Your help? Dress selection issues

[misysu2]

Here''s my predicament: I''m in love with a Ronald Joyce from the UK. I''m trying REALLY hard to find a similar dress that can be found in the US so I don''t have to buy site unseen and ship it all that way. So I search online, find dresses I''m interested in, and call the stores listed that carry that line, but they don''t carry that particular dresss. This has happened for every single dress I''ve found. I haven''t seen ANY of the dresses I''m interested in. And I live in Houston-- such a big city and I thought it''d be easy.

My question is-- if I can''t find the dresses in a nearby city to try on, do I get the ONE, site unseen, from the UK, or do I settle for something less than miraculous that I can try on? I appreciate your help ladies.

 

[happilyeverafter]

I don''t think i''d ever buy a dress sight unseen. If you REALLY only want that specific dress, then try to find similiarly designed styles at least to see what the style looks like on your body type. If you like it there''s a better chance that you will be happy with the dress without ever having tried it on. Why don''t you post a pic of the dress and we all can try to find a similar one for you, that maybe you haven''t seen yet?

You could also keep looking for the perfect dress (depending on when your wedding day is). I was dead set on a specific dress, but it was way out of my $ range. So I opened up my mind to others a bit and viola! found a beautiful dress that I love. Just my 2 cents, hope that helps

 

[misysu2]

The dress I love is located in this thread- https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/help-can-we-really-only-get-this-dress-in-the-uk.69695/

I want to try on the Mikaella dress that Holly S was referring to (#1233), but of course, although they carry Mikaella, no bridal shops around here carry that particular dress.

And although I''m not crazy about that Jim Hjelm that was suggested, I tried looking for that, too.

i did however, try on Mikaella #1239, and I loved the assymetrical waist look. It was really flattering on me. I also loved the brooch. I didn''t want a strapless, however, and didn''t like the v-dip in the chest area.

Sorry I can''t post Mikaella photos (they''re flash objects), but here''s a quick link to the website: http://www.mikaellabridal.com/

 

[robbie3982]

This jasmine seems similar except that it has sheer sleeves http://www.jasminebridal.com/html/en/web1_collection_2_a.asp?id=1243

 

[misysu2]

Just found this Paloma Blanca- I''m going to try to find this baby! Wish me luck.

 

[luckystar112]

Hi Misysu!
I don''t know where you''ve been going in Houston. Seems like there are only two "good" shops. One is Weddings by Debbie off of highway 6. I went there and actually had a hard time finding anything I liked. The other one is brickhouse bridal in The Woodlands. I know for a fact they carry paloma blanca there.
Totally know what you mean about not being able to find a good dress in Houston though. Seems like so many shops just have a ton of dated stuff that went out of style years ago.

My new motto for myself is "keep it simple, stupid"

 

[misysu2]

Thanks for the head''s up about Houston shops. I''ve been to Ventura''s, Maison de Mode, David''s (ugh), and Montage. I''ll check out your suggestions! It''s nice to have a direction now, and I hope that this Paloma Blanca is good enough to make me forget about the Ronald Joyce!!

 

[happilyeverafter]

Jim Hjelm also has a lot of bridesmaid dresses with a similar neckline that you can get in white/ivory. Very pretty!

That Paloma you listed is beautiful too!

 

[HollyS]

Date: 10/1/2007 11:17:02 AM
Author: misysu2
Just found this Paloma Blanca- I''m going to try to find this baby! Wish me luck.

I was just gonna say -- I just noticed that Mikealla is done by Paloma Blanca!

 

[misysu2]

Okay- here''s the Paloma Blanca. I was kinda disappointed. It was made out of this stiff fabric that made it feel like it was wearing me. Also, it wasn''t as waist-flattering as I thought. What do you think?

 

[misysu2]

Here''s the chest detail. There''s so much fabric! I''m still leaning towards the Ronald Joyce....

 

[Mandarine]

I think it looks nice on you...but you could deifnitely do better!. Have you tried on other styles?...with your figure you can really pull off any dress!.

Did you try on that other dress that you liked?. I wouldn''t buy it sight unseen, but that''s just me. Look at Harleigh though, she bought multiple dresses and they all looked gourgeous on her!

M~

 

[misysu2]

Hi Mandarine,

I really wanted to try the Raylia Nora, and I keep getting the runaround with the bridal shop that''s getting it in...first the beginning of Sept, then the end of Sept, then they''d call Raylia and call me back with the info, then they never called....grr!!

I do think that I''ll hunt that down before I do anything drastic like order the Ronald Joyce.

 

[havernell]

Date: 10/3/2007 9:10:04 AM
Author: misysu2
Here''s the chest detail. There''s so much fabric! I''m still leaning towards the Ronald Joyce....

Well, since the Joyce dress has the same rouching on the front, you may find that it *also* has too much fabric for you... What kind of fabric is this Paloma Blanca dress, and what kind of fabric is the similar Joyce dress supposed to be made of? I just think to get that rouching effect, the fabric has to be somewhat stiff in order to keep the shape... at least that''s what I found when I tried on dresses that had rouching.

I know you LOVE the look of the Joyce dress, but as Mandrine asked, have you tried on other gowns before this, or is the Paloma Blanca the first dress you''ve tried on? If you haven''t I''d recommend going to a big salon and just trying on tons of different style dresses. You may find that ALL V-neck dresses (or dresses with rouching on the front, or whatever) don''t look good on you (including the Joyce gown). Lots of brides end up going with a dress they never thought they''d like based on the model photo.

Good luck with it all!!!

p.s. Without having anything else to compare it with, I do think the Paloma dress looks cute on you- I think it does make your waist look nice. But if you don''t love it, that''s all that matters

 

[misysu2]

I have tried on lots of styles. I even got myself to try on a strapless, which did look nice on me, but I just know that I won''t be comfortable in it.

As for the Paloma, a lot of the rouching are actually seams of this thick fabric being sewn to the other layer of fabric. The fabric is dupioni silk, which almost felt like a stiff kitchen apron to me. I''ve tried on rouching on other dresses, and loved it. Thought it was really beautiful in satin, chiffon, etc. I think the waist is a little less flattering in this dress because the rouching is headed towards the hips.

We''ve found some other dresses that flatter me, like strapless with lace on it, but they''re just not my style.

I also tried on some sash dresses, but FI didn''t like the look. He said, "You''re not a present!!" haha.

 

[havernell]

Okay, I didn''t know all of the gory detail of your dress shopping history!! I was just going off that one photo and my experiences dress shopping. So, disregard everything I said before (except the good luck!!)

 

[misysu2]

Haha, thanks. I didn''t think it''d be so hard!!

It makes it worse that I am extremely indecisive and I have a picky FI who wants to have a say (no present sash, no pointy boobs, no thick fabric, yadayada...)

I appreciate all of your opinions-- I''ve been shopping by myself because I don''t have any friends in Houston, so this really helps!

 

[ponderer]

Ladies! Dont forget Louise Blum in the Galleria area.

It is must you need to find a "good" dress in Houston, . They carry designers such as Vera Wang, Lazaro, Amsale, Romona Keveza, Reem Acra, Monique Lhuillier, Kenneth Pool, and many, many, more.

Don''t forget to make an appointment, bring a fat checkbook, and then go wild!