Plus Size Gowns

[ordinarybeauty]

Does anyone have any suggestions for where I can try on plus size gowns in or around Seattle, WA?

[Whitewater]

Well, I don't live in Seattle, so I can't help you there, but speaking from a plus sized perspective (40" waist, 42H bust . . .5'3" tall!) I find that it's often just plain easier to take the money I would have spent on a clothing item and have it made, or do it myself.

You might want to consider that option for your bridal gown. That's what I did the first time I got married, and it turned out really very nice indeed -- just what I wanted, though now, 10 years on I cringe because of my lack of taste; my seamstress then just shook her head and gave me what I wanted, bless her!

I am extraordinarily difficult to fit, because I am exceedingly curvy AND I also have the proportions of a model, in a short, medium-framed body. Long legs, very short waist, narrow ribs, wide shoulders and (quite frankly) a bust that doesn't quit. I look like an overweight Mae West. And what with this trend for tall, willowy, boyish figures, well . . . let's just say that finding any DRESS, period, much less a wedding gown is basically mission impossible. Because of this I am once again having my dress custom made for me.

My seamstress this time around makes period wedding gowns and that's what I wanted to do this time. I fell in love with a very late Victorian/early Edwardian gown and wanted to replicate that, as near as possible.

Maybe there's a dressmaker in your neck of the woods who would be happy to make you a custom dress? There are a lot of advantages to that, you get a dress that nobody's worn before, and that isn't cookie-cutter, it gets tailored to you specifically from the get go, and you can have whatever you want that flatters your figure -- a lot of wedding gowns off the rack try and try but they don't get it right, particularly when you're not the kind of girl who can wear something with 'only minor alterations'.

I mean, heck, if you're going to spend $300, $500, $900 or more on a dress, on what's the biggest day of your life, you want it to be perfect, right? Getting custom couture can do that for you.

Hope that helps and that you eventually find (or make!) the dress of your dreams.


Whitewater

[sandy03]

I'm also not from Seattle so I don't know of any local places, but I had good luck with trying plus size stuff on at David's Bridal. I agree that having something made may be your most effective solution in the long run, but trying some stuff on just to see how different styles look on you is definitely a good idea (and it's fun to go play dress up!)

[bichonlvr]

I will ask my friend, I feel like we went to a place in the Kirkland area...I would just call around places and ask if they have plus size dresses!

[Nekochanpurr]

If you have a David's Bridal... You could probably find something there. I'm a bigger girl... And found my dress there.

[RosieAngel]

Seconding the David's Bridal suggestion. They have a nice, big selection for the bigger girl there that you can actually try on, unlike a lot of shops that hold up size sub-zero dresses to you and tell you to "imagine how you'll look in this!" :gurn: