Discontinued Designer Dress Timeline?

It was my understanding from speaking with the owner of the bridal shop where I bought my dress that designers discontinue dresses based on how a particular dress is doing in sales. She explained that if a dress from 2015 is still going strong, they'd discontinue a not so popular one from 2016 before choosing to discontinue the one that is still raking in sales from 2015. She also explained that they will get an email from a designer stating a particular design is discontinued, and that's it. They can't order new ones once they receive that email, and there may not be any warning before hand that a particular design is being considered for discontinuation. However, not all designers discontinue dresses. Some never discontinue their designs.

I don't know what Maggie Sottero does. It may be worthwhile to talk to a consultant at a boutique that carries her designs and find out what they have to say about the trends in whether her designs get discontinued and how it happens. They would have more insight on whether a spring 2017 Maggie Sottero gown is likely to be around next fall.

Keep in mind there are going to be so many great designs that come out in the next year and a half before you need to order a dress. Also, if you haven't tried on dresses, yet, keep in mind that many brides on here (myself included) ended up ordering dresses that were completely different than what we initially thought would be the perfect dress for us. It can be so hard to look at a picture and decide if a dress silhouette or style will be flattering, and we can be in fir a really big surprise when we start to try dresses on. The dresses we were looking at online end up not fitting correctly, and the silhouette we thought would never be flattering turns out to be everything we didn't know we wanted. It may be helpful to try on your dream dress, or one that is of similar shape and style, to figure out if this is a dress you still want to pursue.

Thank you.

I definitely want to try it on first. The places I called inquiring about it said they do not carry it, but can order it for me. I'm not about that. I have friends who, like you said, had a dress in mind but once they tried it on - they absolutely hated it, and ended up going with a different dress.

I'm just conflicted on whether I should try to find it at a store and try it on (then go from there), or just let it be and see what happens next year when its time to start dress shopping.

I would be careful about ordering so early. A lot of brides on here have serious dress regret. Which design do you like (this is me being nosey)? But dress regret is real. I would say try it on if you can find one near you for sure, so you don't have that "what if..?" in your head

I think Id hunt it down to try it on...if it really is everything you've ever dreamed of in a dress--then MAYBE i'd consider ordering...BUT that said-it youd have to closely maintain your weight until your wedding by buying so early (most dresses can only be taken in about two sizes or let out a size, while keeping the same look) and what happens if you absolutely fall in love with a new dress that comes out between now and your wedding? As PP's have said, dress regret is real, but you also may be hung up on this dress until you see it on your body. find it and try it on. then discuss your options with the bridal salon.

I've heard of "Dress Regret" and I've seen it a lot here (I'm a lurker). So that is one of my hesitations. There's so much that goes into this! I know I'm jumping the gun. We were thinking of having a 2018 date, but I'm in nursing school, and I do not graduate until December 2018, so throwing a wedding in the midst of that will be an absolute nightmare.

So having a long engagement gives us the opportunity for me to graduate, and also get some things settled with wedding details as we are having a destination wedding in North Carolina (we are in PA, and we have family and friends coming from a variety of States in the US, as well as Europe).

I am in love with Maggie Sottero's "Zada". She has many beautiful designs though, so I know I wont be disappointed with her future designs and dresses that will be available next year.

I dont want dress regret, but I don't want to regret not trying the Zada on to at least see if it compliments me.

Oy!

Thank you all for the advice!

100% find it and try it on. You will regret if you don't

I don't think it hursts to go try the dress on. However, I personally wouldn't buy a dress that early.

With your wedding being 18 mo out, do you have a budget set up yet? Is your venue booked? Not only could your sizing change in that time, but your tastes and vision for the wedding could as well, especially if those things aren't done yet.

I would try it on honestly. I waited to buy my dress because I was worried about dress regret. I saw one online and also completely fell in love. Mine is a 2013 Hayley Paige and I freaked when I realized it was a four year old design and frantically started calling around to find it. Luckily it's a really classic one and a super popular seller so multiple stores had samples and they still make it. I would have been heartbroken if I missed out on a dream dress because I waited. It's not going to be a super popular opinion here to get your dress early but you know yourself best. I'd say try it on and ask the store to notify you if it's discontinued. A store that has a sample in stock should be notified if a dress is being retired.

Ladies, I finally hunted down a store that actually has the dress to sample. I was worried not only because it may be discontinued by next year, but also the fact that a lot of stores in the area did NOT have one to sample led me to believe it is not one of the more popular gowns, so chances are it WILL be discontinued by next year when its time to go wedding dress shopping.

So I booked an appointment for mid August (thus buying me 2 additional months). If anything, I'll see what it looks like on me. If it looks terrible, at least I know I got to try it! I think id regret NOT having the opportunity to try it on, with "what if" floating in my head forever.

We are actually going to tour/book the venue we want in August as well, as its a popular destination wedding location in North Carolina, and they book out 18-24 months in advance (having an October date doesnt help either, as its a popular time of the year too). We have a vision and a color scheme, and my bridal party selected.

I'm not a typical bride, I'm doing it all backwards: we are a blended family with 5 kids between us (ages 18, 11, 10, 9, and 7), we have a house, I'm in school to earn my BSN (graduating December 2018, another reason we have a long engagement), and so we are not in a rush. We've been talking about this for a while, so we have an idea of what the wedding will be like, its theme, budget, guest list, etc. We're not even doing a bridal shower or registry as we have EVERYTHING lol. Probably just going to do a honeymoon fund instead.

So yeah, while I understand dress regret, and will definitely keep it in mind as I'm trying this dress on (and others too, just to get an idea of different styles compared to the one I'm interested in) - I feel pretty confident about this dress choice (for now! Till I put it on.. hopefully it wont be a complete disaster!).

The only little thing I foresee being a problem is my plan to lose 25-30lbs by the time of our wedding. I'll have to speak to the store about alterations in that regards and what can be done, etc.

Thank you everyone for your thoughts and advice!

@Michelle, just want to give you a tip that WW is thoroughly against honeymoon funds. I kind of understand - whatever site it is takes a percentage of the funds, so your guests are giving more than what you're receiving. And you're asking them to fund your vacation. However, a couple friend of ours who got married last spring did one, and I really enjoyed getting to pay for something they did.

I just want to warn you in advance that you're going to get advice/backlash against the honeyfund idea.

but good luck with the dress! It's gorgeous.

I would try it on to make sure you love it on. I purchased a 2014 style even though it's popular, I would've been devastated if I waited and it was discontinued. I purchased 15 months before the wedding. Keep in mind dress regret is real so you wanna make sure you don't picture yourself in anything else! Good luck!

Thanks ladies!

We are having a fairly small wedding, only 100 of our closest friends and family - of which many suggested the honeymoon fund idea since they know our situation. Either way, I still have a lot of research to do about the honeymoon fund websites. THAT is something I am waiting on till we are closer to our wedding date lol ;-)

Thanks again for all the advice!

Oh lord OP. Lurk on the honeyfund ideas. They suck and tax your guests. No one should fund your vacay is what it comes down to.

Upgrade current home goods or don't register at all and get what you get.

ETA: words