A Few Tips for Finding the Perfect Modest Formal Gown
From the anxious teenager searching for the perfect prom dress to the frazzled bride hoping to discover the bridal gown to the savvy employee searching for an elegant piece for the upcoming formal party at work–they all share the same conundrum. How exactly do they go about finding a stylish, elegant gown for their occasion without baring all?
Outside of Utah (and even sometimes inside), locating the perfect dress can be a torturous wild goose chase. Options are generally limited, and it is not uncommon for retail stores to advertise “modest,” apparel, only for you to find that your definition and the societal definition of modest do not coincide. So, as you begin your quest for the most stunning yet modest fashions, here are a few things to bear in mind…
A good place to start your search is the internet. There are websites which exclusively provide links to other sites that feature the non-scandalous apparel–think of them as your home base, like a shopping mall which provides a gateway into a dozen other stores. Bookmark these types of pages so that as you surf, you can always go back to the list. Don’t forget that virtual bridal shops are still a great place to check out other kinds of formal dresses, as most offer a selection of prom and bridesmaids’ lines as well.
Before you get excited and make a hasty selection and purchase online, first check to see if the online store has one or several physical counterparts. Many retailers who offer modest apparel either have their own specialty stores or they sell their particular line through other formalwear stores.
If you are able to get to one of these stores and try on the dress you have in mind, this ends up being much better for you. You are able to judge more realistically whether or not the dress is flattering or if it is really what you wanted, seeing it in person.
You can also evaluate the fit of the dress, which is crucial–if you order online and pick an arbitrary size (when sizing tends to vary among dressmakers), you may have to have it altered, which can become expensive. Trying it on and buying it from the store will also cut down on sometimes-inflated shipping costs. So, whenever possible, try the dress on in-store first.
Another tactic to finding retail centers that would offer the modest style you seek is to find pockets of certain groups of people that have popularized modest fashions in your area. Retailers will often cater to their specific community, so if you know certain areas near you are heavily populated with Latter-day Saints, Muslims, or Orthodox Jews, you will probably find stores that offer modest fashions. That is why even mainstream department stores in places like Tempe and Mesa, Arizona, offer different styles than their counterparts elsewhere.
If you do end up ordering from an independent dressmaker online, it can actually have an advantage. Sometimes they will allow you to customize the piece you order with things like a higher neckline or different sleeves.
Be sure to know how long your order should take to arrive, and plan far in advance of your event in case something goes wrong with it–it gets lost in the mail, they accidentally send you the wrong dress or the wrong color, etc. You need to also make time for any alterations that might need to be done. Always check the return policy, too, in case you later find a dress that you like better, or the dress turns out to be far too small, or any other scenario that might come up.
But most of all, be committed to finding a dress that is absolutely YOU, no matter what it takes–being modest doesn’t have to mean forfeiting great style.
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