I think I may have found the dress!

[Krissie]

I would really love to hear your insight!

I tried on 7 dresses at a boutique/couture shop today and I really loved 2 of them. I had a pretty clear favorite when I left the shop, but now that I''m looking at the photos, I''m not so sure either one is flattering! Maybe it''s just my body angst ... and the fact the dresses don''t fit exactly. I would love your input, in any event.

Dress #1 is Pronovias. It''s lovely - ticks all my boxes (I wanted some lace, some fluff, and some sparkle). I think the train is to die for. I''m getting married in a Cathedral, so I want a "substantial" dress.

Obviously it''s too small on me in the pics I''ll post (so pardon the back fat and boob spillage) but I think it''s the train that I really love.

Dress #2 is a Cymbeline. I tried it on last - the shop assistant suggested it. I was highly skeptical. It''s a 2-piece dress (first layer is a silk strapless sheath, second layer is a lace overlay with sleeves). It has a velvet rosette ribbon which is black in the pics, but I can order it in ivory too. I think black would give my mom a heart attack.

I told the assistant that I loved it, but that it wasn''t what I was looking for - it didn''t have any sparkle or fluff. She brought out a modest petticoat and voila - I was sold! I thought it was perfect, and when she told me that they could applique some Swarovski, I was so excited!

Now I''m home with the photos and wondering whether I really think the dress is for me. Is it just because I think I look a little chunky? I don''t know. I was nearly in tears at the store because I felt so awesome in the dress. Am I that out of touch with how I really look??!

Ah well - I would love for you all to weigh in. October wedding in a cathedral, followed by evening reception at private members'' club downtown. If I go with the Cymbeline it will have ivory rather than black ribbon, and crystal applique.

Thanks!!

 

[Krissie]

Dress #1 - front view (dress is too small, obviously!)

 

[Krissie]

Back view of #1 with a bustle

 

[Krissie]

The train in #1 -- definitely my favorite part about the dress

 

[Krissie]

Dress #2 - Cymbeline, without the petticoat (and probably as the designer intended!)

 

[Krissie]

Dress #2 with the petticoat - and imagine with ivory ribbon and some sparkle!

 

[Krissie]

Gorgeous back view of #2

 

[Krissie]

Finally - #2 with the veil! Obviously the sample doesn''t fit perfectly, but maybe this gives you a good idea?

 

[neatfreak]

I think #2 is really pretty with the petticoat! But you should continue to try more dresses if you''re not 100% sold on it. I really like it though!

 

[misysu2]

Oh Krissie! I LOVE LOVE #2. I think it is SO flattering on your body and so unique! It really has a wonderful vintage look to it and really looks timeless. I think it would look great with an ivory sash, maybe one that ties on the side into a square knot and trails some fabric down towards your feet. Then they could sew some of those crystals on the end of the sash. Wonderful find!!

 

[oobiecoo]

I know how you feel about loving a dress in the store then not really liking it in pictures. I kept looking at my pictures and thinking my arms looked ginormous and that none of my favorite dresses actually looked as amazing on me as I felt in them. I just had to realize that I am how I am... and also that the camera and lighting may be distorting things a little as well.
That being said, I love #2! It''s more unique than the 1st and absolutely gorgeous. It looks a tad small and the black ribbon looks like it kind of cuts you off in my opinion... but the right size and an ivory ribbon would be amazing! Where would you add on crystals?

 

[surfgirl]

I've always loved that Cymbeline dress and it looks lovely on you. But keep looking a little while longer because you sound unsure. Be sure before you buy as I'm sure that's a very price dress and you dont want to second guess yourself.

After looking again, I just wanted to say that the first dress is lovely too and the difference I see, other than necklines, etc., is that #1 is a more mature looking dress while #2 is a dress that seems best for a younger bride. Which are you? You look young enough to pull off #2 from the photos...and the back line of #2 is stunning, but the bow makes it look younger, if you know what I mean.

 

[sera]

#2!

I sure do LOVE that train on #1 also and it's a pretty dress, BUT #2 is very pretty and seems a little less common to me. Also, #2 is more flattering (gives you a smooth hourglass shape and the lace looks lovely going across your chest/arms)- the dress looks very pretty on you! It looks really pretty on you. I think it will look very nice with ivory ribbon (though I do love the black ribbon- I just don't like that it has that rosette that stands out like a big circle from a distance- with the ivory that won't stand out so much and you could probably see it more as a rosette than a circle).

ETA: looked at the pics again... the train of #2 really is very pretty. I think I liked #1's first because the detail stood out more, but #2 really has a soft, flow... kinda etheral... and I really like the ribbon trailing down the back- not too bold, just very pretty. And the lace on your back is very pretty too. The more I look at #2, the more I like it!

