The Best Dress Designers

The Best Dress Designers

July 21st, 2008 @ 10:29 am by Mrs. Bee
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Thanks so much for all your wonderful dress suggestions! I did end up buying a dress that one of you suggested, but I’m not sure whether I’ll wear it to the wedding. I’ll get your opinions on it in a subsequent post, and pull together a dress wiki on all the fabulous stores you guys suggested.

Meanwhile, let’s talk a bit more about dress designers since many brides buy several dresses for the events leading up to the wedding. Or in my case - and I’m sure for many of you as well - I’m a frequent wedding guest!

My friend Nhung sent me a link to this article that lists the top 10 dress designers. They are:

BCBG
Betsey Johnson
Cynthia Rowley
Diane von Furstenberg
Marchesa
Oscar de la Renta
Shoshanna
Tracy Reese
Vera Wang
Milly

I definitely have to agree with BCBG, Shoshanna and Tracy Reese! I especially adore Shoshanna’s dresses because they always fit so well – she really knows a woman’s body! As lovely as Oscar de la Renta and Marchesa’s gowns are, I can’t say that I’ve worn dresses from them or the other designers on this list.

What about you - do you agree with this list? Do you have a go to designer when shopping for a dress?

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16 Responses to “The Best Dress Designers”

Hostess

KateMW (message) 2,704 posts, Sugar bee

I love DVF, Milly, Tory Burch, JCrew, Tracy Reese and BCBG. I also love Banana Republic dresses. I would love to be able to wear Marchesa and Vera Wang more than I do! I just bought a Marchesa gown that doesn’t fit me! It’s my diet bribery!

7/21/08 @ 11:05 am (reply)

Bee

Mrs. Penguin (message) 3,499 posts, Sugar bee

BCBG is always my go-to…I feel like they’re the best “bang” for my buck, and if I’m in a rush to buy a dress, or know I only will be able to visit a couple shops, I always pop in there first. I love Betsey Johnson but usually she’s a tad over my budget, so I really have to make sure I’ll wear a Betsey dress at least 4 times to justify the price. DvF is a great go to, but also pricey!

Off this list, I usually lean Ella Moss or Velvet, but those are much more casual/cotton brands (I’m a casual cotton gal!). Plus, my weight fluctuates 10 lbs consistently, so its easiest for me to buy cotton dresses, knowing at any given time I can squeeze into them with no problems :).

7/21/08 @ 11:13 am (reply)

Bee

Mrs. Jasmine (message) 1,170 posts, Bumble bee

I always have good luck with BCBG, J. Crew, Milly, Nanette Lepore, and Tracy Reese.

7/21/08 @ 11:23 am (reply)

Guest

notsojenny

i’m a Maggy London girl
i swear by her dresses. they’re always comfortable, classic, and most of them have pockets! that’s most of the reason i buy them whenever i find them on sale. Tahari also has cute dresses that i love.
unfortunately i don’t agree with Shoshanna because her dresses aren’t cut to flatter girls without boobs or curves. i know i’m biased, but it bums me out because i often see really cute stuff from her but it would never look good on me. i love a structured dress : )

7/21/08 @ 11:29 am (reply)

Guest

lunapark

Some of those are a little (or a lot) over what my budget would be for a dress to wear to a wedding. My favorite standby dress for an evening wedding or other formal event is a Betsey Johnson - every time I wear it I get compliments - so she’s always my first stop whenever I need something dressy. Everything I’ve ever gotten there has been incredibly durable and very well made - not to mention incredibly flattering!

7/21/08 @ 11:55 am (reply)

Member

melodicsighs1 (message) 1,289 posts, Bumble bee

i agree with BCBG and Betsey Johnson. actually, every time i’ve had a special occasion lately, my dress has been by one of those two. in fact, i have already bought a BCBG dress that i’m sure i’ll be wearing to the rehearsal (and i’m not even officially engaged yet!) both of these designers just know how to make a dress that i feel incredibly sexy in - even when i have long ago sworn that dresses were “just not my thing.” (i have long since repented, but i definitely have to find the right dress to feel good in it.)

7/21/08 @ 12:04 pm (reply)

Member

lulubelle (message) 173 posts, Blushing bee

Most of those on the list are out of my price range. My standbys include several from Ann Taylor Loft, Muse, and a Karen Millen stunner that I got for 75 percent off.

7/21/08 @ 12:06 pm (reply)

Bee

Mrs. Ant (message) 96 posts, Worker bee

Where is Nicole Miller on that list?! I love her dresses! They’re beautiful and also flattering.

Also a big fan of BCBG. I’d have to say that Nicole Miller and BCBG are my top 2 favorites.

7/21/08 @ 12:37 pm (reply)

Guest

Felicia

I love the retro glam look for special events. Stop Staring! dresses have tons of character and have tons of styles with structure.

7/21/08 @ 12:57 pm (reply)

10.

Member

beanchar (message) 549 posts, Busy bee

@Mrs. Ant: you beat me the the Nicole Miller punch. She occasionally puts out a clunker, but she is definitely my go-to designer when looking for a pretty dress at a good price. Also, her sizing is consistent, which is not always the case with other designers.

@notsojenny: I’m also a Maggy London fan. I remember buying her dresses for events back in college— which was so long ago they probably came with a hoop skirt!

And Badgley Mischka should be on that list– though most of their stuff is definitely wait-for-a-really-good-sale priced.

7/21/08 @ 12:58 pm (reply)

11.

Guest

Jess

I love Maggie Sottero. Definitely not couture, but gorgeous, with tons of different designs–and reasonably priced.

7/21/08 @ 1:35 pm (reply)

12.

Guest

Alla

Nicole Miller is my favorite. No matter what shape you are her dresses are so flattering. i have dresses in my closet that after a year I don’t want to wear anymore but I always come back to my Nicole Millers.

Also, I’ve found some really great dresses at Zara.

7/21/08 @ 1:35 pm (reply)

13.

Guest

mrsbear

I TOTALLY agree with the Nicole Miller fans out there!!

7/21/08 @ 2:30 pm (reply)

14.

Guest

Miss X

Sadly, even the word designer is out of my budget (and it always amazes me that it is not for others). I love BCBG, but even at 70% off I’d have to give up food for two weeks to afford some of the dresses.

Like lulubelle, I like Ann Taylor LOFT or even Banana Republic on sale…I even found a cute dress at Target *gasp!* a few weeks ago.

7/21/08 @ 5:04 pm (reply)

15.

Guest

Chelsea

I am such a Betsey Johnson addict!! Her dresses always fit me perfectly and they are so fun to wear!!

7/21/08 @ 6:08 pm (reply)

16.

Guest

lethie

The last wedding I went to I brought a Betsey Johnson dress. Everybody loved it. I also love Milly. I definitely have to check out BCBG, since it seems to be the majority favorite.

7/22/08 @ 2:51 am (reply)