Dress crisis?

Terpsichore · 05-12-2008 12:47pm #1

Have been looking for a wedding dress since last July (08).
Not getting anywhere! Lots fit and are nice, but there is none to jump out.
Shops attendants are unreal and everything you put on is "GORGEOUS"
Even a bin linner or a curtain with a sach would be flattering in their books...
Help!

sillysocks · 05-12-2008 1:48pm

Have you any ideas of styles/colours you would like? or are you getting nowhere? When is the wedding?

Terpsichore · 05-12-2008 2:10pm

I surely do, but it's prooving difficult to find in a reasonable price range. Don't even get me started on designer prices! They haven't a clue about the current financial crisis with average starting prices at 2.5k!!!

Pure white, simple, elegant, feminine, affordable, waist cinching, nice fabric. Don't like taffetas and organza has to be of very high quality to be acceptable so super expensive...
A line. No mermaid (sure that's only for top models!)
No synthetic lace (whoever should be shot for even thinking about selling it!)
Any idea???

Wedding date is July 2009. According to some shops, I'm already too late to order a dress (8 months in advance)...

sillysocks · 05-12-2008 2:21pm

What shops/designers have you tried already?

I found Sophia Tolli to have the nicest dresses when I was looking....ended up buying one of hers. She has quite a few that aren't strapless - any thoughts on whether you want it strapless or non strapless?

Would you consider buying from the States when you do find hte dress you want? Taht would make a big diff in price if you did. Mine was priced at 1800 in the cheapest shop here but I got it online from the States for 800 so if you did find one that was 2.5k you'd probably get it for way less from America. Once you make sure to buy from a reptuable shop over there (tahts listed as an offical suppleir by the designer) then it should be fine.

Terpsichore · 05-12-2008 2:36pm

Thanks Sillysocks

I have tried Tamem Michael, Anne Gregory, De Paor Design, Victoria Redgraves, Fiona Tod Hunter, Amarra Bridal, Ruben Bridal, Classy Lass, Bridal Heaven, Cathy de Stafford, C&M Bridal, Myrtle Ivory, Annie Occasions... and more to come.

I don't like the fact that shops only have a size 8 sample dress to try on. Most women are much healthier than that as an average in this country. Did I hear size 16? Yep!

I know it's really important to find the shape that suit you, so how can someone find it if the dress doesn't even pass the knees???

Yes I agree with you about Sophia Tolli, and trying to find it online from the States, but most of them don't have the right anymore to ship Sophia Tolli's dresses internationally... so that's that.

Well impressed by all these websites, but feel like I will loose my sight at looking at them soon.

Went down the ebay way as well... and only got the worst dress you could nightmare about... it looks like the fabric was riped with teeth rather than cut with scissors... Only found out 3 months later that the picture was stolen from a designer... Dress EUR6.00, shipping cost EUR95.00 from China: well I wanted to believe it! I heard it worked for some others...
As for that horrible dress, it's still in the packet at home, and seriously thinking of giving it to a male friend to have fun with it next Halloween!

Well at moment, I do laugh about it all! But surely, it must not be that difficult!

sillysocks · 05-12-2008 2:46pm

Hmm that is a lot of shopping!! Yeah very annoying when dresses dno't fit or are all small sizes. You'd imagine it would make sense for them to have bigger samples because its easier to pin someone into something thats too big than to squeez someone into one thats too small!

One place that I didn't see on that list was Town Bride - they were good at pointing out what shapes etc worked well on me. Bridal Wraptures had a very good selection too.

I got my Sophia Tolli online from www.jaysbridal.com so they will ship internationally. I had mine within 3 months of ordering too which was great!

Went down the eBay and china dress too

The one I ordered was actually quite well made and detailling etc on it was very good, but the dress was too short so no joy!

I kind of had the opposite problem to you - I was liking every dress I tried on and found it so hard to decide. I'm still not even sure I made the right decision and often think about whether I really love the dress, but I own it now so no turning back!

