| Poofy, tea-length dresses? [message #732700] |
Wed, 27 June 2007 21:59  |
Bezark Messages: 898
Registered: December 2006
Location: South Jersey |
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I know there are other threads with dresses similar to what I'm looking for, but most of the links or products have expired.
I'm looking for fun, knee/tea length dresses with some poof.
I've ordered so many cheapy dresses that I'm just not happy with, that I'm now open to all price ranges. If the price is too ridiculous, I may use the dress as inspiration to have something made.
So far, the Michelle Roth "Maya" is my absolute favorite, but I'd really like to see what you ladies can come up with.
5/30/08
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| Re: Poofy, tea-length dresses? [message #732715] |
Wed, 27 June 2007 22:46   |
Birdie Messages: 551
Registered: May 2007
Location: Seattle, Washington |
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This is my dress (on the left). I got it in white, and with a crinoline underneath, it's the perfect volume.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/49746616@N00/544073497/
[Updated on: Wed, 27 June 2007 22:47] "I mean, really -- who uses the word 'lubricant' in passing?"
Formerly known as MissCabobbin
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| Re: Poofy, tea-length dresses? [message #732846] |
Thu, 28 June 2007 11:49   |
pumpkingirl Messages: 472
Registered: October 2006
Location: sj - philly area |
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that stephanie james "lizzie" is trying to make me a 2 dress bride. luckily i'm sure it's totally out of my price range. they are gorgeous, i've never seen her site before.
why don't more designers make cute tea length dresses?
kellymeg80, sorry to hear that that dress wasn't a good match for you. it is so cute! good luck finding a new dress.
september 8, 2007
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| Re: Poofy, tea-length dresses? [message #732878] |
Thu, 28 June 2007 13:06   |
Bezark Messages: 898
Registered: December 2006
Location: South Jersey |
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I really like the Lizzie, Hillary, Lacy and Lucille, but $3,000?! Holy hell.
5/30/08
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| Re: Poofy, tea-length dresses? [message #732900] |
Thu, 28 June 2007 13:54   |
dolcevita Messages: 1287
Registered: June 2006
Location: San Francisco |
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http://kvetch.indiebride.com/index.php?t=msg&th=26901&am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;start=0&rid=6958&S=42380fbda5d8bd14c582b8173da76fd c
This thread has a lot of suggestions for alternatives to the Maya. (Mostly in the first half.) If your budget allows, I posted a link to an Amy Kuschel there that's adorable. A couple of Watters options too, at a lower price point.
I've also seen cute short styles from Melissa Sweet and Priscilla of Boston. Though those ,like the Maya, are likely to be quite pricey....
Have you checked out these?
http://www.vucouture.com/home02.html (Sai, Paloma, Alison)
http://www.siriinc.com/
Maybe something like this?
http://www.siriinc.com/sod-9458-07.html
The latter has lots of great embroidered fabrics that would give you a similar 50s look.
http://www.siriinc.com/fabric-colors.html
[Updated on: Thu, 28 June 2007 20:21] What love we've given, we'll have forever. What love we fail to give, will be lost for all eternity." -- Leo Buscaglia
10.21.06
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| Re: Poofy, tea-length dresses? [message #732958] |
Thu, 28 June 2007 16:49   |
JewelChick Messages: 68
Registered: February 2006
Location: Dallas |
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I actually bought a couple of vintage patterns and considered either having one of those made, or possibly even travelling to Arizona to look at Stephanie James' gowns (the closest retailer to me -- sad!). Then I found out that Melange Bridal in Austin was having a Melissa Sweet trunk show (we have her gowns here in Dallas, but Melange is a client of mine, and I truly adore everyone there -- I couldn't ever say enough wonderful things about the people there -- so it's well worth the four-hour drive as far as I'm concerned). Anyway, I went to the show to look at this dress (Style 501), which is available in ivory:

But the manager there talked me into trying on another Melissa Sweet gown called Petunia. Although it was tea length and the shape I wanted, I wasn't exactly excited about the ruching -- until I put it on. I fell in love with the dress, and didn't want to take it off! So I wound up ordering it:

For me, Petunia was "the" gown. But I do think the 501 is really lovely and different. I imagine you could have it made longer and wear a crinoline underneath it, giving it that perfect Audrey-60's look. I never checked the price tag, but I'm sure it's more in the price range of a bridesmaid's dress.
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| Re: Poofy, tea-length dresses? [message #732993] |
Thu, 28 June 2007 19:06   |
JewelChick Messages: 68
Registered: February 2006
Location: Dallas |
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Re: Petunia -- I don't remember the exact final dollar amount (I got a trunk-show discount, but then I'm also having it custom cut because I'm shorter than what the dress is cut for, which costs extra). But it's in the neighborhood of $2500.
When I saw the Forever Yours dress above, I had to look at their site, and found this one:

[Updated on: Thu, 28 June 2007 19:15]
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| Re: Poofy, tea-length dresses? [message #733002] |
Thu, 28 June 2007 20:20   |
Bezark Messages: 898
Registered: December 2006
Location: South Jersey |
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I love how the Forever Yours dresses look in pictures, but I bought one of their dresses(pictured below) from a fellow IB, and I was not at all happy with the quality of it, so I'm weary of purchasing others from them.

