SWS

This has been an exciting year! The Green Hanger Shop is approaching its first year of being a real 'live' website. I can not begin to tell you how much I have learned these past twelve months! The best part of it all though has been the great people and wonderful resources I have discovered that are available to today's bride-to-be and her friends. One of the best guides I found is Elle Shapiro of Survive Wedding Season. She is a bride's best friend because she helps the rest of the wedding party and guests know what to wear, what to give, and how to save, too! If you have a friend getting married in 2010, you need to add Survive Wedding Season to your reading list!

I was honored to learn that one of my guest tips on how to sell your bridesmaid's dress was featured in SWS’s Top Ten Wedding Guest Picks Of 2009 Please visit it and tell her which number is your favorite tip and come back and share it with me, too. (I bet you'll pick #2...brilliant thinking! LOL) Enjoy!

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Indoor Window Shopping!

Finished your Christmas shopping yet? My shopping has gone very smoothly so far. Maybe it's because I am no longer Mrs. Claus. (Aw, that's kinda sad...) I did lots of shopping online and no, I won't say what I bought because I have some snoopy 'chillen' reading my blog, but I WILL say that my husband got into the spirit of things, and my sons-in-law are getting some VERY interesting presents that he picked out for them!

Now I don't know about you, but I HAVE to get out into the stores at some point for it to feel real to me, so the hubby and I visited some great shops in the West End section of Greenville, SC. These smaller stores were bustling with shoppers, and there was a happy holiday feeling in each store. Shoppers were warmly greeted, packages were placed in unique and festive wrappings, and it was fun to see new wares and try to match them to someone on my list.

I hope you have had some great shopping experiences. Please share your favorite place to shop with us here in the comments.

Now, here are some emporium like items from The Green Hanger Shop I hope you will enjoy. I handpicked them just for you!

The first are these purses, brought straight from Vietnam by my friend, Tracy. (I have written about her in a previous blog.) I saw some very similar to these when I was shopping, but they cost twice as much! How fun would these be at a holiday party?

Next are these dresses JUST IN this past week at The Green Hanger Shop. I think both are stunning and extra affordable.

Last is this wedding garter. Do you have an engaged friend? This is a unique gift idea and one of those details in wedding planning that is overlooked until the last minute sometimes.

There's lots more to see at The Green Hanger Shop, so come on by and visit us!

Happy Holidays!

Dear Daughters,

From the time "It's a Girl!" was announced, I dreamed of your wedding days. I was in no hurry, of course, and I sure enjoyed all the moments before your "BIG" days. But knowing that we would one day do this together was just something I always looked forward to experiencing. It lived up to its hype and the months we spent together talking nonstop about all the details in your plans were so much fun that it inspired me to start The Green Hanger Shop! Words don't do justice to the joy of seeing you both as beautiful brides. When you were handed to me in the delivery room, my heart melted. When you walked toward me down the aisle on your daddy's arm, it happened all over again. You both thanked me for making the day just what you wanted. Now I thank you for making the day exactly as I dreamed.

I love you both.

Mama

I am not a "Look at me" kinda gal, so shopping for a MOB dress was challenging. More than anything, I did not want to look frumpy! The dresses I wore are as different as the daughters, and I love both of them. Both could easily be reused, but I don't have many opportunities to wear special occasion dresses right now. So, yes, they are for sale. One is a Carmen Marc Valvo and it is exquisite. It was bought for the first daughter's wedding. The two piece top would be stunning with black pants.

The second dress is a Kay Unger crinkled magenta. I love the color! It's one that could be worn to lots of occasions. I wore cute sequined shoes with it. Too fun!

If you are a member of the MOB club, I would love to have your dresses added to The Green Hanger Shop. If you are currently planning a wedding, I wish you all the best. If there is a topic you would like me to share from my MOB experiences, I would love your suggestions!

Fa la la la la... A New Logo!

