Did TRR Just Become My Fashion Guardian Angel For Wedding Weekend?
I risked it for the biscuit, and now I'm eating well (sartorially speaking) for wedding weekend.
I come to you today with some very exciting outfit updates on the wedding front. The Fashion Gods from On High — aka, from TRR (for the uninitiated, that’s The RealReal, a secondhand designer resale site) have delivered me an after-party bridal look that will send me swinging across the dance floor in all my sequined glory.
The timing feels especially prescient, coming hot on the heels of TRR’s buzzy arrival to Substack (the newsletter platform you’re reading right this very second!) as The RealGirl. For those not chronically online (good for you!), TRR’s The RealGirl is written from the vantage point of an anonymous fashion-obsessed character, who covers trending looks worth shopping secondhand. (I loved how Rachel Karten of Link In Bio described The RealGirl’s first-person writing voice as “a mix of DKNY PR girl and Gossip Girl.” Spot on!)
Though corporate brands showing up to the party here (or anywhere) can sometimes signify the end of a moment, the marketing girlie in me can’t help but cheer on this example of branding done right. Also, TRR, call me if you need a ghost writer ;)
But back to our scheduled programming! Readers who have been here a little while (thank you, love you!) may recall a previous post of mine, where I waxed poetic about my dream wedding-weekend looks. One of the style MVPs, I mused, would definitely be the after-party dress.
What’s All This About An After-Party Outfit Change?
For anyone unfamiliar with the contemporary bridal practice, it’s practically commonplace* now for brides to swap their gowns (post-speeches, pre-bedtime) for something more dance floor-ready.
*To each their own, though! One of my bridesmaids, lifelong bestie, and former bride herself, Lisa, told me she skipped the outfit change because, “You only get one night to wear your wedding dress!” True, but as a consummate fashion lover, who am I to turn down an opportunity to sport more on-theme looks?
The Search For The Magical Mini Begins
Well! Once I published that post about planning my outfits, helpful texts flooded in from watchful friends, flagging retro pieces that might fit the bill. Personally, I set a saved search on TRR for “white minidress,” and made a nightly habit of saving new “Obsessions” (what TRR calls your ‘hearted’ or ‘liked’ items).
Meanwhile, my sister (and Matron of Honor!) Carly surprised me with an appointment at one of the city’s best vintage bridal boutiques, Happy Isles. We had an amazing time shopping the racks together with the kind Happy Isles team — I told them of my mission to land a white sparkly minidress, but when few were in inventory, I allowed myself to deviate slightly from the initial plan.
Trying On Vintage Frocks at Happy Isles: Are You My After-Party Dress?
There, I tried on a pink ‘60s shift giving major Cher vibes (plus, I thought, how cute would it be with a mini pink veil and matching gloves?). A white spaghetti strap beaded Blumarine minidress from the early aughts was next, followed by a dreamsicle-hued dress with sheer sleeves (Carly’s fave), and even a blue floor-length sequined gown that was positively mermaid-esque. Still, they didn’t quite scratch that itch. (They also all would have required tailoring, which — with their delicate fabric and extensive detailing — could dramatically raise costs.)
I left the vintage bridal salon empty-handed but determined, knowing I’d recognize my dream-girl dress when I saw her.
All The While, My Saved TRR Search Was Populating Matches
My nightly TRR scrolling had taken on the energy of a hit-or-miss thrifting trip. Because you never know what a new shopping session will uncover, I’d look a little bit every day (versus at the last minute when the need is dire). On a side note: I also liked seeing which of my ‘hearted’ items sold and which sat stagnant on the site. It made me feel like I was taking a crash course in clothing resale — leading to my better understanding of which items were worth sitting on to see if the price dropped, versus snapping up immediately.
Then one fateful evening, as I settled into my usual spot on the couch to passively scroll, there she was! The Alexis sequined dress. I couldn’t believe my eyes. Front and back sequins, beading that would move with me. And in white, too? And under BUDGET?! I hastily scanned the product description section. TRR rates the condition of garments on one of six levels: “As Is,” “Fair,” “Good,” “Very Good,” “Excellent,” and “Pristine.” Guess which one this was?
Drumroll, Please!
I like to cross my t’s and dot my i’s as long as my shopping sleeves are rolled up, so after adding to cart (you get 20 minutes before ‘in the cart’ styles are released back into the wild), I checked out my saved shoe search.
Wouldn’t you know it, but there was a pair of white Prada sandals was winking up at me. I never owned Prada shoes (okay, Prada anything) before, but these were the correct size, not deathly high, and speckled with pink gemstones. I couldn’t find a more “Elly” bridal heel if I tried.
Not usually one to impulse buy, I texted Lisa and asked her if I was being crazy. “No you need those!!!” she texted back, and my fate was sealed.
When the styles arrived together in their white garment bag and dust bag, I couldn’t wait to try them on. I’ll spare you the chaotic mirror photos, but the headline is: EVERYTHING FITS! I danced around in front of my mirror for a while, feeling the substantial weight of the beads and sequins as they swooshed satisfyingly. Guess we can check ‘after-party outfit’ off the list! Now to see about some elbow-length gloves…
Don’t you just love a shopping success story?
Yours in playing the waiting game (and the impulse-buy game, oops!),
Elly xx
Looooooove it!!!!
It’s awesome and you had me at sequined glory!