More dress wobbles and 'buying a sample' question!

I bought the shop sample, but I was going to buy that dress anyway and the sample was in my size and fitted me perfectly, apart from the length, so once I'd given it a thorough check for missing trim, stains, tears, etc, it was a no-brainer.

It's a lovely dress, not too plain, and the style suits you, but you don't seem to be convinced about it. It is a bargain and you could always sell it later if you decide you really don't want it.

I don't feel its plain at all, if you like you can have it embellished anyway if you really felt it needed it, but it's honestly lovely as it is.

You look lovely!

Personally I think that it is a lovely dress and with a sparkly belt will look a million dollars.

HOWEVER my word of caution would be that at 50% off it is still a £750 dress. It is two sizes too big which will mean an awful lot of alterations - i'd guess around £150 worth? And then if it's in need of a big clean that's another what £50 for dry cleaning or whatever?

So potentially ... it's actually a £950 dress ... plus the cost of your blingy belt.

There are a lot of beautiful, fishtail dresses available for less than that brand new.

I don't know what designers you've been looking at but my dress (not a fishtail as they don't suit my shape sadly) is a mori lee and was £795 new and custom ordered.

Or perhaps you're near an outlet store?

If you're interested in the 50% off have you considered looking on preloved - as a dress that has been worn once is likely to be in better condition that a frequently tried sample and might be closer to your size already?

I guess what i'm trying to say - is that is a beautiful dress - and looks lovely on you - but don't get it JUST because it's 50% off - as actually, you're doing yourself a false economy there as it will still end up a costly dress.

It is a gorgeous dress and it really suits you. I don't think it's too plain at all. Honestly it's not the most unique dress ever but was that something that was important to you before you went shopping?

I wouldn't be concerned over the fact that it is a sample, seamstresses can do amazing things but as mentioned you'll have to factor in those costs. You don't sound convinced I have to say. If it was £1500 would you still want it? If not then I don't think it's the dress for you.

If it helps, I had a dress everyone liked and I kind of did.... the shop held it for me for a couple of days....

However, I was trying to make me fit the dress to be happy and it wasn't me.

The dress I have ended up with, isn't perfect on me. I know where it looks bad. But... I have worked out how to cover the bad bits, if I can live with it etc.

The dress makes me FEEL like a fairy princess :-)

Remember you need to be beaming, confident and happy on the day. It is how the dress makes you feel that is most important not what it looks like IMHO. If a potato sack made you feel like a million dollars I'd say go with it!

From your slight doubts it sounds to me like you are trying to get yourself to fit the dress....

To echo some of the above responses really, it is a beautiful dress and you look gorgeous in it on that photo, it really suits you, it doesn't look too plain or anything, but you just don't sound in love with it, Maybe the bargain of it being half price is really swaying you but again with the extra costs of alterations etc it's less bargainous then...you should apply the rule that goes for any sale shopping- would you buy it full price? If not then you shouldn't buy it whether it's 50% off or not.

You know you might not have a 'this is the one' moment but how you describe it, almost as deciding 'yeah it looked pretty good' I dunno, I think you should at least feel 'yeah I look amazing in this one' even if it doesn't make you cry/get butterflies you should feel like you look ace n it just doesn't sound like you do...

Hi ladies,

Thanks so much for the replies so far!

Yeah, i definitely hear what people are saying.

The thing with the saving is, even though the dress is £750, with alterations, veil AND belt i think i'll be looking at around £1100 all in. Although this still a lot, it's a definite saving compared to the £1000 dresses once you add alterations etc in.

I don't know what's holding me back - i know that its 100% the right style for me! AAAAGH

Perhaps i should go and see it tonight before tomorrow?

Thats true about the additional costs of alterations on any dress you might buy! the other way to look at it is, how would you feel if someone beat you to it and bought it before you had chance tomorrow? would you be gutted? or would you just be a bit 'oh well, i can just buy a different dress', again if its the latter then again id maybe be looking at a different dress anyway. Though i think if you can go back and try it tonight that would be ideal before comitting to buy tomorrow...if youre having a veil/headpiece try it on with that cus it can really make an outfit when you see it all together like that. And then if when youve tried it you still feel really reserved about it, then maybe do give yourself a bit more time (yes you might regret not nabbing a beautiful bargain, but at least you'll feel like youve had more time to think about it.)

Totally agree with this!

The biggest thing for me is, is this the dress you want your OH to see you in on your wedding day? Is it the dress you want to see every time you look back at your wedding pictures? If you can honestly answer yes to these then you've found your dress. If you hesitate or aren't sure, then I don't think you have.

The point about it being unique is something you need to put to one side. Unless you get a dress made for you (and even then, there are only so many ways you can design a white dress) then it will never be completely unique. That really shouldn't matter if it makes you feel beautiful. It's definitely not plain either. I didn't cry when I found my dress, but I did swish around the shop feeling amazing. I do totally think price should influence you a bit, if I was stuck between 2 then the price would definitely be taken into account, so why not in this case?

If you can, go and see it again tonight, try it with a veil etc, and be honest with yourself.

You look beautiful in the dress.

It's not plain. It's a lace dress. If you are interested in it, definitely see it tomorrow to see if there are any obvious soil marks or tears in it. As long as there are no major defects, a seamstress and dry clean will sort the issues out. If your budget is £1500, a seamstress can add bling to the dress. However, I wouldn't because it's already lovely with lace detail.

