Designer Loft

I wanted my dress to be unique and original. That is exactly what I found at Designer Loft. Not only is it a design that I have never seen before, but they called in the designer to work with me. She is customizing the gown to incorporate my grandmother"s broach. The staff is really involved in creating my dream dress. The dress is progressing and I am so greatful for the attention to detail. This has been the least stressful part of the wedding planing process.

Pros: most original selection

Cons: parking two blocks away

Posted 10/22/09

At the bridal shops I visited prior to Designer Loft, I could not find one dress that I liked. At Designer Loft, my problem was not finding a dress that I liked but deciding which one from among the many gorgeous gowns I found. Their selection is unique and beautiful. Allison worked with me and was so helpful and enthousiastic. She accessorized me brilliantly. They have really fun veils and headpeices. The whole experience was really fun and stress free. Can't wait to come back with my family for final decisions!

Pros: Unique, Beautiful Gowns

Posted 10/21/09

Found an amazing sample gown when my original dress fell through. Three months to my wedding date, many stores would not even schedule an appointment for me. The staff at Designer Loft was extremely helpful, patient and creative- completely understood my vision for the day. They were able to complete the gown in record time and were very patient with my hectic work schedule. Fabulous experience. Highly recomend this boutique.

Pros: very creative, unique selection, worked with my needs

Cons: only two fitting rooms

Posted 10/19/09

Found a dress that I liked there for $2000. Since I liked the dress so much, I was almost tempted to pay for it immediately, but my better instincts told me to hold off and do some price comparison.

I called RK Bridal and they had the same dress for $1050. Like the posted below me, buyer beware. By all means, go and try on the dresses and get familiar with what they have and what suits you, but please price compare before taking out that debit/credit card/ checkbook.

They are very overpriced and they will make you a sales pitch and put pressure on you to pay for the dress now.

Pros: Small, personalized service

Cons: Limited Selection, overpriced, overpriced

Posted 10/05/09

I found a dress online and went to Designer Loft because they were one of the three places in the city that carried this dress. The woman assigned to help me didn't seem to know what she was doing. In addition to having the make and model number of my dress, I also brought pictures of other styles that I liked and told her my price range. She then told me to start looking through the racks myself! And if this place tries to overcharge because of their "service" (more on that later) then they should be ashamed of themselves. This girl was timid and clueless - she didn't seem to have any fashion sense or even any interpersonal skills so I was annoyed and uncomfortable the entire time. She brought me three or four dresses, most of which were out of the price range I quoted her. I left having only accomplished trying on the dress I came to try on, and they quoted me a price of $1500 plus $350 for alterations. Since I was willing to pay around $2,000 and because I loved the dress, I would have paid that $1500 + $350...but then I decided to call around to the other places in the city that had the dress. My first call was to RK Bridal and they told me they had the exact dress that I wanted for $630 dollars. That is a full $870 less than what Designer Loft was trying to charge me.

I went to RK Bridal over the weekend, and they were professional, gracious, knowledgeable, and amazing. I was happy to pay them my money, knowing they operate with integrity and honesty.

I know this wedding game is all about inflated prices - but COME ON!!! That is just ridiculous and insulting and dare I say, criminal inflation.

Pros: NO PROS, NONE AT ALL

Cons: TOTAL CROOKS

Posted 09/20/09

I loved this shop from the moment I entered. The dress choices were dazzling. I found four I completely loved until my best friend pointed out that one was completely my personality. The staff was really friendly and unpretentious. They were so helpful both while selecting my gown and also during the entire fittings process. My seamstress added a cap sleeve which just made me feel more comfortable and secure as well as several additional bustles for my entrance down a winding staircase. I loved the experience from start to finish. Highly recommend the place.

Pros: Great selection, Knowlegeable staff and very friendly

Cons: Crazy busy after work, no parking

Posted 09/15/09

They gave the veil I had special ordered and already paid for away to another customer the day before I was scheduled to pick everything up and leave for my wedding! And their reaction was, "I wish you had come in yesterday to pick it up, this wouldn't have happened." Are you kidding me?!?!! So unprofessional. They are in the biz' and should know how stressful that last week is for a bride and shouldn't let ridiculous mistakes like this happen! Terrible service.

Cons: Incredibly disorganized!!

Posted 08/03/09

Found a good dress here - lots of selection. There are dresses in a range of prices. It's a good place to stop by.

