Trendy Wednesday: You are the Statement

Trendy Wednesday: Jenna Paniccia

You are a statement piece. This is your day to be the center of attention and create a day filled with inspiring, jaw dropping details. Brides are always looking for ways to be different and do something that is unexpected. The creative aspect always falls into place, but the wedding dress is the true attention stealer of the day. With so many designs and silhouettes to choose from, the options can sometimes be a bit overwhelming.

My suggestion is to pick a few simple silhouettes that you gravitate towards. When you have an idea of the type of dress you are looking for finding the details that adorn the dress is the easy part. Also, it’s a smart idea to pick a few designers that tend to capture your attention. By narrowing down types of dresses you like and designers who understand your vision you save a lot of time when trying on dresses at the bridal boutique.

I am guilty of ripping apart magazines with inspirational pictures. This is such a great way to know exactly what you are looking for when wedding dress shopping. If you have a set of pictures that you love as well as some that you are not interested in at all, picking out a selection will be much easier. Once you have narrowed down a few dresses that you could see yourself getting married in make sure to try on a veil or hat. This is really where you can be creative and over-the-top or simple and traditional. Finishing off the look helps to envision what your pictures will look like and will help visualize the mood of your big day.

Remember that this is your big day. Family members, friends, and bridesmaids all tend to have very strong opinions about your wedding dress. Although their opinions are helpful, you have to be the one who looks and feels amazing in the dress. Make sure you can move around easily, you feel comfortable for a long period of time, and most of all make sure the dress takes your breath away.

Photo Credit: etsy.com, blissbookimages.com, lovemydress.net, zonewedding.com, bellethemagazine.com, tbdress.com, designingreations.blogspot.com

Fashion Fever: Say Hello to the High-Low

Fashion Fever by Corine Brosseau

With Spring on its way and weather very slowly getting warmer, hemlines are sure to be creeping up as well!  There’s no better way to welcome Spring than with the latest bridal trend, the high low wedding dress.  High low hemlines became popular in women’s wear last year and the trend is now making its way through the wedding world, too!

 

For brides who can’t seem to choose between the drama of a full length gown and the flirtiness of a shorter look, the high low hemline is the perfect compromise.  Cut short in the front and full length in the back, it is truly the best of both worlds.  As an added bonus, this fun fusion hemline allows you to show off your wedding shoes and your fancy footwork as you dance at your reception.

Designers have taken this trend and run wild with it.  From sexy to dramatic to a little bit boho, there is an interpretation of this unique hemline for every bride’s fashion preferences.  Pnina Tornai, in her trademark sexy style, created an over the top silhouette with a corseted bodice, plenty of bling, and a full skirt that makes you want to spin.  Claire Pettibone, on the other hand, took the trend in a more subtle direction with a vintage vibe.  She paired a slim, yet flowing skirt with a retro illusion neckline for an understated glamour that really speaks to her aesthetic as a designer.  Jim Hjelm’s take on the style is a bit more princess-y with a sweeping full train and feminine embellishments at the waist.

We’re really loving the high low trend for spring and can’t wait to see how brides interpret it on their special days.  Would you say hello to high low for your wedding?

Fashion Fever: 3D Flowers

Fashion Fever: By Alyssa Aiola

Flowers on your wedding day are a given. It’s a tradition that even dates back to ancient times. In ancient Greece and Rome, the bride and groom wore a garland around their necks, symbolizing new life, hope and fertility. Traditional Celtic bouquets included ivy, thistle and heather. The garland was not made of flowers but of strong-smelling herbs and spices. The strong-smells were thought to have mystical powers and meant to keep away evil spirits. In ancient China, orange blossoms were used to represent purity, chastity and innocence, while Sarcasen brides carried them as symbol of eternal love and fidelity.

