How much is too much for a bridesmaid dress?

I would (and have) paid as much as $150.00 for a bridesmaids dress but that's as high as I'm prepared to go. I'm sorry, but every bride thinks she has chosen a dress that their bridesmaids will wear again that is suitable to wear for every occasion but unless they are going to some sort of 70's theme party I can't see that dress ever seeing the light of day again. Maybe if it was a plain colour instead of that pattern and those retro colours .