Tuesday, August 27, 2013

dear esb: i want to fake couture


Hi East Side Bride,

I am in love with this dress
 and am getting married in July 2014. I would love to fake it - but I don't know where to begin. Do you have any suggestions?

I found this dress but it's not quite the same in terms of the loose cut and fabric, so I wanted to investigate my cheaper options.

Thanks for this blog - it's definitely a resource for this Brooklyn Bride - to - be!


*****

Please don't try to fake Givenchy.

















Buy something original + cool. 

Suggestions? Anyone?

40 comments:

  1. And under no circumstances should you have your talented designer/seamstress friend ( or cool local designer with cute store) try and make you a replica.

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  2. This dress has the ombre effect and I think she accepts custom jobs, if you want a different neckline/etc.

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    Replies
    1. that's the one she found. but yes, agreed, probably the way to go if she really is going for a replica.

      you can't get something cheap. that kind of tailoring doesn't happen in mass-market chinese-made stuff.

      Delete
  3. This Helmut Lang is a bit different, but gorgeous.

    Dianne von Furstenberg has another ombre gown.

    Otherwise, I would definitely go with the Wai Ching.

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    Replies
    1. I choose the DVF, hands down.

      The Helmut Lang is on sale
      here.

      Also, do not DIY this. There are a ton of instructions on the internet, but it would be so so sad if you got it wrong on your wedding dress.

      Delete
    2. I LOVE that Helmut Lang. The greyscale ombré avoids the inevitable tampon comparisons too...

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  4. Am I the only one who sees bloody tampon when I look at these? Bloody. Tampon.

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    Replies
    1. I was eating my oatmeal.

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    2. That's all your guests will see = tampon. Or a dress that was accessory to a murder.
      Pick a different color for dip dye.

      Delete
  5. Please feel free to jump down my throat for what may be a dumb suggestion, but can't one buy a gown and then have it ombre dyed?

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  6. Sure, you should be able to find places for getting stuff dyed (all risks of them doing a half-bad job included). But the real difficulty is in finding a gown already structured like the couture number pictured above, no? Hard stuff to find.

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    Replies
    1. Agreed. Searched around for ten minutes and got nothing.

      Delete
    2. Kind of similar? But it's expensive enough that I would REALLY hesitate to dye it. And this is coming from someone who has hand-dyed before.

      Also, the only fabrics that take dye really predictably and easily are 100% cotton or 100% silk.

      Delete
  7. Replies
    1. Rob you were all "YAY" when the Wai Ching came around the first time, haha. What's changed?

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    2. I guess I've finally come to my senses.

      Delete
  8. Does anybody do ombre the other way around? Seems like it would be a lot more flattering to have some color near one's face. Or maybe it doesn't matter because a real woman wouldn't look like the corpse-like model in this pic?

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  9. It doesn't have to be OMBRE, people. Just find her a damn dress.

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  10. Free People, ombre

    Another ombre DVF

    And some options that aren't ombre, but still incorporate some color/something different:

    J Mendel

    Catherine Deane

    Temperley London

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I will always love that Temperley gown

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    2. I love the Free People and DVF dresses. Wondering if the FP one will be a bit too casual for a wedding... Great suggestions, thanks!

      Delete
  11. you could look in your area for dress designers (not wedding designers but dress designers/makers), maybe there is an art/fashion school near you. check out some portfolios and see who has the aesthetic you are looking for and see what they can do?

    sorry if you were hoping for it, but there isn't an easy replica for this one, you may need to look more out of the bridal box since it's not a typical gown. rent the runway?

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  12. Is it the shape or the ombre you like?
    Less edgy shape-wise but it's got the color you like (and it's cheap as fuck): Erin Fetherston

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    Replies
    1. love. want. but also what is with the giraffe?

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    2. and this one, not wedding-y at all but I love it, and the stupid smart ads in my browser won't let me forget it!

      Monique Lhuillier

      Delete
  13. How about Black Halo? Not dip dye but a similar edgy cut.

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  14. or if its about the ombre...

    http://wai-ching.com/products/bridal

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  15. WE'VE SEEN THE WAI CHING. NOBODY LIKES THE WAI CHING

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    Replies
    1. I always think "Everybody was Wai Ching fighting... doodoo doodoo doodoo doot doot do"

      Delete
  16. I knew this dress reminded me of another.

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  17. Thanks everyone! I am still on the hunt. I like the edginess of the dress plus the shocking color. I find a ton of these colored dresses to look a bit on the hippy-dippy side!

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    Replies
    1. Hi! Take a look at designer Lindee Daniel

      Delete
  18. OK, so this dress has been on my mind all week.

    How about

    Leanne Marshall of Project Runway fame?

    Reverse ombre, but not as edgy as your inspo.

    Interesting front

    Another Leanne Marshall, but this one is iridescent.

    And that Black Halo with the weird back, but in
    red.


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