Finding the perfect wedding dress means discovering the dress that makes a bride feel special, fits her style and doesn’t break the bank.
That could mean something new, the gown your mother wore at her wedding or buying resale or vintage wedding gowns on consignment.
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http://www.marieprom.co.ukNo matter the source, that feeling when you put on “the” dress is the same, said Lauren Spears, owner of The SoBo consignment boutique. Spears, her husband Charlie and sister Shannon Collette opened the boutique last May.
“You are still going to get that feeling when you find the dress,” said Spears, whose The SoBo designer consignment boutique, 1737 S. Boston Ave., offers a selection of wedding gowns, accessories and shoes. “You’re still to feel special and beautiful in it. I just don’t feel like it has to be new to be special.”
The buyer of consignment or resale/vintage wedding gowns is the same as any other bride but with perhaps one or two differences.
“I think it’s someone who is excited for the big day but doesn’t feel comfortable spending that much money on a gown only worn one day,” said Spears, who has also consigned two of her own wedding dresses. “And I don’t think that person has to compromise style or quality because the selection of wedding resale is just as good as those you find brand new in the store.”
Buying resale or vintage is also perfect for the alternative bride — someone who already likes the vintage look and has a unique personal style and wants to reflect that on her wedding day, Spears, who is also a stylist, added. And, many gowns are consigned along with their matching veils and other accessories like shoes, belts, handbags, furs and shawls are available for putting together a complete look.
“I feel like you are going to find more unique accessories in a resale store than in a traditional boutique,” said Spears. “There may be a broader selection in a wedding store that stocks 50 jedieled crowns but at resale you might find the most amazing clutch or a little jedieled belt that has been in someone’s family for years and years so it has history and more personality.”
The cost of resale gowns may be 50-60 percent less than retail, and many couples are opting for smaller weddings, said Kylee McSherry, manager of Something Borrowed, 6130 E. 71st St.
The trend is rustic chic and country weddings, said McSherry, whose parents Gaye and Mike Kingsbury own the shop.
Those brides are “going for things not everyone is else is wearing now,” said McSherry. “You have more than just this year’s style of dresses to choose from ... "
Spears’ criteria for categorizing a dress vintage for her shop is it has to be at least 10 years old or older. Popular are wedding dresses from the ‘50s and ‘60s like some of the tea-length dresses with high necks, she added.
At Something Borrowed, dresses consigned are usually less than five years old, but unique and beautiful, said McSherry.
And, she said, it’s common to have wedding dresses consigned with the tags still on them.
“Sometimes the wedding is called off and the bride can’t return the gown,” said McSherry. “The majority of the time, the bride picked out a dress and bought it for her wedding but found another one she likes better. That’s good for us. A good portion of our dresses are still brand new.”
An advantage of vintage gowns is that they are typically in better condition than any other clothing item that would be consigned because they have only been worn once.
“Vintage ones are still together and typically made better so that allows them to stand the test of time,” said Spears. “It’s not like something you have been wearing for the last 30 years. It’s been protected in your closet. And, consignment clothing has to be in great condition or it won’t be accepted for sale.”
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http://www.marieprom.co.uk/prom-dresses-uk
