Trying to decide between two dresses...tonight!

[Amandine]

I have an immediate dilemma...I went tonight to the Brides Against Breast Cancer dress sale. I have another dress that I do like (but haven''t purchased it yet), and now I have to decide tonight because I would have to head out there before work to purchase the second dress, because the last day of the sale is tomorrow.

While I want a bridal gown, I have always wanted one that was different. Not the traditional "bridal" look. Both of these fit that for me.

Dress number one is a San Patrick, and I would be buying it off the rack (to make it affordable). It is silk, and this gorgeous gold with a slightly silver sheen in the light. Hope this picture works...

 

[Amandine]

Dress number 2...is an Anne Barge (I interviewed with her once upon a time!). It, too, is silk. It would need to be let out a little, but not much. The fabric at the midriff is actually tie silk (yes, as in men's ties!)

 

[Amandine]

Yuck! That picture looks awful, lets see if I can do better.

 

[Amandine]

And the back of number two...the piece of fabric coming from the waist will be duplicated on the other side, too. Symmetrical.

 

[brazen_irish_hussy]

Although I am not a big fan of pick ups, I really do like #1 better. I love the gold of it and it is more unique than the other one. That being said, they are both truely lovely and I think you can't go wrong either way.

 

[Amandine]

the back, bustled...

 

[Italiahaircolor]

I would absolutely go with #1!! I love the runching on the skirt, and the color sounds delicious! If you''re looking to be a bride without going for the "white-white-white wedding cakeish dress" I think this is the most perfect solution! I keep looking at it, just because it is so darn pretty!

The 2nd dress is alright...maybe the picture doesn''t do it justice...but, it just doesnt have that "wow" factor, in my opinion! Besides, letting the dress out may not be a big deal...until it is. I hate when brides tell me "I bought the dress 2 sizes to small, and I''ll lose weight by the time I need to have it altered and it''ll fit just right!" because with the stress of a wedding, weight becomes an unpredicatable factor for most women...some lose, some gain, some simply maintain. And also, did you see how much fabric is tucked into the seams to accomidate being "let out"? I''m often shocked by how little wiggle room those designers give brides!

All things honestly considered...#1 hands down, if it were me. But most importantly...what dress do you feel the best about yourself in? What makes you feel like a beautiful bride? What dress made your heart race? If one dress made you feel all of those things, then you have your obvious answer.

 

[Amandine]

Brazen, thank you! I don''t like pick-ups, either. In person, it is much softer and drapey. I was at one of those shops that won''t let you take a picture, of course!

 

[E B]

I agree with b_i_h; you can''t go wrong with either. That being said, I think I like #1 a little more. I''m not generally a pick-up fan either, but I like how it''s to the side/back, and since it''s silk, it''ll drape beautifully.

#1.

 

[Amandine]

Italiahaircolor...I know about the letting out, I worked at a bridal shop, and I sew. There is plenty in the seams, and it is just the most tiny amount to let out, the zipper just pulls a little.

 

[sera]

#1!!! It''s less traditional (imho) which is what you want... that gold is gorgeous! I love the bodice. I normally am not crazy about pick-ups... but that dress really does have the Wow Factor. I know pick-ups have been done a LOT, but they aren''t are all over the dress which doesn''t make it overdone... I think it works on this dress- imagining it without that little pick-up would be less wow, I think. Dress 2 looks more traditional... in color and style... I''ve seen lots of those ribbon train things (though I do like the texture and color of the ribbon). It is flattering at the waist, but I think Dress 1 would be as well.

 

[Future Mrs Polka Dot]

I am the odd one out - I love #2! I think that tie silk color and pattern is SO pretty, elegant, and unique! It has such a regal look to it. And when the back is bustled with the goldish tie material, it is going to look so awesome!! It is gold right?

But I like #1 also, so you can''t go wrong. #2 just seems a tan more unique. I''ve seen lots of dresses like #1, but never anything like #2.

Which one do you feel is more flattering or comfortable?

