Exciting New Dresses Arriving!

Kitty Chen Florence

Luna Novia

 We are getting more and more dresses in everyday at The Dress by Nicole! We have our entire 2012 collection now in-stock from Enzoani Blue and Kitty Chen Couture. We've also started to receive Luna Novias by Rosa Clara which is Aire Barcelona's sister collection and sometimes more affordable depending on the dress. We also got another amazing Jane Wang gown this week! The details and construction in her gowns are some of the best that I've seen out there in the bridal industry!

Aria

We also got in a few budget conscious dresses by Aria, very simple, very elegant and sometimes with a mod twist. We've been adding gorgeous beaded belts or trim and they are completely transformed!

Aire Barcelona Kate

We have many trunk shows coming up the next couple of months starting with Aire Barcelona January 20th-22nd. We will have an AMAZING Aire version of Kate Middleton's dress here that weekend! Don't miss your chance to be a princess that weekend!

Riva

 We're also excited to jump into our 4th prom season for 2012. We will have fabulous gowns by Riva, Faviana and Mignon/LM Collection. We are also busy taking applications for our Prom Dressers where prom ladies can earn a FREE prom dress! See our website or store for details. Prom dresses will be out January 31st! Become a fan on Facebook of our The Prom Dress by Nicole page!

The New Collections Are Upon Us!

Amy Kuschel Sabrina style

We traveled to New York Bridal Week a few weeks ago and were able to see more of the 2012 collections that were not shown in Chicago.

Our first stop was to see Amy Kuschel's 2012 collection. As usual she did not disappoint! One of our favorites has to be the the lace, keyhole back gown "Pearl". She also unveiled her Sabrina gown with a brand new lace pattern. The lace has gorgeous ribbons sewn on top with amazing details and it's available with three different necklines! We can't wait to get the new dresses in store, and that should be around mid-February.

Amy Kuschel Pearl style

We also ordered some more fabulous LaRichi Couture gowns that we are excited to get in. One of which is a keyhole back with ballgown skirt! Their unique fabrics and amazing beadwork is exactly what our brides are looking for! This is a collection you have to see in person, they tend to not post their gowns on their website for fear of being copied. Makes sense, because they are truly special. You have to see these in person!

Luna Novias Irina

We stopped by the Rosa Clara and Aire Barcelona showroom and decided to pick up a new collection by Rosa Clara called Luna Novias. The designs are very similar to Aire Barcelona but they are more affordably priced so it's perfect for our brides that love Aire but are on a budget! We hope to get those in January/February just in time for our Luna Novias trunk show January 27th - 29th.

KITTYCHEN Charlotte

We also received our first 2012 KittyChen Couture style Charlotte! We are one of the first stores in the country to have this dress. Kitty shows it online in the antique blush color but ours is in the ivory. If you love Kitty Chen, you HAVE to see this one in person!

Aria 121FB

Check out the Aria Collection we just got in store. The simple but sophisticated gowns are perfect for the bride that doesn't want a lot of sparkle and they are also great for being a blank canvas for adding an amazing belt or accessories! They are priced $900-$1400 and are perfect if you are on a budget!

Aria 286FA

Prom is also around the corner! We are looking for Prom Dressers and are taking applications!!! Don't miss out and apply today!

The Busy Trunk Show Season Continues...

We are extending our Enzoani Gorgeous with Curves Trunk Show through this weekend, Sept 30th-Oct 2nd! So if you missed us last weekend you can still come to see the curvy gowns and enjoy 10% off ALL Enzoani orders regular and plus sizes.








One of our most anticipated events is also happening this weekend. We are hosting an Amy Kuschel Viewing Party. What is a viewing party? It's kind of like a mini trunk show, we're getting in a small sampling of styles that we usually don't have in the shop and offering 10% off all Amy Kuschel orders this weekend! You will also get a fashion sketch of your gown hand-signed by Amy Kuschel free with purchase! We're just about filled up for the weekend so make your appointment today!

Here Comes a Busy September...

We traveled to Atlanta last weekend for prom 2012 buying. Yes, I did say prom! Believe it or not those dresses will be here before we know it! We picked up a great collection by Riva Designs. They had gorgeous colors, amazing beading and unique prints! We saw a lot of prints like last year, but sequins are all the rage for 2012! Almost all the designers are showing some short dresses, but most of our Chicago area prom ladies want long gowns. There aren't too many times in your life where you get to wear a long dress like that! Stay tuned for updates as we get our prom dresses in January. Don't forget to sign up to become a Prom Dresser so you get first choice of the prom dresses for your school and the chance to earn a free prom dress!

