Before seeing it in person

[frenort21]

So I was wondering if anyone here had found their dream dress, actually knew it was the one from the picture and bought it without seeing it in person or trying it on. If so did it work out?

 

[myprincessgirlisa]

I was pretty close to what your asking

I saw it in a magazine

called everywhere to find it

Tried on a few others before i went to try "the" dress on.....my gram could tell my heart was set on it, cause she told me..."you know its the dress you want. Go Get it....if you dont, you'll never be happy"
That little ole lady was right....& I did....i tried it on, but i didnt need to cause i knew it was the one for me.......It fit beautifully & i LOVED it, even after 10years...i still love that dress...even if it looks a little dated(1997)

 

[Maggimus]

I did find my dress online first. Went to the store and tried it on-- and indeed, it was the one! I tried on a few more to humor the sales lady but in the end I came home with the dress I first spotted online!

 

[calanniebu]

I did find my dress online first. Went to the store and tried it on-- and indeed, it was the one! I tried on a few more to humor the sales lady but in the end I came home with the dress I first spotted online!

Same here My only suggestion is to try on a few others ... in completely different styles so you are REALLY sure.

 

[Tabetha]

I found the dress I love in a magazine. Knew it was THE ONE... Went to visit it a couple of times, and it's even lovlier in person.

Until I saw the price tag. $2950 in Canada. Less at Saks. I could get it for about $1800 in the States at Saks, if I apply for a Saks card and get a 10% discount.

I tried it on anyway, and if money was no object, I'd buy it. It looked great and I felt really pretty in it. But I can find a lot of other places to put $2950, and even $1800. I plan on buying a designer inspired dress online - based on another dress I tried on and loved while trying on THE DRESS.

 

[Lynn5700]

The dress I fell in love with was one I found in a magazine. When I started dress shopping I kind of forgot about it. Then when we were at one of the dress shops I saw it out of the corner of my eye and fell in love with it,tried it on and bought it. I knew it was the one.

 

[frenort21]

Yay you guys helped me so much. I found the dress I love but the only store that sold it nearby didn't have it in stock. I tried on a dress by the same designer but a completely differant cut just to get the right size. We ordered my dress that day since we only have about 4 months before the wedding. I was kinda worried that I jumped the gun but the dress was so beautiful in all the pictures I have seen, I can only imagine it will be even more beautiful in person.

 

[cryssi]

I had picked out my dream dress after looking through several magazines. It had sheer, long sleeves and was a-line. I tried it on and...YUCK! It looked terrible! I should have known though, since I have chunky arms that don't generally fit in long sleeved shirts in my size.

So I was completely against strapless...was convinced to try on a strapless...ended up with a strapless.

If you already know what style looks good on you (you've at least tried on those styles), then you would probably have no problem ordering your dress online. By the time I decided on the style I liked and felt good in, I probably could have ordered my dress.

So for me, perceived dream dress - sheer, long-sleeved a-line, to actual dream dress - strapless, sweetheart neckline, poufy organza ballgown...pretty different! Hopefully you will at least get a chance to try on a few.

good luck!
c

 

[cryssi]

Oh! ok. I should delete my post then...

I should add that the dress I ended up with, I tried on in the "candlelight" color...I ordered it in white. I had a mini panic attack a couple of hours after we left the bridal shop thinking that maybe I should have gotten the candlelight color because it was so pretty and romantic. I was set on white, though. No worries, because when the dress came in, I loved it! It was the perfect choice for me.

 

[osxgirl]

Well, I can't tell you yet how it's going to work out, but it looks like that's what I'm going to do.

I've absolutely fallen in love with a dress I found on-line. The problem is, hardly anyone has it in-store. The few who do have it in an 8, a 12, a 14... problem is, I wear a 26, so that isn't even close enough to be able to put on and get an idea. I found a store in NY state, north of NY, that did have a 22, and was planning on driving up this Saturday to try it on. I am south of Baltimore, MD. I called them, and, of course, they just sold it last week.

I have called every store that the manufacturer says carries that particular line in Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey, and West Virgina.

The only good thing is, in the process of making all those calls, one of the stores, fortunately in Baltimore and therefore close to me, was very nice on the phone, and offered me a price for the dress over the phone (even though I wasn't asking for prices yet) that was only slightly higher than the on-line prices I've found. By the time you figure in shipping for on-line and taxes for the store purchase, they'll cost basically the same, but at least I'll be able to buy it in a store.

But I'll still be buying it blind. It's a VERY unique dress. The style is evidently a couple of years old - one shop said it's a carryover for the manufacturer, meaning it's one of their older styles they have kept in the books. Unlike most dresses out there, none of the other designers have anything that looks like it at all. The closest I've gotten is to try on something that has the same basic silhouette, and see how that looks. The shape of the dress looks good on me (a modified A-line, halfway between an a-line and a ball gown), but... it has an inverted pleat on one side that has color in it, and I haven't tried anything with that, and it's an off-the-shoulder, and I have just barely been able to try something like that.

Still, I think it will look good on me. Because of my size, I've been buying clothes on-line for years (I recently lost a lot of weight, so up until recently, it was hard to find anything that would fit me OTHER than on-line). I've gotten pretty good at judging how something will look based on the picture and description, and by knowing the style and how certain styles look on me.

And even with all that research, I'm finding it to be an extremely nerve-wracking decision. But I know I won't be happy if I don't try to get that dress. It's the only one I can picture myself in ever since I found it. It's the one I see whenever I start thinking about doing our pictures in front of the castle and such.

I asked DF the other night, "But what if it looks awful on me?" He said, "Then I guess we'll be selling it on e-bay." I said, "But then I won't have a dress! Then what will I do?" He said, "We'll go to David's, or one of the other shops, and find one in your size on the rack, and we'll buy it." And I know it isn't quite that simple, but... he's right. It will work out.

So, we are going to the shop in Baltimore Saturday so I can get measured, maybe try on a few other things (just to see), and to look at swatches so I can pick out the trim color, and then I am sure I will be ordering a dress.

Ack!!! And when I say how much the dress is, probably some of you are going to suggest just buying another one at the same time, and selling whichever one I don't use... which might not be a bad idea, but... to me, the idea of $419 for a dress I've never seen on myself before is just scary!
I can barely make myself pay $40 for a shirt I've never tried on before, and that's when I know I can return it!

 

[frenort21]

Oh! ok. I should delete my post then...

I should add that the dress I ended up with, I tried on in the "candlelight" color...I ordered it in white. I had a mini panic attack a couple of hours after we left the bridal shop thinking that maybe I should have gotten the candlelight color because it was so pretty and romantic. I was set on white, though. No worries, because when the dress came in, I loved it! It was the perfect choice for me.

LoL yeah I probably should have posted that I bought it already. It is strapless which makes me nervous since my cup runneth over. I however am working out and dieting so hopefully by the time the dress gets in in August that issue will be solved or at least a little smaller. That is my main worry that the dress it strapless, but I think I can survive.

 

[frenort21]

Well, I can't tell you yet how it's going to work out, but it looks like that's what I'm going to do.

I've absolutely fallen in love with a dress I found on-line. The problem is, hardly anyone has it in-store. The few who do have it in an 8, a 12, a 14... problem is, I wear a 26, so that isn't even close enough to be able to put on and get an idea. I found a store in NY state, north of NY, that did have a 22, and was planning on driving up this Saturday to try it on. I am south of Baltimore, MD. I called them, and, of course, they just sold it last week.

I have called every store that the manufacturer says carries that particular line in Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey, and West Virgina.

The only good thing is, in the process of making all those calls, one of the stores, fortunately in Baltimore and therefore close to me, was very nice on the phone, and offered me a price for the dress over the phone (even though I wasn't asking for prices yet) that was only slightly higher than the on-line prices I've found. By the time you figure in shipping for on-line and taxes for the store purchase, they'll cost basically the same, but at least I'll be able to buy it in a store.

But I'll still be buying it blind. It's a VERY unique dress. The style is evidently a couple of years old - one shop said it's a carryover for the manufacturer, meaning it's one of their older styles they have kept in the books. Unlike most dresses out there, none of the other designers have anything that looks like it at all. The closest I've gotten is to try on something that has the same basic silhouette, and see how that looks. The shape of the dress looks good on me (a modified A-line, halfway between an a-line and a ball gown), but... it has an inverted pleat on one side that has color in it, and I haven't tried anything with that, and it's an off-the-shoulder, and I have just barely been able to try something like that.

Still, I think it will look good on me. Because of my size, I've been buying clothes on-line for years (I recently lost a lot of weight, so up until recently, it was hard to find anything that would fit me OTHER than on-line). I've gotten pretty good at judging how something will look based on the picture and description, and by knowing the style and how certain styles look on me.

And even with all that research, I'm finding it to be an extremely nerve-wracking decision. But I know I won't be happy if I don't try to get that dress. It's the only one I can picture myself in ever since I found it. It's the one I see whenever I start thinking about doing our pictures in front of the castle and such.

I asked DF the other night, "But what if it looks awful on me?" He said, "Then I guess we'll be selling it on e-bay." I said, "But then I won't have a dress! Then what will I do?" He said, "We'll go to David's, or one of the other shops, and find one in your size on the rack, and we'll buy it." And I know it isn't quite that simple, but... he's right. It will work out.

