The Frill of It All Has Attraction for Everyone, Regardless of Age : Formal gowns are on your shopping list, but not on your budget. Here are some ways to keep the party season merrier.
Call it Merchant’s First Law of Party Dresses. Whether it’s frilly and flouncy or simple and sophisticated, whether you’re 17 or 70, somehow the one you want is always the most expensive. If the invitation says December, waiting for the January sales is not an option. Here are some stores where you can shop now, yet not pay full price:
1/2 PRICE HOUSE
The emphasis is on the formal and semi-formal at this large store, which, at 26, is one of Orange County’s oldest such operations. The garments are moderate to better quality (some will have the labels removed), at discounts that start at 25% to 40% off original retail. Should something not sell after 30 days, it will be marked down further.
Sizes range from 4 to 32 1/2, and the selection in larger sizes is as good as in the smaller ones. Most of the outfits are in colors appropriate for club installations or sons’ or daughters’ weddings, cruises or conventions or other such special occasions, but on a recent visit, there were plenty of things in traditional holiday colors such as black, red, green, silver and gold.
Reflecting one of fall’s strongest trends was a fluttery layered polyester chiffon two-piece dress in a leopard print ($149, from $210). Among the separates were black polyester pull-on mushroom pleated skirts by Boston Maid ($25, from $36), and layered polyester chiffon handkerchief-hem skirts in black or cream ($100, from $160).
In cocktail looks, there was a Mary McFadden-style pleated teal skirt suit with rhinestone buttons on the jacket ($238, from $325), and a grouping of kicky all-over fringed sheaths, sleeveless or with short sleeves, in red, blue, white, black, light or hot pink ($100-$150, from up to $180).
In long formals, there were some simply decorated styles, such as the slinky Ivana-like royal blue polyester jersey gown by Night Moves’ that had a skirt front panel gathered into a rhinestone bar ($100, from $130). Two of the most eye-catching beaded formals were by Sho Max Originals. One had a short silk dolman sleeve top covered with pale yellow paillettes and bugle beads, with an uneven hemline that followed the design. This was worn over an acetate/nylon long yellow satin-back crepe tank dress (both pieces $200, from $350). The other was a mermaid look in a long sheath of all-over green or blue-green sequins ($450, from $950).
To top it off, there were maribou stoles in white or black ($23, from $62), and a maribou-trimmed black velvet jacket ($60, from $190).
12152 Brookhurst St., Garden Grove , (714) 537-1231.
IONA
Those who prefer something more understated or more casual in a holiday look might want to consider a soft printed or textured knit. Iona is a limited-production line of soft career dresses and separates designed by Susie Smith of San Marcos.
In the Lake Elsinore outlet store (the company’s only one in Southern California), now are several groups of decidedly out-of-the-office looks that would do the job at all but the fanciest holiday occasions. One grouping of casually styled black silk-cotton-rayon knits included a drape-neck tank top printed with a pink and green metallic floral ($38, from $108) and a matching palazzo pant ($59, from $168), and a bolero-length cocoon jacket printed in a swirly gold wave pattern ($84, from $218) and a matching long dirndl ($55, from $148).
The best buys, though, might be in the solid-color separates, such as the cloque knit tank tops, pull-on short skirts and loose pants, in emerald green, red or purple ($20-$33, from $58-$88); and the knitted rayon tank tops in gold or black ($28, from $78).
Among the dresses, there were tulip shapes in silk-cotton-viscose-blend prints, in black with gold flecks or gray with large silver roses ($69, from $258).
The Lake Elsinore Outlet Center, 17600 Collier Ave., Lake Elsinore , (909) 245-0773.
MAX STUDIO OUTLET
Another good bet for dressy separates is from Leon Max, the L.A. designer who could be called King Rayon. Clothes at the company’s outlets (in Glendale, Gilroy and Commerce) are eight to 12 weeks behind the retail season; prices range from 30% of retail to 50% off wholesale.
On a recent visit to the Citadel branch, there were several attractive cream-colored rayon or rayon-blend blouses that would pair nicely with, say, velvet skirts or pants. One featured fagoting on the collar and down the front ($62, from $88); another had cap sleeves and a wide round collar ($55, from $78), a third had elastic shirring across the front for a poet-shirt effect ($69, from $98). The ruffle front vest would look great worn alone or under a jacket ($62, from $89).
In coordinates, there was a lovely long-sleeved scarf-collar overblouse in a blue-gray crepe ($42, from $120) and loose pull-on pant ($52, from $90). There were several versatile items on the sale rack as well, such as the ‘40s-shaped collarless jacket in red or teal tissue faille ($25, originally $132), and the black Jacquard loose pants ($17, originally $90).
The Citadel Outlet Collection, 5675 E. Telegraph Road, Commerce , (213) 721-2200.
PATSY’S CLOTHES CLOSET
Patsy’s is actually part resale, part off-price. Judging from a visit earlier this month, the better deals appeared to be in the resale items, but the other items--samples (not just in misses Size 8, either) and end-of-season garments make this little shop worth a look-see.
About one-third of the stock was evening wear, with several things appearing never worn; sizes ranged from petite to plus. Among the new items, the selection included a flouncy Victor Costa strapless cocktail dress of black net sprinkled with bright colored pompons ($75), a black A.J. Bari cocktail dress made with some fancy cutting and tucking ($80), a beautiful red empire-waist gown by Pierre La Biche with a mushroom-pleated bodice and a red re-embroidered lace skirt ($100). For $24, you could head out into the night in a black or silver sequin beret.
1525 N. Main St., Santa Ana, (714) 542-0189.
SUTTER PLACE
If the words holiday season conjure up Edwardian visions of sugary lace collars and plum-colored velvet, here’s one place you can have them. This is the outlet store for Jessica McClintock and the related lines--Scott McClintock and Gunne Sax, with clothing for women (some large sizes but few petites), juniors, girls from 1 year on up to 14.
Stock here is about one year behind regular retail. Almost all items offered here are first quality; some are samples. The tags don’t offer price comparisons, but the numbers I saw were often well below what you’d expect to pay at the height of the selling season, and some represented markdowns from the first outlet price. Fabrics include silks, rayons and polyesters and blends.
Spotted on a recent trip was a woman’s short blue velvet dress in a princess cut, with leg o’ mutton sleeves and a white-lace bib front ($45), and a Camelot-looking formal in a blue or Bordeaux taffeta with a gold-braid-edged portrait collar and a bodice quilted in gold thread ($45).
Among the women’s separates, there were some terrific buys, such as the dusty pink moire taffeta straight skirt ($21) and the plain long black velvet pull-on skirt ($25). For girls’ Sizes 4 to 6X, there was the quintessential fancy dress: white damask bodice with short puffed sleeves, cranberry satin cummerbund, black velvet skirt ($34).
18577 Main St., Huntington Beach , (714) 848-8280.
