Filene's Basement Running of the Brides

Sonya32575

Ladies, I know this is early but...is anyone planning on going to this in February? My wedding is in July '10 and I was hoping to go to Kleinfeld's NYC for dress shopping. But I've also heard good things about the ROTB sale. But it also looks like complete madness too. thoughts?

L-Bride

I have heard from so many brides that they had success with ROTB but it's not my thing. I did go and my BMs and I made t-shirts, got up early to get in line - it was awful IMO. I found people were wanting to fight people for dresses which I think is trashy. It was more stressful than anything. When I went the only styles of gowns I saw were big poofy ballgowns which I knew I definitely didn't want. Maybe singing a different tune if I had found a dress I wanted! I may just be bitter bc I ended up paying salon prices for my gown though!

Knottie6cd98948dcce890b

Im going to Kleinfeld's on December 18th for an appointment. Ive heard that ROTB is great, but don't be fooled that you have to be there at 5am to get a dress. Apparently there are some at even 11am left.

shagadelk7

I got my dress there. Had I left without a dress I would have said my experience was awful. I almost fought a girl the second I got there bc she came by me and just ripped a dress out of my hand. The MOB are extremely catty too. It's just not my style. That said, I did get a gorgeous mermaid style dress (Mori Lee) that was originally priced $2500 for $250. Definitely worth taking a look. There are also many dresses still left later in the afternoon. Plan on those dresses being dirty and wrinkly because a lot of people have tried them on. Usually it's nothing a good dry clean can't take out.

Sonya32575

Thank you for the info. I'm so torn. Definitely not looking forward to any catfights. Maybe I'll hire a body guard Think I'll try Kleinfeld's in January..I just can't swing it before Xmas. Mckridings, let me know how your appointment goes. and good luck!

noodle_oo

If you aren't up for the crowds, I'd definitely suggest going a little later!  My MOH and I went last year (but we went really late, like 5 PM) and there are still TONS of dresses.  It was really quiet too, so we just browsed leisurely and spent like 2 hrs trying on dresses.  It was fun to try on a lot of stuff.  Of course, by then they have been picked over and we didn't really like anything.  But I have heard that if you go around 10 AM or lunch time, it is still busy, but not crazy and still a lot of nice dresses left.  The one thing I was disappointed with was the condition of dresses.  They were dirty, a few were torn or had stuck zippers.  It was kind of sad.  Don't go with the cleaning company at the sale.  We asked about one dress and they wanted to charge $300 to clean it.  I'm sure you can do it cheaper locally.  Even so, I know other girls have found their dresses there on a huge discount, so probably worth a try!

JBs_Bride

I went to ROTB last winter around 10 a.m. I tried on a lot of dresses, but I didn't find anything I really liked. I agree with PPs that if you go later, there's less of a rush and there are still a zillion dresses left. Good luck!

junelley

I went this past August and I'd say if you want to avoid the madness, go after the "trading" period.  I'd say after 10am.  We arrived at 9:30am and I thought we went too early as the girls were still hogging a bunch of dresses and a little catty about letting go of dresses that they don't even want anymore.   There will still be pleennty of dress left.  I didn't get my dress because my small crew did not want to stay over 1 1/2 hour.   If I had stayed longer, I might have been able to find a dress.  It's worth a try, imo; there were sooo many beautiful dresses for very very low prices.  The conditions of the dresses are hit or miss.  Some are better than others.  Also, most dresses are in ivory, so finding a diamond white/white dress is a little challenging, if that matters to you.  Even though I didn't get a dress, I had fun and wished I could've stayed longer.GL!

mrsandmrsbins

Go go go! I had a great experience. I went at 1pm, there were tons of dresses, I was able to browse the racks, and there were no fights. The sale actually goes till 7pm. I wasn't going to just look around before going to a bridal salon either, if I didn't find something for $250, I just wasn't going to wear a wedding gown, period, so I was very determined. I agree some were a bit dirty and had some condition issues, but you do have to really commit to searching through a lot of dresses. And there aren't as many whitedresses, more ivory. But I had a great time. Just make sure you bring friends to help browse and button.

MarrymeJuliet

Go!!!!! I was a TOTAL skeptic too and I ended up getting my dress this past August.  Dont bother with the 3am wakeup call and line! I went with just me and my best friend around 10am.  I think i got there a little early since like others said the bridezillas were still hogging dresses when we arrived.  However, by around Noon all the dresses were back on the racks! I'm talking hundreds of them. Just keep and open mind.  And wear a bathing suit an dont carry a purse like i did.  I went on a total whim and thought i would have to go to nyc to find my dress.  low and behold at around 1230, we looked over at a girl and she had my dress on! She didnt look right in it but once i tried it on we were sold.  And you save so much money that *gasp* if u ended up changing your mind its not a huge loss.  definetly worth it imo.  go even just for the experience.  you only get to be a bride once hopefully ! good luck!

ebigelow

I went this summer to help a friend find a dress since I had already found mine. We got there around 5am and there were a TON of people in front of us. By the time we got through the doors, all of the dresses were already off the racks! Since we didn't have any to begin with it was really hard to get dresses to try on since everyone just wants to trade. Here's my suggestion - if you want the experience and to see what it's like (people camping out in line, teams dressed in "costumes", the "running", and what it looks like when you get inside and all the dresses are in piles on the floor with girls' sitting on top of them...I would maybe show up a half hour or before they open the doors just so you can experience it (and also get some really funny/crazy pictures!)...then I would leave for a few hours and go have breakfast or walk around Newbury St or something...then go back around 10:30/11am. We ended up leaving around 11am and by then most of the dresses were back up on the racks and there were still a TON of them!

MelissaWhall

I think I may go just for fun. It seems like one of those crazy things you do and can laugh about it later. Kind of like waiting in line for the stores to open on the day after thanksgiving:) Who knows maybe I will find my dream gown.

caflygrl

Just chiming in my two cents - I went this past Aug (I think) at around 4pm and it was so empty and still HUNDREDS of dresses left. I set up at a mirror and my ladies went around brought me dresses. I agree some of them need to be cleaned or have zippers fixed but for the price you save, I think it is well worth it. Especially since you are going to have to get it altered anyway! There were still lots of styles left and I felt lots of sizes.  I wish I had gone a tad bit early because even though it ended at 7, they started pulling dresses back at 6pm. Also it was a bit stressful b/c I knew if I didn't buy a dress then, it would be gone forever. I say just go anyway to play a little dress up and get a feel of what kind of dress you like!

raphninja

I think it's really fun, though I've never gone before 10:00 a.m.  The actual "running" isn't for me.  I bought my dress there last August by accident at 4:30 in the afternoon.  It's a $6,000 gown by my dream designer that I got for $700.  I mean.... you really can't beat that.  I just got engaged and wanted to look at pretty dresses.  I got home from camping at 4:00 and had my fiance drive me in "just to look".  I got there at 4:30, picked up the first 2 dresses I saw in my style and found one by the designer I've been in love with since 2001, but knew I could never afford her gowns.  (Eve of Milady)  I've actually been to the ROB 3 other times.  Once with a friend, and twice for fun with friends who weren't getting married.  

Sonya32575

ok, I'll definitely go..but around 11am.  I am so NOT a morning person so the idea of being there by 5AM was not working for me.  If anyone wants to meet up for breakfast that day and go to the sale with me, let me know...