Polyvore set here.
Left, BCBG by Max Azaria, $148, Nordstorm
Right, Alloy, $40, Alloy.com
Colorblocking and shirtdresses are both still trendy for this fall. Luckily, they can be found at all price points, as these two dresses indicate. While there are a lot of differences in these two dresses, the style statement is similar enough to debate if spending money is sometimes better than saving.
The blue dress on the left is made of silk and I'm iffy on the tie belt. The violet dress is made of a questionable polyester but the gold skinny belt adds so much to the dress. I think both are equally flattering, and despite my questions on the quality of the violet dress's material, it drapes very well.
Should you spend or save? It depends on what you're buying a dress for. If you're looking for a work dress, the blue silk without question. Silk does need more care than polyester, but with proper care it will look like new for years. Without seeing the Alloy dress up close, it's hard to determine how well the polyester is made. It looks pretty cheap in the picture, but the draping is really on point. My general rule on polyester is much like the UK basketball team, polyester is one and done. Meaning, you get one year of wear and then it's time to toss out or give away. Keeping that in mind, if you're looking for a fun addition to your wardrobe, the violet dress suits your needs perfectly without having to spend a lot of cash.
