Suppose you’re in love with one particular designer’s collection? Unfortunately, due to space and overhead issues, your salon can only stock one or two samples—not the entire collection. Still, you want to actually get a real live look at those 20 other gowns you saw online. In that case keep a lookout for your favorite designer’s trunk show. A trunk show is when a designer like Reem Acra makes a personal appearance at a nearby salon or department store, say Friday and Saturday only. What’s great about this is she or her representative will be there along with the entire (yes entire) collection. So all those gowns the salon doesn’t carry in sample form you can finally get a look at. In addition, you can actually meet and pick your favorite designer’s brain—ask about any changes in fabric, lace, color, etc. The result: your best opportunity to get your dress customized.
Keep in mind, just like Cinderella’s Ball, trunk shows have a time line. You pretty much have to know what you want and make your choice before the weekend is over. Therefore trunk shows are not ideal for the browsing phase of your search. Hopefully you’ve shopped prior and at length so you know for sure that this is it, this is The Gown.
If you think you’ll be placing an order at the trunk show, be ready. Bring along the shoes and kind of underwear you’ll be wearing your wedding day in order to have measurements taken correctly. And do make an appointment. Just imagine if Vera Wang showed up this Saturday at Saks. Enough said.
FYI: Though this is an in-store event, gowns at trunk shows are rarely reduced and typically go full retail.
FYI: Miss that trunk show last week? Or maybe no salon in your area carries the designer you want. If you absolutely love a particular designer consider traveling to her flagship store. There you can see her complete collection. Also, if you want something custom designed, think about becoming one of her private clients. True, you’d have to invest much more time and money, traveling to New York or LA. But if you happen to in be the metro area of your favorite star, do check into this. Although you won’t hear it publicized much, most top designers have a flagship store as well as custom clientele they cater to.
UPCOMMING TRUNK SHOWS
SAK’S FIFTH AVENUE, NYC
Edgardo Bonilla SEPT 4-5-6
212.940.2269
AMSALE
WEDDING SALON OF MANHASSET, NY
August 14-16
516.869.8455
PRISCILLA OF BOSTON
Kleinfeld, NYC
Aug 26-28
646.633.4300
Alexandra, San Francisco
Aug 20-22 Reverie-Melissa Sweet
Sept 5-6 Ulla Maija
415.951.0400
Keep in mind, just like Cinderella’s Ball, trunk shows have a time line. You pretty much have to know what you want and make your choice before the weekend is over. Therefore trunk shows are not ideal for the browsing phase of your search. Hopefully you’ve shopped prior and at length so you know for sure that this is it, this is The Gown.
If you think you’ll be placing an order at the trunk show, be ready. Bring along the shoes and kind of underwear you’ll be wearing your wedding day in order to have measurements taken correctly. And do make an appointment. Just imagine if Vera Wang showed up this Saturday at Saks. Enough said.
FYI: Though this is an in-store event, gowns at trunk shows are rarely reduced and typically go full retail.
FYI: Miss that trunk show last week? Or maybe no salon in your area carries the designer you want. If you absolutely love a particular designer consider traveling to her flagship store. There you can see her complete collection. Also, if you want something custom designed, think about becoming one of her private clients. True, you’d have to invest much more time and money, traveling to New York or LA. But if you happen to in be the metro area of your favorite star, do check into this. Although you won’t hear it publicized much, most top designers have a flagship store as well as custom clientele they cater to.
UPCOMMING TRUNK SHOWS
SAK’S FIFTH AVENUE, NYC
Edgardo Bonilla SEPT 4-5-6
212.940.2269
AMSALE
WEDDING SALON OF MANHASSET, NY
August 14-16
516.869.8455
PRISCILLA OF BOSTON
Kleinfeld, NYC
Aug 26-28
646.633.4300
Alexandra, San Francisco
Aug 20-22 Reverie-Melissa Sweet
Sept 5-6 Ulla Maija
415.951.0400