STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

sophie · Kenneth Cole

bridesmaids? - confused bride

txgal · BCBG

Depending on what style you are looking for, I think that Ann Taylor and J Crew have great BM dresses that are affordable. (Plus, Ann Taylor usually has sales or discounts floating around.)

As far as paying, if you are having several BM then it might get pretty pricey to pay for all of their dresses. You might consider paying half or some other set amount of each girl's dress. I've been a BM several times and it has been different everytime. Sometimes the bride pays all, or a portion, or I've paid for the entire thing myself.

One other thought... You don't have to do 'Bridesmaid' dresses. There are always cute Laundry or BCBG or other designers that make cute dresses that the girls would definitely be able to wear again.

pollyjean23 · Marc Jacobs

(I'm sticking only to bridal-bridal information and not focusing on the JCrew, Ann Taylor, BR(?) offerings--which are good options too)

EdenMaids is an affordable line sold at most bridal shops, and they offer "separates." I gave my bridesmaids a choice of 5 different style tops and all wore the same full-length a-line skirt. My girls were all different shapes, sizes, and heights, so this option worked well. Other bridesmaid dress lines offer separates too.

Most brides do not pay for bridesmaid dresses, but you can if you want to be extra generous. The bride should try to choose the most affordable one as possible without majorly sacrificing style.

Be aware that some of the bridal industry's local advertising and retail environments (save some of the higher-end ones) are a bit outdated-looking and not very fashion-forward.

I remember being turned-off by the 1980s mauve carpet, mint green walls, and white painted lattice above the dressing rooms - -but those things rarely indicated anything accurate about the dress designs. It can be very disconcerting.

EdenMaids (for example) have really icky advertising but nice dresses.

Watters & Watters always has beautiful bridesmaid dresses (and nice advertising) too.
http://www.watters.com/catalog.php?coll=watters

Kincali · Dooney & Bourke

I picked out a BCBG dress for my bridesmaids. We've been searching forever, and while I love this dress it doesn't go with my color scheme at all. But at this point I'm like screw it, they look so lovely it will overshadow everything else;)

*to add, they paid for the dress themselves

-- Edited by fairlight at 15:56, 2008-04-04

blubirde · Chanel

I'm a BM in an upcoming wedding and here is my take: if it's a good dress they actually can wear again, $300 range is fine. If it's a long dress or a dress that's wedding-appropriate only, $150, no more. I don't mind paying for a dress I can wear later but it really bugs to be asked to shell out a lot of $$$ for something I'm going to wear once and be uncomfortable in the whole time anyway.

Oh and it's never been suggested that the bride pay for the dresses. It's all on the BMs.

sfclinevandy · Coach

You could buy them all, pay for a portion, or have the girls buy them. This is one area of bridal planning with no set standard since everyone's budget is different. I bought all mine, but considered it the bulk of their bridesmaid gift. I felt kinda bad because let's face it... none of my friends would wear their champagne evening gowns ever again.

Once you find a dress you love, I would check with Net Bride or Pearl's Place for ordering because they're almost always cheaper. You save a ton by ordering directly from them without the store's markup. I went to bridal boutiques to see dresses and the fabric swatch books in person. I loved a Watters dress so I went to the store to see it in person. Then I compared the prices with a real store and Net Bride and Pearl's Place. My dresses from the boutique cost $340 each but Pearl's Price sold them for $200 each! I know it may sound a little sketchy ordering from this store over the phone, but tons of girls do it and there are great reviews all over theknot.com. You do have to call though because I'm sure the manufacturer's won't let them advertise their much lower prices. They carry almost all brands so if you find a dress you love, it's easy just to call to get a price quote. Our dresses came in perfectly and were even a few months ahead of schedule.

sophie · Kenneth Cole

wow ladies! thank you for all the websites and great ideas. sfclinevandy i have already emailed and left message for both the websites you recomened. Do you know if they can get designer wedding gowns too? There is an Amsale dress I am seriously considering but my wedding is in July and I really don't want to pay a rush fee at Saks.

Ladies, thoughts on this dress???

http://www.amsale.com/bridal/amsalecollection/060801/060801494.shtml

-- Edited by sophie at 13:44, 2008-04-06

-- Edited by sophie at 13:48, 2008-04-06

greendiamond · Marc Jacobs

I love that dress, Sophie.

As for bridesmaid dresses, I have always paid for my own dress and shoes. The bride has usually paid for the accompanying jewelry and/or purses.

Teresa · Kate Spade

i LOVE that dress, sophie!!!! (the one you posted a link to)

sfclinevandy · Coach

Sophie,
I would call Pearl's Place to see if they have your Amsale dress. They very well might because they carry more designer labels than Netbride. The only brand I'm sure they don't carry is Anne Barge because I called for that. That's a beautiful dress :)