We are super busy at The Dress by Nicole this September with a few events we are hosting. First of all we are closing early this Friday, September 2nd at 5pm and will be closed Saturday through Monday for Labor Day weekend. Our staff has done an amazing job this summer and we are giving them the weekend off to spend the holiday with their families.
We're going to come back refreshed and ready to go for our 3rd Annual Sample Sale September 9-17th. We're closing at 6pm on Thursday the 8th to set up the store and will open Friday at noon as usual. We have special Sunday hours on the 11th of 11-4pm and for the first time we are extending our sale through a second weekend of Saturday the 17th. We will have everything from wedding gowns, bridesmaids, moms, special occasion, jewelry, shoes and accessories 20-80% off in-stock items! Make your appointment early, we usually have a waiting list!

We are also hosting an Enzoani Gorgeous with Curves Trunk Show for the first time. This uniuqe trunk show is for the plus sized bride that is looking for an amazing dress but available to try on in her size. We will have a selection of Enzoani's best selling styles in sizes 16-24. A great opportunity for our curvy brides out there! Our brides that purchase an Enzoani dress this weekend will enjoy 10% off all ordrers but this does exclude Blue and Love orders. We'd love to have you, make your appointment today!

More Homecoming dresses are coming in Wheaton/Glen Ellyn area ladies!

Faviana 6819 this season in jersey fabric!

Faviana 6831

We got even more Homecoming 2011dresses in this week for our Wheaton/Glen Ellyn area ladies! Whether you are doing long or short, The Dress by Nicole has all your needs!










We can also finish your look with a fabulous matching purse, earrings, bracelets and necklaces. Shop early, we won't sell the same dress in the same color to the same school!

Blush 9277

Blush 9282

They're here...

The new fall and the beginning of 2012 dresses are coming in! We got in several Aire Barcelona gowns this week and we're so excited to see them on our brides! We love the soft ruffles and of course what they are known for...their incredible laces. Styles Pandora, Pergamo, and Polanco are the first to arrive.We also starting getting in our new B2, Belsoie, Jade and Jade Couture styles from Jasmine. A lot of great Jades this season. I had trouble choosing! We have K4478, K4482 and L4061 just to name a few so far.

B3113 Saison Blanche

We also received new Saison Blanche wedding, bridesmaids and special occasion gowns. I love the soft tulle wedding gown B3113! The beaded belt is gorgeous!

Our first Jane Wang style arrived today! It's her Bailey style. A beautiful lace gown lined with silk satin. I changed the neckline from straight across to a sweetheart and my favorite part is the true corset back with real grommets! These dresses are gorgeously constructed from the inside out and trimmed with the most beautiful delicate beadwork. You have to come by to see them!

Blush 9275

Blush 9279

Blush C046

Faviana 6330

Blush 9292

Also it's time for Homecoming again Wheaton ladies! We are getting in more 2012 Homecoming dresses everyday! Faviana, Blush Prom, and a few new designers we have in the mix this year. We hope to start having them out this weekend because we've had young ladies asking for them! Keep checking back with us through beginning of September for new styles!

2012 Collections Around the Corner!

The 2012 collections are almost ready to debut and we are so excited to see them! We are attending Enzoani's Fashion Event next week in LA and we can't wait to see their new prom collection called Love 16. I hope to post photos of the event next month. Also, we have started to get in some of the Fall 2011 Belsoie, B2, Jade and Jade Couture dresses! The Jades are just in time for our Jade Trunk Show August 26th-28th to give our customers even more choices. Make your appointment today, space is limited!

K4482 Jasmine Couture-Just arrived!

Aire Barcelona 2012

I was at market in New York last month and got to see some of the new and exciting 2012 collections. More specifically the Aire Barcelona 2012 Collection. This season all their styles start with the letter "P". We were able to snap a few photos of the new styles for a sneak peek for our brides. They were still showing a lot of ruffles, pleats, crinkle and texture for the new year. They also had their signature lace, but not as many because the cost of lace has gone up dramatically over the last year so they focused more on organzas, chiffons, and the hot new fabric gazar that is showing up on everyones runways and including Kate Middleton's royal wedding dress! 

We LOVED this Polanco style from Aire and can't wait for it to come in!

Another angle of Polanco

This was one of the lace A-line gowns that we loved!

  

Pandora with jacket

We hope to start getting the collection in July and have all of it by the end of August. We'd love to have you come in to see the new dresses this summer!

Prom Flashback

The ladies of The Dress by Nicole thought it would be fun to do a blog post about our proms. I know to some people reading this, we're not that old, but it is amazing how fast fashion trends can change from the style to the colors. Another thing we noticed was that some traditions were the same and some where different depending on what high school you went to. Most schools still use a garter, a tradition borrowed from weddings but is now mainly a keepsake from the big night. I found an interesting article about the history of garters.
I also found a great article on the history of proms. They evolved from the debutant balls with white dresses and long gloves and started in the 1800's but was more of a college event until the 1930's when it became a high school coming-of-age event.

Some schools do a "post prom" activity or after party. A lot of the schools around Wheaton do a party through the park district so all the kids are safe and stay out of trouble. What's great about it is, that it's actually "cool" to go to. They do a great job about making it fun for them!

Brittany on the left

Brittany on the left

Our first blast from the past is Brittany's prom at Waubonsie High School in the Aurora/Naperville area. Her proms were held at Drury Lane in Oak Brook.

Brittany second from the right

Danielle and her date

Next is Danielle's prom at Wheaton Academy that was held at the school. The theme is a surprise that the junior class puts together. Then they transform the cafeteria and the sophomores serve the dinner and clean up after the upper classmen! Then Danielle spent post prom at a friend's party.

Danielle is second from the right

Next is our newlywed, Kelly, at her prom when she lived in Las Vegas. They had it at a swanky country club in the area followed by fun on the Las Vegas strip! We all voted that Kelly must have had the ultimate prom!

Then we have Chrystl, our soon-to-be bride, at her Wheaton North prom in her poufy fuchsia ballgown! Her prom was held at The Abbington in Glen Ellyn.

Chrystl on the right

My junior prom

Senior year

Our "official" prom photo at the dance

Finally we have my prom! I went to Schaumburg High School and to both my junior and senior year proms.  My junior year prom I did a royal blue dress that I had my eye on as soon as we got it in at work (I worked in a bridal store...go figure). Prom was held at the Woodfield Hyatt across the street from the mall like it was ever year for Schaumburg. My senior prom I started shopping early, working in several bridal stores by this time, I knew the drill of special ordering already in my teens. Turns out I didn't have to order anything, I bought one off-the-rack downtown. You can't tell from the photos but it was actually a seafoam or mint green. Prom was moved that year because the Woodfield Hyatt had booked a wedding. So it was held at the O'Hare Hyatt. I was glad they did because it was fun to have it somewhere different and the O'Hare Hyatt was one of the hotels I liked for my wedding someday. I was always planning my wedding! Oh, and I still talk to my senior year prom date...I ended up marrying him :)

SNOWmageddon!

The great blizzard of 2011 hit us early this afternoon, and we decided to close early. We're also going to go ahead and call it a snow day tomorrow. Right now, we're planning on being open at the usual time on Thursday.

At 3:00 Tuesday the snow drift in our back yard was already 3 feet high!

Please contact us through our website if you need to get in touch with us during the severe weather. Be safe and warm everyone, and watch out for abominable snowmen!

The Ultimate Wedding Dress

Last week one of my brides casually mentioned that Princess Diana's wedding dress is on display in Grand Rapids, Michigan. WHAT?! I was shocked that it was so close and I hadn't heard anything about the exhibit in Chicago! I missed the opportunity to see it years ago in Florida, so I was really excited to hear it was nearby this time. Apparently the exhibit has been open since November.

Tickets are selling out fast because the exhibit is coming to a close around Valentine's Day. So I took a road trip this past weekend to view the gown. 

The exhibit is at the Grand Rapids Art Museum and it was well worth the trip! You can't take any photos inside but I was able to find a few images online. The first room featured the Spencer family history and jewels. Diamonds, rubies, emeralds and pearls in gorgeous antique brooches, necklaces, and earrings were scattered around the room. An amazing crown (pictured, sparkling away) is front and center greeting you when you walk in  ...stunning! They also had portraits and the entire family history including a huge family tree dating back to the 1300's.

The next room was Diana's childhood. They had home movies playing on a screen along with her personal articles like toys, school books, school papers, baby portraits etc...

The museum curators unpacking the dress when it arrived in November.

The next hallway featured her engagement at the young age of 19, with engagement photos and painted portraits. As I rounded the corner to the next room...there it was! THE dress!

It was in a grand security case that displayed the entire 25 foot train. They also had her shoes, a parasol and a flower girl dress. There are huge photos of the wedding day and a looping video of the wedding ceremony which was the most watched TV event in history, 750 million people! It may not be the prettiest wedding gown by today's standards (it was the 80's, after all) but the fact that it was hers is what makes it special. 

The next room's theme was her charity work. Featured were letters and hand written speeches she had given, along with video clips of her charity work.

You then walk into a dimly lit room where they had the largest screen of all playing clips of her funeral with the famous Elton John song. There were music sheets with Elton John's hand written notes detailing the changes he made to the lyrics. They also had Diana's brother's touching eulogy that he gave at her funeral enlarged and mounted on the wall. 

From that room you walked into a fabulous room filled with different outfits she had worn through the years. Famous suits, dresses and evening gowns with photos and the history behind each one...seeing these dresses was such a bonus! We thought we were just going to see the wedding gown!

They had a small gift shop as you made your way to the exit through the final hall where there were cases and shelves filled with books of condolences from all over the world. 

We also found out that Diana and Charles's wedding cake replica was on display at a nearby hotel so we ventured out to find it! The cake was a fruit cake with apples, grapes and other fruits topped with cream cheese frosting. You could get samples at the hotel restaurant but I decided to pass since I am chocolate lover. :) It was quite the exhibit and it was such a unique experience that I will always remember!