A Full Heart & A Full Closet…
Now what do I do with this super formal dress that I’ll never wear again?
You have a few options, and none of them involve the cliché “You can totally shorten it and wear it again!”. Which, sure, you can, but do you actually want to? Probably not since there’s now an abundance of photographic proof you’ve already worn that dress before.
Option 1: Sell it — This would be the ideal option, right? Recoup at least some of your money. This is easier said than done. A few months ago I posted three of my bridesmaid dresses on two separate sites, and as of writing this post, I have only sold one of them and received 1/3rd of the cost back. Considering the other options, I suppose I am grateful to have received anything back. Where you want to list your items for sale is up to you, as I said, I’ve only tried two places; Facebook Marketplace and Poshmark. The dress sold off Poshmark, and I made $55 on a $150 dress. Not entirely too shabby. I’ve linked below and article highlighting the top sites to list your dress on. I recommend posting pictures of you in it as opposed to just of the dress hanging on a hanger. Good luck!
Option 2: Donate It — There are many organizations around the country that will take used bridesmaids dresses to be resold or donated as prom dresses. There is also the ones you may be more familiar with; Goodwill, Savers, AMVETS, and so on. This is a great option around this time of year when Proms are in full swing. Below is an article with links to the Top 5 places to donate prom dresses, and most of them take bridesmaids dresses as well!
Option 3: Repurpose It — Time to get crafty! This option isn’t for everyone, but in the end, your dress is made of fabric and therefore is reusable. I’ve seen wedding dresses turned in to christening gowns, Christmas tree skirts, or even dyed to be re-worn, so the same can go for your bridesmaid dress. I’m looking in to a few of these projects myself for the gowns I still have that haven’t sold. I’ll let you know what I come up with, I have no idea how to sew.
And lastly, Option 4 — ball it up and throw it in the bottom of your closet for years to come! Now that the wedding is over, there’s no need to keep the dress pristine and wrinkle free. Put it in a tote filled with your old Beanie Babies. Hang it over the top of that treadmill you’ve resolved to use New Year after New Year. Out of sight, out of mind. Hell, if you tuck it away long enough, it will become your great-niece’s problem when she’s cleaning out your townhouse after you’re gone…