I am so excited to unveil our new Green Hanger Shop logo just in time for wedding season 2010! I hired Lindsay of AiDEN CoopeR Designs to create something special that identifies not only who we are, but represents the clientele as well. Boy, did she deliver! Our customers are young, intelligent, budget-minded women. They don't skimp on style. They just know how to get more for their money. Not egotistical, but rather ecotistical, they enjoy renewing the life of a beautiful gown. I think Lindsay captured the fun spirit of it all in the cute swirly hanger, and the recycling symbol got a whole new vibe. It makes me smile to look at it. So here it is!!

I hope you will take the time to comment on the new logo both here and at AiDEN CoopeR Designs. Lindsay and I both would love to hear what you think!

Happy Holiday Shopping, everybody!

Basement Buddy (and a giveaway!)

You know the saying..."it's a small world". Well, even on the Internet, it's true! While exploring the web over the past few months, I discovered an old friend of mine who had moved out of state. She has started a web enterprise called Basement Bags. (Oh, the cuteness you will find there! )Susan and I go way back. Our daughters were big buddies growing up and we went to the same wonderful church for many years together. We were even fellow teachers. So suffice it to say, I have no problem endorsing her work. She is one talented lady. But go and see for yourself! And right now, she has a giveaway at her blog, The World from my Basement, to celebrate her 125th post. This is a site you will want to share with your friends! Happy Blogging and Monogramming, Susan, and many more!

Tracy's, The Final Touch

Meet Tracy, my wonderful hairdresser. If you have hair like mine, then I hope you have someone like Tracy to take good care of you.

I don't use the word 'remarkable' often. I feel it is reserved for those who set themselves apart by an extraordinary talent or feat. Friends, Tracy is a REMARKABLE woman. Tracy is from Vietnam and when she was just four years old, she says an event occurred that changed the rest of her life. Her aunt took her to a salon to get a haircut and perm, and as Tracy sat and watched the magical transformations of the women in the salon, she knew that she would one day grow up to do that, too. However, for Tracy, this would not come easily. She entered the United States at the end of the Vietnam War with a fourth grade education and could speak very little English. She was determined to learn the language well enough to enroll in cosmetology school even though she would have to do it alone. That determination led Tracy to become a successful business woman who now owns her own salon. She treats her customers like royalty and is still learning the language. An exciting day for Tracy is when she learns something new, for education is something precious to her and is not to be taken for granted.

I recently posted some of Tracy's jewelry and handbags at The Green Hanger Shop. Jewelry is another of Tracy's passions and she is a wonderful designer. The black onyx piece is one of her creations. Please stop by and see the rest of her things, especially the cute sequin bags from Vietnam. So tell me, do you know someone who is remarkable like my Tracy?

Making it Personal

I had so much fun recently designing a wedding garter for a real bride, Wendy. She is using lots of pretty colors in her wedding, but the most special one is lime green. Why? It is her grandmother's absolute favorite color in all the world! She plans to share the garter with her grandmother. Isn't that just the sweetest? After all, a piece of the bride's attire brings blessings to the holder. So congratulations, Wendy, and all the best to your grandmother, too!

Survive Wedding Season Contest Exclusive!

Survive Wedding Season Contest Exclusive!

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OH! is for October! (and my first blog giveaway)

OH! I LOVE OCTOBER! It has always been a special month for me. There is so much to celebrate beginning on the first of October with my youngest daughter's birthday. (She was due in September, but she knew better and waited a few days!) My own birthday follows on the ninth, but that is only a small part of why I love this month. October brings welcome relief to relentless humid days here in the South with its crisp, cool, and dry air. The Earth puts on a fashion show with coordinated perfection as the trees show their true colors. Football teams and their bands play in weather the way it was intended and fans can enjoy being outdoors at their tailgating events. And, of course, it all ends with a bang on Halloween. Houses are decked out in spooky splendor and children parade in gleeful glamour while candy makers burst into smiles to see the sweet wares they prepared in the off months fly off the store shelves from now until Easter. To celebrate a special birthday this year, I am offering my first blog giveaway. It is a wedding garter I crafted just for fun. Since Halloween is on a Saturday, I thought there might be some brides who would enjoy having a whimsical garter for their wedding day. Perhaps you just think it would be fun to wear with a costume. Just comment here and tell me why you are entering. Tweet it and I'll enter you for a second chance. (Be sure to give me a link to your tweet.) Add a link to my blog from your blog for even another chance. Winner will be chosen on my birthday and the announcement will come the following week so I can get this shipped in time for Halloween! Happy October, Everyone!

