The Bridesmaid Dress Conspiracy

A few weeks ago Rebecca and I were bridesmaids in the wedding of our high school friend. She was really very low-maintenance, so when it came to choosing the bridesmaid dresses she had us present her with a few different options to choose from and we ended up with a lovely gown.

However, lovely though it was, it was also rather expensive. Added to the cost of the dress were of course the cost of alterations. While many an off-the-rack dress will fit me just fine, the proportions of a bridesmaid dress are often quite puzzling - this is what I refer to as the "bridesmaid dress conspiracy" a phenomenon that likely plagues bridesmaids everywhere.

Fortunately, Rebecca and I had just completed an intermediate sewing class and were able to put our new-found skills to good use altering our own dresses. While acquiring these skills may not seem like the most practical advice, for the frequent bridesmaid it can actually be quite a money saver. Not to mention I've been able to craft a few dresses and household accessories out of the deal!

If you are in the Chicago area, we took classes at Vogue Fabrics, although most JoAnn's fabric stores also offer a variety of classes. Good luck!

~Karin