I keep wanting to buy dresses for nonexistent events

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone else do this? Like I keep imagining that I'm going to a summer wedding and I need a dress, and this dress would be perfect - only there is no summer wedding (at least not as yet). And I've even bought a couple of them! (They're nice - but when the heck am I going to wear them?!)

Or like I've been on the hunt for a chic little leather jacket - but I live in a hot climate, and we are already past jacket weather. Not that I never go anywhere colder - but do I need a cute leather jacket right now? I keep imagining we're on a trip to Paris in the springtime when I'd need it - but we are not going to Paris this year!

This feels like some kind of obsessive thing - but also I really enjoy a nice dress. They are all secondhand (even the jackets I'm looking at) so I'm not racking up huge credit card bills over this stuff. And yet at the same time I got laid off this year and am freelancing now, so it's not like I have the MOST stable income. Like this is not the time to just be like, well what's another $100 on dresses and jackets.

Anyway - does anyone else find themselves shopping for fantasy events, and why do we do this?

If they make you happy OP, wear them for lunches, dinners, other outings. Yes, you’ll be a bit overdressed, but who cares! Life’s too short : wear the dress, eat the icecream and have that second glass of wine.
Cheers!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You are not alone.

Only because this forum is anonymous will I admit to having "chosen" many pageant gowns after surfing NY Dress and Couture Candy for hours. I might even have actually purchased one, telling myself I'd find somewhere to wear it, and then ended up donating it to a group that helps girls get free prom dresses. And no, I have never been in a pageant.

Thanks for confessing that!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To quote my MIL: "Buy me when you see me, use me when you need me!"

Sounds like something said by someone who didn't have to earn the money or pay the bills. And had a lot of closet space.

[Anonymous]

Will you wear them in 2 summers when you do have an event to go too? If yes, buying a few things like this is fine. I'd find a way to wear the clothes this summer though! Just plan a nice dinner out or something where you can dress up a little and actually use the outfit.

[Anonymous]

Hand bags and Glad rags is what this post reminds me of. Must be nice!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To quote my MIL: "Buy me when you see me, use me when you need me!"

Yes exactly! It's rare that I find something that I really like and looks good on me. So I get it. Will wear one of these dresses next week at a funeral (that obviously was not a planned event). I'm glad I have something appropriate on hand.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hand bags and Glad rags is what this post reminds me of. Must be nice!

I don't know hand bags and glad rags - but yes, it is nice to feel like it's ok to buy a dress. Knock wood a million times over.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone else do this? Like I keep imagining that I'm going to a summer wedding and I need a dress, and this dress would be perfect - only there is no summer wedding (at least not as yet). And I've even bought a couple of them! (They're nice - but when the heck am I going to wear them?!)

Or like I've been on the hunt for a chic little leather jacket - but I live in a hot climate, and we are already past jacket weather. Not that I never go anywhere colder - but do I need a cute leather jacket right now? I keep imagining we're on a trip to Paris in the springtime when I'd need it - but we are not going to Paris this year!

This feels like some kind of obsessive thing - but also I really enjoy a nice dress. They are all secondhand (even the jackets I'm looking at) so I'm not racking up huge credit card bills over this stuff. And yet at the same time I got laid off this year and am freelancing now, so it's not like I have the MOST stable income. Like this is not the time to just be like, well what's another $100 on dresses and jackets.

Anyway - does anyone else find themselves shopping for fantasy events, and why do we do this?

If they make you happy OP, wear them for lunches, dinners, other outings. Yes, you’ll be a bit overdressed, but who cares! Life’s too short : wear the dress, eat the icecream and have that second glass of wine.
Cheers!

Agreed! OP, I’m completely like you. Finally I said to myself, just wear it. Stop saving the outfits. I dress up for almost anything now. I definitely don’t care if I’m over dressed. This past weekend I wore a sequin midi skirt to church.

[Anonymous]

I have to hold myself back from buying every other handbag I see. I haven't bought too much yet though, which is good because the ones I like cost way more than dresses. I actively feel my stress going down when I look at fashion websites though.

[Anonymous]

Reader: I bought the dress.

Thanks for sharing this emotional shopping journey with me - and seriously PP I need to see those pageant dresses.

When this yellow dress arrives and is too small, I won't come back to tell you that; I'll be too busy weeping. But if it comes and fits like a dream, I will find a way to wear it out for my real life toot sweet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone else do this? Like I keep imagining that I'm going to a summer wedding and I need a dress, and this dress would be perfect - only there is no summer wedding (at least not as yet). And I've even bought a couple of them! (They're nice - but when the heck am I going to wear them?!)

Or like I've been on the hunt for a chic little leather jacket - but I live in a hot climate, and we are already past jacket weather. Not that I never go anywhere colder - but do I need a cute leather jacket right now? I keep imagining we're on a trip to Paris in the springtime when I'd need it - but we are not going to Paris this year!

This feels like some kind of obsessive thing - but also I really enjoy a nice dress. They are all secondhand (even the jackets I'm looking at) so I'm not racking up huge credit card bills over this stuff. And yet at the same time I got laid off this year and am freelancing now, so it's not like I have the MOST stable income. Like this is not the time to just be like, well what's another $100 on dresses and jackets.

Anyway - does anyone else find themselves shopping for fantasy events, and why do we do this?

Hi OP-I do the exact same thing. I generally won’t pull the trigger on something that would be an expensive “one trick pony,” but it’s fun to imagine! Last summer, I always felt like I was clothes shopping for a trip to the south of France! I would constantly be looking for the perfect pair of airy, but polished looking, linen pants. (Do those even exist??) But when I have an actual event or trip to plan for, I channel that energy into that!

[Anonymous]

With the stock market dropping every day, it's like I buy an expensive dress every day but the dress never arrives!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Reader: I bought the dress.

Thanks for sharing this emotional shopping journey with me - and seriously PP I need to see those pageant dresses.

When this yellow dress arrives and is too small, I won't come back to tell you that; I'll be too busy weeping. But if it comes and fits like a dream, I will find a way to wear it out for my real life toot sweet.

Just take the time to return if you don’t LOVE it and it will be ok.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:With the stock market dropping every day, it's like I buy an expensive dress every day but the dress never arrives!

LOL!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To quote my MIL: "Buy me when you see me, use me when you need me!"

Sounds like something said by someone who didn't have to earn the money or pay the bills. And had a lot of closet space.

New poster here. I have done it both ways but I agree that you should buy a dress when you find it. Whenever I am searching for a dress for a special occasion, I can never find what I like. The bill is the same now or later.