*If you haven’t read yesterday’s post, go back and check that one out first! This is Part II.
When we left off yesterday I promised I’d give you a glimpse of the wedding dresses that didn’t make the final cut. True to my word, I’m back with some picture proof, starting with the one I knew would never make it and working my way up to the final two. First, let’s review what I was looking for and what I was hoping to avoid in a wedding dress.
What I wanted: Straps, luxurious material, comfortable and non-restrictive structure, pockets, a button or zip closure (something I could get into and out of by myself), an interesting eye-catching back, one or two unique standout details, under $750
What I didn’t want: Strapless, ruching, lots of lace, beading, sequins, or butt bows, expensive, princess ballgown poofy, a corset back, boning, to look like every bride I’d seen from 2007-2009
Now that you’ve got a pretty specific image in mind of the style I was going for, you can plainly see how difficult this journey was for me in the height of the beaded, strapless, ruched dresses that all look alike era. To be fair, the dresses I had in mind did exist 16 months ago and I knew it. I swooned over them on the pages of high fashion bridal magazine advertisements. However, they were relatively “new” to the 2000’s bridal market so they were crafted by top designers and luxury brands (read: $1,500-$4,000 per dress, and that’s not even factoring in alterations or accessories for something I’d wear for a maximum of 12 hours). Cheap replicas of these styles certainly hadn’t trickled their way down to the likes of David’s Bridal or Alfred Angelo yet. I couldn’t fathom shelling out about at least 2,000 bucks (conservatively) for a Waters & Waters, Vera Wang, Amsale, Rosa Clara, San Patrick, Priscilla of Boston, Melissa Sweet, Jim Hjelm, La Sposa, Jenny Yoo or Modern Trousseau gown. I wasn’t too wild about the David’s Bridal or Alfred Angelo finds (with the exception of a select few) so I focused my efforts on brands like Eden Bridals, Jasmine Collections, Essence of Australia, Venus and Allure – all of which carried quality designs with more of a variety of style options for a moderately thrifty price tag. Enough jabbering. Let’s get started with the pictures of a modest sampling of the nearly 75 dresses I tried on.
The “You’ll never know what you like until you give it a chance” dress
If you’ve ever gone shopping for a formal gown, you know this drill. The saleslady will undoubtedly ask you what style and price range you have in mind, then proceed to blatantly ignore your requests and insist you try on something completely opposite of what you like on the basis of “you’ll never know until you try it on!” Well, that was this unfortunate dress at Alfred Angelo. It boasts every single quality I specifically said I didn’t want. I reluctantly agreed to humor her and schlep this 45 lb. dress into the fitting room and give it a go. I guess it’s not really that bad. I wasn’t utterly horrified. But it was heavy, uncomfortable, could stand on it’s own (I’m not kidding), required at least two people to corset me into it along with a hoop skirt, and was not nearly unique enough for my tastes. Trying this sucker on was my good deed for the day. I gave everyone their entertainment, crawled out of ASAP, and promptly handed it right back to the saleslady who just so, embarrassingly, happened to be a girl I went to high school with.
What I liked: I kind of felt like Belle in Beauty & The Beast
What I didn’t like: Where do I begin!? Pickups. Oh, God. Pickups. UGH. Beading, strapless, ruched, boning, and stiffening corset back. Then there’s the gigantic itchy 12-layered petticoat, the weight of it, and the crispy fabric. No, thank you. NEXT.
The “For the love of pockets” dress
Allow me to clarify my obsession with pockets. It was there and the feeling was strong and undeniable. I think it all started with prom. I hated keeping track of an evening clutch and worrying about its whereabouts all night. Yet, I needed something discreet to hold my car keys, phone, lipstick, ID and credit card. I yearned for pockets in my dress so I could fly solo like the dudes did. I even considered asking my mom to sew pockets into the underside of my junior year prom dress. Fast forward to late 2008 when the first wedding dresses with pockets debuted on the runways. I was in heaven! Finally, my prayers had been answered. I knew that must seek out a wedding dress with pockets of my own. They were incredibly helpful, had a casual flair, and were funky and different. Nevermind that as a bride I most likely wouldn’t need quick access to my car keys, cell phone, ID or cash on the big day. That’s not the point. The point was I needed pockets. And pockets were pretty much the only thing this David’s Bridal frock had going for it. But apparently, that was enough to keep it in my consideration. The dress itself wasn’t that bad, it was simple with extremely minimal beading, loose and comfortable, had straps and, most importantly, came equipped with my beloved pockets. I even liked the criss-cross of the straps in the back. Alas, it showed more cleavage than I was comfortable with and just wasn’t special enough to make the top 5. I bid a sad adieu to my pockets and prayed that I’d find another one with them (no such luck).
