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Searching for the perfect dress! Used or preowned designer dresses?

Knottie3032312 Knottie3032312 member
in Attire & Accessories Forum
Hi!

I found this lovely Marchesa dress online from their 2012 collection http://www.brides.com/wedding-dresses-style/marchesa-2000000001430912 and was wondering if anyone has gone the route of tracking down an older designer dress, where to find it, how to get it, if you've tried the used or preowned route, etc. Thanks!
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Re: Searching for the perfect dress! Used or preowned designer dresses?

  • missdelilahmissdelilah member
    1000 Comments 250 Love Its First Anniversary First Answer
    Have you tried on something that's similar to this? I'd really recommend that you do that before going to the hassle of trying to buy one. A huge number of ladies here fell in love with pictures of dresses, tried them on, and found that it did nothing for them, then fell in love with something that was completely unlike the original dress they thought they'd work out of the store with. I'd recommend sending the photo to a few nearby bridal salons and asking if they have anything similar. Keep in mind, even if you're buying something preowned, you may not have the luxury of finding anything local that you can try on, but have to have it shipped. A lot of people won't take returns if you simply don't like the way the dress looks when you try it on (only if the original ad was misleading). It might take you several months to try and resell it. Good luck in your search.
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  • vulpiepopvulpiepop member
    500 Comments 250 Love Its First Anniversary First Answer
    I agree with PP. Try the dress or a similar dress on at a salon before you spend the money. I thought I knew what I wanted but when I tried it on, it really did not look as good on me as I thought.

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  • CMGragainCMGragain member
    10000 Comments 500 Love Its Fourth Anniversary 25 Answers
    OP. please go read the sticky post that I wrote at the top of this board.  (Sigh!)  Pay special attention to the beginning that says you cannot choose a dress from a photo-shopped picture of an anorexic model in a tortured pose.
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  • sarahjane222sarahjane222 member
    Third Anniversary 25 Love Its 10 Comments Name Dropper
    My dress is actually from 2011 but I found a whole lot of dress stores still carrying it, as well as online at preowned sites. If I were you, I'd get on the phone and start calling some dress stores to see if they have it (not places like David's Bridal, but smaller boutique places - especially ones that have older gowns or preowned ones). 
    Good luck!
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  • missdelilahmissdelilah member
    1000 Comments 250 Love Its First Anniversary First Answer
    You can find a list of stores that carry Marchesa bridal here: http://www.marchesa.com/stores  If any of them are close, you should give them a call.  
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  • amelishaamelisha member
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    CMGragain said:

    OP. please go read the sticky post that I wrote at the top of this board.  (Sigh!)  Pay special attention to the beginning that says you cannot choose a dress from a photo-shopped picture of an anorexic model in a tortured pose.

    Wow, is there maybe a less-offensive way to phrase that? Eating disorders aren't a great thing about which to make sarcastic comments or of which to accuse strangers (yes, models are people too.) I get the idea behind it - thin girls, unrealistic editing, weird photography, those are all good reasons to want to try it on yourself - but seriously, throwing "anorexic" around is pretty cruel. Even if you don't mean it that way. Just....yeah, ouch.


    OP, I bought mine online from a legit retailer (not a Chinese knockoff site or anything), and it worked out great. You've been given lots of suggestions already but I'd also recommend preownedweddingdresses.com - you can search there by size, designer, style, and even set up an email alert for specific dresses.

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  • missdelilahmissdelilah member
    1000 Comments 250 Love Its First Anniversary First Answer
    amelisha said:
    OP. please go read the sticky post that I wrote at the top of this board.  (Sigh!)  Pay special attention to the beginning that says you cannot choose a dress from a photo-shopped picture of an anorexic model in a tortured pose.
    Wow, is there maybe a less-offensive way to phrase that? Eating disorders aren't a great thing about which to make sarcastic comments or of which to accuse strangers (yes, models are people too.) I get the idea behind it - thin girls, unrealistic editing, weird photography, those are all good reasons to want to try it on yourself - but seriously, throwing "anorexic" around is pretty cruel. Even if you don't mean it that way. Just....yeah, ouch.

    OP, I bought mine online from a legit retailer (not a Chinese knockoff site or anything), and it worked out great. You've been given lots of suggestions already but I'd also recommend preownedweddingdresses.com - you can search there by size, designer, style, and even set up an email alert for specific dresses.
    It's the same advice CMGragain gives almost everyone.  Oddly enough, you're the first person I've seen point out the political incorrectness of it.  A lot of models do have eating disorders; it's very well documented in the industry.  However, you make an unspoken point about there being no evidence of a particular model in a particular photo having an ED.  Strangely, after watching several of my friends go through eating disorders, it doesn't bother me that CMG uses the term in this context.  
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  • amelishaamelisha member
    1000 Comments 500 Love Its First Answer Name Dropper
    missdelilah said:
    amelisha said:
    OP. please go read the sticky post that I wrote at the top of this board.  (Sigh!)  Pay special attention to the beginning that says you cannot choose a dress from a photo-shopped picture of an anorexic model in a tortured pose.
    Wow, is there maybe a less-offensive way to phrase that? Eating disorders aren't a great thing about which to make sarcastic comments or of which to accuse strangers (yes, models are people too.) I get the idea behind it - thin girls, unrealistic editing, weird photography, those are all good reasons to want to try it on yourself - but seriously, throwing "anorexic" around is pretty cruel. Even if you don't mean it that way. Just....yeah, ouch.

    OP, I bought mine online from a legit retailer (not a Chinese knockoff site or anything), and it worked out great. You've been given lots of suggestions already but I'd also recommend preownedweddingdresses.com - you can search there by size, designer, style, and even set up an email alert for specific dresses.
    It's the same advice CMGragain gives almost everyone.  Oddly enough, you're the first person I've seen point out the political incorrectness of it.  A lot of models do have eating disorders; it's very well documented in the industry.  However, you make an unspoken point about there being no evidence of a particular model in a particular photo having an ED.  Strangely, after watching several of my friends go through eating disorders, it doesn't bother me that CMG uses the term in this context.  

    As someone in recovery, it bothers me. A lot. And I am shocked that no one has previously said anything because it is really a terrible thing for her to say. Just mean, and unnecessary. Yeah, the eating disorder rate is lots higher in fashion than the average, but that does not give anyone the right to talk like that. And quite frankly, it's triggering to see that stuff. There is zero need to be shaming people for the bodies they have.

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  • mollyringwald15mollyringwald15 member
    100 Love Its 100 Comments Name Dropper First Anniversary
    amelisha said:
    missdelilah said:
    amelisha said:
    OP. please go read the sticky post that I wrote at the top of this board.  (Sigh!)  Pay special attention to the beginning that says you cannot choose a dress from a photo-shopped picture of an anorexic model in a tortured pose.
    Wow, is there maybe a less-offensive way to phrase that? Eating disorders aren't a great thing about which to make sarcastic comments or of which to accuse strangers (yes, models are people too.) I get the idea behind it - thin girls, unrealistic editing, weird photography, those are all good reasons to want to try it on yourself - but seriously, throwing "anorexic" around is pretty cruel. Even if you don't mean it that way. Just....yeah, ouch.

    OP, I bought mine online from a legit retailer (not a Chinese knockoff site or anything), and it worked out great. You've been given lots of suggestions already but I'd also recommend preownedweddingdresses.com - you can search there by size, designer, style, and even set up an email alert for specific dresses.
    It's the same advice CMGragain gives almost everyone.  Oddly enough, you're the first person I've seen point out the political incorrectness of it.  A lot of models do have eating disorders; it's very well documented in the industry.  However, you make an unspoken point about there being no evidence of a particular model in a particular photo having an ED.  Strangely, after watching several of my friends go through eating disorders, it doesn't bother me that CMG uses the term in this context.  

    As someone in recovery, it bothers me. A lot. And I am shocked that no one has previously said anything because it is really a terrible thing for her to say. Just mean, and unnecessary. Yeah, the eating disorder rate is lots higher in fashion than the average, but that does not give anyone the right to talk like that. And quite frankly, it's triggering to see that stuff. There is zero need to be shaming people for the bodies they have.

    My thoughts exactly. Comments such as this certainly don't help to support those living with or in recovery from a disorder. My sister has been anorexic for years, and hit rock bottom last year. I think about all the people that lurk on these boards and how many of them might have been hurt or impacted by such a nasty comment.

    To the original poster - I bought my dress at a sample sale. I'm not sure how old this dress is or how long it has been discontinued, but you may try that route. Even if you can't find this exact style, you may find another dress by this designer. I was able to get a Jim Helm for 70% off, in perfect condition. I would hesitate ordering the dress without being able to try it on.

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  • CMGragainCMGragain member
    10000 Comments 500 Love Its Fourth Anniversary 25 Answers
    edited October 2014
    @amilisha, @mollyringwald13, Thank you for your comments.  You have a valid point.  I'm surprised at myself for not considering that.  I will change my post in the sticky to read differently.
    I hate how the modern fashion world promotes unhealthy thinness.  I am a fan of TCM classic movies.  If beauties like Marilyn Monroe, Sophia Loren, and Jane Russell (size 16!) were working today, the studio would tell them to lose 30 pounds!  Brides are beautiful in every size, so why only use models that are 5'10" and size 4, or less?
    I am sorry if I hurt anyone's feelings.  Thank you again for bringing this to my attention.
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  • amelishaamelisha member
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    Thank you. I appreciate it and the apology. And I'm sorry for the thread hijack, OP!

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