Second Moment

Second Moment is a secondhand bridal shop at Bruggweg 9 in Dornach, in the canton of Solothurn. It is run by two sisters, Melanie and Nadia, and sells preloved and some new, unworn wedding dresses, registry-office and maternity dresses, bridesmaid dresses, bridal shoes and accessories. Its homepage describes it as a lovingly furnished secondhand bridal shop with a family atmosphere, offering "nachhaltige Brautmode für jeden Anlass", sustainable bridal wear for every occasion: church, registry office and maternity. The most useful thing for a buyer is that every dress in the online shop carries a price, measurements and a condition grade.

The condition grades

The shop sorts every dress into one of its own categories, and the definitions are published:

• Kat. A: new, unworn, not altered, flawless.
• Kat. B: new, unworn, altered, flawless.
• Kat. C: worn, altered, minimal signs of wear that are not visible at first glance.
• Kat. D: worn, altered, obvious signs of wear that may be possible to hide.
• Kat. E: worn, altered, defective, suggested for theater, a bachelorette party or a "trash the dress" shoot.

The site says the dresses are checked carefully and thoroughly and graded to a standard, and that you can rely on the price being appropriate for the dress. For a bride shopping from a distance, the grading is the useful part: a Kat. A or B dress is effectively new.

Prices

The online shop lists prices for each piece, including VAT, plus shipping and packaging. The price filter runs from CHF 20 to CHF 1'995. Examples from the listings: a new, unworn flowing A-line with a chiffon skirt at CHF 1'336, a flowing A-line maternity dress at CHF 718.40, an A-line with a tulle skirt at CHF 1'175, a fit and flare with lace at CHF 1'350, a flowing A-line with long sleeves at CHF 715, and an A-line with tulle skirt and long sleeves at CHF 1'995. At the lower end there are separates and short dresses, such as a calf-length skirt with 3D flowers at CHF 300, a lace crop top at CHF 145, wide-leg trousers at CHF 280 and cocktail dresses from CHF 60.

Some dresses can be ordered with add-ons: a blazer for CHF 50, a hoop petticoat (Reifrock) for CHF 75 or CHF 83, or a stole for CHF 80.

What the stock looks like

The shop says its range changes constantly and is worth checking regularly. The filters show how broad it is. Categories include new arrivals, wedding dresses, registry-office dresses, petite, bridal shoes, maternity dresses and bridesmaid dresses. Cuts range from many A-line variants through princess, fit and flare, straight and asymmetric cuts, corsets, knee-length and calf-length dresses and wrap-style maternity dresses. Colors go well beyond white and ivory, with champagne, blush, sage, gold, silver, navy and black among them. Original sizes in the filter run from 32 to 50 and XS to 5XL, with a few US and Spanish sizes. Because each dress is a single piece, availability in your size is a matter of what is in stock at the time.

Buying: what the shop promises

The inventory page lists the advantages of buying here. All dresses are online with exact measurements and ratings. You can try your favorite on in the shop first and take it home directly (fittings by appointment only). If you like more than one dress, you save yourself many appointments and several journeys, since they are all in one place. The shop points to a wide choice of bridal, maternity and registry-office dresses, good access by car and public transport, a 2-hour slot reserved for each appointment, and a range of payment options.

For sellers, the menu has a page on how it works and on commission (So funktioniert's / Kommission), so a bride with a dress to pass on can also consign it here.

Appointments and getting there

Opening is by appointment. The contact page says appointments are offered on Fridays between 18 and 21 and on Saturdays between 9 and 17, and other days on request. Each booking reserves 2 hours.

Getting there is described on the contact page. There is no parking in front of the shop, but there is parking at Nepomuk Parking or at Dornach station. By public transport, you get off at Dornach station and reach the shop within a few meters. You can call on +41 77 465 55 91, email info@secondmoment.ch or use the contact form, and there is a separate booking page for fittings.

The sisters

The About page introduces the owners as two sisters who turned their passion for fashion, creativity and organization into a job. Melanie trained as a commercial employee and went on to qualify as a wedding and event manager. Nadia trained as a medical practice assistant and head physician's secretary, then qualified as a makeup artist and theater makeup artist. They call themselves the perfect duo for finding your wedding-day dress. The site also has a guestbook and a virtual tour.

What the site does not settle

• Languages. The site is in German only and does not say whether appointments can be held in English.
• Alterations. The grades say many dresses have already been altered, but the site does not say whether the shop alters dresses after purchase or refers you to a seamstress.
• Shipping. Prices are "zzgl. Versand&Verpackung", plus shipping and packaging, but the rates and whether the shop ships outside Switzerland are not shown on these pages.
• Returns. The site links to general terms (AGB), which are the place to check before buying a dress without trying it on.

Who it suits

Second Moment suits a bride who likes the idea of a preloved dress, wants to know exactly what condition it is in and what it costs before she travels, and can make a Friday evening or a Saturday appointment. The station on the doorstep makes it an easy visit without a car. The spread of prices, from CHF 20 at the bottom of the filter to CHF 1'995 for the dearest gown, covers a wide range of budgets, and the maternity, petite and registry-office categories are useful niches.

The caveats: single pieces mean your size may not be there, the site is German only, and the limited appointment windows need planning. Checking the online listings first, then booking a slot for the specific dresses you want to try, is the efficient way to use it.