A sheath wedding dress is fitted in the waist and falls straight to the floor below your hips, with a very minimal flare. This wedding dress shape is perfect for brides who want an effortless gown, since it requires less fabric and layering than other silhouettes (and is therefore very easy to move around in!). While you can find sheath wedding dresses with long trains, they're often designed without them. What this silhouette lacks in volume, it makes up for with its versatility—the sheath silhouette works well with nearly every type of fabric, from beaded materials to lace, satin, and stretch crepe. Sheath wedding dresses are a flattering option for hourglass figures, or slim and petite brides who don’t want to be overpowered by their gowns.
Brides only wear their dresses once, so they spend a premium on a dress that might be worn for a maximum of six to eight hours (from ceremony to reception). Buying a secondhand dress means you get a gown that is basically flawless for 50% or more off the original purchase price. You can look for wedding dresses in local online classifieds, or even in secondhand stores, such as consignment shops. However, the largest inventory can be found online.
The prices mean deep discounts. For example, Nearly Newlywed has featured a Vera Wang dress for $1,500 that was short wedding dresses originally purchased for $3,000. Just be sure to read all details carefully, since you’ll be purchasing the dress as-is. Look for one that has been professionally cleaned and stored (it should be boxed after cleaning, never hung in a closet to avoid deterioration, yellowing, and moths), so it’s perfect for its encore at your wedding.
If you’re not sure where to start when shopping online, head to a brick-and-mortar boutique to try on a few styles to see what you like. You can also take notes on your wedding dress size, which may be larger than your usual dress size.
You’ll definitely need to do some tailoring to make sure a secondhand dress fits you like it was made for you. Wedding dress alterations typically cost $50 to $150 for simple fixes, such as adding a bustle or bra cups to the dress, and between $150 and $300 for more involved short prom dresses alterations, such as adjusting hems and taking in sides. Wedding dress alterations are pricier than typical tailoring due to the fabric and skill required.
