Shopping help: Wedding Dress for older, and very picky, bride.
I am not having much success looking on my own for months. I'm getting married in September in a very informal, cliff-top California beach ceremony. I'm 41 and this isn't my first marriage. I have lost like 150 pounds and I am predicting I'll be about size 10 then, but could be 12. I'm looking for a something informal, California beach, feminine, and not pure white. Something off white, or with a bit of pale color, or a pattern so it's not "virginal." I want something covering - 3/4 sleeves, mid-calf length or floor length hem, etc. However, I do have a nice hour glass shape so I do want something fitting and not just hanging like a mu-mu.
Likes: favorite color is green, I adore wrap dresses, I like bohemian styles, showing off my neckline, small waist
Dislikes: Hankerchief and other uneven hem types, super long billowing sleeves (I have short arms), too much ruffles or lace, mother-of-the-bride look, satin or other formal fabrics
Ok - Go forth my deals.woot minions!
by
secretagentwoman
asked a year ago
@secretagentwoman: You forgot an extremely important detail or two. The most important is your top price. I have absolutely no feel for how much is too much, and require some guidance before actually making the effort. I really LOVE weddings, and have some reasonable experience in this, but price limits are an absolute must.
Pity on the restriction against formal fabrics; it narrows it down quite a bit.
Back later...
Top price probably around $500. But I want to stay at about $150. Ideas:
http://www.recycledbride.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/OStreep.png - bad: too white, too tailored, good: silhouette, neckline, sleeve and hem lengths
http://s3.thisnext.com/media/largest_dimension/1EF6324F.jpg - bad: color is too bold, good: everything else
http://www.allmaxidresses.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/89049989_8.jpg - bad: too loose, doesn't emphasize neckline or waist, good: pattern is almost ok, length and sleeves ok
And to top it off - these are just fashion shots. None of these dresses are actually for sale at any site I can find. I need an actual shop I can give money too, and receive the dress in return.
Oh, and I'm pale skinned with freckles, red hair and blue eyes so colors that look good on me are going to be browns, tans, pale golds, greens, oranges, earth tones - you get the idea. But I want it to have enough white/off white/super pale color that you could still tell I'm a bride.
@secretagentwoman: That third link is a problem, since it turns into a page with multiple dresses. Rather than fight our way through it, can you describe the dress on that page you were thinking of? I'm starting to get ideas, including the fact that you seem to gravitate towards what I might call a wrap dress. I note that the Meryl Streep dress is a common look, also, and I may be able to come up with something similar in a winter white.
I love shopping. More than anything, I really love it.
[Edit] I just happened to think of this. Do you have objections to previously worn dresses? I know of some places in SoCal where items that are worn at events by celebrities are then resold. They've only been worn once, but cannot be sold as new.
@shrdlu: The dress is Rachel Zoe wearing an off-white, floor length tunic dress with a large paisley print. Other dresses on that page are along my style, too, just too dark for a wedding. Odd that the link takes me straight to the jpg with the dress. I'm using FF, though, not IE.
And no objection whatsoever to a used (hey, let's call it vintage!) dress.
I found this dress. It doesn't have sleeves, but it is kinda cute! http://www.whitehouseblackmarket.com/store/browse/product.jsp?maxRec=201&pageId=1&productId=570013506&viewAll=true&prd=Shell+Trench+Dress&subCatId=&color=&fromSearch=true&inSeam=&posId=190&catId=cat4809277&cat=&onSale=true&colorFamily=&maxPg=2&size=
This is looking harder than I'd thought. Is there a possibility that you can have something made up? Is there a decent seamstress in the area, or within your circle of friends? I've found a couple of things, but they are either outrageous colors, or funky hems, or even worse, one of a kinds in very strange sizes.
@megs1181: Thanks - but as I mentioned, I've lost tons of weight and need to cover some saggy skin. I cannot wear anything so revealing and it doesn't really say wedding day to me either.
@shrdlu: You see what I have been up against! Actually, I can find lots of dresses in fabrics I like, but NOT with longer sleeves and hems. EVERYWHERE the style is strapless or sleeveless or if it's got sleeves, short hems. I can't find the combo, yet celebrities are wearing them! Where is the designer fashions coming down to the masses???
Some new information - there is a name for the style of dress I am looking for - "maxi dress" - that shows a lot of long, flowing dresses some with long sleeves. Off to do more searching!
I vote for making it. You've got plenty of time. Find a fabric that's the right color and makes you feel beautiful and pick your pattern. There's SOOO much more variety available having one made than looking off the rack.
However, there are one or two here that might work:
http://www.vintage70sclothing.com/Dresses/70smaxidress01.htm
Don't forget you can buy a darker color and bleach it to get a lighter. The effect isn't guaranteed of course.
Just found this one:
http://www.chadwicks.com/chadwicks/browse/productDetail.jsp?icProduct=80365&icCategory=cat40338&icSort=
that last one may have too small sleeves
Another thought.... you may have better luck finding one you like in white and dyeing it a pale blue, seafoam, yellow, pink, etc. This is VERY easy to do, doesn't take but a few minutes, and looking at white would VASTLY increase your options. ok, gotta go to bed now. good luck
Also, see this. Some sites offer what they call a "bridesmaid jacket". This site has several different styles. You pick your dress then order the shrug/jacket/whatever to match.
http://www.tjformal.com/560783/products/Sophia-Tolli-Jacket-Shrug-Chiffon-BY1986SRCH.html
(sorry if this ends up posting twice... the first time, it didn't seem to update)
http://www.weddingshoppeinc.com/pr/Impressions-3047/3185/19423
Too white? Too short?
http://www.landadesigns.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=3&products_id=1274
Too lacy, uneven hem?
Good Luck!
@jenandlaw: You gave some good suggestions. I do consider the shrug idea as a last restort, I just rather have a dress with sleeves. And I wouldn't even begin to know how to find a dress maker, but that is definitely on the table as well.
@megs1181: The first one is too short and too formal looking, but I actually like the second one, but it's not available online nor in a store search for my zip code. lol - boy what fun is this, eh?
Re: Finding a dressmaker
Your local fabric store will have a list of seamstresses/dressmakers in town. Interview them and go with the person whose work you like and who makes you feel comfortable.
Re: The dress Meg found that isn't available in your area
If you really like it, you could call any of the stores that do carry it and ask them if they will ship it to you. If you're concerned about it fitting, have your measurements professionally taken to tell the store. They may advise you to order the next size up and have it altered.
Also, this is another of the jackets
http://www.tjformal.com/560781/products/Sophia-Tolli-Jacket-Chiffon-BY1985WJCH.html
It looks so feminine and would focus on your tiny waist. Plus it's available in a bajillion colors, so if you find a dress somewhere else that you really love, but it's sleeveless or a halter top, you could probably pretty easily match it with this jacket.
If you google the dress name you can find it online. http://www.weddingshoppeinc.com/pr/Landa-S321/25993
The Wedding Shoppe is a store right by my house. They are good. It is where I got my dress. :) I almost miss dress searching!
@jenandlaw: I'm beginning to see your idea might be best. I'm not sure I'm ready to mess with a dress maker.
So...now the challenge is to find a long dress with whatever sleeves that would look good with that wrap.
@jenandlaw: I don't know if you are still visiting this thread, but do you think that jacket would look good over this dress: http://www.gypsy05.com/shop/p_735_Women-Maxi-Dresses-Paloma-Silk-Maxi-Dress.aspx? I was thinking an Ivory color for the jacket. Any other opinions from anyone at all welcome!
Just curious, but did you find THE dress? September is just around the corner.
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