Get New Year’s Eve-Party Ready – Bargain-Priced Party Outfits

When it comes to dressing up for special occasions, I’m a big fan of the resale stores.

I’ve bought the most beautiful, stylish and eye-popping outfits at thrift stores for—I kid you not—under $10. Right now, in my closet, hangs a hand-made turquoise blue dress with bunched sleeves that I will never part with. I purchased it for a whopping $4.99 at my favorite thrift store.

The trick is to go to the nicer areas of your town and check out the discarded duds worn by the elegant ladies of your city’s upper-crust neighborhoods. Sometimes, these clothes haven’t even been worn and the original price tags are still on them! You will definitely be able to find something for under $40 at these stores, and they’ll be good quality—perhaps even designer—evening clothes. If you aren’t totally averse to resale apparel, you could even find some shoes to go with your outfit.

If the idea of thrift stores makes you scoff, try this: pick an old outfit out of your closet, and picture it in your mind as you head to the thrift store (that’s right, you’re not getting off the hook just yet). At the resale store, just check out purses, hats, and belts that could completely re-make your look. If you watch any of the tons of style shows on television these days, you already know that accessories are a huge part of wearing and re-wearing the heck out of your wardrobe.

Closet-swap
Okay, so you hate me for forcing the thrift stores on you. The very idea of wearing stranger’s clothes makes you sick to your stomach. Well, what about your friends’? Invite a few of your girlfriends over for a quick closet-swap party. Share jewelry, tops, shoes, whatever and you’ll all look new and fancy—and will have not spent a DIME! The great thing about the closet-swap party is you could find an outfit and if, say, something is missing—the right earrings or shoes—you can go out and spend a little more on something nice that you can wear beyond this one occasion.

So, there you have it. A few ways to knock ‘em dead at your New Year’s Eve soiree, whether you are unemployed, underpaid, or just not a believer in spending a lot for ONE night. The good thing to note is, even in a recession, when money’s tight for ALL of us, there’s no need to look like a pauper. Find a middle ground and have fun with it!