Lace bridesmaid dresses...

 

 

 

Lace is definitely the fabric of choice for 2013

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Head table or sweetheart table?

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Having a hard time deciding between a head table or a sweet heart table for your wedding reception? Read all about the pros and cons of both here.  I adore the look of sweethearts but love the practicality of a head table. My ideal situation is a head table with a maximum of 8 people including the bride and groom. ( bride + groom + maid of honor + best man + parents of bride & groom) Because honestly what good is it to have a maid of honor if she is sitting on another table from me! The most stylish sweetheart tables are half rounds although some rectangular or round tables can look just as good. The glass sweetheart table above is just too beautiful for words albeit not very practical since the table is tiny! I especially love the bride and groom chair covers; simple, chic and perfect!!!

A happy compromise between a head table and sweetheart would be a sweetheart table sandwich; ie a small sweetheart table with two round tables on either side seating the bridal party and parents.

Draped fabric and table skirts are the most common options for decorating the head table or sweetheart table combined with flowers, lace and even lights. The photos below show many different style options for sweethearts and head tables

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Stay stylish!
xoxo

Back to the basics

I think its safe to say that most people hate doing homework, but when it comes to bridal gown shopping, doing your homework is an an absolute must if you want to have a hassle-free experience. Chapter 2 of the gown shopping survival guide is all about research, research and more research, in an economy like this it makes perfect sense to conserve time and money by being a well informed buyer. Past article collections like Silhouettes simplified,  Fabricated,   Bridal Necklines 101, and Body Conscious Bride  are an excellent place to start, and here is quick summary of the basic information a bride needs to have before beginning gown shopping


SILHOUETTES SIMPLIFIED

• A-line - Classic and most commonly worn style.  Skirt flares out from the waist literally forming the shape of an A.

                                        Maggie Sottero A-line

• Ball gown-  Large full skirt joined to a fitted bodice, usually worn at formal weddings


                                                         Justin Alexander Ball gown

• Dropped waist- Waist line is lower than natural waist, often combined with an A-line or ball gown

Casablanca dropped waist

• Empire waist- Waist line is much higher than the natural waist, usually has a free flowing skirt, excellent for destination weddings

Mori Lee Empire Waist

• Fit and flare- Fitted sheath dress that gradually flares out in a trumpet shape. It resembles a combination of a dropped waist A-line and a modified mermaid

Galina Signature by Davids bridal fit and flare

• Mermaid- Fitted gown with a full skirt that flares out from around the knees or upper thigh. Its different from a fit and flare in that, the skirt is fuller, the fullness starts higher up and the shape is more defined. Usually there is seam where the skirt joins the bodice.

Vera Wang mermaid gown

FABRICATED
Fabrics really make all the difference. One main mistake that a lot of brides make is decide they hate a certain fabric based on one dress they've seen in that fabric.  Most fabric have an expensive silk version and a cheaper synthetic version.  I cant count the number of brides who've told me how much they hate taffeta because they tried on a cheap taffeta prom dress that was crunchier than burnt toast, but after being introduced to luxe silk taffeta fell deeply in love with it!

• Satin-  Glossy or matte high sheen fabric. Pros: drapes well, catches the light, glides smoothly. Cons: stains easily, very shiny, heavy weight, wrinkles easily

The very popular Adorae by Sottero & Midgely in Demir stretch satin

• Tulle- Light weight net fabric. Pros: Floaty, light weight, adds bulk to full skirts. Cons: Delicate and rips easily, Has the tendency to look cheap and childish

Amsale Tulle skirt

• Lace- Intricate woven patterned fabric. Pros: Interesting textured look  Cons: Tendency to look dated, delicate

Jim Hjelm

• Chiffon- Sheer crêpe -like fabric. Pros: light weight, floaty, wrinkle resistant, excellent for outdoor destination weddings. Cons: Tendency to look casual

Romona Keveza silk chiffon

• Taffeta- Crisp firm high sheen fabric. Excellent for structured gowns. Pros: drapes well and maintains its shape, great for bows and floral applique. Cons: cheaper versions of this fabric can be too hard and crunchy.

                                                            Angelina Faccenda taffeta bodice


• Shantung Affectionately dubbed the love child of satin and taffeta: high sheen crisp fabric. Pros: high sheen luxe look. Cons: Heavy weight.

                                                                                            Christos Silk Shantung
• Organza- Light weight soft net, shinier and silkier than tulle. Over used as an overlay or bottom layer for gowns. Pros: light weight Cons: Tendency to look rubbery.

Mori Lee Blu organza

Stay stylish and stay tuned

xoxo

Guilty as charged!

Indeed its been a while since my last blog entry, but I have not abandoned you my lovely readers! I blame the frumpy miserable weather that afflicted me with heaviest lethargic feeling.. but with warmer temperatures promised for the weekend and the mere fact that it's already friday I’m a new person, happy and blogging about my bridal lusts once more!

So… raise your hands if you have ever heard of mariankihogo.com.. if you haven’t then please bury your head in shame! it’s the most stylish place on the internet and I was happy I got the chance to do an interview with her this week. Marian is my older sister so I know first hand that even as a child she lived and breathed fashion! She would get us into trouble for convincing me to cut up my clothes and redesign them.. and we were constantly sewing avant garde designs made out of paper for our fashion forward barbies!! Any bride getting married should totally read Interview With A Stylist to understand why every wedding absolutely needs a stylist.