         Now lets fast forward to the most recent bridal shows we saw this year in 2013. All over the runway designers are showcasing styles that reveal a new take on this time less idea: the 3D Flower.  These exaggerated floral details that appear to be in full bloom are popping up everywhere on trims, bodices, and even entire skirts.  You can find this trend all over the runway  in all different styles from slim modern looks to full blown over the top gowns.

 (Left To Right) Liancarlo, Kenneth Pool,  Kevin Hall,  Judd Waddell, Claire Pettibone 

Liancarlos dress looks like a piece of artwork and with a blush shade keeps things feminine and glamourous. This elaborate Kenneth Pool gown takes the trend to a whole new level with a full skirt of flowers, and the fitted, beaded bodice keeps it from coming overwhelming. This dreamy halter gown by Kevin Hall is light and airy and would be the perfect fit for the demure, romantic bride while Judd Waddell takes more of a modern approach to the 3D flower.Claire Pettibone’s whimsical dress looks like it can be worn by the Queen of the Fairies in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Let us know what you think of the 3D trend and if you would ever be bold enough to try it!

Fashion Fever: Background Check

Fashion Fever by Corine Brosseau

With Spring right around the corner, brides are looking to shed some layers and show some skin.  This season’s designer looks are offering a sexy yet sophisticated way to do just that!  The latest trend?  The backless wedding dress.

Clockwise from top left: Catherine Deane for BHLDN, Casablanca Bridal, Claire Pettibone, Robert Rodriguez, Elie Saab, Laure de Sagazan, Jenny Packham, and Rosa Clara

 

Whether you want to bare it all with something totally backless or are simply looking for an interesting detail to add interest as people watch you make your way to the altar, there is sure to be a backless style to suit your fancy.

For the bohemian chic bride, Claire Pettibone‘s gowns are simply amazing.  Claire’s dresses are masterpieces of intricate detail and stunning bits of embellishment that a photo simply cannot do justice.  With each dress, she pays as much attention to the back as to the front, leading to collections full of stunning open and illusion backs with gorgeous appliques, vines, and all sorts of details.

For a more tailored look, Rosa Clara‘s Ballet gown accents an open back with tidy bows that are both polished and demure. This piece encapsulates the retro glamour of the 1950’s.  If you’re not feeling vintage and want a modern style, try Robert Rodriguez‘s Cutout gown that has a sleek silhouette and architectural details.

The fun part about a backless dress is that it’s all in the way you wear it!  Draping a long necklace down your back is a beautiful way to accessorize this type of gown, just like Jennifer Lawrence did with her Oscars ensemble.  For a bit more coverage, try a sheer cape or simply a layer of tulle to keep you feeling more modest.  Choose a veil or headpiece that complements your open-backed gown.  A short veil can really show off this beautiful detail while a flower or brooch in the back of your hair can draw the eye up so you don’t feel too bare.

Would you be brave enough to try a backless dress on your big day?  Let us know!

Fashion Fever: Oscars Extravaganza

Fashion Fever by Corine Brosseau

Every year, Hollywood’s elite pull out all the stops to get all dolled up for the big screen’s biggest award show, the Academy Awards.  The buzz on the red carpet is all about what everyone’s wearing and who designed their look.  Actresses who make it to the “Best Dressed” lists become fashion inspiration for all, even brides!  Though few brides will wear haute couture on their wedding day, when looking for your dress, red carpet inspiration can definitely point you in a certain direction.  In the gallery below, we’ve put together some of our favorite looks from the red carpet at the Oscars and handpicked some similar wedding gowns so you, too, can look like an A-Lister on your wedding day.

