Thrift store shopping is not for the faint of heart, nor is it the place to shop when you need the perfect outfit immediately. I always recommend that people shop way ahead of time for that “perfect” look, in fact, you could probably start looking now for that swanky New Year’s Eve dress you’ve had your eye on. 😉

Every once in awhile though, I ignore my own advice and pray that just maybe I can find something right when I need it. Now, honestly, I didn’t need a new to me dress for my trip to LA this weekend. I have a closet full for LBD’s that work just fine, and I would be more than happy with, but when I walked into our new Goodwill and this Banana Republic Dress,

yes, BRAND NEW Banana Republic dress WITH the tags still on just dangled from the rack, I couldn’t pass it up.

Do you want to know what that price tag says? $168. Yes, that is correct! There wasn’t even a sales price listed. Now hopefully, they were smart and at least used a Banana Republic coupon code.  All I know is that I paid only $5.

I already owned the necklace from Tanger Outlet, and the earrings that matched it perfectly (both together under $5), so I  just threw one of my $1 long scarves around my shoulders as a shawl.

For a look that was under $15, I was thrilled.

We had meetings all day and only had a few minutes to change. I was going to just keep my hair in a long sleek pony tail, but in honor of the fact I haven’t put up a 30 Days – 30 Ways Hair Style in over a week, I experimented a bit. I  began twisting from the right side of my hair and twisted it around the back. Then just flipped it, for a messy, side twist that was perfect for the night, and it took only about five minutes to do.

To say that the entire look was a wonderful Frugal Fashionista success would be a slight exaggeration.

My shoes were a disaster. I left my classic black shoes at home, and the only ones I had veered on the side of way too funky for this dress, but when life gives you lemons, make lemonade, so I wore them anyhow. It wouldn’t be Balancing Beauty and Bedlam if there wasn’t a small bedlam experienced. 🙂

These were actually the shoes I wore for my “No Spend” Red Carpet Evening in NYC.

Now this LA evening was a wonderful night on the town, and there truly was a “Red Carpet” and professional photographers, but it was for merely for own personal entertainment.  I just hid the shoes.

Are you new to my Frugal Fashionista series? Find out how I dress for less with designer outfits for mere pennies on the dollar. Yes, all outfits  from head to toe are less than $15, and did I mention, most of the items are second hand?)