a dress for less; This holiday-fete season, Marina Rust gets frugal with her party frocks.(Buyers guide)

Byline: Marina Rust

It's not a new idea, however novel in some circles: buying one new dress-or a well-priced few-to carry you through a month's worth of holiday parties.

"These days, it's not about borrowing a dress," says my editor. "When you see Diane Kruger on the red carpet in French Connection or Sarah Jessica Parker in Alice + Olivia, it's not like they borrowed them. They went to a store and bought them. These days, it's about buying your own little dress, something affordable."

"Sounds reasonable," I answer. "What's affordable?"

"You know," she says, a shrug in her voice. "Under a thousand."

Let them eat cake . . . let them wear Lim? Admittedly, my favorite form of frugality has long been Bergdorf's third floor, first day of the sale. When a friend calls to say she just got three dresses, each under $400, on the fifth floor, I do fashion math. Three trendy dresses x $400 = $1,200, or one Lanvin blouse that can be worn forever. Shouldn't I be saving for the blouse?

Still, I'm to survey Vogue's picks for reasonably priced holiday frocks, then road-test some around town. "It's not about wearing something that's so 'You can't have this; it hasn't been made yet,' says my editor. Of course, given the parameters of magazine lead times, some of the dresses I'm to choose from have not, in fact, been made yet. Vogue sends me a pile to try in the comfort of home. I unpack 30 dresses from several garment bags. (A little like Christmas, if after Christmas one has to return all the presents.) The first dress I pull out is long and electric-blue by 3.1 Phillip Lim ($995). It's on trend: exposed zipper, ruching. Second dress is terrific, a Breakfast at Tiffany's number from Jason Wu ($759): black silk, slit down the front, nice workmanship. While most of these dresses are sample size, I am not, but I'd definitely want this if it fit. There are two from a brand I've never heard of, Castle Starr: one in white linen, a large collar of gold paillettes ($650). Not my thing, but I have friends who'd love it. The other is short and red with a draped back ($456) that would look great on, say, a model. There's an adorable buttercream taffeta party dress with a bow ($875) from Jesse Kamm-exactly the sort of dress I used to search for 20 years ago but could never find. Next, Vera Wang Lavender Label: demure but stylish interpretations of her runway ($300 to $1,000). These I'd wear. Ditto a long black Grecian number from Thread Social ($800). I also like a long cheerful dress from Graham & Spencer ($366), but it's too resorty for the holidays; I'd save it for dinner at the beach. Other labels . . . Tory Burch, Mint, ...