The Dress

This dress I originally thought was the ugly duckling turned out to be The One!

As a fit, petite woman with toned arms and really muscly legs, gone was the dream I had as a little girl of having a princess ballgown. I decided that a mermaid dress was going to be it for me. It was going to accentuate my curves. I would look amazing. That tiny waist and shaped bottom would be seen.

Alas, trying on a handful of mermaid dresses, they didn’t look right. They sat weirdly, made me look even shorter, or made me look even tinier. It took me a lot of effort to even just try something else on. It was still the same day, my first day actually trying on dresses as opposed to just eyeing them in store windows, and this sad-looking ballgown was sitting on the hanger and I thought it looked OK enough to at least try on. Because that was my dream as a little girl right?

Once I very reluctantly climbed into the dress and had the buttons done up, I looked in the mirror.

Wow. I don’t think I cried at anything else in my life the way I cried about this dress. I covered my face as my eyes welled up. It was perfect. It looked perfect. I looked wonderful in it. I could just imagine myself marrying my then-fiancé in this dress. I saw myself walking down the aisle with it. I didn’t want to take it off, because for me it was The One.

I would love for someone else to be able to wear this dress and feel like a princess on their wedding day too.

This is a white dress, and it’s a modern take on a classic dress. It might look plain at first but trust me, it will make you feel amazing. Although strapless, this dress is snug and won’t move. It really holds you in and helps you sit and stand up straight. Even though it has boning to maintain its structure, I was still able to breathe deeply while wearing it. Bustles have been added so that the train can be pinned up for when you dance. I hired a hoop to wear under the skirt, which keeps the dress away from your legs.

This dress comes with a two-tier raw cut veil which cost me $200 on top of the price of the dress. It can be worn with the top tier over your face – I wore mine back. It’s a long veil that is about the same length as the train.

The dress was dry cleaned for $300.

My measurements are:
- height: 158cm / 5 foot 2
- bust: 81cm / 32 inches
- waist: 62cm / 24.5 inches
- hips: 90cm / 35.5 inches
- underbust: 72.5cm / 28.5 inches

If you have any questions at all about the dress please don’t hesitate to contact me. If you would like to try on the dress let me know and we can work something out. Feel free to make a reasonable offer on the asking price.

It has been tightened a bit at the bust as it was a bit loose for me. Padding has been added for a more natural look.

It has also been taken up at the hem. I am 158cm/5'2 and wore platform heels that were 12cm.