I Will Survive

I am thrilled to be a guest on one of my favorite blogsites.

When you think about the sheer proportion of guests to bride at a wedding, it stands to reason that someone needs to help those guests out, too! Survive Wedding Season does just that. They have lots of wonderful tips on parties, gifts, attire, destinations, and ways to support your friends at this important time. Brides have lots of sites for help, and now guests can turn to Survive Wedding Season for all the support they need. Check it out!

http://surviveweddingseason.com/?p=1426

Selling a Used Dress 101

I have many friends who tell me they would really love to sell dresses that they own and are not going to use again. Some of them are moms who inherited the bridesmaids' dresses their daughters wore in countless weddings or even prom gowns that were used once upon a time. They tell me they would love to sell them on the Internet but don't know how. So here are some pointers.

First, to buy or sell anything on the Internet, you will need a safe and secure system to pay and be paid, such as Paypal. Paypal has great name recognition, but they aren't the only ones available. My son-in-law tells me Google Checkout is his favorite. You will need to set this up first as it may take a few days to verify your banking information.

While you are getting your Paypal account set up, you can begin finding or taking photos of what you have to sell. I could write a whole blog on the right and wrong way to photograph your dress, but for now just keep these things in mind. A picture of the dress on a real person is the best. It doesn't matter if you can see a face, so crop it if you want. A dress lying flat on a surface is my very least favorite. Look at the difference in the two pictures of the same dress shown here. If you don't already have a digital picture of it, have fun coming up with ways to show the dress in a flattering light.

Once you have your online account and a digital picture, you are ready to submit your ad. At The Green Hanger Shop, you will first register and give yourself a user name and submit your email address. This email address is important. It is the only way a shopper can reach you. On our website, it will not be public, nor will it be shared with anyone other than a potential buyer.


At last, you are ready to submit your ad. You will need to accurately give its size, designer, description, picture, and price. When you describe your dress, you want to be honest, but it's okay to use some salesmanship, too. I like to tell them what is special about what I am selling. For example, I discovered I had a very exclusive designer dress that I knew nothing about until I researched the dress label. I had bought it as a sample apparently at an off-brand store. Now the designer's dresses sell for several hundred dollars! Of course, I am not going to ask much for it because I didn't pay that much.. That's something else to remember. You have to set a price that will attract a buyer and is worth your while. Decide how you will handle the cost of shipping before the sale. I like to include that in the price, so I don't have to add anything else on.

Most of all, don't be afraid to ask for help from The Green Hanger Shop. That is why I am here and what I love doing! I guarantee you; once you make a sale, you will be hooked!

I Survived Wedding Season '09!

Okay, the title makes it sound like I don't enjoy weddings, but that could not be further from the truth. Weddings tend to come around in the spring and summer, thus the term 'wedding season' and sometimes they take over weekends for weeks in a row making it a challenge to keep the wardrobe fresh from one to the other. When wedding season ends and football season looms on the horizon, many of us take stock of what we have accumulated in our closets.

We all have something really cute we wore to a wedding or party or shower. Chances are, we won't wear it again, but we feel the need to get 'our money's worth' out of it so we are hanging on. So here is my proposal. Let's have a September Swap Meet! Go to The Green Hanger Shop and list your dress in the Wedding Guests category absolutely free! It will stay there for the whole month unless you sell it and let us know. Like Cinderella's gown, it will magically disappear on October 1st unless you make arrangements with the fairy godmother (that would be me) for it to remain.

