Tag Archives: wedding dresses

Favorite Wedding Dresses for Spring 2013

Posted on April 18, 2012 | Leave a comment

This week is bridal market.  And since I don’t have a wedding to plan or help to plan you might wonder why am I click, click, clicking through Brides.com?

Look at these dresses and you might understand.

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All images from Brides.com

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Bridal Trends: Fall 2012

Posted on October 20, 2011 | Leave a comment

I have been married for nearly two years and for the past week I have reviewed more than 800 wedding dresses!  800!  (It is borderline insane.)  Anyway, the research came after Bridal Market, akin to New York Fashion Week for weddings.

I have identified many trends, and as a reminder, my rule for identifying a trend is that it has to appear at least three times, three times a charm (and a trend)!

Let’s walk down the fashion aisle together!

Color and Prints: The runway for Fall 2012 showed a lot of beautiful gowns that went far beyond the traditional bridal white.  I loved the unique patterned treatment in the Seeing Spots collection for a modern and sophisticated bride.  The dresses in Golden Moment stand apart for the bride who wants to make a statement.  The dresses in Black Magic  are for the bride who is fashion forward while abandoning tradition.

 

Shape and Design:  There were a lot of very specific construction trends I identified.  Starting at the top, several designers showed visible corset and boning construction, see The Core Set, in a way that was at once sexy and sophisticated.  The Mini to the Max collection is a favorite new trend, and is definitely for the bride that wants to stand out, it would make for a fabulous party dress.  The Tiering Down set  showed the very common trend of full skirts assembled from layers of cascading handkerchief hemmed chiffon and silk.  Thigh Do is a strongly contrasting look, cut close to the body – but not tight – the emphasis of this trend is all in the slit.  The Princess Bride set is significantly reminiscent of a famous bride from this year, it is full of volume, but still conservative and demure in the styling.

 

Details: Lots of trends were found in the little details.  A favorite new trend is in the Shoulder Moment, the design showcases the bride’s collar (always flattering) with a demure half sleeve in delicate lace.  Another very popular trend was the use of sheer fabric and netting to create illusion necklines and panels, as seen in the It’s an Illusion set.  Pockets are back, I don’t personally love this trend, because no bride is actually holding her keys in her dress, but I can appreciate a trend in Corner Pocket(3x is the rule).  Lastly, texture is key in the Light as a Feather trend; in seasons past runways were filled with oversized creped roses, I like the softer feather trend in this trend.

 

Do you want to say “I Do” to any of these trends?  Tell me in the comments!

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Posted in Fashion Inspiration, fashion week, Her Closet, Her Weddings + Events, Wedding Fashion

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Getting Married, for Less

Posted on January 19, 2011 | Leave a comment

Weddings can become expensive, like shockingly so.  While there are many different types of weddings from the courthouse to the beach to the grand ballroom, they all come with a price and these days there is always a way to do it for less.

When shopping for the wedding dress of your dreams the sticker shock can become a bit of a nightmare.  New online flash sale site, The Aisle New York, has worked with the best in the wedding industry to offer serious discounts on wedding finery including new designer gowns, shoes, veils, jewelry and other accessories.  You’ll be hard pressed to find a better deal with dresses retailing for up to 50%+ off.
Rubia Gown by Junko Yoshioka, Aisle Price: $1590, from $3650
The Aisle offers specific sizing guides, and returns for up to 5 days and return insurance.  The dress of your dreams, for a steal!

Don’t forget about your friends, and the many other occasions for dressing up when you get married.  My favorite site to browse, for the events and parties not on my calendar, RenttheRunway.com has now joined the wedding party.

The new wedding section offers suggestions for the bride dresses to take her from her engagement party to the honeymoon, all from today’s top designers at often 15% of the regular price.  The rental option lets you live like a star with new dresses showing up all the time, without having to pay star prices.



Rent the Runway also has terrific options for bridesmaids, whether you want to go the traditional route or high fashion, they can also get a fabulous look, for much less.

Saving money, is always in fashion!

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To Match, or Not to Match, That is the Question

Posted on July 28, 2010 | 2 comments

As first a bridesmaid and then a bride, I know that picking out bridesmaids dresses can be tough.  As a bridesmaid, you want something wearable and flattering, something not budget busting, and to please the bride.  As a bride, I wanted something my friends could afford, would like and that they would also feel beautiful in.  

I think at one point I was open to them all wearing different styles, and buying off the rack and was choosing between purple, brown, gray or black – also known as aubergine, espresso, ebony and pewter — ahh, weddings! 

Somehow the indecisive bride and her completely supportive friends came to one decision.
Five beautiful Bridesmaids, Image by Ashley Colhouer
They looked stunning, but, if I were to do it again, I might do it all differently, as in encourage the bridal party to wear a dress that reflects their style.
They could choose a variety of different styles within a color family;
Cheyenne Schultz Photography, via Ruffled Blog

Or, choose all different styles within the same aesthetic or theme, like Christina Hendricks’ bridesmaids did for her vintage, dare I say Mad Men wedding;

Christina Hendricks Wedding Party in InStyle Magazine, via OnceWed.com 
Or they could all pick dresses that are equally glamorous or equally high fashion, like the most famous set of high fashion bridesmaids did in 2008.
The Wedding That Never Was, Sex and The City: The Movie
Creatively styling your bridesmaids will often allow your friends to buy “off the rack” from a dress store or designer that they know and like (and are more likely to wear again), and will likely save them from having to wear a dress that is sized larger than they are (as almost all bridal wear is sized differently) and to save on alterations.  Good times to shop middle of Fall – (October/November) for Holiday wear and immediately following the holiday season (January) for the best selection and sales respectively.

May all your friends be fabulous in no matter what they wear, I know mine were, and are!

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Posted in Advice, Her Weddings + Events, Wedding Fashion

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