I need something to wear to a wedding and I'm not the bride! (Debenhams)

Member Name: wildmink

Product:	Debenhams
Date:	24/11/03 (2436 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: 25% of retail price, Lots to choose from in many different styles and shape

Disadvantages: Not at every Debenhams, Don't sell men to carry bags for you as you will have lots

Not often writing reviews I thought Debenhams deserved a review for what was a surprising transaction but first of all the background.

Debenhams is a department store that can be found in most towns throughout the UK offering many services including internet shopping. Departments within the store include a wedding service and many of the concessions of high street stores.

Imparticularly this review concern the Debenhams outlet department within the store which can be found in the Manchester city centre and Hanley branches and many others of which I don't know. In essence it is where all the sale stock goes after the sales have ended and includes all departments but most notably clothing for men, women and children.

My personal experience of the outlet is as follows. Being in a panic about what to wear for a wedding this coming weekend I decided to hit Manchester with a force only similar to that of a nuclear bomb and scoured throughout the city centre for something to wear that was different from all the trouser suits that most of my friends were wearing .... seemed to be turning into that scene from Reservoir Dogs where they are all walking along except with the added kick of oestrogen.

Being true to my gender I decided to wear a dress but was loathed to spend much money due to it being a once off occassion and fashions at the moment being so dated and out of vogue so quickly. Hence I looked throughout the fashion floors at Debenhams and though there were some very pretty dresses there they were either too posh, or too eighties and leary or even too expensive but was a suitable wide enough choice. Let me say at this point that Debenhams have got a load of well known designers to do a line for Debenhams at more affordable prices.

Inspiration hit me and I went to the top floor where the outlet department is kept. Bingo, lotto or whatever you say when you see heaven. Looking through the rails I found a dress that was s
uitable for the wedding and was affordable having been reduced from £100 to £50 on the tag but still had the dilemma of what size to buy so bought one and the next size up but imagine my surprise when I got to the till and found out that because it was in the outlet the cost was only 75% of the original price! I could buy both dresses for the cost of what I thought I would pay for one. £50 for two dresses and by the designer Maria Grachvogel (I've heard of her and only just remembered that didn't she do dresses for Posh. Heat magazine has it's uses) with intricate beadwork.

So having bought the 2 dresses I hear you cry what am I going to do with the dress that I don't wear. Well I enquired about the returns policy and they said it was the same as the main store at 28days with a receipt but that it would specifically have to be returned to a Debenhams with an outlet department. So yes one of the dresses will be returned and I am so indecisive when it comes to choosing dresses.

Only drawbacks are that the clothes will be last seasons ie mostly summer but there are some timeless pieces that you can pick up if you have an eye for it. My personal drawback was that I found my wedding dress that since I was a little girl had dreamt of at originally £350 but due to outlet price being 25% that of retail I could have bought for £86. So whats the drawback I hear you cry .... cut price ideal wedding dress....? Well if you follow tradition the groom shouldn't see the dress before the wedding and my boyfriend was there so it can be resolved several ways.

1. Forget tradition
2. wipe the boyfriends mind
3. get a new boyfriend

Summary: