Dress Shopping Take Two

Yesterday (Sunday) we went to Mary's Bridal in Annapolis and tried on SO many dresses. There was one I tried on that was so "me." We weren't allowed to take pictures, so I will have to describe it the best I can. It is a strapless "A-Line" dress that falls to the floor with a very small train. The whole thing is actual lace that is a more creamy white. There is a satin-like champagne colored sash across the middle that is wide on the right side and sinches in on the left which creates a kind of "rouching." The zipper is on the left side with rhinestone buttons all the way down the zipper. It is so classic and timeless but also has the vintage feel we are going for. It is very form-fitting and shows off my figure, which I thought I wouldn't like but ended up loving! And the best part is, I think I may wear vintage cow-girl boots with it ;)


The experience at this boutique was very interesting, to say the least. When we walked in the owner, Mary, greeted us and seated us back in the corner of the shop. She asked me if this was the first place I've visited to try on dresses, so of course I told her about J. Crew & how I love the Principessa (color, fabric, cut, etc.) She started pretty much bashing J. Crew & the dress! Saying you have to wear extra "skirts" under the Principessa, which adds about 15 lbs to it. Mary asked if I had a picture of the Principessa on me and I told her I had my camera with me just in case. I showed her the picture and right when she gave it back she snapped at me that I can't use my camera here because most of the gowns are her "creations" and she has copyrights on all of them. She said something like, "It has taken me 30 years to build this up to be my life." Haha! I never even asked if I could take pictures!

Well, she didn't listen to a thing I said and had the consultant I was working with, Christina, bring me a bright white, skin tight, kind of mermaid-like wedding dress with the type of straps I actually went out of my way to say I didn't care for. But I thought, "What the heck, I'll try it on because you never know!" So Christina took me into a dressing room and had me take off all my clothes (except underwear) and put on a robe. Well I had just gotten my shirt off and Mary knocks on the door then just barges in to tell me everything the consultant had just told me. Hahaha! I was so shocked! And as she's telling me, I'm standing there half naked and she goes, "I'm not looking at you." It was one of the strangest experiences I have ever had.

So I tried the Flamenco dress on and it was very pretty- I felt like Marilyn Monroe! But that was the thing, the dress didn't match my wedding, the venue, or even me. So the consultant took me around the boutique to pick out something I like. She was even very up-front about what dresses were within our budget, and which weren't. The first dress I picked was the lace one. :) As we were walking back to the fitting room Mary stopped us & asked how I like the dress she picked out. I told her it was a gorgeous dress, but it was just too white & didn't match me or the venue. She got really upset and started lecturing me about what bright white really is and got this dress out that was so white it was almost blue & told me THAT is what bright white is. Well, I told her it's not about what "bright white" is considered, it's about what I feel is too white. The poor consultant was so embarrassed she kind of ushered me away.

Working with Christina, the consultant, was so nice and pleasant, but Mary is flat out crazy. I love the dress at Mary's more so than the one at J. Crew now (lol!), but I'm affraid to go ahead with it and purchase anything there because I feel like working with the owner at all will be a complete disaster.

We are going to one more boutique in Pikesville one night this week. If we don't find anything there, I'm going with the lace dress at Mary's.

Wish me luck! ;)