The Dress by Nicole

Exciting New Dresses Arriving!

2011-12-28T16:02:00.000-08:00

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!

2011-11-09T10:43:00.000-08:00

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...

2011-09-27T20:14:00.000-07:00

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...

2011-08-29T19:09:00.000-07:00

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!

2011-08-13T20:24:00.000-07:00


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...

2011-08-03T20:02:00.000-07:00

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!

2011-07-10T20:09:00.000-07:00

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

2011-05-18T11:49:00.000-07:00

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

2011-03-27T17:10:00.000-07:00

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!

2011-02-01T16:27:00.000-08:00

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

2011-02-01T16:23:00.000-08:00

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 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!

New 2011 Dresses!

2011-01-10T08:00:00.000-08:00

We are receiving more and more new dresses every week! We have a great new selection of Aire Barcelona, Enzoani and Amy Kuschel. We're excited with our upcoming trunk shows this spring starting the end of January with KittyChen Couture and three shows in February. Check out our website for our trunk show list and be sure to make your appointment early, they are booking fast! Our prom dresses will be out the second week in February but we are taking Prom Dresser applications now!

The Dress by Nicole is also receiving a lot of new accessories including hair jewelry, belts and beaded trims! Looking for the perfect shoe? We have a new collection of shoes that have peacock feathers, crystals, flower petals and can be dyed in almost any color. Stop by today and see our exciting new goodies!

It's Time for Prom!

2010-12-19T13:15:00.000-08:00

With the holidays quickly coming and going it will be prom season before we know it! As we did last year The Dress by Nicole is looking for young ladies that would like to become Prom Dressers for the 2011 season. There are all sorts of incentives for our Prom Dressers where they could potentially earn a free prom dress! Check out our website today for details and apply quickly! Only a few Prom Dressers can be chosen.

December Updates...

2010-12-04T21:11:00.000-08:00

November came and went so quickly! I knew it would because I was fortunate enough to get to go on vacation for a week to Disney World, and a week later it was Thanksgiving. Anytime I can combine my two favorite things (dresses and Disney) is always a great thing! At Disney Hollywood Studios they had the costume Dame Judi Dench wore in Shakespeare in Love. The details in this were amazing! Right behind the castle in the Magic Kingdom there was a newly renovated princess shop where they had Cinderella's and Princess Aurora's dresses on display. I was a Disney cast member in the past in the costume department and it's so exciting to see what my friends have been up to at the parks creating gorgeous dresses like these.

Being in Disney for a week definitely put us in the Christmas mood when we came home. Just in time to get ready for the holidays.

We were busy decorating our window for the annual Christmas Lights parade in downtown Wheaton the Friday after Thanksgiving and the Holiday Open House that took place today, despite the first snow of the winter, people still came out for the sleigh rides and see the downtown shops!

I had the chance to check out the I Do! Chicago Ties the Knot at the Chicago History Museum. This exhibit is only around until January 3rd and if you love weddings as much as I do you HAVE to see it. It's a really great set up for wedding gowns from the 1850's to present day and I loved how they tied a lot of the traditions and origins back to Marshall Fields. I truly recommend it for a girls afternoon downtown.

Tomorrow marks the end of our trunk show season with a collection from Saison Blanche. Every week now we are getting in our new 2011 dresses! We've been getting a lot in from Aire Barcelona and Enzoani the past two weeks. We're also been getting in bridesmaids, mom's and even prom! The prom dresses won't be out until February so that our Prom Dressers can get first choice before we put them out for the public. It's an exciting time of year when all the new gowns come in which means that the busy spring season is right around the corner.

It's the season for winter weddings and this time of year reminds me of how busy we were 4 years ago planning ours. Our anniversary is this Thursday, the 9th. I wish all our winter brides a beautiful winter wonderland wedding day!

Happy Halloween!

2010-10-29T16:56:00.000-07:00

Downtown Wheaton had their annual Trick-or-Treat Friday from 3-5pm. Our Boston Terrier, Stitch had to get in the action with his spider costume. All the kids and even mom and dad loved to see him dressed up! He was so excited to meet all the kids! We even had some little brides come through so they were thrilled to come inside the shop.

