Brides-to-be looking for a chic vintage wedding dress might want to turn their attention to eBay, where a stylish Diane von Furstenberg Zarita number is currently up for auction.
However this dress comes with a sad backstory.
The woman who bought it had intended to wear it at her wedding in New York’s City Hall, but wound up being left by her fiancé before she walked down the aisle.
While the 30-year-old Brit has been able to piece her life back together and move on (sort of), she has found that she can’t look at the dress, as it brings back too many sad memories.
So, in a bid to let the dress have its big moment, she has taken to eBay in a bid to find it a new home.
And, turning the listing on its head, the anonymous bride decided to try and write the item’s description from her wedding dress’s point of view.
Which made our hearts ache more than a little bit.
The ‘dress’ explains simply:
I was supposed to be worn at City Hall in New York.
I was going to be the main attraction of a 60s wedding theme.
I was going to be low-key, but elegant (I still am, for that matter).
I was going to complement a 60s updo, nude courts and a bouquet of Lily of the Valley.
When my owner put on a dress just like me in Selfridges, she knew I was the one so she ordered me online and had me delivered to her husband-to-be in Brooklyn.
I’m not over the top, nor am I too dressed down, and she thought she could perhaps wear me to other occasions in the future.
She thought I was a dress she could look back on and smile, not cringe at fashion faux pas (she was right).
When I arrived, she kept me sealed in my box so nothing could ruin me.
Then they split up.
And she kept me in the box.
Because she couldn’t bear to look at me.
I am a constant reminder to her of what could have been.
So she wants to sell me.
Not necessarily to a bride, but to anyone looking to give me the home I deserve.
A home where I’ll get worn and admired and dry-cleaned (as and when necessary).
She can’t take me back to DVF because they no longer stock me.
I’m limited edition, if you like.
And the first time I have been taken out of my box is for these photos.
Because who’s going to buy a dress based on a picture of a box?
I can’t wait to be worn by you (and to see the back of my cardboard confines once and for all).
Love,
Zarita (in Ivory).
xx
Our thoughts go out to the dress’s owner - we hope that she manages to find some peace and happiness once she rids herself of the gown.