Terpsichore · 05-12-2008 2:54pm

sillysocks wrote: »

Hmm that is a lot of shopping!! Yeah very annoying when dresses dno't fit or are all small sizes. You'd imagine it would make sense for them to have bigger samples because its easier to pin someone into something thats too big than to squeez someone into one thats too small!

Exactly!

One place that I didn't see on that list was Town Bride - they were good at pointing out what shapes etc worked well on me. Bridal Wraptures had a very good selection too.

They are on my list. For some weird reason, haven't really adventure in city center yet, by fear of finding silly prices I suppose! I mean some shops advertise dresses for EUR7,000.00!!!

I got my Sophia Tolli online from www.jaysbridal.com so they will ship internationally. I had mine within 3 months of ordering too which was great!

Will check them again!

Went down the eBay and china dress too
The one I ordered was actually quite well made and detailling etc on it was very good, but the dress was too short so no joy!

These guys are funny!

I kind of had the opposite problem to you - I was liking every dress I tried on and found it so hard to decide. I'm still not even sure I made the right decision and often think about whether I really love the dress, but I own it now so no turning back!

Don't get me wrong, I'm quite tall and I'm having a ball at trying on all sorts of dresses, especially the very big flyffy ones. They don't fit me, so I'm ok with that. A lot of dresses actually get my attention, but not haven't found THE ONE yet... maybe the Tolli one... which one did you go for? Pm me if hubby to be use Boards too... I told mine he's not allowed to get on this thread at all! Well I know he wouldn't want to know anyway!

sillysocks · 05-12-2008 3:12pm

Mine is XXXXXXXXXXXXXX - it looks awful in the pics though. I got it in Diamond White, not the gold that a lot of the pics are. The bits from thighs down is just tulle netting. I like that its a little bit diff from most dresses. Really watned one with straps too!

Which one did you like? Might be able to recommend a few others if I see one you do like?

As for hubby to be - he has zero interest in the dress!! Typical man, had the dress at home in our spare room for around a month and he wasn't even tempted to peek. If that was me I'd be looking first time he turned his back!

Terpsichore · 05-12-2008 9:06pm

I am interested in Carmella, in white, or Skye in white.

I wasn't for straps either to begin with, but I understand now why they are so popular, especially if the bodice is laced at the back: very little fittings needed. I like straps a lot but they are trickier to fit...

Wouldn't mind a bolero, at least for the church. Oh and a comfortable dress! I hear so many stories of women who where about to loose by the end of their special day because of boning getting into their flesh...

Your dress looks lovely and comfy too. Great combination!

hunnymonster · 05-12-2008 9:11pm

Would you get one made? It's about the only way to guarantee you get what you want as you appear to have very specific ideas.

Terpsichore · 05-12-2008 9:21pm

hunnymonster wrote: »

Would you get one made? It's about the only way to guarantee you get what you want as you appear to have very specific ideas.

Yes I would but pricing is then quite high, around 3k with a designer. I know I could go and see a gifted seamstress, some of them work from pictures for about 1k, but I'm not quite there yet. I have some specific ideas, but these seem to change with the wind... Plus there is the problem to find the perfect fabric, and I don't think that it's easy...

Any fabric shops suggestion and seamstress adresses more than welcome!

sillysocks · 05-12-2008 9:41pm

Terpsichore · 06-12-2008 2:30pm

\sillysocks, thanks again, this is a great site. \don't know why I haven't found it by myself yet! \some more dresses to look at, but yeah you're right, the style is good!

\will have to guess a little for the style. \But I think that after a few months of trials, I should be able to get to a good conclusion. .. hopefully!

bensoneb · 08-12-2008 9:19am

Hi,

I wore a Maggie dress for my wedding in August and felt amazing in it. I would be in the larger size category and the style of dress (adelaide)I wore took sizes off me.
http://www.maggiesottero.com/dress.aspx?keywordText=adelaide&keywordType=any&page=0&pageSize=8&style=A3157

Alexander Bridals in Parnell Street (Dublin) have a huge stock of Maggie dresses so I would recommend giving them a go. The prices were excellent too.

