Dress shopping pics!

[FacetFire]

Hi everyone! I just got back from my first dress shopping trip ever. It was a lot of fun...I tried on a ton of different styles, but mainly ended up focusing in on the Aline/ballgown style and the mermaid style. I really want to be different than all my friends, who seem to have worn ballgowns or princess style dresses, but the I''m realizing there is a reason a lot of people pick them. Anyway, I snuck photos in the first salon, but the second one was impossible because they were with me at ALL times. Anyway, I found a few dresses at the first one that I liked, but the second one had the more expensive gowns and were gorgeous...so I''ll just post the online manufacturer''s photos of those.


Anyway, here''s the first one, it''s a mermaid gown by Jim Hjelm...it comes with a satin ribbon to put across the front, but my mom and I preferred it without (I think). Sorry for the quality of the pics, but since I snuck the camera in, I didn''t use flash and the clips were off so my mom tried to hold them up...

 

[FacetFire]

Okay, this next one is by Lazaro and may be a little fancier than I want...

 

[FacetFire]

This is also by Jim Hjelm and has a ruched (sp?) bodice with tiny beading. I loved it, but it may be too much like some of my friends have had...I really want my dress to be striking and different...

 

[FacetFire]

Here's the last one from the store where I was able to snap pics. It's by Lazaro again and is probably the most risky/different dress. It was WAY too big, so you have to imagine it a little more form-fitting.

 

[upgrading mama]

all three are veryyy nice dresses. I would have to say, #1 is awesome bc I think it shows off your gorgeous figure most because it hugs all of your curves. What does it do in the back?
It photgraphs well too.



ETA
I hadn't seen the 4th when I posted.....wow I love that one too.
I don't think that an A line does your body absolute justice, go with something a little tighter, very nice!!

 

[FacetFire]

And here are the two dresses I loved at the place that I couldn't take photos. It's too bad because they looked so different in person.

ETA, this first one was probably the most flattering on, but it was an Aline/ballgown style and I wasn't sure it was different enough...

 

[FacetFire]

And finally, my most favorite. It looks very different in person and when the person wearing it isn''t as skinny...

 

[robbie3982]

I love

that first one on you! It looks fabulous!

 

[WTNLVR]

They are all lovely. I think number 2 looks great on you. Very understated and elegant. Can''t go wrong with any of them though.

 

[dani13]

I loove #1!! So pretty and delicate and looks FAB on you...but also love that Vera Wang- did you try that one on?

 

[Dee*Jay]

They all look great on you, but I like #3 the best. The soft folds of the fabric seem so elegant to me.

 

[E B]

I think they all look great, but since you can pull the mermaid look off, I cast my vote for the Vera Wang. If you want striking (yet not over the top), that's it.

 

[mercoledi]

I love the second lazaro and the vera, it''s a great shape on you! There''s another one like the vera...here

 

[budgetbride]

ditto on the vera wang, you''ve got the shape to pull it off

 

[FacetFire]

Date: 9/2/2006 5:50:53 PM
Author: Sophie
all three are veryyy nice dresses. I would have to say, #1 is awesome bc I think it shows off your gorgeous figure most because it hugs all of your curves. What does it do in the back?
It photgraphs well too.



ETA
I hadn''t seen the 4th when I posted.....wow I love that one too.
I don''t think that an A line does your body absolute justice, go with something a little tighter, very nice!!

Hmmm...I''m trying to remember. I think it has a pretty simple back that echoes the front. I was thinking of adding a silk bow to the back actually because it almost seemed too simple.

 

[FacetFire]

Date: 9/2/2006 6:53:14 PM
Author: Dani
I loove #1!! So pretty and delicate and looks FAB on you...but also love that Vera Wang- did you try that one on?

Yeah, I tried that one on, and it''s probably my favorite. I can''t get it out of my head. Plus, it came in this very nice ivory color that seemed much more flattering than the white. I wish I could have taken a pic for you guys! I think it''s so annoying when they won''t allow pics...I mean, I can find one on the internet! I just would like to see how it would photograph on me...I''m a bit more curvy than the girl in the pic (especially in the butt and thighs), so I''d like to make sure it''s be okay.

 

[FacetFire]

Date: 9/2/2006 10:13:32 PM
Author: mercoledi
I love the second lazaro and the vera, it''s a great shape on you! There''s another one like the vera...here

Oooh, that''s pretty! The first salon had Watters dresses, but I didn''t see that one. I should give them a call and see if they have it...it would sure save me a lot of money to fall in love with something other than the Vera!

 

[FacetFire]

Thanks to everyone for your opinions! I''m glad to see that a lot of you are liking the Vera Wang...I really think it''s the one to beat for me at this point. Granted, I still need to do more looking around, I think. How many shops did most of you go to before you picked one?

I think that the mermaid look is probably the best idea as long as I can pull it off...it''s sure to be different than what most other woman choose.

