| Author | Message | ||
     Seagull Citizen Username: Seagull Post Number: 42 Registered: 9-2002 |
I'm helping my friend pick out bridesmaids dresses next weekend. Any suggestions on where to go? I know there's a David's Bridal on 22. But are there any other good places we should check out? Thanks! | ||
| algebra2 Citizen Username: Algebra2 Post Number: 1722 Registered: 5-2001  |
I was in a wedding party where the bride chose dresses at Talbots -- it was a summer wedding and they were nice simple long dresses (in lilac -- ick) | ||
| hismom Citizen Username: Hismom Post Number: 95 Registered: 5-2001 |
I second Talbots - that's where I got the ones for my bridesmaids (and they actually wore them again). David's brida is good, too but it can be a zoon on the weekends | ||
| hismom Citizen Username: Hismom Post Number: 96 Registered: 5-2001 |
I second Talbots - that's where I got the ones for my bridesmaids (and they actually wore them again). David's bridal is good, too, but it can be a zoon on the weekends | ||
| Cynicalgirl Citizen Username: Cynicalgirl Post Number: 486 Registered: 9-2003  |
If your friend is game: Francesca, the seamstress/tailor in Maplewood, designs and sews evening wear and special occasion wear. I went in to have some pants altered, and was looking at the photos and some dresses on dummies. Pretty amazing stuff. Sometimes mimics a pix from Vogue, sometimes unique. She has a costume design background... | ||
| hismom Citizen Username: Hismom Post Number: 97 Registered: 5-2001 |
oops - sorry for the double post. My baby was "helping". Good luck shopping! | ||
| Wendyn Citizen Username: Wendyn Post Number: 163 Registered: 9-2002 |
I would avoid any bridal shops if you can, most of their stuff is pretty tacky and cheap. I vote Talbots or even a department store (depending on how many bridesmaids, I only had 2 so I just bought the dresses for them at Lord & Taylor). | ||
| jem Citizen Username: Jem Post Number: 928 Registered: 5-2001  |
If you're looking for something simple, elegant and wearable even after the wedding, I highly recommend Thread Design in Manhattan. 26 W. 17th St. Here's their web site: Thread Design | ||
| greenetree Supporter Username: Greenetree Post Number: 2090 Registered: 5-2001 |
My friend picked out our dresses from Lord & Taylor. I love the dress; the only thing that keeps me from wearing it again is that it no longer fits.  My sis-in-law has stored a huge suitcase full of bridesmaid dresses in our attic. One is more hideous than the next - baby blue, wierd purple, mint green. If you like your friends, please don't do that to them! | ||
| shoshannah Citizen Username: Shoshannah Post Number: 412 Registered: 7-2002 |
The best bridesmaid dress I ever wore was one I had designed and made by a local seamstress. The bride selected the fabric (deep burgundy velvet), and we each had our own dresses made by our own dressmakers. The "design" part was simple: I just ripped out some photos from a magazine to give her an idea of what I wanted. All the bridesmaids looked beautiful because we each wore dresses that suited our body type. The bride wanted us to wear long dresses, but after the wedding I went back to the seamstress and had her cut it down. I have worn it many times since. | ||
| algebra2 Citizen Username: Algebra2 Post Number: 1723 Registered: 5-2001 |
I had a dressmaker do my bridesmaids dresses -- they were just simple long black sleaveless dresses with beaded collars. It was nice to have just what I wanted -- though my sister-in-law bitched and bitched that her boobs were too big for the dress, boo-freakin-hoo. | ||
| joecool Citizen Username: Joecool Post Number: 96 Registered: 11-2001 |
Allison Teixeira, owner of Maplewood Bridal and Custom Gallerie on Springfield Avenue is a wonderful seamstress. She can make custom dresses or help you order and alter something "ready to wear." You can get shoes and accessories right there as well. (also a sponsor on MOL!) | ||
| bmpsab Citizen Username: Bmpsab Post Number: 66 Registered: 3-2001 |