Good luck

 

[Amandine]

Lets see, which is more flattering or comfortable? Hard to say. One needs to be taken in a smidge, and the other let out about the same amount. #1 is very light-weight, so it probably wins in the comfort area. #2 is probably a little more flattering, but only a small bit.

But, the alterations that #1 needs will probably fix that.

I loooove the color of #1. My wedding is in October, at a lodge in the SC mountains. I want to use lots of fall colors: gold, red, orange, brown, etc. So it really fits that. I also want to wear a birdcage veil (my Mom is making it, she rocks!), which I think works with either.

I am probably leaning towards #1, but who knows? After I sleep on it I may change my mind.

 

[misysu2]

#2 ALL THE WAY! It''s got a great classic look, combined with a great color (yum!) and the pattern at the waist. It''s to die for. I would wear it myself. PLEASE get #2!!!

#1 looks okay, but doesn''t have the wow factor. The pick up, in it''s strange location, looks like you woke up in it from bed. Just wrong.

 

[door knob solitaire]

If that is you in dress number 2~ I can''t believe you are questioning it

. Your figure is so incredible in that dress. It emphasises your waist line and the unique color and texture really makes it stand out. Bustled really timeless. But with that figure, passing on that dress with that color and texture to draw attention to your waist I think would be a mistake.

Ok...the pickup thing..in general...the first thing I think of is people who are not as active in the wedding dress scene...and haven''t scoured hundreds of designs won''t be familiar with that avant gard detail. I can see an elderly woman staring at that all night and wondering why you didn''t hide the alteration. Or worried you don''t know you have a big crinkle on your dress. My mother would come right over and attempt to smooth it out for you. Not kidding. Just wanted to share my pick up theory.

To be more specific to this pickup...don''t love it. Crazy about the color though. I think I am not thrilled with it, because the other one is so figure flattering. It looks custom to me. It would be cool to get matching cumber-buns or ties for the fellas...or would that be too much matchy matchy?

 

[julabean]

Oh, I love number one! Especially for a fall wedding! That color is divine! My cousin had a fall wedding and got married in a dress very similar to that color.

But everyone who likes number two is right, it really is flattering to your figure. I think you have a win-win situation here.

 

[violet02]

#1 looks really unique in the photo but it''s hard to say what it''s like without seeing you actually in it.

Now #2 on the other hand... since that''s you in the photo it looks amazing on you. It really emphasizes your figure, you look fabulous in it!

I don''t mind pickups though I think it looks nice on number one. I agree with julabean.. for a fall wedding number one is a great color. My gut reaction would be to pick that one it''s much more memorable than #2. I love that sash too. #2 is lovely but doesn''t stand out as much.

 

[Sparkalicious]

Amandine -- Tough choice. I don''t blame you for asking.

I think that you look amazing in #2, thus, that is my vote.

This being said, #1 is gorgeous as well ... I love that color. Too bad you don''t have pics of both ... I think I might be unduly biased to #2 b/c you look so terrific in it.

Good luck with your choice. I can''t wait to see what you decide!

 

[Dutchgirlll]

I totally like #2 more! I love that tie silk sash! Very unique.
#1 is okay, but that''s more because I really don''t like pick ups, the rest of the dress looks gorgeous. But I would definitely look if you can let dress #2 out that much, before buying it. Might be a bit tricky. Have fun!

 

[LegalGal]

Another vote for #2! Great choices.

 

[pjean]

Drat! I logged off last night before you posted the second dress! By now, you''ve made your decision, right? Which did you decide to go with?

I agree with the above posters - they''re both great choices, so definitely a win-win situation.

 

[bee*]

I adore number 2 also-I think that you look fab in it and I love the back.


Which dress did you pick?

