Weddingbee

I love Isaac Mizrahi and admire his skills both as someone who makes and wears clothes. I own both copies of his Stylebook; PDFs of both issues are available for free on his website if you are in the mood for some fashion inspiration.

I have been a fan of his discount line at Target from the beginning. I have largely been impressed with the quality of the designs (so many with pockets!) and fabric used for his dresses, and now the summer clearance has brought deep discounts on already inexpensive dresses. For brides marrying next spring and summer this might be the perfect opportunity to find bridesmaid dresses, rehearsal dinner dresses and honeymoon outfits on the cheap. If we need to choose dresses months in advance, why not shop off-season?

Bridesmaid Dresses for under $30:

• This plaid silk dress is one of my favorites and it has pockets! It would work for a whimsical wedding with bright colors, $29.99.
• A beautiful pleated number in a soft gray, it would work for spring or summer weddings. Sadly, it’s only available in a size 14, $17.49
• This strapless dress received good reviews and is available in a variety of colors, $19.99-$39.99. It is made from a poly-cotton blend and has a polyester lining, but for that price most brides will be able to afford a test drive. Longer versions are also available.
• This beautiful green dress with a natural waist would flatter a variety of body types, $19.99. Also available in black.

Dresses for honeymoon wear and more casual occasions:

• This seersucker dress is comfy and travels well. I was able to stuff mine into a hat box and then unroll it wrinkle-free for my last weekend trip. The fabric might be a bit casual for some weddings, but it could work as a bridesmaid dress for a garden wedding.
• This dress has a sweet, faux-wrap neckline, a flouncy skirt and pockets. The pink is not overly feminine and more antique in color. It would be perfect for a bridesmaid’s tea or a wedding shower. Also available in black and white.

There are a few rules that I follow to get good online shopping results from the Target.com website. First, read the reviews and pay attention to the ones where the buyer has a similar body type to yourself. The unfortunate problem with a lot of the Isaac dresses is that the designs that fit well on a size 2 won’t always be scaled properly to a size 14 and vice versa. I loved this dress on the website, but it was sized for someone with a DD chest. However, for $20 you might have some extra cash to pay a tailor to put in bust darts.

Next, and I consider this a general rule in life, avoid polyester. It doesn’t breathe and allow your sweat to evaporate. I once stupidly made a dress out of polyester fabric and then decided to walk home on a warm day and I felt like I was wrapped in moist saran wrap after only a few minutes. Natural fibers are a superior alternative for wear and comfort and some, like seersucker, won’t wrinkle.

I had a question or two about the dress I wore in this entry, which sent me off to the Target website in the first place, but unfortunately, it is sold out. However, brown and black versions are still available. I love this dress. It’s light, but tough, breathes while keeping me at a comfortable temperature and it doesn’t stain easily. Best of all, there are pockets! The skirt is a little poofy so it conceals whatever you are carrying without the appearance of saddlebags. I wore it on the 24 hour+ series of flights back from my honeymoon and felt totally comfortable.

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