The Dress... I Don't Have a Clue!

Lisa50

Seriously, I don't have a clue re: what kind of dress I want to wear, other than "not a traditional gown."  That said, I keep bouncing back and forth between evening gowns, short/retro dresses ... you name it, I've considered it.  With the wedding a year off, I don't feel pressed about it, either.  I keep telling myself I have plenty of time and will wait until 3 or 4 months prior to get myself in gear.  *sigh*  I'm MUCH more shoe-obsessed than anything else. LOL!

What's your plan for choosing a dress?

Sloane99

I did the full out wedding gown - it's exactly what I wanted (picts in bio) but there's tons of options if you don't want to go traditional.

BCBG has some great and flattering dresses, Macy's has some really nice ones. If you're buying something off the rack and not ordering a traditional gown you do have some time for sure. Also look at some of the bridesmaids lines, there's some really nice ones there and a fraction of the price. If you like shoes so much why not get a shorter, retro style and splurge on some great shoes to show off?

What do you envision for your wedding day? What style, casual, laid-back, formal, evening? What styles most flatter your body? Start there and narrow down the choices and we can help you out.

melissamc2

I went with a full wedding gown - with black accents, and all of my accessories (and the shoes) will be black.  It just came in, in fact, after six months of waiting!  I go pick it up next week!  I had originally wanted an all black gown, but my fiance (his first/only!! haha wedding) really wanted me in a white gown.  We had to find a nice compromise.  Here is what it looks like:







There are just SO MANY options, though, that choosing one is very much abotu what YOU want and what you will feel comfortable in.  A lot of designers are offering alternatives to "traditional" gowns.   Good luck with the hunt! 

Lisa50

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_second-weddings_dress-dont-clue?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:35Discussion:683a736e-a393-4ea2-b22d-3083deef4b79Post:f2d9013c-c46c-42eb-b0d3-e97b51cd3acb">Re: The Dress... I Don't Have a Clue!</a>:
[QUOTE] What do you envision for your wedding day? What style, casual, laid-back, formal, evening? What styles most flatter your body? Start there and narrow down the choices and we can help you out.
Posted by Sloane99[/QUOTE]

Good questions and a great place to start, thank you.  We have a desire for a simple, elegant (but not stuffy) affair.  The ceremony (July 2011) is slated to start @ 5:30 and will be on a terrace outdoors.  The guys (groom, his best man and my best man) will wear suits/ties. 

The best styles for me have a defined waist (although not tight), loose on the hips and fitted through the bust.  In theory, a sweetheart neckline works but honestly, I think that accentuates a bustline that needs no help.  LOL!

Here's one I like (for the defined waist and kicky hemline), but I'm not into wearing white ...

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Here's another I like, but I'm afraid it would make my DDs look like watermelons, plus that high waist wouldn't be flattering ... but I like the beading and lace (and the shoulder/neckline treatment), plus the wide waist band ...

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<a href="http://cdn.cl9.vanillaforums.com/downloaded/ver1.0/content/images/store/9/10/0932c42d-bac5-4973-ba1e-524772c87888.large.jpg" title="Click to view a larger photo" onclick="return gSiteLife.LoadForumPage('ForumImage', 'plckPhotoId', '0932c42d-bac5-4973-ba1e-524772c87888', 'plckRedirectUrl', gSiteLife.EscapeValue(window.location.href));" class="PhotoLink"><img src="http://cdn.cl9.vanillaforums.com/downloaded/ver1.0/content/images/store/9/10/0932c42d-bac5-4973-ba1e-524772c87888.medium.jpg" alt="" /></a>

Whaddya think?  How can I merge these two styles?  Or is there something else out there that might strike a good balance?

Thank goodness I have a year before the big day!  :)

MikesAngie

I'm going for the formal wedding gown, but totally understand the dress dilemma.  Of the two dresses you have pictured here I really like the first one.

Like the PP's stated determine the style of your day, and then go from there.  Find a dress you love in a color that suits you!  Or find shoes you love and a dress to match...  It sounds like a lovely wedding though.

Congratulations!

Sloane99

I gotcha on your style now, that's a Dolly couture right? Try www.unique-vintage.com as well, lots of fun dresses with similar styles in all sorts of colours, especially if you don't want white.  You can search by wedding dress, prom dress or different vintage styles and a girl on my local had really good success with them.

That style you have above is called a swing dress, here's a clicky for the unique vintage ones:

http://www.unique-vintage.com/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=swing+dress

Marrin713

I'm no help.  I am on dress #3 with 16 days to go.  Rats!

melissamc2

I LOVE your first one! 

Good luck, Marrin!

handfast4me

 For my first wedding, in 1985, I had a tea-length dress very much like the Dolly Couture you have pictured, except with long sleeves.  I had it made by a seamstress, as no one was selling anything other than the princess-Diana type dresses at the time. 

