Dress Doctor - Part Two

I have had a couple folks ask me about some of the Dress Doctor tips that I was given during my fitting. Hopefully this will answer some of the questions.

1) What was the bra she suggested? Unfortunately, I can't remember the brand name of the bra that she offers (my next visit I will get it)- but it was this one listed on her website - a seamless hidden wire bustier. It fit like a glove - it did not roll up. And it made you look very, very slimming - another huge plus.

2) What were some of the undergarments that she suggested buying? Of course not a surprise - Spanx. When I went shopping I found several different types. The Hide & Sleek Hi-Rise Body Smoother, which goes very high up on your waist. I also found the mid-thigh Body Smoother - this was the one that I bought. She suggested the Hi-Rise one (of course...), because you can tuck that one underneath the bustier bra. The mid-thigh you can, but she did say there could be a gap (around your waist between the spanx and bra) if you did not go with a bustier bra and instead went with just a regular bra. The mid-thigh was still very high so i was able to tuck it underneath the bustier.

3) What were some of her tips for the dress to fit better? Again the undergarments are huge, but she also suggested for the "chesty" girls like me to basically tuck your chest in (hehe - this is very hard to write and not crack up...). The only way I can describe it is that you are pretty much trying to tuck them underneath your armpits, so then there is less cleavage. (Any girls that have small chests, can come find me and beat me up - I know - you of course would love this type of cleavage). The twins amazingly stayed in place (the test will be hours of dancing...)

4) Do I need to bring in everything (bras, underwear, shoes?) for my first fitting? Definitely bring the spanx and the shoes. She had bras available. This was a huge relief for me because I could not find a bra that worked. I did notice that she had some shoes available for you to use for your fitting. Please keep in mind that your wedding gown is only basted for your second fitting, so you can change out your shoes, undergarments, etc. I realize now she had some great advice on which undergarments to use, so you might want to wait before purchasing these.

Some other interesting tips:
When putting on your dress - put your hands on your waist and then have someone do the zipper. I believe - It helps with not stretching the dress and putting too much strain on the zipper. It also sucks everything in (or that is how I felt when she told me to do this and I looked in the mirror!).

Something I knew, but didn't want to face the fact - Bridal shops will charge you more on alterations, so it is always good to get several estimates from other places. If I had gone with the bridal shop that I got my bridesmaids dresses from - it would have cost more than triple what I am paying now. But make sure to get referrals from recent brides. Go to a seamstress that has experience in bride alterations.

Hopefully this answered some of the questions...

If the Dress Fits...

After fretting for months over finding a seamstress, I had my first dress fitting this past week. I ended up going to the Dress Doctor, located in the Water Tower. Unfortunately, I have a chest and was having the hardest time finding a strapless bra that worked with my dress. My wedding dress is not strapless but the back is low, so I would have to go with a strapless bra. Another issue - my dress is somewhat low in the front too (Something I noted when I found my dress but the salesperson told me that was because I was trying on a far smaller size! Ha...that was a lie). The problem - I am not the type of girl who wants to show off the twins on my wedding day or practically any day, so I had to find the right bra - a bra that was still supportive but low in the front and back. Yeah - well, there is really no such thing. Seriously. - I actually spent more time trying to find the right undergarments than finding my wedding dress. After tearing up twice to a Nordstroms salesperson in their intimate apparel department, I was given the name of Soheila Ghofrani, who is known as the Dress Doctor. Soheila immediately put me at ease, telling me she had some bras that would work. Well, I have to say I was thrilled. She had a great bra that she will be able to sew into the dress for even more support and another plus - not make me look "boobalicous" (yes - I actually used that word when I was describing my dilemma to her). She also gave me a couple pointers on how to make the dress look its best and then gave me a very, very reasonable estimate on my dress. I was sold. I have several more fittings, but I would highly recommend her to anyone.

Say hello to our Little Friend...

We had a gift card to Best Buy and ended up buying this - a Flip video camcorder. The fiance's thought was we could use this to tape the wedding because we nixed the videographer. I laughed on this one but seriously - this thing is genius and so small! At first I hedged, but it is very easy to use and I just took this video two seconds ago. Ok, yes - I hit the deep end and video taped my wedding dress on a hanger. BUT my friend in Cali has been harrassing me to see the dress (sorry Ang - not the best because it has been sitting on a closet door for the last two months but you get the idea).