We're finishing up our Kitty Chen Trunk Show tomorrow Oct 30th with her brand new 2011 collection. We are the ONLY store and the first in
the nation to show the new line! Our next trunk show will be Nov 19-21st for LaRichi Couture and don't forget our special hours on Sunday the 21st noon to 4!

Bridal Market and Trends for 2011

2010-10-04T19:34:00.000-07:00

This weekend was bridal market for the new 2011 season. It's always exciting to see what the new styles and trends are coming up next. In wedding gowns, it's all about ruffles and layers. Mermaids and trumpets are still popular but I saw return of the full skirt or ballgown too! For accessories, everyone is showing feathers, flowers and Russian netting poufs or short bird cage veils! The biggest trend is BELTS! The more beaded the better! All different colors, widths and lengths! It's the perfect way to take that simple gown to the next level!
I got to see our friend, Kitty Chen, and her new 2011 collection that we will be the very first in the country to debut her new collection at our trunk show October 22-24th. The new collection has something for everyone and they are all gorgeous! While visiting LaRichi Couture I was lucky enough to meet the Mara the owner of Kleinfelds in NYC and her buyer Sandy. They actually spoke to me for a minute...very exciting! Hopefully we'll see some of our LaRichi Couture styles on Say Yes to the Dress on tv soon!

Another star sighting was that I got to meet Kathy Ireland! She is gorgeous in person and very nice. She chatted with us for a minute or two! Most of the new accessories we ordered should be in November/December and the wedding gowns will start arriving in December, January, and February. Don't miss our Hey Lady Shoes trunk show this weekend and see the new color options available as soon as January!

Time for Homecoming!!!

2010-09-14T19:40:00.000-07:00

We now have homecoming dresses! We have long and short, poufy and straight, prints and solids! Homecoming ladies are choosing a mix of styles and colors from Faviana, Blush and other great designers that we carry. Just remember we won't sell the same dress in the same color to the same dance! We also have a great new selection of jewelry. Have a fun and safe 2010 Homecoming ladies!!!

Wedding Weekend Recap!

2010-08-14T19:54:00.000-07:00

It was a wonderful whirlwind last weekend for Kelly and Christopher. It was a perfect day on Saturday and Kelly looked gorgeous as her dad walked her down the aisle. The elegant reception was complete with great food, signature cocktails and right next to the filming of Transformers 3!

The bride wore an amazing lace dress by Enzoani and a hand embroidered monogrammed veil and dress bodice panel by Kristina Eaton. Kelly chose a mix of perfect pink dresses by B2 and Belsoie. I wore a Belsoie one-shoulder style L3001. We had a great time and we wish the new couple a lifetime of happiness!


Shia Labeouf and Bumblebee during the filming of Transformers 3 right outside cocktail hour!

Very Busy Wedding Weekend!!!

2010-08-02T06:35:00.000-07:00

Happy wedding week to our brides Alana M, Alisha B, Lissette I, Jenna and Kelly!!!! We wish you all a beautiful and perfect wedding day!

Jenna and Kelly are both from The Dress by Nicole's family and we couldn't be more excited for them! Jenna has had plenty of practice "being the bride" in our fashion shows and other events that we have participated in. Jenna and fiance Sam are getting married in the Wheaton area and she is absolutely stunning in her dress and her fabulous accessories!

The other wedding in our "family" this week is Kelly and her fiance Christopher. Kelly is one of my best friends and we have been waiting just over a year for her wedding, although Kelly and I have been planning it for years! Kelly has worked so hard making sure every detail is taken care of for her big day and I'm sure it will be amazing. I am a bridesmaid in her wedding and cannot wait for the festivities to begin! Kelly will truly look like a princess in her fabulous gown! It is very very "Kelly" :)

I want to wish all our brides this weekend a wonderful day! Enjoy every minute of it, it goes by so very fast!

We have an engagement in the house!!!!

2010-07-06T10:59:00.000-07:00

Over the 4th of July our very own Chrystl and her boyfriend, Nick, got engaged! We are so excited for you to and wish you both the best! Chrystl will make a gorgeous bride next year!

Wedding Weekend!

2010-05-24T09:53:00.000-07:00

I can't help myself but post a few photos from my friend Angie's wedding this past weekend. She designed her dress and it was one heck of a dress!!! I wore a Blush Prom dress 9025 and my other friend Kelly wore a chic dress from Nordstrom. It was a perfect day with the sun shining, beautiful flowers and modern reception. We were so excited to be included in Angie and Tommy's day. Congratulations you guys!

