ABS Allen Schwartz Sequins Top Chiffon Dress

All week, I’ve been talking about sequins. They’re hot right now, not to mention just pretty—when they’re not overdone. One of my Twitter peeps pointed out that although the Badgley Mischka pump is awesome, the budget alternative from Chinese Laundry was a little more attractive because the heel isn’t sequined. There’s something to be said for understatement and restraint, especially when it comes to sequins. In that vein, I made a little departure here and didn’t find dresses to go with the shoes and clutches featured earlier this week. As I mentioned Monday, this week is all about sequins, and it would just be overkill to wear a sequined dress with sequined pumps, carrying a sequined clutch. We’d be sequined out, don’t you think? So unless you work on a stage in Vegas—or on a street corner—go for the understated and pair those shoes and handbags with stylish, but unembellished dresses. Let the accessories shine—literally. Or, you can go the other way and wear a sequin-adorned dress with less flashy accessories. One gorgeous option is the ABS Allen Schwartz Sequins Top Chiffon Dress.

I absolutely love this dress. Love it! To be honest, I don’t normally go for strapless numbers. Regardless of how supportive a bra I wear, or how well taped in I am, I have this compulsion to tug at the top. I guess I’m paranoid that if I don’t check the situation on a regular basis, I’ll be walking around, trying to look nonchalant, when suddenly I’ll feel a breeze, look down, and find the top of my dress around my waist. Kind of like those dreams where you walk into work or school naked? Like that. So I’m a tugger. I try to avoid strapless, well, anything, but I think I could make an exception for this chiffon dress. The first thing that caught my eye—besides the sequins, which we’ll get to in a minute—is the color. This deep amethyst is not only a perfect fall and winter color, it’s just beautiful anyway. And yes, the sequins. You need to see these up close. They’re sewn onto the asymmetrically overlapping bodice in symmetrical rows. A nice effect. Sometimes an empire waist, while emphasizing the bust, can look a little maternity-like, but not in this case. The dress has a ruched fabric overlay that ties in the front, accentuating the waist. As it drapes, it blends into the chiffon skirt for a seamless look. The dress is made from one hundred percent silk, and is lined with polyester. It zips up the side, with a hook-and-eye closure at the top. At 34 inches long, it should hit just above the knee. If you’re vertically challenged, it may hit a little lower on the leg. Pair this dress with a fabulous pair of black silk pumps, and you’re set. It can be yours for $380 at Zappos.com.

Budget Saving Alternatives

Depending on what you may have already spent on accessories, you might want to go easy on your wallet when choosing your holiday party dress. I don’t know about you, but I don’t always buy the outfit first, and then the accessories to go with it. My shoe fetish usually dictates that those are the first purchase, then a bag to match. I can always find something to go with a pair of shoes, and it’s sometimes easier to find a unique style in shoes rather than clothes. This Gabriella Rocha Sunland dress is an exception, though. Rather than just being strapless, or having standard over-the-shoulder straps, it features an asymmetrical, over-one-shoulder strap. Actually, it’s a bit too wide to be called a strap. What would you call it? A band? A sash? A swath? Whatever you call it, it’s pretty. Covered in a random pattern of sequins and beads, it will really stand out no matter where you wear it. The dress is a little form fitting, but the fabric is shirred to soften the effect. Even so, you may want to invest in a pair of Spanx for a totally smooth silhouette. And if you’re going to a party with food, all the more reason. No sense spending any money on a kickass outfit just to have your tummy pooch out when you load up on finger foods and desserts. And, come on, who can not eat at a party? The Sunland is a little shorter than the ABS dress at 30 inches long, so we’re looking at about mid-thigh here. In other words, don’t forget to shave all the way up. What? Like you never just shave your lower leg to save time if you’re not gonna be showing any thigh? Please. Don’t even try to pull that with me. I know better. If you’re a maniac masochist who gets regular waxing, you don’t have to worry about it. Unless you’re scarred from having the hair ripped out of your legs by the roots. Yeesh. Anyway, the dress is black, and zips up the side, so there’s no zipper to ruin the back of the dress. Put a little more money toward the accessories since the Sunland is just $119.95 at Zappos.com.

I’m one of those people who can walk into a store, and invariably, the one thing I like the most in that store will turn out to be the most expensive item on the floor. It’s a knack. It’s also frustrating. This is part of why I started this crusade to find lower cost options for the designer stuff I love. Nothing is more aggravating than going into a store, finding an awesome dress, bag, pair of shoes, whatever, getting sticker shock, and then not being able to find anything else in the store that’s comparable, so I either end up not getting it at all, or spending way more than I planned. My pain is your gain. That’s why this blog is here. All that said, every once in a while, the total opposite happens. I find a gorgeous designer dress that I absolutely love, look around for something similar at a lower price, and then find something less expensive that I like even better. That’s exactly what happened with this Gabriella Rocha Hobbs dress. I need this dress. I am totally getting this dress. I’ll admit, it’s not as much an evening holiday party dress as the other two. It’s much more casual. But I can’t get over the details. First, the gradient color that fades from deep plum to a palest lavender mid-skirt. Then there’s the silver-threaded stitching on the bodice, including a scalloped edge that accentuates the empire waist. There’s a dainty ruffle along the top, both front and back, and adjustable spaghetti straps. It features just a few sequins scattered randomly over the bodice, complementing the silvery thread and giving just a little sparkle, but not too much so as to detract from the rest of the dress. It’s 34 inches long, and made from polyester, which translates to easy care. But the kicker is the embroidery along the bottom of the dress. The same silver thread is used to create a beautifully reedy floral pattern along the edge of the skirt. It’s a gorgeous dress. But the absolute best part about it? It’s only 50 bucks. You heard me. All that beautiful color and detail for only $50 at Zappos.com. What are you still doing here?! At that price, it won’t last long!