How do you find "the dress" when you've found "the dress" online?

iallrd8it

Ok so I'm starting to go a bit crazy because I've found 2 dresses online that I'm in love with. Both dresses are from popular designers in current collections and I've been calling all bridal stores in a massive area to find out if they have them when they are supposed to carry that brand. Most of the time they don't have that specific dress and if they do it's in a super tiny size. Anyone have any suggestions to save my sanity?

Thanks

kd.joseph

I fell in love with a dress online, and I wasnt going to be satisfied till I tried it on to see if it flattered me. I ended up driving 2.5 hours, and I got lucky. If your not finding what you want in a reasonable area, then go with what th PP said find something similar. If your like me your brain wont stop working till you try it on for yourself. GL

aerinpegadrak

I fell in love with two dresses online and neither one worked.  One just wasn't as nice in person, and the other didn't flatter me remotely.

My advice?  Stop looking at dresses online and get into shops to try them on.  It's a huge gamble to buy a dress if you haven't seen it on.  If you're like about half of women, the dress you end up with will be much different than the ones you're drawn to on the models.

abbycobb812

I completely agree with aerinpegadrak, you can browse online all you want, but you really can't know "the dress" until you try it on. I too ended up with a completely different dress than what I fell in love with online.

Just go try some on and keep an open mind!

momofayden

That was my exact situation.  I found a dress that I knew I just had to try on but no store in 4 states had it nor would they order it for me.  So i continued dress shopping and tried on atleast 150 dresses, all while still thinking of this one dress.  I went into this one salon one day and tried on some dresses and just mentioned this dress.  She looked it up and said she would order it for me in my size and color and once it came in, if i loved it I could buy right them, if not she woud keep it as a sample.  I was very lucky she would even do this for me.  So the dress finally came in 5 months later and exactly 5 months before my wedding and it was the one.  I never thought I would have that feeling because all the other dresses i tried on I liked but never loved any of them.  i was also just about to settle on a dress as my time was getting very short to order something. 

Just keep calling until you find someone that will bring the dress in for you.  Look for trunk shows where they can bring in the dress then.  call the company and ask them to track down stores that have that style.  Follow your gut.  One of them just may be the one. 

P.S. Be willing to drive to a store that will bring it in or has it.  I was calling stores up to 4 -5 hours away.  Check stores near freinds and relatives you could go visit and stay with.  It can be really frustrating but eventually you will find it.

MrsJPalamar

I am in the same boat as you. I sent out 5-10 emails yesterday to salons for a Watters gown that I just saw online and was like that is so me and perfect. However it is a more fitted design and I am hippy so I want to try it on first. I have tried on similar cuts but never one "fit and flare". Long story short a salon about an hour away is going to contact the designer about getting it in for me to try on. I hope you are as lucky as I am.

I find looking online great because you get ideas of what style you like, but nothing is the same as trying them on. I tried on over 150 when I married my ex, and I ended up with what I said in the start I didn't want, a satin ball gown. Ordering it without trying it on is really risky, so be sure.

thewhitz

I tried my search the exact same way and it made life so difficult.  My suggestion is to research and find photos of dresses you like.  Take those photos to the dress salons with you and have the sales person pull dresses for you to try on that are similar to your photos.

Good luck!

DezirayM

I agree with a couple of the other ladies - just because you see it online, doesn't mean you'll love it in person.  Definitely try on something similar, but you may be surprised.  I too ended up buying a dress that I probably wouldn't have even picked out for myself.  I was in LOVE with a Maggie Sottero dress online - found it by accident at a bridal shop in the exact color, etc. that I wanted.  It was NOT the dress for me after all.  I still call it Dresszilla because there was so much tulle and it was so heavy.  You don't know until you try it on.

crushme8602

Agreed! Try ones that are the same style, and try to find the one you are looking for in a store. I called around to every store in CT and only one store had the dress I was looking for. I ended up getting that dress and just in time because it was about to be discontinued in two weeks!

mikeandsteph2010

Find out when that designers trunk shows are in your area.  They bring their newest collections and dresses that the store doesnt carry.  Sometimes you can even get discounts at that time.

Good luck!

hildeedee

i tried on a ton of dresses in a ton of different styles. i ended up ordring mine online and it was perfect. i was comfortable ordering it online one, because i had tried on numerous dresses in a similar silhouette by the same designer and two, she allowed returns.