My Best Dressed picks?  Number one would probably be Jessica Chastain, who looked stunning in a custom made copper Armani gown with a sexy mermaid silhouette.  Designer Lis Simon’s beautiful bridal option mirrors the silhouette and the flirty sweetheart neckline.  My number two is a less obvious choice, but I absolutely adored Sally Field’s long sleeved red stunner by Valentino.  Though it showed no skin, it was still somehow sexy and incredibly figure flattering on her.  Monique Lhuillier makes a beautiful long sleeved bridal gown with an airy feel.  The dress has a removable overskirt, so you could take it off after the ceremony to have a more fun silhouette for the reception.   My third and final Best Dressed pick would be Charlize Theron.  I am so in love with the peplum trend and she pulled it off beautifully in her simple white Dior dress.  For a more affordable bridal option, Paloma Blanca makes a gorgeous gown with a lace bodice, satin belt, and unembellished skirt.

Let us know who your Best Dressed picks and which lookalike you’d wear on your big day!

Photo credits: All celebrity pictures are from E! News.

“Lookalike” dresses: Charlize Theron – Paloma Blanca, Lara Spencer – Carolina Herrera, Jennifer Lawrence – Reem Acra, Adele – Marchesa, Jessica Chastain – Lis Simon, Kristin Chenoweth – Lela Rose, Nicole Kidman – Badgley Mischka for BHLDN, Anne Hathaway – Delphine Manivet, Amanda Seyfried – Rosa Clara, Amy Adams – Lazaro, Sally Field – Monique Lhuillier, Georgina Chapman – Elie Saab for Pronovias

Fashion Fever: Covered Up

Fashion Fever by Corine Brosseau

Image courtesy of Carolina Herrera

 

For years now, going strapless has been overwhelmingly the trend adopted by most brides.  However, since Kate Middleton donned her full-sleeved Alexander McQueen gown to the royal wedding, sleeves have been making their way back to the altar in a big way.  This spring, both necklines and sleeves will creep up for a sexy but still covered up look that brings a vintage feel to bridal gowns.

Clockwise from top left: Marchesa, Liancarlo, Elie Saab for Pronovias, Vera Wang, Oscar de la Renta, Theia, Jenny Packham, and Reem Acra

Bridal designers are embracing a high neckline this season and pairing it with either a sleeveless look or a variety of shorter sleeve lengths, from cap to elbow-length options.  The look is high in drama and sophistication, bringing to mind the stunning neckline of Grace Kelly’s demure wedding gown.  As seen in our collage above, the interpretations of this trend are all similar, but very much their own unique look as well.

Oscar de la Renta chose to go for a more avant garde look, with a high turtleneck and a dramatically full, though simple in detail, skirt.  Jenny Packham, on the other hand, takes the trend in a very modern direction with a dress that clings close to the figure with stunning embellishments and ruched, elbow-length sleeves.  My personal favorite? A sleeveless look from Theia, with head to toe lace and a gorgeous jeweled belt that has an understated, antique feel and a modern silhouette.

If higher necklines aren’t for you but you still love the look of being a bit more covered up, try something with a boat neck that skims the shoulders while leaving your neck bare or even an off-the-shoulder style that still conceals your arms a bit.  The trend can also work quite beautifully on bridesmaids!  How would you incorporate the high neck look into your special day?  Let us know with a comment or on our Facebook page!!

Manic Monday: Say No to Alterations Nightmares

Manic Monday by Corine Brosseau

Most brides will agree that their wedding dress is one of the most important parts of their big day. However, they often come with lots and lots of unwanted aggravation and anxiety as we discussed in our last Manic Monday post on finding “The One”. Unfortunately, dress stress doesn’t end once you’ve said chosen your soulmate gown. What comes next can turn into the worst nightmare of them all: ALTERATIONS.

