My little cousin got married in October. It was a royal wedding black tie attire. So, I was in need of a long formal gown. It’s not a new concept to thrift an evening dress or formal gown. It may seem overwhelming but I’m here to guide you to the perfect dress.
- Scout the perfect location.
Look for a thrift store that has a good selection of dresses and formal gowns.
- Go often. Give yourself enough time before the wedding or event and don’t stress. It took me about 4 to 5 visits to the same location before I scored the perfect dress.
- Get inspired. Before I went thrifting, I checked out what formal gown styles were available. I looked online at Dillard’s, Nordstrom, and Rent the Runway to get inspired. This helped me to focus on certain styles that would fit the dress code and venue.
- Look through every dress on every rack. Check all of the size sections. I usually stand back from the rack to spot the long dresses. But when it comes to long gowns, they usually pin them up on the hanger. So, they don’t drag on the floor. You never know what you’ll find hiding in the racks
- Examine every dress. Make sure the dress is in good condition, look for rips and stains.
- Try everything on! You may find the perfect fit, or you might be able to alter the dress. A good tailor can work wonders.
- Look for accessories. Search for accessories to complete the look. I was able to find the perfect pair of pointed toe glitter flats. I already had a thrifted beaded silver bag I got a few months back. You can look for an evening clutch, a scarf or shawl if your dress doesn’t have sleeves. And of course you can’t forget jewelry.
- Get it Cleaned. Depending on the fabric content you can hand wash your dress. I washed my dress in my bathtub and laid it flat to dry. You can also take it to your local dry cleaners.
You can even dry clean at home with one of those at home dry cleaning kits that you throw into your dryer.
Whether you have a fall wedding at a winery or a gala at a grand ballroom I hope these tips can help you find the perfect outfit. You can be stylish and sustainable.
~Taylor S.