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Another Retailer Gets Hitched

Apr 26, 2010

Several years ago, J.Crew shocked the retail world when it announced that it would sell mid-priced wedding dresses.  Very few thought that the mall shop known for preppy polos and proper pinstripe suits would survive in the bridal world.  But J.Crew’s line of affordable, relaxed bridal gowns thrives with each new collection.  

Thanks for J.Crew’s success, many other retailer started marketing bridal gowns and bridesmaids dresses to fit America’s expanding taste for casual wedding attire.  And know, it appears that Urban Outfitters and Anthropologie will be launching their own bridal line this year.

“People shop atFree People and Anthropologie for bridesmaid dresses.” 

Bridal dresses, which Senk said will be “heirloom quality” and retail for $1,000-$5,000, are expected to be designed by the Anthropologie team, as well as guest designers. 

I know that some of you ladies are bound to be excited by this announcement, but I’m not.  I’ve grown tired of retailers trying to expand their footprint because it almost leads to a decrease in the attention paid to the things that made you love them in the first place.  

I think J.Crew’s quality and attention to detail have faded over the last few years.  Their cashmere, which was once a staple, is so cheaply made now that I never buy it anymore.  They sell expensive Italian luggage, Timex watches and Essie nail polish, but last week, the sleeve came off of a t-shirt that had been launderer twice.  And to me, it seems like the introduction of the bridal line and the slide into mediocrity occurred about the same time.  

I love Anthropologie, but I really hope that this bridal line creates a situation where so much energy is being channeled into the bridal attire that the regular clothes lose their spark.

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  1. Bianca says:

    J Crew also stopped selling their own wellies and now sell a different brands, which are not as cute as the ones they used to make. I am just glad I got two pairs before they stopped!

    I will say though that Ann Taylor started a celebrations line and I have had bridesmaid dresses from them, and the wedding dresses look nice. My bridesmaid dress held up really well until i was dancing too much and caught my heel on the slip…but other than that it was good…so maybe there is hope for anthropology.

  2. Bianca says:

    J Crew also stopped selling their own wellies and now sell a different brands, which are not as cute as the ones they used to make. I am just glad I got two pairs before they stopped!

    I will say though that Ann Taylor started a celebrations line and I have had bridesmaid dresses from them, and the wedding dresses look nice. My bridesmaid dress held up really well until i was dancing too much and caught my heel on the slip…but other than that it was good…so maybe there is hope for anthropology.

  3. Once a Bride says:

    Ditto, but with a different tack – I looked at J. Crew wedding dresses, but they were so ho-hum; the cuts and detail were no different than the casual clothing, and nothing about the dress said heirloom.

  4. Rory says:

    I have worn an Anthropologie dress as a bridesmaid twice, and I know both brides would have worn an Anthropologie wedding dress had there been an option.

    Anthropologie’s quality is already heading downhill. I bought a purse there three weeks ago, and found parts of the purse that should have been sewn hadn’t been, and probably five giant wads of thread from where it looks like the sewing machine lost its tension. I probably should have taken it back, but I’m lazy when it comes to stuff like that so I just fixed it up.

    I read that article you included. That white dress they show from Free People can probably be found at any Target or Charlotte Russe for under $40.

  5. Bianca says:

    J Crew also stopped selling their own wellies and now sell a different brands, which are not as cute as the ones they used to make. I am just glad I got two pairs before they stopped!

    I will say though that Ann Taylor started a celebrations line and I have had bridesmaid dresses from them, and the wedding dresses look nice. My bridesmaid dress held up really well until i was dancing too much and caught my heel on the slip…but other than that it was good…so maybe there is hope for anthropology.

  6. MAA says:

    The quality of clothing at J.Crew has really fallen. Evem their displayed clothing looks wrinkled and cheap before it’s even worn.

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