Happy Wedding Week!!!

2010-05-02T13:41:00.001-07:00

Happy wedding week to our brides Debbie K. and Jessica P. I can't wait to see photos ladies!!!! Enjoy your week :)

Prom Dress Sale!

2010-04-27T15:50:00.000-07:00

All in-stock prom dresses are 25% during the month of May! There is still a great selection of gowns so don't miss your chance to save! Also happy wedding week to one of our favorite brides Megan L!!! We wish you a beautiful day!

Toilet Paper Wedding Dress?

2010-04-13T05:32:00.000-07:00

The annual Toilet Paper Wedding Gown contest took place recently check out the article and more photos...

Prom...they're going fast!

2010-03-28T20:57:00.000-07:00

We are in the middle of prom season now and dresses are beginning to sell out at our designer's headquarters! So it's time to stop in an shop for prom if you're lucky enough to go to prom this year! I sure wish I could again! There is still time to order some of our gowns depending on when prom is too so don't panic yet! This has been one of my favorites this season...

Kitty Chen Couture Trunk Show

2010-03-07T19:44:00.000-08:00

This Friday, Saturday, and Sunday we are hosting a Kitty Chen Trunk Show. We are excited to offer 10% to our brides that purhcase any Kitty Chen dress this weekend. This is a great chance to see almost ALL of Kitty's designs! Make your appointment today, we only have a few spaces left!

Nicole and Kitty, October 2009

Bridesmaids Dresses are Here!

2010-02-23T20:16:00.000-08:00

We almost have all of our 2010 bridesmaid dresses from Saison Blanche, Love, Belsoie and B2! We finally have L3001 by Belsoie and it's gorgeous! We also got in B3045, it's super cute with pockets! Perfect for any bridesmaid looking to hide her tissues :)

Prom is here!

2010-02-09T06:50:00.000-08:00

As of today our prom dresses are out for viewing! I think I have found a great variety of dresses this year that are all very unique! We have super poufy tulle princess dresses in fun colors and wild funky prints with gorgeous beading. We also have The Prom Dressers out in the schools passing out coupons for free garters and tote bags with the purchase of a prom dress so keep an eye out for one at your school! We will be updating our prom Facebook page often with new dresses, more store hours and promotions so become a fan today! We will not sell the same dress in the same color to the same dance! Stop by today or make your appointment to insure a fitting room, as space is limited!

We Made It....1 Year!

2010-02-04T07:15:00.000-08:00

Friday, February 5th is The Dress by Nicole's 1 year anniversary. The time has flown by! The community of Wheaton has been so supportive of us and seem to love having a local place to shop for bridal, bridesmaid, mother of the wedding, prom, homecoming, turnabout or even a great casual dress for a fun party! It has taken a lot of work from family and friends to get us here and I thank everyone for their help! I'd also like to especially thank my husband, Brad, who spends countless hours updating our website, working on other marketing projects that keeps our customers coming in and hundreds of other little projects! I'd also like to thank my parents for all their countless hours of help and support. We are excited for year 2 and can't wait to see what it brings! We've gotten in most, not all, of our new 2010 dresses and our prom collections will be out February 9th be sure to stop by soon. Here's to another great year! Thank you everyone!

Wedding Cake...Yum!

2010-01-20T19:13:00.000-08:00

Check out this wedding dress! My husband found this great article!

Aire Barcelona Trunk Show at The Dress by Nicole

2010-01-17T08:59:00.000-08:00

Don't miss this chance to see the gorgeous Aire Barcelona 2010 collection! We were very lucky to receive the trunk show gowns a week early so we will have them between now and Sunday. So if you can't make the trunk show this weekend, be sure to come by during the week to see the gowns! This year's collection is a fabulous mix of vintage lace, modern textures, spanish ruffles, pleating and ruching details. We only have a few appointments left for this weekend so hurry and make yours today!

Happy New Year!

2009-12-31T21:56:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year everyone! The new year means we are approaching prom season believe it or not! Check out The Prom Dress by Nicole page on Facebook and become a fan. Check back often for updates on the latest styles we will be receiving January and February.