Pros: Good prices

Cons: rushed service

Posted 04/13/09

I found a beautiful dress and the girl that helped me was very sweet and honest. I loved that!! (If you get the chance, make sure to work with Karolina). Most places just rush you out and say all kinds of things to make you buy a dress. However, at Designer Loft I felt that I got a true opinion and in the end we all agreed that the dress I chose was the best one. I even got the opportunity to meet the designer of that dress and she did some custom work on the dress for me. Thanks again!

Posted 03/09/09

I am a bride a little late to the wedding gown search (getting married in less than 5 months). Picked a day to go to several (4 places) in NYC. I must say that this place was great. It was a little busy when I arrived but my appointment started on time. The place has dresses all over the place but they seem to be organized by designers. To that....they have a great selection of "non-traditional" gowns and traditional gowns. Great designers (Jenny Packham, Pronovias etc) and a stunning variety. I was able to discuss with my bridal attendant my vision for the day and she choose ~6 dresses for me to try on. I fell in love with 2 of those dresses and then narrowed it down to "the one". Since it was my first time trying on dresses I was a little shy to commit and tried on ~20 total dresses that day. I called the Designer Loft the next day and purchased my gown! In addition, they were very open to negotiating the price of the gown and veil.
All in all, so many bridal shops in NYC or overpriced. Here you get one-on one service,amazing designer selection and reasonable prices for stunning designer gowns. All brides must go and see for themselves!

Pros: Selection, service, pricing, location

Cons: None.... but alterations yet to come

Posted 11/29/08

As the proud mother of a beautiful, radiant bride, I can't thank enough the ladies at Designer Loft for making it such a wonderful experience from begining to end. I knew when we entered the place, from the warmth and wonderful atmosphere that my daughter would be comfortable and able to find her dream dress. The selection was amazing. The staff's professionalism and service was phenomonal. My daughter was positively luminous and gorgeous in her gown from every angle. The accessories were perfect. The care, compassion and laughfter that we shared helped to make the experience even more memorable. I will recommend this shop again and again!

Pros: Great staff, lovely selection, gowns for mothers, perfect accessories

Cons: no parking!

Posted 11/19/08

I called Designer Loft because I was looking for a particular gown that happened to fit me very well, from a brand which they carried, and I wanted to see it in some different colors. My budget is flexible, but the gown that seemed to fit me the best just happened to be less expensive than some others of that brand.

The woman I spoke with told me that the gowns *they carried by this designer were much more expensive, and being a "couture" shop, I would probably not find anything suitable. How absolutely rude to jump to this conclusion, without first asking me what my budget actually was. I will avoid this place.

Pros: they returned my call

Cons: they were rude and made offensive implications based on one style of gown that I was interested in

Posted 11/05/08

This was such a wonderful experience I am seriously considering a career change. It was so much fun! Their gowns are gorgeous and the selection very different. I was pampered and advised by their really knowledgeable and caring staff. I ended up selecting a gorgeous vintage inspired gown from Italy. They found a beautiful matching sash the exact color of my mother's vintage lace veil as well as a hair and makeup person for my portraits and wedding day. The look we created was perfect and I am so grateful for all their attention to detail.

Pros: Beautiful, clean gowns, really different selection

Cons: need to make appointment in advance.

Posted 10/10/08

Thanks Designer Loft for enabling me to wear my dream dress! After months of searching, I was finally able to locate a dress that not only felt beautiful but comfortable as well. There was only one problem, I had always dreamed of my dress in a particular fabric. Not only were they able to persuade the designer to create my dress in the fabric I wanted, but they made it even more fabulous by creating a matching jacket and veil. I felt and looked like a movie star. Before settling for a typical wedding gown, see the selection and staff at this loft.

