I’ve been a bridesmaid 5 times, soon to be 6 in May, and have some seriously interesting dresses to show for it. I’m not saying that they’ve all been bad (there were two in particular that were whoppers, that might be another post) but if I’m being perfectly honest I’ve never found an opportunity to wear any of them again. I’m only having two people stand up with me - my cousin, who is really more like my little sister, is my maid of honor and my best friend from college is my other bridesmaid. I adore these two people and I really wanted them to wear something they will get use of in the future & that they’ll feel comfortable and happy in (I know, I know, every bride says this but I am serious! I know it can be done!). As if finding a dress that can be re-worn weren’t a challenge in itself, none of us live in the same state.
Since our colors are black, white and green I decided early on that a black dress was the way to go. They’re easy to find, come in all different styles, and can definitely be worn again. I also realized pretty quickly that I would have to give up my visions of the three of us spending the day together trying on dresses in stores and I turned to the internet. After some exhaustive searching, I kept coming back to J.Crew. I know that the quality of their dresses is great, and since I was trying hard to find something that can be worn again, I wanted to avoid a really “bridesmaid-y” look. Eventually we landed on Camilla:
It’s actually made of cotton but has a really subtle sheen, and it has pockets! I don’t know why but I just love dresses with pockets. I’m convinced that you could throw a cardigan over it to dress it down, it’s definitely wearable to another wedding, and you could even add some bling to make it a New Year’s Eve dress (yes, I put too much thought into this). The only real downside was the cost ($225) but I worked around that by contributing some funds of my own. We waited for some free shipping coupons and we were good to go!
I also knew that I wanted to throw some green into the mix but the dress is so cute I didn’t want to put a sash on it. Camilla needed to be left alone in all her pocket-worthy glory. Then I saw this necklace from Banana Republic:
The crazy spotted bead is actually the clasp, which is magnetic. Here is where I have to explain that I am a very visual person… I am horrible at picturing things in my head without seeing them first. This was endlessly annoying to Mr. Sundae when we were looking for a condo to rehab and I could never grasp “the vision.” So anyway, I’ve taken to making mock-ups of things on the computer to see what they would look like before I order them. I give you, Camilla and the necklace:
They were originally $38 online but I had some major coupon action and got them for $30/piece. What do you think? Did any of you try to find a dress that can be worn again? Anyone else create ridiculous mock-ups to see what things will look like? 
I to must say I love it.
Love the dress and the necklace!
Oh I love that!
I thought about looking for something they could “possible wear again”…but then I remembered the 6 weddings I have been in and none of them tried to do that for me! LOL! And no I have not worn any of those 6 dresses again!
So now I guess I sorta look at it as, hey, it’s what I want..sorry you will most likely not wear this again..but I did the same for you, now please do the same for me!
I am having the same color scheme and have come across both these items also…they are both major contenders for my bm’s also. I can’t get past the price tag on that dress though…but it is so beautious!
I think that necklace is much larger in person. I considered buying it online, but I waited. I was glad after I saw it at the store because it was just a bit big for my tastes. I think they have a pretty good return policy, though. Try them out!
I decided to use J. Crew dresses for my bridesmaids as well! The Camilla was the dress chosen by my sister-in-law. We both loved it in the pictures, and she was so excited to get it… but it didn’t work out too well. She ended up switching to the silk chiffon Sophia dress, because the Camilla was too tight where the band is, too full in the bottom (she claimed she “looked pregnant”), and she just wasn’t happy with it overall. I was crushed, because I love the way the dress looks in pictures, but I did have to agree with her that it just didn’t work out well on her. Hopefully it works out for you and your girls, because I LOVE THIS DRESS! And I love the necklace as well 
:)
We have pretty much the same color scheme! Mine is black, dark ivory (technically speaking) and green (chartreuse…think apple green) In the beginning I was going to let the girls choose their dress, it just had to be black and tea length. Then I saw some pictures online of wedding parties where the BMs were wearing black and it looked like a wall of black, or a funeral and that just wasn’t us. I would just say to keep that in mind.
I ended up going to a bridal store and first finding the specific shade of green I liked (Venus Bridal Chartreuse…I love it) and chose a tea length dress (style K606349). I added a bit of length and with all that it came to $145 a dress. Pretty good deal I think…and it’s cute. I was anti brisdesmaidish dress too but I think that this one works, especially since I have to fit my BM’s ranging from size 0-22 and keep it affordable…whew!
i was looking at that same dress too!
i love pockets.
so perfect and handy.
good choice
Love it! It’s simple and chic.
I also opted for a similar option - Ann Taylor black dress (got in on sale for $79) and am going with simple pearl necklaces.
I also created rediculous mock-ups to figure out what color sash would look best. I think my bridesmaids may think I’m a little crazy with all my random pictures…
I love it! Jcrew bridesmaid dresses are such a classic way to go. And I truly thing the girls will wear them again
We went with the Sopia short silk dress in burgundy (you can see the style but not the color here: http://www.jcrew.com/catalog/product.jhtml?id=prod62983191). Ironically, the bridesmaids dresses were one of the first things we got during our wedding planning, MONTHS before I got my dress. I loved the color and it was going to be phased out in December, so we had to buy then!
I had worn the sophia long silk dress in black at my best friend’s wedding and the silk tricotine and quality of the dress was to die for. I have worn it many times and I knew my bridesmaids would enjoy these dresses. Plus, J-Crew’s customer service is excellent.
