New York City is the town for a gown. In
Manhattan,
there's a district for everything -- from lamps to pizza ovens
to photo studios to wedding dresses. Gowns for every
female in the wedding party are available on Broadway
in (or near) 2 buildings: 1375 Broadway
& 1385 Broadway
[between West 36-40 Streets]. Saturday mornings
at 9:00, you'll find a tribe of women of all ages waiting
outside these "bridal buildings" about to open. You
can spend an entire day in one of these vertical malls,
parading from floor to floor, trying to outfit everyone
from flower girls to mother-of-the-groom.
All New York City brides are beautiful on their
wedding day. They "glow."
[Touch the LACE & return to top of page]
Even so, once a woman finds her ideal
groom,
it follows that she must have the ideal dress.
To determine which gown will flatter your
figure, determine which body type you have.
Betty Wales Bridal Veils
1375 Broadway, New York, NY 10018
(212) 719-5499; fax: (212) 629-3392
Couture Bridal Veils
1375 Broadway, New York, NY 10018
(212) 354-5402
Diamond Bridal Collections Limited
1385 Broadway # 1701, New York, NY 10018
(212) 302-0210
For The Bride by Demetrios
222 West 37th Street, New York, NY 10018
(212) 967-0750
Jim Hjelm's Private Collection
225 West 37th Street, New York, NY 10018
(212) 921-7058; fax: (212) 768-2902
Llissa Bridal Limited
222 West 37th Street, New York, NY 10018
(212) 967-5222; fax: (212) 967-1586Ulla-Maija
805 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10021
(212) 570-6085
The Next Step: a bridal shoe shop
8418 Fifth Avenue, Bay Ridge, N.Y. 11209
1 (800) 575-7837
Just 5 minutes from the Verrazano Narrows Bridge, you
will find this store with its courteous staff and wide
selection of white shoes in all fabrics. If you
thought you could buy white shoes anywhere
during fall, winter, or spring, ha-ha-ha! But you
can always make tracks to The
Next Step.
The Bridal Party
243 East 82nd Street, New York, NY 10028
(212) 861-2318
The Bridal Party, the first boutique of its kind in New York
City, is devoted exclusively to outfitting bridal attendants.
This store sells dresses for bridesmaids from:
Vera Wang * Nicole Miller * Jim Hjelm Occasions *
Watters & Watters* Dessy Creations * Galina *
Bill Levkoff * Bari Jay *
Dresses range from approximately $175 to $350;
available by special order only.
The Bridal Party also offers dresses available
for immediate delivery by A.B.S. By appointment only:
243 East 82nd St. [2nd-3rd Ave.], NYC 10028
(212) 861-2318
Selection of classic gown/dress patterns.
[E-mail me to make sure I have
the patterns you want in stock.]
Shipping for up to 4 patterns:
$3 priority mail; $1.50 for 1st class. Michelle Lee: 9 Hazen St. Chelmsford,
MA 01824 - 4601
Consultant Bride & Groom Expo Limited
415 Grand Street, New York, NY 10002
(212) 673-0240
A Perfect Fit: The Great White Hope of
a Wedding Dress
PLAN AHEAD:
Give yourself at least 6-8 months ahead of
your wedding date to shop. Once you order a gown,
normal delivery of wedding dresses (including maids',
mother's, and flower girl's) is 12-14 weeks.
Allow ample time for fittings.
SIZES: Most gowns run small and it is normal
to need a couple of sizes larger than
your normal clothes size, especially if
you are chesty or broad shouldered.
GETTING MEASURED:
Have out-of-state maids get measurements taken at
a local bridal shop and not by a non-professional.
Wear proper undergarments -- not sports bras.
*Note: getting measured isn't called a fitting!
FITTINGS:
Always make an appointment; gowns and
slips have to be pressed ahead of time.
Bring shoes and bra you'll be wearing with this gown.
ALTERATIONS:
Choose a bridal shop offering in-house alterations.
Gowns with lots of lace trimming are normally
taken apart at the waist for the hem. Make an
appointment to check the alterations since minor
adjustments may have to be made afterwards.
