Ah, Suw. Trying on dresses was pretty hard on the self-image for me. Most shops only keep sample sizes (i.e. really freakin' small) on hand. I lucked out and found one that doesn't do that, and they actually have a wide range of prices. Unfortunately, it is in Massachusetts. I'm not even there anymore for you to come visit. :-( I didn't want anything frilly either and it took a lot of INSISTING for them to bring me dresses without sparkly things. One thing I suggest: try on one or two things you don't like the look of. I know it sounds like bullcrap but I seriously did not want to try on the one I ended up choosing.