 

[Amandine]

Sorry for not updating sooner! I can read posts while at work, but I can''t log on. It was a whirlwind of a day...I thought about it all night, and the following morning while at work (I am a retail manager). I knew my last chance was my lunch time, so I was stressed! One of my co-workers had been dress shopping with me before, and seen #1. We talked about it, and looked at the photos. It had been a couple of weeks since I had tried on #1, and I was really wishing that I could see a picture of me in that dress. I hate how some stores won''t let you take pictures! So, along with two co-workers, we decided I should just take a long lunch and race up to dress #1, try it on, and do the same for #2. Which I did...

So, I called ahead to the store, and explained my situation. I said I didn''t need any real customer service, just a room to toss on the dress for a few minutes. When I got there, I waited a moment or so, and was able to try it on for a few minutes. The pick up is not really a pick up at all, it is more of a soft drape across the front to a spot on the side. I have no idea how they actually got it to do what it is doing in the picture, it must have been something strange like starch, because in real life it is nothing like that. I have no idea how it held for the photo! I still thought it was lovely, but time was short, so onward!

On to the second dress...I had a panicky moment when I couldn''t find the dress on the racks. Turns out it was on a totally different rack, what a relief! The lady running the sale and a few volunteers recognized me from last night. Everyone was saying, oh, what a lovely dress! We keep hoping someone will buy it. The lady said she had seen it in all white, but never like this before, so she thought it may have been custom made. One of the hardest things is that they don''t have any of those huge, wonderful mirrors like the shops do. So, trying to get a good view of yourself in a smallish full length mirror is difficult. And seeing the back is even more difficult. One of the volunteers stuck with me to be my sounding board, and she looked so familiar to me. Turns out she is one of the Weddingbee bloggers, and I recognized her! What a small world. I hemmed, and hawed, debating and mentally compared to the first dress. What was pulling me to this one? Well, it was fractionally more flattering. But #1 will be so, also, once taken in. It was hard to keep in mind, though. And as someone who sews and could actually design my own dress and execute it...it was so wonderfully made. Hand sewn seams, just gorgeous. But I couldn''t let this distract me! The one thing that bothered me was how the train pieces were attached. I wasn''t loving the gathering. If they had been box pleated like the bodice, would have loved it.

So, it finally came down to the fact that #1 was what I see in my head for my wedding. After seeing it in early January for the first time, it was the "control" I compared all others to. It is what I see me holding the bouquet I like against, what I have been mentally figuring out my hair and birdcage veil with. While I love #2, and even sat in the car debating buying it and becoming a two dress bride and selling if I didn''t use it(after all, $900 for a $4800 dress is a steal!). It is beautiful, it did fit me really well, but something just wasn''t it. I think the train (gathering) would bother me, and I want to love all my dress! So, #1 it is! I am buying it off the rack, so will be doing so very soon, and will post pictures then!

 

[sera]

Congrats on the dress decision... I''m sure it will look lovely on you. It''s beautiful with a TDF color!

 

[FrekeChild]

Yay!!!I think you made the right decision. When you can picture yourself getting married in it, and its the one you compare all the others to, that''s a dang good sign!

 

[Gypsy]

Date: 2/2/2008 11:03:18 PM
Author: FrekeChild
Yay!!!I think you made the right decision. When you can picture yourself getting married in it, and its the one you compare all the others to, that''s a dang good sign!

Ditto! Can''t wait for pics of you in THE dress!

 

[Sparkalicious]

Wow! Great choice! I can''t wait to see pics. You will be stunning on your wedding day!

 

[AmberGretchen]

Very nice - can''t wait to see pics on you, as I''m having trouble picturing what you described with the pickup but I think it sounds pretty, especially on your lovely figure

 

[door knob solitaire]

Wow...that was an ordeal...and no 3 way mirror! I think you made the right choice. It is after all what you had envisioned your dress and theme to be! And the color is simply divine! Congrats on getting it on such a steal! Can''t wait to see LEGAL pictures of you in it!

Thrilled for you and your decision. And honey, with that figure you are going to be a knock out!

 

[gwendolyn]

Yay!! I like the first one better, but didn''t want to say so until you''d said which one you picked since I read the thread too late.