Brides Can Go High Fashion by Renting Gowns
Since the holidays, our phones have been ringing overtime with questions about weddings--specifically, wedding gowns. Apparently, brides have been knee-deep in the bridal magazines while the future bill payers have been coping with sticker shock.
When Mom or Dad hears the price of the gown their darling has chosen, the response is generally quite predictable: “That’s insane!”
If your daughter plans to walk down the aisle in a Vera Wang, Ulla Maija, Tatiana of Boston or an Amsale that she fell in love with in the pages of a glossy magazine, figure a purchase price of $3,000 to $4,000.
For a tasteful bride, the best news since he popped the question is that her dream can come true for $600 and under at One Night Affair, the place where these gowns are for rent. The store has more than 700 wedding gowns--in sizes 2 to 24--and here’s the key: Alteration experts are on hand to stitch the gown to fit.
A design from Eve of My Lady, which retails for $2,000, may be rented for $350, and Demetrios styles that retail for $800 and $1,200 are available to rent for $195 to $250.
For the bridesmaids, who will never wear the dress again, it’s a blessing. About 100 styles--in myriad colors and sizes from 2 to 30--rent from $45 to $95. The mothers of the bride and groom are not forgotten: The price range for a variety of styles that would retail from $400 to $2,200 may be rented for $45 to $175.
Normal alterations on these and on evening gowns in general average $5 to $20. And if for some reason you want to keep the gown for an extra week (regular rental runs from Thursdays to Tuesdays) add on 10% of the rental charge.
All wedding accessories--headpieces, veils, jewelry, purses, gloves--but no shoes--are for rent as well. If you’re lucky enough to be going to the Oscars but don’t have a thing to wear, this is the place. You’d be surprised how many celebrity fashions come from here.
* One Night Affair, 2370 Westwood Blvd., Los Angeles; (310) 474-4808. By appointment.
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Weekend Super Sale
The Place & Company, Southern California’s oldest and biggest resale store for men and women, is having its annual blowout. The numbers on the tags reflect a 50% to 75% reduction on designer apparel that is greatly reduced from the original price. Sizes run from 2 to 12. Sale continues through February. 8820 S. Sepulveda Blvd., Westchester; (310) 645-1539.