There are just a few rules. You must register in order to submit the ad for your dress. I approve all listings before they are posted and a picture of it is required. The free offer is for the wedding guest category only.

I encourage you to read my tips for buyers and sellers at The Green Hanger Shop, too.

Happy sales to you!

Something Old is New Again!

As a child, I would tag along with Mom as she 'antiqued' the dealers on the South Carolina-Georgia state line. She had her favorite spots, of course, and so did I. I loved the one with the tire swing hanging from a big oak outside. I have yet to find a better piece of shade on earth! While I admit to being less than patient as I waited for her to strike a deal, I now appreciate what she taught me about the value of what was left behind by past generations.

Now I am using that experience to help brides with that age old tradition of 'something old' that was begun to bridge past with future. Just like Mom, I travel the back roads of South Carolina stopping at the antique shops and handpicking the vintage pins that inspire me. When choosing a Something Old garter, just remember what Mom would say, "You can't find this anywhere anymore!" These are truly one of a kind.

Guest Blog- How to Be Green with your Wedding Photos

How to Be Green with your Wedding Photos

The Green Hanger Shop was started after my husband and I hosted two beautiful weddings for our daughters. Through our experience, we realized that there were many opportunities for making weddings more eco-friendly, such as reusing all those gorgeous gowns and party dresses. Since our start-up in January, we have discovered other companies with the same mission. Featured in this blog is The Wedding Lens, an online digital photography website dedicated to weddings. I regret I did not know about them last year when my youngest daughter was married. I can not tell you how many friends and family were eagerly taking pictures. What I can tell you is how many pictures I actually saw that were taken by them. Exactly three! I begged for more, but to no avail. One uncle even flashed us as we walked down the church aisle. (Hear my Southern gasp!) Now I would love to see it from that angle, but it is trapped in his camera. If only we had arranged a website for everyone to upload their pictures beforehand. What a great concept! I know there are other photo websites and social networks, but here is the ONE website where everyone can meet, view, comment, and even print their favorite shots. It's a great website with too many features to include here, but some of my favorites are that it's free for standard membership, password protected, and has unlimited uploads. Couples also receive unlimited guests and invitations for a full year. While neither The Wedding Lens nor I would recommend this in place of a professional photographer, it is something I would definitely recommend that brides include in their plans. I thank Natasha Carroll-Ferrary for taking the time to share these tips on how to make your wedding photos more earth friendly.

'Many couples want to put disposable cameras on each table so that they can see the wedding from their guests’ perspective. It’s a great idea – but it’s not very green. It requires buying disposable cameras, printing hundreds of potentially blurry photos (that may get thrown out), and disposing of the cameras (most of which aren’t biodegradable).
So what can you do? Encourage your guests to bring their digital cameras – which should be easy to do because they were probably going to bring them anyway! Then, after the wedding, you can have your guests upload all their photos to an online wedding photo album site, like The Wedding Lens.
On a site like The Wedding Lens, guests are able to upload all their photos and videos. From there, everyone can download the photos and videos that they like the best, and they can order prints of their favorite photos. There’s no need to order prints of any of the blurry photos – so the couple saves money and the environment saves photo paper.
The best part is that at the end, the couple has a collection of all the photos of their wedding from their guests’ point of view – just like the disposable cameras, but without the waste.

The Wedding Lens is an online photo sharing website, designed for couples who want to collect all the photos from their wedding. The site was started by two college friends, Justin & John. Justin was getting married and looking for an online photo site, but couldn’t find anything that met all his needs. He and John got together and developed The Wedding Lens. They pride themselves on their 100% satisfaction guarantee and phenomenal customer service. For more tips, check out our wedding planning blog and our 50 Green Wedding Tips.'

Why Me?

When choosing to sell your dress or accessories, you have several choices. Let's look at the pros and cons to the most obvious avenues available to you.

