Buying dress sight unseen?

[trillionaire]

How did you all handle this?


I fell in love with a Maggie Sottero dress a few years ago, completely by accident. I''ve found an online retailer that sells it (multiple sizes and all), but of course, no returns, so if I bought it and hated it, well, I''d be SOL.

The dress is sexy, dramatic, and elegant all at the same time, though I would assume a bit unforgiving in the way that it is styled, which makes me think that I should just find something that I can try on in stores... and it''s way more than I ever planned to spend

, though to be fair, I was just going to buy something simple and cheap since I want to do a TTD session

. I can''t get the image of me in this dress out of my head with a flirty birdcage veil!

So I''m still stuck on this dress, 2-3 years later, and I don''t know what to do. Any advice? Anyone else purchased a dress sight unseen? Also, how much alteration can occur to account for weightloss? I plan to lose AT LEAST 20-25 lbs before I get married

I think corset backs are more amenable to this?

Help?

 

[cammy85]

I''d say scour your local salons for a similar style/cut of dress and try that on and see what you think. Sometimes what we love on paper doesn''t work on our bodies - I know firsthand! You would have to take a leap and hope what you tried on translates to that dress, but if you are set on it and your ''testers'' look good, why not? There is always oncewed.com and preownedweddingdresses.com - and ebay. You aren''t totally SOL if you don''t love it.

Depending on how long you have before the wedding, wait a little bit because the less alterations they would have to do to account for weight loss, the better, typically. Dresses can usually be taken in about 2 sizes (but again highly dependent on your dress and seamstress!)

good luck!

 

[mrscushion]

If you haven''t already done so, I would at least try on similar dresses in store to see if you really love the style.

I was dead set on wanting a Monique Lhuillier-style lace sheath as my gown. Until I tried one on. I''m curvy and the sheaths hit at the widest point of my body, my hips. Did not look nearly as good as hourglass-cut dresses. Now I know.

On the other hand, I MIGHT consider buying a simple silk taffeta ruched A-line or mermaid gown sight-unseen now that I know what looks good on me.

 

[purselover]

I think it depends on how well you know yourself and what does/doesn''t look good. I am very good at picturing how things will look on me and ordered both my ceremony and reception dresses online (they were returnable though I should add)

 

[DiamondsforDee]

I would definitely try on similar styles before buying. It is hard to tell what will look good on your body until you try. I''m pretty darn small (a size 0-2) and I felt like the mermaid dresses made my hips and thighs look wide. If it does not hit just right the style is quite unforgiving. It is such a beautiful dress that I can understand your desire to just order it.

 

[MsP]

Date: 8/6/2009 10:34:03 AM
Author:trillionaire
Also, how much alteration can occur to account for weightloss? I plan to lose AT LEAST 20-25 lbs before I get married

I think corset backs are more amenable to this?

Help?

Even if you do lose like 30lbs, you really don''t have any guarantees on where exactly this loss will show. You might lose lots on your arms/legs, lose your bustline, and none on your torso...