I was invited to attend a big fancy smancy event in Fort Worth where the women wear their finest and the men squeeze into their tux and strut around looking wealthy and hob-knobbing with the somebodys.

Almost the instant I opened the eleven inch gold invitation shaped like Cinderella’s carriage, I, like all of the other women receiving the same invite, immediately thought, “What am I going to wear?”

I began my hunt for the perfect gown moments after the invitation arrived. I searched department stores, specialty shops and even on-line. However, I finally found the perfect dress in a resale shop of all places. The designer gown was a pale pink with black lace covering the bodice. It was created by a designer whose name I cannot pronounce who, according the internet, designed gowns for Nicole Kidman and Princess Di. The ladies in the store and the Neiman Marcus tag assured me I was buying the steal of the century – a $2,000 gown for $75. In addition, the dress didn’t need to be altered! A good pressing at the dry cleaners and I was ready for the evening.

I must confess, I was not discreet about my bargain. I told everyone that would listen about the amazing deal. When I picked up the gown at the dry cleaners the day before the big event, I couldn’t help but reveal my secret to the lady behind the counter who complimented me on my beautiful dress. I spoke in hushed tones for dramatic effect and whispered “$75.00 for a $2,000 gown – and did I tell you he designed for Princess Di?”

I regretted this candid conversation when I returned home and discovered a large spot on the front of the dress. The material had been burned – an obvious blunder by the dry cleaners.

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