Pronuptia - Anna

Ivory silk dress with fitted bodice which extends down to the hips. The fabric on the bodice is folded to give a draped effect. The skirt has two pieces - an inner skirt (narrow A-line) and a wider outer-skirt (attached to the bodice) which opens at the front just below the left hip. At the point where the skirt opens there is a silk rose. The outer-skirt includes a short train which can be hitched up at the back. view the original advert on The Dressmarket

Maggie Sottero - Limited Edition Amber

This stunning gown is a one-piece, strapless, full A-line gown with lace-up closure. Gathers of tulle cover the dress embellished with Swaravski crystals, tiny seed beads, bugle beads, pearls and sequins. Embroidered flowers have the palest champagne centres and crystals and beads cascade down the train looking like rain drops.
view the original advert on The Dressmarket

Jenny Packham - Paradise

Vintage Style, Jenny Packham, made in Italy. 100% Silk Exquisite Hand Sewn Beading. Made of 3 layers with a concealed side zip, which makes the dress very flattering. The first layer is 100% pure silk, which feels luxurious against the skin. The next layer is a soft, ivory polyester and then finally a fine net (with some ruffle detail around the skirt) finishes the dress. The net has generous hand-sewn silver beading across the whole dress including back and shoulders. The beading is enchanting - shimmering different shades in the sunlight. It's mainly floral beading with wonderful 'birds of paradise' beading on the front. The dress has a slight train at the back and you can walk in it without having to hold the front up.
view the original advert on The Dressmarket

San Patrick - Babieca

San Patrick wedding dress with a very slimming bodice which holds shape in all the right places whilst being ultra comfortable. The bodice is ivory with crystal and pearl detail and the train has a loop with a blue bow to tie over the arm when needed. The dress comes with an extra flower feature on a strap which can either be draped over the arm or tied round the neck or worn around the wrist.
view the original advert on The Dressmarket

Fiona Clare - Chantilly Lace

Exclusive designer Chantilly Lace, strapless gown with train. Integral, laced bodice gives amazing contours. Silk and tulle underlay. A stunning gown - understated class and sophistication. Timeless and eager to be worn for another joyful occasion.
view the original advert on The Dressmarket

Ian Stuart - CABARET

A stunning gown in silk dupion. The bodice has a crossover drape on the bust and continues all the way down the dress. The one shoulder strap, covered in silk flowers, is a stunning feature of this gown. The back bodice has a lace-up corset. The asymmetric skirt drape reveals an underskirt of handmade silk flowers. The gown is beaded with sequins and crystals throughout. view the original advert on The Dressmarket

Vera Wang - Style 2G165

Stunning ivory strapless a-line gown in English net with pintuck vertical details on overlay and ivory silk taffeta sash. Complimented beautifully by a Vera Wang ivory chapel full length veil.
view the original advert on The Dressmarket

Ellis Bridal - 11032

Princess and the Frog wedding dress. Light weight taffeta dress with lace and crystal bodice and lace up back.

view the original advert on The Dressmarket

Mathyro

A fantastically unique dress, the bodice has one tie strap with tulle and flower detailing which trails down the bodice and flows onto the skirt. The back of the bodice has a lace up corset with diamante eyelets. The mermaid style skirt with pool train has been beautifully hand embroidered. In addition, the gown comes with an extravagant detachable tulle train providing a real wow factor! Mathyro is a Belgian based company that aims 'to bring you what you are looking for.....something with a touch of a difference'.

For more details view the original advert on The Dressmarket

Suzanne Neville - Lucerne

Want the X Factor at your wedding? Did you know Suzanne Neville designed all the dresses for X Factor live finals? Anyone who has tried on a Suzanne Neville dress knows that it is wedding glamour at its very best. The diamante encrusted corset in this dress will flatter any bride and give you a waist you didn’t think was possible! The dress has been made in Duchesse Satin which feels fantastic and hangs so much better than some other fabrics.

For more details view the original advert on The Dressmarket

Lusan Mandongus

This stylish and graceful dress is made from Silk Duchess Satin in a light soft ivory colour and is a dress, for the elegant bride. The style is Empire Line, which means fitted bodice which has two pieces of material which wraps round creating a flattering bodice. This Lusan Mandongus dress was hand made and shipped in straight from the designer. The dress is a simple design which hangs in beautiful folds around hips and legs. It pushes the breasts up, ther waist in and covers hips and legs. It also has a stunning flower on the right at the front and two on the back at the base of the back, with the puddle train flowing down from here. The train is detachable but also has a tie sewn into it so the train can be tied up for the evening rather than taking it off. Lusan Mandongus have mastered the art of creating perfection in the romantic feminine spirit of a sophicated modern bride. Exquisitely beautiful, their gowns incorporate luxurious and delicate fabrics such as silk duchess satin, taffeta, silk chiffon, French lace and tulle of the highest quality. Each piece of the bridal gown is the labor of love from the designers that is flawlessly finished with meticulous workmanship.

