Every morning I would wake up obsessed. I really, really wanted the Free People New Romantics Rio Dress to hit sale (it finally has, but it is cheaper in-store). Did I say really? I had tried it on way back in March when we were in Las Vegas and it was the item I had dreamt about buying if only I had won some money gambling. But, alas, that did not happen. And the dress was much too expensive for me to justify its singular purchase. I thought about that dress for months. It was the only dress that had ever come close to my beloved Kantha Dresses from Anthropologie. And every day I would check the Free People website to see if it had gone on sale.
It hadn’t.
One day I decided to reread the reviews. Might as well read about someone else enjoying the lovely dress, I thought.
I read a review I had not seen before. It had been published a month earlier. It spoke of being so happy to be able to purchase the dress on sale. Wha-a-a?!
And that is when I remembered that the clothes on Free People’s website do not often match prices with the items in the store. I decided to call the store that had both colors available because I am greedy and wanted them both.
A store had them.
They were around 60% off but then I got free shipping and no tax! Score!
I styled the cream dress with my Pam Hiran Necklace from Anthropologie and two of World Market’s beaded bracelets.
The rest of the day was spent in a blur. Now what was I going to do with my mornings now that I had finally acquired the dress?
Well, I will be spending some time just admiring the beautiful embroidery.
It makes me happy.
Do you sit and stare at items in your closet? Do you like the thrill of the hunt for the perfect dress or finally getting to wear it the best?
*The black version of this dress will run on Sunday. This post was edited using the App Afterlife’s Forrest Filter at 37%.
Very cute! Love the jewelry you picked to match it. Isn’t that maddening then stores and websites prices don’t match??? I am glad you were able to find them. I know I will spend a lot of time in my new closet when we move. Shhhh, don’t tell anyone but it’s my favorite part of the house! I have dreamed of a walk in closet since I was a little girl. I can’t wait to do a post about it!
Thank you Heather. It is so maddening. Thankfully Anthropologie does not do that, but Free People does it all of the time. They also frequently do in store specials but not on online. I do not live near a store so I am out of luck. I am so excited about your walk-in closet! You must take pictures! I have a walk-in closet, but it is the smallest walk-in closet I have seen. However, I will take it! : )
Have a wonderful rest of the weekend!
Jenni
I love this dress. You look perfect. I love your style.
Glad you found it on sale!
I like the chase… and I like coming up with excuses to wear the things I buy.
Thank you Liana! I appreciate that! I think I like the thrill of the hunt the best. But then I like wearing the piece, too. Tough question. Who was mean enough to ask it? ; )
Have a fun Sunday!
Jenni
That dress looks great on you, love the details! Glad you were able to wait it out to find it on sale. These days most things I want are new, and so I will be waiting awhile for a sale. I had to look for a couple of months (I had pretty much given up) but I finally scored a popback in my size of the chanda column dress, and got an extra 20% off on the last possible day for a PA!
Thank you so much Sharon! Great score on the column dress! I love PAs! Everything I want should hit sale soon. I have not wishlisted any sweaters because I have so many all ready for California. And I bought my Inez Dress I wanted so I think September will be the month for me. I need to wishlist a few cardigans but there is no hurry. I hope California gets some rain this year. I need some honey!
Have a super Sunday!
Jenni
hey there! long time lurker, first time commenter. love your boho/hippie style! anyway, i’m selling a lovely vintage, mexican-style embroidered skirt and thought of you – you might like it! you can find it over on my blog – house of ginger. no pressure! i mean, maybe this is an awkward thing for me to do… regardless, i see it on you. if you don’t like it – no biggie. have a lovely weekend!
You are so sweet. Thank you! I love the skirt and the dress, too, in fact! I have no more clothing budget left for August, but man, you have good stuff! Why does it have to be back-to-school month? I LOOOOVVE your blog. You are so witty. Gosh, I cannot tell you how much I love a girl that can make me laugh. So happy to have found your blog! I am about to go comment now.
Have a fabulous rest of the weekend!
Jenni
That dress is so awesome. I see why you stalked it! You always have the best free people things, but when I go into the store, nothing stands out! It is just beautiful. I can’t wait to see the black version!
Thank you Alicia! Those dresses are so much fun. I really cannot wait to wear them in the cooler temperatures when I can pair them with tights and not worry so much about their length.
I hope you are having an easy and happy day!
Jenni
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I changed my mind. I like this color better than the black. I love the orange, green, and yellow against the white. I wonder if they have a shirt with this pattern? I am going to go over to their site to look.
Thank you Cynthia. I have never seen a pattern like this on a top. But that would be great! Speaking of tops, I should probably go put one on. It is about time I get out of these pajamas!
Enjoy the rest of your Sunday!
Jenni
Hi. You look great in the dress. I’m so glad you were able to purchase the dress on sale. I, too, stalked them for the longest time and was able to buy them for $80 each. I get compliments on them every time. In fact, I think it was my review on Free People that you read. Love your style.
Thank you so much! And, oh my goodness! It was your review that allowed me to buy these dresses! Thank you! Thank you! Without your review, I never would have known they had gone on sale. And I would have missed out. It is funny because I even wanted to contact you to tell you thank you, but I could not figure out how. It is so awesome to get the chance. So, thank you! : ). I just wore my black one to dinner last night with black tights and boots. I wear them all of the time. They are just such special pieces.
Thank you for reaching out to me. You made my whole day!
Have a lovely week!
Jenni
Aw…that’s so sweet. You are so welcome. It really was by luck that I was able to purchase these dresses on sale. I fell in love with them the first time I saw them, but at the price tag of $268, I knew I could never afford them. So like you, I stalked them every single day hoping they’d go on sale. A month went by, and they never did. One day, when I was in my local Free People store just browsing, I happened to spot the ivory one in their sale section for around $100, but it was in a size large. I’m an extra-small. I felt incredibly sad. However, later that day, I thought, what if I asked my local Free People to order them for me. Maybe they’d honor the store price. It didn’t hurt to try. So I called, and they did. I was also able to get a price adjustment days later when their sale went on an additional 20% off. At $80/each, it was a steal. Anyway, I’ve since figured out that if there is something online that is full price, there’s always a chance it is on sale in store, so it’s really worth it just to call a store and ask them to order for you even if it’s not in stock. I’ve gotten several items that way.
I was shocked by the price difference, so thank you! You are so lucky to get the extra 20% off, too! What a steal! I barely got mine. There were only two stores with my size left in both colors, so if you had not posted that review, I definitely would have missed out. I could not afford them full price either. And getting them for such a great price just makes me love them even more.
I get so nervous calling stores that I rarely do it. I do not know why. : )
Thank you again! I will think of you when I get to wear my dresses!
Sweet dreams!
Jenni
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