What I liked: Obviously, the pockets. I also liked the criss-cross straps in the back and that it was comfortable. I liked that I could get into and out of it by myself and it wasn’t oozing with beads and other obnoxious distractions.
What I didn’t like: It was an ill-fit. The empire waist packed on the pounds and it showed too much cleavage.
The “Safe backup plan” dress
This taffeta Alfred Angelo dress was a classic. It was figure flattering, timeless, and played it safe – maybe a little too safe. It had alluring off-the-shoulder straps, showed off my figure, and had absolutely no beading – which was great. But it also had a boring back and no fun little details whatsoever. And for something so basic, it was awfully expensive! I didn’t like the crinkle of the taffeta fabric, the boning inside it made bending or dancing highly undesirable, and I don’t like being laced into corset backs. I couldn’t have gotten into or out of it without an army of help. It was pretty, but not nearly unique enough to make the cut.
What I liked: The elegant simplicity, and the classic figure-enhancing cut and drape of the style.
What I didn’t like: There was nothing special about it, no little details to get excited over. It had an uncomfortable corset back and boning, and was unreasonably expensive for something so basic.
The Top Five
The “My first infatuation” dress
From November-January I was outright convinced that I wasn’t going to be able to find what I was looking for at an affordable price. Everything was so covered in lace and beads that it made me sick. I came across this prize at David’s Bridal and fell into a month long on-again off-again infatuation with it because it fit well and had no beading. I wasn’t in love with it, but I did like it and if nothing else came along I would have settled with it. The draping gave it a nice little hint of detailing and shape. It was marked down to $350 because it was a “test dress” that they only produced a few of and decided not to add it to their season’s collection. Therefore, only a handful of them were made for each store, and it was the last one available in my size anywhere in the U.S. and I couldn’t give it up, afraid I’d never find anything without beads ever again (I was crazy, y’all). It was strapless, but these days straps of any style can easily be added to a dress.
What I liked: It was soft and comfortable. The draping was interesting and flattering, and the price was more than right. Straps could be added, and I loved the simplicity of it.
What I didn’t like: It just seemed too plain. There weren’t any funky details and the back looked like the back of any other wedding dress out there. I liked it, and it was a pretty dress, but it just didn’t feel right for me.
The “Dress that led me to my dress” dress
I was obsessed with finding this dress. I came across it in a dinky little Wisconsin town just when I had lost all patience and all hope that I’d ever find the right dress for me. I was about ready to completely throw in the towel and just wear khakis and a white sweater on October 22. This was my saving grace. I’d never heard of the Jasmine Collection brand before. The store had a few of their dresses in stock and I really like the detailing and originality of all of them. I was beside myself with excitement that this one had beautiful straps, a fun back design, awesome fabric, and just enough beading to make it fresh but not be overwhelming. They one I tried on in the store was two sizes too small, but it gave me a good enough of an idea that I was caught – hook, line and sinker. I called stores all over Wisconsin, Illinois and Texas obsessively until I finally found a store in Austin that had just gotten it in (it was a Fall 2009 style) in my size. I immediately made an appointment for a weekend the middle of February. My hopes had been resurrected and I was sure that this was it! I spent the next month dreaming about all the good times this dress and I would have together. I was nervous when we finally did make the trip to Austin to try it on. I was afraid it wouldn’t fit me right…and it didn’t. I was so bummed, but the store had a wide selection of other Jasmine Collection dresses for me to investigate. It wasn’t meant to be, but it did lead me to the Jasmine Collection dress I did choose. I wouldn’t have found it without this dress.
What I liked: Nearly everything – the straps, the fun back, the silky fabric, the light touch of beading around the neckline to keep it interesting, and most importantly, that it restored my faith in dress shopping and gave me the hope to keep looking.
What I didn’t like: It had just been released so it was practically impossible to find it anywhere in my size. And when I finally did, it just didn’t fit my body shape right. Even with alterations, it just wouldn’t have fit me well enough. It’s style F316 if you want to Google it to see what the front looked like.
