my juniors’ dress wins first place
Mom and me at the Derby
Have you ever had the chance to check something off your bucket list? I finally did a few months ago, when I traveled to the Kentucky Derby for a weekend of horse racing, mint juleps, and some seriously gorgeous hat viewing. Knowing that the ladies dress to the nines, I hit the shopping trail months in advance, looking for a little cocktail dress that would do me proud.
I can’t tell you how many purchases and returns I made at some very high-end department stores. (The debit and credit column on my Amex bill went into the high hundreds.) But none of those dresses rocked my world. Where did I finally find my Derby dress? In the juniors’ department of JCPenney…for the winning price of (hold onto your saddles, folks): $24.99. I paraded around in this beautiful strapless, floral number by Trixxi, knowing full well that some of the lipsticks I saw at the Derby cost more than my outfit. But then I felt a tap on my shoulder in the VIP seating section, where a seersucker-suited guy and his wife leaned in and said to me, “We just had to tell you. That’s the best dress we’ve seen all day!”
The $24.99 dress that won raves....
How about you? Have you ever fooled a high-end crowd with a low-end outfit? (And doesn’t it feel so great when you know you’ve scored a deal and still look incredible?)
Ali B.
I love this story, and I also love fooling people with cheap finds. I have one 70s-era vintage dress that never fails—someone once thought it was Oscar de la Renta—that I bought it in a punk thrift store for 75 cents. There’s nothing better!
Karen
What a beautiful, well-written story; I love bargain hunting, and your dress is amazing, Hillary! Later on, I’m going to check out more of your blogs 🙂
Jacqueline Howe
Good ol’ JCP! Love the dress and the hat you wore with it is PERFECT too! You’re both lovely. Thanks for sharing and keepin’ it real…we all love a bargain and a beautiful dress!!!! Yay Hillary!
Kelly-Jean
Well done! Keep up the good work! You are a girl after my own heart!
Cindy Sirota
I was in a similar situation and in the past have spent plenty of money at high end stores and boutiques. Then I walked into Express and saw a beautiful little strapless number in the clearance section! It was the hit of not only that party but several other events there after! Woman telling me my dress is gorgeous. I ALWAYS am thrilled to share my steals with other woman. No one should feel pressure to spend money to look beautiful!