Category : Bridal Fashion Trends
Wedding Traditions: Bridal Fashion
Word association time. What image appears in your mind when you read these words? Pearls, veil, white. I imagine “bride” or “wedding” came quickly to mind. For those of us infused in Western culture, weddings and brides are closely associated with these traditional images. Even as a small child, I was following these traditions, receiving a pearl for every birthday to be added to my future wedding necklace. Yet, from where do these traditions arise? Curious, I did some research and discovered some interesting rituals behind three major elements of the bridal ensemble: the veil, the white dress and the pearls.
Purple Lemonade: Neon Wedding Inspiration Board
Fall may be upon us, but the fashion world is already buzzing with the hottest looks and colors for spring. Love the popular feather look for your wedding? Be a trend-setting bride by placing plumage in unexpected places like your bridal bouquet. Opt for the softer look of the ostrich feather. As for color, hot neon tones take center stage this spring, as does yellow, a timeless and uplifting hue. Pair neon purple and silver-grey for a surprisingly fashion-forward wedding look, and add a few yellow accents for some extra pop.
Photos by: The Dessy Group, WeddingWire, WeddingWire
Where to buy: Old Fashioned Drinking Jars; Contempo Royal Wedding Invitations Read more »
“Wedding Belles”: Vintage Couture Bridal Fashion
Tucked among the lush grounds of the Hillwood Estate & Museum, hides a treasure chest of vintage inspiration for wedding enthusiasts and brides-to-be. Intricate lace work and luxurious furs are among the several bridal fashions on display for the museum’s “Wedding Belles: Bridal Fashions from the Marjorie Merriweather Post Family, 1874-1958″ exhibit. Marjorie Merriweather Post, heiress of the Postum Cereal Company, made her way down the aisle four times between 1905 and 1958, leaving behind a collection of gowns that reflect changes in the time and the woman. The Hollywood inspired gown of Marjorie’s third wedding, a trailing rose velvet fabric trimmed in white fox fur, is particularly stunning. The classic gown of Marjorie’s youngest daughter, actress Dina Merrill, also stands as a testament to the family’s passion for finery, fashion and artistry.
The exhibition provides other nuggets of knowledge about trends in wedding fashion; for instance, brides used to incorporate orange blossoms into their ensemble as a sign of fertility.
The Bridal exhibit is located in a smaller house on the grounds and can be viewed until January 1. Make sure to tour the mansion which has several wedding displays as well, including the dinning room and another gown inspired by the ever fashionable Marjorie, pictured below.
Left: Hillwood Mansion Entrance; Right: Dining set as it was for Dina Merrill's wedding luncheon.
The mansion’s second story holds a few wedding treasures, one of which is this wedding gown from 1939. Read more »
Bridal Trunk Show Trends for 2011
In my last post on the bridal trunk show, I talked about what happens during your bridal trunk show appointment. Now, let’s talk about some of the latest wedding dress trends as seen at Christy’s Bridal.
Straps are back. More brides are choosing wedding gowns with thicker straps this season.
Bridal Gown Trends and Tips for 2011
- Fit and Flare. Fit and flare style wedding gowns are fitted from the top of the dress to below the hip. Carol, the owner of Christy’s Bridal, says this style is really hot this year.
- Fit and Flare Bridal Undergarments. When choosing a fit and flare style wedding dress, it’s essential to also choose the right bridal undergarments to provide a smooth, sleek look under your gown. The Amoré Seamless Tummy Control Spandex Slip is one option featuring a built in Lycra® control panel that minimizes and smooths the tummy area and hips.
- Straps. Forget strapless and even spaghetti straps. This year, straps are back. Carol has noticed this year that brides-to-be are opting more and more for a thicker shoulder strap on their bridal gowns. One reason may be the added feeling of security provided by straps designed to stay in place and hold the bride’s bodice together through the entire long wedding day. Some brides also prefer to maintain the option of wearing a regular bra with their bridal gown rather than a strapless bra.
- Strap Support. Carol says most of her strapless bridal gowns are designed with built-in supporters which do a great job of holding the bodice in place throughout the wedding. Proper wedding undergarments will also help you avoid any mishaps. Although the right bridal undergarment and built-in support features will help you hold it together on your wedding day, chances are you’ll just feel more secure with straps. If that’s the case, don’t forget to pick up a packet of Sticky Straps Dress Tape to hold those straps in place.
- Flowered Accents. This year, flowered accents are in. You’ll see flowers on shoulder straps, belts and even carpeting entire skirts. Read more »
Your Bridal Trunk Show Appointment
So now you know what a bridal trunk show is and you’ve made your appointment and the appropriate preparations. You’re probably wondering now what will actually happen when you arrive at your trunk show appointment. Here’s some information I’ve gathered to help you understand the trunk show process:
What happens at the appointment?
- Meet with the consultant. Discuss your desired price point and styles you are interested in. This will give the consultant a starting point for choosing gowns for you to try on.
- The consultant will bring out bridal gowns for you to try. Some of these will be wedding dress styles you requested in advance, while others will be selected by the consultant based on the information you gave her during your previous discussion.
- Try the gowns on. This will likely take place in front of a full-length, multiple view mirror so you can see how the gown looks from every angle. The consultant should also discuss the merits of each gown and provide honest feedback to help you find the wedding dress that is most flattering to your particular figure.
- Place your order. If you should happen to find that perfect wedding gown, the bridal shop consultant will measure you and place the order for your gown. Read more »
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by Carlson Craft