• Consignment Stores The advantage to selling at a consignment store is that you can walk in with your dress and drop it off. This gets it out of your way. Potential buyers can try it on and that is very helpful to them when deciding whether to buy. The disadvantage is that you will not get to set your own price and you will only get half or less of what it sells for. While it is great that buyers can try it on, each time your dress picks up makeup stains, body oils, and dirt. Over time, it will show and diminish the look and value of the gown. A consignment shop will limit how long they will carry the dress and also reduce its price quickly.





• Free Online Posts There are plenty of websites that offer free postings for selling used items. These are great avenues and obviously, the best possible way to sell if you can. The disadvantage is that usually it is difficult to post a picture and the post will be lost in a long list of other postings. Usually, buyers shopping these websites are looking for "cheap" prices, so you may not be in the most desirable market. You basically get what you pay for.





• Paid Online Advertising An online service that lists your dresses and accessories for a small fee have several advantages. First, you can showcase your items with a full description along with pictures. You will be in a market where buyers are coming to the website for the precise purpose of buying a designer item that is barely worn and an excellent find. A buyer can find your specific dress in their search for size or design. You can maintain some anonymity until a serious buyer is ready to contact you. YOU earn the entire proceeds of the transaction. What do you get for the small fee you paid to list the item?





• At The Green Hanger Shop, we give you Main Street Service on the World Wide Web. We invest in online advertising that brings shoppers in for the express purpose of buying a preowned dress or accessory. We look for buyers who are looking for what you are selling and invest time and dollars in those markets. We hope you will give us the privilege of helping you sell your dress!
  

Garter Toss

If you have wondered about that garter tossing tradition, you will be happy to know that as wild as it may look today, it is mild in comparison to what it once was. Seems that wedding guests used to consider it good luck to possess a part of the bride's gown, so they would tear at it. Imagine the chaos that would ensue! To protect the poor bride, the tradition of a garter toss was begun and the groomsman who catches it is said to be the next one to marry.
The Green Hanger Shop is happy to introduce a new line of garters for the bride who is looking for something personal. These garters are custom made and contain an antique item, such as a pin or button, bridging something old to the future. The first of our garters, for example, features a mother of pearl baby christening pin that can used with the newlywed's firstborn christening gown, or simply worn on a sweater or tie. Each new garter will be unique and one of a kind and we are excited to make new discoveries as we develop new designs. A "tossing garter" is included for the reception. Custom orders are available as well if brides want to specify their color preferences.
Have fun with this wedding tradition and enjoy a keepsake for your happily ever after days!

Paloma Blanca, Elegance and Simplicity

I continue the series on designer gowns with Paloma Blanca. As discovered in earlier blogs, "designers" may be better termed "manufacturers", but that is okay when brides recognize the name with quality and elegance. Such is the case with Paloma Blanca. In business since 1937, Paloma Blanca is located in Toronto, Canada. Their gowns are the epitome of style, elegance, and simplicity. The fabrics and laces are distinctive and high quality. I believe they should patent the color "natural" because it is most beautiful color I have seen for a wedding dress. Not stark white, nor too dark, the color enhances all skin tones. Paloma Blanca gowns are a great value, starting at $1400, so expect to pay about half that if you are fortunate enough to find a preowned gown. Available new only at authorized retailers, let's hope brides are willing to sell their wedding dresses to make them more available to all brides. They are a favorite for shoppers at The Green Hanger Shop!

