Recently, I just posted some information about
White House Black Market opening their doors to the bridal industry. Don't get me wrong, to a certain degree, they have always been "in" the bridal industry, because they were the perfect place to go to get a dress for ATTENDING a wedding. But, now, they have opened their doors to the bridal party AND even the bride (as you see a pic in the post below).
JCrew has been doing it for awhile too. They offer some beautiful colors in bridesmaid gowns and some great options for the bride.
Is this becoming a trend in the marketplace? As the economy changes, are mass retailers trying to broaden their services to cover more markets and industries? Hmmm......
As a consumer, what do you think? Obviously, we know the answer from the bridal specialty stores. I'm sure they are less than thrilled that mass retailers are encrouching on "their space".
But, let me ask the question again.....as a consumer, what do you think?
Personally, it's a tough call and it really is going to come down to the individual. I loved the "thrill" of going into a store filled with white/ivory gowns to try and on....tons and tons of gowns. It was like a candy store to me! But, along with that, comes sizing, pricing, and ordering restrictions...and, typically, having to follow a pretty strict timeline, which increases the pressure of making a decision.
So, maybe, the mass retailer option is beneficial....try it on when you want, order when you want, and even return it when you want. I think mass retailers provides beautiful options for the beach wedding, backyard shin-dig, second marriage, or even the renewal of vows.
Whatever the reason, there are multiple options in this world...so, if you are a bride-to-be, there are a multitude of options....you are bound to find something that is perfect for you and your event!