So, we are going to the shop in Baltimore Saturday so I can get measured, maybe try on a few other things (just to see), and to look at swatches so I can pick out the trim color, and then I am sure I will be ordering a dress.

Ack!!! And when I say how much the dress is, probably some of you are going to suggest just buying another one at the same time, and selling whichever one I don't use... which might not be a bad idea, but... to me, the idea of $419 for a dress I've never seen on myself before is just scary!
I can barely make myself pay $40 for a shirt I've never tried on before, and that's when I know I can return it!

The dress I bought online was $650 when DF and I went to the store just to look around I asked about the dress and they said they didnt have it in stock but had the book I could look at so I flipped through. This store had little circle stickers with numbers on them but no $ marks so I was unsure if the number I saw in the book was the price but the number read 498. I was like is this the price she said yes is something wrong. I was so happy that was a great price which is another reason I ordered it. I couldnt believe the dress I fell head over heals for was such a great price.

 

[Gina Loves Disney]

I wouldn't buy a dress without first trying it on because I had a dress I "knew" was the one, tried it on and HATED it

 

[Belle1981]

I saw my dress in a magazine and no matter what I did I could not try it on in Canada. The dress was nowhere to be found! I finally found it in Orlando of all places and flew down to confirm that it was going to be THE DRESS and just as I thought it was PERFECT! I flew back to Toronto and ordered it right away! It should be here in less than a month! I just can't wait!

 

[frenort21]

I saw my dress in a magazine and no matter what I did I could not try it on in Canada. The dress was nowhere to be found! I finally found it in Orlando of all places and flew down to confirm that it was going to be THE DRESS and just as I thought it was PERFECT! I flew back to Toronto and ordered it right away! It should be here in less than a month! I just can't wait!

That makes me so happy. I went out yesterday to try to find a dress that was at least cut the same way I managed to find one and try it on it fit perfect!!! I was so happy I cant wait to see my dress.

 

[PirateKitty]

There were 3 dresses I thought were "the dress" just by looking at the picture. The first one looked so horrible when we got to the store, I never even bothered to try it on. The second, they didn't have in stock, and I was not about to buy it without trying it on. The third one I did have a chance to try on, but there was just something about it that didn't look quite right. I had quite an adventure trying out dresses in the dark, thanks to a blown transformer that blew out the power. Luckily, I was able to find "the one", and it didn't resemble any of the dresses I had originally picked out in the catalog.

 

[osxgirl]

Well, I too was worried about "THE DRESS" not being "THE DRESS" when I get it on, and the only reason I decided I could order it without trying it on first is:

1. I tried on a dress with the same silhouette, and I loved it on me. The modified A-line does work well on me, so I know I love the shape of the dress on.

2. I managed to find a dress that was off-the-shoulders, and though it wasn't a bridal gown, it was close enough to what the dress I'm ordering looks like to give me an idea of what it would look like. And I really like it too - better than the strapless, which I really liked. Which surprised me, because I had said strapless was the one thing I would absolutely NOT get, but it actually looked good on. But the off-the-shoulders looked better.

3. I tried a dress with color. The color it had was a light burgandy, and it looked really good. The color I'm getting is a sapphire blue, and blues look WAY better on me than reds. Adding a bit of color in with the white helps a lot, and with this dress, the color is in a pleat in the skirt and then the entire collar. Framing my face with some color, since I am very, very pale, will really work well, and bring out the blue in my eyes, which are my best feature.

4. Because of my size, I've had to buy clothes on-line for years, and have gotten good at judging how something will look on based on a picture. Plus, I sew, and have a reasonably good idea of how things will look and hang on my body type because of that as well. The only feature of the dress I didn't get to try on is the inverted pleat that is also in the contrast color. I had a little concern about that - I tried on a dress that had a split skirt in the middle at the waist, and it was HORRIBLE. Made me look at least 2 or 3 sizes bigger. But the inverted pleat is not in the center, it is off to one side. And it doesn't start at the waist, it starts down a good 5 inches or so. Every dress shop owner I talked to about that dress actually said that pleat is very flattering on larger figures, and I think it will be too.

5. One other encouraging thing - when I was looking for one to try on, I called probably 50 or 60 stores that carry that line. I found only 3 or 4 stores that had the dress, and they were all 8's, 12's, or 14's. I also found, however, 3 or 4 stores that said they had just sold one. Those were all in larger sizes. They all seemed to indicate that those just flew right out the door. That makes it sound like it does look good on larger women.

Believe me, I don't think buying a dress without trying it on first is for everyone. I think you have to be someone who has a very good feel for what styles look good on your body, do a lot of research first, and do your best to try on anything you can that is as close as possible to the dress you are buying to get as good an idea as possible about what the dress will look like.