Finding your size when buying a used bridesmaid dress.

One of the hardest parts of buying a bridesmaids dress is the sizing! Why don't they just make them the same size as every day clothing?!?! Many bridesmaids and wedding gowns are sized small. So if you normally wear a size 8, in bridal fashions you might wear a size 12!!! Wow, thanks a lot bridal industry, that makes me feel goooor-geous... Why do they do that to us?

Don't get me started! Instead, I'll talk about what we are doing to help girls save money and get the right fit for bridesmaids and wedding gowns.

We know that when you are shopping used and online predicting the fit can be a difficult task. So, in order to help you out we have been compiling a list of sizes from different manufacturers. It can be easy and fast to get the best measurement for you without leaving your house. The only thing you will need is a measuring tape (or if you don't have one a string and ruler will do). It's best to have someone, like a friend or your mom or sister, help you measure yourself.

HOW TO MEASURE YOURSELF FOR PROPER SIZING
Bust: Measure at the fullest part of bust and around the back.
Waist: Measure around your "natural" waist (this is the narrowest part of your waist, above where your pants sit).
Hips: Measure 8” down from your natural waist, at the fullest part of your hip, this may be 7” for petites. (fyi: Your “Low Hip” is 8” below your waist, this is most commonly used as the Hip measurement. Your “High Hip” will be only 4” below natural waist.)

FITTING TIPS
• If possible get a friend to measure for you, or use a mirror to make sure the tape is straight.
• Go with the largest measurement, if its not a perfect match (it most likely won’t be). It can always be taken in if needed. It's easier to take something in rather than let it out.
• Take into account the cut of the dress. Usually the hip measurement is not a factor in sizing, unless its a tight fitting dress at the hips. If its an A-line dress, for example, you will be ok just using bust and waist to size.
• When buying a strapless dress it's more important that the bust size matches and is fitted. This can easily be taken in as well.

Here is a link where you can find our measurement charts: http://www.ruffleswap.com/servlet/the-template/sizingtips/Page

See a popular dress maker that's missing? Or have your own fitting tips? Let us know by commenting! We are always updating and adding to the chart to keep it up to date! Good luck and don't let those exaggerated sizes make you feel not-so-gorgeous. (Seriously, can someone tell me why that is industry standard?)

xoxo

Being a Greener Fashionista.

I recently happened upon this article, "16 eco-fashion predictions for 2010" on ecouterre.com.  I found one of the predictions to be extremely relevant to the vision we have for Project: Ruffle Swap.

"Buying used is finally gaining widespread acceptance thanks to eco-approval and a strained economy. People are buying pre-owned clothing on eBay not just because it is cheaper, but because it is greener. “Used” is losing its stigma and being recognized as smart. You’ll see an increase in clothing swaps, too."
— ZEM JOAQUIN (PUBLISHER, ECOFABULOUS )

You may or may not know what we do at Project: Ruffle Swap. But we help women "swap" their lightly used dresses (mostly bridesmaids dresses). We have created a place online for women to sell their used dresses or buy a like-new dress. Many of the dresses we post are only worn once and never worn again. And many of the styles we add are still currently selling on the manufacturers websites for original price, $150+! Through "recycling" dresses we not only help women find the dress they need for more than 50% off, we also give the seller back some of the money they spent on the dress.

Just think... There are more than 2.2 million wedding a year. If each bride has 4 bridesmaids, that's around 9 million bridesmaid dresses worn each year! If just 1/3rd of all bridal parties "swapped" their dresses, thousands-and-thousands of pounds of waste would be eliminated.

This subject is so near and dear to our heart. So, when thinking about what to do with your one-and-done bridesmaid dress, don't trash it or let it hang in your closet. Please, think about recycling it. 
And join us at ruffleswap.com to become a greener fashionista.

Bride freaks out over hair updo! (video)

Video: Bride gets a bad updo > freaks out > cuts off hair (right before the wedding). What the...?

In 2007, SunSilk released this viral ad. Yes, it's just an ad. You can now watch it and enjoy it without feeling bad. This viral ad was just recently reposted to YouTube again. Two weeks after it's original release in 2007, it had over 2.8 million views!!! People were responding with sympathy and advice or they were suspicious that it was fake. Two weeks later the actors revealed on Good Morning America that the video was set-up and created by Unilever's ad agency for SunSilk.

You gotta love viral advertising! From an advertising standpoint, reaching that many viewers is every brand's dream! In the first 2 weeks alone, the video had 2.8 million impressions. And that doesn't account for the views from copies adding up to more than 12 million views!!! That is a lot of people interacting with your brand.

How do you get a video to go viral? How do you deploy it? First, make sure it really is interesting to people, and not just what you want them to be interested in (ie, your brand/product). Ask yourself why someone would want to forward it? Which videos do you take time to share?

Most shared videos are shocking or funny in some way. And keep it short: people » short attention spans » entertain in first 20-30 secs. Get it? Now, start talking about it or, even better, get your friends to help spread the word. Post on: del.icio.us, digg.com, stumbleupon.com, reddit.com, and don't forget twitter and facebook! Making your video "go viral" can take a lot of effort pushing it out or it can take no effort at all, that is if you are lucky and have created a truly viral video.

Now... to plan the Project: Ruffle Swap viral video! Stay tuned...  {cue evil laugh}

Disney Fairy Tale Weddings: where's the "Bibbity Bobbity Boo"?

I recently started searching for Bridesmaid's dresses for my fair "maidens" next fall.  As I clicked through Fall 2010 Bridesmaid Collections, one designer immediately caught my eye - Kirstie Kelley for Disney's Fairy Tale Weddings.  Disney was designing not only Bridal gowns, but also "maiden" gowns!  Sounds fun, right?  I immediately pictured the what these "maiden" dresses might look like...maybe poofy silver ball gowns for Cinderella "maidens" and slinky, moonlit-pool colored, mermaid dresses for Ariel "maidens".  I clicked through the collection looking for magical and character-inspired dresses - but I was a bit disappointed.  There was no blatant inspiration of Disney Princesses (I later learned this was on purpose). Curious, I visited www.disneybridal.com to see if the 6 disney princesses were better captured in the "bridal gowns".  Most of the gowns looked similar to the traditional and trendy dresses on the market.  I was kind of hurt, as a child I watched these movies over and over, and many of us little girls pictured wearing a gown as gorgeous as Cinderella's one day.  Those gloves... those sleeves... how it sparkled when she danced...

I then started to read about the designer, Kristie Kelley..."she watched the films, came to understand the essence of each princess, then developed that mood in a way that in a way today's bride could relate."  I was again hurt... I've known these princesses for decades and their personalities and stories are deep within my heart.  Kristie Kelly also adds that "The gowns in the collection are not film replicas, nor do they have a character read".  I'm confused - why not?  

If I bought a Cinderella Disney dress, I would want everyone to wonder if it hurt when the Fairy Godmother smacked me with her wand, said "Bibbity Bobbity Boo", and transformed me into a drop dead gorgeous Fairy Princess. 
-Beth