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Yes! You're the only one. ;) Kidding! I have grown into my love of high fashion, but I wasn't always like that. I don't fault people who aren't and I know that there are people who are too into it. You can think I'm crazy for loving Vera, because I think it's crazy that you think DB's dresses are prettier than hers. LOL That's what makes WB so great!
I'm not a huge fan of high fashion dresses either. Mainly because of the prices. Don't get me wrong, they're pretty, but I'm just too stingy to allow myself to fawn over them.
I love looking at high fashion mags (not just for wedding dresses but in general) beause I love the models(who are never "pretty' mostly quirky looking) , the make up, accessories...I have to look at boring regular people all day (myself included) and fashion is just a little escape from the Target business attire everyone wears here. Plus, there is a difference in fabrics, beading, ect..on the clothes. If you don't care about those things you probably wouldn't notice though. No one is right or wrong like you said-it's just a matter of what you are interested in.
I feel just a b/c it falls under the category of being called "couture" or "high fashion"... it doesn't mean it looks good. I think some of it is complete crap, but some of it is drop dead gorgeous... to each his/her own. We all have our own tastes and opinions which is what makes us unique individuals. So, its perfectly fine to "not get it"... maybe its just not your style and thats okay!
Maybe its so expensive b/c most people would never actually wear the stuff they make... lol...
A lot of those dresses just look ridiculous to me...or like underwear. The one commercially made dress I fell in love with was from Jasmine Bridal although that won't be what I go with. We're having a medieval/rennaissance wedding and I'm making my dress. I've gotten a lot of odd looks and comments when people find out I'm making my gown and I have to explain that I *am* a seamstress specializing in period/recreation clothing especially corsetry and anything to do with silk. I designed and made my baby sister's gown for her wedding last November in all silk (including lining) and freshwater pearl bead embroidery...for about $200 in materials including a lot of left over silk for me to play with. My own dress will be a late Tudor (not the TV series) style that I will be able to wear to SCA events with a few minor tweaks so no disappearing into storage in a box for several decades.
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No, you're definitely not alone. I love fashion, Project Runway, NY Fashion week, etc, but I definitely don't "get" it. One thing I've learned from watching shows and reading blogs is that high fashion is meant to be really showy. It isn't meant to be worn every day, but it's meant to influence everyday looks. So say there is a wedding dress with lots of ruffles and flowers and craziness, well a more mainstream designer will look at that dress and modify it for the "regular" buyer. Does that make sense? It's very strange and I have a hard time seeing the "pretty" in high fashion, but I guess there is a method to their madness.
I also think there is a difference between high fashion and expensive wedding gowns. Couture fashion I don't get a lot of it, but I appreciate the detail and quality of it. Now, expensive wedding gowns I get and love as I've said. I don't consider Vera Wang to be "high fashion" really. I guess her regular line might be, but not really. When I think "high fashion" I think couture quality deisgners...Balmain, Lanvin, ODLR, Balenciaga, J Mendel, Gucci, etc.
Even though I worked as a model for two years, I do not "get" the draw of the couture dresses. I enjoy looking through the bridal mags & watching runway shows, but I could not justify spending that kinda of money on a wedding dress. I fell for an Alvina Valenta dress I saw in a magazine & for an Ines di Santo I tried on in a bridal salon, but those dresses practically cost more than my wedding! I always thought DB was the Walmart of wedding dress shops, but I found an amazing gown there. It was perfect for me & looks much more expensive than it actually was. Plus I didn't have to deal with those horrible clips on a sample size; DB carried my size in store.
I'm not girly either, nor do i now or "EVER" see myself as a BRIDE or princess. I never have. Many people say I "deserve" to feel like a bride... but uh... I just don't. I'm a ton of other things but a bridey-bride just ain't one of them. Maybe that's why I'm having so many issues with my dress search. I'm happy now, but it's been a long road to get there.
And shoes - I'm a ten. Don't you just hate it when you find a really cute little shoe, and when the salesperson brings it out in your size it looks like a giant ugly clodhopper?!
Shdwrvn,
I must say, making your own dress - that's AWESOME!!!!! When I was in high school and for a year of college (majored in it for a year) I was in theatre and so I knew a few seamstresses and I also knew a few people who were into the medieval thing and soem of the costumes I've seen hand made are incredible! I will def. admit that i've a very classic/traditional sort of girl when it comes to my wedding - but I have always thought it'd be fun to do a "theme" wedding like that.
