Marrying Style and Savings : Designer dresses, some of the hottest wedding wear around, are discounted and destined to dazzle on the big day.
At that crucial moment, when the Wedding March sig nals the arrival of the bride and all heads turn, what the bride and her mother want to hear is a murmur of approval: how lovely she looks and how beautiful the gown is.
That is why shopping for that gown is at the top of the list as soon as the wedding date is set.
The bride has been poring over bridal magazines for months and knows what she wants. Usually, it’s going to cost a bundle, although not if she’s a bargain-shopping bride.
At Price Less Bridals in the Fallbrook Mall, she can have that $4,000 Yumi Katsura gown for $699 because it is either a discontinued style, a sample or a manufacturer’s overrun.
Yumi Katsura recently opened a boutique on New York’s Madison Avenue, and Women’s Wear Daily has reported brisk sales. Katsura is hot.
Other gowns from this designer sell at Price Less for $499 and $599, a fraction of the original.
Jim Hjelm is another high-end designer whose gowns are on the racks. Prices on these were as much as $2,800 retail, but they are tagged here from $499 to $699.
If Priscilla of Boston, another top label, is what she has her heart set on, don’t worry about the $2,000 to $3,000 tag. These gowns can be purchased for $499 to $699 at Price Less.
At the lower end of the price scale, you will find Alfred Angelo, Mary’s and Sweetheart labels that would have retailed from $699 to $899 but are discounted to from $299 to $599.
Most of the gowns are in perfect condition, but occasionally a sample gown may need to be dry-cleaned, after a few showings to prospective buyers.
We found many headpieces--all samples--and none for more than $99.99. Originally they were priced as much as $350 retail.
If you see the gown you want, don’t procrastinate. Price Less’ high sales volume means that the gown there today may not be tomorrow, and there’s no reordering at these prices.
Sizes in bridal gowns range from 4 to 44.
For the mother of the bride there are suits, dresses and gowns with such labels as George F., Waters and Waters, Mr. Jay and Jordan ranging from $49.99 to $199, as opposed to the original prices of $200 to $800.
Bridesmaids dresses begin at $39.99 and go up to $79 for those in stock. If they have to be ordered, it’s retail minus 15%. Sizes in these range from 6 to 20.
Owner Twyla Martin, is a veteran of the extravaganza-type bridal shows and the former owner of the San Martin Bridal label.
Price Less Bridals at one time was the outlet for only the San Martin label, but when Martin sold the company she purchased the outlet store, which now carries all the major names in the bridal industry.
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WHERE TO SHOP:
What: Price Less Bridals.
Location: Fallbrook Mall, 6633 Fallbrook Ave., West Hills.
Hours: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday.
Cards: American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Visa.
Call: (818) 340-6514.