Oh Austin!

I can't believe I am even confessing that I watch this show - The Real Housewives of Orange County. I know, I know. But it is so damn addicting because you really don't have to think or focus while watching it. Just fun smut. Last night Austin Scarlett, who was on Project Runway, is a designer for Kenneth Pool and helped Lauri pick out a wedding dress. Even though I find her so annoying (my favorite episode ever was watching her cry but because of all the botox she has had done, I didn't even realize she was upset until I saw the mascara running down her face), she did try on all these gorgeous dresses. Plus Austin was such a doll!

UPDATE: Not that I see Abby from Style Me Pretty watching this horrible show, but I just noticed that she did a whole blog on Austin's designs today!

Macy's Sample Sale

I know, I know. I hate that it is Macy's and not Marshall Fields anymore. However, I saw this advertisement and had to pass it along to the Chicagoans who do not have their wedding dress yet.

Calling all bargain-hunting brides, make your way to Macy's on State Street Saturday, Dec. 8, when select bridal gown samples will be 50 to 70 percent off retail price. An inside source told us you might be able to find a $7,350 Vera Wang lace-and-silk gown for under $2,000, a $5,200 Reem Acra beaded-bodice ball gown for $1,300 and a $4,700 Romona Keveza strapless silk organza gown for $1,175. If that wasn't enough incentive, you'll receive 10 percent off any accessories or bridesmaid items with a gown purchase. It shouldn't be as frenzied as those crazy Filene's Basement sales, but quantities are limited and all sales are final. Appointments are mandatory; walk-ins are not accepted. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Call the 4th floor bridal salon at 312-781-3545.

Bling, Bling!

What a great weekend! I had so much fun seeing everyone! But with all the socializing, I didn't get much done on the wedding front. I did get one thing accomplished, jewelry for my dress! I had to find something that worked with my bodice of the dress (photo). Definitely, glad to have a friend who is a jeweler. I spent most of the day trying on stuff and we think we found something. Plus it is borrowed, so I don't even have to pay for it! Now so exhausted...I am calling it a night. Even though I want to spend the day catching up on all the blogs that I missed!

O-H-I-O

I am off to Ohio for the big game against the Badgers...So excited for a day of tailgating and catching up with old friends. Have a good weekend!

OOH. I did try on my dress last night and fell in love with it all over again. I actually did tear up a bit, so never again will I mock someone for getting all sentimental over their wedding dress AGAIN!

Just a Mini Meltdown...

Ok...so my dress arrived today. I had it sent to my workplace, because I wanted to make sure I would sign for it. I got the call from one of the assistants and literally raced downstairs to nab it from the unsuspecting UPS guy. Well it arrived but whoever boxed it up did a horrible job. One side of the box was completely ripped open and exposing the dress. Seriously. I wish I had my camera to show it. Thank god they had it in a very nice suit bag. But I nearly freaked on the UPS guy, who blamed it on the sender (yeah, I have to agree with him). So...here I am rushing to my office to check and make sure it was ok. I didn't even need scissors to open it up or anything - because of the gapping hole! Well, it is ok - safe at home and ready to go to a seamstress. But man, I will be calling the shop tomorrow morning.

The dress

Just got the call from my bridal shop. My dress is in and they are delivering it this week! YEAH! It came two months early! I still can't believe it!

Bridal Idol

The bridal shop where I actually got my dress is doing a contest to win a great bridal package from them. They ask for you to submit a video and what they have received have been cute. Check out the videos at Bridal and Formal.

Prize package includes:
A Wedding gown
Bridesmaids Gowns (6 gowns)
Shoes for you and your maids
Bridal Jewelry
Wedding Bands
Honeymoon Trip to MEXICO

Iconic Brides

My wedding dress is very 1960s and I have been getting a lot ideas from that decade. Something I came across from on Bridalwave.com - the iconic brides list. I wonder if there is a book of iconic brides, because I would buy it in a heartbeat...
Check it out -http://www.bridalwave.tv/iconic_brides/

Oops...

So I think I totally got wrong information. I was told after hours of searching for my dress back in July, that my dress designer was the same one of the Nixon daughters. But then check out this - Tricia Nixon's dress was designed by the Priscilla of Boston. Huh, what? I was told specifically my by girl at the dress shop that he designed it! I think I was fooled, but I might need to do a little more research on this...