They were retailing for $195 but the price dropped to $140 within two weeks of purchase, so we were able to get an adjustment.
Yay for J.Crew! I’ve been lusting after that dress for quite awhile.
My bridesmaids are going to be wearing a lovely J.Crew dress too - the Sophia in navy. I decided just to pay for their dresses because A) they were expensive and B) they are flying in from out of state, so I thought it would be a nice thing to do. They’re already spending so much on the airfare, hotel, shoes, etc. It’s a small thing, but every little bit counts, right?
My girls have the Rebecca short dress in navy! I LOVE JCrew for their quality and ease in ordering. And wear-again-ability! My sister is actually planning on wearing hers BEFORE the wedding to her graduation! That makes me happy that the $250 wasn’t spent in vain, lol.
i love the dress and necklace…
i’m going to buy my girls the dresses and ask them to donate them to the princess project if they don’t intend to wear them again. the princess project is an organization that you can donate your dresses to so that girls who want to go the prom can have a beautiful dress if they can’t afford to buy it on their own.
I’m just having my ladies wear a navy dress of their choice. I thought that light green spring flowers would look great against the dark blue. They’re all wearing different styles that look good on them and that they’ll wear again.
If I did it again, I might even be more generous and say any shade of blue. I can’t find the pic right now, but I saw the most wonderful picture of a bride and her bridesmaids all wearing different shades of green with different textured material. It looked great and not at all mish-mashy as you might expect.
I’m sure you already bought this (and I don’t know if this dress is on clearance) but J. Crew is having a 20% off clearance sale till tomorrow! And also free shipping! (code: FS0303)
My girls are also wearing the cotton J Crew dresses, only in bright berry. They’ve already bought them (wedding in July) and all three are in love with them. They look super cute!
I wore that exact dress in green to a wedding a few months ago when I was a maid of honor. Let me tell you: it was awesome and the pockets totally helped the bride! I kept her lipstick and compact all night without a problem and the dress is so poofy you couldn’t even tell. I also held the rings in their for the ceremony.
Also, I am sure you ladies are way smarter, but I didn’t realize the white “bra band” goes in front. It makes a huge difference! I was a dope and was wearing it in the back until the other bridesmaid corrected me. Oops!
Stunning! That necklace is the coolest — what a fab color.
(And on the “wear again” front, I just gave in from the start and admitted I wouldn’t find anything they could wear again. But then bought the dresses for <$50 off eBay and gifted them so the girls wouldn’t be out the cash.)
I have similar issues - everyone was traveling to the wedding, so I wanted the dress to be wearable and inexpensive - plus my maids are in 3 countries. So, I told them to find the cutest all black knee length dress they could find, and wear it. The girls are happy, and I am happy to have a drama free decision!
Strangely enough, I also have the same color scheme (all white with green and black accents), and my bridesmaids are wearing the cotton cady collection from J.Crew in black. Please note that these dresses do go on sale. My BMs ordered their dresses on sale last summer. I let them all pick which dress style they wanted from the collection, and I was SHOCKED that none of them picked the Camilla! That was my favorite! Alternatively, the petite girls chose the Janey, the taller girls chose the Lyndsey and the smaller girls who are also busty picked the Audrey. Only my junior bridesmaid (who is 12) picked the Camilla, and she’s going to have straps put on it. I’m also loving the new Lydia style.
As for jewels, I bought them all some nice CZ necklaces and earrings from Macy’s at 30% off during a holiday sale. I like the green necklace that you picked, but I think it’s a little more “hip” than “dressy,” so the overall feel of your ceremony should influence that choice, I think.
I do the same thing! I photoshopped a magazine pics of a bouquet and a feather hair pin i like onto a picture of me in my dress. I also did one for my table setup. Even though the mockups look a little off, it does help to see if all the different elements go together.
I also am having my bridesmaids pick one of the cotten cady dresses from the J. Crew line (in black; colors are black & ivory w/ red/burgundy accents). I’d like them all to wear some sort of ivory accent, either a sash, brooch, or cloth flower.
There are also two more styles coming out in this fabric Summer 2008 (while they are not going to be offering the Camilla & Janey again).
Hope they work out for you and let us know if you have any issues! We haven’t ordered yet…
They have these dresses all over ebay! I have seen them new and in new condition for the past year and thought about getting one…
The price range is usually between 40-100…if your BM’s are tight for money you may want to let them check that out.
[...] them so much the ushers and the Dads are getting some too). But since I am a freak and have to create mock-ups of things to see what they’ll look like, I had to get a visual of the entire ensemble before ordering. I [...]
I am so excited that I found someone else doing a black and green wedding! I’ve been having the hardest time finding bm dresses and am considering just going with black. What kind of green are you using?
Ashley - we’re using a few different shades of green, but are leaning towards brigher more bold greens. Hope that helps!
Mrs. Sundae, Chicago/Lake Geneva, WI
Age and Occupation: 28, Knowledge Manager
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 29, Investment Advisor
Engagement Date: July 20, 2007
Wedding Date: September 2008
Blogging Since: February 5, 2008
Venue: The Abbey Resort
About Me: It’s hard to believe that by the time Mr. Sundae and I get married we will have been together for almost ten years. When we first met in college we split dollar pitchers and now we share the mortgage payments. Despite our love for the city we are looking forward to tying the knot in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.
I love it! Totally awesome (and definitely rewearable) - I am envious of your bridesmaids