Christos on the cheap

I bought a Christos gown at a sample sale at the designer's studio in midtown/garment district.

I think I bought it in the fall and they were selling the Spring 2005 collection. Sizes ranged from 6 to 10ish and were in great condition. Find out when the next one is and go EARLY! They took an appt. The sale was for 2 days and I got in early the 2nd day. Still plenty of dresses but I get sad thinking of how MANY MORE they must have had.

They make at least 50 samples per season and about 25 of them become designs to be manufactured and the others they sale, one of a kind never to be produced. I got one of the later and I know it would have been sold for $THOUSANDS with all its detail, but the sample prices ranged from $100...to $500 mostly and I think some were a bit more.

Call the designer's office in Manhattan they will tell you when the next one is. They were very nice and with an appt. it was only me and one or two girls at a time picking from all the dresses!!!

I bought my Christos from Bridal Reflections, Adrianna and I actually had the same dress I was only able to hagle them down 250 bucks off the retail price.

I bought my dress the 1st time out shopping though

try thesebride couture gownsource

Didn't use either but had them saved on my computer

are you looking for a particular gown?

there's a bridal sample shop of the gown company in NYC and when i went to try on dresses, they had a couple of christos samples.http://www.thegowncompany.com

Also, an online and real-life store called BridePower in Newton, MA that has gowns from Christos as well as just about every other major designer for reduced cost. However, many or all are used or samples and can vary in condition. They show a lot of photos of each gown so you can judge for yourself, better yet do what I did and send a friend to Newton or go yourself (it's just outside Boston).

I didn't buy there cuz I got nervous not trying on the gown even though my friend did and it needed some repair....but if there is a gown you'd die for on there, the return policy says you're only responsible for shipping it back and forth if you don't like it.

www.bridepower.com

there IS a particular dress that I like, but I haven't tried on any yet. I am going to a Kleinfeld's sample sale Sunday, which will be my first day looking.

I do like the idea of going to his studio though. I am thinking that a sample sale there may be even cheaper than the one in Kleinfelds...and hey if I can get a designer dress for a budget price, why not....

I am also going up to Boston in May....perhaps if I'm still looking, I'll check that store out!

Thanks Ladies!