New Veil Collection

2009-12-17T07:25:00.000-08:00

We are excited to receive our new specialty veil collection by Kristina Eaton. These are the gorgeous veils you've seen in the bridal magazines with monogramming available! She also makes ones without the monogramming and with the most beautiful embroidery you've ever seen! These caught my attention and I am very excited to finally have them to show my brides! They're the perfect finishing touch for your wedding day look!

Our Anniversary is Today!

2009-12-09T15:13:00.000-08:00

Today is my wedding anniversary! Three years goes by so fast and so much has changed! At least the weather on our day was 32 degrees and sunny with a foot of snow on the ground unlike today :)

Holiday Parade

2009-11-29T08:05:00.000-08:00

The Holiday Parade Friday night was a huge success! Kids were able to meet characters from their favorite movies like Belle (of course), Buzz, Woody, Cookie Monster and Tinkerbell! It was a little chilly but the crowd didn't seem to mind with a huge turn out! Little girls were running up to Belle to give her a hug as we made our way down Front St. We also got a quite a few that wanted to pet Santa Stitch! Afterward, the kids made their way back to the shop where they could take photos with Belle and got free holiday stickers!

Downtown Wheaton hosts a Dickens Christmas on Saturdays between now and December 19th with carriage rides, Christmas music filling the downtown air, and a chance to meet Santa! This Saturday, December 5th, downtown Wheaton is having a Holiday Open House with the shops and businesses with great deals, holiday treats and much more! We will have our wedding anniversary sale starting Saturday, the 5th through Friday, the 11th. Everything in-stock is 20% off! Jewelry, shoes, off-the-rack dresses, accessories...everything! Excludes special orders. We hope to see you stop by and help celebrate the holidays with us!

Thanksgiving and Holiday Parade

2009-11-20T07:15:00.000-08:00

After a long day of shopping on Black Friday, take some time to have fun in downtown Wheaton at the Holiday Parade or a carriage ride for Wheaton's Dickens Christmas. Watch for our friend, Belle, from Beauty and the Beast and Santa Stitch, our Boston in the parade! Afterwards, stop by The Dress to meet them in person. We will be open 12-8.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Carmela Sutera Trunk Show

2009-11-10T15:45:00.000-08:00

Don't miss our last trunk show of 2009 to view Carmela Sutera's gorgeous couture gowns! All orders taken will enjoy 10% off. Make your appointment today!

Holiday Dresses

2009-11-05T17:29:00.000-08:00

Holiday dresses are arriving! Stop by to see our new selection perfect for Christmas parties, New Year's or any other holiday event. Plaid is the hot fabric this season with cranberry or silver highlights. Glitz and glitter are always in style for this time of year. Don't forget to keep cozy and warm with a faux fur wrap to top off your ensemble with a fabulous brooch. We had a great night at Danada House Tuesday night where our girls modeled some of these new fashions. The event was a huge success and thank you to everyone that attended!

Happy Halloween

2009-10-30T08:17:00.000-07:00

Stop by The Dress by Nicole to see our Halloween window display! Even though it's Halloween, believe it or not Christmas and the holidays are right around the corner. We are participating in a Holiday Preview at Danada House Tuesday, November 3rd along with our fellow Wheaton businesses. Come out and support your favorite local business and see our fashion show of fabulous holiday dresses, get decorating ideas, sample some delicious hors d'oeuvres and wine! Hope to see you there!

New York

2009-10-20T08:47:00.000-07:00

First of all, we would love to congratulate our very special bride Sarah S. that is getting married this weekend! We wish her and her fiance a beautiful, perfect autumn day!

I was in New York this weekend at bridal market for spring 2010. One of the most exciting things is that we saw the Say Yes to the Dress cast from Kleinfield's shopping! Randy and Mara where right in front of us! Very exciting! We snuck a photo so we didn't look like we were stalking them :) Look for more posts about our trip in the coming weeks!

Kitty Chen Couture Trunk Show

2009-10-12T15:56:00.000-07:00

Kitty Chen Trunk Show...don't miss your chance to see the new 2010 Kitty Chen Couture collection October 23, 24 and special Sunday hours on the 25th! I was able to see the 2010 collection last weekend at market and snapped a photo with Kitty. We will also be showing part of her 2008 and 2009 collections. All orders place that weekend will enjoy 10% off for Kitty's gowns. Appointments are going fast, make yours today!

Downtown Wheaton is a happening place!

2009-09-30T11:16:00.000-07:00

Downtown Wheaton was chosen for an insurance commercial shoot yesterday right in front of our store! It's a national commercial so if you look closely in a few months you might see The Dress by Nicole in the background! It's the closest thing to L.A. movie making we've had around here!

Janet Nelson Kumar Trunk Show and Amy Kuschel Bride Preview

2009-09-20T16:25:00.000-07:00

Last chance to make your appointment for the upcoming trunk shows this weekend! Order your Janet Nelson Kumar gown and receive 15% off or order your Amy Kuschel (pictured) wedding gown and enjoy 10% off and a signed sketch of your gown from Amy Kuschel! We have special Sunday hours from 12-4. We also have a some of the gowns left from our sample sale until September 30th. Don't miss this chance to save on designer gowns such as Birnbaum & Bullock, Kitty Chen Couture and Aire Barcelona and many more!

More homecoming dresses in Wheaton and Congrats to our brides this coming weekend!

2009-09-14T19:49:00.000-07:00

We received our newest addition to our short cocktail dresses...check out Alexia Admor's collection!

Also, congratulations to two of our brides that found The Dress for their wedding day. We wish Jen C. the perfect fairytale wedding she has always wanted, and Melissa G. the elegant affair she very much deserves! Congrats ladies! We can't wait to see photos :)

Homecoming

2009-09-07T20:26:00.000-07:00

We are getting more and more homecoming dresses in everyday! Just like prom, we keep track of what dresses we sell to which schools so you won't be caught with the same dress as everyone else! Stop in today to see them!

Homecoming and Prom!!!

2009-08-25T19:03:00.000-07:00

We were busy this past weekend in Atlanta at market buying some last minute homecoming and prom 2010. We tried some southern home cooking at Aunt Pitty Pat's Porch that pays tribute to my favorite movie, Gone With the Wind.

We also ventured out to a great tapas/Italian restaurant in an up and coming area of Atlanta called Lola. Our hotel room overlooked Centennial Park where the 1996 Olympics were held.

We will have the bulk of our homecoming dresses in the first and second week of September. We picked up some great new collections for prom and will start getting them in late December and January. Stop by if you are near Wheaton to see the new collections!

Janet Nelson Kumar

2009-08-18T18:05:00.000-07:00

We got a new photo from Janet Nelson Kumar's Petal style today for and it's beautiful! We are having a trunk show in late September along with a preview of Amy Kuschel Collection that we will start carrying in early 2010.

Congratulations Kelly!

2009-08-06T17:52:00.000-07:00

This should have been posted weeks ago, but I wanted to officially congratulate our Kelly (and one of my very best friends :) on her engagement to her fiance Christopher back in June. They are planning for an August 2010 wedding in downtown Chicago. You'll find Kelly in the shop mostly on Saturdays, so stop in to congratulate her! I've also been lucky enough to have been asked to be a bridesmaid in the wedding. We'll keep you posted on wedding details over the next year! So stayed tuned!

Happy Anniversary!

2009-08-05T19:49:00.000-07:00

Today is The Dress by Nicole's 6 month anniversary! We thank all of our customers, friends and family that have helped us get off the ground these first few months and we look forward to many more milestones!
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

Wedding Weekend...

2009-08-03T07:09:00.000-07:00

August 1st I was a bridesmaid in my cousin's wedding. I wore Belsoie style L1069 in teal and the mother of the bride wore Giovanna style G100 in black and the mother of the groom wore Giovanna style G126 in heliotrope. We wish the new couple well!
Also our very first bride, Gina, is getting married this Friday, August 7th! We are very excited for her and wish her and Dino the very best!

Closed Dates/Sidewalk Sale

2009-07-08T19:59:00.000-07:00

We will be closed Tues & Wed July 21 & 22. We will reopen on Thursday 23rd-25th for the downtown Wheaton Sidewalk Sale. Join us to scoop up great summer deals on special occasion gowns, jewelry, accessories and shoes! We're having the biggest shoe sale to make way for new styles. Deals are up to 60% off. Maybe our Boston will stop by! See you then!

