Secrets of a Secondhand Shopaholic

Dear Diary,

Well, I’m back with what should be my last entry of The Dress Diaries. It’s been very rewarding for me to confess to you, Diary, about my shopping binges in Part One, Part Two and Part Three.  It must be true what they say about journaling, Diary, that if you just “get it all out” by writing everything down, you can process through some difficult things.  Good thing you’re a  Diary, so no one else knows about my “secret” confessions…

I feel I’m back in control with my dress shopping, though.  I had one last final hurrah at Goodwill about two weeks ago, and I hit the mother load when it comes to comfy summer dresses. So I haven’t been shopping for over two weeks!! I figured out a secret to shopping less – just don’t go in the stores! Really, Diary – that works!  Go figure.

But after writing it all down, and reviewing my shopping splurge, I figured out what triggered it.   I blame the You Look Fab forum.  You see, Diary, when I posted my Wanted:  Summer Help post to the YLF Forum – admitting that my typical summer style needed ALOT of work -  many of the comments suggested summer dresses.  Here, let me have you read these comments, and see what you think:

• Ok I realize not everyone is a dress fiend like I am but I can honestly say embracing dresses is one of the best fashion decisions I ever made! It makes summer so much easier and more cost efficient.
• People seem to think dresses are hard and high maintenance, but I find them quite the opposite. I don’t have to match multiple pieces, make sure the shape and proportions are even between top and bottom, worry about anything staying tucked in, etc. And I also look put together even if I grabbed the nearest thing while running out the door.
• So how about looking for dresses that hit you around knee length?
• Can’t wait to see you in some dresses and walking shorts!

I mean, really, can’t you understand how this obsession with wanting to wear summer dresses hit me so hard?  I had a person that doesn’t even know me say, “Can’t wait to see you in some dresses…”  Being the people-pleaser that I am, I really didn’t have a choice other than oblige that request, did I Diary? I mean, they have expectations now…

And then I had this vision of me being that girl that always wore dresses in the summer – and made it look effortless and casual.  You know that type of girl, don’t you Diary?  That girl who you could drop in on at any time, and she’s walking around her house in a cute jersey or  polo dress, barefoot, drinking tea and reading the paper on the patio, looking all natural and comfy in a cute cotton summer dress.

So I decided I wanted to be THAT girl….except I hate tea and I don’t have a patio.  Forget the fact that no one has EVER just dropped by my apartment – in fact, most people don’t even know where I live!  But that doesn’t  matter – I still wanted to be THAT cute, comfy summer dress girl…

OK, so I had my little fantasy and I went out looking for those comfortable casual dresses to wear instead of shorts and capris.  And I think with this trip, I actually succeeded!  I literally said to myself when I completed this shopping trip,”I’m done!” (at least for now).  And I haven’t been back (yet).

Don’t you love my “for now” and “yet” disclaimers”  I am such a shopaholic, aren’t I?

OK, so here they go….I’m putting them in order of least favorite to favorite.  All four dresses were purchased at Goodwill for $5.89 each.

The one on the left’s brand is Touch 9  – which I have never heard of, and didn’t find anything through Google about it.  It’s a fake wrap and it’s comfortable and casual, but I could probably wear it to the office as well.  I’m not sure I like the white cami and white shoes with it though – I would probably go with brown as the accent color.  What do you think?

The dress on the right is from Gap – and it was New with Tags (cha-ching!).  Once again, comfortable and casual.

And here, Diary are two more lovely dresses I found on that last shopping trip:

The Talbots shirt dress admittedly is boxy and not the most flattering, but Angie at You Look Fab had a recent post in which she admits to enjoying “surrendering her waistline” from time to time, so I’m taking that as an OK for me to do it too.  It’s a very comfortable dress, and it’s just screaming for accessorizing opportunities…..and I can’t wait to hear what people suggest might work here (hint, hint readers).

And Diary,the one on the right is my last, and I think my most favorite of all the dresses I have bought so far this summer (well, except for that strapless number I wrote about in DD2.  It’s Merona, so it’s not a high end brand, but I think the fit, the style, the length, the color/pattern is just fabulous.

So there you have it, Diary  – I have just admitted to buying 12 dresses since summer began in May.  Were you keeping track of how much they cost?  $86.  Eighty-six dollars for 12 dresses.  Not too shabby.

And now I can truly be THAT woman who lounges around the house in cute, comfy summer dresses.   So feel free to drop in on me anytime.

But maybe you should call first…….because chances are, this is actually what I’ll be wearing:

A Hanes t-shirt and pair of boxers I stole from my boyfriend.  Just me and the cats, Scooter and Scamper.