Tomorrow is D day. As in dress day.
My mom and sister are coming to Chicago and we’re going wedding dress shopping… And I am very nervous about it. I’m not nervous about finding the perfect dress! I’m nervous about the process of it. About where to start. About having sales women throw 100 things at me that I don’t like. About trying on 500 dresses when I don’t really enjoy trying on dresses in the first place.
I also hate dressing rooms. No matter how hard I try to look cute before I go shopping, when I get in a dressing room there’s not enough bronzer or brow pencils in the world to make me feel okay about myself.
And I know I won’t be in normal dressing rooms tomorrow, I can only assume from what I’ve seen in movies they’ll be super fancy with plush white carpet and a little stage I stand on so I can twirl in the mirror and gush this is it! when I’ve found the perfect one. But still, the fact remains I hate dressing rooms.
They make me insecure.
Is it the lighting? The mirrors? The small enclosed space? What is it about dressing rooms that make me feel like the troll version of myself? Like instead of trying on beautiful white gowns I should actually be living in a hole under a bridge asking people to solve a riddle before they cross.
Or perhaps dressing rooms make me see the real version of myself, but in the comfort of my own home I see myself for who I think I am- Jennifer Lawrence of course.
But alas, I’m going in with a good attitude tomorrow. It’s the only way I’ll survive.
I’m not even going to notice the fact my face looks like one of those kids from the Proactive commercials right now. Or that I’ve been so stressed lately my TMJ has caused the entire left side of my jaw leading up to my ear to swell. None of it matters. Tomorrow is about dreams. And drinking a lot of champagne.
And if all else fails maybe I can just dig out my prom dress from 2004. It was kind of a big deal.
If you google “ugly prom dresses” it shows up. It also graces this list “20 Horrible Prom Dresses.” Like I said, A BIG DEAL.
And now I’m going to go lay in a tanning bed for 100 hours so I can achieve that awesome orange glow I used to rock in high school. Also belly button jewelry. Are those still a thing?! I’m dying over here. So many good choices.
Buy the first one you LOVE! That will get you to the bar more quickly and of course, you won't have the confusion after 500 dresses.
HAHA. Lovin' the prom dress.
Also, I just blame how I look in dressing rooms on the lighting. I always look like a zombie. Or a victim of a zombie attack. Either way, good luck tomorrow! 🙂
Drink a little before you go. It makes ringing the bell when you find "the one" a little less embarrassing. Best of luck!
I'm dying over your prom dress. I mean your abs look great though, so I should shut up. I'm going dress shopping in 2 weekends, so I'm looking forward to reading your advice
At one point I developed a borderline addiction to watching re-runs of "Say Yes to the Dress"… then I had to step away, lol. The stress of going wedding dress shopping doesn't sit well with me either. I wish you the best of luck! 🙂
Take champagne. and nominate either mom or sister (whoever is meaner) to be the take-no-shit person – if you shake your head at her, their job is to get that dress outta your sight …
Make sure you get at least two glasses of champs in your before you go in the fitting room…it all gets better after that!
Can't wait to read about this experience.
The best advice I can give is don't be afraid to try on a dress even if you think it's not what you want. I had one type of dress in mind and ended up going with something completely different. Good luck tomorrow!
I think having a good attitude is about the only thing you can hope to do. just show them the above pic and ask for it in white. done deal.
Ha. Blinders, girl. I hate trying on clothes to and my only suggestion is to use blinders. There are so many psychotic women in those stores you can't help but stare. And apparently that's rude, so use those blinders. Like, literally cup your hands around your eyes if you have to.
I brought someone that had excellent taste in knowing what type of dress works with my body. She nailed it. I tried on a sample that was too tight, decided it was good enough, and out I went.
I only came back to do the alterations on the right sized dress and add those padded cups to make it look like I had a chest. The whole process is dumb and I wanted it over before I started.
You'll do fine.
Also, I kind of like your prom dress! It should not have made that list, but who am I ?
It really is the lighting in the dressing rooms, not you!! But go in there with an open mind. I came home with a dress I had no intentions of coming home with 🙂
I went wedding dress shopping in January and thought I was descending into the depths of hell. Fortunately, the sales lady listened to me when I said, "I hate doing this" and only made me try on ones that had actual promise. Seriously, I tried three dresses on in total, loved the third one, and said, "Alright, folks. Let's call it a day." I think that's the best approach. Have an open mind, but also don't be shy about telling them exactly what you DON'T want. No time to waste.
BAHAHAHAHAH How did you end up on that list with all the others? Not a proper fit if you ask me but at least you have the best of worst…? It's cool my prom dress was a disaster too. Wedding dress shopping is not all it's cracked up to be. It's fun, kinda, but the glamour factor wasn't there for me. They didn't serve me champagne. I had to bring it myself. Lame.
P.S. Totally pinned that dress in your first photo… ha if only
chatclinkrepeat.blogspot.com
Ugh dressing room lighting is THE WORST. I don't get it because you would think stores would want you to feel amazing in the clothes so you buy them, right?? Anyway I am sure you will have an awesome time shopping and find a perfect dress! Have fun!
My thing is why don't the fitting rooms in wedding dress shops have mirrors? Instead you have to parade out in the open to a 3 sided mirror. Sometimes I scared myself.
I vote for prom dress! haha Don't have in your head that you need to try on a million dresses, I only tried on about a dozen before I found my perfect dress. Have fun, its a day you'll cherish!
I hate dressing rooms too, they make me look 100% worse and I never feel good about what I am trying on. It scares me that one day I have to try on a dozen wedding dresses because I know if I don't look nice like my hair, my make up then I won't feel good in the dress and may not end up buying one!
I hope you manage to find your dress and the experience isn't as painful. If all else fails then I think the prom dress is a great option;)
UMMMM No joke. I had that hot pink with the rhinestones on the top as my prom dress in 2004!
Hahahahha I love the prom dress!!!! In 2004…I was a sophomore I believe and I also wore a two piece but I didn't have your abs so mine was just a very, very small slice of skin showing. Ohh the year of midriff..and I believe I also had a very tight rhinestone choker around my neck. And most definitely a dangly belly button ring.
Anyways, GOOD LUCK! Just have fun! Who cares! And I'm sure most people will only be noticing your toned arms anyways 😉
Honestly this is the epitome of early 2000s (especially the belly button piercing), so you were just on trend, right? Maybe it's the tan that ppl don't like?
IMO, I think the girl on the right has a worse dress. Don't tell her.
Oh my, what a sassy prom dress! Ha, ha!
You'll do just fine today. You just tell the saleslady what you want in a dress & what you don't want, they'll do the rest. I do, however, have to agree with you on the whole trying on part. Ugh. It's such a pain in the ass. I only tried on maybe 10 & two of them were for shits & giggles. Have fun with it. 🙂
Good luck to you! I don't know what to tell you. I got my wedding dress for $30 on a Macy's sale rack.
https://www.lovelylefflerjewelry.com
Loved that prom pic you posted! My up-do for my senior prom was almost identical to yours! Probably because we graduated in around the same year – were you class of '04? Miss those days.. I love your blog!
theritzyglitzy.com
You will have a blast dress shopping! When I went, the saleslady was SO helpful and didn't overwhelm me at all. It was such a fun experience! Good luck!
You've got this! Did you look online at any styles you like? I tried on some dresses in Chicago back when I was wedding planning and really loved dresses from Demitrio's. I am sure you will find the most gorgeous one, and hopefully it won't be torture trying them on! 🙂
Try Doris's in Highwood. Loved the dresses there.