Image courtesy of Realce Photography

Here are some key tips on how to avoid the expense and trauma of extensive alterations:

• Make sure you find someone you trust implicitly to do your alterations. It’s important to find someone who specializes in bridal fittings as not all alterations jobs are created equal! Most bridal salons provide in-house alterations, however, if they don’t offer this service, sites like Wedding Wire provide indexes of recommended vendors that should fit the bill.
• Time your fittings right! Don’t get started too early, as pre-wedding stress can cause fluctuations in your measurements. However, if you start too late, there’s a chance your dress won’t be finished in time and rush orders can hike up the cost of your alterations dramatically! As a general rule, give yourself about 3 months for the alterations process and all fittings to be completed.
• Don’t panic!! It’s easy to get overwhelmed when you get to your first fitting and everything just looks wrong. Trust that your seamstress will be able to turn the dress into the perfect fit. Calmly explain what you’d like fixed on the gown and have faith in the fact that your seamstress will work with you to get it to perfection. Nobody likes being yelled at.
• Always bring the proper shoes and undergarments to your fittings. These items will definitely have an effect on how the look comes together.
• Keep consistent in your diet and exercise regime once the alterations process starts. Accept that you’re you and your body shape is beautiful. Trying to lose more weight or fill out curves after the start of fittings usually just ends with higher expenses and more complex alterations. No matter what your body shape is, your seamstress will make sure you look like a perfect 10 in your perfect dress on your wedding day.
• Include an estimate for the price of alterations in your dress shopping budget. Don’t give your bridal consultant a price range that is at your absolute cap! Aim for at least a few hundred below your max budget so that alterations don’t put you over where you wanted to be spending wise.

Fashion Fever: Blushing Brides

Fashion Fever: Blushing Brides by Alyssa Aiola

Who ever said your wedding dress had to be white certainly was not present during this years spring/fall bridal fashion shows. One of the major key trends that surfaced from both Fall 2013 and Spring 2013 designer collections was the romantic shade of blush used throughout the silhouettes.  Whether the dress leaned more toward the peach-hue or was out right pink, the color certainly made a splash and made its presence known. The great thing about this shade is how well it works on various skin tones and really allows the bride to have a soft yet feminine option when trying on dresses.  Two celebrities who took this trend by storm and gave it a stamp of approval were both Reese Witherspoon and Jessica Biel. Reese approached the alter in a georgeous blush-colored Monique Lhuillier gown in March while Jessica wore a pink and white Giambattista Valli dress in October. With major designers like Oscar De La Renta and Vera Wang picking up on this trend as well, it safe to say we should all start thinking pink when it comes to wedding dresses. With plenty of dresses to choose from here are our top favorite blush colored gowns!

From top left to right : Vera Wang WHITE pink wedding gown Spring 2013, Isaac Mizrahi For Kleinfeld, Isaac Mizrahi for Kleinfeld, Maggie Sottero Spring 2012, Lazaro  Fall 2012, Elie Saab Spring 2012 , Oscar de la Renta Spring 2012

Would you be willing to go against tradition and strut down the aisle in a pink gown?! Let us know!

Manic Monday: How to Avoid Dress Shopping Meltdowns!

Manic Monday: How to Avoid Dress Shopping Meltdowns by Alyssa Aiola

Exciting, fun, emotional, over-whelming, intimidating, frustrating, scary – just some of the words you might use to describe your experience of wedding dress shopping. With millions of dresses to choose from and one vision in mind, it is very easy to become unbearably overwhelmed and extremely anxious during the process. Here are a few tips to avoid the infamous wedding dress shopping meltdown, as well as ensure that your experience is one you will never forget.

• Do your homework: There is way more to your appointment then just showing up on time, you need to do your homework. Consultants need to know what you have in mind so researching online and pulling pictures from magazines is a great start to show dresses you love. Without any direction both you and the consultant will become quickly frustrated and might even be on different pages. Also try and stay as open minded as possible during your appointment, the dress of your dreams could be something you never imagined before!

• Trust your consultant: One of the most important aspects of wedding dress shopping is to trust your consultant. Remember their job is to ensure you find the perfect gown and they want you to feel that firework feeling the second you find it. Listen to their advice and take suggestions with an open mind, they do this everyday! Avoid getting nasty or snippy no matter how frustrated you may get.

