Price of dresses vs 2-piece set

SummerSahar · 06-20-2007, 02:40 PM

I was just curious....does anyone know why 2-piece costumes are typically more expensive than dresses? It seems to me it should be the opposite since there's more fabric/sequins/beading to cover on a dress, and there's so much less to worry about on a 2 piece costume. But for the most part, I see dresses being less expensive.
Just wonderin'...
:-)

Monica · 06-20-2007, 02:49 PM

I wonder if it is due to the construction of a bra? I know that is what most frustrates me in my (pathetic!) attempts to construct costumes. It is so labor intensive.

Also, two pieces are more popular. Maybe it is dictated by the market a bit?

Just a guess, though! I wear a lot of dresses and they seem expensive to me. :)

tahiradancer · 06-20-2007, 02:50 PM

My gut reaction would be that the understructuring on a dress is less time and material consuming than on a two piece. But that having been said, I haven't found the disparagy to be that great except for resale. Dresses not being as popular as bedlahs or two piece sets, they don't hold their value as well.

But that is my observation.

{{{HUGS}}}

perizaad · 06-20-2007, 03:36 PM

I've always wondered about this re: the price of bikinis! How can four triangles of fabric connected by string run so high?!? (I'm a tankini girl myself

)

SummerSahar · 06-20-2007, 03:42 PM

Or a thong from Vickie's.
HOW can a tiny bit of cotton/poly blend and a bit of elastic be worth $18 each? I wait for the semi-annual sales. Rummaging in a plastic bargain box at Vickie's for the $4 chonies is my idea of a good time.

perizaad · 06-20-2007, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trakgrl99

Rummaging in a plastic bargin box at Vickie's for the $4 chonies is my idea of a good time.

Been there!

Ainsley · 06-20-2007, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trakgrl99

HOW can a tiny bit of cotton/poly blend and a bit of elastic be worth $18 each?

Does anyone else get those Victoria's Secret Free Panty cards in the mail? I receive them twice a year, and I thank my lucky stars that I wound up on the right mailing list somehow!

Of course, they send them out with the expectation that you'll go in with gift card and come out with armloads of expensive lingerie, so I cringe whenever I bring my single free panty up to the register and they ask for my phone number so that they can record my purchase. Don't stop sending me free panties just because I'm too poor to buy anything else! Free Panty Days are the highlights of my year!

vilia · 06-20-2007, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by perizaad

I've always wondered about this re: the price of bikinis! How can four triangles of fabric connected by string run so high?!? (I'm a tankini girl myself

)

Because they can! Mark-up in the fashion industry is often pretty outrageous. I've heard sometimes 200% ... perhaps someone else has a more up-to-date figure!

tahiradancer · 06-20-2007, 06:20 PM

Actually 300% - 400% is pretty common because the know they will then mark them down. So if something whole sales for $1, the "list" price is $4 and the 50% savings is $2 they are still making a profit.

BTW - those little thongs from Vickies - when I worked for them a million years ago I was told that they cost about $1.83 to manufacture. They retailed for $15 each. . .

Now you know where they got the money to afford Tyra as a spokes angel. . .

{{{HUGS}}}

vilia · 06-20-2007, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tahiradancer

Actually 300% - 400% is pretty common because the know they will then mark them down. So if something whole sales for $1, the "list" price is $4 and the 50% savings is $2 they are still making a profit.

There ya go! I guessed I was probably low! It's an evil industry

jessedan · 06-20-2007, 07:15 PM

Now that we're on the subject of expensive costumes, I just (today) recieved my Pharaonics Christina skirt. Admittedly it's a beautiful skirt on the outside. But on the inside the workmanship leaves alot to be desired.I would at least expect the raw edges to be turned under and the stitching on the inside to be neat and well done. None of the seams are finished or overlocked.
The top part of the skirt is made out of lycra, and the casing at the waist is just the raw edge of the lycra fabric turned over and machine stitched into place. The wide elastic inside the casing turns over itself and won't lie flat, it seems the casing is too wide for the elastic.
I've seen this kind of workmanship in less expensive Egyptian costumes, but I would have thought something "designer" would be much better finished. This looks like it was made in a hurry.
Why ARE they so expensive? Surely it can't be for the excellent handwork.

Regards
Priscilla

Leyladancer · 06-20-2007, 10:01 PM

I could be wrong, but I bet the difference in price between a 2 piece and a dress is simple supply and demand. They just don't sell nearly as many dresses as they do 2 piece costumes. I majored in fashion merchandising at school, which is really a major in retail. If dresses suddenly became more popular than 2 pieces then the price of 2 pieces would come down and they'd be telling us that the dresses cost more because they entail extra fabric and beading, ya know?

amulya · 06-21-2007, 01:30 AM

But dresses have bras on the inside as well, so I guess that's the same amount of work. Seems even more difficult to me, to get it all fitting!

zumarrad · 06-21-2007, 02:40 AM

Quote:

Why ARE they so expensive? Surely it can't be for the excellent handwork.

What Leyladancer said. People want to be able to say they own a Bella or an Eman or a Pharonics, so they charge through the nose for them, because they can.

lizajuk · 06-21-2007, 02:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zumarrad

What Leyladancer said. People want to be able to say they own a Bella or an Eman or a Pharonics, so they charge through the nose for them, because they can.

this is true but I have to say the workmanship is excellent on mine despite the odd raw edge but the quality of the material and the appliques..just work out the cost of one of those "gems" over here..is really high.
It would also be nice to think maybe they get the best craftspeople and pay them more!

I think regarding dresses yes it is supply and demand and perhaps a dress takes a little less time although when you see some they are not far off 2 pieces and the intracity of these looks more demanding!
And yes the dresses have built in bras which just like the single bra often has to have its' final adjustment by you!
Back to well made for a minute: the best made costume I have is of course my (second hand) Abla! Another topic coming up?

Souzan · 06-21-2007, 06:02 AM

I own one Pharaonics, a dress. Bought used but unworn from an estate sale dealer. And it is beautifully finished on the inside. But I believe that this particular dress had to have been custom made because of the unusal design and because it came with a yard of extra fabric, a big tin of extra beads, sequins and jewels, and a length of extra beaded strap. Plus some lovely fitting details like extra exquisite handsewn tucks and darts put in after construction with the same thread as the main construction stiching. This level may not be the same as in mass construction.

Probably depends on the individual seamstress and the customer.

Souzan

ChristinaRizkallah · 06-21-2007, 12:44 PM

In my experience, when I have custom ordered costumes through Pharaonics and Eman, they charge the same exact rate regardless of whether I order a two piece or a one piece dress. Not sure about Hallah and Sahar because I have only ordered two piece costumes from them and rather than having a "flat" rate which Pharaonics and Eman apply with me, I have to get an individual quote per costume with the other designers.