ETA: I don't go anywhere that I need to be really dressed up. I go to the annual museum Christmas gala fundraiser, and I'm usually one of the fanciest f
dressed ones there in my JC Penney cocktail dress. 

[Jaguar]

Two of my sister's spend a lot on dressier outfits if it's for something fancy.

Not me though.

[Deleted]

What about the shoes Swamp?  The shooooooooes!!

Shoes are my weakness, good thing I can't wear spike heels anymore or I would have pushed the purchase button on those pumps!


And what the heck is Ponte Leather?  That's pleather isn't it?   

[swamp]

I have lots of shoes. I just wear what I have. 

[Deleted]

Jun 19, 2013 19:55:14 GMT -5 swamp said:

I just wear what I have. 

Same here.  I have a great business wardrobe and 5 or 6 pairs of Thierry Rabotin shoes in neutral colors.  I also recently resurrected a little black dress from the back of my closet that now fits after 20 years thanks to recent weight loss.  Sometimes when I'm feeling perverse I dress up in a pinstripe suit and a shirt with cuff links for occasions when most women are wearing cocktail dresses.

For DS' wedding I couldn't bear to spend $$$ on something frilly so I had a Chanel-type jacket in a nice, subtle wool and silk blend plaid made.  It was $1,500 but I'll get a lot of wear out of it.

[thyme4change]

$400 leggings?  Sheesh - sounds like a lot of money to show your cameltoe.

[swamp]

Jun 19, 2013 20:18:28 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

$400 leggings?  Sheesh - sounds like a lot of money to show your cameltoe.

I think these leggings go under your dress.  Kind of like pantyhose but chi chi er.

[Deleted]

I will spend up to $200 on a fancy dress every few years. In between a few friends and I lend dresses to each other for events we won't go to together.

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

Wow. I don't have that much money for clothes.
Last summer, I bought  a $150 white linen dress from J.Crew for a dinner lawn party. I live in the PNW, but the host was from The South. (THat's how she says it. "Aiih aahm from Thuh South.") She was quite clear about the white linen dress code for her party. It was pretty cool that everyone was dressed like that.

I've warn that dress again to a charity dinner auction that same summer and again earlier this month to the graduation ceremony for my high school.
I bought $110 shoes for the lawn party. I've worn them two or three times since. They're hecka cute, but not apporpriate for work.
I bought $40 shoes off of Zappos for the graduation ceremony. I had to return them because they didn't fit. I found a pair at Payless for $7.
I can't remember the last time  before that I bought fancy clothes. I'm boring, I suppose.
I have three or four fancy dresses, but I've not worn them in what seems like several years.

[kittensaver]

I don't usually spend much on "event" outfits. However, my mom is turning 90 this weekend, and we're expecting about 300 people for a very large reception. I got this dress:

www.jcpenney.com/dotcom/women/dresses/sleeveless-contrast-lace-dress/prod.jump?ppId=pp5002660278&catId=cat100210008&deptId=dept20000013&N=100260280&pageSize=96&extDim=true&topDim=Categories&topDimvalue=evening+%26+cocktail+dress&dimCombo=Categories|&dimComboVal=evening+%26+cocktail+dress|&currentDim=Categories&currentDimVal=evening+%26+cocktail+dress

for $70 (on sale), and a pair of Calvin Klein heels (classic closed-toe pumps, in black) on sale at DSW for a pretty deep discount $39.99. Will be wearing the diamond pendant and diamond earrings hubby gave me. Pretty pleased with myself for finding bargains.

You don't have to spend thousands of dollars if you take time and look around.

[Deleted]

I'd probably spend $200 or so on a nice dress....$100 or so on shoes. But $400 leggings? No way....

[Deleted]

I'd spend way more on shoes than a dress....probably up to $200 for shoes as I've spent $150 on work shoes....for a dress, hopefully under $100 but would go higher if I couldn't find anything.

[Deleted]

Cute dress, Kittensaver!

[Deleted]

Jun 19, 2013 18:55:45 GMT -5 @rockit said:

Ready to Wear Suit/Dress (pick a designer with ready to wear) - $2000

That's silly. I spend less than that (well, not much less) on a custom-made suit, made in the USA. Why pay that much for off-the-rack?

[973beachbum]

I thought I knew some pretty rich people.  I have seen people spend $80 on a tee shirt, $185 on a hoodie, me , and $50 for a tank.  I thought that was crazy.  I can't imagine spending $2K for an off the rack suit or $400 for leggings or pantyhose or whatever they are.

