Unique situation-Dress shop?

I need some unique dress shop advice.
I am really lucky to know someone in the gown industry and they have offered to make a custom gown for me for free!

However I have no idea what cut will look good on me & I want to try on a few. I feel really bad going into dress shops and wasting a sales person's time, so does anyone know of any shops in NY metro area that I will have little or no pressure from the sales people or even a help yourself place?

Jen, I went to Paradise Bridal in Patchogue and they have a great selection of gowns!! Just make an appt and they'll help you out.

I didn't feel pressured, tho that is where I bought my dress. If you tell them that you just started looking and you don't know what you like yet they'll make suggestions, I don't think they'll give you a hard time.

Btw, my sales associate was Donna and I highly recommend her, she's great!!

I happen to have the same luck as you do, and I too felt really bad about going to a shop and wasting someones time. that being said, I went to Kleinfelds, the mother of all bridal shop, b/c I new it would have a fantastic selection. Did I feel bad leading the lovely Barbara on a little-YES. But, in reality, they get so many brides in these places and are used to brides opting NOT to go with them, for whatever reason.

You are in a unique position- you have the possiblity to have a dress similar to one you otherwise may not have been able to afford. Don't sell yourself short by feeling bad- DREAM BIG! JMHO!

Good luck and happy shopping.

Speaking as someone who works in a salon. WHen you go, just try to go on a midweekday or night, the salons are usually slow and are for the most part happy to help someone to cure their boredom, no matter whether you buy or not. Just be sure to keep your list to a minimum. Try on each style, not just all different versions of the same style. No one will get annoyed unless you have an entourage pulling dresses from all over the place.

The reason weekends are bad, are because bridal consultants work on commission, so if you KNOW you will not be buying a dress, it's just not nice to take their time away from someone that they could possible make a sale with.

GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR ADVENTURE!