Best of luck to you!!!
maryjane,
don't even get me STARTED on shoe shopping!!! lol.
that's one thing i do actually wish i could be in to - but i just can't - it's close to impossible...i've even gone to higher end shoe stores to try and find the cute/fashionable shoes and it's seriously painful and frustrating - so I pretty much refuse to shoe shop anymore (however I've found a few good online stores, but i prefer trying them on first)
I actually had one saleseperson follow me around their shoe department, scanning all shoes with their machine only to keep telling me, "sorry that doesn't come in your size"... :(
Interesting post...and responses! I guess I'm of the opinion that runway fashion can be kind of fun to look at. In a way it's a lot more like art in a museum. You probably wouldn't hang it in your house, but it can challenge your aesthetic sensibilities by pushing the boundaries. And I do think much of it is not meant to be worn, but rather to influence other lines as EAQ219 says.
But I do get the appeal of some of the higher end commercial lines (like VW or OdR etc). I'm really, really picky about fit, and generally (not always) I think that the extra expense is driven by the fact that the top designers know how to cut dresses to be flattering. Also, from a manufacturing standpoint it can cost more to construct a better fitting gown. I also think that the more expensive fabrics they use drape better. For example, the difference between a t-shirt from say Banana Republic and Old Navy (both owned by the same company) is that the BR one might have an extra seam or dart, or be cut with a waist to make it more flattering. It might also have softer material. Both of those things cost extra in manufactring, so you end up with a $40 tshirt from BR and a $10 one from ON. There's obviously some differential mark up as well, but it's not all just hype.
One thing I do feel, though, is that a lot of the really elaborate fancy gowns end up wearing the bride than the other way around. I do think there are people who can pull them off, but not everyone. And I think the hype surrounding "the dress" that's propagated by the WIC (wedding industrial complex...hehe, I read that recently and it cracked me up) makes brides feel compelled to show of a dress instead of finding a dress that shows them off.
I swear you must be my long lost twin!
I have huge feet too, and I hate shoe shopping. Nothing ever fits! As for my dress- it was on sale, half off, and I couldn't tell you who designed it. I could care less about labels and all that. It's just a label! Get what makes you happy! :)
The only thing I hate is when Amsale or Vera wang make something like this and charge THOUSANDS and THOUSANDS of dollars when you can get something this simple elsewhere for a couple hundred.< alt="high fashion wedding dresses...am I the only one? : wedding " / p>
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It's interesting that you haven't had any supporters of high end fashion here, so I'm diving in! I am not wearing a designer gown because my dress budget was only $2,000.00. However, I love dresses by Monique Lhuillier and Amsale and Oscar de la Renta. Not only are they amazingly beautiful, they're well constructed and the fabrics, beads, and lace are all much higher quality than you're going to find with other designers. So while you may think you can find something just the same for way less money, you're actually getting a product that isn't as well made and that is manufactured with lower quality fabrics.
So, while that might not be a big deal to you, it definitely is worth the money to some people. For example, when I bought my first pair of Manolo Blahnik shoes, my friends all thought I was crazy for spending that much money. But truthfully, I love them, and they're so incredibly well made and comfortable that I wear them several times a week.
@ amandopolis
It's great to hear the other side of things!
However, I worked as a bridal consultant for 2 years, and I had many opportunities to compare designer with non-designer and while there IS a difference between fabrics and construction, it's not as if the non-designer ones are not wearable. They are very nice, and there is hardly a difference between the way fabrics photograph. That is why when you purchase sheets for example, you go in the store to feel them. They look the same in pictures, but to tell the difference you have to get your hands on it!
The dresses are for a one day event and some people see that as a reason that they would rather not spend an arm and a leg. While I know there are people that believe the contrary, these non designer dresses when not held up against a designer one for comparison can look just as nice for a fraction of the cost. Since so many brides are on a budget, the non designer dresses are a great option. Brides can get gorgeous dresses that look just as decadent as the designer ones for pennies on the dollar.