The “Serious contender – except that nobody else liked it” dress
I was drawn to the glamour of this David’s Bridal dress. It reminded me of the formal fashion of the 1930s with its fit and flare trumpet skirt, hip hugging satin, and a playful row of buttons all the way down the back of the dress and train. It was classy, a little sassy, had just the right amount of detailing, accentuated my figure nicely, and I simply loved the buttons down the back. I think it’s a clear winner of a dress and I’d still be happy to wear it if another occasion that calls for a floor-length ivory dress with a train arises (doubtful). I didn’t even mind that it was strapless because the neckline was modest and there was zero chance of any “oops” moments. And, as with any other dress, straps could have been added. The only problem was that nobody else seemed to like it. I know I shouldn’t have let that get to me, but whenever I took anyone with me to see it in person, I got only lukewarm responses like “it’s okay” or “I like the other one better.” It was discouraging, but after hearing less than enthusiastic praises from people, I couldn’t buy it because what if everyone else thought it was fine, but nothing special too? Nobody wants to look “just okay” on their wedding day. It is a little plain I suppose, and I do like the dress I ended up with better than this one (and a lot of brides recently have chosen this dress, so it wouldn’t have been very unique), so I guess it wasn’t meant to be, but it was a great dress nonetheless.
What I liked: The satin fabric, the fit and flare trumpet skirt, how it flattered curves, the buttons down the back, and the overall glamour of it.
What I didn’t like: That nobody else thought it was a winner. Also, it’s a popular dress so I would have been one of thousands upon thousands of brides who wore it in 2010.
The “One I didn’t expect to love” dress
This dress is one I never, ever expected to love. It’s just so girly – it even looks ridiculous on the hanger. I mean, look at it! Cascading ruffles, and a big blingy sequins brooch front and center? Absolutely not my typical style, but I loved it. It felt so fine with swish and twirl in it – it gave me little butterflies. It reminded me of Scarlett O’Hara meets cupcake. There were a few downsides. It was strapless (though I would have added a plain, thin halter strap to it), it had structured boning in the bodice and a seat belt strap across the waist that made it awfully uncomfortable, and I didn’t like the weird sequins thing on the chest so I probably would have had it removed. It was also about $200 more than I wanted to pay for it. I adored the way the back looked, I loved how it flowed when I walked in it, and I liked the shape it gave my waist. I really, really liked this dress and I wanted it to be the one, but it just wasn’t. It looked like a cupcake. I wanted a dress that looked like me, that looked like a Lara dress. I also had a gut instinct that Ted wouldn’t like it very much, and I wanted him to be impressed with my dress, not horrified by the overwhelming frillyness of it. But mostly, I needed it to represent me, and it didn’t. Plus it was too uncomfortable and cost more than I was willing to spend.
What I liked: The shape, the cascading ruffles, how it moved when I walked, and the back-view.
What I didn’t like: The sequins brooch, that it was strapless, how structured and movement-restrictive it was, and the price.
The “Runner Up” dress
Here she is, my second choice in all her glory. If I had chosen this knock-out Maggie Sottero dress, I would have done three major alterations to it to really glam it up and make it mine, though she was beautiful as is. It’s funny when you think about it, because this dress has many of the qualities that I blatantly did not want. It was a strapless, sweetheart neckline with ruching and a dropped waist, and had a corset back. In fact, it was exactly the opposite of what I wanted. But the material – oh, the material! The softest, smoothest, grandest, most luxurious fabric I’ve ever worn! The fabric alone instantly sold me on this dress, so much so that I was willing to overlook that it was everything I didn’t want! It was light, slippery and heavenly. It draped so beautifully and moved so effortlessly. And do you know why this dress is so popular? Because it looks good on everyone, regardless of their body type. It slims down all the right trouble spots and accentuates all the right curves. It is universally flattering, and only about $100 more than the limit I’d naively set for myself. It was a close call and the only reason I didn’t choose it is because I swear that I’ve seen a million girls wearing dresses identical to this style in the past two years. If I had chosen this beauty, I would have added a little something (a flower, sash, or brooch perhaps) to the gathering seem near the right hip bone, had them replace the corset back with a zippered back, and added some type of sleeves (maybe sheer off the shoulders sleeves, or a halter strap) just to keep it fresh, spice it up a bit, and make it my own.
What I liked: The stunning material, the softness, the way it moved, and how it reflected light. It was glamorous without being too girly. It gave me a great figure and it was so customizable and versatile.
What I didn’t like: The corset back was my biggest concern, because that would have been a major alteration to convert it to a zipper back. Other than that I loved it!
The Dress that Was
The winner was Jasmine Collection style F319 in ivory. It met all my strict criteria – except for the pockets. She was lightweight, extremely comfortable, easy to get into and out of by myself, had a very similar silky soft and light-reflective fabric to the Maggie Sottero I admired, minimal lace and beading, wasn’t strapless, had an interesting, fun back design, enough details to make it special, it came in about $200 under the $750 limit, was very good quality, and I’d never seen a dress on anyone before or since that looks quite like this dress. She looks 1940s in the front and Grecian in the back. For all the hassle, heartache and hopelessness – she was worth it!
