The wedding's over: Now what with your bridesmaid dress?

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They all say it.

"You can totally wear this again!" or "Just have it altered and wear it later as a cocktail dress!"

But even if the bride picks out a beautiful bridesmaid dress -- and not an atrocious mess of iridescent taffeta -- what are the chances that you'll ever wear it again?

The fabulous Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, recycles her outfits and we call her thrifty, but I hesitate to wear my bridesmaid dresses again -- at least for now. Most of my married and soon-to-be married friends run in the same circle, so someone is bound to notice if I wear a bridal dress again. And even if I wear the dress to an event where that group is nowhere to be seen, it's unlikely that I'll avoid detection thanks to Facebook.

If you have a bridesmaid dress that you love, maybe you can just keep in in the back of the closet for a while, allowing for some time to pass and people to forget the details of your friend's wedding. Or wear it now, and make it look less bridesmaid-y by adding a cardigan or belt. Or -- as your friend will almost certainly suggest -- if it's floor length, have it cut short.

But if a formal dress is just taking up space in your closet, give it to someone who'll really appreciate it. Take it down to your local Goodwill or consider giving it to a prom dress drive. In the Charlotte area, Kiss 95.1's Gown Town event collects dresses, shoes and accessories to give special prom nights to girls living on a budget.

But then again, maybe you can't part with a bridesmaid dress, even if you'd never dream of wearing it again in public. Tuck it away and keep it for posterity. My mom saved her bridesmaid dresses, and they became part of my dress-up collection when I was a little girl. I remember many a tea party wearing a hot pink, puffy-sleeved, full-skirted dress. Now I realize the truth: The bride clearly had it out for her bridesmaids. But it was perfect for a princess.

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