Notes from Bonnie's Desk: The Dress Decade

Yellow, Calvin Klein, size 4, sundress, it jumped out from the dress wall as I was straightening during Spring Fling Saturday. It was added to the pile of dresses to try on after closing. So many beautiful dresses and oh so tempting to someone like me, who believes this wardrobe staple deserves more accolades than it receives.

 

In a workshop I love to teach, Closet Chaos to Closet Confidence, attenders are instructed to purge their closets of unloved clothing. After the purging process, they are encouraged to fill in wardrobe gaps, especially the dress gap. Why? Dresses are the great “go-to” piece of the decade, quickly edited with accessories, heel heights, jackets, cardigans and belts. One dress can go a long way, all the while making a statement for the wearer.

 

And then there’s the fabulous party/cocktail dress on the sale rack that fits like a charm….and it’s NOT black. If ever there was something that made listeners stop and take note, it was when I made this statement: “No wardrobe is complete without a couple of great looking cocktail dresses, so for heaven sakes, buy the dress you found on the sale rack, that you love, that fits wonderfully, even though you don’t have an event on the horizon, because you WILL need it and when you do, you WILL already own it.” It was permission given and written down, like a hall pass from the teacher…”yes, she has permission to buy a dress she doesn’t need, just in case.”

 

Ask Betsy about this. A few years back we were shopping the sale racks at Macy’s and the party dresses were deeply discounted. She tried on a  dress that fit beautifully and was very affordable. However, it was after the season and she “didn’t need it” so she didn’t buy it even though I warned her that she would have regrets, and to this day she still does.

 

Because shopping for the perfect dress when you must have one is not efficient. It’s too stressful, too demanding and usually too expensive.

 

Shopping for dresses should be on-going, therapeutic and sensible. Dresses are plentiful and a good value in stores everywhere from consignment stores to regular retail. Even prom dresses can be found at consignment stores like Forever Young in Lilburn, where an entire floor is dedicated to formal wear, long and short, simple to extravagant but all extremely affordable.

 

Of course I tout shopping resale, because that’s my life. The dress walls at both Finders Keepers locations are an array of beautiful colors, textures, fabrics, designers and styles at extremely affordable prices. As a shopper, one must be willing to try on many, even those that may not have great hanger appeal, to find a dress or 2 that add pop to a wardrobe. Of all the dresses I tried on that evening, I only bought one, the yellow Calvin Klein. Embrace the fact that it takes continual additions to have a wardrobe that is ready for any of life’s events and go shopping often and only buy what you love. Chaos will give way to confidence and with confidence comes peace. We all need more of that!

 

Make sure to scroll down to the bottom of this week’s email for the coupon for 20% off one regular-priced dress, my Easter gift to you. (Not on our email list? Visit our website to sign up: http://www.fkconsign.com/Join-Our-Email-List.html)

 

Bonnie Kallenberg