Bridal Goes Sample Sale Chic

Engaged ladies listen up!  With a target store opening date of mid-March this Spring (er beginning of Chicago winter?), Glamour Closet comes to us from "sample-sale-crazy" California with heaps of current designer bridal gowns discounted up to 75%.  The photo above is an Angel Sanchez Spring 2011 gown.  Originally $7,810, but only $2,550 at Glamour Closet.  They also carry Vera Wang, Monique Lhuillier, Oscar de la Renta, Jenny Packham, Jim Hjelm, and more.  How do they do this, you ask?  By having great relationships with all the major designers and selling their sample gowns for them.  A sample gown is one that is used by the designer for evaluation during the design process.  The last produced sample becomes a "salesman sample", and as you can imagine with these major names they have tons of them.  So just to clarify; these are unworn and truly designer gowns and many times you'll be getting the same dress you are currently seeing in Vera's glitzy little window but for so much less.  Some gowns are marked down to as little as $500, and these are designer people!  Saving thousands on the dress, brides from Chicago used to fly to L.A. or San Francisco, the first two locations for Glamour Closet.  All the money saved more than covered the airfare for a sunny weekend in the West, but now that this great little concept is gracing Chicago with its presence you can keep the cash for yourself.

A couple of ground rules apply to keep all you bridezillas in check.  You walk out with the dress the day you choose it, no holds.  I heard a story of a bride crossing the street to get a yogurt and when she got back someone else was buying her dress (yikes!).  You have to be pretty darn close to sample size, which is a bridal size 8 or 10 which is a  fashion size 4 or 6.  They have a list of recommended bridal seamstresses who can take the dress in or let a bit out.  That's all!  Come prepared to walk out with THE DRESS.  My recommendation is to bring some jewelry/shoes that tie into your vision.  They have veils to style with.  Glamour Closet will be located in River North and open 6 days a week, Tuesday through Sunday.  You can use the money you save on these.