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Dressing Room Disaster

I have my 20 year class reunion this weekend. I had told myself that I was not going to buy a new outfit for the reunion. But Saturday afternoon I looked through my closet and decided that I may need to get something for the Saturday night event. Steve worked all day Saturday. He called around 6:30 to say he was on his way home. I told him that I really wanted to go to the mall when he got home and see if I could find a dress. He suggested that we all go out to eat pizza and then he would just drop me off at the mall and entertain the girls as I shopped.
I told him that I wanted him to take me to Francesca's and I would look there and we could go home. I had seen on the internet that they were having a sale. I thought if I can't find a dress there, then I don't need one.
They had some really cute items. I found one dress that I thought was reunion worthy. I took it to the dressing room. As I put the dress over my head, I noticed that it was VERY VERY VERY tight around my head and shoulders. It was a large. I liked the dress, but determined that my arms were too fat for a sleeveless dress. Then I TRIED to take the dress off. I examined the situation in the mirror and saw that the dress had a zipper on the side. I thought, "oh that was the problem." But the zipper only unzipped in the middle portion of the dress. It did not unzip all the way up to the top. So, the dress was still TIGHT and did not give a bit. I WAS STUCK IN THE DRESS.
I began trying even harder to get out of it. I could not! There was NO WAY it was going back over my shoulders. I was mortified. I began biting my lips and sweating.
I would look up and say,"Jesus ,please help me."
I decided I had three options:

Call one of the girls working there and tell her I was stuck in the dress. (CHAWING)

Rip the dress to get it off, buy it and then take it to an alteration lady to be repaired. ( I actually attempted to rip it. It would not budge.)

Wear it out and tell the worker that I would just wear it out because I was going to a party in a few minutes. (How weird would that be?)

I don't think anyone has ever been in a dressing room as long as I was wrestling with this dress.

I knew Steve was wondering what in the world I was doing in the store so long.

I am happy to report that I did get out of the dress. I pulled it over my head and I actually heard my shoulder pop. It was sore for the rest of the night. I came out in hives and a sweat. My hair was damp from the sweating I had done.
Needless to say I hung the dress back on the rack and told Steve to drive me home.

Comments

Erica said…
Oh no! Glad you got out okay, and also glad to know other people get in strange situations like I do sometimes;-) Good luck finding something to wear!
I am laughing so hard right now. Poor Laurie. If it makes you feel any better, I think that their clothes run very small.
Oh, how terrible! Panic has swept over me a few times when I couldn't get out of something I tried on...it is NOT a good feeling! No matter what you end up wearing I know you will look beautiful.
Cherit said…
I can totally relate. I got stuck in a skirt and had to have the sales lady cut me out!! My mom was with me. We both laughed so hard afterwards. I'm glad everything worked out for you!
Kelly said…
I'm with Amanda - Francesca's depresses me because i think their clothes run very small (and VERY short - as in their dresses are more like shirts).
And P.S. You are the funniest person alive!
Heather said…
This SAME thing has happened to me....and I sweated more in that ten minutes than I thought humanly possible!!! And prayed more, too!!! :)
Giggles said…
Thank you for sharing. It brought back a memory from last year when my Mom was trying on Easter dresses. She got stuck and we started laughing so hard that made things worse! The memory is very precious to because my Mom passed away this past March. So glad you were able to get out! :)
I felt so sorry for you reading this, and yet you told it in such an amusing way, it sounded like something that could only happen on TV!

When your shoulder recovers, I hope you can look back and have a good laugh!

Claire
the day's said…
honey, i almost peed my pants with laughter...but not for the reason you think. the EXACT same thing happened to me...AT FRANCESCA'S!!!!! i was soooo "chawed" that i haven't been able to go back since, and every time anyone even mentions they got something there i turn bright red! :)
Melissa said…
OH my gosh! The same thing happened to me at Francesca's! i love that store, but seriously can you make the clothes a little bigger?! And i was in the dressing room for a good 20 minutes trying to peel the dress off! So glad i am not the only one!
Jill said…
Laurie, this made me laugh SO HARD, but only because I wrote a post exactly like this!! Hahaha! Here's the post where I experienced the same thing.

http://averittbabyjourney.blogspot.com/2009/01/it-was-made-of-some-sort-of-soft-silky.html
Kimberley said…
I think this has happened to a lot of us. :)

p.s. i've never even bothered trying on their clothes, I stick with the jewelry.
R said…
oh yes. been there! mine was a gorgeous red strapless full-length formal for sorority formal when i was in college. i called a sales associate who was in the dressing room for help, and she was actually mad at me! like it was my fault the zipper got stuck! i couldn't believe it.
Odie Boggs said…
So funny, Laurie, Thanks for sharing!! Never had it happen at the store. I've been stuck in a few thing at home, and had to cut out of them. I can see it happening to me though!
Laurie, I felt so bad for you, but it was a funny post too! I don't know why they do those middle of the dress zippers. I've never shopped at Franchesca's & after reading the comments about their sizing, I think I'll just stay away!
Faith said…
Oh girl, this got me so tickled! You are a hoot. I'm so glad you made it out of the dress with little damage! I know you will look fabulous for your reunion!
Betsy said…
Oh my goodness....Laurie, I am sorry but that is hillarious!! I've had that happen before and it IS a panicky feeling!!

