Angel Ball Dress Shopping

[TaraHall]

Way to go on the 3 lbs! We are bad here with the fast foods too. So get the dress, hang it up where you can see it every morning and keep up the good work!

Judi, I got your msg too, sorry I couldn't talk, wouldn't have been able to hear you from the party.

Hugs
Tara

[karahess]

Yes, Jordan Couture 1502 is my dress!

[TaraHall]

I thought so. That one is beautiful and I can't wait to see if on you. Now if only I could find one

Tara

[Dawn Torrence Ireland]

Corin, did you go get the dress? I hear ya on the non-white dresses... totally kicking myself on this all white thing. I have 5 perfectly beautiful ballgowns / evening dresses in my closet I could wear if this wasn't a white ball.

I found mine yesterday. I decided to look in the local paper and found one that had never been worn (she decided to elope instead). It's a halter top style on top with sequins, tulle at the bottom... kind of a ballerina look to it. Will probably get some ballet shoes to wear with it rather than uncomfortable heals. Detachable train that won't be attached at the Angel Ball. I got it for a steal (tag on it is $1500, I paid $50). She didn't want it to go to waste sitting a closet and was excited when I told her it was going to be worn to a charity ball (I snagged it before she decided to come to the ball and wear it herself! lol). I really love it, am very happy with it, need to lose 5 or 10 lbs though for it to fit better.

Some of you know I've been putting off shopping because I'm neither married or engaged but have been dating Craig for over a year now and there's an old wives tale that trying on wedding dresses when you're not married or engaged is bad luck. So I've decided... this is *not* a wedding dress but a ballgown! lol. If Craig and I get married, I'll get a different dress and just pass this one to someone next year. Sounds like a good anti-wives tale plan, right? Besides, when I was married before I followed all the wives tales and look where that got me! lol

Some ideas on finding cheap white dresses....

- Local newspaper ads (lots of women sell their dresses now rather than keep them)
- Thrift stores (Salvation Army, Goodwill, local thrift stores)
- Yard sales (they will usually say there is a wedding dress in the newspaper ads)
- Craigslist
- Ebay
- Dry cleaners (sometimes women drop them off and never pick them back up and the dry cleaner sells them for the cost of the cleaning)
- Bridal shops (ask to see the ones from last season that were the display dresses... they might be a bit dirty from being tried on but drycleaning usually fixes that)
- Remember those dresses from the 80's and 90's with big, puffy sleeves and lace and sequins everywhere (I have 2 stored at my parents house... long story but passing those on to 2 of my nieces)? Well, they are *cheap* now because they are out of style but a little seamstress work on removing the sleeves and some of the lace and they can be very pretty!

Now I'm breathing easier about this... no more nightmares about finding a dress at the last minute!

[Dawn Torrence Ireland]

Forgot to post this.... http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...Category=63851 Gorgeous dress on Ebay for $30. Been looking around for my mom and sisters too and finding great dresses on Ebay and Craigslist near them. This dress isn't their style but I happen to think it's beautiful so Corin, Tara and anyone else without a dress, go take a look.

[JudiToth]

GREAT news Dawn on finding your dress finally! i know what a burden that is to finally find one - and don't worry, I'm sure that it'll be easy for YOU to lose 5 lbs! What a bargain also! Hopefully the lady you bought it from was interested enough in the Ball to purchase a ticket and another dress for herself! LOL

I, too, believe in that old wive's tale about trying on wedding dresses before getting married. I did that at Potomac Mills at Penney's when I first started getting serious with Mike and look at me now - an old maid! And where do I get my 2nd dress from but David's Bridal and is actually a wedding dress! URGH!!!!!!! But I went in there stating I'm NOT a bride, just looking for an Angel Ball Gown! So that should break that stupid old wives tale for us!

I'm getting scared now too since I get to start taking Lyrica on Tuesday and I did a WebMD search on it (while looking at meds for Mom) and looked at the first 25 reviews that were written on it. Most of the people put on a significant amount of weight within a couple of weeks on the med. I certainly can't afford for THAT to happen to me! I'm already in the largest dress size they carry! I did go on-line and ordered 4 other dresses (they can be returned & refunded) just in case I have to have a back up dress!

I was having a problem finding a halter bra for my gown in my size - I'm a 44C now and you can barely find any of those sized bras in the first place, let alone a halter or strapless bra. But I found a great website for those of you that are full-figured that have a different selections of nice bras and also several that are either strapless or halter or different type backings. It's at the Just My Size site - www.jms.com. I actually ended up ordering 4 bras since they are having a clearance sale (some as cheap as $11.99) and also got a halter top bra for less than $30. I know that none of my bras are as nice & supportive as the ones on the website. They aslo carry Platex, Bali and several different brands that you normally won't find in full-sized sizes at a cheaper rate than in the stores. I was really surprised! And they have a no questions asked return policy in case it doesn't fit - all you have to do is make sure it's clean.

Dawn, you had some great suggestions for where to look for dresses in unconventional places! And to top it off, retro is back in style too if you happen to come across an older gown at a thrift store, etc.

Ok - novel again and still haven't done a danged thing I set my mind on doing today. And I've GOT to eat something too! Been stuck on my puter for Mom, on the phone with Sprint w/billing problems for 1-1/2 hours, so much for my even making lunch or even being invited to a picnic with this place loaded to the gill & on overflow even with regular campers! Hope they don't party as loud & long as they did last night. I think someone called the MPs on whoever it was after 1025. I was going to give it til 1030 before I called the MPs - 1000 is quiet hour on the campground as far as roaring music!

Hope everyone is having a nice, quiet & safe Holiday weekend! xxoo Moi

[AmyMiles]

This weekend I found my Angel Ball dress for 15 bucks at Deb's. Another CDH mom helped me find the great bargain!! I am getting really excited.

[Corin Nava]

Ugh, I am starting to think I won't have a dress. I really didn't believe it would be this difficult. I went back to get the dress, and it was torn, so I guess it wasn't meant to be my dress. I've been shopping two more times and found nothing. I am so afraid of ordering a dress w/o trying it on, since sizes vary from designers, I can be anywhere from a 12 to a 16! It's frustrating.

Dawn-glad you found your dress! I will have to check out the newspaper and see what I can find!

[karahess]

You'll get there, Corin. Some of my best shopping is done at the last minute.

[StephanieOlivarez]

Dawn and Amy--What great news you both found a dress for the Angel Ball!!!!
How exciting!!!!!
No pressure anymore!

Corin--you will get there! Kara is right---sometimes when you shop last minute--it is the best shopping!
Positive vibes being sent to you Corin and I KNOW you will find a dress SOON!!