Monday, February 4, 2013

I need a Big Girl Dress


Dear ESB,

The first in my group of college girlfriends is getting married this summer, making this the first non-family wedding I'll ever attend. As such, I need a Big Girl Dress.

Although I love your luxe taste, I simply cannot afford 99% of the things you post (but that doesn't stop me from perusing your blog on an almost daily basis). I've been completely supporting myself since I was 18 so I know the value of a dollar and can't justify splurging a few hundred bucks on one frock, no matter how kick-ass the frock may be. This is where I need the help of you and your resourceful readers. 

I want a sophisticated but still somewhat edgy dress that is $100 or less. At the moment, I'm inclined towards this dress [pictured above] (I know how much you love Nasty Gal) or this dress (but Nordstrom is out of my size). I'm out of loop when it comes to awesome online stores so I'm hoping someone can point me in the right direction.

I love patterns as well as interesting necklines and hemlines (especially deep backs). I have a disproportionately long torso and short legs so super fitted skirts make my ass look saggy. The wedding is in Baltimore and I'm no longer used to high temperatures so my pits would appreciate something breathable. 

Signed,
Ready For The Big (Girl) Leagues

*****

Grey flannel does not say summer wedding to me. The Nasty Gal doesn't suck, but it reads very "young." I.E. If you're over 22 and out of college (which it sounds like you are) I wouldn't do it.

Also, polyester = eew. Not only is it not breathable, but cheap polyester can look REALLY CHEAP.

How bout this silk Wren dress?


Listed at $99 or best offer on eBay.

There are also some floral versions floating around. This one is listed at $49 or best offer, and the seller accepts returns. I fucking love an eBay seller who accepts returns. 

35 comments:

  1. My first big girl dress was by Nicole Miller. I found it at a secondhand shop (called Poor Little Rich Girl). I still own it and wear it. Here's one with a deep-V back; it's not at all "summer-y," but I think it's versatile enough to wear year round. Here's one with a floral print. And one with an interesting neckline (but slightly over-budget).


    (I don't shop on eBay. Should I be???)

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    1. love the blue nicole miller that nicole linked to above; perfect for a wedding. chic and grown up.

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    2. Yep, you should be shopping on ebay.

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    3. @nicole i've been toying with writing a how-to-shop-ebay post. i fucking love ebay.

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    4. @esb, PLEASE write that post. I haven't used ebay since I was 2004 when I tried to buy a $2 pin and the shipping charges were $99.

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    5. if you do write an ebay post, maybe mention how it can become a sickness. and how before you know it, you've won ten million items that you now have to struggle to pay for.

      or, does that just happen to me?

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    6. yes, please get that ebay post out. I don't shop there either, now I'm interested.

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    7. I am so scared of ebay. Please write a how-to!

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    8. Yes to the ebay how-to. I actually do buy on ebay somewhat often but only if I'm looking for something really specific. Could you talk about how to browse for stuff without scrolling through page after page of bleh? Like, effective search terms or something.

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    9. I just got a new with tags Mara Hoffman bikini on ebay for $80. It's where I get so many of my fancy designer purchases. So yeah. You should start shopping on ebay.

      My how-to would emphasize knowing exactly what you want in terms of the brand and style, checking it out in a store and trying it on so you're sure of the size, and then just checking ebay on a daily basis until it shows up!

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    10. My how-to advice is to bid on no more than 3 items at any given time (to avoid Celia's well known prob. of "winning" too many items at once), and to be very firm with yourself about your max. price.

      I adjust my bids twice after the initial. I also set out what those will be ahead of time which allows me to fight for the item without getting myself into financial trouble.

      I begin the bid with my "ideal maximum price" then if I'm outbid I go to "real maximum price" and if I'm outbid again I use the "My heart will break if I don't get this - maximum maximum price". After that, it's fate if it goes to someone else.

      Also - check the shipping info out very closely particularly where it's shipping from if you have time constraints (hong kong shipments take forever!), read the description at least 3 times before bidding, ask seller for specific and exact measurements if they are not listed, ask seller for the model's height/dimensions if they're not listed, and make sure you understand the return policy.

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    11. My engagement ring was our one and only eBay purchase. I only look at Buy it Now sales because I'm too nervous to bid.

      Meanwhile, my dad is straight up obsessed with eBay. He's built entire motorcycles from eBay parts.

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  2. Replies
    1. That last one is awesome but I'm weirded out that the lining and outside layer are visibly uneven. Is that a thing now?

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    2. I love the Kona Coast dress. And it's versatile enough that you'd get a lot of wear out of it.

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    3. I think it's less of a THING thing and more of a this is what you get for $105 thing.

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  4. Jersey is a great fabric to wear. Long torso? I feel like this would flatter you well. It's an easy dress to accessorize with for spring/summer/fall.

    $69! (reposted b/c botched html)

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  5. I like ESB's choice. Seems like it would shorten torso and elongate legs. nice work.

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  7. Regarding the Wren dress that ESB suggested: just a warning. I bought this dress last year on final sale online. I am 5'6 inches tall, and I bought a size small. The dress is so short that I can't wear it without opaque black tights underneath. I was really bummed because I couldn't return it. It looks cute with the tights, but I can't wear it with bare legs in the summer. Summer bummer. Bear that in mind!

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    Replies
    1. I ended up buying that Wren dress but thanks for the heads up! None of the reviews on Saks mentioned the length so I'm hoping that with my midget legs, it won't end up looking too obscene. Fingers (and legs?) crossed.

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    2. I hope it works! Besides the length, I LOVE the dress! It's sexay and sophisticated all at once.

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  8. I'm loving this Rebecca Minkoff dress in blush. It's $99 auction and $150 buy it now. It has a similar neckline and cut to the Nasty Gal one.

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  9. OP here. Thanks to ESB, I:
    1) created my first eBay account, and
    2) swooped on the Wren patterned dress.

    Not completely sure how you read my mind but damn, ESB — you're good.

    So now that I have an eBay account, that how-to guide sounds pretty handy.

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  10. Yeah, eBay please! It's been ages since I've bought anything there and I'm looking for nice things to round out a grownup wardrobe + travel to Paris but still have $ left over to shop there. eBay seems like a logical choice but the higher ticket items (still less expensive than new!) are kinda scary to think about buying from a stranger, regardless of ratings.

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  11. Umm Renttherunway.com! I've had way, way too many wedding in the same circle of friends to keep buying something new each time. RTR lets you literally "rent" a dress. They ship it to you (even to your hotel if its a destination wedding) and when you're done you just ship it back! rentals start at $25 or so. Best of luck!

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  12. i wore that exact wren dress, color and all, to one of those weddings you *need* to look hot at. i tried it on at nordstrom when it was around $400, and snatched it up NWT as my first ebay purchase for $99 about 2 years ago. i frigging LOVE it.

    regarding someone's comment on length above, i'm 5'2 and it was above my knees- so you long legg-ed ladies might want a return option in case of a surprise buttcheek appearance

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