Loehmann's Love

Yesterday I had the opportunity to do something I've been holding back on lately: Shopping.  I'll fully admit, I do love to get my shop on.  But thanks to burgeoning wedding costs, I've restrained myself for the last year or so (And by restrain I mean "shopped less." You didn't think I gave it up altogether now, did ya?)

However, I had the day off (holla for a teacher's schedule!) and decided to pay a visit to my beloved mecca of discounted fashion merchandise.   I told myself I was just scouting out rehearsal dinner dresses with no intention to buy...Don't worry, I didn't actually come home with a dress but I did fall in love with one.

Anyways, have I mentioned how much I love Loehmann's? I'm pretty sure I have but in case you missed it, there it is.  I love Loehmann's.  It's gotten to the point where Mr Trail Mix knows the drill whenever I enter the apartment with a Loehmann's shopping bag.  It varies by item but usually involves me making him guess how much I paid for said item and how much it retailed for originally.  Some of my finds include my gorgeous Beth Bowley engagement dress, Seven for All Mankind jeans, a Cynthia Steffe sundress, Missoni sunglasses, Kate Spade flats...

Good stuff, all well below the retail price.  I think it's the thrill of the hunt that I love; you just never know what you might score.  It's kinda along the same lines as my flea marketing obsession. I will also confess that I'm a brand junkie but I just refuse to pay exorbitant prices, which makes Loehmann's the perfect place for me.

I found a few rehearsal dinner dresses that I liked and one that I loved.  Take a look (all photos taken by yours truly):

This pale blue silk Cynthia Rowley halter matched my wedding palette and I was loving the white sash but the halter style without a tie-option wasn't doing much for me and my awkwardly-shaped bod.  

I adored this Tracy Reese dress when I tried it on and it fit me perfectly! But I the colors were a little darker than I had been envisioning for my June clambake rehearsal dinner and I so it got vetoed (although I did stand and twirl in it for a good five minutes.)

And then I tried (or tried to try on) this one.  And oh doctor, it was game over.  It was another Tracy Reese dress and the details are just perfect.

A pale pink silk that fluttered when I walked. Empire-waisted with beaded details on the on the top. The gold ribbon-bow hanging down.

*Heart flutters!

Those thicker white circles are pearly, almost like shells.  Oh, how I loved this dress.  Alas (you knew this was coming,) even though the label said it was a size four and I'm usually a size two or zero (on a good day,) the zipper just would not budge over my rib cage.  I tried, I really did.  I twisted it every which way, trying to get that stubborn device up.  I asked the salesgirl to give me a hand.  But no dice.  Damn, damn double damn!

I briefly considered buying it anyways and then bringing it to tailor to have it taken out.  But I was unsure of whether that would even work and honestly, the dress was $100 and when you add in alterations, I didn't want to gamble on that much moolah. Having a dress taken in is one thing, having it taken out is a whole 'nother ballgame.

SIIIIIIIIIIIIGH.

Instead, I had to settle for a gorgeous, new bikini from Tibi and let my dreams of this pink-and-gold confection fade into the distance.  

Isn't my bathing suit pretty though?

I justified it by telling myself I deserve a new one for our honeymoon and I think it will be perfect when we're lounging on the beaches of...Ha! You thought I was going to give my honeymoon location away without blogging about it.  As if! No, that will have to wait for another day but due to a surprising/interesting turn of events, we're very close to making a final decision.

Do you love Loehmann's (or other discount stores like Marshall's, TJ Maxx, etc) like I do? Have you bought any new fun clothing for your honeymoon?