Dress Color Regrets

[shimmer]

Does anyone regret going ivory instead of white (or other color...)?

The dress I fell in love with was in white when I tried it on and everyone loved the color and said they wouldn't change it.

However, it was the last dress I tried on and prior to it all the dresses were ivory and everyone was oohing and awwing how the ivory looked so good with my skin tone.

What do I do? I'm really nervous to order the ivory unseen, but at the same time I want what looks best on me....

My sis said no one would even notice the ivory, they would think it's white anyway so it's not that big of a deal

ETA: I don't mean here that I want it to look white, she just said not to be so picky about it, no one will notice a difference anyway.

My mom is laying out a lot of $$$ so I want to be 100% happy with it. Any advice?

I'll try to attach pics. Here's my dress.

 

[shimmer]

Here''s an ivory dress (I think) from the same designer.

Thanks for your help!!!

 

[cara]

Any way you can find an ivory dress (of the same fabric from the same designer) in the flesh? "Ivory" can vary drastically from fabric to fabric, designer to designer.

I loved a dress that I tried on in a light brown/mocha color. Yes, it was a wedding dress. But my FI wanted me in an ivory or white dress, and I was tempted to order the dress in ivory without seeing the shade. But I found another store with it in ivory about 2 hours away and am SO GLAD I went to see it. It was YELLOW, and the sheen of the fabric which had looked amazing in light brown looked plasticy in ivory.

If you can''t find anything suitable to compare, go with how averages and how you look in the white one. If the white actually looks somewhat unflattering (ie. you are washed out or the white just looks cheapish on your light skin tone) you could chance the ivory unseen. But...

I was still not 100% on my ivory dress even though I had seen a fabric sample in another color. There is a part of me that thought the white sample I tried on (which wasn''t shock white) was at least as beautiful.

 

[shimmer]

Thank you for your input, Cara. I might be able to see a dress of the same designer in ivory, great idea. I was so happy and giddy that I actually found my dress I didn''t think of that

I hate how some ivory shades are really yellow, that''s exactly what I''m afraid of.

The white looked good on me, I just felt it was a little too bright. You know those people with super bright, white teeth? You just can''t stop staring at those blinding chompers! I really don''t want that effect at my wedding!

 

[partyjewels]

I''ve been having regrets on ordering my dress in a light gold/diamond white combo. It looked great on me, but I keep wondering if maybe ALL diamond white would''ve looked better. But it''s really hard for me to imagine how dresses look in a color other than the one I''m trying on... the sample I tried on was the coloring that I ordered, and I do love it, I just worry that maybe it''s not going to look as good as I remember. Of course, no matter what color I ordered it in, I would''ve had these doubts cause thats how I am!

I agree that if possible, try and find one in ivory if you think you''ll like it better because it''s so true how different the ivory''s will vary. Otherwise, do they offer it in any other shades, like a diamond white? It''s not as shocking as the white whites can be - at least the ones that I''ve seen. In any case, it''s a beautiful dress and I''m sure you''ll look just wonderful in it

 

[Maisie]

I prefer Ivory but thats on my skin colour. I think you have to go with what you think is best on you. Can''t you find a store that has the Ivory so you can try it on?

 

[meresal]

Shimmer: I worked with a dress designer and my opinion on the ivory color is this... Though I don''t know your skin tone, ivory is much more compatable with most skin tones than white. The color usually allows your skin to glow, unlike the stark white that can sometimes steal the show from the bride. I love the lace on your gown and I think that the ivory color will give it a very elegant feel. No one at the wedding will be wearing anything close to white, or at least they shouldn''t be, so everyone will think that your dress is white. Can the salon give you a swatch color? Sometimes they will keep the designer''s swatches in the store. Is it a light ivory or is it more of a dark champagne? The dark ivory is going to be coming in style, and I would make sure that you are ordering the correct ivory, and not the darker gold, if they offer it. You could end up with something MUCH darker than you expected. I like the ivory, but again, you know your skin tone better than I. Hope this helped.

 

[Gypsy]

I do wish my dress had come in diamond white instead of only white and ivory, but the ivory is a really light ivory and works well on me. So yes, I've had color doubts-- just the reverse of yours. If your dress comes in diamond white, its a good compromise, not WHITE WHITE and not ivory either.

 

[SarahLovesJS]

Hmm, I wondered if I would feel this way, but so far I don''t. My dress is "candlelight white" so I guess it''s kind of like diamond white or ivory-toned. I really love it. You don''t have to wear bright white! But I agree, try to find a similar dress so you can see it.