What the poster was saying was she didn't understand the big deal with them and why some of their more flamboyant styles are so popular. I was adding that I thought it was silly to spend an arm and a leg on a style that you can get one very comparable to for much less. Shoes that you can wear again and again as you compared are different. In this case we're talking about a dress that you wear for 4 hours. I do see that some may take that a total different direction and say, "You only do it once, spoil yourself." but in today's economy with people so focused on their pocketbooks, that mentality can be hard to understand for some. :)
Just my thoughts. :)
gotta comment. i bought a vera and spent thousands of dollars on it. the difference between vera wang and davids bridal is the quality of the fabric and the construction. there's no comparison. my dress is made entirely from duchess silk, even the lining. the gown has a second gown underneath to create a magical silhouette. most db dresses are polyester. i think if its not that big a deal for you, then you shouldnt spend the money. i have a deep love of fasion - both commercial and couture - and my wedding is an expression of that. the girls are wearing melissa sweet bm dresses that had to be ordered 6 months in advance, ive hired a professional mu artist for everyone's make up...but thats whats important to me. you dont have to have a couture gown to have a beautiful wedding and just because my gown cost more, doesnt make it better than yours...it makes it better for me. i didnt even consider low end gowns...i went straight to lhullier and wang
I love the high-fashion stuff (not uber-couture, which is more like art than a dress, but the really nice stuff). I could just never hope to begin to afford it, so I didn't let myself get caught up in lusting over dresses I couldn't have. Things at DB and other more regular price designers are also really beautiful, but I don't think they're the same as the quality of material and construction you're going to get with a more high-end gown. By the time I discovered you could get some of the stuff second-hand (but practically good as new) for way less, it was too late for me to get a different dress. So I guess what I'm saying is that I love it, but I don't bother with it for the most part because I can't afford it and I don't want to tempt myself or be miserable! :)
Having tried on 'high fashion' gowns, I have to say that the hype surrounding some of them is completely founded. It's been said above, but it all has to do with the fabric and the construction. Vera dresses, even the ones that look very simple, are very carefully constructed to fit perfectly and enhance the beauty of the wearer's body. You can see it the moment you put it on. I was drawn to the higher end gowns because I wanted something unique - something that you couldn't find at DB. Fabrics that no one else uses.
My perspective is that it is hard for me to remember and keep straight the differences between many of the more common wedding dresses. They are very beautiful, but they don't stand out in my mind.... and that's perfect for people who want the classic wedding dress.
The appeal of couture to me is that it makes an impression. That impression might be positive or negative, but whatever it is, it's going to get a reaction.
I was talking to the salesperson I got my dress from and she was very open about saying she liked the most unusual dresses... because most of the time she moves the same 10 or 20 dresses all the time. When someone buys something really different, she gets really excited.
That's not to say that Couture dresses are for everyone. I got my dress for less than $1000... but it definitely has some couture elements ;)
Like Fizics, I think of couture as art... and I guess that's part of the appeal to me. The thing is that there is some art I like and some I don't, and I think it is the same with high-end wedding dresses!
wow! I didn't expect so many responses!!! :)
it really is very interesting to see so many diverse answers from people - especially those who took the time to explain why - to them - it really DOES matter.
I guess I won't truly ever understand because it's just not "my thing" - but to those who it matters to, that's all that matters is that it's something YOU "get". :D
On the other hand, i'm glad to know that I'm NOT the only one who doesn't "get it". lol
I think of high fashion wedding gowns very simlarly to the way I think of high fashion purses. It would be cool to have one, b/c then you could say that you own a Vera/Fendi, but at the same time there are things out there that are just as good without the price tag.
I personally am a pretty practical person and think that a lot of the high fashion dresses are silly and too out there...but that's what they're supposed to be?
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I got a Maggie Sottero. It didn't cost as much as the "high" fashion dresses, but I love it. It feels like butter. I didn't try on any high fashion dresses, so I guess It's like wearing a pair of Hale Bob heels as compared to Jimmy Choos, I suppose I just don't know the difference and I am good with that right now in life.
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I like high fashion looks but not the price tag. It's all so ruffly and pretty and fancy but not my taste in real life. I don't pull it off well. AND, I can't afford a Vera Wang!I can definitely appreciate the artistry that went into making them, though. They are art!