Pros: Interesting gowns, all possible accessories, knowledgeable staff

Cons: crowded on Saturdays

Posted 10/07/08

I was fortunate to have everything else in my wedding experience run smoothly, but this place was just awful. The dress I ordered from London arrived with a major defect and everyone - including the seamstress & salesperson - saw it, acknowleged it & tried to figure out how to fix it EXCEPT the owner. She just kept saying, "I don't see it, I don't see it" & then lied to me on the phone (after i insisted she get on the phone, since i was told, "sorry, she's with a client") saying the seamstress/designer she called in to give an opinion said it was fine - not knowing I had just spoke with this person & she informed me the dress should be sent back, which was honest, but impossible as this was 7 days before my wedding. The owner refused to take any responsibility & continued denying the situation. Finally after 2 additional fittings -which they didn't even want to schedule me for, even asking if i could come during my work hours as the owner didn't want to stay there to wait for me at 6:30 - the problem was solved. The owner was rude, insulting & condecending. Her staff wasn't much better with the exception of Eileen. I think you're better off spending a few extra dollars someplace else. If you must go here, pick up your dress and take it to PROFESSIONAL tailors, not these people who could not figure out how to fix the problem or admit there was one! The worst part wasn't that I might not have my dress (I know mistakes happen, that's life), it was that I felt taken advantage of & lied too & I was paying these people! I ignored the negative reviews posted here, I'm sorry I did. If I can save one person from going through what I did DAYS before the wedding, I'd be thrilled! So many other places would welcome your business & stand by their products, don't waste your time! Kicker, at the end, she says, "we capped your alterations at $300 & I'll honor that." I had it in writing, like she was doing me a favor! GO SOMEPLACE ELSE!

Pros: none

Cons: dishonest, overpriced for their level of service, pushy, unskilled, uncaring

Posted 09/23/08

This was the best party of my bridal experience! I had such a great time finding and fitting my dress at Designer Loft that I cannot recommend them enough. They made what could have been a really stressful experience fun! The selection was great and I worked with stylists throughout the entire process- seven months between ordering and finishing the dress. They even allowed a makeup and hair person to work with me at the shop and really guided me along the way. I looked amazing on my wedding day and I know it is largely due to the hardwork put in by the staff at Designer Loft.

Pros: unique selection, open late, no sales pressure

Cons: not open Sunday

Posted 09/16/08

This place does have a great selection of wedding dresses in all price ranges. I got my dress there in the winter. The staff was very helpful and friendly. And most important they were not pushy, unlike some other bridal stores I had been to. So, everything went fine until the alterations. I went for 4 fittings, the last one being 2 days before my wedding. It was still too big on me at the last fitting, so they had to do the alterations and have it be ready the day before my wedding which made me nervous. When I went to pick it up, something that I had asked to be fixed had not been, so the seamstress had to fix it while I stood there and my husband circled around the block in the car. When I put it on the day of my wedding, it was still too big, the bra that they had sewn into the dress was showing in the back, and the there were loose threads hanging all over the dress. I could not believe how sloppy the job was. And it cost $350 for the alterations. It put me in a bad mood right before I got married. I don't understand why they had me come in so close to my wedding date to get fitted. Maybe I should have said something about that, but I figured these guys are the professionals, they know best. But it was extremely stressful to leave it so close to the wedding and then to not have it be right was inexcusable. I was willing to recommend this place to people looking for a dress, but after the debacle with the alterations, I don't think I would. If you can get the alterations done at another place, I would say check out Designer Loft. If not, avoid it.

Pros: Good Selection of Dresses, Friendly Staff

Cons: HORRIBLE ALTERATIONS

Posted 08/24/08

I went to Designer Loft with very few expectations. I had already had several other appointments at other salons where I was thrown into an endless stream of strapless gowns when I had explained that I did not want this style. At Designer Loft, they listened. I found an amazing gown that I felt truly beautiful and comfortable in. My salesperson, Laura, was so knowledgable and patient, I can't thank her enough. She gave me honest advice as to which styles flattered me and more important -which did not. I will take all of my friends there for gowns. I completely trust their judgment and the selection is fantastic!

Pros: Great selection, terrific service, hip atmoshere

Cons: not open Sunday

Posted 08/22/08

I agree with other reviewers that the gowns, both for the brides and bridesmaid are amazing. And most of the attendants are warm and helpful. Most of them. Unfortunately one of the senior attendants (she might be the manager) is at best dismissive of clients (potential and actual) and at worst, untruthful and hostile to the point that we were considering a law suit, except that we were too close to the wedding to rock any boats (but maybe after the wedding ...) So far the gowns have been the most stressful and frustrating part of the wedding thanks to her.

Pros: Gown selection

Cons: Service

Posted 08/18/08

I wholeheartedly agree with the review below. I went to Wedding Atelier the day before and it was a far, far better experience. The consultant I dealt with at Designer Loft wasn't rude, but certainly didn't make any effort to make me feel comfortable. I'm not even sure the woman made eye contact, she just went through the motions as if on auto pilot with her main agenda to get me out of the salon. She never offered any helpful opinions, just handed me dresses and looked bored. At least I didn't feel any sales pressure, mostly because she didn't seem to care one way or the other. There were some nice dresses and prices seemed reasonable, but I really just wanted to get out of there as quickly as possible.

