12.17.2009

Thrifty Thursday: Cynthia Steffe "Stephe" Dress for Less

Please don’t tell me that you have the ability to resist zipper detailing loves, because guess what? I don’t believe you. Not even for a split second. Don’t be offended kittens, I’m not calling you the L word; I know and love you all enough to be well-aware of the fact that you, like me, are incapable of telling a lie. What you are doing is trying to conceal the truth – there’s a big difference between the two; nevertheless, I’ll forgive you. I don’t blame you for being overwhelmed with a slight shiver when discussion of exposed zippers arises; after all, they can be very scandalous if not illustrated appropriately. So is not the case for Cynthia Steffe’s Stephe Dress.

Let’s face it; you cannot ignore the powerful capabilities of the little black dress. It’s an understated staple that one’s wardrobe is completely naked without; a simple piece of frippery that can transform an individual from sloppy to sophisticated in mere moments. The Stephe dress is no different; the only entity that makes it stand out from the crowd, however, is the zippered front, visible from at least thirty feet away, which adds a little spicy sass to your saccharine savoir-faire.

For once I am actually telling you to forgo the big, bright baubles, dolls. The exposed zipper is enough to make you sparkle under the glow of the moonlight, or the strobe lights casting neon-colored designs over your sun-kissed shoulders in time with the club music throbbing from concealed speakers. In fact, in all honesty, the only thing you truly need is a cropped blazer or motorcycle jacket and a pair of ankle booties to truly make your look pop. Unfortunately, I’ve got to burst your bubble.

You see, while absolutely stunning in it’s daring design, and sexy silhouette; Stephe is not a friendly frock. At least not to your beloved AmEx’s spending limit. At $255.00, she is a mere dream; Aqua’s Zip-Front Tube Dress, however, retains the potential to become a reality.

For $70.40 Aqua’s tantalizing tube is in possession of the very same high-drama dished out by Stephe; at a price, to be sure, that is oh so right even for the struggling starlets ready to emerge in all of their glamorous glory.

Now the question remains…will you be thrifty, or suckered into putting on your spendthrift cap?


Fashionably yours!


Thanks to Bloomingdale’s for the pictures.


Don't forget to enter the Sparkling Sophisticate Giveaway for your chance to win a pair of Keaton Sequin Leggings from BB Dakota.
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58 comments

la petite fashionista said...

im ALL about the exposed zipper looks! just bought the perfect holiday party dress @ forever 21 with a zipper all the way down the front

Couture Carrie said...

What an amazing find, darling! Looooove that Aqua dress, and the price is certainly right!

xoxox,
CC

KP said...

very good lower priced version-and yes I love an exposed zipper! xx

Diane said...

i love both versions...but they look SO SIMILAR i think i'll be thrifty here. nobody needs to know :P

Jaime @ laviejaime said...

I love exposed zippers too! I would def go thrifty- and I actually really want this dress! :)

Leah said...

Hi Erika! I love exposed zippers, I find it a very chic accessory for a dress or a top. Honestly, I prefer zippers over sequins.

Time to go to bed...have to tell you this sweetie, every night I wait for your post before I go to bed. It's 12:30Am here in Manila.

Anonymous said...

i love those zipper details!!!

Rachel Scarlet said...

YES YES! Zipper darling! I have just recently bought a dress with a zipper front. I gotta be thrifty though.XOXO :)

MrJeffery said...

cool dress!

bananas. said...

Your thrifty Thursday posts are the best. And yes love the zipper detailing on dresses. I still drool over jeffrey's dress on project runway. The green and white striped on with the many zipper trims.

www.janetteria.com said...

Just stunning...I'll wear with the black sheer garbo... Yummy!


Xx

Erin said...

Thrifty!
I love aqua, they're one of my go to brands.

Taylor Sterling said...

no need to beeat around the bush here...I love it!!

Style, via Tia said...

Ok, these two look so similar I am rolling with the cheaper version for sure. Such a cute dress!

diana said...

That is such a great find. Don't see zipper dresses too often. I really like it and the price!

Elizabeth Marie said...

Love exposed zippers...I think I would go with the Cynthia Steffe one. Or maybe I should save for our adventure and go thrifty. Hm.

FASHION SNAG said...

Wow, I love the exposed zipper down the front. Beautiful dress. Thanks for thinking of me last night Erika. Poor Oreo passed away at 11 PM last night. The vet called me to tell me the bad news this morning. At least he got some pain meds and a warm place. I did all I could. He could have been much older than I thought. I adopted him three years ago as an adult so I never knew his real age. I am pretty upset today, but I know life goes on. He was such an innocent little pig. Thanks again for your thoughts. xoxo

www.FashionSnag.com

That Chelsea Girl™ said...

Love, love, LOVE exposed zippers!

The Blonde Duck said...

Nope, nope, nope. IT just doesn't do it for me.

OOOHH! I saw a girl yesterday at work carrying her stiletto boots and wearing Cityslips!

Allegra said...

loove these dress!!!

have nice christmas holidays,
btw, check out my blog via www.allegrabj.blogspot.com

sara said...

this is definitely a scenario to be thrifty. The extra $184.60 of the first dress get you nothing the Aqua dress can't give.

http://goldandcitrus.com/blogs/blog

Caitlin @ Candyfloss & Persie said...

So funny. I was at Nordstrom Rack last night and tried on this zipper shirt and it looked SO bad haha, but I think it was moreso because the zipper pretty much zig-zagged down and along my gut. This detailing that you've shown looks much nicer and I do like the zipper look- hence why I tried it on!!!

http://candyflosspersie.blogspot.com/

Ashley said...

i LOVE zipper dresses. I just bought this one and it's amazing. http://shop.pacsun.com/girls/dresses/Kimberly-Dress/index.pro?colorCd=001

Anonymous said...

oo I love zipper dresses, well I say that not from experience, but I've always wanted one! great find!