Is it the most original dress? No, but how many dresses are original? There are only so many ways you can do a dress.

Not everybody cries when they try on "the dress". I didn't. I had a sample dress - had it dry cleaned, altered (to remove the train - as the rest fit like it was made for me) and pressed. Loved it.

Best of luck.

Thank you so much for the replies

It's beautiful! I went for a fairly simple and plain dress in the end so that I could have fun with accessories :-)

And I bought a sample dress. I love my dress. I actually kind of like the fact that my dress is not 100% pristine. It's in pretty much perfect condition, just a few tiny things I have noticed. But I think it will make me feel more relaxed on the day!

You haven't said when your wedding is. Unless you've got less than about 6 months to go I would keep looking. Not because it looks bad (you look amazing as others have said), but because your post has far too many doubts and I think you're being seduced by the price. You asked if it is special/unique enough, honestly I think it is a beautiful dress but not very unique in terms of style so if that's what you're going for then keep looking. Good luck x

Forgot to add a bit about buying sample dresses. There are many success stories and you can get lucky, myself included as my dress was a £599 sample down from £1300 and spotless. But unless you're really restricted by budget I would start by looking for the dress you want first, THEN looking to see if you can bargain with bridal shops to sell you their sample if you want. If you start by looking at samples you're more likely to choose a dress you're not happy with deep down because of the price.

Forgot to add a bit about buying sample dresses. There are many success stories and you can get lucky, myself included as my dress was a £599 sample down from £1300 and spotless. But unless you're really restricted by budget I would start by looking for the dress you want first, THEN looking to see if you can bargain with bridal shops to sell you their sample if you want. If you start by looking at samples you're more likely to choose a dress you're not happy with deep down because of the price.

All of this is so true and i know it! I just don't think i can let such a bargain go!!! x

It's Not A Bargain If Your Not 100% sure xx

Remember though, it's just like any other sale item, it's not a bargain if it sits in the back of your wardrobe and you never wear it! Don't do it on price alone and then wonder about other dresses, you'll drive yourself nuts and potentially end up spending a lot more by buying a second dress on top.

Beautiful dress.

However, I don't think you feel this is the 'one' - you are doing what I would do get clouded by the bargain, and therefore become your own sales woman.

You are already mentioning the 'faults' to the dress - yes the alterations can work a miracle, however there is only so much the alterations can do, if theres pulls in the material etc, then its pretty much irreversible (Correct me if im wrong there!) and if your anything like me, you will constantly see these little faults in the material and it will spoil the feeling of the beautiful dress.

I feel you should let this one go, purely because your already finding criticism, i think you only gave it a second thought because your sister liked it, had she just gone oh.. Would you have given it another thought?

That style looks amazing on you though

I guess that i'm just worried i'll end up buying something fairly similar, for a lot more money.

Aside from embellishment, how different can this style of dress be?! I really feel that i wouldn't be in this situation if i had tried on more dresses of a similar style i.e. more fishtails instead of ones which do nothing for my shape.

What am i expecting exactly? I want a fit and flare/fishtail and this looks great but *something* isn't right! Maybe it's the condition of the sample, looks ok but isn't great... Maybe it's the lack of embellishment.

The good thing is that if i did get it, i'd have the money to add bits too it that i wanted?

To be honest, you've not even brought the dress yet and your finding the problems in the dress, I can see months from now, just before your wedding you having wobbles and then having to find money for another dress/find ways to make yourself feel more positive about the dress.

Have you got in your mind exactly what you could do to the dress to make it perfect?

Yeah - add embellishment and some sparkle i think?

x

I think the dress looks beautiful and really suits you! You could get extra bling added to it if you wanted to?

I didn't cry when I found 'the dress' either if that helps but I had tried on a lot of dresses and knew I felt differently about this once. I'm still having some dress wobbles though!

Hi MrsPowellToBe

I've read your post and I very much get how you feel as I was in a very similar situation a few weeks back.

I went dress shopping with my best friend and when I told the lady my budget (around £500) she said the selection will be very limited but that there are some samples I can try. To cut a long story short I put on a dress that was £600 reduced from £1200. It was lacey, exactly what I thought I wanted. It needed alterations as it was two sizes two big. It also had a fairly large hole in the side which I was promised could be fixed by the seamstress. It didn't exactly wow me.

Anyway I came out of the changing room and my friend was very vocal about how much she loved it and thought it was amazing. Then 2 other shop assistants came in and they were all saying how lovely it was. I was swept up in the moment and swayed by the price. I put my deposit down of £300.

I got in the car and almost instantly started having doubts. The doubts didn't go away and a month later I was on the phone discussing the option of transferring my deposit on to accessories as I had totally changed my mind.

The point is if you are having doubts they will more than likely not go away. I promise you, you will find a dress that you put on and you will feel so good, comfortable and there won't be those doubts. I've now found a dress in another bridal shop which I've bought. It is being made and costs £475 which is less than the sample. I haven't lost the deposit but I now have £300 that I will have to spend in that shop and there is hardly anything in there that I like!

So the point is listen to your heart..don't ignore those doubts..you can find something that you love just give it time and don't rush Really hope it all works out well and good luck xxx