4th of July

2009-06-26T07:29:00.000-07:00

We will be closing at 5pm on Friday July 3rd and will be closed Saturday, July 4th. Happy 4th of July!

The Bachelorette

2009-06-16T18:53:00.001-07:00

The Bachelorette had one of our dresses on last night, Love by Enzoani A3. This dress is great as a bridesmaid, mother of the wedding or as an evening gown.

Hey Lady Shoes

2009-06-14T18:35:00.000-07:00

We are lucky enough to carry a beautiful collection of shoes called Hey Lady Shoes. The are very comfortable and made from 100% silk and leather. They are perfect for the bride looking for a special shoe! You are sure to spend the night dancing away!

Enzoani

2009-06-01T11:00:00.001-07:00

Blue by Enzoani wedding gowns and Love gowns have arrived! They are gorgeous! I wore Love dress style A21 to a military ball last week in the lavender color. If you are looking for something unique and love bling, these are your dresses!

Vacation

2009-05-14T17:49:00.000-07:00

We will be closed from Sunday May 17th through Memorial Day Monday and reopen Tuesday for our regular business hours. If you need to contact us during that time please do so through our website www.shopthedress.com

Aire Barcelona

2009-04-19T08:07:00.000-07:00

May 8th-10th we are hosting an Aire Barcelona trunk show. We have been booking appointments for this event for months so space is limited! We will be posting the style list in the new few weeks. At the same time we are having a Spring Sale where we will be featuring select dresses and accessories 20% off. Call us to make your appointment today and don't miss your chance to see these gorgeous gowns!

Kitty Chen Couture Trunk Show Extended

2009-03-30T17:23:00.000-07:00

Due to a great response Kitty Chen has agreed to let us extend her trunk show for another weekend. Don't miss your last chance to see almost her entire collection!

Kitty Chen Couture Trunk Show

2009-03-25T05:33:00.000-07:00

This weekend we are hosting a Kitty Chen Couture trunk show. During this Friday and Saturday only we are offering 10% off any Kitty Chen gown. Don't miss this rare opportunity to view almost her entire collection such as her Brier Rose, Precious and Renaissance styles. Hurry and call today appointment times are going fast!

Prom Fashion Show

2009-03-22T15:09:00.000-07:00

The Dress by Nicole's gorgeous prom dresses will be modeled by Wheaton Warrenville South High School students for their annual prom fashion show this Wednesday, March 25th at 7:30pm. They will be wearing gowns from our Faviana and Envi Prom collections. All money raised from ticket sales will be donated to World Vision charity. Come out and show your support tickets are only $5!

Birnbaum & Bullock

2009-03-20T06:38:00.000-07:00

We are hosting a Steven Birnbaum and Robert Bullock Bride trunk show this weekend. We are offering 10% off any of their gowns, including their couture line Birnbaum & Bullock! This is a great opportunity to own their elegant, fashion forward designs at a great price! Call for your appointment today!

Summer Dresses!

2009-03-19T06:08:00.000-07:00

We are starting to receive summer dresses for all your special events. They are perfect for graduations, showers or to wear to a summer wedding and most are under $100! Stop by today to see our selection!

Communion Dresses

2009-03-11T10:00:00.001-07:00

The Dress by Nicole offers communion dresses for girls! We carry The Ladybug Collection and their gowns come in a variety of colors and custom change options. We also have headbands, veils, shoes and jewelry for every 1st Communion girls needs!

Isabella Margianu Trunk Show

2009-03-11T09:53:00.000-07:00

Isabella is sending us a great variety of her gowns. They are gorgeous in person and the photos on her website do not do them justice! We are offering 10% off any of her gowns this weekend! She uses luxurious silk fabrics without hefty the price tag! She will customize just about anything just for you! Make your appointment today to view her incredible gowns!

Amsale Bridesmaids

2009-03-03T11:10:00.000-08:00

We are hosting an Amsale bridesmaids trunk show this weekend and I will have 60 additional dresses to choose from! We will also offer 10% off your Amsale purchased this weekend only! Make your appointment today or check out our website at www.shopthedress.com

Envi Prom

2009-02-17T19:32:00.000-08:00

Be sure to make your appointment early for our Envi Prom trunk show this weekend where we will offer 10% all Envi prom gowns purchased or ordered. Don't forget we carry shoes, jewelry and garters to complete your prom look!