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Cheap JAP Challenge: Mandee

Most of the stores at Brooklyn’s Atlantic Center conjure icky memories of my local South Jersey Mall, what with The Body Shop, Victoria’s Secret, Payless, Mandee et. al. I’ve browsed Mandee and left in disgust on three separate occasions. Perhaps it was the abundance of rhinestones, sequins, neon and dominatrix-esque garb that triggered my gag reflex, I don’t know.

This past weekend, I finally bit the bullet and challenged myself to find something - anything - that was more JAPtastic than trash-tastic. This pastel, floral sundress totally fit the bill. I’m well aware that, at first glance, the number looks like something a 1950s housewife might wear while adoringly preparing a roast for her hard-at-work husband (gag me with a mixing spoon).

However, the dress had two things that set it apart from almost everything else on Mandee’s rack: It fit fabulously, and didn’t look slutty. Que surprise!

This outfit proves that a few, kickass accessories are all one needs to take a simple, potentially dowdy item from snooze to ooh! The embroidered, floral belt (Molly B.) was a gift from my uber-preppy BFFs; the gold stiletto sandals are Cole Haan Collection (price upon request… yup, it’s that bad).

Both the belt and the shoes are seriously under-worn, and this dress - fine, I’ll say it, this Mandee dress - gives me a new excuse to break them out. Not that it matters, (because really, what isn’t cheap at Mandee?) but the sundress was $11.99, reduced from $23.99.

Hold your applause.