Calgary: Closet clean-outs go high tech

Courtesy of Dresses Worn Once
Courtesy of Dresses Worn Once

Did you ever see the movie 27 Dresses? You know, Katherine Heigl plays Jane, the ultimate bridesmaid with a year chock full of weddings. With each looming nuptial she’s forced to buy an overpriced gown, which the bride insists she’ll wear again…well you and I both know that’s never the case. Now imagine a high-end virtual consignment store, devoted to buying and selling that dress you’ll only ever wear once.

Well, Calgary-based Aileen Abid is one step ahead of the garb game, relaunching Dresses Worn Once Online this past February (dresseswornonceonline.com). The user-friendly site offers a variety of worn once, pre-loved frocks. So whether you’re hunting for that breathtaking bridal gown or jaw-dropping cocktail number for the holidays, Abid has you covered. With a click of the mouse you can explore dresses from across North America, search by dress category or even post an ad describing exactly what your inner fashionista desires .

Spring cleaning never sounded so good. What a brilliant opportunity to sell off your gently used gems and pass along the amazing feeling you got the night you first slipped it on. Abid offers a free 30 day listing for each item posted and with a small fee of $9.86, you can keep your dress on the site until it sells. One serious perk: DWOO contributes a portion of all profits to a handful of charities and if you’d like your contribution to go somewhere specific, Abid will do her best to make it happen.

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