Published on June 15, 2005 By Texas Wahine In Misc
My dress came today. Mailed all the way from Hong Kong.

I excitedly tore open the brown paper bag it came in with my bare hands. The dress was sealed in a clear plastic bag, and I ripped that one open with my teeth, and then I bounded up the stairs to try the dress on.

The dress is beautiful. Very detailed and feminine. It even has little sparkles that manage to dust everything it touches.

I stepped into the dress and pulled the top up over my chest. I started zipping the dress but the zipping stopped abruptly on my upper back. Adrian was home for lunch and I really wanted to show him the dress with it all zipped up and situated. I tried and tried, but couldn't manage to zip it up any further.

I went downstairs with the dress on, but not completely zipped up in the back.

Adrian and Xavier gushed about how pretty it was and how good I looked while I stood there sadly frowning.

I had to ask Adrian to zip the dress up. He moved my hair off my back and began pulling, without much success. He noticed a hook at the top of the back of the dress and pulled hard to meet both sides up so that he could hook it.

It was so humiliating and frustrating. This is supposed to be my dream gown. I'm supposed to feel like a princess in it. I tried hard to suck in, but I can't suck in my back or my chest.

Once the top was hooked, he was able to zip the back up fairly easily. I ran back up stairs and made sure that everything on the dress was sitting in the right place. It's such a beautiful gown, but it's so demoralizing to not have it fit right.

Fortunately, I didn't have any back fat erupting over the top of the back of the dress, but the top part that the gathered bust area doesn't cover is pulled tight and half of my boobs explode out of the top of the gown. There's a loose bit underneath the bust that I have no idea what it's supposed to be filled with. A longer torso, maybe? The flowing bottom of the dress is gorgeous but hangs much flatter than I had expected. Instead of hiding my hips completely, the material skims my hips in a way that draws attention to them.

I don't know what I expected, but I'm just so sick of myself and my body right now.

I cried out of sheer disappointment.

I was hoping for something to make me feel beautiful and special. I wanted a dress that I felt like I looked perfect in.

I mean, I realize that I'm no Gisele or Charlize Theron, but I really thought I would have a great fit. Something that flattered my body. I bought the dress a couple sizes bigger than I normally wear, and the company even took my measurements and altered it to fit me.

I'm not under any illusions that I have some sort of model perfect body, but I was really looking forward to wearing a dress that made me feel beautiful.

Instead I just feel fat.

And unhappy.

What a disappointment.

Comments (Page 2)
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on Jun 16, 2005
Tex, I don't think it's you at all. I've been buying formal dresses for occasions from prom (a while ago! ha), to recitals, and weddings to know that the sizes always run way too small. For example I am normally a size 8, but I had to get my wedding dress in a size 12. I agree with Marcie...take it to a good seamstress because the company you bought it from obviously has no idea what they are doing....
on Jun 16, 2005
Texas--if it makes you feel any better, I've been there! Last August, I was the maid of honor in my friend's wedding. In April, I flew all the way to England (where she lived) to try on dresses. We ordered the dress, and they measured me.

In August, we went back to pick up the dress--a week before the wedding and the night before we were going to Italy for a bachelorette weekend. The dress would not zip up the back. Apparently, they had ordered the dress based on my waist measurement, but unfortunately, I am in a similar situation as you--well endowed. To make matters worse, the shop owner had the nerve to tell me I must have gained weight. I was pissed and made her remeasure me to prove that I was, in fact, the same size as I had been the previous April.

I think Marcie has some great ideas--you should be able to alter the dress--so chin up, doll. You will still be able to be a princess on your special day!
on Jun 16, 2005
but I bet girls are involved


Of course, sometimes more than one at a time too... *evil grin*
on Jun 16, 2005
You are not fat or ugly......you bought a dress from HONG KONG! Haven't you seen asian women? They are built like boys on top, so it's no wonder that even altering the dress didn't work...They probably didn't think you really had that much bust and sized it smaller! But hey, life happens and you live. I know you will look beautiful!
on Jun 17, 2005
Maso:
I second this and raise you a 'and a number of JUsers think the same too'.


Aww, thank you.

Hey, I have fantasies too (not girly ones, of course, but romantic all the same). I don't think there is anything wrong with having expectations, just don't let the fact they don't turn out ruin your good time.


Very good advice.

In Bloom:
Hopefully you can make some alterations to the dress if need be...don't fret too much about it...a bride NEVER looks bad... You are beautiful girl, so you are going to look wonderful no matter what!


Thank you so much for the encouragement. And you're right, I can take it in and get it altered if I need to...I think there's even a place on base.

drmiler:
Maybe not "girly" ones.... but I bet girls are involved!


Tsk, tsk, hehe.

Dusk:
Dresses for women just suck sometimes. Maybe it's the company's version of the dress size is different than perhaps what you normally get?

I have that problem with jeans. Sometimes I'm a size larger because of how the brand determines it.


It could be. These are handmade, so that could be part of the difference, and I have noticed that different brands (and different types of clothing) are sized differently.

Toblerone:
Don't worry Tex. You are without a doubt one of the hottest women on JU, so don't worry about that. It's the bloody dresses fault! Le dress es le evil.


Hahahhaa! Thanks. Blaming it on the dress sounds good, hehe. I don't think it will mind.