Terpsichore · 08-12-2008 9:30am

bensoneb wrote: »

Hi,

I wore a Maggie dress for my wedding in August and felt amazing in it. I would be in the larger size category and the style of dress (adelaide)I wore took sizes off me.
http://www.maggiesottero.com/dress.aspx?keywordText=adelaide&keywordType=any&page=0&pageSize=8&style=A3157

Alexander Bridals in Parnell Street (Dublin) have a huge stock of Maggie dresses so I would recommend giving them a go. The prices were excellent too.

Thanks for the tip! Your dress looks absolutely amazing. Alexander here I come!

ecaf · 10-12-2008 2:58pm

God girls, just after reading this thread and I'm in a panic now. I haven't even started looking at any dresses yet, and the wedding is in June! (less than 6 months to go).
I really like the Maggie dress bensoneb, I think I will definitely go for something like this (well A line anyway). I have to hide my hips somehow.
I've been a bit laid back about any organising, but now I'd better get off my backside and phone my bridesmaid to see about some shopping?

Terpsichore · 13-12-2008 9:48pm

Don't worry about it ecaf, you will manage!

Went to first floor Hickeys Henry St. They have a bridal section with heavily discounted dresses... Not saying they are the best dresses in the world, but someone in a hury might find what they want. They have some Sophia Tolli dresses, not the best ones I thought, but it's good to see them in real.

Also, maybe you can check the UK brands Ellis and EddyK. Interesting stuff.

Went to Bridal Wraptures on Stephen's Green: Carole there is a real sweetie, extremely professional and she would do anything to help out: source more fabric to make a bolero for example, call the designer on the spot to see if slight changes are possible on the dress itself... Some real classy and not cheap, but still affordable dresses in there. Recommanded.

Went to Berketex also, and although they have a lot of dresses and the girls there know what to do, I thought the choice of dresses was in the rather tacky and toxic range... Lots of synthetic shiny fibres, not always tasteful... but that's only my point of view. Probably worth a quick visit anyway.

Aspirations on Dame Lane where having a big sales a few weeks ago, it might still be on. They offer the San Patrick range which offer some stylish spanish design at times...

Terpsichore · 02-01-2009 4:34pm

Here we go again after the Christmas break!

Anybody would know of good bridal sales going on in the Dublin South or Kildare area?

Also, focusing my search on shops offering simple silk dresses. Anyone?

Terpsichore · 20-01-2009 4:35pm

I suppose this is going to be the closing email to this thread.

FYI I have seen very good sales on at Cathy de Stafford on Exchequer Street... especially on the Pronovias range.
The Irish market doesn't really provide silk dresses, or only at astronomical prices...

As for me, I have decided that I won't be happy with a polyester dress and that the quality of taffetas and satins offered in shops in Ireland is not good, or extremely expensive if of any quality.

I have bought a very good quality silk on from one of the rare silks specialists in Ireland. There is one in Dun Laoghaire and one in Shankill as far as I know. I know, the ideal would have been to travel to Thailand or India for that… but hey! It wasn’t on the agenda for this year ;P
And I found a great dress maker to make the elegant and simple dress that I 'm after.

You can count around EUR200.00 for the fabric (for 6 meters) and around EUR900.00 starting price for the dress maker's work. I think it is very reasonable for a wedding dress that ticks all the boxes. Get more fabric to make a shall, a bag, or cover your wedding shoes... cover the pillow ring bearer…

Also it has the huge advantage of not having to order a dress 8 months in advance because it has to be made in China. And finally, I will invest my money with a local Irish business and craft person. I’m loving it!

Dress crisis?

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