Woman gobsmacked after £20 Goodwill dress turns out to be £4800 designer gown

21 September 2023 , 13:29

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She bought the dress for £20 ($25) from Goodwill (Image: emmalifatih/TikTok)

When nipping out to Goodwill, one woman never expected to walk away with the bargain of a lifetime. But that's exactly what happened to senior nursing student Emmali Osterhoudt who snagged herself a £4800 ($6000) wedding dress when browsing for photo frames.

The 21-year-old was shopping with a friend at the Goodwill store on Green Springs Highway in Homewood, Alabama, when she saw a wedding dress hung up in its clothing section. She says her roommates have always love the Friends episode where Monica, Rachel and Phoebe are relaxing on the sofa while each wearing a wedding dress.

Still not knowing its 'true' price, Emmali decided to try it on and was delighted because "it fit me life a glove". Despite not being engaged, she decided to buy it because she couldn't pass up such a well-fitting wedding dress at such a small price - £20 ($25).

She bought a Galia Lahav wedding gown (emmalifatih/TikTok)

Stars like Beyoncé and Paris Hilton have worn this designer label (emmalifatih/TikTok)

"I couldn’t believe how it fit — and then I found out the value of it. It wasn't until after we had already checked out of the store and were in my car that we found out the designer and how much it costs," she told FoxBusiness.

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"I was just very shocked because of how valuable the dress was, and I had just gotten it for $25. I never thought that I would be able to wear such an expensive dress." After further research, Emmali discovered it's a Galia Lahav wedding gown that retailed at more than £4000 ($6000).

The designer label has been worn by stars like Beyoncé and Paris Hilton. She added: "It’s completely backless and has a deep V neckline. The material is kind of like a lace overlay and it's shear on the sides. It's detailed with pearl and rhinestone accents all over the gown and it's super sparkly. It has a beautiful train that's not too long and it's my favourite part of the dress."

The dress made its way from a high-end shop in Louisiana to a sample bridal shop in Birmingham before ending up on a hanger at Goodwill. Laine White, creative director for Bustle, a sample shop in Birmingham, told Fox News Digital: "That's the entirety of why we are in business.

"We provide a more affordable option for brides who want to have a beautiful gown, but maybe can't afford that typical designer gown price. Galia Lahav is a designer we don't get all the time because it's really high-end. It's a really great designer and this gown was originally in the $6,000 range. It is just an incredible gown."

Paige Freshwater