Iisli Jacqueline Dress

$338.00$101.40 by Iisli at shopbop.com

From Designer Chic to Frugal Fashion

It happens when I’m searching for brilliant buys for my readers, that I stumble upon something that I like as well. (Okay, this happens all the time!) So as I was scanning Shopbop.com’s sale items, I found this Iisli dress. The original cost? $338, which is completely out of my budget.

However, it was on sale for $101.40! I thought, what a great bargain! I knew I had to have it.

When I find something that I love, something that I can’t resist--I envision it in my closet or better yet, I see myself walking the streets of New York City in it. For this dress I had the perfect fantasy: Relaxing at some upscale lounge sipping martinis.

It qualifies for four of the five categories of my self-created designer label buying guide. 1) I would wear it more than once, 2) it isn’t too trendy, 3) it would be a fashion staple for my personal style, and, 4) since I’m working more hours this summer, it is within my budget.

So why didn’t I buy it?

As a curvy girl, the straight style of the skirt would be unflattering to me. Although it was in my size, I couldn’t risk buying it. First of all, final sale items at Shop Bop are non-returnable. So if I got it and didn’t like it, I was out of $100. Furthermore, I knew I could recreate this same dress for a lot less , and have money left over to splurge on my favorite thing--accessories.

I recreated this dress for $39.49! I chose this Ruffle Cascade Racerback Top ($19.99 on sale) because of the similarities it has to the draping on top of the Iisle dress.

Then I found a skirt that was similar, but had a little more leeway in the hip area than the Iise

dress did. This Knit Tulip Skirt ($19.50) was perfect! The best thing about my recreation of the Iisle dress is that the top and skirt are separates, as opposed to being bound together as a dress. So, if I want to wear the top separately or the skirt separately, I have the option.

To accessorize this look, I shopped Forever 21 for great deals. I added a Jewel Striped Ring($6.80), a pair of Zipper Trim Patent Pumps ($28.80), and Maude Faux Pearl Earrings ($2.80).

And now I'm ready to sip on martinis in an upscale lounge!