I’ve never made a secret of my loathing for the harsh winter, and I’ve never been happier that spring is a mere few weeks away! This inspired my article Start spring with a splash, dedicated to sunny bridesmaid dresses made out of printed fabrics. I know that for many brides the thought of a printed bridesmaid dress is enough to cause a nervous breakdown, its taboo, blasphemy, outrageous... Well welcome to the world of contemporary bridal wear.. fashion is no fun unless you push the boundaries and try unusual things! Yes some prints can be gaudy and just plain ugly but otherwise are chic and stylish like the full length satin asymmetrical gown by Thread shown below or the yummy bridal gown by Christos! The key with prints is to think about the body proportions of the 'maids because large prints aren’t flattering for petite or plus sized women as large prints can create the illusion of being shorter, wider and squat.. and we never want that!

Thread, Christos, Davids Bridal

Thank God it's friday and eagerly awaiting the red carpet gowns at the Oscars this weekend!

These are a few of my favorite things ♫...

Maria from the Sound of Music, might very well have been singing that song to me this week. I couldn’t seem to get the tune out of my head and all my bridal articles for the week were eventually inspired by it. The song might be slightly outdated but it doesn’t hurt to have a cheery tune in your head when winter comes too early and summer seems oh so far away.

"Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes.." I never quite understood why that was one of her favorite things, but it did make me ponder anew the countless number of flower girl dresses I’ve seen that should have been kept miles away from any wedding ceremony. People claim that it doesn’t really matter what the flower girls wear because they’re only children, and they’ll look cute no matter what. Not exactly the gospel truth. This is a wedding not any ordinary day and the flower girls are the leading ladies of the bridal party, (at least they lead the wedding march) surely they should look just as stunning as the bride and her maids? I think so.

Fabricated is a series dedicated to helping brides understand all the different bridal fabrics, which in turn helps them choose the perfect dress. This week the focus was on Satin, which in case you didn’t know, also goes by the name liquid gold. Okay so thats not strictly true but it should be. Certain types of silk satin are so luscious to look at and touch, its a wonder it wasn't named silky gold.

Are people still oblivious to the fact that there is more to bridal fashion than a strapless ball gown? The answer is a shocking yes. It might be blasphemy to some brides, but cowl neck bridal gowns do exist and are authentic.

I’ve always liked the simplicity of cowl neck dresses, they are effortlessly sexy, sophisticated and modest all at once, they have a 1950s elegance about them and still manage to look modern and fresh.

Well I'm thankful that its friday and I plan to love every minute of the weekend. Hope you all have a great weekend too.

Let there be Lace!

Lace is the most intriguing of all fabrics because of the way it is crafted with holes and gaps deliberately woven into the fabric to create an interesting pattern. Cheaper versions of lace are woven into regular fabric, and the holes are cut out of the fabric later. Lacy patterns are often a combination of floral and leafy designs but the options are endless. In contemporary fashion, lace is mainly seen in the lingerie department, although it makes occasional appearances as trimming on blouses and party dresses. Many women stay away from lace because of the myth that lace tends to look dated and dreary but the truth is, there are so many different types of lace made out of completely different fibers such as silk, cotton, linen or synthetic fiber; thus while some types of lace may invoke the vintage spirit of previous centuries, there are other types of lace with a more contemporary appearance.





Lace is usually light weight with a sheer or transparent quality to it, so it regularly used as an overlay with a heavier fabric underneath it. The delicate beauty of lace has resulted in it being used as trimming or added embellishment on wedding dresses. Brides have the option to go for a gown with all over lace, or choose the simpler alternative of lace detailing on portions of the gown such as the hemline, neckline or waist. Lace adds a unique textured quality to garments unlike any other fabric, it is frequently incorporated into many other bridal accessories such as veils, gloves and wraps. Many modern bridal designers add lacy elements to their gowns in an effort to blend past and present trends, resulting in timeless pieces that can be worn for years to come.

FABRICATED. Understanding bridal fabrics: taffeta

When brides go in search of their dream gown, they want to have a good time. The last thing they need is a thunder storm of unfamiliar words and terms that make the whole process seem tedious and confusing. Keeping up with the endless combinations of fabrics involved in a wedding can be quite overwhelming, but it no longer has to be thanks to my fabric encyclopedia otherwise known as FABRICATED.

Taffeta is a crisp woven fabric with a medium sheen and fine cross rib. The word TAFFETA always reminds of me of sweet and chewy taffy, and the fabric is just as yummy as it sounds! It is said to have originated from Persia, although the main producer of taffeta today is India. It was originally woven from fine silk, but modern versions of the fabric make use of synthetic fibers such as nylon too. Some versions of taffeta are deliberately creased or crinkled for a more aged effect. It usually catches the light in a dramatic way with its quiet luster, and makes a hushed rustling sound when the bride moves. The firm nature of taffeta makes it the perfect choice for brides who want a more structured look for their gowns. Here are some of my favorite taffeta gowns.

To read more of my bridal articles, visit my pages on examiner.com:

• National Bridal Examiner page
  
• Newark Bridal Examiner page