I''ll definitely keep you guys up to date and post more pics when I keep looking. I''m very happy to hear more opinions too!!! Thanks everyone!

 

[upgrading mama]

I keep coming back to these pics. for me, it would be #1 or 4. I love the rushing on the bust of #1, a very romantic feel,
and I love the sexy attitude of the satin and dramatic side fold of #4. I would say #4 has a dramatic look and is different. Was the back of that one plain or did it have any embellishments/?????


Man, I wish I was still looking for gowns, there are sooooo many gorgeous ones!!


is this #4?? http://www.lazarobridal.com/laz_b/display_dress.php?imageno=1553&multimatch=x

 

[E B]

Date: 9/3/2006 12:06:55 AM
Author: FacetFire
Thanks to everyone for your opinions! I'm glad to see that a lot of you are liking the Vera Wang...I really think it's the one to beat for me at this point. Granted, I still need to do more looking around, I think. How many shops did most of you go to before you picked one?

I think that the mermaid look is probably the best idea as long as I can pull it off...it's sure to be different than what most other woman choose.

I'll definitely keep you guys up to date and post more pics when I keep looking. I'm very happy to hear more opinions too!!! Thanks everyone!

I've lost count, but I've been to many. I found my dress at the 4th shop, but I continued looking (I didn't want to be a 2 dress bride). I found a couple more I liked, but kept thinking about it (it was the first my Mom and I fell in love with). I recommend you go to at least a couple more stores and try on several more gowns. If your mind keeps wandering back to one, that's the one you should buy (given it fits into the budget)!

But, yeah, from the looks of the first picture, you can definitely pull the mermaid look off. I love the Vera, but if you're looking for cheaper, there are several gowns out there with the same look (though that bubble hem is really unique!).

Here's an Essence of Australia that's similar:
Essence of Australia

 

[flutterby]

Number one looks AWESOME on you! I really like it. The vera wang is amazing as well! However, not sure how budget conscious you are. I cant imagine anything looking more perfect than the jim hjelm, but veras are NICE! And I particularly like the back of the Vera. tough choice. Keep trying on and after awhile you will know which one is IT! Thats what I did, but my gold standard was a bridesmaid dress. I kept trying on more expensive dresses but i just LOVED my dress!

good luck! you have such a great figure you will look great in whatever you decide.....lucky girl!

 

[FacetFire]

oops, I mistyped

 

[FacetFire]

Date: 9/3/2006 12:41:29 AM
Author: Sophie
I keep coming back to these pics. for me, it would be #1 or 4. I love the rushing on the bust of #1, a very romantic feel,
and I love the sexy attitude of the satin and dramatic side fold of #4. I would say #4 has a dramatic look and is different. Was the back of that one plain or did it have any embellishments/?????


Man, I wish I was still looking for gowns, there are sooooo many gorgeous ones!!


is this #4?? http://www.lazarobridal.com/laz_b/display_dress.php?imageno=1553&multimatch=x

Yup, that''s it! But I like how it looks on her better...

 

[fabcrab]

I absolutely love dress number 2 I think it shows off your figure the best. I''m curious how number 1 would look with the ribbon. I feel that number 1 feels like there''s something missing in the pic.

 

[kcoursolle]

All of them are awesome, but I think you have the perfect body for a trumpet gown. My pick is number 1!!

 

[Mara]

i love that first one, your bod is smokin for that kind of dress, so work it girl!! hehee.

i also like the last one, the vera wang you posted on the model, you could carry that off well too most likely and it''s definitely unique...

but i kind of like the first one better because it does have some different things going on. i love the gathered bodice!!

 

[ephemery1]

My vote is for #4... not many people can carry off a dress like that, but it looks stunning on you... sexy and unique and flattering without being "too much". But they all look lovely... definitely the kind of styles I love!!

ETA - I'd love to see the Vera Wang on you instead of the model... I agree that when I was trying on dresses, I liked some of them much better on me than on the runway models... some of their figures are just too boyish to pull off a wedding dress I think!

 

[anniestl]

I agree- I love #4 (the second Lazaro) on you, although they are all gorgeous! I understand what you mean about being more "risky" though- I''m going through the exact same debate myself. The bottom line, though, is that the gowns you''ve tried on are very striking. That''s what I''m going for, and you sound like you agree- I feel a lot of the dresses I try on are pretty much what all my friends have worn and maybe boring? so I''m trying to find something unique but still classic! Good luck!

 

[moremoremore]

For me it's #2. It looks the best on you imo.....but you look good in everything I'm sure!

While you totally have an awesome figure, I think #1 doesn't give you a waist...maybe it's just the fit... bc you do have a teeny one!

 

[mercoledi]

I ran across this today which looks a lot like that Vera.

And I saw some pictures of the Watters gown in the Watters bio here and here. Enjoy the rest of your dress shopping! I still think the last Lazaro would be stunning.