 

[Aloros]

Two things - can you find a photo of the dress in ivory to see the color ivory the dress is? And if you have a photograph of yourself in the dress, can you try photoshopping it to see how the ivory would look on you?

My dress is listed as "ivory" in color, but it''s really a light gold. I love it! My skin tone looks fine with white-white, but I find the gold softer and less harsh.

No regrets so far!

 

[blueyes157]

I think the idea of trying to find a dress made by the designer in the same or similar fabric as your dress, to see how it looks in ivory. Every designer''s version of ivory can be very different. Even the way lace appears in ivory can be a very different tone.

One thing that I did (My dress is the casablanca 1881 in all ivory, but salons only carried the sample in the two tone - champagne and diamond white), I called around to local stores (up to an hour or so away) to see if they carried the dress in all ivory (or white) or if a bride had order the dress and it was in stock. Well after 4 phone calls, I got lucky and one store had a bride order the dress in all ivory. They would show me the dress, but of course I could not try it on.

I, like you, was uneasy about ordering a dress sight unseen and possibly regretting my choice! It helped to put my mind at ease and untie all those knots in my stomach. It is amazing how such a slight difference in a shade of white causes so much STRESS!

Now, I may have just gotten lucky, but hey it''s worth a shot. It''s your wedding dress, a dress you wear only once (hopefully) and it isn''t chump change. We would not want you to be unhappy either way.

 

[gwendolyn]

Just based on the pictures, your dress looks simply gorgeous, and I LOVE the shade of ivory on the other dress by the same designer. I''m not sure that''d be enough for me to bite my lip and just order the dress in ivory sight unseen, but I''m inclined to think it''d be phenomenally beautiful if you did risk it. Either way, it''s a smashing dress and I don''t think you can go wrong, m''dear.

 

[shimmer]

Wow, thank you all for your wonderful input! This has really helped, just talking about it and hearing that you had doubts too. For some reason I am so afraid to make a decision unless I know 150% it is the one that I want...commitment issues? Heehee.

I just looked at the models skin tones and mine is more similar to the one in ivory than the one in white, so that is hopeful. Gypsy, There is no diamond white, that would be too easy

Partyjewels, I tried on a dress like yours and it was ssssoooooo hard to imagine it all one color! Seriously, bridal shops should not be allowed to only have one option in stock, they should at least have pics of the others available! I really like the light gold/diamond white combo!

Maisie, I will call around in the city. I think there is one other store that sells this line. *crossing fingers*

Meresal, thanks for the insider perspective. Good idea about the swatch! Do ivories change from dress to dress in the same line? The only colors (listed on the tag) are white and ivory, I really like the ivory too!!!! I just wish I could see it first.

Sarah, I''m glad you have a dress you love, I have never heard of candlelight white! Sounds beautiful

Aloros, I am such an awful photoshop-er, great idea though! I''m glad to hear the white looked good on you, it does on me too but I agree the other dresses in ivory looked a lot softer.

Blueyes, you are 100% on with the "slight difference in a shade". I''m going crazy here! I''m glad you found your dress to try on in ivory.

Gwendolyn, thank you for your compliments! I think the dress is "smashing" too! I guess that is what I should focus on, hey it''s going to look stunning either way!!!! Thanks for putting this into perspective

 

[zoebartlett]

Great advice from everyone! My dress is ivory and I haven''t regretted it so far. I''m very fair and white tends to make me look sick, so I''m glad I chose ivory. Actually, I don''t think there was an option -- I think it only came in ivory but I never thought to check. The only thing that has been somewhat tricky is finding shoes. I actually found 5 pairs that I''m going to hold up to my dress and see which coordinates best, but it wasn''t easy to find ivory shoes. It might be easier once spring comes. But overall, I don''t regret my decision.

 

[Sabine]

Shimmer, what are your wedding colors? My dress is ivory, and I love my dress in ivory and don''t think it would look nearly as good as white, but part of me still wishes I had fallen in love with a dress that looked better in white. I didn''t have a problem with either color with my skin tones, but I think having a white dress would have made some other stuff more simple. I think white would have looked better with the overall colors of my wedding and I would have had silver as an accent color. I''m now having my FI''s shirt, the table linens, the flower girl dress, teh bows on the pews ALL in ivory since I didn''t want to have white and ivory together. Now I have to worry that all the shades of ivory are not goign to look well together, or that some (especially FI''s shirt) will look yellowish.

 

[musey]

Date: 2/27/2008 11:48:30 AM
Author:shimmer

Does anyone regret going ivory instead of white (or other color...)?