 

[Mandarine]

I love both...but I''m in the minority because I like #1!!!!

It looks so delicate and the train is gorgeous!!!....It looks light and romantic. I love Pronovias and specially their fabrics...their lace is just to die for!!

I do like #2, but I think if you had #1 in your size then it would actually be more flattering than #2.

You can''t go wrong with either though, they''re both beautiful choices!!!!!!!

M~

 

[april diamonds]

I am also in the minority because I like #1 as well. Actually, I love both dresses but I was drawn to #1 on you more than #2. Maybe it''s because I don''t really like the black sash of #2, but you said you would get ivory, in which case I think I would like that a lot better. But I also am not feeling the neckline of #2.

Hmm I''m thinking if #2 had the neckline of #1 it would be perfect. hehe...

But if you''re unsure of either keep lookign around! They are both beautiful dresses.

 

[Krissie]

Date: 10/20/2007 12:33:32 PM
Author: oobiecoo
I know how you feel about loving a dress in the store then not really liking it in pictures. I kept looking at my pictures and thinking my arms looked ginormous and that none of my favorite dresses actually looked as amazing on me as I felt in them. I just had to realize that I am how I am... and also that the camera and lighting may be distorting things a little as well.

That being said, I love #2! It''s more unique than the 1st and absolutely gorgeous. It looks a tad small and the black ribbon looks like it kind of cuts you off in my opinion... but the right size and an ivory ribbon would be amazing! Where would you add on crystals?

Thank you! They''d leave it up to me as to the crystals. I don''t think I would want to go for a bold look, just some sparkles worked in all over the lace overlay. I feel really ignorant about this, though, and would really defer to their judgment!

 

[Krissie]

Date: 10/20/2007 12:36:23 PM
Author: surfgirl
I''ve always loved that Cymbeline dress and it looks lovely on you. But keep looking a little while longer because you sound unsure. Be sure before you buy as I''m sure that''s a very price dress and you dont want to second guess yourself.


After looking again, I just wanted to say that the first dress is lovely too and the difference I see, other than necklines, etc., is that #1 is a more mature looking dress while #2 is a dress that seems best for a younger bride. Which are you? You look young enough to pull off #2 from the photos...and the back line of #2 is stunning, but the bow makes it look younger, if you know what I mean.

Thank you, Surfgirl! I am 28 - will be 29 at the wedding. I think if the bow is in ivory, it will probably stand out a little less than the black!

 

[Krissie]

Oh, thank you to everyone who has commented! It has made me feel much better to hear your supportive comments!! What a great community

I had 3 girlfriends with me, and they liked #1 and #2 equally, but noted I seemed more excited about #2. I felt like it really flattered my hourglass shape, and I agree, it is really unique, even with an ivory ribbon!

I think what I will do is give it a week or two, then make another appoinment and perhaps even take more pictures. They said it is a 6-month delivery time for the Cymbeline, and the wedding is next October - the complicating factor being that the dress is here in the UK and the wedding is in the US! They have said they will do 1 or 2 fittings in the UK and then Fed Ex it to me in the US for any final fittings. I just want to leave enough time for all that to happen.

I should add that I did have a third favorite dress - it was beautiful, very classic, with very heavy satin and some sparklies. At the store, I thought it was lovely but not as big as a "wow" - but perhaps I should try it again and get a photo. I was just really drawn to the dresses with lace and kind of quickly rejected the heavy satin dresses. They were flattering, though.

Also, my mom is pulling a very unhelpful "I don''t know if I can be honest with you, but I just can''t imagine how it will look with all the changes". Obviously her word and support is important, but we do live a country apart! I really want to involve her in this, though, and perhaps if I try to get some better photos in a couple of weeks, she''ll feel it more?

Ok, enough! Thanks again!!

 

[partyjewels]

I''m so glad that you posted pictures of you in that second dress, I love it even more now that I''ve seen it on you, I showed my mom the picture because I was just showing her the mag pic of that dress and she looked at it and went "wait, is that you?, it looks great!" So now I really need to try this dress on! That being said I don''t know which one I like on you better, I think they both would look stunning in the right size! So really I guess I''m no help, but as far as that third dress, even if it looked flattering on you, I think you really need to feel AND look good in the dress to make it THE dress right? I''m scared to go try any dresses on (I''ve just been window shopping so far) because I think the dress that makes me FEEL good, is not going to be the one that makes me look good too

In any case, either way you go, you''ll be a knock out!

 

[Joy80]

LOVE number 2 without the petticoat

it lays so nice on you and is realy slimming I think you GREAT in it.

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

#2 really speaks to me. I think you should forgoe the sparkle on the dress itself and work it in through your accessories. I''m impartial about the petticoat though.