Famous 'Running of the Brides' Hits Chicago this Week

Filene's Basement's annual wedding gown sale attracts bargain hunting
brides-to-be from all over the Midwest

CHICAGO, July 22 /PRNewswire/ -- It's shopping as a full-contact sport.
And the women who take part in the "Running of the Brides" at Filene's
Basement in Chicago wouldn't have it any other way.
The latest bargain stampede takes place Friday at the Filene's Basement at
One North State Street at 8:00a.m. Many brides-to-be and their helpers
literally pounce on dresses priced from $249-$699 that might otherwise cost as
much as $9,000.
"We promise our vendors that we won't reveal the labels, but I can say
that these are well-known names featured regularly on the pages of popular
brides' magazines," said Anna Podore, the Basement's wedding gown buyer. Which
is why, when the doors open, there is a mad dash to the racks -- held up by
store employees so they don't topple -- and those racks are usually stripped
bare in under a minute. Then it's time for the women to strip -- down to
leotards, sports bras or even underwear -- to try on the gowns right on the
sales floor.
If it doesn't quite fit, a seamstress can do the trick, and the bride can
still come out way ahead. But what happens if a petite bride found she pounced
on a size 14 dress in pink chiffon instead of a size 4 in white satin? That's
when the real fun begins, as the women start bartering to find the right
designer or size. It's a ritual that turns Filene's Basement into an
old-fashioned bazaar.
Sale hours are 8:00am to 9:00pm. Checks, credit cards and cash are
accepted. For more information go to www.filenesbasement.com and click on
"Bridal Event."
CONTACT: Patricia (Pat) Boudrot
617-348-7273 or 617-680-3485

SOURCE Filene's Basement

Patricia (Pat) Boudrot for Filene's Basement, +1-617-348-7273 or
+1-617-680-3485