For more details view the original advert on The Dressmarket

Monique Lhuillier - Noel

A beautiful Monique Lhuillier wedding dress made from Ivory French Alencon lace with a latte silk charmeuse lining. The dress is strapless, with a scalloped neckline, a scalloped hemline and silk covered buttons, which extend down the back all the way to the hem. It is beautifully finished and the silk lining feels luxurious against your skin.

For more details view the original advert on The Dressmarket

Mori Lee - 2136

Offering a change from strapless dresses but still baring the shoulders this stunning halter neck wedding gown from Mori Lee is covered with beaded detail all around the neck + back + along the skirt and train. The train is full length which is gorgeous for walking down the aisle and there is a small button on the back where the skirt can be hooked up for dancing or at the reception.

For more details view the original advert on The Dressmarket

Ian Stuart - Curacao

A stunning gown of taffetas metal and tulle.The structured corset bodice is strapless and has an asymmetric waist line. The bodice is trimmed with scallop metallic lace and beaded with crystals and tiny sequins. A bias cut skirt is draped to the knee and then splits open to reveal the antique lace underskirt. the scrunched taffeta and tulle skirt is beaded with sequins and crystals, before flaring out into the train. A corsage of hand made flowers cascades down from the left hand side skirt.

For more details view the original advert on The Dressmarket

Maggie Sottero - Lavinia

This is a gorgeous classic Maggie Sottero, swarvoski crystal embellished dress. Really glistens in the light. One-piece, strapless, zipper over inner lace-up gown with slim A-line skirt and chapel train. The bodice neckline features a glamorous inset dazzling with Swarovski crystals, seed beads, bugle beads, glass beads, and sequins. The embellishments continue to the back of the gown and ornament the center back.

For more details view the original advert on The Dressmarket

Vera Wang

Today's dress is an incredible Vera Wang duchess satin dress with extravagant tulle base and beautiful ribbon detail. A design like no other, sheath style dress with an explosion of tulle at the bottom to result in a truly breathtaking wedding dress. Vera Wang at her funkiest.

For more details view the original advert on The Dressmarket

Caroline Castigliano - Collette / Simone

A Caroline Castigliano wedding dress combo: Collette corset, which is beautifully beaded at the top and the back tied with a built in lace up corset. The skirt is 'Simone' in crepe with silk lining. This dress is wonderfully elegant and made from 100% silk.

For more details view the original advert on The Dressmarket

Ian Stuart - Babylon

Today's dress is an amazing Ivory "Ian Stuart - Babylon" wedding gown. A glamorous fitted mermaid gown in taffeta metal and Venetian lace with a fitted bodice draped with taffeta metal and embellished with Venetian lace. The lace mermaid skirt is decorated with hanging flowers, petals, strings and leaves. An incredible wedding dress from one of the best wedding dress designers around.

For more details view the original advert on The Dressmarket

Jenny Packham - Tallulah Mae

This Jenny Packham Tallulah Mae dress is as versitile as it is stunning. A sleek, timeless look with bias cut in ivory silk with a slight A-line skirt for an elegant silhouette. Stunning back detail with diamante clasp. Clever gathering to the side of the waist for a flattering fit. Can be styled as 1930s for a vintage theme or kept sleek and simple for a modern feel.


For more details view the original advert on The Dressmarket

Jean Fox J930

Still something of a rarity in the UK, Jean Fox is one of Australia's leading bridal designers whose designs were distributed exclusively in Australia until recently. Using sumptuous silks her dresses are of a timeless elegance and made to measure to maintain the standards of quality that every bride deserves. This dress is new and unworn. With a flattering sweetheart neckline, the gown is sleek and stylish with a side-wrap detail across the fitted bodice / mid-section that accentuates the waste. In sumptuous champagne dupia silk.