We got my sister's bridesmaid dresses at Nonchalance in Morristown (on South Street). They had a huge selection and many cheaper dresses that were nice designer knockoffs. We didn't care for the birdesmaid dresses at David's Bridal (we looked there too). | ||
| papayagirl Citizen Username: Papayagirl Post Number: 178 Registered: 6-2002  |
All of the suggestions above sound good, but if you're looking to go the standard route, i can't recommend a place in Englewood called Bride's Best Friend highly enough. Everyone that works there is young and super-nice (there's nothing like a mean, 70-year-old woman with orange hair insisting on standing inside the fitting room with you, watching you like a hawk), they have a great selection (organized by brand), and the fitting/sitting area is nice and spacious. Make sure to make an appointment before you go. And not that you asked... but there's a separate place right next-door that specializes in bridal jewelry, shoes, hairpieces, etc. There are a couple other places in town that carry mother-of-the-bride dresses, and there's a strange but cool retro diner/ice cream parlor/chinese food restaurant where you can go for lunch. They're all within walking distance of each other. | ||
| Seagull Citizen Username: Seagull Post Number: 43 Registered: 9-2002 |
Thanks for all of the feedback! I actually got the dresses for my wedding at Lord & Taylor too, but was wondering if there was anything in the area we missed. The bride is being super nice about letting us pick whatever we want- not even insisting on an ugly color! So, it should be a fun "girls weekend" of shopping! | ||
| lamojo Citizen Username: Lamojo Post Number: 80 Registered: 7-2002 |
I got my wedding dress & bridemaid dresses at Mary Lou's on South Street in Morriston - family run business (two sisters, Mary Lou and Eileen) with great service. They don't have every dress in every color but they have many. We also looked at Park Avenue Bridals in Verona for my wedding and actually just bought dresses there for my friend's wedding. They have a huuuuge selection for bridesmaids. I know some people have had issues with service etc there but I think that was mainly for brides. Brides are by appointment only; no appointment for bridesmaids. I think its a great place to go because they have tons of dresses. Its on Route 23 on the Verona/Cedar Grove border in the Pilgrim Shopping Plaza. | ||
| jem Citizen Username: Jem Post Number: 929 Registered: 5-2001 |
I had a terrible experience with Maplewood Bridal and Custom Gallerie, and I would NOT recommend going there. | ||
| joecool Citizen Username: Joecool Post Number: 97 Registered: 11-2001 |
Oh Jem, I'm sorry to hear that. Allison did some wonderful alterations for me (bridesmaid dress) and I was able to buy my shoes and jewelry there, which I thought was a nice perk. Can you share what happened? Did you talk with the owner? | ||
| jem Citizen Username: Jem Post Number: 930 Registered: 5-2001 |
Allison altered my daughter's bridesmaid dress (ordered from the aforementioned Thread Designs) and just about ruined it - Francesca was only barely able to rescue it, and only with heroic effort. And I very nearly had no dress at all to wear to my son's wedding because of Allison - although I went to her almost four months before the wedding, they procrastinated and procrastinated and strung me along and a week before the wedding, the final product was absolute dreck. Yes, I certainly did talk to her, and she refunded my money and I was able to buy a dress at the very last minute - Sealfon's in Summit - but it was a harrowing experience that I wouldn't wish on anyone. It was through this experience that I discovered Francesca, and I consider her to be a goddess. Not only did she rescue my daughter's dress, but she altered my store-bought dress on an emergency basis. I only wish I'd gone to her with my design from the outset. | ||
| greenetree Supporter Username: Greenetree Post Number: 2092 Registered: 5-2001 |
I worship at the alter of Francesca... she rocks! When Al at Kean's permanently reverse-dry cleaned a unique blouse of The Spouse's, Francesca replicated it for me; the result was beautiful. |
