Off the Rack Dresses - Non Sample Sized Brides

Jcrew, bhldn, kate spade? my dress is off the rack, but it is non-traditional, so that made it a little easier.

For the dress that you posted the picture up its hard to tell how big it is on you with out seeing how much it is clamped in the back. But also the samples are usually stretched out because of everyone trying it on, most people putting it on probably aren't going to be as small as you are. the seamstress was probably trying to be conservative with giving you expectations since i think it is hard for them to keep the same exact shape if they need to take in more than a few inches.

Nicole Miller carries small sizes and I've seen some gorgeous ones from them. If you have a store near you, go try them on in person. Nordstrom also carries a ton, but they don't sell them online, so you would need to have a Wedding a Suite location nearby (you can check on their web site).

When I went to David's Bridal they told me I might not have time to order a dress and need to order it off the rack. I had 6 month until my wedding. The consultant kept saying even with a rush order I might not get the dress in time. I didn't end up getting a dress there because the consultant drove me out the door with her pushiness. I did end up buying at another bridal store and getting it altered down to size. The seamstress took the dress down from a 16 to a 4 when I got my alterations done.

Depending on the material and details of the dress she might not be able to alter the dress down to fit you. A seamstress won't do alterations if they aren't possible or if the alterations are out of her comfort/skill level. If you really like that dress try the David's that's across town, the seamstress there may (or may not) tell you something different about alterations.

@Rebecca...I'm so glad I'm not the only one who had a horrible David's experience. I was literally in tears!

This dress was actually from Camille La Vie. It's on clearance for $350 so I'm tempted to buy it and take my chances with another bridal seamstress.

@ Kasey- That definitely is risky, but sometimes the risk is worth it. If you have a seamstress in mind perhaps you could take pictures (even go retry the dress on and get more detailed pictures) of the dress to the seamstress and get her opinion before buying the dress. That dress would look amazing on you if you are able to get it to sized right!

Does the dress have beading and lace? Maybe the seamstress didn't want to take on the job?

If you like that dress, it might be worth it to spend the $350 and see if it can be altered. An experienced seamstress *should* be able to alter it to fit properly if you only need it to come in a size or two.

@Kasey- if you really like that dress I would go and contact another seamstress and show them the picture from the back as well and ask if they can do it. Or you can find something similar. Good luck!

Have you looked on preownedweddingdress.com or tradesy.com to see if you can find the dress you like in a smaller size? Might be worth a try.

Another vote for BHLDN. If the dress is in stock, it will ship to you really quickly (and if I'm remembering right, when you hover over the size option, it'll flash up with the date it will ship if it's not immediate) and the return process seems straightforward (I didn't use it, though). Their sizes go down to 00 in at least some of the dresses and they run much closer to street size instead of the typical wedding dress size (my wedding dress from them was the same size I normally get from anthro).

@Kasey - I was literally thinking Brides Against Breast Cancer! I went to their event and had an amazing time. I had searched everywhere for a dress, I think the BABC event was my 5th time shopping. I went to the VIP event on the Saturday evening before the event which was much more laidback and I really got to try on a lot of different dresses. They had a lot of smaller dresses for sure and they had a local seamstress who offered really good advice. I think it's definitely worth a shot. My dress was a little snug but the seamstress there explained how it could be altered and gave me tips on what to ask for if I chose to go to someone else. Also, if you're on a budget, all prices are not set in stone. Don't be afraid to ask if they can work with you. Good luck!

David's Bridal is another option but honestly, they're hit or miss. I went to one David's Bridal and walked out so upset. I went to another David's Bridal and was very happy even though I didn't find a dress.