The Dress: Part 1
My mom and sister convinced me that the Filene's Basement Running of the Brides in mid-February was a must. You've probably heard of this now-legendary annual tradition: hundred of brides and their teams of helpers wearing matching sproingy eyeball headbands and neon shirts storm the store packed full of thousands of plastic-wrapped gowns at deep discount (think $250, $350 and $500 for $3,000+ dresses). This year it was at Hynes Convention Center since Filene's no longer exists. We were glad since @ the old location we would have been waiting outside in the snow.
When the doors opened at 8 a.m. people literally sprinted into the showroom. By the time Team Cook got inside every rack was empty. Seriously- takes about a minute. I confess to feeling a little panicky, probably due to my standing against the wall in a strapless bra and leggings while my team canvassed empty racks. My fears were ill-founded: my intrepid mom and sis walked around, bargained for rejected dresses, and traded traded traded. I found that the best trading happened while walking around wearing the dress I wanted to get rid of, asking permission to poke at other people's racks (of gowns, people.) It was also worth zipping the rejects back in their plastic garment bags: helped retain their aura of desirability. While it took about 20 minutes before I even had a dress worth trying on, within an hour we were regularly unearthing worthy contenders. At first I focused on all-over Chantilly lace slim-fitting sheath or mermaid silhouette styles, but 3 hours in tried on anything that looked interesting (frothy orange feathered ballgown, I'm thinking of you.)
I have to say even though we joked beforehand about throwing elbows and battling wild-eyed women with huge rocks for the dream gown, the atmosphere inside was overwhelmingly positive and exciting. Girls cheered for each other when they found "the" dress, complimented each other on different styles, shared mirrors and offered honest opinions. It was really lovely, the occasional creepy dad-type with camera notwithstanding.
After four hours wrangling in and out of dresses I was torn between 2 very different gowns. (Apologies for not taking pictures: we were ignorant.)
Dress 1: a quirky, a-line one-strap flowery net thing. The net overlay floated away from the slip-like base layer on thin hoops. It was so different and fun, and seemed to fit well with our outdoor location. Downsides: the hoops were warped a bit, so it didn't hang quite right, aaand it was a size 4, which meant without losing a rib they'd have to reconstruct the top third to lace instead of button up.
Dress 2 was also amazing, and completely different. Strapless, soft champagne color, fitted through the bodice and down to abt mid thigh, where it flared out and draped all mermaidy around my feet. Dramatic low back with a sexy row of buttons all down the backside. This dress fit like a dream. Strangers approached me and entreated me to buy it immediately. My mom luurved this dress. There was no doubt I felt very va va voom in this dress. Downsides? The style was a total 180 from what I had originally envisioned. It was much more formal, more evening, more pools of candlelight and flutes of champagne and jazz orchestra over murmured conversations. The flowery net size 4 was much funkier, more sushi and rockabilly and drunk karaoke in a barn. How to combine these two very different, equally compelling visions?
I agonized for an hour, hoovering up compliments. I would have thought about it overnight but there was no chance at this crazy sale thing. After the dress alteration team told me they couldn't guarantee straightening out the hoops in dress #1, and the alterations it would need, I went with dress #2 (but you saw that coming 2 paragraphs ago, right?). It doesn't even need alterations! Fits me like its custom! Now I'm having fun envisioning a glam sideswept 'do with birdcage veil for the ceremony, maybe changing to a flower in my hair and sparkly flats for the reception...
Looking back on it, trying to formulate an entire wedding style around two drastically different dresses is a lot of pressure for a few pounds of taffeta and silk. In the end, I went with my gut, and chose the dress that will make the dude say "damn." I'll get my quirk fix with orange shoes, yellow pedicabs, and a homemade photobooth.
...coming up: How I spend my lunch breaks (with photos!) also: Running of the Brides tips; what's this about a pedicab?
When the doors opened at 8 a.m. people literally sprinted into the showroom. By the time Team Cook got inside every rack was empty. Seriously- takes about a minute. I confess to feeling a little panicky, probably due to my standing against the wall in a strapless bra and leggings while my team canvassed empty racks. My fears were ill-founded: my intrepid mom and sis walked around, bargained for rejected dresses, and traded traded traded. I found that the best trading happened while walking around wearing the dress I wanted to get rid of, asking permission to poke at other people's racks (of gowns, people.) It was also worth zipping the rejects back in their plastic garment bags: helped retain their aura of desirability. While it took about 20 minutes before I even had a dress worth trying on, within an hour we were regularly unearthing worthy contenders. At first I focused on all-over Chantilly lace slim-fitting sheath or mermaid silhouette styles, but 3 hours in tried on anything that looked interesting (frothy orange feathered ballgown, I'm thinking of you.)
I have to say even though we joked beforehand about throwing elbows and battling wild-eyed women with huge rocks for the dream gown, the atmosphere inside was overwhelmingly positive and exciting. Girls cheered for each other when they found "the" dress, complimented each other on different styles, shared mirrors and offered honest opinions. It was really lovely, the occasional creepy dad-type with camera notwithstanding.
After four hours wrangling in and out of dresses I was torn between 2 very different gowns. (Apologies for not taking pictures: we were ignorant.)
Dress 1: a quirky, a-line one-strap flowery net thing. The net overlay floated away from the slip-like base layer on thin hoops. It was so different and fun, and seemed to fit well with our outdoor location. Downsides: the hoops were warped a bit, so it didn't hang quite right, aaand it was a size 4, which meant without losing a rib they'd have to reconstruct the top third to lace instead of button up.
Dress 2 was also amazing, and completely different. Strapless, soft champagne color, fitted through the bodice and down to abt mid thigh, where it flared out and draped all mermaidy around my feet. Dramatic low back with a sexy row of buttons all down the backside. This dress fit like a dream. Strangers approached me and entreated me to buy it immediately. My mom luurved this dress. There was no doubt I felt very va va voom in this dress. Downsides? The style was a total 180 from what I had originally envisioned. It was much more formal, more evening, more pools of candlelight and flutes of champagne and jazz orchestra over murmured conversations. The flowery net size 4 was much funkier, more sushi and rockabilly and drunk karaoke in a barn. How to combine these two very different, equally compelling visions?
I agonized for an hour, hoovering up compliments. I would have thought about it overnight but there was no chance at this crazy sale thing. After the dress alteration team told me they couldn't guarantee straightening out the hoops in dress #1, and the alterations it would need, I went with dress #2 (but you saw that coming 2 paragraphs ago, right?). It doesn't even need alterations! Fits me like its custom! Now I'm having fun envisioning a glam sideswept 'do with birdcage veil for the ceremony, maybe changing to a flower in my hair and sparkly flats for the reception...
Looking back on it, trying to formulate an entire wedding style around two drastically different dresses is a lot of pressure for a few pounds of taffeta and silk. In the end, I went with my gut, and chose the dress that will make the dude say "damn." I'll get my quirk fix with orange shoes, yellow pedicabs, and a homemade photobooth.
...coming up: How I spend my lunch breaks (with photos!) also: Running of the Brides tips; what's this about a pedicab?
posted by mrs. pants at 6:02 PM
1 Comments:
Aaaaaaaand she's back. Woot!
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