Friday, February 21, 2014

it's been WAY TOO LONG since we had a shopping challenge


Dear ESB,

Firstly, your blog is my favorite thing! I read it daily and seeing other people's family wedding drama makes me feel less alone. Mine is doing a real number on me since my fiance and I got engaged. 

Estranged dad trying to get an invitation? Check. Bipolar twin sister getting married spontaneously to a busker days after my engagement? Check. Bipolar alcoholic mother telling me I'll look fat (I am a size four) on my wedding day and whatever else mean and passive aggressive things she can think of? Check!! 

Anyway, I have been trying to avoid my family entirely and have been moving forward with the wedding planning with my amazing, kind, and patient fiance and his family, who are over the moon excited for us and are being so kind and generous every step of the way. 

We set the date, the place, and now I need a dress! I found one that is perfect [pictured above]! Problem is that I can't find it anywhere! Seriously, I even called Valentino and asked them to search for it too! Which they did for two weeks (did you know that you can do this? Everyone there was so nice!) and the dress doesn't exist. 

Can you/your readers help me find something like it for under $2000? I am in love with this dress, in a way that I didn't think was possible. I am usually very apathetic towards clothing but... this dress!

Help!

Thank you!

*****

SHOP AWAY, MY LADIES !

(You've got your work cut out for you. That Valentino is gorg.)

41 comments:

  1. so this doesn't have a natural waist, but it has similar low V neckline and sleeves and the designer accepts custom work so you could ask her to modify the top of the design. http://www.rebeccaschoneveld.com/2011-bridal-collection/adele she also offers her dresses in custom colors, so you could get it in blush like the valentino. she uses high quality fabrics that feel so soft and lovely to wear. this dress was also featured on a blog recently. http://www.100layercake.com/blog/2014/02/18/initmate-bohemian-upstate-new-york-wedding-chellise-michael/

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    1. I was just going to recommend Rebecca! I got my dress from her, and both the fabrics and the construction she used were everything a wedding dress should be and rarely is. She's a delight to work with too, and didn't freak when I asked her to modify the top of the dress significantly. [Yes, this is a real person, and no she didn't pay me anything to say this.]

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  2. Replies
    1. Damnit, that Thakoon is sold out in size 4, but it is still available in a 6.

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  3. Gah, I saw this dress on Gilt yesterday and it has a similar neckline and kind of reminds me of this dress. 3.1 Philip Lim. Unfortch it is already sold out. If you like it maybe you can call them and try tracking it down...

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  4. This Inbal Dror is really similar and gorgeous, but I'm having trouble finding it for sale online....will keep searching for you...

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    1. OMG! Is this your dress??

      This Thakoon is available in size 6...maybe would work if there's room in your budget for alterations.

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    2. i am troubled by the butt ruffles.

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  5. I bet you can get this dress custom made for way less than $2000. It's a pretty basic wrap dress pattern, minus the tie at the waist.

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    1. I'm with Sonny, I think this dress would be very easy to recreate within your budget, either by sewing it yourself or paying someone to do it. I'd look for vintage patterns from the 1970s as a starting point.

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    2. If you're in the LA area try Paty Castillo (patycastillo0808@gmail.com). She did a fantastic job with my dress, and it cost 300$.

      Granted, mine was super simple, but she had a lot of other more complicated work displayed at her house.

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  6. I feel like this is the case where if you can't have *that* dress, it's no use trying to find something similar, that being said, I'm a fan of these two:

    Halston Heritage

    Joanna August

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  7. Oh that dress is amazing. There's a formal yet easy energy about it.

    My search is fairly fruitless.

    Amazing McQueen knit has vintage vibe and sleeves but over budget and clingy.

    Sequins and bat wing. Not convinced.

    Lacy and romantic.

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  8. Has the sleeves (though a bit more poofy... maybe she can change this) and the deep V... not the exact bottom. But when I look at the dress you love (which I also love, and would be wearing a dress like this if my wedding wasn't in Florida, in June)... I focus on those two things... DEEP V and amazing SLEEVES. It's not blush but close in so many other ways!

    Read the Printed Word!

    ALSO seen on another person here... which makes it look even better...

    Read the Printed Word!

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    1. PS although my links didn't title right... they still go to the right place! Oh man.

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    2. this?!

      your links are so endearing btw.

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    3. that's the same one i posted, just on the designer's etsy site. and she does make her dresses in blush!

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    4. hate it on 100LC (with that belt), love it on SMP. go figure.

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    5. I too like it much better here than in the 100 Layer Cake link. I do think the natural waist makes it a bit less hippie-goddess and more subtle but like Julia said maybe she can work with you!

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    6. OH So glad it comes in blush too! I wonder what she thinks of it :)

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    7. http://www.rebeccaschoneveld.com/2011-bridal-collection/adele
      Here is the dress on the designer's website. And here is another one by Rebecca Schoneveld that is a lot closer http://www.rebeccaschoneveld.com/2014/dakota-gown
      Rebecca will sometimes mix and match, since she often designs dresses based on separates. You could go to her store in Brooklyn, if you're local, or maybe just give her a call and ask what's possible. Maybe if you had the Dakota gown with Adele sleeves, we'd be pretty close?

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  9. PS, esb, while i was fruitlessly looking for this bride, i think i found someone else's dress: erin featherston look #25.

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  10. i recently tried some similar dresses from j mendel, but maybe too $$$?

    j mendel cecile

    j mendel lou

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  11. Rivini Oro?

    Used one for sale here

    Sadly, based on the other Valentino prices I see, it wouldn't be affordable even if we found it.

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    1. Very much feeling the ribbed details on this one.

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  12. Juliette Hogan has some very similar styles: http://www.juliettehogan.com/collections/bridesmaid
    I might forever regret not having gotten married in the Winter Garden dress from her.

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  13. What about having the dress made? There are so many amazing tailors out there who would probably jump at the chance!

    Kate

    www.thrillofthechaise.com

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  14. This Delphine Manivet Gown is pretty damn close. Can't find a price though.

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    1. I should add that it's called 'Samson' from the 2013 summer collection I think?

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  15. Found one: http://thereformation.com/VIGNE-DRESS-NUDE.html

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    Replies
    1. that is either *perfect* or hideous. i honestly can't tell.

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  16. http://www.farfetch.com/shopping/women/gilda-pearl-cuff-sleve-gown-item-10553165.aspx

    It's not in blush but perhaps you could find a pro in your area to dye it the color you want. Much more reasonably priced...

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  17. Wonder if this could be modified to work??

    https://www.etsy.com/listing/161053349/1970s-salmon-peach-floaty-boho-evening?ref=sr_gallery_29&ga_search_query=70s&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_ship_to=US&ga_order=date_desc&ga_page=12&ga_search_type=vintage

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  18. http://bridal.threaddesign.com/collections/pages/i837_94.php

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  19. Okay, I know I"m late to the party, and it isn't exactly like the Valentino, but this is gorgeous and someone please get married in it.

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