BUSTLES:
There are two main types of bustles.
The Standard bustle works well with
gowns that have a lot of detail on the train.
Buttons are sewn around the waistline
and loops are added to the train. When hooked
up, some of the detail remains showing.
The Peplum/Reversal bustle works well with
A-line gowns and ones without much train
detail as with many silk dresses. Loops and
ribbons are sewn underneath the gown and
tied together for a peplum effect.
GENERAL GUIDANCE on GOWNS:
Most bridal salons prefer to show gowns by
appointment, so call ahead. Appointments will
last between 1-2 hours; be sure to space them out.
Don't try to squeeze it in on your lunch hour.
Shopping for your bridal gown isn't like
looking for a casual outfit, where you
can go into the store and look through
the racks. It's very much a one-on-one
process. You need to sit down with your
consultant and discuss what you're looking
for before you try on a single gown.
An appointment assures that you will
get this kind of relaxed atmosphere, and it
guarantees that the consultant will be able
to take the time to do everything possible to
get you the gown you want. You'll have much
more success if you aren't pressed for time.
Explore on your first couple of outings. You'll try
on a lot of gowns before you decide on one.
[It's possible to try on TOO many gowns.]
Once you've settled on a neckline and general
style, stick with it. Try not to fall into the trap
of trying on every dress you see; you'll only
confuse yourself. If that straight skirt didn't
look good yesterday, it won't look any
better today.
Have an idea of what you'd like, but keep
an open mind. It may not look like much
on the hanger, but it could be the dress
of your dreams. When you try on a gown,
focus on the way it looks and feels.
Is it comfortable? Does it emphasize
your good points and hide your flaws?
Shopping alone can often be difficult. Take with
you one or two people whose opinions you value.
If the gowns you've seen have all started to blur
in your mind, it's time to stop looking.
If you're having trouble deciding, here's a handy trick:
Over the next week or two, don't look at any gowns.
Picture yourself walking down the aisle. Note which
dress you're wearing. Chances are that's the one you'll buy.
Be aware that bridal gowns usually take anywhere
from 3-6 months just to come in, and you'll
need a month on top of that for alterations.
Leave yourself as much time as possible before the
wedding to be sure you can get the dress you want.
Keep in mind that you'll be working with these people
for the better part of a year, if not longer. You need
to trust them and be able to get answers to your
questions. Some things you should find out about
include whether you'll be able to see the gown
without an appointment; how it will be stored; if
anyone will be able to see the gown when you are
not present; if you can take the gown out of the store
and then return it for safekeeping until the wedding.
Payment:
Most shops require a 50% deposit, with the balance due
either at your first fitting or when you pick up the dress.
Be wary of any shop that asks for more than 50% before
the dress comes in.
Talk to your consultant about what the price
of the gown includes. Many shops include all
or part of your alterations, and some include
the veil as well. This is very important to know
when you shop for the best price. The dress with
the lowest initial price can end up being the most
expensive when all the hidden costs are added.
Alterations can be a big added expense, and you
can count on needing them. You're taking a lot of
time and spending a lot of money to get the perfect
bridal gown, so once you find it, don't skimp on the
alterations. The way the gown is altered will have a
big influence on how good it looks on you. The most
beautiful dress in the world will look awful if it doesn't
fit properly, so be sure that your gown is altered by an
experienced bridal seamstress.
Doing alterations on bridal attire is very different
than altering everyday clothing, because there is
much more detail and the proper fit is essential.
For example, if a blouse is a little loose through
the body, you probably won't be too concerned;
you may even prefer it that way. If your bridal
gown is loose, however, it'll show, and it'll be
pretty uncomfortable.
If alterations are not included in the price
of your gown, find out the charge for each
procedure. A hem may cost $30, but if your skirt
is lined it can be considered two hems and you'll
pay twice as much as you expected. Bustling the
train is another major expense. Also find out if
pressing is included. With something as important
as a wedding gown, you probably don't have either
the facilities or the skill to press it properly yourself.
Be aware that a lot of manufacturers copy
each other, so know what you're getting for the price.
