Dress Blues

OK. You ladies probably can't help. But I am just sooo frustrated, devastated and just plain bummed out I have to vent. So I've waited over 3 months after my engagement to shop for a dress because I've been trying to lose weight. I finally made appointments for today, corraled my mom and sis and drove over to several dress shops. First store was a flop. When we got to the second one, I had several picked out to try on when the saleslady brings in one of the newer dresses. I thought, "OK, I 'll try it on, why not?". Well sure enough it was THE ONE!!! As soon as I slipped it on I knew. And when I walked out both my mom and my sis's jaws dropped. They loved it!! So of course I get so excited! I found my dress in one day!! It is perfect. Now all I have to do is find out how much. BAD IDEA. $6950. Yup. $6950. I began crying. I had no idea it was that much money. I wouldn't have tried it on! To make a long story short, the saleslady brought down the prices 1000 bucks but there is no way in hell I'm gunna pay that much! I actually thought about it. Called my fiance about it and he said it was up to me. But I just couldn't do it! So, I went from an extreme high to the pretty much lowest low. Awful!!! Just so disappointed.

 

I tried attaching a pic but I have no clue how. And in my state of disappointment and self-loathing I don't have the heart to try.

 

I can tell you it's a Melissa Sweet. I tried it on at Priscilla of Boston. The style is called "Tilda".

 

$6950. wow.

 

I know the feeling ... the first mistake might have been going to a PoB ... they're SO expensive!! Same thing happened to me, so I understand. I eneded up spending WAY more on my dress than I originally planned.

 

Keep shopping - you can find another one that has the same look to it, without the designer name (and price tag!).

 

FYI - is this it?

 

Here it is sweetie,

 

Its beautiful! Probably made of the finest materials. Consider something similar but it wont be made of the same materials. 6k is part of a down payment on a house, its also your honeymoon (a fabulous one at that), I can be a semester of your education or your future kids education,6k can feed a few hundred kids in Africa, 6k is 3 months of my rent damnit! lol Girl if you can afford it and none of the above crossed your mind just buy it.

Oh honey, the same thing happened to me only mine was a Vera Wang and I had no idea before I tried it on or I never would have tired it on either. My only suggestion is to try to find it online at craigslist or ebay or some discounted bridal shop. Sometimes you can find samples for 1/2 - 1/4 the original price. If you don't have any luck, take the picture of the dress you love to some bridal shops. Those ladies are experts and might recognize a dress that is very similar. Good luck!

I knew there was a reason for me to vent to you ladies. I feel much better now.
Yup. this is the dress. It doesn't look like much. I actually wouldn't have tried it on if it weren't for the saleslady who suggested it. But once the dress is on...it is FABULOUS!! It makes me look 10 lbs lighter. Sexy and romantic and absolutely perfect for the beach.
But as I told the saleslady...it's the whole principle of the matter. I'm expecting a pretty decent tax refund and could pay for the dress with that money but really??!?! Almost 7k for a dress? I just couldn't. I wanted to. But I couldn't. Soooo, my quest to find a similar style begins tomorrow. I know there may not be one just like this one. I just hope there is one that brings me a smile.

Thanks again for your support. I feel better about walking away from it already!!!

If it helps you put it even more into perspective, 6k is an ENTIRE YEAR of rent for me!

As much as the dress is definately beautiful, I am sure that you will find something just as nice if not even better than this one!!! I'll keep my eyes open for a similar style as I look around online!

do you know a dressmaker? you could get it done much cheaper w/ different fabrics.

my colleague tried on a dress at kleinfelds in nyc and fell in love. she had a dressmaker make it using the top of the line fabrics, and only paid about 1/2.

i had a hard time paying for my dress. i felt like it shouldn't cost much b/c i'll only wear it once (except if i ever pick it up from the cleaners, i can sit in the basement and watch sex and the city in it while drinking beers).

 

you do what is right for you.

I was going to suggest a dressmaker, too. Some of them are absolutely amazing. And so much less expensive than you might think.

 

And check with some of the more affordable shops - a lot of the lines come out with look alikes (mine was like this - at 1/3 of the price of the original!!)

 

Keep us posted. And we'll keep an eye out for your dress!

I know what you mean! When I went to my first appointment I was super cautious and I asked Annie not to show me anything "one penny over my budget." It was funny because she told me not to look at this vera wang that was hanging in the room because it was about $8500 - YIKES!!

 

You might check out this site for preowned dresses...there are a few melissa sweets on there. I looked for a dress that I love there, but everyone who had it was 5'4" and had it cut for their height. Good luck!!!!

 

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Ok while you loved the dress, if you can't afford it (or can but don't want to spend that money) I'm sure if you keep looking you will find a dress that blows this one out of the water. For a cheaper price too! There were several dresses I tried on that I really liked. I went to buy the one I really liked and ended up trying on more dresses and bought a different one. Keep trying them on! You'll find one you will love just as much!