If you have already tried on the Duende at your local bridal shop, you know that it fits beautifully and as my good friend described it (when I was deciding between the Duende and another Sarah Seven dress), it's a 'show-stopper.'
Extremely flattering to all shapes and sizes, although I have basically no curves so I needed the mermaid style to add some oomph on my wedding day :).
Some fun details:
- Feather detailing on the bust (my wedding had a minor 'feather' theme, so I loved this aspect of the dress)
- Beautiful tulle underlayers
- Lace overlay on the bodice; noticeable up close but not from far away if you want a more subtle vintage look
- More flattering cut where the bodice and skirt meet compared to other mermaid dresses I tried (some pointed a little too 'V'-like for my taste)
- Worn for 2.5 hours on May 2, 2015 (I changed into a different dress for the reception)
You can wear the dress without a bra as there are already built-in cups and secure 3-hook enclosure; I opted to wear a strapless bra but it's nice to know that you don't need to worry about finding a backless undergarment.
Already has a hidden bustle (I kept it bustled my entire wedding), optional veil, and is a solid alternative to the Vera Wang Gemma dress which was my first choice prior to finding this one. Technically, it fits someone up to 5'9 but I opted not to wear heels at the last minute and it was still fine for me (5'7).
Condition-wise, I will be honest that the tulle underlayers are not in the best condition (there are a few small tears or subtle grass stains on the very bottom of the satin underskirt) but none of this is visible AT ALL when wearing the dress. Thus, if you are looking for a pristine wedding dress that has no sign of wear in the ruffle layers, this is not the dress for you. If you are looking for the Duende at a reasonable price with minimal / easily adjustable alterations, then this dress is a great find!
If you are in LA or San Francisco, I can offer you an additional discount as well.
Here is the description from the manufacturer:
The Duende model from the Pronovias 2013 collection is both original and modern. The bodice of this flattering mermaid wedding dress has a sweetheart neckline decorated with delicate white feathers. This detail accentuates the beauty of the lovely tulle bodice with its beautiful floral lace that hugs the figure to the hips. The skirt is a cascade of flounces that give volume to this spectacular design.