Short Skirts, Short Sleeves
By Never teh BrideWhat’s better than wedding dresses with sleeves… or at the very least, wedding dresses with straps thicker than a piece of angel hair pasta? The gorgeous Kai Jones was sweet enough to send me one answer, and that answer is “reasonably-priced short wedding dresses with sleeves that can be purchased online in standard sizes going up to 18, as well as in custom sizes.” It’s a mouthful, I know, but I’d argue that Dolly Couture is well worth the tongue-twisting.
There, brides can customize almost any element of their preferred wedding dresses — longer sleeves? no problem! full-length skirt? sure! — or order a one-of-a-kind bridal creation. If a bride wants to change her wedding dress after she receives it, Dolly Couture will send her any materials she needs for alteration, usually at no charge. And if her custom wedding dress is faulty, Dolly Couture will pay for a local tailor to fix it. Rush orders are possible. The biggie for me, however, is that Dolly Couture actually takes returns (on non-custom orders, anyway).
Sweet, right? I only wish I’d known about Dolly Couture when I was shopping for wedding dresses because I can rock a 1950s style frock like no one’s business. There are three more dresses to drool over under the cut.
With eggshell lace over champagne satin (and other combos available), the San Marino looks like your mom’s or grandmother’s wedding dress re-imagined. And at $595, it costs as much or less than some of those no-name off-the-rack dresses from the big box bridal stores.
The Pasadena, the San Marino’s sister dress, features far less eggshell lace coupled with nearly white satin. I’m envisioning it with full- length sleeves, and I like what I’m seeing.
Cute as a button, the Edmonton was inspired by Dolly’s mom who wore something similar in 1961 and features yards of soft rolling organza over satin with a touch of beaded lace at the neckline.
Love, love, love, love!!!!
November 9th, 2009 at 12:54 pm
I am totally bummed that I was unable to find this site when looking for a plus sized short wedding gown for myself (a mere three months ago)…I ended up getting a cute dress from the Dress Barn, but still nothing like what Dolly has….oh well.
November 9th, 2009 at 1:35 pm
Lovely! I wish I could own a closetful of these frocks.
November 9th, 2009 at 2:30 pm
Wow, I love them! I loved my wedding gown and wouldn’t change, but if I ever get married again…
(No, not happening.) They look a lot like the formals my mom wore before she was married.
I’ve mentioned them before, but Whirling Turban does fab short wedding dresses in retro-inspired styles. Custom fit, too, but not horrifically expensive.
November 9th, 2009 at 5:21 pm
If those first three came in jewel shades*, my rockabilly-wannabe self would be counting her pennies.
*I know they probably do, I refuse to click through in case the bank sends ninjas in.
November 9th, 2009 at 6:09 pm
The first dress is a dead ringer for my mom’s wedding dress, ca. 1958. Love it!
November 9th, 2009 at 8:40 pm
Bonus points for bridal models that don’t look like they are sucking on a lemon or trying to stay awake in afternoon chem class. Especially the last 2 pix.
November 10th, 2009 at 12:58 am
Makes me wish I was getting married all over again (to the same groom of course!). If I were getting married today anyone of those dresses would be my pick. I’m with Toni, I wish I could have a closet full of them!
November 10th, 2009 at 7:23 pm
@SusanC – yes! I hadn’t noted that fully, but the pictures are great and the models looked relaxed and blissful, not angry/tense/in need of some prune juice.
November 13th, 2009 at 10:37 am
Whoa. Maybe my post got eaten? I thought I’d submitted a batch of possible reproduction vintage dresses/wedding dresses sites. C’est la guerre; here it is again:
http://daddyos.com/retro/sept1.html
http://www.swingdanceshop.com/vinrep.html
http://www.whirlingturban.com/boutique/
http://www.pinupgirlclothing.com/pinupcouture.html
http://www.babygirlboutique.com/
http://www.revampvintage.com/index1.html
http://www.unique-vintage.com/1950s-reproduction-wing-cotton-swing-dress-p-3437.html
http://store.romanticthreads.com/darkromantic.html
http://www.bettiepageclothing.com/products/dresses/all-seasons/
http://shop.heartbreakerfashion.com/category.sc;jsessionid=052E37745277EEC36355AC6FBDECCD1E.qscstrfrnt04?categoryId=14
http://modemerr.com/GoodGirls.html
http://www.queenofheartz.com/dresses.html
November 13th, 2009 at 1:57 pm
Oh goodness, La BellaDonna… so much to drool over!