Beyond Words

You fell in love with your dress the moment you put it on and the feelings you have for it and associate with it are beyond description. Now you have decided to part with it and are met with the challenge of describing the details that drew you to it to another bride to be. Using your own experience will help you accomplish a fitting tribute while enhancing your chances of making a successful sale. When you were shopping for a dress, were you looking for a specific designer or did you find one that you came to love? Some designers' gowns are highly sought after and you will want to promote that if you have a popular line. On the other hand, if that wasn't your priority, don't emphasize it in your ad. Next, can you describe in detail the design of the dress? Include the exact color, neckline, dress line, fullness, embellishments, fabric content, and flow of the dress. If someone closed their eyes as you describe it, they should be able to see a mental picture of it. Use adjectives, but try to be exact. For example, "It is a wonderful natural color, not stark white or dark ivory" gives more information than "white". The next question on a buyer's mind will probably be, "Will it fit?" Your measurements as your wore your dress will tell her alot, though she will ultimately have to decide if her body type is a good match. The importance of pictures can not be over emphasized. No matter what your measurements, it is important to see your body type and how the dress looked on a real person in real light. Try to include lots of different angles to catch the bodice, skirt, front, back, train, and bustle. Pictures of a dress on a model or worse, a hanger, are not as helpful. When someone was interested in my dress, and she told me she was barely a size that was larger than my dress, I discouraged her from buying it because I knew how it fit and felt and I knew a larger person would not have been happy with it. If I had been a sales person in a salon, I would have done the same thing. Ultimately, you should desire a happy customer when they invest in your dress. Lastly, there are details that are probably left unsaid. If the wedding fell apart, or you had a tragic event, or became pregnant and couldn't wear it...those details really provide too much personal information and the buyer may be turned off by it. Just remember this is a happy event for the buyer and a financial transaction for you.Your goal is to sell your dress, once. Being descriptive, honest, and open will give you the best chance. Just remember to be patient. There's a dress for every girl and a girl for every dress.

Designer Showcase- Jim Hjelm

One factor in a gown's expense is the designer. Certain designers have established a reputation for style and beauty that makes the gown more expensive to make and can demand a higher price due to popularity. The Green Hanger Shop will highlight a few designers to help shoppers in their decision about whether it is worth it to them to pay more and also, to point out the savings from a preowned designer gown. Our first designer is the Jim Hjelm collection. I actually thought there was a Jim Hjelm designing these beautiful gowns and dresses, but I was wrong. They are designed by Francesca Pitera, a graduate of the esteemed Otis Art Institute/Parsons School of Design in Los Angeles. Francesca draws inspiration from the New York museums and art shows. Combining textures, colors and lace, she creates gowns that are classic and feminine with a touch of sensuality to give every bride style and grace; her silhouettes flatter all body types. Intricate details are her trademark.Jim Hjelm Bridal gowns can demand a price tag of $3,000 or more. A preowned gown can be found for less than $1,000. Here is where you can find exquisite quality, afford an expensive gown, and pay thousands less for your favorite designer. Don't get caught up in the year of the dress. Many dresses, especially Francesca's, are timeless and repeat style with slight differences in detail.

Are You a Maggie Bride?

Are you a Maggie Bride?
In my series on designer gowns, I had not planned to write about Maggie Sottero so soon. It is such a popular line of dresses, however, that it takes a top spot in this blog series. The Green Hanger Shop has several beautiful Maggie Sottero gowns for sale at a fraction of their original price tag. Not to disappoint brides, Maggie Sottero may be a person or a designer, who knows, but the Maggie Sottero gown bought today is one of several collections offered by Maggie Sottero, the manufacturer. Begun in Sydney, Australia, the Maggie Sottero company has won many top awards for their designs. The brides I see looking for the gowns are impressed with the ease of fit and point out that the corset top adjusts to the ups and downs in a bride's size. Maggie Sottero gowns are also recognizable by the Swarovski crystal embellishments. I find the gowns to be reasonably priced in the wedding market. If you are buying a preowned Maggie Sottero gown, you will want to ask for a copy of its Certificate of Authenticity which is given to the original owner of every Maggie Sottero gown since 2002. Presently, the Maggie Sottero company consists of four collections: Maggie Sottero, Sottero and Midgley, Maggie Sottero Limited, and Destinations by Maggie Sottero. One last tip for future Maggie brides...go to their website and look at their portfolio of real brides, a far better indication of how a dress will look than one shown on a model.

