Ideas For Shopping for a Used or Preowned Wedding ceremony Costume

Picture Supply: Getty / Jamie Grill

With an rising curiosity from shoppers in sustainability, it is time to take into account extra aware approaches to wedding dress shopping, and buying secondhand is a no brainer choice. Celeb stylist Micaela Erlanger, a recent bride herself, wore predominantly classic appears for her April nuptials in Miami, emphasizing the sentimental worth of her choice. “The appears might be extra particular when you recognize you might be sporting one thing distinctive and has a again story of its personal,” she advised POPSUGAR. She additionally has years of expertise styling purchasers like Lupita Nyong’o and Meryl Streep, together with wedding outfits for brides together with Amanda Hearst.

Likewise, full-service wedding stylist Gabrielle Hurwitz has spent 4 years advising brides on their wardrobes, and is aware of simply what number of girls are prepared to re-sell their used wedding ceremony robes and accoutrements, oftentimes in near-perfect situation. Whether or not it is as a result of they do not have house to retailer the costume, or as a result of they’ve had a change of coronary heart and by no means went by means of with the marriage, there are many causes high quality bridal robes are bought as “used.” In different phrases, you possibly can actually luck out if you supply a marriage look pre-owned — and you should buy it for a fraction of the price.

After all, there are many particulars to bear in mind when thrifting a wedding dress, so Erlanger and Hurwitz shared their greatest recommendation.

Whether or not it is since you’re suspicious of potential scammers or you do not know the place to buy, this information to purchasing a pre-owned wedding ceremony costume is certain that can assist you out.

The place to purchase a used wedding ceremony costume

There are numerous classic resale websites that inventory bridal, together with The RealReal, Shrimpton Couture, Happy Isles, Timeless Vixen, Gossamer, 1stdibs, and even Poshmark. There are additionally numerous bridal Fb teams the place attire are resold. Websites like Still White and Once Wed are just a few platforms particularly catered towards serving to brides re-sell their attire.

Erlanger additionally notes that following her wedding ceremony, she obtained inquiries by way of Instagram DM from brides questioning whether or not she’d be curious about re-selling or renting her items. “I do not assume it is terribly unusual to succeed in out to somebody whose model you admire,” she says. As for in-person boutiques, Hurwitz names Glamour Closet (with areas in NY, SF, LA, and Chicago), The Find Bridal in Miami, and Maison Sully in LA.

How a lot do used wedding ceremony attire value?

There’s a variety in pricing for pre-owned wedding ceremony attire, relying on numerous particulars like designer, retail worth, complexity and high quality/situation of the garment. Alterations may even lower a costume’s retail worth, Hurwitz notes. For instance, a Vera Wang wedding gown bought on The RealReal for $995, with slight discoloration, lacking gildings, and a break up seam famous within the description. In the meantime, the beginning worth for Vera Wang’s Haute Bridal assortment is close to $3k.

Picture Supply: Getty / Westend61

Advantages of shopping for a used wedding ceremony costume

The sustainability issue is a serious profit of shopping for a robe pre-owned; by doing so, you are extending the lifetime of a garment and including to the round trend financial system.

It is usually a profit for somebody working inside a tighter funds, because the costume could also be extra reasonably priced than shopping for new. For the sentimental kind, you may also benefit from the story behind the journey of your costume — particularly if you happen to’re buying the look from somebody you recognize, reminiscent of a pricey pal or member of the family.

Inquiries to ask earlier than shopping for a used wedding ceremony costume

There are dangers that include buying a pre-owned wedding ceremony costume, however the excellent news is you possibly can defend your self from rip-off or dissatisfaction by asking questions. When working with a good resale firm, it’s best to really feel relaxed understanding the garment has been verified. These are the simple questions it’s best to begin by asking the vendor:

• What’s the model of the costume? If not instantly discernible, it’s best to analysis the designer of the costume you wish to be sure you’re getting a good retail worth for it.
• Has the costume been altered? Even if you happen to put on the identical costume measurement because the earlier bride, an already-tailored costume has been tweaked to suit that particular person’s physique, which isn’t similar to your individual. And pre-altered robes might be tough to change once more. Be certain that to ship all particulars to your private tailor to make sure the garment can nonetheless be adjusted to your liking.
• What are the measurements of the costume? Do not depend on the scale tag, particularly if you happen to’re shopping for a costume that has been altered. Be certain that to specify that you simply’d just like the post-alteration measurements of the garment.
• When was the costume worn? You will wish to be taught the historical past of your costume, together with the date of the earlier wedding ceremony, so you possibly can gauge what situation it is in. When you’re superstitious, you additionally might wish to ask whether or not the bride who wore it final continues to be fortunately married.
• Has the costume been cleaned and preserved? Relying on the place the marriage occurred, the costume may need suffered “invisible stains” that may solely be eliminated by an expert cleaner. If the marriage was held outside or on the seaside, there have been in all probability further markings to be eliminated that you need to be conscious of. You also needs to discover out the place the costume has been saved for safekeeping (i.e. in a garment bag, in a smoke-free surroundings, in a home with pets, and many others.).
• Is the costume returnable? Most pre-owned wedding ceremony attire can’t be returned, so if you happen to’re buying it on-line and it does not match, you will be out of luck. If the costume might be returned, settle who will likely be paying for transport prices properly prematurely so you are not caught off-guard with shock mailing charges.
• Are further images obtainable? Do not be afraid to ask for element photographs and further angles of the costume if you happen to’re buying it on-line. By no means accept re-posted photographs from the designer’s web site of the unique garment on-model, earlier than it was worn. You can even ask for movies of the costume to know texture and motion, or arrange a Zoom name with the present proprietor of the costume if you cannot go to in particular person.
• Are you able to share a receipt? Ask for a receipt from the unique buy to be sure you’re not being scammed with a knockoff, so far as the designer or label of the costume goes. This may even aid you to check the unique retail worth to your individual buying worth. For instance, if a costume was discounted on the time of unique buy, your individual worth must be even decrease.
• Do you will have references? There’s nothing flawed with eager to confirm the legitimacy of the vendor. When you’re not shopping for a pre-owned costume from a good store or on-line useful resource, you will wish to make certain the vendor has expertise in clothes re-sale.
• Are there further equipment obtainable? Verify to see if you happen to’re getting an all-inclusive deal. There are sometimes sashes, veils, brooches, and different gildings that include a bridal look, which can or might not be obtainable to you.