Plan B = Sari, one size fits all. From what I've heard from my mother who did her phD in Hawaii there are plenty of Indian ladies there willing to help you with it.....or you could just alter your dress....or go naked *smacks himself for being sleazy....and kind of enjoys it and hence has to smack himself again ad infinitum*


I like the sari idea a lot, but I am married to the idea of the big poofy dress (pun not intended, hehe). I am really considering the sari for something a bit more comfy after the ceremony. I think they're beautiful and have a very exotic feel to them.

(Naked comment ignored, you naughty boy, hehe)

Mason:
Well, if you sent them your measurements, and it doesn't fit, obviously they did something wrong. I suspect it may be something as simple as the fact that they use the metric system and we don't. Could have been a simple math error in conversion


This is a good point. Before the dress was shipped they asked for my measurements and I sent them to them...sooo...

Marcie:
1. Go get one of those long-line bras that'll control the "girls"...and it'll help smooth you out, too...


One thing I noticed is that the fabric has a bit of a sheer, see-through quality to it, so I'll probably be getting a pink bustier to go underneath it (the black one I have now will NOT work, hehe)...good bust support, nice mid-section contouring, and something fun for the rest of the night, hehe.

2. MOST dresses aren't poofy unless you have a crinoline underneath. You're probably going to need one of those, too..and there probably was one underneath the dress in the photo...


I had wondered about that. I'm going to look getting one, although I'm not sure how to go about it.

3. Take that thing to that good seamstress and have her get it just right. She'll pin it and such and make that poofy part under your bust go away and she might even be able to help with the poof, too. She might even be able to sew a crinoline in there so you don't have to worry about it.


I hate spending more money on the dress, but I think it would probably be a good idea to get it altered so that it fits just the way I want it to. I'll feel so much better about wearing it. I'll ask about the crinoline, too...that would be great.

4. You are NOT fat. You are gorgeous, woman! Formal gowns aren't made to fit normal women like you and me. They're meant to fit boobless, buttless, hipless chicks. And THOSE women are the ones that are abnormal. Furthermore, formal gowns are MADE to be altered...EVEN with the right measurements, everyone's shaped differently.


Some nice perspective from another woman. Thanks!

Oh...and if you can find a Lane Bryant dere in paradise, they're having a 1/2 off clearanced bra sale.


Awesome! Thanks for the heads up and the great advice!

alison:
Tex, I don't think it's you at all. I've been buying formal dresses for occasions from prom (a while ago! ha), to recitals, and weddings to know that the sizes always run way too small. For example I am normally a size 8, but I had to get my wedding dress in a size 12. I agree with Marcie...take it to a good seamstress because the company you bought it from obviously has no idea what they are doing....


This is actually comforting to hear...

shades:
Apparently, they had ordered the dress based on my waist measurement, but unfortunately, I am in a similar situation as you--well endowed. To make matters worse, the shop owner had the nerve to tell me I must have gained weight. I was pissed and made her remeasure me to prove that I was, in fact, the same size as I had been the previous April.


Wow. Yikes. I'm impressed that you had her measure you again and proved her wrong. I would have cried (I'm kina sensitive).

That's really interesting about them making the dress based on waist measurements...that seems so silly considering how varied women's shapes are.

I think Marcie has some great ideas--you should be able to alter the dress--so chin up, doll. You will still be able to be a princess on your special day!


Thanks for the encouragement, and I agree, Marcie had some great ideas!

Maso:
Of course, sometimes more than one at a time too... *evil grin*


*shakes her head at the dirty boys on this thread*

Life (?):
You are not fat or ugly......you bought a dress from HONG KONG! Haven't you seen asian women? They are built like boys on top, so it's no wonder that even altering the dress didn't work...They probably didn't think you really had that much bust and sized it smaller! But hey, life happens and you live. I know you will look beautiful!


Hehe, another possibility I hadn't considered. I definitely have a far curvier shape than the Asian body build, so if the petite, lean, small-chested body type is what they had in mind, it's no wonder it didn't fit properly.

Thanks for the kind words...and you're right...it's a small detail in the grand scheme of things.
on Jun 17, 2005
Life (?):


Yeah, that was me.....I keep forgetting to sign HW out before I comment!
on Jun 17, 2005
lol...the bustier is a great idea...it will create many sordid details of your new nuptuals that you can't and won't WANT to plan in advance. Whooooeeeee! lol

As for the seamstress/tailoring...just take it to a regular bridal shop. They can help you get hooked up with the crinoline of the correct poofiness and they'll do a great job getting that dress to fit your gorgeous self. Don't take it to a chain store...take it to a mom and pop bridal shop if you can find one...they'll be cheaper and more personable in general.
on Jun 17, 2005
Life:
Yeah, that was me.....I keep forgetting to sign HW out before I comment!


Hehehe...I was 99.999999% sure it was you!

Marcie:
lol...the bustier is a great idea...it will create many sordid details of your new nuptuals that you can't and won't WANT to plan in advance. Whooooeeeee! lol


I was in Frederick's of Hollywood last weekend (they have one in the mall here, yay!)and they had a lot of cute light pink ones...I love it!

As for the seamstress/tailoring...just take it to a regular bridal shop. They can help you get hooked up with the crinoline of the correct poofiness and they'll do a great job getting that dress to fit your gorgeous self. Don't take it to a chain store...take it to a mom and pop bridal shop if you can find one...they'll be cheaper and more personable in general.


Great advice, Marcie. I can't thank you enough.
on Jun 20, 2005
I agree with the Asian body-type perspective. I was about to suggest that too! So the end result is you're NOT FAT! Get that out of your head! It sounds like you have a solution already too! See how smart you are!
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