Attire & Accessories Forum

Salons and sample sizes....

I've been researching salons to look for dresses at and I notice their websites say something like "8-10 is the most common sample size"....does that mean if I'm larger than that size (I'm a 14-16) I can't try dresses on there? I'm embarrassed to call and ask! lol

Re: Salons and sample sizes....

  • Don't be embarrassed to ask! I had to call and ask a few places myself and was surprised how many offered larger sizes, I tried on my dress in a 14 and ordered a 16. If all they had was an 8 I might have been put off, but it's nice to know going in that they have options.
  • I'm a street size 18-20.  I just asked when I called the salons - and I booked appointments where they had larger sample sizes.  I was in dresses from 16s to 30s.  Some got clipped in (too big) some were clipped to my bra.  Most of the places I called carried some dresses in larger sizes - 2 had plus size sections even.  Post on your local board to get recommendations for places that carry more sample sizes than the "typical" 8/10.
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  • Depending on the silhouette you're looking for this shouldn't be a problem.  I tried on dresses in a wide variety of sample sizes and some, depending on the silhouette and how the designer ran, just had to be clipped to my bra and I got the idea.  The dress I ended up picking was like this...the sample was just too small.

    One salon even had white or ivory inserts to put in the back so you could see a more "complete" look.

    From my experience, if the sample was too small, ballgown/A line dresses you could still get the best idea of what these would look like in your size.  I did run into problems with the more fitted (ie mermaid) styles if they weren't in my size.  I couldn't get them all the way over my well-endowed behind and so they were not laying right.
  • I am about a 16 right now and was able to try on a few 14s and even one or two 12s.  It really depends on the style of the dress and how the designer labels sizes (I was looking at Maggie Sottero, whose sizes are very comparable to street sizes).  Some dresses were fitted far enough through the hips that I could not get the dress past my thighs.  Others I was able to get into with a bit more shimmying. 

    I did a lot of calling around to salons to ask them if they had particular styles and if so, what the sample size was.  Eventually I found almost all the dresses I wanted to see in a size that I could get into, but it did take some time and effort.

    On a side note- the dresses with corset backs are a bit more forgiving, as long as you can get them over your hips.
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  • I'm a dress size 22 right now, and I was able to try on everything from 14's to 26's.  Some were clipped together (too big) and some were clipped to the long-line bra.  Even in the 14, I was able to see the silhouette on my body and it was fine.  I ended up picking a dress that I could only try on in a size 18 (dress size) and even though it was clipped to my bra, it was a fantastic dress and I could see that even though it was 2 sizes (or 4 numbers) too small.  

    Bridal Salons are used to non-sample size brides, and it is a better experience if you can actually try on dresses close to your size, so definitely call ahead and see what they have available to try on. 
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  • do not be worried about what size you are in the least. bridal shops help brides of ALL sizes ALL the time. The size in the dress is just a tiny little number. My dress is like double my normal size because they make wedding dresses so small.  At first I was horrified then I saw on wedding borads many girls have to get a dress a few size larger than their normal size and I realized its not just me.

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  • Thanks all! I did end up calling and the woman was super nice. She confirmed what you guys all said, that they just clip the back and put in inserts.

    Oh the unfairness of women's sizing! LOL 
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