Give those bridesmaid dresses more than one use
What to do with those bridesmaids dresses filling up your closet? Sure, you are always told that "you can totally wear it again," and perhaps you can, but do you really want to?
Consignment, donation or alteration to make something that you can wear again are the options.
Local seamstress Beth Darlington said that most people opt to cut long dresses off and wear them as cocktail dresses if it is suitable. Darlington also recommends taking the sash off, and one can either have it without a sash or put another one on. She has taken off gigantic pleats and ruffles on dresses.
"Sometimes dresses have a gauzy overlay, and you can remove the fabric underneath it to make it more of a cocktail dress," explained Darlington.
For mother of the bride dresses, Darlington recommends swapping out buttons- such as "taking off the gawdy buttons and adding something more appropriate." She also says that she can slim down the skirt.
"Every once in a while you can remove the skirt, and use the top and vice versa," said Darlington.
Joyce Hill of Consigning Women said that most consigners do not take bridesmaids dresses and wedding gowns because the dresses are already altered and hard to sell.
However, they do get dresses for second weddings and have mother of the bride suits. "It is more cost effective because you only wear it one time," she explained.
According to Hill, generally depending on the condition, style, and age of the dress, the dress is usually priced one-third of the retail price.
And the consignment store splits the profit with the consignee.
The Cinderella Project is a wonderful place to donate. Sponsored by the Outreach Center at St. Matthew's and the Young Lawyers Division of the South Carolina Bar, along with a number of community partners, the Cinderella Project served more than 300 girls with prom dresses last year. Otherwise the girls might not have been able to make it to their prom. It only happens once a year in March right before prom, but it is all for a worthwhile cause.
For more information, contact the Outreach Learning Center at 579-0420.