The Dress That Almost Was

This dress makes my heart stop.  It is dramatic.  It is deco.  It is everything I thought I ever wanted.  Iloveit Iloveit Iloveit!  It is from Birnbaum and Bullock, and sadly it is no longer made. But I can't say enough good things about B&B.

When I first became engaged, one of the first things I did was call the B&B store immeditately to inquire as to the availability of this dress... I had a crush on it for that long.  Though they couldn't put me in the exact dress, I was invited to the store to see their other gowns.  Specifically, THE Steven Birnbaum brought me in and worked with me.  We tried on many dresses, but one silhouette stood out among all others- and it was actually the same dress as the one pictured, but with different embellishments!  Steven told me that was probably for the best, since the pictured dress was very dramatic and hard to pull of.  And I believe he's probably right about that.

J. it is time for you to stop reading.  Do not click through.  I mean it, stop right there buddy.

source

Steven told me that the gown would be custom couture, with a mock-up created for me in muslin before the pattern would even be cut.  And he said I could choose to add different embellishments if I preferred- a sparkly belt perhaps?  And the best part of all, was that the dress was priced well under the other gowns I was looking at.  Gowns whose designer didn't work with me or make me a muslin mock-up.  I almost bought the dress on the spot, and I would have, had I not just begun my search.

So the dress became the point of comparison for all other dresses, and I thought long and hard about it.  My experience at B&B was so wonderful, and their work so gorgeous!  Of course, if you are a regular reader you already know that ultimately I went with my Platinum for Priscilla gown instead.  Something about the cotton faille and the costume jewelery details sold me.  But sometimes, I do still dream of the B&B dress.  I mean, how can you not??  This is not to say I feel anything less than utter devotion to my own dress.  But there is room in my heart for many loves!

source

source

Have you had to say "no" to something you originally had your heart set on?