Nope. But I didn''t choose it based upon how it looked with my skin, I chose it because I thought it gave an antique charm to the dress. The fact that the dress I chose ONLY comes in ivory helped with that decision.

Are there other bridal salons in your area who carry the dress you like? Try calling around to see if someone has the dress in ivory, or at least a swatch.

 

[shimmer]

Zoe, you''re right..lots of great advice here! I think gold shoes would look nice with ivory, an alternative if you don''t want to go matchy (or can''t).

Sabine, I''m thinking of "tinkerbell" purple and green (that''s the only way I know how to describe it), then cream roses and some pink. I have no idea what colors will go where, but I''m pretty sure I want cream roses in my bouquet. Now I''m thinking white with these colors?! EEK

I''m cringing about your matching dilemas! That sounds really tough.

Musey, I love your dress! I do like the vintage feel ivory gives. But with the swiss dot on my dress I''m not sure it works?

I''ll call that other place right now! Thanks again!

 

[Fancy605]

My dress was not stark white. It was called "Candle light" I believe, which is white with a bit of a tint to it (light ivory maybe). The color flattered my skin tone. I think the ivory had a softer more romantic feel than the stark white for my particular dress.

Now I will say that no one even noticed the dress wasn''t stark white. The only time it was noticeably not stark white was when I was near white. So, I made sure that the table linens, the sashes on my bridesmaid dresses and the flower girl dress were all a slight ivory as well.

Anyway, others have given good advice. Go with what looks better on and with what flatters the style of your dress. I hope you can find a place to see it in person.

From personal experience, I know that dress doubts are the WORST thing ever, but it seems to me that most of you girls here in BIW could get married in any old thing and still manage to look glamorous.

 

[Harleigh]

Hi shimmer,

You have gotten some great advice from the ladies here. I, too, am having color worries as the ivory in the dress I ordered is REALLY creamy colored...not white at all, however, it looks nearly white in the pictures we took, which could''ve been the lighting, etc...

I thought for sure I wanted a white dress until I saw pictures of me IN a white white dress...it was not a good combo. I think ivory is much more flattering on most skin tones than stark white. I say go try to find ivory by the same designer and then go from there.

Good luck!

 

[shimmer]

I totally forgot to call the place! There''s always tomorrow...

It would be awesome if this place allowed pictures, I never really thought about looking different in the colors in pictures (Harleigh, you have just added another element to my panic

) Just kidding

thanks so much for the advice!

Thanks for chiming in Fancy, I can''t imagine trying to match so many things! Good thing I am not planning on having a wedding party!

 

[Harleigh]

Date: 2/28/2008 1:39:08 AM
Author: shimmer
I totally forgot to call the place! There''s always tomorrow...

It would be awesome if this place allowed pictures, I never really thought about looking different in the colors in pictures (Harleigh, you have just added another element to my panic

) Just kidding

thanks so much for the advice!

Thanks for chiming in Fancy, I can''t imagine trying to match so many things! Good thing I am not planning on having a wedding party!

Oh, crap! I am so sorry! (What did I do???

) I didn''t mean to worry you more, I thought I was helping!

Oh, phew, I see you were just kidding!

Thank goodness!

I seriously thought I looked FANTASTIC in white...I guess I don''t wear it in pictures because I know it doesn''t photograph as well (all those years of having my pix taken w/my students has ingrained that into me, so no white on picture day according to the order form!) I never realized how much whiter it looks in pictures.

Just think, for those of us with REALLY ivory/cream dresses, maybe our teeth will look whiter???

Completely off topic, but just an aside of pure delirium from my stressed out brain...I seriously can''t help but think of that commercial (for a whitening toothpaste) from a few years ago where the teacher asks her students what color her teeth are, and they say, ivory, ecru, beige, cream, etc...everything BUT "white" because her teeth were so yellowed...I swear things like this are going to keep me up at night worrying about them!

 

[gwendolyn]

Date: 2/28/2008 2:05:29 AM
Author: Harleigh
Just think, for those of us with REALLY ivory/cream dresses, maybe our teeth will look whiter???

Hahaha, awesome point, Harleigh!

I never really directly compared dress colours before (hey, I''m not even engaged!

, but looking at the two dresses in this thread, I really (personally) prefer the ivory--it looks softer and delicate, whereas the white looks a bit aggressive, if that makes any sense? Probably not...I don''t think people usually think of wedding dresses as being aggressively coloured...

Anyway, I really do think your dress is dynamite, shimmer, and that it will be incredibly gorgeous no matter what you choose! If it was me, I think I''d go for the ivory, but I do think it''ll look fab regardless. Can''t wait to hear what you decide!!