Oh god, bridesmaid dresses

March 30, 2005 3:00 PM

I'm maid of honor in my sister's wedding in a month. The dress we ordered to match the other bridesmaid's dresses doesn't fit AT ALL.

The dress is actually a top-skirt combo. The skirt fits okay, but the top won't even button across my not-THAT-ample chest. Also, it's way too short length wise. I'm not sure how this happened, since we ordered the size that corresponded to my measurements in the chart that the dress company provided. Anyway, I need to find an off-the-rack white top with sleeves that would be appropriately upscale for a formal wedding and not cost a million dollars. Any thoughts? Any ideas on fixing the existing top would also be welcome, although it doesn't look to my non-seamstress eyes that it has much material to let out.

posted by LittleMissCranky to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (9 answers total)

you have a month - contact the place where you ordered this dress and demand a repair or your money back. Meanwhile, if you feel that money-back will be the sole option, begin making discreet inquiries with other dressmakers to make a copy of the dress. You have time - but get started now
posted by seawallrunner at 3:05 PM on March 30, 2005

I second seawallrunner's suggestion.

I'm a huge fan of stores like Ross, Marshalls, and Burlington Coat Factory. It's like going to the thrift store so if they don't have what you want one day, a few days later new stock may come in. A one day outing to all of them may prove fruitful for what you need.

Try ebay on the designer of the dress, too.
posted by frecklefaerie at 3:25 PM on March 30, 2005

You'd be surprised at what a good seamstress can sometimes fix...

It's not my favorite store, but a place like David's Bridal has a lot of separates that are meant for weddings. And as a MOH, you have the perfect excuse to dress differently from the maids, so it wouldn't have to match perfectly.
posted by GaelFC at 3:30 PM on March 30, 2005

Double check to make sure there isn't another bridesmaid in your sister's wedding party who, despite having ordered off the charts to her measurements, has a top that's way too big for her. It happens!

But definitely kick up a fuss at the store, too. The bridal fashion industry is pretty notorious for screwing around with this kind of stuff.
posted by jennyb at 4:03 PM on March 30, 2005

Double check to make sure there isn't another bridesmaid in your sister's wedding party who, despite having ordered off the charts to her measurements, has a top that's way too big for her. It happens!

Yep, this is exactly what happened to me years ago in a wedding party -- the designer got the tops reversed. So my busty friend initially tried to squeeze into my dinky top, and I put hers on thinking I was going to have to stuff socks in my bra.

If you do indeed need to get a new top, though, you might also try any good designer outlets. Some of the Chelsea Premium Outlets are pretty upscale, for example.
posted by scody at 4:32 PM on March 30, 2005

Pull the ripcord and have all the bridesmaids return their dresses and ask them to dress themselves. Perhaps in the same color. I heard about a wedding party doing this and I thought this was so incredibly awesome because 99.999999% of bridesmaid dresses look ... like ... dogpiles. I've only been to eight weddings, so I don't know how I got six digits of accuracy, but there it is, right there. Numbers don't lie, unless they whisper lies in your ear at night when we're all asleep. Always a possibility. They also carry tiny weapons.
posted by user92371 at 4:38 PM on March 30, 2005

Agreed. Pitch a major fit. Demand overnight shipping, too, so that you have time for another fitting. Make sure you get on the phone armed with the original chart, your measurements, and the measurements of the garment.

Meanwhile, of course, look for a top just in case. In addition to the other suggestions, I would add that if there is an upscale/designer consignment shop in your area, it will likely be a great source for really fantastic formalwear.
posted by desuetude at 4:56 PM on March 30, 2005

I don't know how I got six digits of accuracy, but there it is, right there. Numbers don't lie, unless they whisper lies in your ear at night when we're all asleep. Always a possibility. They also carry tiny weapons.

You are awesome, and I would be your bridesmaid. That is all.
posted by redfoxtail at 6:06 PM on March 30, 2005

I had a similar problem at my wedding. One of my girls tried on a particular size -- TWICE -- and then ordered it, and the top was too small. The shop exchanged it really quickly. I was told at the time that basically hinting that the bride is the Bridezilla of all Bridezillas was very motivational. The last thing the shop will want is some woman having a long, loud, massive meltdown in their front room. Milk it. (Yes, it's evil. But it was done for me and I'd do it for my friends, too.)

Alternatively, I second David's for separates. They're everywhere, for one thing, and for another they have a lot of styles and a lot of colors. Also, since you are the maid of honor, you can look a little different from the others and it's not hugely scandalous. Good luck.
posted by Medieval Maven at 8:39 PM on March 30, 2005