For more details view the original advert on The Dressmarket

Pronuptia 'Aston' - sleek as its motoring namesake...

this 'Aston' wedding dress from Pronuptia is a sleek and clean modern classic with an ivory halter-neck and crystal beading along around the neck-line and straps. Gorgeous and flattering slight fish-tail hem with elegant train to the rear. A very elegant and classic dress - simple, yet very stylish. This dress make the wearer look glamourous without fuss and 'over' styling. The Duchess Satin is heavy and smooth, and flows beautifully. Handmade and 'one-off' style - with bust support and a long row of pretty back buttons to finish off the look...a fabulous dress! Image Courtesy of Matt Pereira Photography - www.mattpereira.co.uk

For more details view the original advert on The Dressmarket

Murial Martin Retro...

We thought we'd look back in time for today since this one is such an unusual wedding dress. A 1960s "Murial Martin" design with a round collar and large feature sleeves. Made in Wild Silk, complete with train. Very retro, very classic and so 1960s it's quite futuristic. We loved its quirkyness immediately.
For more details view the original advert on The Dressmarket

It occurs to us...

that people read our blog because they are interested in wedding dresses.

And that's why we'll be starting a new feature from today, where we post the details of the most interesting of the dress adverts we receive each day.

Here goes, starting with an amazing Ian Stuart Curacao - less a dress, more a work of sculpture. A stunning gown of taffetas metal and tulle.

The structured corset bodice is strapless and has an asymmetric waist line. The bodice is trimmed with scallop metallic lace and beaded with crystals and tiny sequins. A bias cut skirt is draped to the knee and then splits open to reveal the antique lace underskirt. The scrunched taffeta and tulle skirt is beaded with sequins and crystals, before flaring out into the train. A corsage of hand made flowers cascades down from the left hand side skirt.

For more details view the original advert on The Dressmarket

They do say...

that there are clear links between fashion and the economy. You know, how traditionally skirts get shorter and colours get louder as the economy improves and get longer and more muted when things take a downturn - as at present.

The reason I'm thinking of this was the fact that we got three dress adverts over the past 24 hours where the dresses exhibited a certain similar quality; an Elie Saab - Hera, an Ian Stuart Topaz and a Linea Rafaelli 3666033 (see slideshow or visit www.thedressmarket.net). It difficult to describe what that similarity is since they are each very different from the other, but I couldn't help thinking there was a connection to the economy. The designs are very intricate and complex, but at the same time understated. The material has a crushed and at times almost distressed appearance and the overall appearance is one of extremely high design quality but one which escews ostentation.

It will be interesting to see how this season pans out and the types of dresses being sold compared to previous, more prosperous years.

Now, that's a good idea...

Just speaking to a lady who sold a dress as part of our follow up and she tells me that she will use part of the money from the dress to buy an expensive Raymond Weil watch.

The way she puts it, that way she's reminded of her wedding and her dress whenever she looks at the time. Rather that than having her dress take up space in her wardrobe and slowly become an annoyance rather than a treasured memory.

Wow, do we have some smart people advertising on The Dressmarket or what?

Well, here goes...

Hold the nose and jump in at the deep end and..hey, we're blogging! That was easy - why didn't anybody say how easy this blogging lark is?

OK, let's start our first blog with a happy story of how one of our advertisers sold her Stephanie Allin Casablanca wedding dress.

We'll call her 'Andrea'. Which is what her mother called her, too - so we're ok then.

Anway, Andrea decided to sell her Stephanie Allin Casablanca dress on The Dressmarket (Andrea, as you'll see is a very smart lady) and was contacted after a few weeks by a lady who lived about 300 miles away and was very keen on the Casablanca dress. Andrea was faced with the usual problem of how to send a dress to a buyer who wanted to try it on (of course) and still be sure that she would be paid.

So what did she do? Here's what she did. She picked up the phone and talked to the B2B (that's Bride-to-Be for any newbies out there. Arkk - listen to me, one blog and I'm Bill Gates).

Simple as that.

Andrea and the lady from 300 miles away, who shall remain nameless on account of how, well, we don't know her name, chatted for a good long while about dresses, weddings, Mother in laws to be and who knows what else and at the end of it they had a good vibe.

The Lady From 300 Miles Away sent half of the cost of the dress to Andrea's bank account, Andrea sent the dress which was duly tried on and accepted and the remaining half of the money was transferred next day.

The motto of the story? It's good to talk. It's also interesting to note that in the 5 years that The Dressmarket has been helping people buy and sell wedding dresses we have not had a single case where the seller has lost her dress or the buyer lost her money. That's not down to us and it's not about how we are doing anything special - it's down to the fact that 99% of people are honest and decent ...and especially brides it would seem.