10 Gown Shopping Secrets
style guide | GOWNS
10 Secrets to
Gown Shopping
Make hunting for your dress a stress-free occasion
1
For the best service, nab the earliest appointment available on any weekday. The salon is quieter and the staff is more attentive.
2
NARROW DOWN THE GU
EST LIST As fun as it sounds to bring your 10 bridesmaids along , wedding-dress designer Cla ire Pe tti bo ne ad vis es keeping the crowd small at your ap pointments. “When a bride comes with a crew, there are bound to be conflicting opinions,” she says. Stick with one or two peop le you trust to give honest feedback.
P.S. I LOVE YOU In this movie moment, Holly Kennedy (Hilary Swank) helps Denise Hennessey (Lisa Kudrow) find the perfect princess gown.
4
DON’T JUST ROLL OUT OF BED
No matter how gorgeous the gown, you won’t fall in love with it if you look like a mess. “Take the time to get ready like you would for a day at work,” says Gabriella Risatti, owner of Gabriella New York Bridal Salon. Wear your makeup and hair as you normally do—e.g., a DIY blowout, a sheer lip gloss and a few swipes of mascara. Don’t worry about getting makeup on the sample gowns—the salon takes care of stains.
3
LEAVE THE POLKA DOTS AT HOME
“You’d be amazed by how many brides come in wearing patterned underwear,” says Pettibone. She suggests a flesh-tone, strapless bra and panties for salon visits so nothing shows through the dress. Bring a body shaper to your fittings to ensure the smoothest, most accurate fit.
Save the wild lingerie for your honeymoon! Silk satin bra, Agent Provocateur, $150; 212-965-0229. InSt yle Wedding s / SUM MER 20 0 9
101
style guide | GOWNS From left: Satin peep-toe pumps, Stuart Weitzman, $325; 310-860-9600. Satin peep-toe pumps with diamante detail, Filippa Scott, $360; myglassslipper .com. Satin flats, Cole Haan, $298; colehaan.com.
5
DIVIDE AND CONQUER Typic
ally a gown is ordered to your largest me asurement. But some brida l designers will create a dr ess to accommodate diff erent bust and hip sizes. This ca n add about $600, but yo u’ll save hundreds in alterations. FYI: W edding gowns run two siz es larger than your normal dress siz e, so don’t panic when you see the label.
6
7
SAY “I DO” TO COTTON
GO SHOE SHOPPING ASAP When it comes time
for your first fitting (after the dress has been purchased), bring the shoes you’re going to wear on your wedding day. “We can’t hem the dress if we don’t know the exact heel height,” Risatti says.
8
SET ASIDE A STASH
Most gowns come lined in silk, but you can request cotton instead. “Cotton lining was common in vintage gowns,” says Pettibone, who now uses the costeffective trick in several of her dresses. This simple switch could save you $600.
The final price of a gown often does not include alterations, says Risatti, so expect to dole out at least $500 for fixes, which include the bustle, hem and any additional work on the bodice.
9
BE SURE BEFORE YOU SIGN
UGLY BETTY Diva editrix Wilhelmina Slater (Vanessa Williams) steals the spotlight in this Vera Wang showstopper.
10
DON’T CRASH DIET
Tempting as it may be to start fasting a week before your nuptials, keep to your regular diet and exercise plan. “We tell brides not to gain or lose any weight after their final fitting—usually two weeks before the wedding,” says Risatti.
102
SUM MER 20 0 9 / InSt yle Wedding s
When you put down a deposit on a gown (typically 50 percent), you’re signing a standard contract that holds you liable for full payment. Even if you elope, call off the wedding or move to Iceland, that dress— and its price tag— is still yours.
10 Secrets to
Gown Shopping
Make hunting for your dress a stress-free occasion
1
For the best service, nab the earliest appointment available on any weekday. The salon is quieter and the staff is more attentive.
2
NARROW DOWN THE GU
EST LIST As fun as it sounds to bring your 10 bridesmaids along , wedding-dress designer Cla ire Pe tti bo ne ad vis es keeping the crowd small at your ap pointments. “When a bride comes with a crew, there are bound to be conflicting opinions,” she says. Stick with one or two peop le you trust to give honest feedback.
P.S. I LOVE YOU In this movie moment, Holly Kennedy (Hilary Swank) helps Denise Hennessey (Lisa Kudrow) find the perfect princess gown.
4
DON’T JUST ROLL OUT OF BED
No matter how gorgeous the gown, you won’t fall in love with it if you look like a mess. “Take the time to get ready like you would for a day at work,” says Gabriella Risatti, owner of Gabriella New York Bridal Salon. Wear your makeup and hair as you normally do—e.g., a DIY blowout, a sheer lip gloss and a few swipes of mascara. Don’t worry about getting makeup on the sample gowns—the salon takes care of stains.
3
LEAVE THE POLKA DOTS AT HOME
“You’d be amazed by how many brides come in wearing patterned underwear,” says Pettibone. She suggests a flesh-tone, strapless bra and panties for salon visits so nothing shows through the dress. Bring a body shaper to your fittings to ensure the smoothest, most accurate fit.
Save the wild lingerie for your honeymoon! Silk satin bra, Agent Provocateur, $150; 212-965-0229. InSt yle Wedding s / SUM MER 20 0 9
101
style guide | GOWNS From left: Satin peep-toe pumps, Stuart Weitzman, $325; 310-860-9600. Satin peep-toe pumps with diamante detail, Filippa Scott, $360; myglassslipper .com. Satin flats, Cole Haan, $298; colehaan.com.
5
DIVIDE AND CONQUER Typic
ally a gown is ordered to your largest me asurement. But some brida l designers will create a dr ess to accommodate diff erent bust and hip sizes. This ca n add about $600, but yo u’ll save hundreds in alterations. FYI: W edding gowns run two siz es larger than your normal dress siz e, so don’t panic when you see the label.
6
7
SAY “I DO” TO COTTON
GO SHOE SHOPPING ASAP When it comes time
for your first fitting (after the dress has been purchased), bring the shoes you’re going to wear on your wedding day. “We can’t hem the dress if we don’t know the exact heel height,” Risatti says.
8
SET ASIDE A STASH
Most gowns come lined in silk, but you can request cotton instead. “Cotton lining was common in vintage gowns,” says Pettibone, who now uses the costeffective trick in several of her dresses. This simple switch could save you $600.
The final price of a gown often does not include alterations, says Risatti, so expect to dole out at least $500 for fixes, which include the bustle, hem and any additional work on the bodice.
9
BE SURE BEFORE YOU SIGN
UGLY BETTY Diva editrix Wilhelmina Slater (Vanessa Williams) steals the spotlight in this Vera Wang showstopper.
10
DON’T CRASH DIET
Tempting as it may be to start fasting a week before your nuptials, keep to your regular diet and exercise plan. “We tell brides not to gain or lose any weight after their final fitting—usually two weeks before the wedding,” says Risatti.
102
SUM MER 20 0 9 / InSt yle Wedding s
When you put down a deposit on a gown (typically 50 percent), you’re signing a standard contract that holds you liable for full payment. Even if you elope, call off the wedding or move to Iceland, that dress— and its price tag— is still yours.