Hope you ended up finding a dress you liked!
Lauren said…
Oh, Laurie.. Bless your heart!! How I wish I could have been a fly on the wall, haha!! :)
Angie said…
I have decided that Francesca has adorable clothes but they are made TINY. I have had some of the same probs...don't feel bad ha!
KatieB. said…
Haha! That's so funny. I've totally been there with tops before. Some things are just too tight these days. Have you looked at Macy's? They are having a big sale right now and I found a cute dress yesterday that was 40% off!
His Doorkeeper said…
I would have had a major panic attack because those dressing rooms are so small to begin with!!! And to know your hubs is waiting on you makes it worse!!

So sorry for the incident but I bet you will look beautiful at your reunion no matter what you wear!!
Green Girl said…
That has happened to me more than once for sure!
Laurie, I would love to drop you an email but I cannot find your email address on your site, is it possible for you to send it to me?
Thank you so much! Happy Monday!
Mrs. H said…
bless your heart! that sounds like something that would happen to me!
Michelle said…
I was dying while I was reading this! I felt so panicked for you, but laughed too! As you can tell by your comments...we've all been there!!! Thank you for sharing!
Sloan said…
hahaha This reminds me of the time I got stuck in a pair of jeans at the Gap while in college with my dad. The threads in the button hole came loose and got wrapped around the button. I asked a sales girl for a pair of scissors, but she couldn't find a pair. Finally, I asked my dad for his knife. A few days later, I saw the sales girl on the UGA bus and she said hey to me. SO EMBARRASSING! I can totally relate.
kim_brough said…
Eh, that makes me clausterphoic even reading that! Glad you didn't get stuck forever!
Kellie said…
This is so funny! I'm sure not for you at the time but, it sure makes for a great story now!! I have to add that I also have been stuck in a dress at Francesca's. I was able to get out of it in about a minute after pulling out some Cirque du Soleil moves. HA It makes me feel better knowing that I am not the only one that has had that panic in the dressing room. I have never commented before, but, I just had to say that your story started my day out with laughter and a smile!
Melissa said…
I hate to say that I'm laughing at your misery over here, but I am. My sister and I went to the prom dress section at Macy's one day while my Mom was Christmas shopping and I tried one on at got stuck. I am a little clostaphobic (sp?) and I freaked out in the dressing room and made my sister yank it off in a hurry. I was sure it was going to rip and I'd have to buy it, thankfully it didn't, beause what would a 20 something yr old have done with a big ole prom dress!?? :)
Kandi West said…
This made me laugh so hard but then feel so bad for you, too. Because I have had the SAME thing happen to me. I can't remember if it was at Francesca's but I know it could have been there b/c THEIR CLOTHES ARE IN NO WAY SIZED CORRECTLY. It is ridiculous. I also got stuck in a silk top that I bought from Boden last summer that no longer fits me and this was at home. I could not get out off it until Lance came home from work. It was half on, half off. Thank goodness this was AFTER work. Love reading your blog!
Melissa Miller said…
I'm laughing because this would so happen to me Laurie. I am not liking my upper upper arms right now. I'm trying to work on that.

I hope you find one soon!
~Melissa :)
Ruth Ann said…
I had the same thing happen to me last year! I have fibromyalgia, and my arms were getting so weak from trying to get it pulled up over my head! lol But I thought the exact same thing. I almost took my cell phone and called my husband to come help me pull it over my head! It was very embarassing!
Anonymous said…
Oh gosh Laurie, I would have been just as embarassed as you--BUT I am so glad you got out of the dress!! I have been to a Francesca's one time, and the only thing I bought was a purse because I couldn't get anything in that store over my ankles if I tried!! I hope you find a dress, and have a great time at your reunion!
Katie said…
Oh, Laurie. Glad you are ok. ; ) How is your shoulder!? Thanks for the laugh.
Kathy said…
Laurie,
I have followed your blog since your finger infection. I don't usually comment, (sorry) but I just had to tell you that your sense of humor just cracks me up. Don't you find that life (and motherhood) would be so much harder if we couldn't laugh at ourselves?
Your blog always makes me smile.
Have fun at your reunion.
:)
Kathy
Lisa said…
I am laughing so hard right now...this has happened to me and I start to panic. I hate when things do not fit right. I think you will look great for you reunion no matter what you wear...you don't look like you would be having your 20 year reunion. Have a good time!

Lisa :)
Anonymous said…
BAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!! thanks for the good laugh! glad you made it out w/o ripping it! i love that store!
Run26.2Mom said…
That is too funny!!! Thanks for the laugh!
Have fun at your reunion.
Susan
Run26.2Mom said…
That is too funny!!! Thanks for the laugh!
Have fun at your reunion.
Susan
Unknown said…
It is their clothes at Francesca's! I think they are so cute, but they are made so small! That has happened to me too!
Oh I have totally been there too! The last time it happened I started to panic. I was in TJ Max and would be beyond mortified to call for help half nekkid! I too finally got it off but for a minute I was sweating it! All the more reason for zippers that go up the back rather than side middle.
The Hensons said…
My sister and I laughed so hard reading this that we also cried! Loved it because we can all totally relate!
Kim said…
I love Francesca's!!! I'm happy to know you got the darn dress off! This story is hilarious!!!! Seriously...HILARIOUS!!!
Alice said…
Laurie, you don't know me, but I think that you are so funny and I love reading your blog! This had to have been your funniest post ever! I actually read it on the day it was posted and laughed so hard and today, I just had to read it to my husband and we both laughed till we cried! I have totally been in this situation! Thanks for a great post!

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