I used to buy a new party dress for events during the Christmas season every year.  I probably spend under a hundred for the dress and used whatever shoes I had that went with it.  I normally just used a dress I had for weddings.  Once in a while I would have a wedding in summer say and I didn't have a nice dress for that season so I would get a new one for probably about the same price.  I can't imagine the event it would have to be to get me to buy an outfit costing thousands.

My DD made the point to me, that her prom was going to be one of the few times in her life that she would go to where a formal gown was appropiate, let alone expected.  Where the heck are you going  Inquiring minds want to know.  

[thyme4change]

Jun 19, 2013 20:19:55 GMT -5 swamp said:

Jun 19, 2013 20:18:28 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

$400 leggings?  Sheesh - sounds like a lot of money to show your cameltoe.

I think these leggings go under your dress.  Kind of like pantyhose but chi chi er.

I bought tights for twenty bucks.  

[Bob Ross]

Jun 19, 2013 19:02:00 GMT -5 swamp said:

$100 for a cocktail dress, max. 

ETA: I don't go anywhere that I need to be really dressed up. I go to the annual museum Christmas gala fundraiser, and I'm usually one of the fanciest f
dressed ones there in my JC Penney cocktail dress. 

But what do you wear to a Motley Crue concert?

I'll bet your eyeliner & spandex bills are through the roof.

[movingforward]

I have to attend a formal awards banquet every year for work.  The past 2 years I have gotten my dress at Ross.  One year it was $17 and this year it was $14.  Beautiful ankle length cobalt blue dress.  I received lots of compliments on it.  My shoes were some silver strappy things that I always get compliments on (got those for around $35 I think at some sort of discount store).  So obviously I don't spend much and people think I look good - or they are just lying to me

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

Not that much!

Best purchase I ever made was a cocktail dress at Goodwill for $4.  Fits me like a second skin.  I get tons of compliments every time I wear it.   I got incredibly lucky with that find.

Highest I'd be willing to go is $200 and it'd have to be something I can get multiple uses out of.  Only time I was willing to spend that much for a one time dress was my wedding.

$400 for leggings?!  Are they made of gold?  I buy 99 cent pantyhose and toss them at the end of the night.

[thyme4change]

I spent about $250 when I went to the Gala.  I think the dress was $125 ish, and the shoes were about $125.  I thought I would get a lot of use from the shoes, but they ended up being super uncomfortable, and now I don't know what to do.  I think I will buy some athletic inserts and see if that helps.  They stretched a little and are too big, so maybe just snugging them up will help a little.

[HoneyBBQ]

I usually buy those types of dress at TJMaxx or Marshalls. There are always like $200+ price tags marked down to $29.99 or something.

When I lived somewhere where there was better shopping, I used to go to the Off Saks 5th avenue outlet and get some amazing scores there.

[movingforward]

I just realized if you add up the 3 items listed by the OP it is only a about $200 less than my monthly salary (net) .  No way in hell I could ever spend that kind of money but I doubt I would spend $400 on pair designer pair of leggings even if I were Julia Roberts.

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

For $400 those leggings better make me look like Cyd Charisse.

[Deleted]

Jun 19, 2013 18:55:45 GMT -5 @rockit said:

No wonder I feel frumpy compared to my mega-bucks friends.  I usually shop Macys & the prices are nothing even approaching above.

Frumpy isn't just a function of what you spend.  I've always loved clothes and when I was on a smaller budget, I found bargains in less-expensive places that made me feel like a million bucks when I wore them.  They might have been made with synthetics and didn't last as long (I now keep clothes for 10-20 years) but I felt great in them.  So much is picking something that fits, in a flattering color and feeling good about how you look.  I saw one picture of me at DS's wedding in my high-cost jacket and I wasn't standing up straight.  It makes me cringe even to think of it.  I looked like I had a dowager's hump.

So, don't let the fashion industry brainwash you into thinking that if you don't spend at least $X on a dress, shoes, whatever, you won't look good.

[thyme4change]

DH's wedding?  Isn't that your wedding?  Or are you in a plural marriage?

[Deleted]

Jun 20, 2013 10:45:38 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

DH's wedding?  Isn't that your wedding?  Or are you in a plural marriage?

Oops.  Just corrected it.

[thyme4change]

LOL.  (Way to cover up that secret plural marriage, sister-wife Athena.   )

[greeniis10]

I'm a bargain shopper all the way!  But, quality only.  I won't buy something cheap if it is also "cheap" (as in cheaply made).

Shoes I'm willing to spend a little more on because I'll only buy leather, especially for boots and work pumps / heels.  They last longer and are much more comfortable.

Quality, good fit, and fitting for your shape can be found in any price range.  You just have to know what to look for and where to look.

[zibazinski]

I shop resale shops and Nordstrom rack.  I love me an 800 dollar dress for 80 bucks!