This Poncho Avoids Financial Washout

Who pays $250 for a pullover nylon rain poncho? Certainly not Dress For Less readers. Spend a lot less money on the Dress For Less version poncho, made in the United States and selling for a fraction of the designer price from the plus-size catalog Nightlines Plus. This jacket comes in five bright colors.

The Dress For Less version jeans and tee are from Liz Claiborne’s 5-year-old plus-size line, Elisabeth.

The Liz Claiborne line of shoes includes a red patent rain bootie called Blizzard for $34.99. The adorable lug-soled red patent leather shoes on my Dress For Less model are by No Parking, for $29.

Designer version

Red nylon hooded poncho by Susan Lazar, $250

Cotton nautical-inspired tee by Adele Ferretti, $135

Blue jeans by David David, $65

Red patent sneakers by Polo Ralph Lauren, $49

Total: $499

Dress For Less version

Red nylon poncho from Nightlines Plus catalog, $67

Navy cotton tee, $32

Blue jeans, $40

Above items by Elisabeth at major department stores

Red patent oxfords by No Parking, $29

Total: $168

MEMO: All bargains featured in this column are available in book form. Send $9.95 to Dress For Less, 177 Sound Beach Ave., Suite 6, Old Greenwich, CT 06870. For information about catalogs mentioned here, send a SASE to the same address.