The dress dilemma

And not just any dress. . . a formal dress. For a work-related black tie fundraiser. Which is a tall for a girl who MUCH prefers jeans and flip-flops. Also somewhat of a challenge for "girl with curves" (re. fat) on a budget. Not to mention the fact that I work on a team with women who seems to have endless budgets. And taste.

I seem to recall stressing out about this same issue last year. Except that last year I was nearly 45 pounds heavier and desperate for something, (anything) that fit. I frankly didn't care much about what it looked like as long as it was reasonably flattering and it fit over my ass and boobs. As luck would have it, I found a black lace baby-doll dress on sale. I bought it, wore it, and pretended that I looked cute when really I suspect that I looked like a watermelon draped in black lace.

The dress still fits. But really, I don't want to wear something that fit last year. It's a baby doll dress. I could wear it while nine months pregnant and no one would know the difference.

Here's what I'm looking for: something black, short and sexy, and with some kind of sleeve. I'd like to have my arms covered because it will be cold and I'll be working....I don't want to be worried about hanging on to my pashmina all night. Or flashing my bat-wings to a donor.

So I went online. And I found a gorgeous dress that I think could work. Is fun, sexy, youthful, and not something I could have worn last year. What's stopping me is the price. I just can't justify it. But $179 (even with free shipping) is a lot of money for me. That's a weeks worth of groceries. The electric bill. A new summer wardrobe for my son. A month and a half of gymnastics classes for the girls. Not to mention the fact that I still have to buy shoes and accessories. And its not like
I will wear it again soon...because wearing a black, sequined cocktail dress to preschool pick-up would be a bit much.

My friends keep telling me to buy it anyway, that I deserve it after all my hard work. But as my friend and WW-buddy bluntly said, "Bullshit. You won't be that size for long." And she's right. Cute as it is, I don't want to be wearing it next year.

My sister told me to buy it, wear it, (dry clean it) and return it. But I believe in karma. Got a feeling this option would somehow bite me in the ass.

I could go shopping locally. Although finding the time would be a challenge.

My mom offered to loan me a "cute, sparkly top that could be worn with pants." For reasons that need not be stated, this is NOT a viable option.

Another possibility? There is a black dress in the back of my closet that I last wore at my wedding rehearsal dinner, circa 2002. It fits. Although I would need to purchase a wrap. And a large supply of industrial strength Spanx (or duct tape). The pros are that I would only need shoes and accessories and I could stop shopping and stressing. Plus it would feel GOOD to wear something that I never thought would fit again. The cons are that while it fits, I don't know how flattering it is. I want to be comfortable and for me that means feeling good about what I'm wearing.

Truthfully, I'd be more excited about this event in the first place if I knew I had something to wear already. And I felt good about the option. Because everyone else I work with is going to look awesome. Although being young, thin, and not having saggy-from-breastfeeding boobs helps.

Thoughts? Advice? Connections with people who know people who could just loan me a designer gown?