• Don’t bring an entourage: We have seen it happen millions of times before on “Say Yes To The Dress”. Brides who bring more then two people are automatically overwhelmed with way too many opinions and the fun is quickly spoiled. Remember this day is about you and you shouldn’t settle on your dress in order to please everyone. Pick two people whose opinion you really value and know you best to keep things focused on you.

• Don’t wait till last minute: Nothing will make a bride more anxious then needing to find their dress in a time crunch. Keep in mind finding “the one” may take months and the store must order the dress from the supplier first. You also need to allot time for alterations, so you must start shopping close to a year prior.

• Appointment: You absolutely MUST schedule an appointment with the bridal salon in order to receive great service. Without one you might be rushed or given less attention to, and that just sounds like a recipe for disaster!

• Budget: One of the worst things you could possibly do during your appointment is try on dresses way out of budget. You need to be realistic about what you can spend and stick to it so you don’t get your heartbroken by an expensive gown. No matter who is paying for the gown, the budget needs to be discussed prior to the appointment so you avoid a financial strain and burden.

• Don’t Over shop: During each appointment you should only try on maximum 9-10 dresses in order to avoid feeling completely overwhelmed. Once you have started trying on too many dresses everything starts to look the same and you begin to feel as if the dress of your dreams doesn’t exist. Schedule another appointment and go back a different day with a clean slate and fresh outlook, you’ll be happy you did.

• Bring a heel: In order to get the perfect image of what you will look like on your big day, you should bring a pair of heels roughly around the same height as the ones you plan on wearing.  This also allows you to see exactly where the hem will hit and create the full effect.

• Hair Tie: Although this seems pretty silly, a hair tie can change the whole look of a dress. By simply putting your hair up when trying on dresses you will be able to see the full neckline of the gown, as well as a better image of what the dress will look like with an up due.

• Don’t continue shopping: The golden rule of dress shopping is once you have found the gown, don’t keep looking! You didn’t continue shopping for men after your engagement, so don’t cheat on your dress either! Once a bride continues looking the only thing she is doing is setting herself up for fear and doubt about her original choice.

We wish you the best of luck during your wedding dress shopping experience and let us know if these helpful stress-free tips were useful to you!

Dress Dilemma

Diary of a Bride to Be by Lauren Cooper

This past Saturday I went dress shopping with my Mom in Maryland.  Mom had made appointments at three different stores so we had really had a variety of experiences.  I had also looked at dresses with my step-mom a few weeks ago and found a dress that I thought might be the one in Delaware. But my mind was still open to possibilities for my shopping excursion with Mom.

Our first store was really nice. I showed the sales person pictures I had and she brought some of the exact dresses out.  We left the store an hour later with another dress possibility but the dress in DE was still in the back of my mind.

The second store was a complete wash.  I was told to pick out dresses from their particular catelogue instead of showing them my pictures.  Then they fitted me for a slip, which was just weird since I expressed that I was really in to slim fit and flare gowns. THEN she said she could only bring out dresses two at a time. Zzzz. Please, its either a yes or a no.  Let’s move things along. Ok, thanks.

The third store was the place where my sister found her gown so I was excited to see what they had. While we waited for our saleswoman, we got to pick out some things we liked. Then once I showed her my pictures she pulled more that she thought would work.  Four dresses in and I still wasn’t blown away. Then she put me in a gown that I had pulled on a complete whim.  Oh. My. Gosh. I came out and all my mom could say was, “WOW”.  I stayed in that one for a while until the woman brought back a dress she said was the only one that could top it. Well that one was pretty awesome too, but a little too modern for our venue and theme. I put the other one back on and oohed and ahhed some more. I asked if they had the DE dress in stock so I could see them back to back but no luck.

So now I have a dilemma. Both dresses are completely diferent. They’re both fitted which is what I was going for. And while they’re both glamorous and elegant, one is understated while the other is…well its not. But its not outrageous, its amazing.  So now I don’t know which I should choose. Sigh.

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