Pros: They let you take pictures in the gowns

Cons: Unfriendly, unattentive staff

Posted 08/12/08

I had an appointment for Saturday at noon. I got there an hour early because I finished up at my first location early, and they were more than happy to see me then. The staff was great! And the dresses were unbelievable! Every dress I tried on was amazing. I told the attendant, Laura, what I wanted, and she brought out eight dresses that were all exactly on point. They also let you look through the dresses yourself so my bridesmaids were able to pull some out for me to try as well. I was allowed to take pictures and drink champagne. Couldn't ask for a better experience.

Pros: great dress selection, friendly staff, cool location

Cons: none!

Posted 07/13/08

I thought the sales people were excellent and very positive. I went on a Friday night after work. they didnt rush me. They also offered advice like adding a sleeve. Most importantly they allowed for pictures to be taken and there was no hard sell.

Pros: places for friends/family to sit while you try on gowns, worked withijn my budget

Cons: only one bathroom.

Posted 05/06/08

I found Maureen helpful, patient, and easy to work with. She really listened to what I wanted to try on and didn't force anything on me like other bridal stores did. While the selection and atmosphere were good, I was scared off by some previous reviewers' comments about alterations being botched. Also, I can imagine this tiny place is a zoo on weekends since they only have a few dressing areas. Go during the week, be ready to buy if you find a sample (they had a good three racks), and fingers crossed on those alterations!

Pros: Nice selection, quiet atmosphere during the week

Cons: Could be bananas if busy

Posted 01/13/08

Designer loft has an interesting selection of gowns from designers all over the world. I got my gown from the sample sale selection and saved alot of money. It was half price. Looking forward to starting my alterations which are capped at a reasonable price. The jewelry selection was also different and can be made to customize your request. I am getting a cluster of flowers for my hair in stead of a veil.

Pros: large selection

Cons: Crowded on Saturday

Posted 12/05/07

This was the best bridal experience in NY! Really great staff, wonderful selection and extremely accomodating. My family and I loved the experience at Designer Loft. There was a slight wait but the staff was so attentive and really made us all feel at home. I found a dress exactly like I wanted - not strapless! My bridesmaids and mother also found great styles. The staff made sure we all looked incredible, including two of my maids that had to have maternity versions of their bridesmaid gowns. We are returning in two months to look for a bridal gown for my sister. The staff is so helpful and warm, I could not imagine going anywhere else.

Pros: Great selection, very knowledgable staff

Cons: not open on sundays

Posted 12/04/07

I stumbled upon Designer Loft after several nightmare experiences bridal gown shopping. Everyone was so attentive and nice. The gowns were beautiful and new and clean. I highly recommend the store for anyone searching for a gown or any accessories. The staff was really knowledgable and helpful. It was a great experience for both me and my family!

Pros: Great selection. Super nice service. Great prices.

Cons: Long wait on Saturdays.

Posted 08/16/07

I was shocked to look on this site and see all the glowing reviews for service at this place? then I noticed the dates. Whoever was responsible for such praise MUST have left. Our entire bridal party was treated as though we had come in just to use the bathroom and not for a fitting of a very expensive wedding gown and 8 bridesmaids dresses. Making terrible comments about weight (the bride was 5?10 and a size 7) and all of us feel like we were intruding .They also called the bride numerous times to tell her that the dresses weren?t going to come in on time and hadn?t been ordered when in fact they were and came in 1 day after the last of the threatening phone calls. When I went to pick up my bridesmaid dress they wouldn?t let me try it on there and I had to take it home only to discover they had given me the wrong dress. Beautiful dresses? Yes. Courteous and attentive service? Absolutely not.

Pros: The wedding gowns are gorgeous

Cons: nasty service

Posted 07/30/07

What a great find! I was so surprised by the selection and quality of the gowns. They had gowns from France, Israel, London and Italy! They had the best veils and accessories. If you want a gown that is beautiful and original, I strongly recommend visiting this little shop. The staff was really nice and knowledgeable. Not only I, but my mother and grandmother found the most beautiful dresses there.

Pros: Selection, Customization, Quality

Cons: Schedule

Posted 09/28/05

A bride is incredibly lucky to have the opportunity to set foot in a place like Designer Loft. During such a nerve racking time in your life, Designer Loft creates a feeling of calm and stability. I was actually able to work one on one with a designer and create my dream gown. The staff is incredibly attentive and will do back flips to accomodate even the most demanding NYC bride. I am so lucky I was able to work with them to create my dream gown for the most important day of my life.

Pros: attentive staff, great gown selection, perfect alterations

Posted 06/16/05