For this wedding,  I tried on tons of dressess (well over 100, in fact) at several different salons.  This time it was hard to find something that was not a strapless! I ended up with a "Special Occasions" dress that was a greek inspired dress in ivory.  My jewelry was the splurge, sterling silver barefoot sandals (like jewelry for your feet!) and a sterling silver arm band. 

So, look everywhere.  There are some lovely dresses from J Crew that might fit the bill. 

embracejoy

For my first wedding (2003), I did the strapless princess gown with lace bolero, and cathedral-length veil.  About as bridal as you can get.

For this wedding, I knew without a doubt I didn't want to go that route again... but I didn't know what I *did* want to wear.  I went to a bridal salon with my aunt (whose wedding is 10 days before mine) to find a dress for her, and *I* ended up being the only one to buy a dress that day!  I saw it hanging on the wall, and thought it was gorgeous.. tried it on, and I KNEW!  This is my dress, but mine is entirely ivory (duiponi silk with cotton lace overlay at the top - wish there was a better picture out there in the world... dumb bridal model...):

http://watters.com/product.php?showid=983

I think the best thing to do is just go try stuff on without any preconceived ideas in your mind.. See what looks and feels right!  You may surprise yourself.. I definitely did!

2dBride

This is amusing me. My first wedding, I had a floor-length wedding dress.  My second, I started out saying that I would just wear nice clothes I already owned.  Then NotFroofy said she wanted a wedding dress, but one without a train.  I figured it would be impossible to match two wedding dresses, so I thought I would get a MOB dress.  Then NotFroofy got a wedding dress with a train.  It was so gorgeous on her that I figured I needed to get a wedding dress, or I'd look like I straggled in from the wrong wedding.

However, since I assume you are not dealing with that particular situation, more power to you on finding a nice dress that is not a wedding dress!

pamila51510

2dbride - I adore you and your stories!! You always make me chuckle!!!

My first dress I made myself it was tea length kinda little house on the prarie style with puffy long sleeves (which I am pretty sure I sewed in wrong) Shaking head oh boy.

The second one was a lace sundress from macy's

Mine this time was my dream dress from when I was a little girl it was what i had always wanted and I did it to the nines tiara veil crinoline it was big and I felt like a princess and loved every second of it. Keep on trying till you find one that says this is it. Good Luck!  

Erin McCormack

For my first wedding (986) I wore a floor length gown with the big 80's sleeves, cathedral train and traditional veil.

This time, I'm wearing a strapless tea-length dress in ivory.  This is much more my style.  It's simple, but, elegant and perfect for the wedding we're planning.  I'm also going with a simple pearl spray clip for my hair No veil.


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I think like PP have said, if you write down the elements you do like and the ones you don't, than it makes it a bit easier.  You still have time, I think once you go into a shop and you actually start trying some on, you'll have a better idea of what works for you.  The best part of second weddings, there's NO RULES, NO PRESSURE, it's your wedding have it your way.  Good luck and enjoy your searching.

bklyn0671

I have no idea, clue what so ever. It is overwhelming I dont want anything that covers me from head to toe, I dont want anything traditional, floor length. I am being so picky.

Lisa50

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_second-weddings_dress-dont-clue?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:35Discussion:683a736e-a393-4ea2-b22d-3083deef4b79Post:61f231f1-c8f4-48ba-8a09-21120978f19c">Re: The Dress... I Don't Have a Clue!</a>:
[QUOTE]I gotcha on your style now, that's a Dolly couture right? Try <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.unique-vintage.com">www.unique-vintage.com</a> as well, lots of fun dresses with similar styles in all sorts of colours, especially if you don't want white.  You can search by wedding dress, prom dress or different vintage styles and a girl on my local had really good success with them. That style you have above is called a swing dress, here's a clicky for the unique vintage ones: <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.unique-vintage.com/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=swing+dress">http://www.unique-vintage.com/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=swing+dress</a>
Posted by Sloane99[/QUOTE]

This has a Dolly Couture look, however it is "Sophie" by Sarah Arnett.  I keep coming back to it.  Another designer, Stephanie James, has a couple of styles I adore.  Unfortunately for me, all of those come in white.  I didn't wear white for my first wedding (1992 - pink, floor length, sleeveless, gorgeous, custom made, not a wedding dress).

You hit the nail directly on the head though, most styles that I noodle over definitely have a vintage vibe.  I'll check out the site you've mentioned.  Thanks so much for teaching me the name of the dress style, which I've referred to as "the type of dress my sister wore for her junior prom in the '60s."  Hee hee.  "Swing dress" rolls off the tongue much more easily.  ;)

vmmom

I selected an ivory, knee length sheath with a short jacket.  It was exactly what I was looking for and I found it on my very first shopping trip.  Now I am just obsessing over shoes and accessories.

For the bride who pointed out it is hard to find anything that isn't strapless, most bridal stores do offer coordinating sleeves you can add to the dress, or a little jacket.  Just a thought.