Is Halloween is your favorite holiday? Do you like to dress up your daily look with a little something no one else will be wearing? Do you want to bring a little fantasy into your love life? Do you like to support a good cause?
If you answered yes to any or all of the above, Incline Village’s Dress the Part(y) makes it easy, fun and affordable.
Located in Village Center, across from the post office, this gem is truly addictive for those who have spent hours scouring thrift store for that perfect vintage find. Owner Linda Offerdahl does all the scavenging footwork for you, scoring the best donations, finding collectibles online and ordering one-of-a-kind pieces to ensure her boutique offers a quality trip down memory lane. Dress the Part(y)’s vintage clothing is as ready to wear as the day it first hit the racks. No shabby flapper dresses or washed-out poodle skirts here – we’re talking almost mint condition. With a slew of themed parties in sight over the next few months, revelers looking for the whole dress-up package will find it here, either from the racks of bygone day selections or the new, full-blown and packaged costumes.
Attire from the ‘20s to the ‘80s is well organized and displayed by era or genre, complete with letterman jackets, zoot suits, club or bowling shirts, Hollywood glam, rockabilly (with donations from real rock stars) and more for those who want to create their own look. For finishing touches there are all sorts of accessories, old and new, such as hats, head dresses, glasses, jewelry and more, to achieve detailed perfection.
Says Offerdahl, ‘By the time you leave my store, you really are dressed the part.’
If you don’t have the time to hunt and peck and create your own look, the packaged costumes for both adults and children are a good way to go. The selection is not run-of-the-mill Wal-Mart so you don’t have to worry about running into a clone who steals your thunder. For the seriously competitive, there are elaborate costumes to rent or buy which are heavy in detail and fabric. The store also offers special orders and carries the movie-themed Ruby line, which has more licenses on movie characters than any other costume maker.
As first-time clients soon discover, Dress the Part(y) is not a once-a-year stop. The vintage pieces are classic and can be worn to augment any outfit year-round. Also available is a very large selection of hosiery, including Legs Avenue and fishnet stockings in every color and height imaginable, including boot top. The boutique’s best-kept secret (and for obvious reasons) is The Boudoir, offering sexy, fantasy-themed lingerie and dress-up pieces meant for more than Halloween night. Very tasteful, fun and for every shape and size. If, for example, you feel the saloon girl or cheerleader get-up is a little short, Offerdahl will pair it with some sexy leggings and – viola! – instant, attractive, transformation.
The prices here are very affordable; if Offerdahl gets a good deal (and she does) you get a good deal. Even more, all profits go to charity and the charities change every quarter or so depending on community needs and Offerdahl’s passions. An Incline resident for more than 20 years, this mother of three and former PTA president is currently supporting Incline High School Library and the Incline Education Foundation, among others. She also encourages nonprofits to knock on her door and give her their sales pitch. Having sat on the board of many charities and chaired many fundraisers in the past, Offerdahl now feels she has ‘a central location that can help everyone.’
Whether it be Halloween (be sure to check out the black light room stocked with truly creepy haunted house décor), The Cadillac Ball, Oktoberfest, a high school dance, themed mixer or sprucing up your everyday look, Dress the Part(y) is all about making sure you leave feeling good about yourself and putting your best foot (disguised or otherwise) forward.
‘I look for those moments,’ says Offerdahl, ‘when I have the chance to change someone’s self image.’
~ Dress the Part(y), located at 774 Mays Blvd in Incline, is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm. Phone 775-832-7287.
Bring Out Your Lederhosen for a Good Cause
Oct. 18
Don’t miss the second annual Oktoberfest and Community Fair to be held Saturday, October 18, from 12 to 5 p.m. at Incline’s Village Center, to benefit Incline Schools Education Foundation. Besides the traditional fare of German food and beer, revelers can get a jump start on their holiday shopping at the Community Fair, a huge collaboration of crafters, nonprofits and businesses. Village Center merchants will also be offering specials and discounts. The entertainment this year, award-winning band Shameus, is sponsored by Dress the Part(y) and is not your typical ‘oompa’ sound. This five- member rock and roll ensemble, recently relocated from Lake Tahoe to Sacramento, delivers original and cover material that has drawn a traveling fan base. The musicians, singers and songwriters of Shameus have toured and opened for some of the best performers in the music industry.
Village Center, located on the corner of Southwood Blvd. and Mays Blvd., started a tradition of hosting community benefits and events two years ago with a street dance for Angora Fire victims. The fall Oktoberfest has become an instant tradition thanks to the joint efforts of Incline Schools Education Foundation and Village Center merchants. The event is geared for all ages and supports a multitude of nonprofits in Incline Village.