S.Elisabeth said...

Gorgeous; I usually like the cheaper version of these finds, but I feel like I'd love the more expensive one better! I think it's cut would let me eat a bit more than the other one =)

S.Elisabeth said...

Gorgeous; I usually like the cheaper version of these finds, but I feel like I'd love the more expensive one better! I think it's cut would let me eat a bit more than the other one =)

Anna Jane said...

Oh I agree, EVERYONE has to love the zipper look. I'm still gonna be rocking it even when it's no longer trendy! I know H+M do a dress just like these for such a good price, in both red and black. I just hope no one thinks it would be funny to pull the zipper on a boozy night out!

- Anna Jane xxx
(PixelatedBlonde.com)

BonBon Rose Girls Kristin said...

I think Aqua has some AMAZING pieces! Love this LBD for sure!

Laura Gerencser said...

That would make a great party dress! Even cooler if the dress and zipper were different colors!!

Jen said...

I have my eye on a pair of zip-adorned heels. I love these dresses though, and surely a double zip affair would be twice as nice?

chic femme said...

Love the dresses they are super cute. :) Love the zippered front. Very cute. :)

Tights Lover said...

I'll definitely go with the Aqua for a third of the price. What a great dress!

Laura Trevey said...

great deal!!
happy day to you ~~

xoxo

Anonymous said...

Oooh what a great find, pretty!! I have visions of myself in that dress for NYE :)

Pretty in a Power Suit said...

I love the exposed zippered. Scandously chic.

I got my wonderful scarf this week! I just posted about it and wanted to tell you thank you again :)
-Tawney

Dina's Days said...

Thrifty all the way. Expose it! The zipper, that is!

Jessica said...

I LOVE this. I picked up a slinky little black dress at Forever21 recently that zips up halfway. It's incredibly sexy.

Leah said...

Erika, the shawl from The Shawl Shop arrived today. Thanks for the give-away. I'll get my hands on it in January.

Angela said...

I love zipper detail. One of my fav is a blue Versace dress i got years ago.

Nina said...

Hi Erika!

Before this era, I never ever would have thought that the zipper could have any other use than a fastening component of clothes. There are just sooo many ways nowadays that the zipper is used to embellish an outfit. J'adore!

Nina

Anonymous said...

I like zippers done ala the YSL clutch but an exposed zipper that goes all the way is just crass..

michelle_ said...

we have so many of these black zipper dresses in Indonesia for like $20 at Mangga Dua ! hahaha .
of course the cutting isn't good . but for people who's got great body can totally make the dress look like its from Aqua !

i loved this post dear . keep posting' up good stuffx .

thx for droppin' by and commenting .
check my blog & comment +follow at
gListeRs & bListeRs
last day to enter my scarf giveaway!

Anonymous said...

A lot og the skirts and dresses I make have exposed zippers they are an amazinge little bit of detail on a garment.

Thanks for the lovely comment on my blog.

XXASAB

Damsels said...

the second option is definitely doable ..... a zippered dress is so hot .... especially as an nye look

FASHION CHALET said...

Hey Erika

You're so sweet, thanks!

I love zipper dresses- my pink f21 one reminds me of the 1st black one you posted <3

Marz said...

Gorgeous dress. I like how the zipper is the main focus, and the simplicity of the dress doesn't overwhelm.
-Marz

Becky Tjandera said...

Honestly I love these dresses so much ! I didn't have any black zipper dress . They seem great . Thanks for sharing Erika ! :D Oh and btw I've heard of Such Great Heights thanks to you ! Love it . I'm downloading right now x)

Treacle said...

Perfect! I love "look for less" posts and the zipper is so on point.

MizzJ said...

Totally going for the less option! They look so alike that it seems pointless to splurge.

---
Win an amazing gift pack care of The Body Shop Canada in part 3 of Being High Maintenance, not Bitchy's Holiday Giveaway Bonanza! http://highmaintenancewoman.blogspot.com/2009/12/part-3-of-holiday-giveaway-bonanza-body.html

Chicago Chic said...

They look the same, so thrifty it is! I love how the zipper creates an edgy twist on the little black dress...fantastic post Dear...and thank you for your sweet comment on my post. :)

Have an amazing weekend, Love! ♥
Baci xo
Rachel

Audrey Allure said...

i love these pieces! they're very sexy while keeping the class ;)

Anonymous said...

Omg what an amazing find! I absolutly love it :) & for the 100th time: your blog totally rocks ^^. Take care, xoxo Laura ;)

Mom Fashion World said...

i don't own any zipper dress yet.
i've been scouting for this. but still confuse
if it will look good on me, huh!

English Rose ♥ said...

that zipper dress is far too cool for words!

Have an immense weekend dearest, thanks for your lovely comment

Stay safe and chic darling
English Rose x
http://iamanenglishrose.blogspot.com

Rachel @ The Haute Notes said...

Great find! I love both dresses. They look extremely flattering and I love the exposed zipper. I think I just might have to get one of these! :)

Keith said...

They both look great. I love 'em. I hope you will have a fantastic Friday and weekend. Take care. Cheers!

Jennifer Fabulous said...

These are both lovely dresses!! I'm not sure if I could pull off the sleeveless dress though....sigh. :)

All Women Stalker said...

I'd have to go with the cheaper one again. The almost-sweetheart neckline is much sexier anyway. :)

-meream

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