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Filene's Basement's famous wedding gown sale hits D.C.
31 Jul '08
2 min read
It's shopping as a full-contact sport, and the women who take part in the "Running of the Brides" at Filene's Basement in Washington, D.C. wouldn't have it any other way.
The latest bargain stampede takes place this Friday, August 1st, at the retailer's Mazza Gallerie store.
When the doors open at 8:00 am many brides-to-be and their helpers will literally pounce on dresses priced from $249 - $699 that might otherwise cost as much as $9,000.
"We promise our vendors that we won't reveal the labels, but I can say that these are well-known names featured regularly on the pages of popular brides' magazines," said Anna Podore, Filene's Basement's wedding gown buyer.
Which is why, when the doors open, there is a mad dash to the racks held up by store employees so they don't topple and those racks are usually stripped bare in under a minute.
Then it's time for the women to strip down to leotards, sports bras or even underwear to try on the gowns right on the sales floor.
If it doesn't quite fit, a seamstress can do the trick, and the bride can still come out way ahead.
But what happens if a petite bride found she pounced on a size 14 dress in pink chiffon instead of a size 4 in white satin? That's when the real fun begins, as the women start bartering to find the right designer or size. It's a ritual that turns Filene's Basement into an old-fashioned bazaar.
Filene's Basement is located at Mazza Gallerie, 5300 Wisconsin Avenue N.W. Sale hours are 8:00 am to 9:00 pm. Checks, credit cards and cash are accepted.
The latest bargain stampede takes place this Friday, August 1st, at the retailer's Mazza Gallerie store.
When the doors open at 8:00 am many brides-to-be and their helpers will literally pounce on dresses priced from $249 - $699 that might otherwise cost as much as $9,000.
"We promise our vendors that we won't reveal the labels, but I can say that these are well-known names featured regularly on the pages of popular brides' magazines," said Anna Podore, Filene's Basement's wedding gown buyer.
Which is why, when the doors open, there is a mad dash to the racks held up by store employees so they don't topple and those racks are usually stripped bare in under a minute.
Then it's time for the women to strip down to leotards, sports bras or even underwear to try on the gowns right on the sales floor.
If it doesn't quite fit, a seamstress can do the trick, and the bride can still come out way ahead.
But what happens if a petite bride found she pounced on a size 14 dress in pink chiffon instead of a size 4 in white satin? That's when the real fun begins, as the women start bartering to find the right designer or size. It's a ritual that turns Filene's Basement into an old-fashioned bazaar.
Filene's Basement is located at Mazza Gallerie, 5300 Wisconsin Avenue N.W. Sale hours are 8:00 am to 9:00 pm. Checks, credit cards and cash are accepted.
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