Mother-Daughter Dynamics Bring a Train of Emotions to Dress Shopping

10/30/2009

With a busy day ahead, Joan, director of sales at Kleinfeld’s, reminds the consultants of the special bond between mothers and daughters. “Mother-daughter dynamics to me can be one of the most difficult situations, because we know nothing about their relationship.”  She suggests the consultants try and be as kind and understanding as they can to make it a much better experience for everyone. I start chuckling at some of the looks on the consultants’ faces. The words “you gotta be kidding me” come to mind in several cases.

 

Bride-to-be Tameka says her mother, Gladys, is a very opinionated woman who is used to getting her own way. Her mother wants a VERY long train on the gown, but it’s not what the bride envisions herself wearing. Tameka wants something simpler, with some beading and in the $2,500 price range.

 

“I get to pay for the dress, which is why I wanted her to give me a little more say about what she’d like to wear,” says Gladys. The bride doesn’t want a long train, because she plans on wearing the gown the whole night and wants to be able to dance and move. Dianne’s challenge is to please the bride, satisfy the mother and not break the bank.

 

The first dress is not a hit with either the bride or her mother. Tameka has no idea why her mother is fixated on the long train and wants Gladys to try and compromise, since it is “her day.”

The second dress actually makes Gladys scrunch her face and turn away in horror. I can’t stop laughing at the overreaction. While acknowledging her mother’s feelings, Tameka is fully vested in making sure her wishes are met.

 

Karen has brought her stepmother, sister and good friend to help her choose a gown. Unfortunately, her mother passed away six months before. She gets very emotional while talking about it, and I can feel my heart going out to her. She is looking for a classy, elegant dress and would like to stay at $2,500.

 

Karen does not like the tulle skirt on the first dress she tries on and never makes it out of the dressing room. The second dress she tries on has an unusual cut-out back. Karen seems to like the dress, so she goes out to show it to her family. They tactfully let her know that this is not the dress.

 

Back in the dressing room, Karen rejects a slew of gowns without even trying them on. Consultant Debbie realizes it is going to be a difficult appointment. 

 

Although dress No. 3 has a 4-foot train, mom Gladys wants it longer. Tameka is appalled, as she feels it’s too long already. I start chuckling at Gladys’ reaction to her daughter saying the train is too long. She actually clutches her face and looks at Tameka in a who-ARE-you?! kind of way.

 

Dianne suggests a long, cathedral veil in an effort to reach a compromise. When Gladys asks if she can pick out some gowns, Dianne is left with no choice but to agree. Dianne explains there are two designers who do 6-foot-long trains. The problem is she has shown their dresses to Tameka, and she doesn’t like them.

 

Despite the plethora of dresses shown to her, Karen still isn’t sure. She’s finding it very hard to shop for a dress, since her mother isn’t there and she always imagined her mother being there to help. Karen rejects the third dress she tries on because she finds the skirt to be too plain. Debbie thinks she is trying to shop for a gown too soon after her mother’s death. 

 

Gabrielle is downstairs for her first fitting after giving birth. She ordered her dress in a smaller size two months after her daughter was born, anticipating losing all her baby weight. The weight hasn’t come off four months later, so if the dress doesn’t fit, she will have to buy another one.

 

Once the dress is on, it looks good on her, but all Gabrielle sees is her fat stomach. Although her mother and sister think she looks beautiful, Gabrielle is not convinced – she worries she looks like a “gut girl.” Fashion director Randy is called in to reassure her. He tells her the neckline is beautiful on her as is the ruching around the stomach, which helps create a beautiful silhouette. He also points out that her fiancé loves her the way she is, which helps Gabrielle feel better.

Upstairs, bride Tameka and mom Gladys are equally determined to each get her way. Tameka takes one look at the dresses her mother has picked and vetoes them. “All I could think was, oh my gosh, I’m going to wind up getting this dress I don’t want, with this long train and feeling uncomfortable. How can I get out of this?”

 

Karen finally comes out in dress No. 4, which she initially liked. However, as she begins to show it to her family, Karen realizes it is way too soon to try and shop for a wedding gown without her mother. She leaves with no dress.

 

The fourth dress Tameka tries on barely has a train, but she loves it. Her mother? Not so much. Dianne has added a very long veil in an effort to please Gladys. Gladys wants Tameka to at least try on one of her picks. Although she really doesn’t want to try on any more gowns, Tameka acquiesces in an attempt to “make my mom happy.” She hates the dress she tries on and says it makes her look like a lounge singer, although her mom thinks she looks darling. I have to agree with Tameka -- it’s not the best look for her frame.

 

Dianne helps her try on the dress she loved again and coaches her to speak up if she really likes it. Although Gladys is not happy and would not have picked this dress, she ultimately realizes her daughter is thrilled. Plus, Tameka is willing to compromise by wearing a very long veil instead.

 

Back in the alterations department, Gabrielle is back to try on her dress again. She’s spent the past two weeks dieting and exercising and has lost 10 to 12 pounds. The hard work pays off, as she looks fantastic in her gown and is finally satisfied.

 

On her wedding day, she looks amazing and the groom is obviously thrilled with his bride.

Comments

[JMS]

After watching this episode I remebered every so often you have a bride who doesn't have a Mom to shop with. And it is very hard for her to find 'the dress'. Maybe if the bride is asked if she can remember a dress that she has had that her Mom has either bought her or was a favorite of theirs maybe going on that style would be an idea. ??

[jane]

I used to get a kick out of watching this show, but now the snotty women at Kleinfeld aren't amusing, their quite SAD & PITIFUL actually.

The moment an excited bride announces her budget is $2,000 the RUDE Kleinfeld employee MUST degrade and strike an attitude with the client?! Way to ruin the morale! Most of the employees should look in their own mirrors and most importantly watch previously recorded episodes - you're all VERY disturbing.

I just watched the episode with the red dress request, which had to do with the brides culture, the Kleinfeld employee was SO RUDE! This show should be off the air!

[pam]

Any idea who is the designer of Tameka's dress? I've looked for it on the Kleinfeld website but I can't find it.

[Girl Dresses]

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[Kathy]

I disagree that the sales consultants are rude and snotty to brides that do not have huge budgets. I bet that dresses in the $2500 range are Kleinfeld's bread and butter and that they sell 20 of these for every $10,000 dress that they sell. i guess people read into things what they want to see

[Dee]

It doesnt' take much research to realize that Kleinfeld dresses start at $1500 for the most part. These dresses are designer SILK dresses with upscale trims and hand beading. Plus customer service, tailoring, etc. If you are lucky enough to be able to get a cut rate designer dress in a sample size, go for it. Also, Kleinfeld is traditional in that red dresses are not a dime a dozen. The Indian bride could have gone to somewhere specializing in her culture rather than a traditionally western place like Kleinfeld. Her culture also would not wear strapless so I can't say she's all THAT attached to honoring her heritage. The consultants I think are very kind in general but these brides want the world - I can see how it can be tough to meet all their demands.

[Julienne]

I have been looking for one of the dresses that is on the opening credits of Say Yes to the Dress but I can't find it anywhere on the Kleinfield website!

[chase]

hi you are cool tv show

[Cindy]

I hate this show!! Bring back What not to Wear on Friday nights!!

[Wholesale clothing]

Adorable dress , Iconic artists prefer designer dresses ,they are considered as status symbol for the entire markets .