Something Old

Something old, something new, buy it used and you won't be blue! Buying a preowned wedding dress can be your something old without looking the part. Just like buying a new dress, there are steps you can take to give you the greatest satisfaction.

• Buying preowned may mean dealing long distance. It is important that you still do your homework. Go to bridal salons and try on different styles to get a sense of what you like and what compliments your figure.
  
• Look at prices of different designs. It is usually based on Designer, fabric, embellishments, style. If you find a gown you like, write down all of its information so you can research it online.


• Get your measurements. It is important to match measurements to the manufacturer's. Don't be told it runs small. Be precise.
  
• Alterations on a wedding dress will be expensive. If you buy a sample that has been "clamped" together to fit you in the salon, you will pay dearly in alterations. Gowns with lace hems may have to be taken apart to simply hem. I have seen alterations surpass five hundred dollars.


• Try on and then leave. You need to think about the dress and research it. Is it available preowned? Dresses worn for only four or five hours by another bride are usually sold at close to half the original price and are like new!


• When you find a dress you like, open all lines of communication. Ask questions and request pictures. Verify the seller. Google them, if necessary.


• Negotiate as much as possible, but remember a wedding dress is expensive to ship and clean. Don't expect to be able to try it and return it without some share of the costs.


• You should be able to return a gown that doesn't suit you or isn't what you expected. Open communication beforehand will enhance the chance that you get what you want.

I know a bride who bought a gown worn in May that costs $1800 and she bought it in November for $900. The dress was still less than a year old and it was exactly what she wanted and would have had to pay full price for plus alterations. When she is done, it is possible she, too, will be able to sell it.

Smart brides today recognize they can have a beautiful wedding for far less expense and waste. What better way to start than with the dress? Come to The Green Hanger Shop. No one will ever know your sweet little secret!

Wedding's over, What about the dress?

After the flurry of wedding activities, like a melted snowman, the wedding dress lies in a heap on the floor. So now what? The decision to keep or sell a bride's wedding gown is a personal, emotional, and financial one. While waiting to make that decision, it is important to get the dress cleaned by professionals. A reputable cleaner will check the label to see if it is material they can handle properly. Expect the cleaning to run anywhere from $75 or more. Leaving this important cleaning undone will render the dress unusable if body oils, food, or drink are allowed to discolor the delicate fabrics and lace. How about preservation? Isn't that what an expensive dress needs? Well, not if the bride is uncertain about whether or not to sell. Preservation is quite expensive and actually creates a large box that will require space for storage. It is difficult to see or inspect and if there is any chance of selling it, it will have to be removed to be checked for any damage. Selling the dress? Placing it on a website, such as The Green Hanger Shop, as soon as possible will increase your chances of making a sale and recouping more of your investment. Not selling? It will still need to be opened and refolded to prevent deep creases. Best bet, go with reputable professional cleaning, place the dress in its garment bag (Purchase this if necessary) and store in a dark, cool closet. It's inexpensive and kinder on the environment.

Welcome to The Green Hanger Shop!

Welcome to the grand opening of a new and exciting online "eco-boutique". The Green Hanger Shop connects buyers and sellers of beautiful "wore it once" designer clothes, such as wedding gowns, bridesmaids dresses, and accessories. The Green Hanger Shop was cofounded by Wally and Judy Meggs. Wally and Judy have firsthand experience in weddings. They planned two very traditional weddings and receptions for their daughters. They realized how expensive the attire for the events were and how little use the wonderful dresses received, only to be stored away unlikely to be used again. As an educator, Judy taught her students about the impact of people's actions on the world and its environment. She realizes the impact that major events, such as weddings, have not only on pocketbooks, but also the Earth. Wally has years of experience in technology, so another marriage occurred, and The Green Hanger Shop was born. They provide small town service on the World Wide Web, giving buyers and sellers an opportunity to make a difference and spare their budgets. Visit soon and visit often. Inventory changes everyday.