Cache cocktail dress: To splurge or not to splurge?

A handful of years back, I fell in love with a strapless gold cocktail dress at Cache... I mean, LOVE. Like, leave-your-husband kind of love. I must have tried it on four times. But it was $175, and I was in my college phase of POOR and DESTITUTE, an era when I once wrote a CHECK for a WALMART gift card, then filled up at the WALMART gas station using the GIFT CARD, knowing the CHECK would FLOAT until PAY DAY.

Yeah, that sucked. Anyway, no money, no dress. I still lament it sometimes. I wish I had just, like, sold my brother or something to get it. It was so perfect.

These days, though definitely not wealthy and still proficient at "creative banking," I'm gainfully employed and tuition free. I'm also attending a glam wedding in Washington D.C. on July 4, and I've been thinking I might have to head back to Cache. Yes, it's a little Cougar Town. And yes, they recently had a one piece purple jumpsuit on display in the window at the Countryside store. I die.

But they have some fierce evening gowns, beaded and shiny and springy and slinky. Mostly, I think I just owe myself a belated expensive cocktail dress as a reward for putting myself through college and eating all that pasta.

I popped on the website for a preview, and was pleased to see a selection of dresses that won't play my wallet for a total fool. Here's a cute one for less than $70. This one's completely hot for $90.

Should I do it? Or should I stick to my Forever 21 instincts? Or should I go to an independent boutique? Or do you think the gold dress still exists somewhere? All these questions...

~ Deal Diva Stephanie

Photo: cache.com, beaded shoulder dress, $198.... uggggh.

Comments

[Stephanie Hayes]

Thanks, Jackie! What a great knockoff. All praise to Herve Leger for the bandage dress.

[dan]

cougar town, indeed

[Jackie]

I say splurge because you can afford it. If you decide you can't, this dress at Charlotte Russe is a sexier version of the first dress (and for $27). http://www.charlotterusse.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3573193

[USFBullsBabe]

Do it! Or, you can always wait until it goes on sale - but then there's no guarantee it'll still be there. I got lucky once, found a dres I LOVED for $200 (at Cache, too) and waited. It paid off - got the dress for $50 a few weeks later!!! Yeah, I was pretty much beside myself. But that's like winning the lottery - it never happens. Just do it do it!!

[illiterategirl]

Make an investment for a big event. I like the blue one better than the bubble dress. Before you drop major coin, perhaps you could try the back room at Loehmann's? Or, check ebay to see if any of those surplus stores just happen to have what you want at a better price. Shopittome.com could be helpful, too.

[SPLURGE!]

You only live once!

[Molly]

Lace bubble dress!! Definitely splurge. I know I always feel better in my $140 dress from Banana Republic (that was on sale for $80) than I do in my $15 dress from Ross.