I loveloveLOVE the Petunia, but $2500 is beyong my price range, and I doubt any seamstress, online or otherwise, would be able to recreate it to my liking.
I've also searched for Mia's dress, but I wasn't even able to find the pink one! Darn her for being lucky.
5/30/08
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| Re: Poofy, tea-length dresses? [message #733047] |
Thu, 28 June 2007 23:59   |
jester Messages: 2452
Registered: December 2005
Location: Los Angeles |
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The site that yupska linked to had this Petunia knockoff for $300. The hem/tulle doesn't look as great and I think it's a little shorter than MiaM's, but it's in the right price range.
This Thread dress is awesome, and you could add a crinoline for more poof.
Same goes for adding a crinoline to any of these great Watters BM dresses, all of which come in white or ivory and would probably be under $300: 1 2 3 4
*May 27, 2007*
Home Movies
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| Re: Poofy, tea-length dresses? [message #733129] |
Fri, 29 June 2007 10:35   |
stecksy Messages: 534
Registered: November 2006
Location: pittsburgh, pa |
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Mia's dress always reminds me of these Jessica McClintocks. I have no idea what it would cost to get them shortened, but they're both under $500.
It looks like the second one isn't available online in white, but I know that I've seen it in the stores.
Good luck!
[Updated on: Fri, 29 June 2007 10:36] *10.13.07*
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| Re: Poofy, tea-length dresses? [message #733232] |
Fri, 29 June 2007 15:07   |
sandrad Messages: 69
Registered: May 2007
Location: Washington DC |
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Hi. So I have the Michelle Roth Maya. I do really know where you are coming from. I had and have seen a lot of dresses that look nice in their website photographs, but then when you get them they are just "eh". I had ordered a few dresses before I got so lucky with the Maya and I was really unhappy with them when they came in. I went through such an adventure to get the Maya (Kellymeg80 knows) and when I did and got it home I knew what sets it (and probably any of the more expensive dresses, unfortunately) apart. There was a girl who wanted to buy my dress from me after I wear it for my wedding and then at the last minute she told me she wants to have someone to make it for her. I did not get the chance but I wished later that I had told her to please make sure that the seamstress would use the silk organza used in the original because this fabric has this amazing shine to it, and to pay attention to all the details, like all the layers underneath the top layer of the skirt are finished with this great shimmery lace which peaks out and makes the dress look like a fairy dress. Maybe I am not describing this well, but I think you can kind of see in the professional pictures of the dress. You may be looking for something different still, but you mentioned having someone make one for you, and I would just recommend that you know they will pay attention to adding all the little extras you may want.
Here is a link to yet another 50's style tea length dress I saw being sold from a store in England.
http://www.debenhams.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_1 0001_10001_18826_301341_-1
(I know they say they are out of stock of a lot of the sizes, but if you keep checking back, their stock changes often)
Kellymeg80, I am sorry to hear about your 3rd! trip not really working out (but at least thank god you tried it on first, right?)
Good luck
[Updated on: Fri, 29 June 2007 15:08]
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| Re: Poofy, tea-length dresses? [message #735504] |
Sun, 08 July 2007 15:35   |
pumpkingirl Messages: 472
Registered: October 2006
Location: sj - philly area |
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i love that dress, they didn't have it yet when i went to try dresses on. i was dreading david's but i had a great experience and bought this dress there:
http://davidsbridal.com/bridal_gowns_detail.jsp?stid=1892&am p;prodgroup=123
i think if you go during the week it's a whole different experience.
good luck!
september 8, 2007
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| Re: Poofy, tea-length dresses? [message #735506] |
Sun, 08 July 2007 15:44   |
Bezark Messages: 898
Registered: December 2006
Location: South Jersey |
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Ooo. I like that one, too.
I went there two or three years ago with my cousin, and it was dreadful. Terrible service, and I STILL get phone calls and random crap in the mail from them.
This time, I'm going to walk in as a girl on a mission. I don't want to wait for a "bridal consultant," I don't want you putting veils on my head, I will NOT wear a corset, and I only want to see ONE dress.
5/30/08
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| Re: Poofy, tea-length dresses? [message #735511] |
Sun, 08 July 2007 16:09   |
Bezark Messages: 898
Registered: December 2006
Location: South Jersey |
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Thank you, sandrad!
If it stays at a (semi)resonable price, I just might buy that!
[Updated on: Thu, 12 July 2007 10:23] 5/30/08
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| Re: Poofy, tea-length dresses? [message #735538] |
Sun, 08 July 2007 19:20   |
pumpkingirl Messages: 472
Registered: October 2006
Location: sj - philly area |
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wow! congratulations bezark!!!
september 8, 2007
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| Re: Poofy, tea-length dresses? [message #736516] |
Wed, 11 July 2007 12:53   |
CherryGirl Messages: 137
Registered: March 2007
Location: San Diego |
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Bezark,
I tried that dress on at David's and thought it was adorable but I am too big up top and the strapless looked horrid on me. FYI, Alfred Angelo carries the EXACT same dress at their store (I don't know the price) in extended sizes.
In my case, I will be 4 mos pregnant when I get hitched, so I would've needed a larger size.
ETA: Alfred Angelo link
[Updated on: Wed, 11 July 2007 12:56]
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