But you know, if I made 150K a year as opposed to what I make now, I probably would scale up all the "quality" items I buy. I do notice a difference between $20 shoes and $100 shoes. I try to buy less items, but better quality and timeless pieces. My typical wardrobe is like, gap, banana republic, white black house market, etc. I dobuy designer, quality makeup and hair products, though. I really notice the difference there. $20 Fekkai keeps my hair softer and holds my color in better than Pantene.
So I'm not "high fashion" but not necessarily Target budget either. Don't get me wrong, I love me some target. But all their shoes hurt =(
Ps, I love how FutureMrsMorgan is so down to earth and not snobby about her expensive gown on a thread where we're all not doing the whole shebang couture thing! 
You know, you alter your body to fit Vera Wang, right? LoL. (that's from Bride Wars, i'm not being mean here people! but that's what i think of when i hear Vera Wang now)
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I've never been a high fashion girl, I buy at soho in Manhattan for dresses only $15-$25 if it looks good and it's inexpensive I'm getting it.
Bridal gowns on the other hand, I think should be special, I'm still going to bargain hunt and go to sample sales, that way I can still look good but pay a fraction of the price, some places like Kleinfeld have sample sales, I have a $500 gift certificate, so hopefully I can find something "cheap for Kleinfeld" lowest price is $800 but with my gift certificate it'll be only $300; still ridiculously expensive for a dress, but it's a wedding gown
If I had the money for an Eve of Milady gown, that's the designer I'd be looking at. But then, Eve of Milady gowns are more classic and traditional, just obviously of better quality than a less expensive designer.
I've visited David's Bridal once. I walked in, walked down two aisles of dresses, and pretty much walked out. Not the experience I was looking for. Not the quality of gown I wanted. I used to look at Maggie Sottero online and thought her gowns were gorgeous. Come to find out, the quality of a Maggie Sottero gown is kinda so-so (I might be saying that because the particular gown I tried was very dirty and worn out, plus it was made of taffeta, which is just not my thing). Not horrible, but not amazing either. Personally, I liked the quality of the Jasmine Couture gowns I tried. The embroidery is much better quality...now I see appliques on a dress and it just kills me. I was spoiled by the Jasmine gown I tried on, and now that quality is what I expect. That said, Jasmine isn't very high end either. I'm into satin and well-constructed gowns, but I can't afford certain designers, and that's fine. I don't mean to talk badly about David's Bridal or Maggie Sottero...in fact, it's not even that I don't like Maggie Sottero. I just really prefer satin over taffeta.
Anyway, I don't "get" some of the unusual gowns either. But then I'm also not into flowy bohemian gowns either, but that seems to be gaining popularity lately. And that's ok. It's just not me. I guess I want a classic silhouette with dramatic elements, and maybe not so low-end.
Honestly though, to each her own. Whatever makes you feel beautiful.
I totally agree with the Previous Poster who said that Couture gowns are "Art". When I was planning my wedding, I LOVED looking at all of the couture/high end designers and their fanciful designs. Those dresses looked like nothing I had seen before and, as another poster put it, they left an impression!
While I didn't feel like I needed a couture gown, I quickly realized that I appreciated and noticed all the details that went into a fine garment. And I just didn't see any of those details in any of hte Davids Bridal dresses I saw. I really did not want a polyester blend satin gown for instance.
I fell in love with my Jim Hjelm gown in a magazine and carried around the picture of it for months while i dress shopped. Only 2 stores in my state carried Jim Hjelm and when I found a store that carried a sample of my dress - I had to go try it on. The picture did not lie - it was an immediate and certain reaction - I had found my dress. It stood apart in SO many ways from all the other dresses I had tried on. I spent thousands on it and (for me) it was worth EVERY. SINGLE. PENNY!!!
But to each her own!
The designer aspect of a dress means nothing to me. Names mean nothing. In fact, my mother is making my dress, which does mean something.
Construction, quality and materials do matter, though, so I just couldn't get one from DB. We are buying thehigh end silk, special order lace, the whole nine yards. Granted, it will still be pretty cheap by comparison, but it was the quality that mattered to me.
@ LLauRRa True dat! haha... that really irritates me. What are you spending your money on?!