UPDATE! I found this on a site - Luci Baines Johnson, the daughter of President Lyndon B. Johnson, and Julie and Tricia Nixon, the daughters of President Richard M. Nixon, wore Priscilla dresses for their weddings.

Budget? What Budget?

So I was quite giddy to hear that Target was selling bridal gowns for under $200 bucks. Why? Because I think it is ridiculous to pay so much money on a dress that you wear once! I started out at David's Bridal (yeah - not a good idea. Also I don't think I was really reading this Bridal Bargains book that well -because I guess that is one big, big mistake to do - going to a David's Bridal.) But then I went to Bridal and Formal in Cincinnati, Ohio. Bridal Bargains recommended this place and I also had a couple friends tell me too to go there.

I went into it with maybe about 1,000 bucks budgeted for my dress and was hoping for less. Now mind you - you can find really good dresses there for that price. But then of course - I became a fabric snob and loved, loved the look of the satin gowns, which are a little more expensive. So I screwed myself. Because there was no way I was going to go to a polyester satin blend...but back to Bridal and Formal. We ended up going on a Friday (another tip - go on a weekday - my guess is they are packed on the weekends). We learned that the street that it is located on is called the "Bridal District" because there are several other bridal shops right next to it. Bridal and Formal has been in business for over 30 years (another good tip - make sure you go with an established place) and is the largest bridal salon in the nation!! Well, it was huge and they had a ton of gowns. You walk in and they set you up with your own gown assistant. She was so nice, but again - this is where I was naive. She was so sweet but towards the end she became a used cars salesman. Now don't get me wrong - she earned her money that day. Because I tried on 12 or more gowns and constantly was changing my mind on what I liked. So we started the searching of the gown. My sister was unbelievable- she ended up going through thousands of gowns the weeks before and printed out photos of dresses she thought I would look good in. I went with a different approach- ah - lets just look through everything. Well that got overwhelming. So finally - I just put everything in my bridal assistant's hands, who pulled a couple dresses she thought I would look good in. Now this may go back to my belief that I never really dreamt of my dream wedding, soooo...I don't think I ever thought of my dream wedding dress. This made the decision hard, because everything I tried on I liked. After four hours, they finally made me narrow it down to three dresses. Now this is the part that was shaddy. They dress I liked the most- was of course the most expensive of the group. I will just say it was over my 1,000 budget. So I went back and forth. I didn't want to spend that type of money. The saleswoman would say - oh let me let you talk to your mom and sister. Two minutes later - she would be standing there listening to our conversation. Finally, my sister had to put the hammer down and asked her to leave again. I had been trying on dresses for hours and was quite tired. I just wanted to eat something. So we said - can we just go to lunch and talk about it? And then come back. Well, of course - if I left now they couldn't guarantee the prices, blah, blah. So you get that whole car salesman feel and finally I buckled. I am buying it!! I am glad I did it, but man...did I have buyer's remorse and never really slept well for a couple nights. It all worked out and I get the dress in January. Can you believe it takes that long? It is a Jim Hjelm dress. I guess he designed the Nixon girls dresses. It is beautiful and I love it. But again...I need to sit down, go through the numbers again and then stick to this budget.

Some more tips of the day. If you go to Bridal and Formal - Wear your granny pants or a decent pair of underpants, because you basically are trying on your dresses in a community dressing room. Yeah - so the girl next to me that was trying on size 2 dresses (yeah - what a bitch) - had a nice red thong on. She kept trying to act somewhat cool about it...but I could also tell she was going - crap - I am sitting here in my thong.

Another tip - Don't get offended. The gown assistant asked me what my bra size was. I told her and literally she stood there dumbfounded. "Oh my -- I don't think we have anything in that size." Well yes - I have a chest. Bigger of course than probably what the size 2 girl weighs. But anyways - she yelled my bra size across the room to another assistant who again looked in horror at me. But finally a rather chesty assistant came out and said the most amazing four words - I found a minimizer!

One more tip - if you are a sentimental one - bring kleenix. I was not that person but the size 2 bride next to me was one. She cried and cried when she found "the one" (also sat in her mother's lap - which again...wtf). I don't think I have this bride gene...