I am obsessed with this dress, have been for years, I will never afford it - please help me find something like it I can...

[user23124]

https://pauw.com/en/products/a-lijn-jurk-11201301199a700
I have been obsessed with this dress since I saw a woman in the navy version at an event years ago. I accept I will never have the ££ for it. Is there anything I can do to get a dress like this but under £250?

You are all so talented at finding things! Thanks for any help :)

It’s beautiful.

Have you got the link for it @Juicydeluce

If you like the Boohoo one people pictured there's one on Vinted

www.vinted.co.uk/items/3799892231-bohoo-party-dress

https://www.karenmillen.com/lydia-millen-taffeta-darted-waist-midi-dress-/BKK20319.html

Similar kind of ish! https://www.destinylabel.com/products/elegant-bow-tie-lantern-sleeve-midi-dress?currency=GBP&variant=48358562988356&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Google%20Shopping&stkn=7317aa5a2fbe&tw_source=google&tw_adid=&tw_campaign=21093482342&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIqPa5wKzfigMVQYBQBh1B9Ci7EAQYAiABEgK6RPD_BwE

That's a very obvious fake site.

That looks like fake site which has pinched the image from Pauw. There was a thread a few months ago about an expensive coat which was on several dodgy websites.

Also similar ish.

Reminds me a bit of this MM dress.

It's similar from the front but from the back view it doesn't have the volume of the Pauw or Elizabeth Murdoch dresses.

The first time I wore mine was at a wedding in London. The dress has so much volume and structure it needed its own suitcase.

For the poster who claims it will be "sweaty" - maybe you are simply a sweaty person. I danced ceilidh dances in it with no problem.

The last time I wore it was at an industry black tie event. I got changed in the office The dress got "wow" comments from 2 colleagues still working. I don't think they were just being polite- they didn't say anything about the dresses 2 other colleagues were wearing.

I think this is a good idea. Go along to the store - do they have one? - dressed nicely so you don't get the Pretty Woman before Richard Gere goes into the shop with her reaction and try it on. You'll either be more in love than ever or decide it's not for you. If you're more in love than ever then do look into getting it made especially as it's a (very little) silk mix. I'm going to get back into dressmaking this year (I say getting back into, I made a pair of trousers a couple of years ago, I'm very much a beginner) and looking at that dress before reading other comments my first thoughts were that it's simple enough for a decent dressmaker to reproduce it for you. It wouldn't be cheap but it'd be a lot cheaper than £895.

I think it’s very very expensive for a mostly polyester dress!! Especially as so close fitting… post menopausal me would be so uncomfortable.
its a gorgeous style.
I Would take to dressmaker and ask quote to make up dress.
i also think Cos does similar shapes often.. sometimes in heavy cotton… you could try find something similar then if you love dressmaker and quote for 100 percent silk.

Go along to the store

Pauw is a Dutch brand. They only have physical shops in Amsterdam and The Hague. I bought my dresses online but I had bought loads of stuff in store over many years so was familiar with sizing/ concept/style.

My wedding dress was similarish- I had it made by a dressmaker and the fabric was zibeline silk- it was similarly heavy

@user23124 sorry if someone has suggested this already, I've only skimmed.

Could you buy a 2nd hand wedding dress to get the heavy material you are after and get it dyed black.

You could then get a dressmaker to sort out the top part.

Or buy a top that looks close enough and have it as a two piece.

wouldn't be cheap but it'd be a lot cheaper than £895.

Btw the price is €895 or £740. Mine was €476 in 2017, or just under £400.

@user23124 have you looked on vinted.nl? There are several Pauw silk dresses on there in a similar style at the moment, including one that looks almost identical in a size XS. All under €150