I agree that there is better quality and details... cuts... fabric... w/ev that go into designer gowns than say DB... but not that much better when you get into the realm of Mag Sottero and Enzoani... gowns that are in the 1-2k range. Those are what I'm most attracted to. To be honest, once you've hit a certain price... that covered the materials and extra man hours... all you're paying for is the label and rights to say who's gown you bought. Thats how I feel. I'll actually probably end up getting a knock-off that has my own customizations b/c nothing I see is theeeeeee perfect gown anyway.
I want to know why they are so high dollar...I know she has a line at target now ...so now the rest of us can wear her name....but what about wedding dresses....some of them are a little crazy looking even the non fashion names...I look at them and think, "Really!". But someone out there will wear it...I guess! Im not one to spend $500 on a purse! Though I did spend $1,000 on my dress...but its not because I was looking for fashion names...mines an Allure...and I know there are fashion names out there that are 500 or less for wedding dresses...it just happen to be the one I fell in love with...and my mother gave me $1,000 for my dress. I guess Vera Wang and others got popular and esp in Hollywood and thats why their prices are so high. Im sure when she first started her prices werent so high...then again I dont know I dont follow fashion! Im a t-shirt and jeans girl! I like Target, Walmart, JC Pennys, places like that! O And June Bride...Im a size 11 shoe as well...Im looking for flats!! I hate shoe shopping as well...I usually go to Payless or Target for shoes...Im not sure where Im going to look for my wedding shoes!
I feel the need to point out that I'm also one on of those "crazy" apparently woman who spend a lot of money on purses. :) I love purses and shoes! As much as I love VW, Carolina, etc. I'm actually having my dress made by a woman in Portland. www.elizabethdye.com www.theenglishdept.com
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I don't know about all designers, but esp. if beadwork etc is hand done, the labor costs are significantly more. My custom gown is being made in SF, and I have a good sense of how many hours of work are put into it. And Suzanne's employees are very talented aspiring designers themselves...so I don't want her to pay them minimum wage. Of course, it's not like VW and OdR are sewing the dresses themselves anymore.
And so, yes, I think sometimes the name itself brings a mark up, but there is still significant extra cost. Often the more expensive designers source from Europe instead of developing countries in Asia. This drives up labor costs. As does the much, much tighter quality control. I think there really is a difference. Maybe not enough to entirely explain the price tag, but at least part of it. That difference may not be worth the extra cost to everyone, though.
For my part, I might think it would be worth it if anyone in my 'world' could tell the difference, but I am fairly certain that none of my wedding guests would know a Vera from a David's from a Maggie's. It would kind of irritate me to know that I spent thousands of dollars extra on a dress that everyone would assume was from DB.
I have actually pondered going for a second hand dress, in the hopes I could do designer without the big price tag. I am near DC and a few of the wealthiest cities in the nation are right here, so I'm kind of hoping there would be a higher volume of used designer dresses there.
I like some designer gowns. SOME being the key word! I would probably 10% of the dresses the designers come up with. They are just too expensive for what they are actually worth.
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am I the only one who really doesn't "get" vera wang or other dresses / fashion?...
I'm just wondering if there's anyone else out there like me. don't get me wrong - I have seen some Vera Wang and other high-fashion wedding gowns that are very pretty - but then I've seen some that I look at and think, "really? what's so special about it..." and in fact there's a few that I've seen and it's like, "really? someone thinks THAT was a good idea?"
But I'm also not a "girly-girl" into fashion - shoes - makeup - anything like that.
I do wear skirts and I have a few sundresses as they are flattering on me, and I like LOOKING girly once in a while - and only when I go out do I wear make up...(definitely don't wear it to work, and I have a sit-down office job where we have a lot of business/dress days per week when sponsors visit).
But I know, for example, I'll be purchasing my dress from David's bridal as (long story why) but my mom has a credit card from there so that's where I'll be getting it - and I think the dresses there are just as beautiful if NOT prettier...
I guess i'm just wondering if I'm the only bride out here that doesn't fawn over high fashion wedding dresses...
same with shoes - i wear a size 11 shoe and DESPISE shoe shopping because it's close to impossible to find COMFORTABLE shoes that fit - so i've never cared about shoes either...
just curious. :) not that anyone who loves and can appreciate high fashion is bad by any means - I guess I just don't get it.