Wedding Gowns & Bridal Fashion

An ethereal bridal collection from Vera Wang for Fall 2009 evoked wood sprites and forest creatures for “A Midsummer’s Night Dream” wedding. Taking cues from Wang’s ready-to-wear collections – barely-there, painterly color palette, layered hand-cut tulle and asymmetrical draping – challenging the notion that bridal couture needs stick to a white duchess satin ball gown formula. “I like to think outside the box with these collections,” said Wang after the show.

One of the keys to Wang’s re-imaging of bridal is to take the traditional silhouette, but soften or update it for a more modern, fashion-conscious customer. The “ball gown” turns into a cloud of softly folded tulle with a bodice like whipped frosting, accented with a simple lavender grosgrain sash. A “mermaid” gown softly flares into oversized layers of watercolor-like, earthy chestnut organza, while sequined straps suspend a slip dress from bare shoulders for a look that is as seductive as vintage lingerie.

Here, the way Wang manipulates fabric takes a starring roll rather than the usual beaded embellishment. Instead of using beading or embroidery to detail her gowns, she will twist and pleat tulle into a dramatic train, or line a hem with hand-cut rosettes. Necklaces or bracelets of sequins and beads sewn to ribbon provided just enough sparkle.

The show had editors buzzing for its creativity and advanced take on the bridal gown, but one editor was overheard asking a buyer whether the colorful gowns would be on their lists. “As long as they come in white!” remarked the buyer. Still, the collection inspired a bohemian, return-to-mother-nature narrative that will likely appeal to brides looking to avoid the conspicuousness of bling in favor of something soft and romantic.

A wave of white fabric cascaded down the catwalk as celebrated Canadian designer Alfred Sung kicked off L’Oreal Fashion Week Monday with the unveiling of sweeping creations from his bridal collection under the towering tents at Nathan Phillips Square.

Sung launched the 16th edition of the semi-annual event with a showcase of new bridal gowns aptly titled “The White Collection.”

The legendary designer said he was inspired by the late film star and style icon Grace Kelly when designing his collection, an influence that translated both to the dresses and hairstyles.

The glamorous gowns ran the gamut from fluid to more form-fitting. Voluminous, full-bodied silk taffeta creations and elaborate lace and satin gowns shared the runway with softer, more slender, draped georgette dresses. Lush materials, including angel tulle, silk essence chiffon and organza, were also incorporated into the mix.

Shimmering beads and Swarovski crystals added eye-popping detailing, lending dazzle to bodices, buttons, necklines, waistlines and dress straps. Some of the gowns had the intricate accents incorporated on a larger scale, like an elaborate floral beaded pattern cascading along a dramatic lace overlay.

While the floor-length gowns largely featured cascading trains or flared hemlines, the upper halves of the gowns offered a wealth of variety to suit the diverse tastes of virtually any bride, ranging from classic sweetheart necklines to plunging off-the-shoulder V-neck styles, halter and racer-back to elaborate crisscross straps.

Models also exuded elegance with their updos, wearing hair swept back into chic chignons accessorized by a band of white satin ribbon, flowers or a jewelled hairband.

“I wanted them to look really feminine, glamorous, elegant, and a little bit sexy with the off-the-shoulder,” Sung said backstage following the show.

During their final runway walk, the models tossed their bouquets into the hands of lucky onlookers as the audience gave the designer and his creations a standing ovation.

Sung got his share of the love when he stepped out into the spotlight to take his bow, graciously accepting one of the bridal bouquets from a man in the front row.

Despite more than 30 years in the business, with fragrance, eyewear, jewelry and houseware product lines among those to his credit, this marked the first time the iconic designer presented a collection during Toronto’s Fashion Week.

Backstage, Sung said it was honour to be asked by organizers to launch Fashion Week festivities, adding that he was “very flattered” to open the show, and said he was also touched by the warm reception at the end, despite being a bit reluctant to face the audience.

“I just have to thank everyone, I mean, being so kind and supportive all through the years,” he said. “Actually, I wasn’t going to come out because I’m so shy. They have to push me out!” he added, laughing.

Sung, who has designed bridal wear for 15 years, said part of what sets the line apart from the countless others that comprise his brand is what manifests in the end result - helping brides feel beautiful.

“This is one product line that you just think of making women look absolutely drop-dead gorgeous on their special day because that’s how they want to be, because it’s fun.”

Sung’s philosophy on capturing the uniqueness and special aura surrounding the wedding day even filtered down to a key decision in how to present the collection.

Rather than having the models scramble to change into different dresses backstage, he opted to have each model walk down the runway in one gown - 32 in all.

Angela Sgarbossa, owner of Bridal on Pulteney, more brides were going for non-traditional colours for their wedding dresses.
 
“It’’s a generation that has paid their own way, and are used to making decisions for themselves, so why shouldn”t it be the same when it comes to the most important dress they”ll wear?” The Courier Mail quoted her as saying.
 
She added: “The modern bride is veering from tradition and choosing dresses that make them feel attractive and reflect their personal style, from black and red to deep green and brown.”
 
And one can easily have a look at the changing face of wedding gowns at the Spring Bridal Ideas Expo at the Adelaide Showground on Oct 18-19
 
Expo director Elizabeth Falloon said there was a trend towards unique weddings such as sky diving and deep-sea diving.
 
In fact, a poll taken of more than 100 exhibitors last year, showed less than half of weddings fell into the traditional category.
 
“We have brides who get married deep-sea diving. Others walk down the aisle in a bright red dress. A truly “traditional” wedding is hard to come by,” said Falloon.
 
In fact, New York brides are a step ahead in their eccentricities— they are actually making their bridesmaids sign contracts which mention everything from prohibiting them gaining weight to having a tan.
 
Geoff Slater, of Elite Weddings and Functions, revealed that recently a bride had “dropped” a bridesmaid in the middle of wedding plans because she was deemed inappropriate in her appearance.
 
Brides can be “very, very, demanding,” he said.
 
In fact, in his opinion, “even in this economic climate brides would spend less” because it was their most important day.
 
Source: ANI

Jeany Li is an urban planner’s dream. Actually, Li has a master’s degree in urban planning, so when she describes her life in one of Orenco Station’s live-work units as making her “feel like I’m living a dream right now,” her opinion carries some weight.

After three years in her home, Li came up with an idea for a business that would fit perfectly with the commercial space integrated into her home’s ground floor. And it would allow her to use another skill she’d practiced almost her entire life: clothing design and fine sewing.

The result is Jeany’s Bridal Couture, and Li is now spreading the word that brides have a source for one-of-a-kind, locally designed and crafted wedding dresses.

Li is working on expanding the sample gowns displayed in her downstairs shop. With four complete, she wants to add four more by January.

However, she emphasizes these dresses are just to give her clients ideas to draw on. When designing a gown, Li inquires about the future bride’s interests and asks, “What do you want to be on your special day? What would you like to feel?”

From this information, she starts the process of designing for that individual. Everything is handcrafted. Li even has a machine for making her own lace, so she’s not limited to what’s available in the retail trade.

All of this takes infinite patience. Li says she first learned to sew from her grandmother as a child in her home in Tianjin, China. Li was the only granddaughter in the family, and her grandmother wanted to pass her skills to a new generation. At age 5, Li was too young to use a machine, so her first lessons were all in hand sewing, including embroidery.

Li says her parents were surprised a child so young could sit still and do one step at a time. Her grandmother, though, had told her, “You have to love it, if you want to learn it well,” a message she took to heart.

Along with patience comes flexibility. Li says she will work with a bride to ensure she gets a couture gown that still fits her budget. She said the cost of a simple elegant wedding gown might be as low as $900, compared to the cost of an original by designer Vera Wang, which might cost as much as $15,000.

Li does not outsource, choosing instead to do every step herself. She even plans to offer brides souvenir photo packages, capturing the steps during creation of their gowns and documenting they are a one-of-a-kind original.

Jeany’s Bridal Couture is at 1460 Orenco Station Parkway. For more information or to make an appointment, call 503-848-8303. A Web site at orencobridal.com is under development.

It’s not just brides to-be who are involved in frenzy preparations, but grooms too take a lot of interest in planning their weddings.

The new breed of “groomzillas”, men fanatical about favours and even more high-maintenance about their wedding look, are outshining brides-to be in planning their D-day.

According to Hitched.co.uk, more and more grooms are joining wedding forums, with numbers soaring from one in 50 to one in 10 since 2002.

“Grooms like the attention as well as brides and they are increasingly particular about every element and about impressing their friends,” the Daily Express quoted wedding planner Mark Niemierko, who offers grooms personal shopping days where they browse at tailors and have manicures, as saying.

Couples these days pay for much of their wedding themselves, and they also want to make their investment count.

“Many of our grooms find it hard to take a back seat,” said James Lord of wedding planners Love and Lord.

“We have many a fashion crisis, with grooms changing twice during the day and telling guests what to wear,” he added.

Perfect Wedding Guide, the nation’s number one local wedding guide, will host a Bridal Show on Sunday, September 14, 2008 from 1pm - 4:30pm at the Marriott Durham at the Civic Center located at 201 Foster Street in downtown Durham, NC. Brides and grooms will have the opportunity to meet and discuss their big day with over 50 Triangle Wedding Professionals while discovering the latest wedding products and services.

Two elegant strolling fashion shows will be presented by Jayna Bella Bridal Boutique of Roxboro. Brides and their guests will be able to get an up close look at the gowns and formal wear as the models stroll through the room in this intimate and personal setting.

“Brides have so many plans and decisions to make before their wedding day. It could be overwhelming. This bridal show will give them the wonderful opportunity to discuss their dream wedding and interview wedding experts in person,” says Triangle Perfect Wedding Guide Publisher, Gail Galloway. “Brides and grooms will have a chance to sample delicious food and cakes, view photographer’s work, meet DJ’s and entertainers, smell gorgeous fresh flowers, plan their honeymoon, pick a reception site, secure guest accommodations and more all in one day.”

During the Perfect Wedding Guide Bridal Show thousands of dollars in door prizes will be given to some winning attendees. One lucky bride-to-be will win a romantic mountain honeymoon getaway, compliments of Rye Creek Lodge. The first 100 brides to arrive will receive a coupon book worth over $1,000 in wedding products and services.

Tickets for the Perfect Wedding Guide Bridal Show are $7.00 at the door or guests can pre-register online at www.the-triangle.perfectweddingguide.com to save $2.00 per person.

For more information about the event, media passes, interviews, or vendor information, please call Gail Galloway at (336) 676-9631 or email her at gail@pwg.com.

About Perfect Wedding Guide

Perfect Wedding Guide is a wedding planning resource for brides published and online in over 40 metropolitan areas around the country. For further information, please visit http://www.perfectweddingguide.com.

The demure bride casting furtive glances veiled behind her  ghunghat  , the scented sensuousness of henna-stained hands, the hint of unexplored pleasures behind her pursed lips - the sacred  sutra  of an Indian wedding. “New-age brides are extremely well-toned. They want to flaunt skin - either a revealing back, bare shoulders or a form flattering silhouette to accentuate their curves,” observes couturier Suneet Varma of the contemporary  dulhan  who’s taking wedding couture to dizzying new heights.

“Gone are the days when a bride’s mother or mother-in-law predetermined her wedding finery. Bridal wear is now definitive, glam and chic,” adds designer Ritu Kumar.

In an age of lavish, theme weddings in exotic locales, high-profile guest lists and buoyant budgets - auspicious experimentation is what sells. Weddings are no longer sedate. Most ceremonies preceding the main function comprise glitzy theme nights full of high octave revelry. It’s at these playgrounds of passion that the modern bride showcases her no-holds-barred avatar. “The bridal garb is highly stylised, slick, favouring skin show. The look is more streamlined with a predominant Western influence. Even the colour palette has evolved from reds and maroons to hot pink, wine, coral, dusty rose and tonal gold and silver. No longer does the bride want to be caged within an elaborate tapestry. She has wings and wants to fly,” says designer Rohit Bal, who’s designed the trousseau for actress Liz Hurley. “Liz wanted to look and feel like a sex goddess. I created a white lehenga embellished with diamonds worn seductively low and teamed with a three-inch high blouse revealing her midriff,” adds Bal of his videshi client. Surprisingly, the desi bridal entourage isn’t lagging behind when it comes to dropping their hemlines. And aiding her quest for a sinfully, sensuous wardrobe is a new creed of designers combining red carpet glamour with ethnic ethereal. “Brides hailing from smaller metros like Ludhiana and Patna want to innovate more with plunging necklines, deeper backs and necks,” holds designer Pam Mehta. “Lehengas structured like draped gowns accentuated with Western motifs and controlled bling are replacing the heavily ornamented lehengas. Brides today walk in for a head-totoe consultation armed with international fashion magazines. They want to be dripping Oscar night razzmatazz,” says designer Rakesh Agarwal, who recently created an embroidered bikini worn under a shimmering kaftan for a sangeet ceremony on a yacht in Bangkok and a three-layered, chiffon skirt teamed with a bejewelled T-shirt, costing Rs 60,000. “Backless gown lehengas, fishtail skirts with a winding trail, off shoulder corsets and halter blouses with diamonte chains are haute. Modern bridal wear incorporates elements of raunchy lingerie with an infusion of French lace and tie-ups. With outfits becoming bolder, we’ve infused elements of corsetry with built-in bras inside their outfits,” adds Agarwal. Designer Gaurav Gupta believes the modern look of brides is being inspired by medieval Grecian goddesses. “Offshoulder and one shoulder dress saris accessorised with stoles and Victorian broaches impart a neo-classical look,” adds Gupta.

Cashing in on the bridal boom are international couture brands. “Brides are going an extra mile to be different. A lot of them spend Rs 85,000 for an haute couture gown,” says Kalyani Chawla.

Brazen and bootylicious, the new-age diva’s also seen sculpting her body basics. “Brides are getting henna patterns and the names of their husbands written on their navel. It’s a very sexy combination with low waisted lehengas,” says Bollywood mehendi artist Veena Nagda, as tattoo artist Lokesh quips in, “70 per cent of my clients these days are to-be-brides who come to get their husband’s name tattooed on their shoulders and lower back.”

Bringing sexy back, the bride basks in an unbridled sensory saga. But is her diminishing choli a reflection of a waning value system? Bal has the final say, “Before the Mughal era, our auspicious costumes were downright sexy. The apsaras wore bustiers, resembling modern-day boob tubes, while the cholis were meant to be barely there. The modern bride is simply reinventing her.”

Are you or is someone you know in a dilemma over wedding preparations? The answer may be to hop onto a plane to Taiwan.

For those not in the loop, Taiwan has become a bridal services hub for couples from all corners of the world — anything from wedding photography to custom-made bridalwear is readily available.

The best place to start is Zhongshan (Jhongshan) North Road or Taipei Bridal Street which is situated right in the heart of the Taiwanese capital.

Countless mannequins garbed in extravagant wedding gowns dot both sides of the street. This is indeed a future bride’s paradise and possibly a groom’s worst nightmare!I headed for a posh bridal boutique called Julia owned by the husband-and-wife team of Mai Tsan Wei and Julia Muh. Muh is the dressmaker while hubby takes the photos.

The boutique boasts A-List celebrities and socialites among its customers. “Most of our customers can afford to be lavish in their spending,” said Muh. The boutique ranks among the top five bridal boutiques in the country, and also attracts customers from overseas. “People travel all the way from Hong Kong, the United States, Canada, Singapore and Malaysia to engage our services because we offer personalised bridal gowns and professional photo shoots,” she added.

As Muh took me and my fellow journalists on a tour of her boutique, I observed how every customer was being given undivided attention by the staff. Muh’s wedding gowns were impressive: intricate, classic and stunning, reflecting Muh’s partiality for European and American haute couture.

She uses mostly expensive fabric from branded fashion houses such as Dior and Gucci. “I design elegant gowns that are likely to be in fashion for a longer time than just one season,” she explained. After a crash course on bridal couture by Muh, I left for Ching Jing mountain to witness 99 couples in their wedding wear getting their photos taken. The event was organised by the Bridal Boutique Association of Taipei and the Taiwan Tourism Board.

During my stay at the mountain top resort, a little bird told me that there was a Malay couple from Malaysia participating in the event.

I was thrilled and determined to interview them about their choice of setting for their wedding pictures. Imagine my disappointment when I was informed by the tour manager that they weren’t keen on media attention.

Still, I did manage to speak to a few couples, despite the language barrier.

Wu Jin Fa and Xu Yi Xiang stood out. The couple had been married three decades and had never organised a wedding reception until now!

“I did not wear a wedding gown then, only a plain and simple dress because we had a civil marriage ceremony,” said Xu.

The Taiwan trip was a surprise wedding anniversary gift for her.

“I didn’t know anything until I reached the hotel in Taipei. I felt strange when reading about the wedding dress fitting session in the itinerary. Added Wu: “She (Xu) deserves it. She had been there for me through thick and thin. It feels like we’re getting married all over again.”

Chen Miao Long and Ji Li Ling from Singapore, on the other hand, are bridal photo addicts. “We have done this quite a number of times,” said Ji.

“Our first was two years after our wedding. We flew into London, bringing along a photographer whose trip we sponsored. And then we did a European tour. We took pictures in London, Venice and Paris,” said Ji.

Shanghai was the venue for their wedding photos during another trip. It’s an expensive hobby, the couple admits.

“But as long as Ji is happy, I am also happy to do it. She’s a natural in front of the camera. Instead of taking cues from the photographers, she takes over the shoot,” said Chen, laughing.

At 6am, with the temperature below 10º Celsius, I witnessed 99 couples posing in front of photographers.

I was amazed at how willing the brides were to brave the cold and hike up the mountain in revealing designer wedding gowns and high heels for the session. Ah, the things people do when they’re in love!

Jenny Packham is a leading British designer, specializing in party dresses, evening gowns and bridal wear. Honored as Hollywood Style Designer of the Year 2006 and British Bridal Dress Designer of the Year 2007, Jenny Packham’s luxury design house has gained international renown.

Her celebrity clients include Keira Knightley, Beyonce, Mary J. Blige, Alicia Keys, Nelly Furtado, and Sarah Jessica Parker.

This week Packham presented her new eveningwear collection as part of the Russian Fashion Week “Autumn/Winter-2009″, the biggest fashion event of its kind in Russia. After the show, she gave an interview to RIA Novosti correspondent Narine Prazyan.

How do you feel when you see celebrities wearing dresses designed by you?
- To me it is what we call ‘the icing on the cake’. To me it’s very important to design a dress, and I think it’s good when somebody buys it, and buys lots of them. And I think if a celebrity chooses it then that seems better really.

Have you always wanted to be a designer?
- Yes, always. I mean I started when I was about eleven making my own clothes. I didn’t ever make a conscious decision, but I’ve always wanted to do eveningwear as well.

What inspires you when creating evening and wedding dresses?
- Well, it’s just so enjoyable really. I have a fantastic team of people now, and to make a collection is an opportunity to really show what they can do, with cutting, manufacturing… What inspires me is making more and more glamorous, beautiful evening dresses. And every time I try to do something better than I’ve ever done before.

Jenny Packham dresses have become must-haves among Russian celebrities. How do you explain that?
- I know it sounds slightly corny but I think with a wedding dress, and I have to say the same of an evening dress, I think that someone has to fall in love with a dress, they have to really want it. And when I design a dress I have to give it those qualities to make someone think: “Oh, I have to have this dress, I feel so fantastic in it!” Hopefully they felt like that. That they have to have one.

Do you have your own favorite dress? Could you describe it? Who is the designer?
- I know it’s very general but I have a beautiful Prada dress. I think for me Prada is something to really aspire to. The manufacturing, the beauty in the cutting… But generally I wear a lot of black, quite simple clothing.

Is there a celebrity you would particularly like to design an evening dress for?
- I would love to design a dress for Nicole Kidman or Kate Blanchett. I think for me they are kind of personified… sort of feminism, it is very appealing really, they are very contemporary.

In one of the interviews you said that your eveningwear is designed for contemporary women living in the city. What do you think of historical clothing? Would you like to create a collection for a historical movie, for example?
- Especially with bridal wear, I did a whole load of research on it. And I did a lot of work on the history of bridal wear. When I was at college I did a lot of history of fashion and I think the more you know about the history of things, for example, why women wear white dresses, the more you understand, the more depth there is to your designing. So I think it would be a challenge to do a film. And I think recreating an old garment is a great thing. If you know the Marie Antoinette film, she recreates the old garments in a really modern way. I think that would be interesting. To recreate old garment is interesting, if you can do something to it to liberate it. I think it would be great. 

It’s not the first time you’re taking part in Russian Fashion Week. Would you say a few words about it, about the Russian fashion market in general?
- I think there is such enthusiasm here to really create a fashion industry. You have two fashion weeks, it’s incredible. You know Milan, for example, has only one fashion week. I think there is so much here to get into. And you know we always have such a great time here, it’s always such a joy to do.

Source: RIA Novosti

The organization and planning of the whole wedding ceremony is an exhausting task for any bride. Have all right to have the regalia ready for hunting and affordable wedding gowns, shoes and accessories matching the reserve venue and completion of the menu is enough to leave anyone out of breath fairly. In addition, all these things cost a lot of money and if they are not careful about their spending, which can go haywire and even land in debt. But it is not absolutely necessary that you have to spend a bomb to make your wedding beautiful and elegant. After all, a wedding is the union of two souls and that has to do with emotion and very little about money. If you keep within a budget and spend wisely, you can still have a wonderful wedding their expenses without going through the roof. Here are tips on how you can make your wedding an unforgettable affair in a small budget: Set your budget first, plan your budget and stay within it. Small changes in the budget are acceptable but don? T make too many dramatic changes. Start planning your spending enough time at hand so you can choose their purchases carefully to keep within budget. Start early Start shopping early to take advantage of various offers, settlement offers and discounts are often available in the off season. But make sure you buy good quality but affordable to the themes of his regalia, as her wedding dress, matching shoes, accessories, etc. and not just buy cheap. There is no need to hire wedding planners You don? T need to hire any plan or wedding coordinator. Instead of involving his family and friends at their wedding arrangements. They would be more than happy to assist in the preparations. You will be surprised to see how his young cousins come with creative ideas to make your wedding wonderful. Cree their invitation cards to spend a bomb on an invitation card is useless because nobody cares to maintain or preserve at the end of the day. Therefore, make their own invitations and not having to make some professionals. Take a look at the network in some elegant designs, take your printing and bravo to be ready with their invitation cards. I like balloons more flowers bouquets of flowers are expensive, especially during the wedding season. Instead use balloon bouquets that are less costly and make the venue as decorative and attractive as the flowers. Decorate the place with colorful balloons and see how the whole atmosphere becomes festive. Use candles as a centerpiece Instead of putting an elaborate bouquets of flowers in table centerpiece, place candles especially if you’re having the wedding ceremony in the evening. Not only candles illuminate the entire place in a beautiful soft glow, but also make the place seem inviting. You can choose long candles or floating candles. Get disposable cameras rather than hire a professional photographer, buy disposable cameras and put them on the tables. Get some responsible friend or relative to take snaps of their wedding. Let the smallest clicking some too. Children can also reach great looking images. Choose style buffet five course seated dinner is expensive. So we decided to have a buffet. It doesn? T matter much if the waiter was serving food to customers or clients are serving themselves. At the end of the day what matters is that food should be delicious. Food is served in buffet appetizing and costs less. Keep it simple cocktails as well. Order the local bakery cake Order the wedding cake from a local bakery. There is no need to address some very expensive baker to create an attractive cake for you. Shops local bakery can do a wonderful job of making beautiful cakes and charge reasonable prices. Shop online wedding dresses To find a wedding dress of your dreams, check the online stores. Shopping online stock an amazing collection of wedding dresses at affordable prices ranging from tea-length, empire style, prices of clothing and style more. There is no shortage of variety on the Internet. All you have to do is spend some time in investigating the network and control of affordable, yet elegant wedding dresses online. Shop online accessories Like wedding dress, it’s best to go shopping for accessories such as unity candle, ring bearer’s pillow, toasting glasses, and girls basket of flowers on the Internet. The benefit of buying online is that you can compare the different issues in different website sitting comfortably at home. Create your veils and headpiece Use your creativity to make their own veils and headpiece. Headpieces veils and are very easy to do. Just pick up some boats bridal book and put your creativity to good use. This way you can save a little. Giving favors losing a boyfriend and girlfriend generally favors giving all guests for gracing the occasion with his presence. But if you want to save costs, then there is no harm in jumping favors. Your guests won? T mind not obtain favors. After all, family and friends are there simply to enjoy the occasion.

Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/fashion-articles/how-to-have-a-wonderful-wedding-on-an-affordable-budget-508319.html

Options like charity stores, websites and sample dresses mean style does not have to be compromised on the big day. You may only wear it once but for some women their wedding dress will be the dearest item of clothing they ever buy. Trying to establish the cost of a wedding dress is like measuring the proverbial piece of string.

While every bride-to-be wants to look her best, style does not have to cost the earth and a number of options are available to brides looking to buy a more reasonably priced dress.

A number of charities run wedding shops, but don’t be put off by memories of shabby charity shops from days gone by. As part of a wider shift towards mainstream retailing, charities offer a competitive alternative to high-street wedding boutiques and also donating a little money to a good cause can serve as a nice antidote to wedding excesses.

Barnardos Brand New Bridal offers brides-to-be new and designer wedding dresses at a fraction of the original cost. The gowns are donated by retailers, with a full range of sizes and styles available.

The bridal store, which launched three years ago, is located upstairs at the Barnardos shop in Dun Laoghaire.

Prices at the Barnados bridal store range from €150 to about €900, with most dresses retailing for about one third of their standard price. The store also stocks veils, bridal shoes and dresses for bridesmaids, with these less ornate dresses costing about €150 on average. Due to the popularity of Barnados Dublin bridal shop, the charity is opening a new bridal outlet in Carlow later this month.

At the end of June, Oxfam launched its new bridal website to raise awareness of its dedicated bridal boutique, which is on the second floor of the charity’s George’s Street shop in Dublin.

A large chunk of the wedding dresses sold in the shop are new, donated by wedding retailers and designers. According to figures from Oxfam up to 95 per cent of the stock is new, while the remainder is donated by brides after their wedding day. The average price of a dress in Oxfam’s bridal store is between €200 and €400, but dresses on its discount rail can sell for as little as €70.

Both Oxfam and Barnados require bargain hunters to make an appointment to view their bridal range.

Another option for brides on a budget is to purchase their dress online. One Dublin bride ordered a dress by popular Spanish designer Pronovias from an American bridal website for €750, which includes the cost of postage and packaging.

Prior to ordering the dress, she tried it on in an Irish bridal shop, where the exact same dress retailed for €1,850. If you opt for a high-street bridal boutique, you can expect to pay more for your dress.

Irish bridal designer Kathy de Stafford runs three stores nationwide, one in Dublin city centre, one in Nenagh in Tipperary and a couture store in Howth in Dublin. In the city centre store and the Nenagh outlet, sample dresses - ones that have been on the rail in the shop for potential buyers to try on - retail for about €700.

The cost of a standard dress starts from about €1,400, with some brides paying up to €5,200 for one of De Stafford’s own designs.

Prices start from €299 at Marian Gale’s bridal boutique in Donnybrook, Dublin. Dresses in this price range are ‘off the peg’ options and prices increase up to €2,900 for more elaborate and bespoke pieces.

One of the newer additions to the Irish bridal scene, Amore Bridalwear in Youghal in Cork, opened its doors earlier this year. Its dresses range in price from €1,100 up to €2,700, with the average spend by a bride typically being about €1,600.

De Stafford’s couture option in Howth stocks high-end fashion brands, such as Valentino, with pr ices ranging from €2,000 for lesser-known designers up to €11,000 or so for dresses by well-known designer labels.

And it’s not just the dresses that make a dent in your bank account. The groom’s suit, although less discussed, can also be a rather costly purchase. Another option for the groom is to rent a suit or tuxedo for the day.

Menswear store Black Tie offers both rental and retail options. A three-piece suit costs between €105 and €125 to rent, depending on the style of jacket chosen. If you opt for a tuxedo on your wedding day, you will pay between €97.40 and €117.40 to rent one, while purchasing a new tuxedo from Black Tie costs between €295 and €495.

The store also sells on its rental suits, which retail for between €300 and €450.

Case study 1: ‘Overseas wedding still pricey’

1. When did you get engaged?
At the end of April in New York

2. When are you getting married?
Late September next year.

3. Have you picked a venue yet?
Yes, but it is not confirmed yet. It is overseas, so we are meeting them next weekend.

4. How many guests do you intend to have at your wedding?
About 150.

5. Are wedding venues cheaper, dearer or as you expected in terms of cost?
There is no charge for our venue, but the meal is expensive. As it is overseas, some aspects are more expensive than here, while others are cheaper. It all seems to balance out in the end, though.

6. What’s your budget for your wedding dress?
About €5,000.

7. What will be the biggest expense of your wedding?
Rooms and flights for our families.

8. Are there any costs that you are prepared to cut?
We are willing to have a lower-key honeymoon to facilitate a good weekend for our wedding.
We won’t bother with elaborate cars and might see about making the favours. Also, we will try and use contacts to get a good deal on stationery and things like that.

9. What tips would you offer to other couples looking to shave a little off the cost of their wedding?
Invite fewer guests!

10. What’s the total budget for your wedding?
About €75,000.

Case study 2: ‘Don’t be afraid to bargain’

1. When did you get engaged?
March of this year.

2. When are you getting married?
August 2010.

3. Have you picked a venue yet? If so, where?
Barberstown Castle, Straffan, Co. Kildare.

4. How many guests do you intend to have at your wedding?
About 120.

5. Are wedding venues cheaper, dearer or as you expected in terms of cost?
Some venues charge for room hire which I think is a bit much given how much you will pay for food and drinks on the day. Our venue charges just for the food and drinks. Of course the room cost is obviously built into the price but compared to other venues that did charge for hire, our venue’s prices are the same and in some cases cheaper.

6. What’s your budget for your wedding dress?
I haven’t started to look at wedding dresses properly at this stage. For now I am mentally budgeting between €2,500 and €5,000.

7. What will be the biggest expense of your wedding?
The biggest expense by far will be the venue in terms of food and drink. It will be worth every penny, though, as we love our venue.

8. Are there any costs that you are prepared to cut?
Not really. We are having what we consider to be a fairly straightforward wedding with minimal fuss.

9. What tips would you offer to other couples looking to shave a little off the cost of their wedding?
The biggest lesson I have learned so far is: don’t be afraid to ask! As we are getting married in two years’ time, any of the suppliers we have spoken to that we are interested in working with have agreed to give us the current prices. If a supplier isn’t able to do this but we really want to use them then we ask for more value for our money.
Make invitations yourself or buy online, make mass booklets yourself or do a flower arrangement course and buy flowers from the flower market and make arrangements yourself. If someone in the family or a friend is a dab-hand with flowers, you could ask them to help with the flowers or suggest it as a wedding gift.

10. What’s the total budget for your wedding?
Hoping to get the whole thing done for about €25,000 but I think it may end up closer to €30,000.The honeymoon will be separate!

Case study 3: ‘Make your own invitations’

1. When did you get engaged?
Christmas 2007 – a very happy day!

2. When are you getting married?
Summer 2009.

3. Have you picked a venue yet? If so, where?
Yes. Carton House in Maynooth.

4. How many guests do you intend to have at your wedding?
160.

5. Are wedding venues cheaper, dearer or as you expected in terms of cost?
Far more expensive, with minimum numbers that make it very expensive. We have to pay for 160,whether the numbers actually show or not.

6. What is your budget for your wedding dress?
€4,000

7. What will be the biggest expense of your wedding?
The venue and the wedding dress and suit.

8. Are there any costs that you are prepared to cut?
Yes. We want simple invitations and no little tokens on the tables.

9. What tips would you offer to other couples looking to shave a little off the cost of their wedding?
Make your own invitations, have only one witness each, get a skilled friend to do your make-up and shop around for a band. There are too many sub-standard, over-priced chancers out there. There is no reason to pay more than €2,000 for a band.

10. What’s the total budget for your wedding?
I suppose about €35,000.

A New unique African inspired style and Information book. Jumping the book in Style by Africa’s premier bridal fashion designer Thony C. Anyiam for couples looking for something different and exciting.

Renown Nigerian born fashion designer Thony C Anyiam’s long awaited, and much talked about new book titled “Jumping the broom in style; A collection of styles and information for the entire wedding party” published by Author House is now released! This unique full color book is available in paperback, and everywhere books are sold.This full color book has something for everyone regardless of race or nationality.

Jumping the broom in style is an African inspired style and information book for the entire wedding party. Besides African, and African American (Afrocentric) styles, there are styles for both the bride and groom inspired by Asia, (Afro-Asian), Caribbean, (Afro-Caribbean), Europe, (Afro-European), Arab / Middle East, (Afro-Middle Eastern), and Span/Latino, (Afro-Spanish/Latino)

In addition, a preview of his Avant-garde bridal line, you have to see to believe!

For the first, time in a bridal publication a comprehensive collection for men (groom, and the father of the bride/groom).
Important and useful information for couple planning their ethnic inspired wedding; Information on who wears what, and what to wear to your wedding, A step-by-step pictorial guide on how to tie the fancy African style head-wrap, money saving tips, and much more.

Designer Thony C. Anyiam is known in the bridal fashion industry for his trend setting, and innovative designs. He is consider the pioneer of modern Afrocentric bridal wear designs. He merges different ethnic influences to create unique one of a kind designs.

He is one of Africa’s most creative and influential fashion designer of our time, and one to watch in the industry.

Central to every bride’s wedding dream is the gown she wears.

Style-Bride Boutique & Design Studio, 315 N. Santa Fe Ave., is about fulfilling those dreams, says owner Mia Gonzalez, who terms the store’s recent opening a wish come true for herself.

The 1997 Pueblo County High School grad brings a strong background of education and experience that took root at age 11 when she dreamed of becoming a fashion designer and started teaching herself to sew.

Her junior and senior prom gowns were original pattern creations.

Fashion design school at Colorado State University at Ford Collins propelled her to Beverly Hills design houses upon graduation.

She lists off the prominent bridal and lingerie industry names with celebrity associations like a bride ticks off her wish list.

At Victoria’s Secret, Gonzalez was in charge of technical design, making sure every lingerie fabric, lace and notion was in place for Sri Lanka production. While working for designer Cocoe Voci, Gonzalez met actress-musician Moon Zappa and helped make her wedding dress.

One of Gonzales’ most glamorous associations was at the Renee Strauss for the Bride in Beverly Hills store, where off-the-rack dresses and custom gowns like Julia Roberts’ dress in “Runaway Bride” were sold.

“All of the studios, Warner Brothers, Sony and Paramount, any time they would have a bridal theme or a wedding, they would go over there to either make the gown or borrow the gown,” said Gonzalez.

In 2003, her career nearly went academic when she returned to CSU to teach fashion illustration before another Los Angeles adventure.

From the beginning of her fashion career, however, Gonzales, 28, says she always hoped to run a bridal boutique here.

She said her store prides itself on stellar customer service, while offering gowns starting at $300, as well as high-end custom dresses.

In her 11th week of business, Gonzalez says she’s found most brides prefer a nontraditional look.

“They don’t want the dress that looks like it’s from the top of the cake, poufy and plastic and blasted with sequins,” she said. “We have girls with tattoos, second weddings so they don’t want white, girls incorporating different colors, the different themes, the ’50s style.”

Plus, Gonzalez, who says she’s one of few custom designers statewide, can make a gown from scratch, perhaps starting with a magazine photo. She then adds “a little bit of a twist” in the bride’s taste - whatever’s needed to realize a bride’s special dream.
Style-Bride Boutique & Design Studio
315 N. Santa Fe Drive
Hours: Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m. to p.m. Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday by appointment only; closed Monday.
406-0006

http://www.stylebridalboutique.com/

Weddings are all about personal style. Reflecting the overall trend of breaking away from tradition and steadfast rules, modern brides are choosing wedding gowns that reflect their personality and vision not necessarily their grandmother’s. The only rule for wedding dress style these days is to choose a style that suits you. Whether that means wearing a gold wedding dress, trouser suit or sundress, go with it! And even if you are more traditional and have always envisioned yourself as the fairy princess in the white satin ballgown, you needn’t worry about being perceived as old fashioned or “not with the times.” The modern “rule” for wedding dress style is to choose something that makes you feel comfortable and beautiful on your most special day.

The 21st Century BrideThat said, although certain traditional dress styles are always popular, bridal fashion does follow mainstream fashion to some extent. So if you are looking for something a little more contemporary or “now,” consider turning to the catwalks for inspiration.

The currently popular 20s and floral style dresses can be easily incorporated into a wedding dress. Accessories, such as chandelier earrings, can also transfer from the catwalks to comprise your wedding look. Try to avoid fashion that will date quickly, however, as you will want to display your wedding photographs for a long time. As a general rule, keep your wedding ensemble fashionably forward, not overly trendy.

Today’s Hot Wedding Dress - Trends: Add Some Color
Using a wedding dress to bring out a colorful personality, modern brides are not afraid to add a splash of color to the traditional white gown. Whether that means adding a colored ribbon or piece of jewelry or foregoing the white wedding dress all together, today’s brides find inventive ways to incorporate color into their wedding attire. Particularly popular shades are blue, pink, cappuccino and champagne.

Lace Up
Lace has made a recent comeback, exuding a look vintage romance that is feminine, yet not overdone. Many brides are enchanted by lace, envisioning a majestic day in a lush green garden.

Magnificent Embroidery
For an ultra elegant, opulent feel, glamour girls savor wedding gowns adorned with intricate hand-embroidered details. This look warrants grand chandeliers, candlelight and an isle of red roses.

Ultra-Feminine
As seen on the runway, feminine details are making a big impact. Ribbons, ruffles, flowers and bows are finding their way back onto wedding dresses and taking femininity to a new level. Brides who envision themselves floating along the cobblestones of a historic mansion will love this look.

For a complete guide to keeping your sanity while creating an elegant and memorable wedding celebration, visit

DIA-ASIANA magazine is the joint effort between UK and Bangladesh. Because of the launch of this stylish magazine a gala fashion show is called “Fashion without Frontiers” was held in BCFCC on the 19th of December at 7 p.m. The exclusive Press Launch of DIA-ASIANA magazine had been held on ETC Dhanmondi at 11 a.m. by Nasrine Karin the editor of the magazine.

Asiana and Asiana Wedding Magazine are the largest selling bi-monthly Asian publications in the Uk. A joint venture has been created between Dia House of Fashion Ltd and I and I media Ltd (UK)(publishers of Asiana) to publish Dia Asiana, Bangladesh Edition, to boost the growing fashion trends in the country along with travel destinations both at home and abroad.

Dia Asiana Bangladesh will cover lifestyles, interiors, textile news, Asian haute cuisine, products and useful details for the readers. Dia Asiana Bangladesh Edition will be in both English and Bangla to have a wider reach in Bengal and elsewhere.

The program of 19th December was inaugurated by the Advisor of Foreign Affaires, Dr. Iftekhar A. Chowdhury and the honorable Advisor for Textile, Mrs. Geetiara Safia Chowdhury. This gala fashion show event was managed by JPR and marketing partner is Media Communications Ltd. This event was sponsored by Warid, Sony Ericsson, Chery, acer and GMG.

The magazine organized an extravagant fashion event styled as ‘Fashion without Frontiers’-an international standard fashion show-coupled with equally pertinent musical performances by Habib and multi-talented Laila as the MC for that evening was also singing some English numbers.

Foreign Adviser Iftekhar A Chowdhury inaugurated the fashion show at the Plenary Hall of Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre.

A wide range of designers showed their startling collections, namely Roxana Salam, Kuhu, Tootli Rahman, Emdadul Haque, Symon and Tenzing, Tanjim, Tanjim and Monira Emdad.

Among them, Kuhu’s collection of stunning saris was noteworthy. The vibrating colours and exquisite design spellbound the audience.

Tanzim’s “new T-shirt collection” for both men and women was also good.

The most stunning collection of the event was Roxana Salam collection for young Muslim women. The collection was also displayed in Malaysia. Followed by locally made 18 carat jewellery collection.

Monira Emdad of Tangail Sharir Kutir was honoured with ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ by the Bangladesh Design Council. Textiles Adviser Geeteara Safiya Choudhuty gave away the award to Monira.

Source: The New Nation

In the past year, we saw wedding gowns that went the overly romantic route with vintage accents like bows, lace, generous beading, and tiered ruffles galore like wedding cakes. For instance, the last wedding I attended for December 2007 had the bride walking around in a strapless duchesse satin number, but with a full meringue-like skirt over a hoop petticoat. It was cute and photogenic, but she had a hard time sitting still throughout the wedding proper. Plus, her gown was too heavy for her to dance the night away with her new groom.

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Although it may not feel quite like it yet, spring is in the air when it comes to the jewelry forecast and those in the know are predicting plenty of shine. With warm weather just around the corner, love is sure to follow and wedding bells will soon be ringing as June remains one of the most popular months for tying the knot. When it comes to saying ‘I Do’, wedding rings may be the most celebrated jewelry of the day, but every bride knows that the accessories chosen to highlight her look will play a very important role. Cubic zirconia jewelry is one of the most popular choices for the bride who wants to add plenty of dazzle without spending a lot of dough on her special day.

If you’re planning a walk down the aisle, chandelier earrings are very trendy. Whether you choose a sleek design or a bold look, dangle earrings are ideal if your hair is being worn up. If you plan to let your hair flow, consider a stud style earring with dazzling cubic zirconia to complete your look.

As Fashion Week revealed, trends for spring 2007 are going to be bold. As a bride who prefers sterling silver, you can wear and enjoy a design that features a lot of presence. Whether sterling silver jewelry is your favorite or you find that it offers the look of white gold or platinum without the price tag, your budget will thank you. Silver and white are both expected to be largely popular in the upcoming season, which is ideal for the bride who plans to wear sterling silver with a white gown. If your gown is strapless, a bold necklace or cuff bracelet featuring cubic zirconia will be a breathtaking accent.

We all know that pearls are classic and, as such, have always been the choice of bridal jewelry. Whether your gown is white or ivory, pearls will be the perfect compliment and trends predict that pearls and diamonds will be extremely popular. Instead of spending thousands of dollars on a necklace or bracelet, many are opting for faux pearls and cubic zirconia jewelry instead. When set in sterling silver, the brilliance of cubic zirconia is at its finest and is sure to combine a touch of femininity with just the right amount of trend to make every bride the classic beauty that she is.

No wedding would be complete without the rings but, when it comes to the style that you will be wearing for a lifetime, the choice is about much more than just the current trends. Many 2007 brides will be wearing rings made to replicate vintage or antique designs as history will repeat itself in the upcoming wedding season. Depending on your own personal preference, you may prefer a classic bridal set styled in a traditional design. Whatever your preference, cubic zirconia sterling silver wedding rings are sure to match your taste.

The jewelry trends noted in this article are designed for bridal wear, but can easily be incorporated into that worn by bridesmaids, wedding guests or for other formal affairs. Recent 2007 trend suggestions at Fashion Week predict smooth and bold designs with plenty of gold and silver. This means that whether you are a bride, a bridesmaid or just a woman who appreciates style, you can look forward to a season filled with plenty of bright days and just the right amount of sparkle. Every day is the perfect day to say ‘I Do’ to cubic zirconia jewelry set in sterling silver and, even if it ’s not your wedding day, theres plenty of reason for celebration when you can look great and save a bundle in the process.

For more information on cubic zirconia and cubic zirconia rings, visit Almost Diamonds at http://www.almostdiamonds.com

Bridal magazine titles have increased 96 percent since 2002 and Brides magazine still has remained a powerhouse with the highest circulation, leading the way among their competitors.

Wedding Ideas Products and Equipment Fair, 3rd edition, is scheduled for February 22, next year, and is set to go on till 24 on the month.

WEDDING DAYS present:
The largest and the most important happening linked to the presentation of products and services for wedding.

Encounters of professionals, designers, stylists, producers, traders from Croatia and abroad at unique Wedding Show.

Fashion shows, test make-ups, show appearances, promotions, tastings and inspiring workshops. New fashion trends and ideas for your most festive day.

The best ideas for weddings:
- invitations,
- letters of thank and confettis,
- cakes, flowers and decorations,
- gala menu,
- stretch limousines,
- photos, video, music and entertainment,
- special effects, all at one spot
- Inspiration for the equipping and arrangement of home and
- selection of place for The unforgettable wedding trip

WEDDING DAYS will be held in parallel with Fashion & Leisure and Sport & Nautical Fair.

WEDDING DAYS COMPRISE:
- FASHION & ACCESSORIES
- STYLING
- ORGANIZATION
- WISH LIST
- HONEYMOON.

ZAGREB FAIR

GONE are the days when the second time bride known as the “encore bride” has to settle for scaled down ceremonies with fewer guests.

With over 45% percent of all weddings today involving one or both partners who have been married before, it’s difficult to tell from the attire whether the modern bride is marrying for the first or umpteenth time. In fact, the modern bride who is lucky enough to find love again is trampling on the old traditions. Now their wedding is based on their taste and their budget. With the motto being: “This is the last time, and it’s got to be the best.”

The “encore bride” is in a different place than when she had her first wedding. They are confident, they have more money to spend, and they know what they want. Their focus is on “simple elegance”.

Whether it is your first, second or third wedding the focal point is still the wedding dress. These brides are seeking dresses that are tailored rather than poufy - a sexy, sophisticated look with the emphasis on quality fabrics.

Today’s trends in bridal gowns are all about you. Your second wedding gown should reflect your personal style, your fashion sense and what kind of wedding you want to have.

When shopping for that perfect dress it helps to know your body type so you can choose the gown that highlights your best features and downplays the areas you wish you could forget.

Here are some of the latest fashion trends to help get you started:

Trains are fine, but keep them simple, again matching the formality and style of the wedding.

Show some skin: At this year’s runway shows, many designers decided to go bare. Creations featured mostly strapless gowns that place the emphasis on the bodice: gently weaved, beaded, or simple with demure jeweled straps.

Body-Conscious: Designers are very body conscious these days, with shape taking precedence. This is good news for any bride: most of these dresses have a slimming effect. The ever-popular A-line (also known as princess) is a long cut that draws the eye downwards, and often has a built-in train. This does not mean that designers have abandoned the classic traditional gowns…the skirts still float but the cut is meant to flatter the body.

Embroidery and Lace: These two mainstays of bridal fashion never go out of style and let’s not forget beading. Today’s bride wants the opulence in beadwork with many designers choosing crystals over glass beads.

Color: This component of a gown has never been so popular. Brides are actually thinking outside the box these days choosing jewel tone gowns in gold, silver, and a variety of pearl tones. However, second time brides still are confident enough to wear white, after all “white symbolizes commitment and faithfulness” so why not!

Where to Look: Magazines are the traditional way a bride begins her gown search, but why not look for a gown online? Most designers now have WebPages, and a collection of name gowns can be found on a number of websites. And if you’re wondering, “Will the gown of my dreams fit me right?” there’s help to be found on a multitude of websites which determine your body type and then suggest the dress type that is best for your figure.

Finally Hit the Runways! The latest fashions needn’t remain a trade secret. Bridal shows, which feature live runway presentations of the current trends and designers, are an excellent way to view a variety of gowns.

A wedding is a celebration of love so indulge and take your time finding that perfect gown. The number one comment I receive from second time brides is…”this is definitely it, I’m not getting married again”.

Gail Young is a co-founder of The Bridal Chalet, an online bridal boutique selling designer style couture and traditional wedding gowns and bridal accessories. A second time bride herself, Gail combines her extensive knowledge of the industry with her passion for designing couture bridal fashion. The Bridal Chalet has a collection of exclusive designer wedding gowns geared to the second time bride – the Sara Houston Collection.

Visit her website at: http://www.bridalchalet.com

Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gail_Young

Oscar de la Renta has designed a marvelous bridal collection for the upcoming Spring/Summer 2008 season.

Colors used in the Spring 2008 collection are on the white and ivory tone sides of the palette, matched with soft grays. Shiny crystals and sparkling stones which have embellished the top of the gowns are used to strengthen the richness. Elegantly refined, plain yet chic, Oscar de la Renta brides will fulfill their wedding days with their glamorous moments.

Ivory silk faille strapless gowns with detachable over-skirts, ivory silk faille strapless gowns with crystal embroidered belts, white tulle twist-front draped polka dot empire gowns, embroidered gowns with ribbon lattice work and organza florets and white chiffon off-the-shoulder twist front empire gowns are the collection’s and also the ad campaign’s highlights.

Source: Fashion Trendsetter

All eyes may be on the bride during a wedding, but it is equally important for the groom to look his best when he suits up for the ceremony. During the final days of the calendar year, Lovetripper looks back at the leading men who donned designer duds in order to tie the knot in 2007.

1) Tony Parker– Standing at the altar of the Eglise Saint-Germain l’Auxerrois in a classic black suit and white cravat from French fashion house DeFursac, the San Antonio Spurs star received an 18k white gold Piaget Possession wedding band from his bride, Eva Longoria. In exchange, the NBA great slipped a white gold Piaget Possession wedding adorned with 107 brilliant-cut and square-cut diamonds on to the hand of the Desperate Housewives star.

2) Usher– One of the decade’s most stylish stars straightened his ivory bow tie and tucked a gardenia boutonniere into the lapel of his black Giorgio Armani tuxedo before exchanging vows for a second time with Tameka Foster during a wedding ceremony held at Chateau Elan Winery and Resort near Atlanta.

3) Howie Dorough– From Orlando Bloom and David Beckham to Nelly Furtado and Madonna, the designing duo of Dean and Dan Caten have dressed the entertainment world’s elite since 1995. On December 8, 2007, the Backstreet Boy donned a timeless black tuxedo and a white bow tie from the Canadian couturier’s label, Dsquared, to marry his love of the past seven years, Leigh Boniello.

4) Ioan Gruffudd– As the sea rushed to the white sands at the One & Only Palmilla Resort in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, a breeze tugged at the ivory satin tie of the Fantastic Four’s indigo-hued wool crepe Armani suit while actress Alice Evans recited a self-penned poem to the actor during their wedding ceremony.

5) Brandon Routh– Looysen Fine Clothing suited up Superman for premieres of his cinematic blockbuster around the world, and the actor turned to the label once again for his wedding day, when he donned a black cashmere suit for his nuptials at El Capitan Ranch.

6) Scott Baio– Donning a dove grey suit for his rooftop nuptials at L.A.’s Mercury Building with Renee Sloan, the former teen idol could still cause his fans to swoon. Details of the long-time bachelor’s “I do’s” will be revealed when Scott Baio is 46…and Pregnant premieres on VH1 on January 13, 2008.

7) Felipe Massa– Weeks before their November 30, 2007 nuptials, paparazzi captured the arrival of the Formula One champion and his bride-to-be Raffaela Bassi for a fitting at the Milan store of Dolce and Gabbana, who garbed the groom in a black suit paired with a silver tie for his wedding day at the Igreja Nossa Senhora do Brasil in Sao Paulo.

Bill Rancic– Each stitch sewn with love, the Apprentice winner donned a classic black tuxedo and a white bow tie created by Eduardo DePandi, the father of his bride, E! News host Giuliana DePandi.

9) Roger Taylor– Duran Duran’s drummer made his bride’s heart skip a beat when she walked down the aisle at Jalousie Plantation in St. Lucia toward the groom, who donned a white Giorgio Armani suit for their wedding day.

10) Jon Cryer– After saying “I do” to TV Guide’s InFANity host Lisa Joyner at the Chapel at Pueblo Bonito Sunset Beach resort in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, the Two and A Half Men star danced the cha-cha in a white Hugo Boss suit during an outdoor reception.

Source: Lovetripper.com

Marriage is one of the biggest event in life, so you really want to make sure you are at your best top to bottom.

One of the important ingredient, which enhances to the brides beauty is their bridal wear.

So how to choose the bridal wear, which matches your body shape and size?? This is a big challenge for most of the plus size women.

Step One
It’s normal for the plus size women to go through this challenge of choosing the bridal wear to find the flattering figure to look their best.

Main thing is to get the clothes that fit’s you and to be comfortable with it.

Identify your body shape. Is it hour glass, round shape, Pear shape, Inverted triangle etc etc… It’s not possible to talk about all the body shapes and it’s clothing fit here, so I am just scoping it to pear shaped body. Here are some basic guide lines:

Many plus size women have this misconception when they want to choose their dresses. They would want to look for clothing based on their size and end up with returns, exchanges because of the mismatch. Please ‘Go by your measurements and not by the Size” because you may have to go up or down in size depending on the dress, and also….if the dress needs any alteration– it’s easier to get a bigger size and go down than trying to work around a too small dress. Adding fabric can just make a dress look tacky, so go up in size. But there are few like Lane Bryant, Davids bridal who run pretty true to the size.

Step Two
Think on which style & color of the dress you want and what’s your budget. You can check the online stores www.adhis-plussizefashionwear.com to have an idea. If you can think of some style, you can go to www.theknot.com and do a search. You will be surprised that you will come across lot of designers that you didn’t even know. Alternatively, you can just choose the color and let the attendants pick the dress that flatters them.

Step Three
It’s always better to try the gowns on? Plus, it’s good for the soul to see yourself as a bride with some focus on what you like. Besides make it a fun to shop for such a great occasion and tailoring is generally a must for formal gowns most of the times.

Step Four
There are often times that you can set up an appointment to try on gowns and bridal shops may pull some in advance for you if you give them your measurements and a few preferences on your favorite assets to show. A lot of bridal shops can do this if you call to inquire about sizes. Oh yeah, and totally ignore going by the size as said earlier. For one thing I’ve seen many formal gowns (as a bridemaid) that only come in standard sizing. That means the size may be 4 or 5 sizes higher than the number you are used to seeing.

Step Five
Whether your style is dramatic, chic, romantic, natural or timeless…it can help you find a more definite direction as far as style goes. One of my friend was a Timeless bride…..she wore a vintage dress in a princess style with pearls for her day…

Step Six
As far as wedding gowns go for pear shapes, it’s actually lots easier than you think. Because most wedding gowns bell out that is in your favor. The styles to stay away from are mermaid, column and sheath styles which will do nothing but accentuate the fact that you are bottom heavy since they are close cut all over - although with some major custom tailoring from a clever seamstress, those styles can sometimes work, but are much trickier.

Step Seven
You could go for princess seams, flounces and trains, empire cuts. If you are confident of your upper body a simple strapless number will do. You also will want an open shaped neck-line with nothing buttoned up high under your chin. This could be square cut, strapless, scoop, vee, sweetheart - doesn’t have to show a lot of cleavage if you don’t want, you just don’t want to close off the shape giving your sort of triangle look.

Step Eight
By opening the neckline shape you’ll create more of an hourglass shape to your figure visually. Pears can very successfully wear puff sleeves, and wider bell sleeves with a close fitting bodice too, if those are styles that tickle your fancy. Stay away from anything shapeless.

Step Nine
Be careful with small mom-and-pop bridal shops. There was a situation where they closed suddenly-leaving no contact info or anything. They left many brides, and many high school girls who had purchased their prom dresses there, in the lurch.

Step Ten
To me, I got white color for my wedding dress; it was superbly gorgeous and high quality, got it really cheap. It was pretty white one with purple and pink beaded bits to break up the white background.

On the same note, red one with black velvet would look great but do please check your liking. Don’t hide behind dark colors; pinstripes can turnout to be very flattering.

Step Eleven
Have long gloves for the lower part of your arms. I have heard of good things about the red wedding dresses of Chinese made. A lovely qipao or something like that would be a nice way to cover the arms. Hope you don’t have any issues with your heels, since there are so many plus sized concerns with heels. Anyway do check on your “stability factor” with heels on.

Step Twelve
As far as accessories go, I usually see very less in weddings but some of them do like to wear. I have also gone from wearing a dressier jewelry to much more cool laid back one. Usually I find women like the organic look and the designs mainly made of gemstone components. To what I know, the one of the issue in jewelry for plus size women is the size. Bracelets and necklaces always seem to stop at size7”. The biggest accessory that takes the center stage is the ring. Rings always have to be specially ordered, and same goes with watches. Be very cautious on choice of your jewelry, some of them really match well to the body and on the other side, a wrong choice will turn a plus size women into a hippie.

Step Thirteen
It’s definitely not possible to spill out everything in this little space here but just shared the minimum basic stuffs.

You may also pick up some Bath & Beauty tips and advises, that I have bundled it in an ebook and giving it away free at www.adhis-plussizefashionwear.com

Be sure to leave your comment at my site. Your valuable comments are key to the new book to be released.

As I said earlier, these are just some of my suggestions, do check on your liking. It doesn’t really matter what’s your size or your age, once you understand what looks good on you with a comfortable fit. Remember that being able to lace up for a perfect fit alleviates a lot of dress-fit stress. You will start to feel more confident and sure to raise your self-esteem.

I Love my curves
Curvywoman
www.adhis-plussizefashionwear.com

The number of grooms who enjoy taking part in wedding planning recently got a boost. “Sophisticated Groom,” formerly online only, launched its first print version in November on newsstands nationwide.

“The presence of a male wedding magazine is long overdue,” says publisher J. Kevin Powell.

The magazine, priced at $4.99, targets pre-engaged and engaged men, ages 25 to 45, seeking survival strategies, fashion and planning advice.

Shopfronts burst with enticing wares and girls scour the shelves for the most beautiful dress, it’s that time of year again the wedding season.

he focal point of any wedding is the bride. Naturally, every woman wants to be the most beautiful ever on their special day and the principle tool - a stunning gown. But getting your hands on the dress is no simple task, 23-year-old bride-to-be Thanh Nga says.

“I want something that’s trendy but exclusive. It has to be beautiful but affordable because I have to balance my budget.”

No mean feat. But with the endless choice on the high street there is hope.

A world apart from Hanoi brides in the 1980s who could only hire a gown for a few hours, any style and price from VND2mil is possible.

Something that all modern-day brides can indulge in is fashion. But for such a personal day, wedding gown trends are not as transient as catwalk styles.

The running theme is interest in foreign designs, wedding gown designer Thu Huong says.

“Every year, I upgrade my collection by looking at Western fashion magazines and I modify them to suit Vietnamese brides in term of taste and size.

In my 20 years of experience, I’ve usually used taffeta, silk and satin as my main materials.”

But different areas of society do have different tastes, she says.

“Women who work in offices usually go for something simple, elegant and expertly made. Blue-collar workers often choose intricate details or glitzy materials. So, I make gowns to suit everyone,” she says.

Huong’s dresses range from VND2-6mil.

On the more flashy end of the market are shops like Altamoza, Moza, Paloma and Quynh Anh who hone in directly on young fashionistas. The imported or locally made gowns often come as part of a package including bridal make-up, photo albums, flowers and cars, with prices ranging from VND3.5-12mil.

To battle the competition, many stores offer special deals. Jessica Thanh Hang targets bigger budgets, with expensive imported gowns while Juliet offers brand new gowns for rent. There’s no extra charge for being the first to wear it because the shop has outlets in outlying provinces that rent second-hand gowns.

Spiralling up to the extreme end of the market with tailor-made designs in silk, satin and velvet are shops like David Minh Duc.

The newest trend this season is tradition, David Minh Duc’s manager says.

“We give ao dai (Vietnamese traditional dress) a touch of haute couture with layers, glass-bead accessories and sequins,” she says.

You certainly pay for the labour as a full package can range from VND5mil to 42mil.

But if a personal designer isn’t enough to ensure your dress is going to make a sensation, there is another, perhaps more extreme option.

“I’m studying for a masters degree in finance in Australia and I bought my dress during a trip to Melbourne,” a 28-year-old newly-wed, Lan Hoang said.

“There are many bridal shops in Australia which provide gowns for Asian women. I did my research and found an affordable gown.

“I know not many people in Vietnam are going to have an Australian-made dress so I’m really happy,” she said.

Be it on the local high-street, via a personal tailor or during a trip abroad, all the choice certainly makes the run-up to the big day a little more stressful. But for the first glance in the mirror with that special dress, it’s sure to be worth it.

Source: Viet Nam News

Brides probably don’t know exactly why they’re wearing something blue on their wedding day, but they’ve been doing it for so long few want to break with tradition.

Research traces an early printed version of the good-luck poem, “Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue,” back to at least 1883. (Back then, there was another line attached to the end: “And a sixpence in her shoe.”)

Superstition, yes, but why take a risk on such an important day?

“I guess I do believe in it — I did it,” says Theresa DiMasi, editor-in-chief of Brides.com, who wore blue toenail polish at her wedding. “There’s something that feels sort of solid about it. But I also believe it’s a personal thing — you can do it your way or not do it all.”

The most common way to add blue these days is a blue garter, DiMasi says, but there are more options than one might think: makeup, flowers, jewelry, a sash, or a little blue lace around the dress’ hem, she suggests.

At the most recent round of bridal fashion shows, there were some lovely pale blue dresses that have a hint of color but maintain the cool look of a true white.

DiMasi particularly liked the Reem Acra blue gowns, but she also acknowledges that it’s easier to incorporate just a splash of blue.

Bianca Alexander, director of makeup artistry for MAC Cosmetics, would reach for blue eye shadow. (Yes, blue eye shadow!) A powder-blue matte shadow works well for a 1960s-inspired, doe-eyed look, she says, and will photograph nicely whether the pictures are in color or black and white. “It’ll just be a pop of color on the lid.”

The rest of the bride’s makeup should be natural and neutral, with just a light color on the cheeks and lips and a coat of mascara — not blue mascara.

A more glamorous look would be a pewter-colored shadow with a blue tone to it. That, she says, could have a bit of shimmer, but a matte shadow with a similar gray-blue eye liner is a safer bet if you’re not used to wearing blue yet still want intense color.

Many women still treat blue eye shadow as taboo, but Alexander says they needn’t.

“Blues that don’t work is any blue that screams ‘trend,’ especially for a wedding,” she says. “For spring, acrylic colors are so hot in spring fashion, but I’d stay away from things that could look so dated in the future. If it looks like true blue on, it will look really blue in a photograph.”

She adds: “Think dark denim blue.”

Bright blue is OK, though, if we’re talking about jewelry. Mixing diamonds with glistening colored gemstones has become more popular for engagement rings and wedding bands. And if blue doesn’t make it to the rings, there are still necklaces, earrings and bracelets.

Detra Segar, vice president and general manager of Tiffany & Co., which has its own signature blue box, suggests sapphires, tanzanite, blue tourmaline and aquamarine.

“These colorful blue gems are combined with brilliant Tiffany diamonds in Tiffany Celebration rings,” she said.

For those unwilling to invest so heavily in a superstition, there are the disposable and more affordable blue flowers.

DiMasi herself carried a blue hydrangea in her bouquet simply because she liked the look. She has seen other brides put a blue flower in their hair, wrap a satin ribbon around flower stems or tuck a little blue crystal in the bouquet.

Source: Associated Press

The first of its kind in Los Angeles, Encore Bridal LLC is giving brides options when searching for the dress of their dreams. Savvy brides can now find the most elegant wedding dresses and bridal accessories within their reach at Encore Bridal’s upscale resale and consignment bridal e-Boutique, www.encorebridal.com. New, Sample, and Nearly-New couture wedding dresses from today’s most sought-after designers — such as Monique Lhuillier, Vera Wang, Anne Barge, and Rivini — are all discounted at 30-60% off retail price. To ensure “walk-down-the-aisle” condition, each gown is professionally cleaned and thoroughly inspected before being showcased in Encore Bridal’s online boutique.

“I didn’t want brides to have to sacrifice design, quality, and service for price,” says owner Julie Jones, “and I felt brides should have socially conscious options when planning for their wedding day.” Recycled wedding gowns, veils and headpieces are changing the color of weddings from white to green. Encore Bridal is a haven for women who care about the environment and women’s issues. In addition to being a sustainable business, a portion of the profit from every sale is donated to non-profit organizations supporting cervical cancer research and education. This is something that is very personal for Miss Jones, who was recently affected by cervical cancer.

With Encore Bridal, brides-to-be can save time, sanity, and gas by purchasing their wedding gown in the comfort of their own home. A generous 7-day return policy eliminates stress if the dream dress turns out not to be so dreamy once tried on. Brides living in Southern California also have the option of viewing Encore Bridal’s off-the-rack wedding gowns at bimonthly trunk shows or during private styling appointments.

Newlyweds from all over the country are invited to continue the tradition of giving by consigning their couture gowns and bridal accessories with Encore Bridal. When the wedding ends the magic doesn’t have to. Recent Brides receive top dollar for their gowns if they are no more than 3 years old (there are exceptions for classic styles), originally retailed for over $1800, and are in pristine condition. Women are passing on the love and in exchange are purchasing their favorite handbag or diamond earrings as a daily reminder of their wedding day.

For more information: Log onto www.encorebridal.com

Personally I think pearl jewelry is the best choice for the bride to wear on her wedding day. I like them for their appearance of purity. They are beautifully, iridescent and come in an array of colors. While traditional pearls maybe the white or cream color, they also come in pink, gold, orange and black.

Pearls are considered gemstones, but differ from most other gemstones in several ways. First they are not minerals. Nor are they mined from beneath the earth. They both absorb and reflect light. Pearls are also rather soft in comparison to other gemstones.

Wearing pearls for bridal jewelry is a reminder marriage like the forming of a pearl is a process.

Pearls are formed inside the shells of oysters. A pearl is formed over time beginning when a foreign substance enters the shell. The oyster covers the invading or foreign substance with thin layers of nacre. Repeating this process until the foreign substance is covered with layers and layers of this nacre forming what we would call a pearl. These gemstones can then be made into beautiful individual pieces of pearl bridal jewelry to fit the style and taste of each bride.

It is amazing that something that starts out as an invading substance to the oyster is turned into something of such beauty. I like to think that the building of a good marriage needs to be a lot like that. As two come together to become one, they bring different beliefs and traditions into their marriage. Using pearls for bridal jewelry is a reminder that a good marriage is process. Something that could be considered an irritant, or annoying when covered in love, much like the oyster covers the foreign substance with nacre, will with time produce something of beauty.

Pearl jewelry is great choice for bridal jewelry because it can compliment the beading that is done on so many bridal dresses. As it compliments the dress, it doesn’t draw attention away from the style and statement that the bride is making.

Maybe the bride should not only wear pearls on her wedding day, but everyday as a reminder that marriage is a work in progress.

Source: http://tropicalfashionaccessories.blogspot.com/2007/12/bridal-jewelry-what-should-bride-wear.html

Hajra Hayat isn’t out there to create a bang or hoopla. She isn’t one of those to stick out a feather, expose a leg or come up with crazy colour combinations just to attract attention and establish herself as a fashion “visionary” simply because she’s also not a fortune teller — she is a designer who designs for the ‘now’.

Hajra Hayat is known to design outfits that are “wearable” as her outfits are always aesthetically pragmatic. Despite several innovations, in a show this Lahore-based designer held in Karachi recently, it was evident that she hasn’t deviated much from her design philosophy.

Rang De, the official title of the Hajra Hayat Winter 2008 bridal wear collection was shown, at the onset of the wedding season, in collaboration with Shehzad Roy’s Zindagi Trust. After speeches relating the objective and ideology of the Trust, including one by Roy himself, those present were treated to a performance by him to three songs, two of which were performed live with his guitarist Imran Akhund.

Of these, one was a cover of a Beegees classic re-made by an equally popular cover by Boyzone, Words. As much as this scribe appreciates Roy’s inherent love for the song, covering a classic and performing it is an intimidating feat in itself and unfortunately, Roy simply lacked the ‘soul’ needed to make his cover of it his own. He then performed his most popular song to date, Sali, disappointingly on DAT. Thankfully, it was the last song performed by him and the Hajra Hayat Rang De fashion show finally kicked off.

The opening segment showed a white, western-inspired collection. There was no over-the-top embroidery or embellishments; the line was simple, with elegantly cut shirts over straight-pants or capris. For a moment it seemed as though Hajra had dsc_1352.jpgtoned down for her showing in the city but not for long. The embroidery and bling increased as the show advanced. The predominant colours Hajra has played with in the collection are white, pink, red and blue. Most of the saris that were shown carried deep-cut blouses at the back with intricate embroidery done around the borders and across the back as well.

An interesting combination was a red and blue bridal outfit, a combination which has been a tad overdone but was manageable in this case. What stood out from the bridal section was a simple white, lightly embellished, long-skirted outfit worn by model Faiza Ansari with an equally simple dupatta over her head. The outfit was perfect for the more untraditional bride looking to separate herself from the norm. Another eye-catching outfit was a pink-bloused red ghaghra worn by Sunita Marshall with a pink border towards the hemline of the ghaghra with circular mirrored-disks bordering it.

At this point one has to mention that out of all the models Faiza Ansari seemed to be having fun. She swirled her pink sari when walking the ramp adding a little bit of extra oomph to it. On thdsc_1550.jpge other hand, despite having seen Nadya Hussain several times on the runway, and despite being tall and beautiful to look at, she unfortunately does not understand the importance of a good posture or timing when strutting down the ramp. She walks while leaning oddly backwards, resulting in her lower body leading the way with her upper body following. She also tends to walk painfully slow, disregarding the pace that the other models were keeping or even the overall beat of the song being played. Despite having been around for quite some time, Nadya is desperately in need of lessons on how to walk the ramp.

Another interesting thing to note was that most of the people attending were not from the local fashion fraternity, they were socialites and individuals from the corporate sector, people who are genuine buyers of designer-wear outfits.

Overall, the collection wasn’t over-the-top or a work of a creative genius. It was, however, creatively done with outfits which people could actually wear (as opposed to ‘just see’). The western-inspired line was a welcome addition and since it seemed to be fused with certain eastern cuts as well, one can be sure these would be ideally suited for the youth of today – the ‘Minglish’ speaking crowd. If simplicity in design is the hardest thing to carry, then Hajra Hayat carries it really well.

Source: http://bandbaji.wordpress.com/2007/12/01/the-understated-bride/
Photos by Fayyaz Ahmed

The traditional sample size for designers to send bridal boutiques is a size 10, which in bridal actual translates to a size 6 or 8. Not the most encouraging sight for a plus size woman.

Fortunately, a lot of designers have picked up on the fact that women over a size 14 don’t necessarily want to wear a big, lacy, satin catastrophe, and are designing plus size gowns with a lot of style. However, if you’re still not crazy about the idea of shopping for your gown in a store, a try shopping online with Igigi.

The bridal gowns are more on the informal side, but beautiful nonetheless. Additionally, there are a variety of bridesmaids’ dresses and dresses suitable for fashionable wedding guests and mothers-of-the-bride as well as well.

Choose a Tea Length Wedding Dress that captures the informal elegance of your wedding If you’re planning your wedding and searching for the perfect dress, consider a tea length wedding dress. While this may not be the traditional silhouette, more and more brides are choosing to wear whatever strikes their fancy. This less formal dress may be just what you have been looking for.

What is a tea length wedding dress? Tea length dresses fall between the knee and ankle, usually about mid-calf. The dress often has a full skirt, which can be made even fuller by wearing a slip and a fitted bodice. For a modern take on the tea length dress, consider a stunning yet simple strapless dress in silk or satin. You can also look for the more traditional cap or three-quarter length sleeves. A tea length wedding dress is a wonderful choice for a less formal wedding. While a formal evening ceremony and reception would warrant a floor-length gown complete with flowing train, you might desire a wedding that is a little more unique or out-of-the-ordinary. If you are planning to have a garden wedding, or a mid-morning ceremony followed by a brunch reception, a tea length wedding dress would be perfect.

While any bride who loves the look of tea length dresses should feel free to wear one on her special day, brides who are blessed with a tall stature look especially stunning in this length. The nipped in waist of a tea length gown also accentuates a tiny waist, so if you have an hour glass figure a tea length wedding dress will be quite flattering. The tea length wedding dress is a throwback to the 1950s and early 1960s, when this length was very popular. Choosing a dress in white taffeta including a full, tulle slip that peaks out the bottom makes the dress look even more vintage. An elegant strand of pearls, a sleek pillbox hat with an attached veil, and a small white nosegay bouquet completes the look quite nicely.

When shopping for a wedding dress, you can look in bridal salons, catalogs, vintage shops, or search the Internet for new or previously worn dresses. Consider purchasing a tea length bridesmaid’s dress to wear as your wedding gown. Because tea length is a very popular length for bridal attendants, you will probably have a large selection from which to choose. Many of the dresses can be purchased in white, but you can also choose another color. Buying a bridesmaid’s dress will most likely be less expensive than buying a traditional wedding gown. A tea length wedding dress may be the perfect dress to transform you into a blushing and beautiful bride. Whether your look is vintage or modern, your gown can be preserved and passed on for another generation to enjoy.

Lisa Alpern-Cucinotta remembers how her pilgrimage in 2003 left her weeping with happiness.

It wasn’t a trip to Jerusalem, the Ganges River or Mecca. No, the plus-size fashionista, then 25, had arrived for the first time at the altar of Torrid at the Garden State Plaza.

Alpern-Cucinotta, a Washington Township native with a degree in design, found herself strapped for clothing options. She had always been a “curvy girl,” usually wearing sizes 12 and 14 available in mainstream stores. Though she lived in the limbo between “straight” sizes and plus sizes for a long time, a few extra pounds gained in college put her squarely into the plus-size category.

She thought she would never be able to find trendy clothes again. Plus-size fashions in the early 2000s were, in her eyes, disappointingly dowdy and unflattering. But the selection of clothes at Torrid was different.

“Here were the funny, funky T-shirts that any twentysome-thing girl wants to wear,” she said. “They had sexy skirts and sexy shirts. I have never been that excited. I probably took 45 things in the dressing room and spent hundreds and hundreds of dollars.”

A fashion desert
Although the demand for plus-size fashion has been growing for at least a decade, many women like Alpern-Cucinotta are still wandering in a fashion desert — especially when shopping brick-and-mortar stores. Specialty stores are still a tiny minority in shopping centers, and mainstream clothing retailers never seem to have room in their stores for special sizes.

“They simply don’t carry the sizes we’re looking for,” said Christine Alt, a plus-size model who does consulting for Lane Bryant’s newly renamed catalog line Woman Within.

Can plus-size women ever find well-designed, quirky clothes that fit their bodies and their personalities? Or are they doomed to shop at a handful of specialty stores?

The answer may be at the click of a mouse. For those who eschew the commute and crave variety, cyberspace may be the new dressing room. Web site portals dedicated to plus-size fashion like beautyplus power.com — founded by Alpern-Cucinotta after her Torrid adventure — direct you to deals online and smaller plus-size lines that haven’t made it to the malls, advertising their friendly phone and Internet sales services. There are blogs, bulletin boards and countless shopping Web sites that collect the best of the trendy plus brands.

“The Internet is a great sales channel for niche markets because of the laser-like marketing accuracy it provides,” said Scott Silverman, spokesman for online retailer network shop.org.

According to projections by Silverman’s organization, 10 percent of all clothing sales — plus-size, regular or otherwise — are expected to occur online this year. Apparel, accessories and footwear sales reached $18.3 billion in 2006 and are expected to hit $22.1 billion in 2007, a figure that surpasses online sales of computers for the first time in history.

Add that to the fact that the latest Centers for Disease Control survey puts the national percentage of overweight adults at 32.2 percent (in New Jersey it’s 20 to 24 percent), and you’ve got a market segment ripe for development.

“With more and more designers realizing that the majority of American women are plus size, the fashions have gotten hipper, cooler and much more accessible,” said Alt.

Bigger sizes online
Because they are able to ship products from warehouses for online sales, mainstream retail companies also are widening their range. The youth apparel store American Eagle, for example, sells XXL and sizes 16 and 18 only on its Web site, ae.com. Ann Taylor Loft goes up to size 18 online at anntaylorloft.com.

Alpern-Cucinotta added that plus-size women can do a lot better at a mall nowadays than five years ago. “There is a current trend in body consciousness, in more form-fitting clothing,” she said.

Teens are still out of luck, she said, but new lines like Fashion Overdose (fashionoverdose.com) are starting to fulfill their needs online.

It’s just in time, apparently, since the next segment of the population that increasingly needs plus-size apparel may be juniors and children. The CDC reports 17.4 percent of Americans ages 12 to 19 are overweight; so are 18.8 percent of those ages 6 to 11 and 13.9 percent of children ages 2 to 5.

“Every third dress we make is for a plus-sized child,” said Marge Hyland, formerly of Morris County. Hyland’s company, Pegeen .com, tailors formalwear for children. Now based in Florida, she creates perfect fits for young girls by sending out a bodice pattern to the customer for a trial fitting before making the dress.

“A girl might feel like she can’t be in a wedding party because she’s too big,” said Hyland. “It’s horrible. … All little girls want to feel like a princess.”

An additional problem for girls now is early development, she added. Girls who develop adult-sized bosoms at 9 or 10 have a difficult time finding a good fit, especially when they are only about 4 feet tall.

Plus sizes for kids, too
While Hyland provides a tailoring service, children’s clothing company Gymboree has online-only slim and plus sizes for everyday clothing. JC Penney offers “junior pluses,” and Limited Too has “half sizes” in stores. The trend has pushed up to teen brands like Aeropostale and American Eagle — but in both cases, extended sizes are only online.

The mainstream stores, especially the savvy ones, are learning what their customers want — and for now, the Internet offers a cost-effective solution. But shopping for plus sizes is still a pain.

While shopping recently at a plus-size boutique in Brooklyn, Lee Lee’s Valise (leeleesvalise.com), Alpern-Cucinotta had an illuminating experience. She noticed that thin women who were attracted by the window display were walking into the store — only to be disappointed when they discovered there was nothing in their size.

“It’s usually the other way around,” she said with a chuckle.

Plus sizes online

Here are some online options for plus-size apparel.

• Alight.com: The online boutique now has a brick-and-mortar presence in Long Island (998B Old Country Road, Plainview).

• Alloy.com: The Web store serves up extended sizes in jeans, with inseams up to 37 inches.

• Beautypluspower.com: This site links to trendy items that are hard to find, like wide boots. Also see the blog at beautypluspower.blogspot.com.

• Fashionoverdose.com: With an icon featuring a crowned skull and rose garlands, this is not your mother’s plus-size clothing line. The fashions skew young and fun.

• Kiyonna.com: The closest stores that carry Kiyonna brand clothing are Herban Legend in Hammonton (Atlantic County) and Lee Lee’s Valise in Brooklyn.

• SizeAppeal.com: “Be Bold and Sexy Because You Can” is the motto of this line for plus-size women. The collection specializes in party wear.

Source: NorthJersey.com

The whole idea of a “fairy tale wedding” may have lost its luster after the demise of Prince Charles and Princess Diana’s marriage. Still, Disney isn’t deterred. Earlier this year, the media company devised a line of wedding gowns designed by Kirstie Kelly, based on its “Disney Princess” franchise.

No, the Cinderella gown doesn’t come with glass slippers. In fact, the dresses look like typical wedding dresses (complete with typical “mid-tier” prices, ranging from $1,100 to $3,500).

But Disney won’t stop there; oh, no. It also plans Princess-branded housewares and sleepwear. Disney’s had great success with Disney Princess merchandise for little girls; according to Newsweek, the Princess brand is already a $4 billion business.

The House of Mouse has its eyes on more than just brides. Several days ago, The Wall Street Journal reported that Disney is also including the motif on infant goods like cribs and diaper-changing mats. Perhaps that’s all part of its long-term strategy — little girls who dream of Disney Princess weddings may grow up to demand Disney Princess weddings one day.

I got burned poking fun at this sort of thing in 2004, when Mattel first announced a line of Barbie-inspired clothing for grown women. Although I had a hard time believing there was a market for childhood-inspired accoutrements, that article ranked among my top generators of soul-wilting hate mail. Obviously, some women really adored the idea.

“Barbie Luxe” hasn’t died on the vine, either. In 2005, the high-priced line had a launch party during L.A. Fashion Week at the Fred Segal Flair boutique; this month’s BrandWeek covered the addition of a new designer, for the “Barbie by Patricia Field” collection of clothing and accessories, available in two separate lines for Macy’s East and Hot Topic, of all places.

Women have come a long way, even since I was a teenager; our opportunities now in society are pretty amazing by comparison. Given all that progress, news like this makes me wonder when things took a sharp turn toward Crazyville. Could you imagine Marvel licensing a line of Spider-Man or Hulk-inspired formalwear for men? I won’t be holding my breath.

Sure, some women aspire to beautiful, wealthy princesshood. But these icons aren’t always healthy, what with the accompanying unrealistic body image, the need to be rescued, and of course, the tiaras. Fairy-tale weddings may be big business, as Disney definitely knows, but I have to wonder whether Americans’ appetite for fantasy isn’t getting out of hand. Perhaps some people simply need to grow up.

Source: The Motley Fool

Titanium-Jewelry.com, a leading online retailer of black titanium rings, tungsten rings and unique black titanium with black diamonds for men and women, today announced that many of their black diamond jewelry pieces and black titanium anniversary rings have experienced increased interest and inquisitions as black on black heats up retail stores.

Black has been used frequently in designs for the fashion world from everything from cell phones to black satin trench coats, boots and black on black attire. In a November 9, 2007 article on fashion trends in Japan, “black is fashionably back” The website, web-japan.org commented on the rise in black fashions among today’s fashion savvy stating that many are “creating an effect not with colors but with subtly different materials and textures is a key to the fashion scene this autumn”

This latest trend doesn’t just touch clothing and apparel, but has seen its course in jewelry as well. With the new craze of black being the color of choice among many people, jewelry designers have been featuring black diamonds and black titanium more often in recent design. David Yurman & Tiffany are now selling black titanium jewelry. Edward Mirell, well known for his collection of titanium jewelry, has designs featuring black titanium with black diamonds.

“We’ve seen a huge increase in interest from customers about black diamonds, especially black titanium with black diamond wedding bands” stated Ron Yates, founder of Titanium-Jewelry.com and owner of Yates & Co Jewelers in Modesto, CA. “We’ve added many black titanium anniversary rings, and black diamond wedding bands for couples looking for unique and fashionable wedding jewelry” Yates concluded.

Black diamonds became popular in the early 1990’s with renewed interest from celebrities and fashion enthusiasts alike. Black diamonds, named “carbonados”, were first discovered back in 1840 in Brazil and are primarily found in Brazil and the Central African Republic. The revived trend for black jewelry parallels the season’s hottest fashions detailing cool, sleek and sophisticated. For more information on black diamond jewelry, please visit http://www.titanium-jewelry.com/black-diamonds.html

About Titanium-Jewelry.com
Titanium-Jewelry.com provides a wide selection of tungsten rings, titanium rings and black titanium jewelry uniquely styled for men and women. Experts in modern mens wedding bands, and modern metals jewelry, Titanium-Jewelry.com leads the industry in contemporary jewelry fashions. For more information, please visit www.Titanium-Jewelry.com.

Weddings involve a tremendous amount of planning. It may take months to find the dress you want to wear down the aisle. You have to decide whether you want the bridesmaids to wear dresses you find ready made, or dresses you have sewn specially to fit them. Colors and styles are difficult to choose, too. Then, there are details like the kind of cake you want and who you will trust to bake and decorate it. Along with all these decisions is the choice of wedding shoes.

You will be busy the whole day of your wedding. There is no reason to make yourself uncomfortable unless you are certain you want to wear dressy shoes. Women’s dress shoes can be beautiful, certainly. If you are wearing a wedding dress that is not full length, you will probably want to wear elegant high heeled shoes in a white or candlelight color, or any shade that matches your dress. You will want to look your best, but keeping the heels in the lower height range of high heeled shoes is a good idea. You will be walking too much to be comfortable in stiletto heels. With a lower heel, you can look graceful and be comfortable at the same time.

If you are wearing a full length dress, you have the opportunity to take comfort to the next level. No one will likely notice your shoes under a long dress, especially if it has a train. Your feet will be securely hidden from view. Many brides take advantage of this fact by wearing alternative wedding shoes that may seem unusual if you have not been around brides lately.

Ballet shoes can be worn as bridal shoes. Ballet shoes are some of the most comfortable wedding shoes, yet they look dainty if your feet ever do show. Brides can wear ballet shoes and never fear getting a blister or twisted ankle from wearing tight or high heeled shoes. Ballet shoes often come in white and pink, but other colors are sometimes available.

Comfort can be very important to brides. Many brides now wear simple white tennis shoes as wedding shoes for the comfort they provide. Tennis shoes could even be seen as appropriate, considering all the running a bride will have to do to coordinate every little detail on her wedding day. Some brides even wear house slippers as wedding shoes. Whether standing at the altar or gliding across the dance floor, there is no reason a bride should be in misery because of her shoes.

Alternative shoes are also advantageous because they are not expensive. Weddings can cost a small fortune, but that does not mean your shoes have to be costly as well. If you want to buy cheap shoes for your wedding, you are much better off buying comfortable footwear at a low price than cheap knock-offs of expensive brand name wedding shoes. These cheap imitations do not look as good as the wedding shoes they imitate. They do not hold up as well, and may even come apart on the day of the wedding. That is the last thing a bride needs to worry about. Besides that, the cheaper the dress shoe, the more uncomfortable it usually is. It is much better in every way to find the most comfortable bridal shoes that are appropriate to go with your wedding dress.

Source: http://www.classicarticles.com/Article/How-To-Find-Sensible-Bridal-Shoes-For-Your-Wedding/27785

Okay, it’s that time of the year again, when starry-eyed young ones tie the nuptial knot.

And for that once-in- a-lifetime occasion, brides and grooms take utmost care in ensuring, they’ve got the look right. More disposable income and awareness about global fashion trends have been instrumental in the way the to-be-married choose to dress up. Money’s not important, looking good and stealing the show matters more.

From the traditional to the trendy, getting the perfect trousseau is no longer a quick shopping affair, but involves meticulous planning and many trips to trousseau studios and shops.

Leading fashion designer Ashish Parikh feels, colours like red, maroon, pastels, pistachio, mustard, rust, emerald green, bottle green and grey should rule this wedding season besides “off-white.” Add-ons like dull embroidery, cut work, crystals, Swarovski and silver glitter are just the right embellishments that a bridal outfit requires. “Though people are experimenting a lot, they are also fussy about the look and the fit,” adds Ashish.

In fact, thanks to the elaborate nature of Indian weddings, the entire ceremony involves many outfits, for mehndi and sangeet ceremony. So you can wear an outfit according to your mood, a mix of traditional, Western and Indo-Western for the various ceremonies. Bride-to-be Gunjan Agrawal says, “My wedding dress is in deep red with lots of peta and crystal work. The dupatta has heavy embroidery.”

Vadodara-based designer Chandrakant Golani says, “Heavy dupattas are in,” and soon-to-be married women seem to be deriving plenty of inspiration from reel life. “Brides are comfortable wearing halters and spaghetti blouses for their reception, while for the wedding outfit they want the Saawariya look — full-sleeved blouses with plunging necklines and flared ghagras,” he adds.

Purva P, a fashion designer of a leading store, says, “Brides want the ghagra, blouse and dupatta in different shades. Sometimes brides even use dupattas with complimenting colours. This year, princess-cut ghagras with long corset blouses are in.”

Even bridegrooms seem to be experimenting with colours and fabrics. Sherwanis, dhotis and kurta pyjamas with elaborate and intricate designs are trendy. “Knee-length sherwanis with trousers are cool,” says Bhavin Trivedi, a fashion designer of a leading menswear store.

When it comes to colours, purples, peach and pink are haute. High collared, embroidered sherwanis teamed with jackets complete the groom’s outfit, chips in Ashish. Men are also wearing scarves with sherwanis . Of course formalwear continues to be in fashion. If you were to believe Bhavin, young bridegrooms are flaunting “tuxedos with two-piece suits in more flamboyant colours and fabrics.” For those who prefer a ‘dressy’ look, long suits with heavily embroidered jacket completes the look.

Go, get that perfect trousseau!

Source: The Times of India

Designer previews exclusive Lakme Fashion Week Grand Finale collection along with new bridal collection.

Manish Malhotra, India’s leading celebrity fashion designer and style icon, unveiled his Winter Couture 2007 collection yesterday (November 18, 2007) at the Manish Malhotra Store in Jumeirah, Dubai. The designer also previewed his Lakme Fashion Week Grand Finale collection along with a new set of bridal creations and a line inspired from the 70’s retro look, which he created specifically for the recently released Bollywood film ‘Om Shanti Om’. The launch in Dubai follows Manish’s successful outing at the annual Lakme Fashion Week (LFW) Spring/Summer 2008, which was held at the National Center of Performing Arts (NCPA) in Mumbai, India from October 13 to 17, 2007. Present at the launch were senior executives from the Saif Belhasa Group of Companies, celebrity guests and select customers.

In celebration of the theme, ‘La Belle Epoche’, Manish’s line features creations that incorporate both heavy prints and embroidery on exquisitely quilted full-length jackets and shararas with stiff, high collars. The collection draws inspiration from the Art Nouveau era, with designs incorporating French touches of the time dominating the fashion pieces. The famed designer has used luxurious zardozi and resham embroidery to richly colored jackets, coats, skirts, dresses, blouses and tunics, which are sketched to appeal to his customers’ fashion style preferences ranging from vintage, contemporary chic, minimalist and eccentric.

“Designing this collection has been an exciting experience for me, as the season allows me to experiment with various texture and color combinations for my clients who will do a lot of layering to keep comfortable and counter the winter chill. Taking inspiration from the beauty of Parisian art, which I have incorporated in my newest collection, my main focus is to transcend drab winter garments and provide wearable fashion that is both modern and luxurious. It has always been a tremendous pleasure to offer visitors a peek at my latest apparels here in Dubai, which I consider to be the home of my most sophisticated and fashion-forward clients,” said Manish Malhotra.

Manish Malhotra’s collection was featured as the finale at the recently concluded Lakme Fashion Week, the premier fashion event in India. In addition to his success on the ramp, the designer’s collections are also being showcased in popular Indian films currently showing at theaters in India and the Middle East. A-listed Bollywood celebrities such as Kareena Kapoor, who starred in ‘Jab We Met’; Deepika Padukone, who played the lead role in ‘Om Shanti Om’; and Madhuri Dixit, who is set to feature in the new film ‘Aaja Nach Le’, share a particular fondness for Manish Malhotra’s distinct designs. Garnering the appreciation of trendy actors in Bollywood, the famed fashion icon has decided to launch his newest collection in Dubai.

In addition to the Lakme Fashion Week Grand Finale collection, Manish also showcased his new bridal collection, which features avant-garde wedding dresses designed with rich embroidery and ornamentations but keeping the traditional flair that suits the taste of the contemporary bride. Manish had earlier participated at The Bride Show Dubai 2007, during which Bollywood stars Urmila Matondkar and Arjun Rampal led models on the ramp to showcase his collection. The launch of his new bridal collection is expected to create a stir within the fashion community, with the wedding season soon to hit the region.

Manish Malhotra has been dubbed the Badshah (King) of Bollywood Couture and has designed costumes for some of the biggest Bollywood movies, including most recently for ‘Om Shanti Om’, a film that many critics expect to be the mega-hit of 2008. The film features Manish’ creations, which cross from the intricately designed costumes based on the 70’s retro look and the modern and sleek apparels, which the characters of the present day wore. With the projected blockbuster success of the film, the massive exposure the movie has generated is expected to attract the attention of fashion conscious youth in Dubai.

“The name Manish Malhotra has been a brand that is tantamount to luxurious apparels incorporating the best of traditional Indian, Arabian and contemporary style. His seasonal collections have caught the attention of the fashion world, with his flair to combine ethnic chic, sensual elegance and relaxed glamour within all his signature pieces. Customers from across the UAE and other GCC countries has developed a fondness for his designs, making his boutique one of the most visited fashion houses in Dubai,” said Sarah Saif Belhasa, Vice Chairman, Saif Belhasa Group.

With over 16 years in the industry, Manish Malhotra has received 22 prestigious awards and has a clientele that includes leading stars in India and Hollywood such as Reese Witherspoon, who has worn Manish’s creations in the film Vanity Fair; Michael Jackson, Jean Claude Van Damme and Naomi Campbell. The Manish Malhotra Store is located in Jumeirah and was launched in 2006 by the designer and Saif Belhasa Group of Companies. Featuring luxurious garments and accessories for Indian, Arabic and Western clients, the upscale boutique also carries the trademark Manish Malhotra skirts, tunics, corsets, kurtas, sarees and dresses in bright colors and prints along with a range of designer shelas, abhayas and jalabiyas.

Source: Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)

A ring of dirt around the edge of a wedding dress tells of a fun-filled reception. Still, most brides protect their gowns for posterity or, at the very least, for reminiscing later.

Others, like Jennifer Costa, roll around in the dirt.

Costa is part of a small but growing number of brides across the country who decide to trade the perfectly preserved dress for gritty, unconventional but often stunning pictures with a high-fashion bent — a trend known as “trashing the dress.”

After Costa, 29, and her husband, Anthony, 32, of Grapevine, said their vows on a beach in Anguilla, Jennifer picked up the hem of her gown and walked to the edge of the water so her photographer, Kevin Jairaj of Keller, could snap pictures of the waves lapping at her feet.

She ended up lying on her back with sand grinding into her dress and hair, and with the surf washing over her. She was filthy, but the picture was artistic and striking and certainly worthy of hanging on a wall.

She and her husband wandered along a half-mile stretch of beach while Jairaj called out directions for a photo reminiscent of the movie From Here to Eternity.

“I literally got into the shower with my dress when I was done to wash it off,” she says.

How it all started

The idea of “trashing the dress” started in February 2006 when Las Vegas photographer John Michael Cooper created a photo illustration of a bride with her arms open wide and her dress on fire, and posted it on a photo blog with an article urging photographers to keep an eye out for creative brides willing to take risks in wedding photos.

In May 2006, Louisiana-based photographer Mark Eric took the concept to New York to photograph a bride playing in a fountain and her husband carrying her, sopping wet, across the threshold of the Ritz-Carlton.

After the wedding, he registered the domain name www.trashthedress.com to post the slide show.

“At that point, it was more of a concept than a trend,” he says, “and other photographers picked up on it.”

By September he had turned it into a blog. Traffic grew steadily, reaching about 100,000 visitors by last June.

The New York Times wrote a story and “it just exploded,” he said. The site has had more than 1 million visitors.

What constitutes ‘trashing’?

“The main gist,” Eric says, “is to have fun and get creative pictures that are different from everyone else’s. Wedding photos don’t have to be stiff.”

Trashing the dress often positions the bride in an unexpected location, such as a fire escape, pond or farm. Sometimes the dress is ruined; sometimes a professional cleaning can undo most, if not all, of the damage.

The portraits can be decidedly seductive, even slightly risque.

So why on earth would a bride want to ruin her gown?

Eric says, in his experience, the bride wants to a) showcase her personality and b) cut loose.

“Before the ceremony, they’re so terrified of getting the dress dirty. This is a way to say, ‘Let’s have some fun, and if you get a little grass stain, it doesn’t really matter.’”

Maggie Gallant, a trend expert who specializes in pop culture, fashion and celebrity, says that’s not the only reason these types of pictures draw in women.

“There’s varying thoughts on the psychology behind it, but it has to do with the idea that the dress just sits there in your closet gathering dust. Why not … take a photo that will last much longer?” she says.

The trend locally

Jairaj says the practice has started catching on locally in the past year and that 10-15 percent of the brides who hire him include a “dress-trashing” photo in their portfolios.

Those who go the route of dirt — or grease from train tracks or rust from the hood of a car or mud kicked up by a horse — are looking for more than just a pretty picture.

Indeed Costa, who is pretty but conservative in person, positively smolders in her pictures.

“I didn’t think they were going to be so sexy,” she says, opening her eyes wide and pulling her shoulders up towards her ears. “I don’t know if we’ll be able to show all of them to the kids.”

Gallant says she’s not surprised to see women throwing caution to the wind — or the water — in terms of their weddings dresses.

“This is a visual representation of women wanting to laugh at tradition,” she says.

Like so many trends, “trash the dress” has gotten popular enough to spawn a backlash. Ariel Meadow Stallings, author of the book Offbeat Bride: Taffeta-Free Alternatives for Independent Brides (Seal Press, $15.95) and the Web site by the same name, wrote a detailed rant as to why she’s not into trashing the dress. Namely, she says, because it’s “grossly wasteful.”

Eric disagrees. “Most of the time, the dresses are salvageable. You can put it in it a box or donate it to a charity, like Brides Against Breast Cancer, which we support,” he says.

And Costa says it’s easy to get around ruining an expensive gown.

“Just buy a bridesmaid dress like I did. I only spent $200, so I didn’t feel too badly when it got dirty.”

Source: Star-Telegram.com

01.HANGING THE DRESS
We recommend that you remove the gown from the bag and that you hang it in a high place so that it hangs straight down. Extend the train. It is not necessary to iron it; the wrinkles usually come out once it is hung up. When getting dressed, put the gown on from bottom to top so that you don’t ruin the dress or your makeup. Then put your petticoat on under the gown.

02.ADVICE FOR THE ACCESSORIES
We recommend that you take the veil out of the bag and that you hang it on its hanger in a high place so that it doesn’t get wrinkled. Try your bridal shoes on a few days before the ceremony to break them in. It is also advisable to have a spare pair of stockings for the wedding day.

03.IN THE CAR
Back yourself into the car and sit on the side where you’ll be getting out. Spread the train out on the other side, so that when you get out it will be you first and then the train. Have someone help you lift the train.

04.DURING THE CEREMONY
You need someone to help you lift and spread the train out when you sit down. If the bench has a back, the train should be spread out to the side opposite the groom.

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, LA made its mark in the territory usually left to those you may find in the produce aisle at Wholefoods or wearing Birkenstock’s, but if you’ve been into a Wholefoods as of late, you will notice a new breed of organic junky including the fashionista and business person alike. Speaking of Wholefoods, they also just happened to be one of the sponsors for The Gallery LA’s Green Initiative Humanitarian fashion show on October 17th at Smashbox Studios for Fashion Week. Among the designers in the show, Rene Geneva Design stood out with unique textiles, innovative designs, and an approach to luxury fashion that both an eco-enthusiast and a fashion diva can equally appreciate. “I am absolutely honored and appreciative of the opportunity that The Gallery LA offered us and was really impressed with the production that they put together.” says Geneva.

Ms. Geneva took to the road after Fashion Week to speak with new accounts in Los Angeles, Sonoma County, Ca, and even Flagstaff, Az, which led to the sell-out of fall immediates and several color schemes in her Spring/Summer ‘08 line. “Fashion Week really helped us get noticed,” says an enthusiastic Geneva. “Before we would get compliments, where now we get accounts.” Don’t worry, however, Rene´Geneva Design still has room left in her Spring/Summer line to fill last minute orders of eco-chic eveningwear, flirty yet utilitarian sundresses and separates, and fine-crafted corsets.

Coming home, Geneva was ecstatic to find several write ups, including two in California Apparel News and a full page article about her experiences as a designer and as a woman who works with indigenous cultures and fair trade factories in Rare Magazine’s Fashion Issue, which states, “Geneva’s designs are chic and utilitarian, with the “Austin gal” very much in mind.” Finding a niche for her eco-friendly, sophisticated clothing designs has been exciting since few “green” designers can meet the expectations of the modern-contemporary, fashion-forward, and now, eco-aware woman. Green bridal remaining a specialty of Geneva, she has continued to allow herself time to give personal attention to each bridal order that comes through the door.

With the recent walk down the runway of the highly-regarded Fashion Week, Ms. Geneva has successfully entered a market eager to receive eco chic apparel. Their designs encompass women’s contemporary apparel, eveningwear, exotic corsets (under the Faernyn’s Grove brand name), and bridal made exclusively from organic and eco friendly materials and are offered to an international customer base. Each garment is either made in the USA or with Fair Trade Labor. Textiles this season include Sustainable Biodegradable Product™ rated hemp blends, Tencel, “peace” silk, SKAL certified organic cotton, and bamboo. More exclusive designs use rare fabrics made from tree bark, and hand woven silk. Most designs from this season carry a “carbon neutral” certification that offsets the carbon necessary to bring a garment to life through their “Fashionably Neutral Carbon Program™”, which is the first of its kind in the luxury apparel industry. Company efforts help higher causes, including the “Scraps for Schools” program, which recycles fabric scraps for children’s art projects, and the “Sun Power Project,” which will implement the installation of solar electricity into a needy community in Central America.

While Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week has certainly helped spotlight Rene´Geneva Design, it won’t slow down their momentum working with fair trade causes or other environmental and social efforts. “If anything, it fuels our passion and validates our mission, and goes to prove that you can build a successful business while still maintaining your ideals.” says Geneva.

On Tuesday, November 20th, Rene´Geneva Design is hosting a Fashion Week Afterparty in Austin, Texas to celebrate all of the hard work and effort that she, her staff, and friends have endured through this past well-received year. It will be an Austin-style event with live music, models, video from the show, catering, and giveaways, with sponsors including Rare Magazine and EcoClean Drycleaners.

Weekend events beginning January 5th & Main Booth Showcase on January 6th, 2008 - La Bella Bride Magazine, the signature northeast regional wedding publication, is producing a unique and inspiring wedding event in a premiere destination wedding location, partnering with two distinguished properties - Belle Mer and Hotel Viking. First 100 brides to buy tickets have a chance to win a “Spa & Stay ” Weekend Package at The Hotel Viking. Other amazing prizes included a 7 day stay on FT. Myers Beach, Florida, minutes from where The World Series Champion Boston Red Sox Spring train.

“We have gathered an amazing group of vendors to showcase their profession, and we are offering a select series of informative and creative seminars for couples to gather important information to plan their wedding event, and a fabulous “Fashion Soiree” on Sunday, January 6th” states Robin Watterson, Event Director. “We are also offering Saturday events - Spa & Stay Packages, Newport Mansion Tours, Professional Seminars, i.e. Charles & Jennifer Maring-Photographers of the Stars; Donald & Melania Trumps Wedding, Dr. Bill Doherty & Elizabeth Thomas, Co-Authors of The First Dance as seen on Oprah, 20/20 and The Today Show, Bloomingdales’ Gift Registry. Brides staying for the weekend will also be invited to the Saturday “Welcome Cocktail Gala”, and more. Our goal is to provide a truly spectacular event and give our guests a sophisticated, enriching and entertaining weekend in a truly beautiful setting. This is how wedding planning should be done…With knowledge, integrity, and elegance.”

Katina LaFazia, Editor of La Bella Bride Magazine has taken her twenty five years of professional experience marketing, media and publishing and has produced a bridal magazine whose philosophy of providing intelligent choices, honoring individual styles, offering exquisite images, and real “Love Stories” has captured the interest of couples and professionals alike throughout the northeast and beyond. Robin Watterson, Executive Editor of La Bella Bride Magazine and Event Director of The Newport Wedding Showcase has combined her marketing and professional writing skills, as well as her event planning expertise to design a wedding event which will compliment the magazine, honor the vendors participating in the event, and the brides, grooms, couples, family and friends who wish to attend this very special wedding showcase.

Visit http://www.labellabride.com for details & tickets or call 401.946.0009 today.

A total of 170 exhibitors will be serenading couples at the Weddings Fair this weekend in a bid to facilitate preparations for their big day.

The fair, opened last night by Family Minister Dolores Cristina at the Malta Fairs and Convention Centre in Ta’ Qali, is a one-stop-shop for weddings.

The hundreds of products and services showcased include wedding dresses, reception halls, caterers, musicians, beauticians, hairdressers, florists, jewellers, photographers and videos, cars, souvenirs, wines and spirits, fashion wear for guests and travel agents. A fashion show will be held tomorrow at 8 p.m.

A topic related to the wedding day will be tackled daily during a seminar.

Prizes to be won include a honeymoon, cultured pearls and a bridal gown, among others.

The fair runs until Sunday. Tonight and tomorrow it will open from 6 to 11.30 p.m. and on Sunday from 2.30 to 9.30 p.m.

Sale of European-style dresses is banned in Chechnya. The announcement was made by the president of the republic, Ramzan Kadyrov on air of a local TV-channel.

Kadyrov did not specify how maintenance of the ban would be observed, but said he gave an order to take away all low-cut dresses from wedding shops and ateliers. Ramzan Kadyrov noted that his task was to bring lost cultural and moral values to the youth. He said he would not grudge inviting well-known designers to the republic to make them invent a “Chechen fashion,” which suits the best the national mentality.

The Chechen president emphasized that he would toughen measures regarding firing from arms during wedding ceremonies. “Of course, I will not manage to prohibit it completely, because a Chechen without a rifle is not a true Chechen, but I will not allow turning a celebration into a shooting-range,” the president said.

Several months ago, under an instruction of the Chechen president, female employees of governmental institutions were prohibited from going to work without a headscarf. The same innovation was spread to female TV-presenters and singers.

Source: Regnum

According to National Statistics, the number of weddings in England and Wales decreased by 10.4% in 2005, to 244,710. Furthermore, government data show that the number of weddings in the UK fell by 9.5% in the same period, to 283,731. This trend looks likely to continue: according to several designers we spoke to during the compilation of this report, orders placed for dresses 2 years in advance are down.

While declines in the market would have a serious effect on multimillion, multinational organisations, the UK bridalwear market operates on a much smaller scale. It is very much a niche market, especially at the couture end of the market, in which most UK designers operate. As a result of this, designers are able to withstand seasonal fluctuations. However, to counteract any fall in the bridalwear market itself, some are emphasising the occasionwear side of their businesses, with the `prom’ dress coming to the fore.

The biggest threat to the UK bridalwear market is in the mid-market, where any downturn in the number of weddings is most likely to be felt. However, this sector is already highly competitive and fragmented, with most dresses being mass produced in the People’s Republic of China and imported either through US-owned designer labels that operate on a global scale or through smaller UK importers.

Despite curbs put in place by the EU after the People’s Republic of China’s textile import quotas were lifted at the beginning of 2005 as a result of the nation joining the World Trade Organization (WTO) there has been no shortage in the UK of the availability of wedding dresses originating in the People’s Republic of China. Perhaps worrying for UK importers is that Chinese manufacturers and designers are beginning to approach UK retailers directly, and there is a strong possibility that some well-known importing brands could disappear in the next decade.

The availability of cheap copies and counterfeits over the Internet is perceived by the industry as being more of a nuisance than a real threat. Brides take a big risk when ordering copies of designer gowns in this way, as there is no guarantee that they will arrive on time and it is highly likely that, while the designs may be exact copies, the fabric will be of much lower quality.

The bridalwear market has seen new players entering in the form of the high-street multiples ASDA and Marks and Spencer, both offering gowns at very low prices. This is at the budget end of the market, where competition tends to be among high-street fashion stores and second-hand resellers. There are a number of websites offering a marketplace for brides to sell their dresses and, to bring in an ethical element, Oxfam has also opened a number of bridal outlets at some stores. However, it is too early to predict whether bridalwear has proved profitable for the multiples.

Source: Research and Markets http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c74202

All prepared to say, “I do”? Congratulations. All preparations done? Well, planning the wedding day is not an easy task. Since, wedding day is the biggest day of your life; it has to be very special. Therefore, everything is special for the bride ad the groom. Especially, the brides have to start planning before hand about everything, starting from the wedding dress to the wedding accessories that she will be carrying on the big day.

A bride looks her best on the wedding day and what enhances her beauty, is the wedding jewelry. Wedding jewelry plays a major role at any wedding ceremony. Wedding jewelry helps to make the bride look glamorous and more gorgeous. Therefore, it is very necessary to choose the perfect wedding jewelry, that goes along well with the bride’s entire dressing theme and also, that defines her personality.

One assured place where you can find the best of wedding jewelry, is the “wedding-veil.com”. Here, the bridal jewelry collection available is sure to redefine your fashion statement. The wedding jewelry mostly comprises of earring, necklaces, and bracelets, just to name a few. The adornment of these jewelries can vary in diamonds, pearls and also crystals. One can choose from these wide vibrant varieties of sets that suits her best. The wedding jewelries, varies in their style from simple, elegant to glittering whose every piece is sure to look splendid. Selecting the right wedding jewelry that goes along well with your bridal dress and other accessories is a must. A wedding jewelry is the perfect asset, with which you can whole-heartedly say, “I do”.

Source: http://www.wedding-veil.com/blog/2007/11/12/wedding-jewelry/

Brides wear specially designed gowns or dresses during their wedding ceremony. These are known as bridal dress and play a very important role in a wedding. It is important for the bride to select a wedding dress of a precise color, fashion and traditional importance often based on the religion and cultural background of the bride.

White has come to be known as the customary color of a wedding dress, but this was not the case in earlier times. This trend was started with the marriage of Queen Victoria to her cousin, Albert of SaxeCoburg in 1840. Her marriage is said to have had more influence on weddings than any other.

Bridal dresses are incomplete without a headpiece. A bride could choose to wear a tiara, a short headpiece, a veil covering her face or a flowing headpiece. The bridal dress may also have a train, a part of the wedding dress that trails behind the bride. This practice came into being from parallel trains worn by kings and queens. It is advisable to order a bridal dress well in advance. Once a wedding dress is selected, one must allow extra time for modifications or unexpected delays.

The range of bridal dress color choices may be perplexing. For example, eggshell, ecru, ivory, diamond white, candlelight and champagne are just a few common shades of white one can select. The cost of a wedding gown can be exorbitant, as well, and is something brides should take into account when choosing their dresses.

One of the most important purchases for a bride is her wedding attire. The gown and headpiece should match the occasion and her personality perfectly. It is important to shop for a gown that is stylish and just right for the bride. A wedding is a social event and many brides choose to take advice from a friend or family member who has previous experience with bridal dresses.

Bridal Dresses provides detailed information on Bridal Dresses, Bridal Shops, Bridal Bouquets, Bridal Registry and more. Bridal Dresses is affiliated with Discount Bridal Gowns.

Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Max_Bellamy

White silk, lace, embroidery, petticoats… what does your dream wedding gown look like? Have you found the person who will make it for you?

When you ask around the first name that usually comes up is Vera Wang. This creative and talented artist often went with her mother to fashion shows in Paris. She got frustrated with the lack of fashion in bridal wear and decided to create her own shop. Today she is the hottest name in this industry, dressing such glamorous ladies for their nuptials as Jessica Simpson, Mariah Carey, Vanessa Williams and Sharon Stone.

Another name to watch out for in bridal fashion is Monique Lhuillier. This lady always wanted to be a fashion designer. She attended the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising but didn’t go into designing wedding gowns until after she designed her own wedding dress and then she decided to get into this business. Today she designs gowns for such celebrities as Britney Spears, Christine Baumgartner (wife of Kevin Costner), Natalie Imbruglia and Charlotte Ross.

Now, you may be saying to yourself that you can’t afford the price tag of these designers. You may be surprised. While it’s true that to ask these designers to make a gown specifically for you would be expensive, you can get their designs off the rack, so to speak in places like Saks Fifth Avenue and Nieman Marcus. You can also check out the online stores for wedding gowns made by these wonderful designers.

Quite a number of brides don’t wish to waste their gowns, sitting in their closets, just mouldering. That would be a shame. Their generosity, your find, an absolute treasure. Check out the bargains to be had from purchasing used wedding gowns created by these very same designers. They are absolutely beautiful and can make you feel absolutely glamorous on your wedding day without breaking your bank.

Lesley-Ann Graham runs WeddingTrix.com - a valuable wedding planning resource with articles, tips and advice to help you plan your perfect wedding. Visit Lesley-Ann’s wedding blog for more free wedding planning help and advice.

Are you getting married and you do not have a wedding dress? Maybe you do not have the money to afford buying a new expensive dress that you have dreamed about all your life. But you know you in the back of your mind you should look for a cheaper inexpensive dress to fit your budget, but this does not seem to appealing to you. There are many ways to find a dress to fit your needs of being a beautiful bride.

A cheap wedding dress may not be romantic but a thrifty bride can really harvest the benefits of smart bridal dress shopping. There are many affordable options for bridal dresses that a little searching can uncover. Some of the options are very obvious; wear an ancestor’s bridal gown, or a hand me down dress this would save money.

The quality older dresses can be cleaned and restored with little money. The white simpler gowns are of timeless appeal, and fashion. If there are no dresses available in you family, you can still purchase a wedding dress from a consignment shop. With a few little stitches you can have a bridal gown for a lower investment.

The idea of wearing an used gown is not appealing too many new brides. You can find cheap wedding dresses in the newspaper and thrifty newspapers, you can also shop online. Cheap wedding dresses do not have to look inexpensive at all. In fact, you can find designer bridal dresses for a fraction of the retail price if you do a little homework.

Brian Ward author of information articles on wedding topics, and helpful articles for all people. Visit his website http://www.weddingdressmart.com

Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brian_Ward

A wedding dress or wedding gown is clothing worn by a bride during a wedding ceremony. Color, style and ceremonial importance of the gown depends on the religion and culture of the participants.

In modern tradition, the color of western-culture wedding dresses is white. Used in this sense, ‘white’ or ‘wedding white’ includes creamy shades such as eggshell, ecru and ivory. The popularity of this color can be traced back to 1840 and the marriage of Queen Victoria to Albert of Saxe-Coburg. The Queen chose to wear a white gown for the event. The official wedding portrait photograph was widely published and many brides opted for a similar dress in honor of that choice. The tradition continues today.

Prior to the Victorian era a bride was married in any color except black (the color of mourning) or red (which was connected with prostitutes). The white dress came to symbolize purity of heart and the innocence of childhood. Later attribution suggested that the color white symbolized virginity which is false. However it was originally the color blue that was connected to purity.

The term “bridal gown” originates from the word al which means party combined with bride is Bridal i.e. “Bride’s Party Gown”. In the middle Ages wedding parties were simply called Bride-al’s. A bridal train is the part of the wedding dress that trails behind the bride, the term is derived from similar train worn by Kings & Queens, which themselves are derived from seeing a Peacock, which were used as royal birds.

Many wedding dresses in China are colored red, the traditional color of good luck. In modern Chinese weddings, particularly in Western countries, the bride usually goes for the white Western dress or changes from a red gown to a white gown later in the day.

Also in northern parts of India, the traditional color of female wedding garments is red. South Indian weddings traditionally use white or cream colored saris. With Indians in Western countries, the bride often wears the sari at the wedding ceremony and change into traditional Indian wear afterwards (like lehnga, choli, et cetera).

Current fashion was followed in the dropped waist and generally unshaped bodice, and in the way the headdress was worn low over the brow, clasping the veil to the bride’s head in a way that echoed the cloche hat every woman was wearing.

We have now reached a new century, and no doubt the wedding gown will carry on changing in fabric and altering in form. But there is equally no doubt that it will remain with us. Since the civil wedding laws were relaxed in the 1990s, allowing marriages to be conducted almost anywhere; even those with no religious convictions can have a beautiful setting for a full-rig “do”.

As wedding fashion continues to evolve separately from the general vogue, people have felt freer to allow full rein for their imaginations, and some wedding parties are not so much in “best” dress as fancy dress, as themed and fantasy costumes are the order of the day. Which all goes to prove that everyone likes to dress up now and again, and every girl wants her day in the sun?

Victor Epand is an expert fashion consultant at http://www.LingerieDress.com/.

Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Victor_Epand

Growth in sales of pashminas for weddings and bridesmaid gifts has increased by at least 40% a year for the last 3 years. Spring 2008 is expected to be the biggest and most colorful yet.

The Pashmina Store, a Texas-based online retailer known for its selection of luxurious two and three-ply wraps, shawls and scarves made from the finest quality Pashmina from Nepal, has set a new trend in bridal fashion with their increasingly popular line of Pashminas. The Pashmina Store line is quickly becoming the trend for keeping the bride warm on her big day, as well as a perfect bridesmaid gift and fashion accessory for the bridesmaids and the mother of the bride and groom.

“Pashminas are definitely growing in popularity for use in weddings and as bridesmaid gifts,” said Nattakitta Rhodes, Vice President of Design for The Pashmina Store. “Our wedding sales have increased by at least 40% a year for the last 3 years running. They are such thoughtful gifts that will be worn and enjoyed for years to come while also reminding everyone of the special day.”

The top selling colors for weddings and bridesmaid gifts tends to be seasonal. The top-selling 2007 Fall colors include the traditional black and natural off-white along with dark chocolate brown, silver gray, cranberry and midnight blue. The Pashmina Store offers over 40 colors and a variety of animal print designs to go with any dress color.

“For weddings and bridesmaid gifts, silver and gold are certainly a popular trend right now,” said Rhodes. “Spring of 2008 is expected to be a colorful season with bright and cheerful tones such as reds, oranges, blues and greens leading the way with silver continuing to grow in popularity.”

Since The Pashmina Store was founded in 2000, it has sold more than 125,000 Pashmina products, including thousands for bridal party gifts and wedding day fashion accessories. The Pashmina Store offers a discount on its products for bridal parties of five or more.

Prices start as low as $29.99 for pashmina silk blend scarves and go to $79.99 for a large, 3 ply, pure pashmina shawl.

About The Pashmina Store
Established in 2003 by Blair Rhodes, The Pashmina Store website was born with the idea of going direct to the consumer to keep prices low and reach as wide an audience as possible. In early 2000, the family visited Nepal, and developed a great appreciation for Pashminas. Seeing firsthand the care and tradition that goes into the making of Pashmina goods, they developed a desire to share them with as many people as possible. Blair’s mother, Charlene, started out doing “Pashmina Parties.” The Pashmina Store offers affordable prices on top quality pashmina and cashmere goods and free standard shipping in the United States.

He wanted to be able to offer a wide variety of handbag designs as he believes that most bridal handbags out there lack of originality. Olivier’s goal in supplying a collection of bridal handbags and other bridal accessories is to accentuate and enhance the beauty of the wedding dress.

Due to the success of his beautifully handmade and personalised ring cushions, Olivier Laudus decided he wanted to be able to offer a unique collection of wedding accessories (wedding ring cushions, bridal jewellery, bridal handbags and tiaras) of the finest quality while still being outstanding value for money.

Olivier introduced a new exclusive collection of bridal handbags early October 2007. He wanted to be able to offer a wide variety of handbag designs as he believes that most bridal handbags out there lack of originality. Olivier’s goal in supplying a collection of bridal handbags and other bridal accessories is to accentuate and enhance the beauty of the wedding dress.

Women love handbags and nowadays they are not just used to carry around items like make up, mobile phones, tissues, hand cream, purses’but have become real fashion statements on which a lot of money can be spent. Handbags come in a variety of colours, shapes and sizes to fit different occasions and with this in mind Olivier‘s bridal handbag collection offers a wide choice of bridal handbag styles. www.olivierlaudus.com

Olivier’s bridal handbags are made of the best quality satin and embellished with diamante, sequins and beautiful pearls. His handbags come in a variety of sizes and shapes but are always an elegant addition to the bridal dress and other accessories. His philosophy is to supply brides with impeccably designed bridal accessories at very reasonable prices and he definitely succeeded in doing this with his new collection of bridal handbags with prices starting at just £29. His ‘Margot- bridal handbag which features diamante flowers on a silver metal frame with an egg shaped diamante studded clasp (which allows easy closure) which will no doubt be featured in many bridal magazines, retails at just £39. A silver snake chain is tucked inside most of his handbags should the bride wish to wear it as a shoulder handbag instead.

The new range of satin bridal handbags and wedding purses is available via Olivier Laudus‘website ( www.olivierlaudus.com ). All items are available from stock and come with a free 7 days return service (Terms and conditions apply).

Brides-to-be nationwide can now have a front row seat for the latest runway looks from top designers in wedding fashion by visiting http://www.brides.com/videos. Over 20 shows from New York City’s Bridal Market, Fall 2008 will be available online beginning today, giving brides-to-be unprecedented access via one-on-one interviews and cutting-edge video from Reem Acra, Amsale, Badgely Mischka, Simone Carvalli, Priscilla of Boston, Monique Lhuillier, Melissa Sweet and more.

Brides.com editor in chief Theresa DiMasi has chosen the following trends as the top five trends in bridal fashion, hot off the runway:

1. A Lighter Touch
lots of free-flowing, ethereal fabrics including chiffon and organza with less embellishment, beading or other adornments as in season’s past.
2. Color, Color, Color!
beyond the traditional white dress, color is not just seen in bursts but in wonderful patterns, rich jewel tones or new shades of pastels.
3. Jackets/Sleeves
brides who want options beyond the traditional strapless gown are thinking more fashion-forward with gowns that offer more coverage.
4. Emphasis of the Waist
honoring the female form, there were lots of large flower corsages positioned right at the hip to draw attention to an hourglass figure.
5. New Lengths in Gowns
tea length to above-the-knee, there was a larger variety in gown lengths than ever before.

To carve out the best-of-the-best from all of the images of gorgeous gowns on http://www.brides.com/ from the Fall 2008 shows, Brides.com will feature a special section on runway via Editor’s Picks. The gowns shown in Fall 2008 will begin to be available in stores in the coming months.

Brides.com, “Your #1 Source for Weddings,” is the premier destination website within Conde Nast Bridal Media and has over 20,000 dress images throughout the site. Brides.com’s dedicated editorial team creates original content, develops interactive tools, cultivates an engaged community and provides an array of beautiful imagery and videos to inspire the bride throughout her wedding planning process. Content is also aggregated from the three national magazines-Brides, Modern Bride, Elegant Bride-and 16 local bridal magazines.

A one of a kind unique African inspired style and information wedding book for the entire wedding party by renowned Maryland-USA based, Nigerian born fashion designer Thony C Anyiam. Styles includes; Asia, Europe, Caribbean, Arab, and Latino and more.

Maryland, USA-based fame Nigerian born fashion designer Thony Chukwuemezie Anyiam’s long awaited new book titled “Jumping the broom in style” published by Author House went “live” on October 28 2007, and is now available everywhere books are sold!

Jumping the broom in style is an African inspired style and information book for the entire wedding party. Besides African, and African American (Afrocentric) styles, there are styles inspired by Asia, (Afro-Asian), Caribbean, (Afro-Caribbean), Europe, (Afro-European), Arab / Middle East, (Afro-Arabia/Middle Eastern, and Span/Latino, (Afro-Spanish/Latino)
In addition, a preview of his Avant-garde bridal line, you have to see to believe.

For the first time in a bridal publication a comprehensive collection for men (groom and the father of the bride/groom). Important and useful information for couple planning their ethnic inspired wedding; who wears what, what to wear to your wedding, step-by-step guide, money saving tips, and much more.

Designer Thony C. Anyiam is known in the bridal fashion industry for his trend setting, and innovative designs. He is consider the pioneer of modern Afrocentric bridal wear designs. He merges different ethnic influences to create unique one of a kind designs.

He is one of Africa’s most creative and influential fashion designer of our time, and one to watch in the industry. He is the designer and owner of Anyiams Creations International His fashion have been featured in prints and broadcast media world wide, and on his highly successful website.

Source: Newswire

Driven by the rise of the Millennials in the population mix, and backed by strong economic growth, rising standards of living, affluence, and sophistication of brides, the world bridalwear market is projected to reach US$53 billion by the year 2010. Higher purchasing power, a keener sense of personal style, and the tendency to marry later in life, when older, mature and financially stable, are all factors which are leading to a rise in wedding spends, especially for bridalwear.

World bridalwear market stands enthused by the coming of age of the “Millennials”, who are children of the aging baby boomers. In the United States alone, the number of Millennials aggregate to over 80 million as against the 45 million baby boomers of the yesteryears. Exposed to money, pomp, glamour, and cutting edge technology, the Millennials is a lucrative demographic group expected to drive growth in the market. The implications boded by this demographic trend for the bridal jewelry category is huge and comes in the form of a 25% growth compounding through the years to 2015. Fashion trends in bridalwear are fairly stable with styles and color fads always reverting back to simplicity. The unchanging popularity of white, flowing, Cinderella styled princess gowns complete with veils, and high-heeled shoes, continues even to the present day, notwithstanding the modern day brides initial desire to look, fashion-forward, unconventional, and radical in bold colors. The fashion fantasy revolving around the bridal gown often crumbles, and the final purchase decision almost always culminates to the traditional, practically styled dress with a ‘barely there’ color change that offer sobriety, elegance, color, and tradition. Subtle contemporary trends are nevertheless evolving to become part of the timeless mainstay in bridal fashion Ultrafeminine gowns with stylish cuts, bare backs and plunging necklines, yards of elegant fabric, including tutle, satin, lace and organza, laced with shimmering with beads, crystals, rhinestones and handmade silver embellishments, are rising in popularity. Popular choice of colors includes white, oak, crème and champagne.

Innovation in merchandizing bridal products is helping drive demand. Retailing practices today, revolve around building vibrant customer relationships through offering customer-oriented services and value added products that guarantee customer satisfaction. Manufacturers and retailers are beginning to harness the power of internet wedding directories in an attempt to penetrate deeper into the industry. Internet marketing, therefore, is beginning to make its presence felt in the bridal marketplace with both online, and traditional vendors polishing up their websites with easily navigable search engines, and loads of new product related information.

Bridalwear: A Global Strategic Business Report
As stated by the recent report published by Global Industry Analysts, Inc., world bridalwear market is dominated by the United States, Europe, and Japan, with a combined share of over 88.42% estimated in the year 2007. Growth is expected to stem from the United States, with a projected CAGR in excess of 12% over the period 2000 through 2010. Bridalwear market in Japan and Australia, together, is expected to rise by US$2.9 billion between the period 2007 through 2010. In Europe, Germany, United Kingdom, and France, together, collar over 63% of the market, with Italy, a noteworthy market, poised to grow by US$468 million between the period 2007 to 2010. Revenues in the Scandinavian bridalwear market are expected to rise by 29.6% between the period 2007 to 2010. By the year 2015, the Australian market is projected to reach US$840 million. By the same year, Latin America is portended to corner over 6.71% of the world market.

Leading players operating in the industry include Alfred Angelo Inc, Macy’s Inc., Creations Bridal & Fabric Boutique, David’s Bridal Inc., Harrods Ltd, Helen Rodrigues Bridalwear, Justin Alexander Limited, JLM Couture Inc, Paloma Blanca, and Pronuptia de Paris SA.

The report titled “Bridalwear: A Global Strategic Business Report” published by Global Industry Analysts, Inc., provides a comprehensive review of the market trends, drivers, issues, challenges, fashions trends, consumers, their tastes, preferences, purchasing patterns, and couture design trends. Richly annotated with authoritative, and unbiased commentaries, and hard-to-find statistical facts, the report provides unequivocal views on future potential while throwing light on the prevailing climate in key regional markets. Latent demand patterns for bridalwear are quantified across major geographic market verticals including the United States, Canada, Japan, France, Germany, United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, Scandinavia, Australia, and Latin America. Also provided in the report is an enumeration of recent mergers, acquisitions, and other strategic industry activities.

For more details about this research report, please visit www.strategyr.com/MCP-1033.asp.

About Global Industry Analysts, Inc.
Global Industry Analysts, Inc., (GIA) is a reputed publisher of off-the-shelf market research. Founded in 1987, the company is globally recognized as one of the world’s largest market research publishers. The company employs more than 700 people worldwide and publishes more than 880 full-scale research reports each year. Additionally, the company also offers a range of more than 60,000 smaller research products including company reports, market trend reports and industry reports encompassing all major industries worldwide.

Global Industry Analysts, Inc.
Telephone 408-528-9966
Fax 408-528-9977
Email press @ StrategyR.com
Web Site www.StrategyR.com

Weddings are all about personal style. Reflecting the overall trend of breaking away from tradition and steadfast rules, modern brides are choosing wedding gowns that reflect their personality and vision—not necessarily their grandmother’s. The only rule for wedding dress style these days is to choose a style that suits you. Whether that means wearing a gold wedding dress, trouser suit or sundress, go with it! And even if you are more traditional and have always envisioned yourself as the fairy princess in the white satin ballgown, you needn’t worry about being perceived as old fashioned or “not with the times.” The modern “rule” for wedding dress style is to choose something that makes you feel comfortable and beautiful on your most special day.

The 21st Century Bride -

That said, although certain traditional dress styles are always popular, bridal fashion does follow mainstream fashion to some extent. So if you are looking for something a little more contemporary or “now,” consider turning to the catwalks for inspiration.

The currently popular 20s–and floral–style dresses can be easily incorporated into a wedding dress. Accessories, such as chandelier earrings, can also transfer from the catwalks to comprise your wedding look. Try to avoid fashion that will date quickly, however, as you will want to display your wedding photographs for a long time. As a general rule, keep your wedding ensemble fashionably forward, not overly trendy.

Today’s Hot Wedding Dress Trends:

Add Some Color -

Using a wedding dress to bring out a colorful personality, modern brides are not afraid to add a splash of color to the traditional white gown. Whether that means adding a colored ribbon or piece of jewelry or foregoing the white wedding dress all together, today’s brides find inventive ways to incorporate color into their wedding attire. Particularly popular shades are blue, pink, cappuccino and champagne.

Lace Up -

Lace has made a recent comeback, exuding a look vintage romance that is feminine, yet not overdone. Many brides are enchanted by lace, envisioning a majestic day in a lush green garden.

Magnificent Embroidery -

For an ultra elegant, opulent feel, glamour girls savor wedding gowns adorned with intricate hand-embroidered details. This look warrants grand chandeliers, candlelight and an isle of red roses.

Ultra-Feminine -

As seen on the runway, feminine details are making a big impact. Ribbons, ruffles, flowers and bows are finding their way back onto wedding dresses and taking femininity to a new level. Brides who envision themselves floating along the cobblestones of a historic mansion will love this look.

For a complete guide to keeping your sanity while creating an elegant and memorable wedding celebration, visit http://www.elegala.com, your ultimate wedding planning resource.

Cori Locklin is editor-in-chief for http://www.elegala.com/ and Elegala Magazine. Elegala is a new wedding wedding planning resource offering the most comprehensive portfolio of superior wedding reception sites and wedding vendors, with the planning tips to keep brides in the know on today’s planning trends and styles.

Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Cori_Locklin

Moments that highlight many a wedding day is to suffer from nerves. This is not unusual due to the fact that this is the one day in your life when all eyes are upon you. It is the bride that will always will be the centre of attention at the wedding and why not with all the effort put into looking fabulous. Nerves affect many brides mainly due to worry of everything going according to plan. Well if you have planned your wedding day with careful thought then you need not worry.

Before the mention of accessories lets talk on the item we would like to accessorize and that is the wedding gown. Choosing your wedding dress without doubt has to be wonderful experience with so many stunning designs and styles to choose from. We now need to highlight areas that need to be considered when selecting what is going to be the perfect wedding dress.

What you have to keep in mind when choosing your gown, wrong choice - wrong image - wrong you. Different gown styles are not particularly designed with you in mind so all that glitters is not gold meaning, no matter how glamorous some of the gowns are does not mean it is going to be the ideal wedding dress for you. Your shape figure height are important issues that need to be looked into before committing to buy. Take along a member of family or friend to help you pick the dress that will give you the perfect look.

If the wedding dress you see adorned on the mannequin/dummy standing in the bridal shop window catches your eye do not act on impulse. Just because it looks great on the dummy does not necessarily mean it will on you. We can not have you looking like a clown in your gown.

Can dreams come true, yes. You will go to the ball Cinderella. Fairy godmothers do exist armed with needle and cotton to conjure up the dress you may have always dreamed of wearing? All you have to do is to provide the details of the fabric colour and style you would like and with her magic needle you get to walk down the aisle where your prince charming awaits in the gown of your dreams. A good thing by having your wedding dress tailor made is because any alterations to meet the requirements of your comfort level can be done at your own leisure. The seamstress can advise you on certain materials and fabric for your wedding gown.

White/ivory/ beige are favoured colours for a wedding dress. Accessories protrude an air of elegance when worn up against these shades. Neutral/pastel colours are so easy to coordinate with the bridesmaids attire.

Looking through magazines to gather ideas will keep you updated with all the wedding fashion gossip.

No bridal gown on a dummy will ever look as good as the real thing nor do the get to walk down the aisle. So there you have it, choosing the ideal dress you have perfection. Now go knock them dead because today the worlds your (oyster) another lovely shade for the gown.

After hours of research I found this fabulous site and hey what do you know everything you could possibly need is all here to make your wedding day special..Well worth a visit dont just take my word for it http://www.your-wedding-planning-help.com.

Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kacy_Carr

When the bride walks down the aisle, most people focus on the bride–not the dress designer. But the designer’s the one who put in the hard work. In fact, the designer has the big responsibility of making dream dresses for real people. “The biggest compliment I can hear is ‘that’s flattering,’” says successful gown designer Judd Waddell. And the second-biggest is: “simple elegance.”

Despite the relative anonymity, Waddell knows he’s designing what’s probably the most watched dress of a woman’s life. Waddell grew up in Illinois, far from New York’s fashion center, where he now lives. Though his mother read many fashion magazines and was always interested in clothes, Waddell’s life of building fantasy really got started in a college library.

“I was an architecture student at Washington University in St. Louis, and I was often in the art, architecture, and design library,” since those subjects were lumped together, he says. “I’d be doing architecture projects and I’d start glancing at the design books.”

Waddell’s eyes couldn’t stay away from the section–”just a shelf, actually”–of fashion-design books. He kept coming back to that shelf, checking out those books and reading them, mesmerized.

He’s still mesmerized. He designed the gowns for the 20th Century Fox production of The Object of My Affection, and he’s appeared twice on Lifetime to discuss his designs. He believes a woman “should indulge the fantasy” when it comes to gowns, and he absolutely loves weddings.

“What’s not to love?” he says. “Most of the time, these people are really right for each other.”

Waddell is a real student of wedding gowns, a guy who thinks about fabric and shape and how they can help make fantasies come true. What’s exciting about wedding dresses” is the scale of them–they’re big dresses. I really like the architectural aspect of wedding dresses. They’re usually quite ‘built’ from the inside out.”

“It’s more about listening to the fabric,” he says, when asked what’s flattering. “You also listen to people and what they have to say about the dresses.”

Often, less is more, says Waddell. “I like to think the best designs are done with an eraser,” he says. “I try to take away as much as I can, so there’s a perfect balance of the elements.”

In any dress, “proportion of any kind is key,” he says. He tries to get women to try dresses they might not consider, just in case something surprising will look great.

“People need to try on dresses, and sometimes, the rules don’t apply. People should look at themselves, but they should also look past their pre-conceptions,” Waddell says. “Sometimes I say, ‘I have a look that might be good for you’” in order to get someone to be more open.

Still, there are general guidelines. “I think people need to be really careful about their arms, ” he says. “One of the most common mistakes is to have your arms covered. A lot of times it’s more flattering to have strapless or one thin strap.” Men often wear tight shirts to make their arms look bigger, and women also make their arms look bigger by covering them in tight fabric, he said.

And then there’s what most people should show off. “Very few people have unattractive shoulders or clavicles,” he says. It’s also important to think movement. Brides tend to be “really sensible about getting dresses they can dance wildly in,” he says.

But everyone’s interested in looking good. Often, that’s a matter of the right shape and style.

“Princess-line dresses are always the easiest to wear, because there’s no horizontal line,” he says. “However, there are some people who look great in a drop waist.”

“A lot of times brides say “I don’t want a full skirt because it will make my hips look big,” Waddell says. “Well, actually, the opposite is true.”

When pressed for more specifics, he said that “slim, A-line is for everyone, but sheaths are more limited.” Interestingly, “the sheath is exactly the dress that will show that you have big hips if you have hig hips. There’s no fooling.”

“Sheaths tend to be my least favorite kind of dress,” he says. “A woman has the whole rest of her life to wear a dress like that. When she gets married, she should indulge the fantasy.”

And Waddell is still reading, and still immersing himself in the fantasy of fashion. “Three years ago, I found the book from college again–”Inventive Paris Clothes, 1909-1939″, with Irving Penn photos. The photographs were beautiful, and the clothes are photographed in such a way that they speak for themselves.”

Sometimes, of course, clothes speak too much. As a wedding guest, Waddell often has to “resist the urge to go flip the train,” since usually, he’s the one who’s designed the dress.

“My best friend got married last September, and she actually made me the best man so I could do that,” he said, referring to last-minute train adjustments.

“Thank God, I love going to weddings. They’re so sentimental,” he says. “I’m crazy about them.”

Source: United Jewish Communities

BizWoman: Kristin Davis is the “hemp queen” using hemp and recycled fabric in her clothing business

Kristin Davis’ green lifestyle has its roots back in high school. She could no longer eat the juicy pot roasts her mother had prepared. She called the sight of chicken veins and fatty meat “unbearable,” and decided to be vegetarian. “I’m a strict vegetarian and lazy vegan,” she laughed.

Growing up in the farmlands of Maple Grove, she naturally transitioned into a “green” way of living, and as a fashion designer, her clothes prove it. Davis is hip on hemp, and recently started working full time in her home-based clothing business, Hemp Queen. Davis designs all of the apparel she sells on the Hemp Queen website, at events and in a few boutiques and co-ops.

Designs come easily for her. When she’s exercising on the treadmill, her brain is flooded with ideas. “If I just had time to bust out half the stuff I’m thinking,” she said. Davis wants to design more, so her next step is finding people to help her sew.

Quality fabrics with older qualities appeal to her, and Davis hates good cloth to be wasted. She “treasure hunts” through thrift stores, yard sales and secondhand shops. “I’m a thrifter,” she said. “I call myself the bottom feeder. I like to go and dig.” “Treasure hunting” is just one way Davis finds fabrics. Friends donate jeans, drapes and anything interesting and recyclable. She cuts up old clothing and reuses pockets and zippers. Hemp she buys from a dealer.

Davis dislikes mass consumerism, another reason why her business is focused on recycling. “There are too many products, and things just get left by the wayside,” she said. “Americans have so much, and so many things go unappreciated.”

Davis attended the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, but her major of fashion and apparel came from sister college the College of St. Catherine. Davis then attended the Fashion Institute of Technology and received her associate’s degree in fashion merchandising management, and completed the apparel design program at the Minneapolis Community and Technical College.

For the first five years, Davis operated her business part-time as a hobby. She now lives in Becker, Minn., and sells her wares at music festivals and art shows.

Dresses were her specialty this summer, but she makes a wide variety of clothing, as well as accessories and bags. Hemp wedding dresses are on her to-do list, and she said they are becoming more popular. “Because of the green boom, a lot of people are doing their weddings green,” she said. Davis added that hemp has beautiful sheen and drape when processed correctly.

Locating in an area with more opportunity for her business to expand has also been on her mind lately. Oregon, maybe. But for now, she’s focused on her philosophy: Work smarter, not harder. Balancing time and money to make her business profitable has been a challenge and priority. Nothing will happen overnight, she admits, but her passion for design and a green life allow her to joyfully give 100 percent to her work.

“Now that I’m sewing for myself, it’s around the clock and I don’t mind,” she said. “It’s different when your goals are your own.”

Source: Minnesota’s Women’s Press

The little black dress has long been a staple of women’s fashion, as black is slenderizing, versatile, and chic — but is it okay to wear your black dress to attend a wedding? There is some controversy over this. I’m fairly certain my mother would disown me if I ever showed up at a wedding in black, but I’m also fairly certain that none of my friends would care if I came to their wedding sporting the color.

The no black camp argues that you only wear black to a wedding if you disapprove of the union (but then why are you attending in the first place?), and therefore wearing black to a wedding is an insult to the couple. On the other side, the pro black camp says that the rules about black dresses are old fashioned, out dated, and no longer apply.

So which is it?I fall somewhere in the middle. If it were my wedding, I’d tell you to wear all the black you want. The problem is that some people still hold onto the old rules, and even if your updated etiquette says it’s allowed, these folks will still be offended if you show up in the controversial color. To be on the safe side, just pick another color. There are plenty of flattering and fashionable non-black dresses out there.

If you are really attached to your black dress, though, at least run it by the bride and groom first, or check with someone in their bridal party for the thumbs up or thumbs down. And remember, just because the bride and groom are cool with it, that doesn’t mean their grandparents will understand your fashion choice. Add a touch of color to your outfit to lighten them up, like a colorful scarf, shoes, or jewelry. It is a celebration, after all.

What do you think? Is it time to toss out the old rule about wearing black to a wedding, or is this still a definite no-no?

Fashion Trends and Popular Styles and Colors

The Wedding Dress – How did it all begin?

Did you ever wonder how the tradition of wearing a wedding dress came about? Wedding dresses have been worn by brides young and old alike for centuries. In modern times almost anything passes for a wedding dress however, in times of old, traditional wedding dresses were flowing gowns usually white in color.

White is usually accepted as the “traditional” color of gowns, and many designer wedding gowns are still fashioned in this color, representing the “purity” and “innocence” of the bride to be. Many women opt for other colors, including blue, pink, cream, yellow and more.

Wedding dresses have changed with time much as everything in the world has. In times of old most women selected a gown based on her financial status. Women who were at an economic disadvantage usually did not have the luxury of selecting an extraordinary gown that would be worn only once. Rather, most selected something more “plain” that could be worn for church services and other occasions after their blessed day.

Wedding gowns of varying styles and colors were popular among the elite, and by and large represented the unique style and personality of the bride to be, as well as modern trends at the time.

Popular Colors
An old poem states about the color of a wedding dress that “Married in white, you will have chosen all right.” This is not to say that all brides historically have chosen white for their wedding gown. In fact, many brides chose colors including blue, pearl and even black. Many brides believed that if they wore blue their husbands would remain true to them (also a famous line in the wedding poem). Pink was even a popular wedding gown color for a time, though its darker variant, red was often considered taboo because it was associated with “scarlet women”.

Many women who did not have a large budget to spend on a wedding dress in times of old opted for fashions that could be worn any day, rather than solely on their wedding day. For their wedding day, they would dress up their gown with accessories and flowers, even bows that could be removed after the festivities.

Wedding Gown Fashion
In the United States for a short spell the color white fell out of favor, but around the time of the Industrial Revolution, when the department store made it possible for a bride with any budget to purchase the gown of her dreams, white once again became the fashion. The style worn by women has changed through time.

Wedding dresses fashioned during the Roaring twenties were very different from those that came about in the thirties. In the twenties, women sought out gowns that de-emphasized their shape, in line with the style of the flappers that was trendy at the time.

During the 30’s most women emphasized their shape and wore gowns that highlighted their waists and bosoms. Perhaps the most interesting period of time for the wedding gown was during the 1980s, when big puffy sleeves and extravagant skirts were worn by a majority of women. These gowns, while well suited for trim and petite women, often were not the most flattering choice for the average size woman. Despite this, gowns did not trim down again until the mid to late 1990s.

Wedding Gown Fashion Today
As mentioned at the start, almost anything passes for a wedding dress today. More and more women are buying a wedding dress online, because of the wide variety and selection of unique and custom made gowns available.

Informal wedding dresses, designer wedding dresses and even discount wedding dresses can all be found online thanks to modern technology. More popular than even designer wedding dresses are discount bridal gowns online. Most brides to be can purchase extravagant looking, custom made gowns for a fraction of the cost they would find them in a department store.

Another benefit of buying a wedding dress online is convenience. With so many things to plan for a wedding (location, cake, reception, flowers, invitations, rehearsal dinner etc.etc) most women appreciate having a handy resource for buying their wedding dress. Most women also find a wider selection of sizes and custom features available when they shop online vs. when they shop in a traditional store.

Trends
Trends have changed when it comes to modern wedding attire. No longer do all brides seek out a traditional white gown for their special occasion. In fact, there is a huge selection of vintage and informal wedding dresses available, many of which don’t even look like official wedding gowns.

Most dresses today focus on the unique personality of the bride rather than socially accepted “norms” when it comes to buying a wedding dress. In general many brides are looking for wedding gowns that are narrower than they have been in times of old, and those that offer clean silhouettes. These types of dresses usually lengthen the body and provide a slimming effect. Some more popular trends include the following:

* A-line dresses that are long and slimming
* Sheaths with trains built into the silhouette, so that it trails behind the bride
* Bias-cut wedding gowns that follow the natural curves of the body, ending in a small flare at the bottom
* Raised waistline ball-gown styles
* Square necklines that provide a fresh open look
* Off the shoulder dresses providing a full neckline
* Sleeveless or cap sleeve gowns which are especially popular for summer brides
* Empire waists which elongate the figure and shift the focus upward

Trends are also apparent with regard to fabrics. Satin and silk gowns have long been popular, though sheer fabrics are also becoming more trendy, including chiffon and organzas. Embroidery is also replacing lace for many modern gowns, and some brides are opting to accent their dresses with pearls and other quality beads.

No matter what style gown you choose, the most important thing is that you select one that makes you look good, feel good and happy on the most important day of your life. You’re sure to find a superb selection when shopping online.

About The Author:
Antigone Arthur is a successful freelance writer with 10 years of professional experience providing consumers with informative articles on such topics as wedding gowns and dresses, wedding dress shopping, and designer wedding dresses.

Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Antigone_Arthur

Many women think that the only way to go is high heeled when it comes to bridal shoes but should you always follow the crowd? Over 80% of the women asked the question, “Would you wear high heels or flats on your wedding day?” answered that they would choose high heeled bridal shoes. There are many cases when high heels are inappropriate and after all you not only want to be beautiful on your wedding day but comfortable as well.

Even those that said they would wear the flat bridal shoes stated that the only reason they would wear flats would be if the venue of the wedding dictated it. Some even said they would forego shoes totally if they were being married on the beach. I see this all the time where I live in Florida. Almost unanimously they agreed that there wasn’t a chance that they would wear flats if they were going to have a church wedding or if being married in a hotel or even a garden setting. Why are women so opposed to flat bridal shoes?

For most women their wedding day will probably be the single most stressful day in their lives even if it is the culmination of a lifetime of dreaming. With this in mind consideration also should be given to the possibility that high heels present a considerable risk of stumbling or falling due to them getting caught up in the wedding dress.

I believe that all the hoopla over the high heeled bridal shoes comes from the writers of fashion magazines and those on TV shows that feature celebrity weddings. They all espouse the supposed attributes of high heels with claims that they will make the bride’s walk look more lady like and sexy. I personally disagree with them and I don’t believe that high heels necessarily make a woman look sexier, with the right dress flats or even no shoes at all can look very hot.

Going back to comfort, you must consider that as a bride you will be on your feet for quite a long time. You don’t just wear the shoes for the wedding and then it’s all over. You will be visiting with guests, friends, and relatives, dancing, having pictures taken and more. Possibly the answer is to have two pairs in the same style and color scheme of your wedding theme. That way you can have a pair of higher heels for your wedding and then the flats for the rest of the day so you are more comfortable.

Source: http://www.articlestoreprint.com

Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Beach, Florida. Find more about wedding shoes as well as designer shoes at www.designershoesplus.com

There are only three principal public occasions in a person’s life: baptismal, burial and marriage. Among the three, only marriage allows great honor for the principals. Throughout the tradition, marriages had been considered as the special day for a lady who is about to pledge her matrimonial vows towards the chosen one.

Marriage is Her Big Day more than that of the groom. This is why marriages have always been made special and bridal dresses created as such to fit the festive occasion. This practice of making the bride look magnificent in her bridal dress runs down throughout the history, with widespread influence dating back to medieval times.

Bridal dresses were not always white, in opposition for what have been usually perceived by most people. Bridal dresses before the Victorian era would normally adapt the color of what is trendy and what is available. Shades of lively colors were normally used and pastel colors were also popular. But by mid-1800s, white bridal dresses became the norm when Queen Victoria chose a white bridal dress for her wedding day. The same dress was worn over a black silk dress fifty years later. She also was responsible for setting the fashion of having her bridesmaids carry the train.

1920s
In his decade, revolutionary changes were done with fashion. Up well to 1920s, bridal dresses were created in accordance with what’s the norm. The hemlines rose from shoe to above the knee and became more curtailed. But later, many considered the length of the bridal dress inappropriate for church services, thus the replacement of full-length gowns. In this decade too was the dropped waist and shapeless bodice dresses reach its height of popularity.

1930s
The depression in thirties followed the roaring of the twenties. Women changed from the boyish look to the more profound expression of a woman’s body. Normally, the bridal dresses in this era hugged the body of the bride. To emphasize the shape of the body, bridal dresses were given boat-shaped collars.

1940s
Fashion in the 1940s almost died down, and the same was true for the white bridal dresses. Clothes rations started in 1941 and continued up to the end of the World War I. A number of brides struggled for silk dresses but most suited themselves for the uniform. Those who were not commissioned in the army wore the same costumes.

1950s
The padded shoulders of the last decade were superseded by the narrow shoulders in the 1950s. However, many brides wanted their dresses adopt the intermediate style. The bridal trains were fashioned after the trains of the Elizabethan era. But another fashion arrived- The New Look outfit. Simply put, the New Look outfit is tailored after the ballerina dresses in terms of length. The dress typically has a jacket bodice with tight sleeves.

1960s
There were not so much changes in the bridal fashion in the 1960s. Ladies still preferred wearing the circular dresses, short veils and tight sleeves only differing on the veils with more bouffant approach. Most women wore coronets and a single rose with the veil gathered together from the flower. In contrast with the extravagant and flowing bridal dresses, bouquets in the 1960s were made simpler. More often than not, tiny flowers in tight posies are used.

1970s
After two decades of tights sleeves, Tudor sleeves were introduced in the seventies. The high-waisted line of the 1960s gradually moved lower to a princess line. Trains diminished too and the cuts of the dresses were made far simpler.

1980s
By this era, the waistlines had returned to their normal position. The dresses were much fuller now and the big bouquets returned back to fashion. This period was marked with more extravagant sleeves, suited after the bridal dress of the Princess of Wales.

1990s
Wide skirts remained popular with the start of the 1990s. However, different fashion icons popularized varieties of skirts. But among the most popular are the super low waists with skirts flared down.

New Century
With the coming of the new century, the norms with wedding have changed too. Themed costumes were much more practiced today and so are the themed bridal dresses.

There is no doubt that bridal dresses remain to be the eternal testimony of a wedding. And the efforts of making the dresses extravagant and special are both to the benefit of the bride’s contentment and the ever-changing fashion trends.

Robert Thatcher is a freelance publisher based in Cupertino, California. He publishes articles and reports in various ezines and provides bridal dress resources on http://www.your-bridal-dress.info.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Robert_Thatcher

Weddings are all about personal style. Reflecting the overall trend of breaking away from tradition and steadfast rules, modern brides are choosing wedding gowns that reflect their personality and visionnot necessarily their grandmother’s.

The only rule for wedding dress style these days is to choose a style that suits you. Whether that means wearing a gold wedding dress, trouser suit or sundress, go with it! And even if you are more traditional and have always envisioned yourself as the fairy princess in the white satin ballgown, you needn’t worry about being perceived as old fashioned or “not with the times.” The modern “rule” for wedding dress style is to choose something that makes you feel comfortable and beautiful on your most special day.

The 21st Century Bride - That said, although certain traditional dress styles are always popular, bridal fashion does follow mainstream fashion to some extent. So if you are looking for something a little more contemporary or “now,” consider turning to the catwalks for inspiration. The currently popular 20sand floralstyle dresses can be easily incorporated into a wedding dress. Accessories, such as chandelier earrings, can also transfer from the catwalks to comprise your wedding look. Try to avoid fashion that will date quickly, however, as you will want to display your wedding photographs for a long time. As a general rule, keep your wedding ensemble fashionably forward, not overly trendy.

Today’s Hot Wedding Dress Trends
Add Some Color - Using a wedding dress to bring out a colorful personality, modern brides are not afraid to add a splash of color to the traditional white gown. Whether that means adding a colored ribbon or piece of jewelry or foregoing the white wedding dress all together, today’s brides find inventive ways to incorporate color into their wedding attire. Particularly popular shades are blue, pink, cappuccino and champagne.

Lace Up - Lace has made a recent comeback, exuding a look vintage romance that is feminine, yet not overdone. Many brides are enchanted by lace, envisioning a majestic day in a lush green garden. Magnificent Embroidery - For an ultra elegant, opulent feel, glamour girls savor wedding gowns adorned with intricate hand-embroidered details. This look warrants grand chandeliers, candlelight and an isle of red roses. Ultra-Feminine - As seen on the runway, feminine details are making a big impact. Ribbons, ruffles, flowers and bows are finding their way back onto wedding dresses and taking femininity to a new level. Brides who envision themselves floating along the cobblestones of a historic mansion will love this look.

For a complete guide to keeping your sanity while creating an elegant and memorable wedding celebration, visit http://www.elegala.com, your ultimate wedding planning resource. Cori Locklin is editor-in-chief for http://www.elegala.com/ and Elegala Magazine. Elegala is a new wedding wedding planning resource offering the most comprehensive portfolio of superior wedding reception sites and wedding vendors, with the planning tips to keep brides in the know on today’s planning trends and styles.

Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Cori_Locklin http://EzineArticles.com/?Wedding-Dress-Trends—Top-Wedding-Dress-Styles-for-the-Mode

Carolina Herrera & Vera Wang

Carolina Herrera’s Spring 2008 Bridal Collection was just what you would expect from the designer–elegant and feminine. Herrera’s gowns are for the classic bride who makes no apologies for wanting to look and feel like a princess on her wedding day. Ruffles, satin sashes, flowing fabrics, and trains that stopped traffic gave the collection an ethereal feel, while an element of suprise was found in black embellishments, which added an ironic touch to the white palette. Herrera paid homage to My Fair Lady with a strapless A-line gown with embroidered tulle layers and grosgrain details in black and beige. The intricate detail on a strapless floral embroidered organza ball gown with ruffles and ribbons was the perfect combination of sweetness and whimsy.

The Vera Wang Spring 2008 bridal collection was Vera at her finest, inspired by the genteel aesthetic of high society social register American debutantes of yesteryear, from Jackie Bouvier to Doris Duke. “It’s harking back to a time when women had their own definition of glamour, style, and chic,” said Wang. Gowns were super luxurious and refined, and the collection wasn’t limited to bridal white: dresses in jeweled tones of rich purple and iridescent pink walked alongside the pristine cream looks. An ivory silk organza gown with a lace and embroidered tulle overskirt and ivory faille bow sash at the waist was a standout. Satin cabbage rose embellishments in forest, amethyst, crimson, and magenta added a dash of color to simple, elegant silhouettes. Overall, the collection was the perfect blend of seductive beauty and old world elegance–with a hint of mystery. “Even the venue was meant to be fairly snotty,” said Wang of her show space–the Ukranian Institute on the Upper East Side.

Source: Fashion Week Daily

Maybe you can’t afford a castle extravaganza, like Eva Longoria’s wedding. But you can look like a princess without blowing your bridal budget on a gown — after all, you only wear your dress once. “We’re seeing very nice quality dresses at very affordable prices,” says Millie Martini Bratten, the editor in chief of Brides magazine.

Saying “I do” to cheap chic is easier since Isaac Mizrahi introduced eight gowns at Target.com in May, including an homage to Carolyn Bessette Kennedy’s cowl-neck silk charmeuse column ($129.99), as well as a silk faille trapunto gown ($159.99). Other bridal bargains are JCPenney’s triple-bustle strapless gown ($200), J.Crew’s halter-neck Caroline dress in ivory silk tricotine ($295) and Ann Taylor’s Elizabeth strapless silk duchesse satin gown with 36 back buttons ($600).

Admittedly, you forsake handmade lace, imported Italian faille and custom beading — sometimes for polyester. But these frugal yet fabulous dress options are even more valued now that today’s average wedding costs $27,852, and the average honeymoon is $5,111, according to Conde Nast Bridal Group.

“As long as it looks good and fits well, why not pay less?” says John Mincarelli, a fashion merchandising professor at New York’s Fashion Institute of Technology. “You can spend the money on your honeymoon.” After all, happily ever after can’t be built on tulle — or debt.

Source: USAweekend.com

I have a few suggestions below. You may want to present these to your attendants and see which ones they like best. Any combination will work. You’ve chosen a monochromatic color scheme so any lightness or darkness of purple is acceptable.

Dress your bridesmaids in lavender and your Maid/Matron of honor in plum. I did this at my wedding. Our colors were silver and light blue. I wore a white dress with silver and light blue accents. My bridesmaids were in light blue while my Maid and Matron of honor were in a dark silver. You could also, conversely, put your bridesmaids in plum and the maid/matron in lavender. However, it is generally more popular to dress the maid/matron in a darker color so as to contrast the bride better.

Dress them all in lavender with plum sashes or accents. The accents may be shawls, wraps, or ribbons. Many brides who choose this route also have ribbons of the accents in their bouquets and the attendants’ bouquets.

Dress them in plum dresses with lavender bouquets. You may also want to include lavender accents. Since the lavender is on your dress, you definitely want it to be more of a secondary color than the plum. So if you do dress them all in plum, you need to make sure the lavender definitely stands out as well.

I advise against dressing them in patterned dresses or dual-tone dresses. This will make your wedding party look too busy since your dress already has a floral pattern. Stick with elegant but non-ornate dresses for your attendants. I personally would go with either the 1st or 2nd suggestion.

Taffeta is rarely found in bridesmaid dresses, this is because it’s a very luxurious fabric and to be honest, it’s likely to stand out more than the bride!

You’re looking more at high street retailers which only stock ‘fashion’ colors. You’ll be paying a little extra but it’s worth going to bridal stores as they will have the color selections all year round. They usually have all styles available in all colors too, so you should find something you like.

Mori Lee has a stunning chocolate brown which is available now, have a look on their website for the different styles. Forever yours & Romantic also have chocolate brown in their collection. Most designers have bridesmaid ranges these days.

All the designers have stockiest lists on their websites so you can find the nearest store to you. You’ll usually find galleries as well so you can have a browse at some of the different styles they have.

Plum & silver sounds lovely! Silver accents would be lovely on your plum dresses. If you go for another color, it can over-complicate the look. As silver is the ‘accessory’ color (this means its the color used to complement your main color, which is used in hints) then it would be very suitable.

What you have suggested sounds lovely! I can especially picture these dresses in chiffon. Organza can be quite stiff, the cheaper organza has a shimmer to it and it makes it look cheap!

Despite it being the evening, it’ll still be light so the tangerine sounds like s good compromise. Very zesty!

Do be warned - please try this color and T length style on your bridesmaids as it doesn’t suit everyone. Your bridesmaids would really need to be tall for the length as it can stunt shorter ladies.

Tangerine is a lovely color but can wash out some complexions - also if any of your bridesmaids are larger they may well end up looking literally like a tangerine!

If tangerine is too severe then try a more peachy orange instead. It’s softer and kinder to complexions and will look very elegant in chiffon. Lemon or sunshine yellow is a lovely color as well, believe it or not. Along with a golden tan (fake or otherwise!) it simply glows.

Long, flowing drapes and gentle scallop frills are very much in this year and will look super on your bridesmaids. If you have larger bridesmaids then the styles with the folds / roaches across the waist draw the waist in and make for a shapely figure. There is some lovely t-length styles lovely peachy color. This color is really lovely and is one of the colors I’d recommend as an alternative to tangerine.

I had my bridesmaids wear black floor length gowns for my wedding in the middle of May simply because I had my heart set on a very formal wedding!! Needless to say, it turned out looking beautiful. Whatever color of style of dresses you choose for your girls, the pictures will no doubt turn out great. Go with what you imagine being the perfect look or you may regret it down the line and wish you had gone with your tangerine dresses.

Victor Epand is an expert fashion consultant at www.LingerieDress.com/. Visit us when you want the best prices, styles, fashions, and fits of all types of lingerie. We carry a super selection of everyday, as well as bridal and specialty items.

Fall Bridal Spectacular is an event for fashion designers and manufacturers within the bridal and formal wear industry to learn and will throw up opportunities for designers & craftsmen to share ideas. Also to further develop possibilities of trade in the subcontinent.

The Fall Bridal Spectacular will consist of two runway shows featuring couture and full service bridal salons and local vendors.

Exhibitors in attendance will range from bridal, gowns, & accessories, henna dresses, evening wear, bridemaids, groom’s wear, jewelry, beauty / hair services & products, textiles, sound, light & entertainment, photography & video production, floral & stage design, wedding stationary, wedding cakes, confectionary, catering services, limousine services, financial services & banks, health care services, honeymoon & travel services, gifts & wedding favors, to home furnishings.

The next Fall Bridal Spectacular event will be on November 3-7, 2007 at the Washington State Convention & Trade Center.

Regan Schultz didn’t intend to go as far as dressing brides when she started Modern Pacific Weddings, but while helping brides coordinate and customize their weddings, she often heard them complain about being unable to find the right gowns.

“I kept hearing that they’re all the same, and I kept getting requests for Nicole Miller.”

Schultz listened and over the past few months started bringing in designer gowns by the likes of Miller, Jules Bly, Adele Wechsler, Maui’s Tamara Catz, and Kirstie Kelly for Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings, an instant hit for every “princess” of a bride. Select gowns will be featured during the “Muse” fashion event Saturday at thirtyninehotel.

The dresses are lighter and more fluid than traditional gowns, making them easier to wear.

“The Nicole Miller gowns have a silk lining underneath so they’re comfortable to wear on the big day,” said Schultz. “They’re more casual for those who really are not looking for the typical full wedding gown, and may be wanting something more suitable for beach weddings.”

The simple styling also makes the dresses easy to shorten and wear after the wedding. The same goes for Miller’s bridesmaid dresses, which can easily be re-purposed as cocktail dresses, while embellished and embroidered island styles by Catz can go anywhere.

Gowns generally range from $600 to $3,800; bridesmaids’ dresses, from $210 to $400.

“I don’t want it to seem stuffy or intimidating,” Schultz said. “I want everyone to feel they can come in, no matter what their price range, and try things on.”

It’s important to note that dresses on view are samples, so brides cannot expect to pick something off the rack days before their wedding. Schultz recommends coming in at least two months in advance to order a gown.

“Depending on the season, we can sometimes have a gown here in two weeks, but you don’t want to risk that.”

Schultz gravitated to wedding planning after helping her mother with corporate parties for the family business in Colorado. “My mom’s really into making every party totally spectacular, so I think I got that from her.”

Friends convinced her to start the business after she helped plan their weddings. “I find I love the beauty of all the elements — the stationery, the flowers, the table settings — and how it’s built around this special time.”

Although adding gowns to her repertoire adds another layer of difficulty to her work, Schultz says she’s glad to assist.

“I love it when a bride comes in and is so happy when she says, ‘I found my dress!’”

Source: Star Bulletin

Kleinfeld Remains Iconic in the Jewish World.

At a fashion show at Manhattan’s Kleinfeld Bridal late last month, Israeli designer Pnina Tornai showed off her 2008 collection. Inspired by Edith Piaf’s famous love song “La Vie en Rose” (“Life in Pink”), the white wares featured floral accents on Tornai’s signature corset designs. A bejeweled gown with spaghetti straps and a scalloped hem elicited applause, and a silk pantsuit adorned with ribbons and flowers left some folks oohing and aahing. The packed audience included designers, would-be brides and a smattering of seemingly unlikely attendees: Orthodox Jews. According to a Kleinfeld insider, newly engaged female members of the tribe have long been drawn to the store. But in a city where bridal shops abound, how has Kleinfeld managed to become — and, more importantly, remain — so iconic in the Jewish realm?

Simple, co-owner Mara Urshel said. “We are the largest store of this kind in the world. The other stores are mom-and-pop shops, but we are truly a bridal mecca.” The sheer breadth of the locale — it’s 35,000 square feet — surely leads the soon-to-wed to make pilgrimages there, but that’s not all that attracts Jews to this shop.

Urshel, who purchased Kleinfeld in 1999 with a group of investors that included Wayne Rogers (Trapper John on the TV series “MAS*H”), believes that the Jewish community has long been besotted with the store because of its Old World focus on personal attention. “There’s nothing more important than making a bride feel like a princess on her wedding day,” Urshel said.

Kleinfeld even employs a special consultant specifically for the Jewish community. The consultant, Rochel Leah Katz, helps brides choose gowns that can be altered according to their religious needs, including the addition of sleeves and the enhancement of the backs and fronts of dresses to make sure that brides are fully covered. “I work with girls who are religious and therefore need a modest dress,” Katz said. “No strapless allowed.” The majority of Katz’s clients are Orthodox Jews, but she says she has also worked with Mormons and religious Christians in search of gowns with a little more material. And, Urshel added, “Since weddings are often planned so quickly in the [Orthodox] world, our consultant is there to know what the customer needs and work with the vendors on getting everything done as rapidly as possible.”

Kleinfeld, which opened as a fur store in Brooklyn in 1941 and moved to Manhattan in 2005, features more than 1,500 styles of gowns, 28 bridal selection rooms and 17 private fitting rooms. The store is also the subject of TLC’s new reality television show “Say Yes to the Dress,” which offers a behind-the-scenes look at the fraught process of selecting a wedding dress.

“We have a wonderful relationship with the Jewish community,” said Urshel, who professed that Tornai’s designs are particularly popular with Jewish brides (although Katz cautioned that her dresses are sometimes too pricey for Orthodox families with many daughters to marry off). “We can anticipate their needs, and we can fulfill them.”

Source: The Jewish Daily Forward

Many young women can remember their favorite Disney princess who once captured their young imaginations. The spirited and determined Ariel followed her dreams of living on land. Belle, the modest and intellectual beauty, ventured into danger to save her father and ended up befriending, and saving, a beast from his life of solitude and misery.

The kind-hearted Snow White cared for the lonely seven dwarfs and overcame a jealous queen. Cinderella, who lost her father and was forced to live with her evil stepmother and stepsisters, eventually found the life she deserved. And who could forget the lively and beautiful Jasmine who outsmarted an evil sorcerer? The Disney princesses’ stories have never really left our hearts.

April 15, 2007, during Bridal Fashion Week in New York City, the Walt Disney Company officially launched its exclusive Disney Princess bridal fashion line. The Disney Bridal and Maidens gowns, inspired by the Disney princesses, were created by couture designer, Kelly.

Known for her vision, quality, and creation of timeless looks, Kirstie Kelly designs for America’s most fashionable celebrities and socialites. According to Kelly, her goal in designing these dresses was to, “create a look that connects to every girl’s inner princess.” She aimed to develop a line that captures the unique spirit and beauty of each Disney Princess.

Kelly stated that, “Every look takes its inspiration from the silhouette, palette, and icons of each Disney Princess story and interprets the spirit of each young woman. Each of them has a unique, charming, and very individual style that many brides can identify with — and now truly emulate — on their wedding day.” For example, her form-fitted Ariel dress has halter straps and a jewel on the bodice. The fabric is a shimmering silk with a mermaid-like “wave” hem.

The bridal fashion line is an extension of Disney Fairy Tale Weddings, held in the Disney Parks in California and Florida. These dresses are made with organza, chantilly, chiffon, satin and tulle fabrics which are embellished with lace, ribbons, crystals, pearls, embroidery and beads.

The majority of the bridal gowns are white; some have a hint of blue or yellow. The bridesmaids and flower girl dresses, also inspired by Disney princesses, come in a variety of colors, and will contribute to a coordinated look for the wedding.

Prices for Disney bridal gowns range from $1,100 to $3,500, and they are sold at specialty boutiques in North America, Japan and Europe. Currently, the only store in Pennsylvania carrying the line is Bridaltown in Collegeville.

One issue is whether the dresses are worth the price. “The idea is a good one, but I’m not sure if it is worth the price.” Junior Education major Megan Quinn said. A second issue is how much the dresses are actually reminiscent of the princesses. “The dresses are all gorgeous, but I don’t feel the looks of them are representative of the princesses they are named after,” junior Jenna Karkuff said.

Kelly considers her involvement with Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to design unique gowns and jewelry that will be cherished for years to come.” You can visit the official Web site, www.disneybridal.com, to take a look at the new dresses, gowns and jewelry for yourself.

Source: the Etownian online

So, you’ve searched high and low for that perfect pair of wedding shoes - the ones that will match your dress exactly - and you’re still drawing a blank. Luckily, there is a solution to your dilemma, and that solution is Artyce Designs, who will custom make your wedding shoes, using crystals, feathers and anything else you need to create the perfect pair of shoes.
With a client list that includes celebrities and fashion editors, you can be sure that the finished shoes will be high in quality - and from just a quick look at the gallery of shoes they’ve made in the past, you can see that they’re big on drama and style, too. Check them out at Artyce Designs.

Source: BridalWave

Most bridal shows are scheduled in the months of January and August. Tickets are usually between $5.00 and $10.00 with a one or two dollar discount if you purchase your tickets online before the event. Prizes may be offered for the first 100, 200 or 500 brides to attend, which usually includes a copy of a major bridal magazine such as Modern Bride, a local bridal guide, a pin that says Bride to Be, as well as tickets for drawings and sweepstakes.

The most recent bridal show I attended started at 11:00 and ended at 5:00. They had a mini bridal fashion show that started at noon and showcased about 20 wedding gowns from one of the exhibitors. The Runway Fashion Show which included more gowns and tuxedos was scheduled for 3:00. The prize drawings were announced at 2pm and 4pm. Having arrived at 11:00, my guests and I had visited all the exhibitors, watched the mini fashion show, and were done by around 12:30. I recommend going to bridal shows later in the day in order to be there for the main events and giveaways. Also, I noticed that there were plenty of free magazines, buttons, and gifts for people arriving after 12:30. Expect to see a multitude of local photographers at any bridal show you attend. You will be a little overwhelmed by their displays, but spend a little time looking through their photo albums, which contain some of their most personal and unusual candid shots. You will have fun sampling wedding cakes from all the local bakeries. Even better, is seeing new trends in wedding cakes. I saw rich, brown layered cakes with gold leaf accents, and bold, bright colors such as magenta, purple and hot pink. Unless you want to be bombarded with phone calls and emails from wedding professionals, be careful about the forms you fill out for the exhibitors. My daughter filled out a form for a free cruise giveaway. She was called after the show and asked for her credit card number over the phone. Remember, that even if you win something, it may be a $500 discount off of a $2,000 photography package. Being able to talk to so many wedding professionals in one place is very beneficial. Looking at companies online, who all claim to be the best at what they do, is impersonal and confusing. The exhibitors are friendly and helpful. You will be able to determine for yourself whether you like the taste and look of their cakes, or the design of their flower arrangements. You may not win a prize, but you will come home with a free magazine, some referrals, and some great new ideas for your wedding. Kathleen Terrana is the owner of Beautiful Bridal specializing in discount tiaras, veils, bridal and bridesmaid jewelry. Visit our site for additional wedding tips, advice and information.

Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kathleen_Terrana http://EzineArticles.com/?What-To-Expect-From-A-Bridal-Show&id=417861

Are you planning on making your own wedding dress or having someone make your dress for you? If so, this will provide you with a few tips on how to choose a pattern for your dress.

Shopping for wedding dress patterns can be just as daunting a task as shopping for a dress off the rack, even more so, if you will be sewing the dress yourself. There are so many things to consider when looking for just the right wedding dress pattern so that you will be the most stunning of brides on your wedding day.

The good news it that since you or someone else will making the dress from scratch, you will have total control over how your wedding dress will look on your most special day. You will have a custom creation that is unique and designed especially for you alone.

Here are some things to consider when shopping for wedding dress patterns.

The first thing to consider is the style of your wedding. Will it be a traditional wedding, or will you being doing something a little more out of the ordinary and have a themed wedding, such as a Celtic wedding? This of course dictates which type of wedding dress pattern you will be looking for.

Another consideration when looking for your wedding dress pattern will be the location of your wedding. Will it be indoors, or outdoors? If you will be having your wedding outdoors, you will want to consider the time of year and season. If it is in the fall or winter you will want to choose a pattern that help keep you warm, if it is spring or summer you will want something that will help keep you cool. The pattern in conjunction with the fabric that you choose will make a big difference as to your comfort on your special day.

You will want your wedding dress to show off your figure to it’s best advantage. Listed below are the 4 basic body types and the goals that you want to keep in mind for yourself based on your body type when choosing your pattern:

Triangle -
your hips are wider than your bust and shoulders. Your goal will be to minimize your lower body and create the illusion of additional upper body width.

Reverse Triangle -
your upper body is wider than your lower body. Your goal will be to emphasize lower body width.

Hourglass -
your bust and hips are larger than your small waist. Your goal will be to create balance.

Rectangle -
your body is long and narrow without a strongly defined waistline. Your goal will be to emphasize width and avoid long vertical lines.

Pick a wedding dress pattern that emphasizes those body features that you want to play up or down.

Since you want your wedding dress to be the most flattering of dresses, there are other things to think about as well, such as the color of the wedding dress.

You want to pick a color that looks the best on you if you are not going with a white or off-white traditional wedding gown. You will want to consider your skin color when picking out your dress color. Your skin color will greatly affect how the gown looks on you. A bride with a lighter skin color has more choices than a bride with a darker skin color.

For brides with a lighter skin color, white or a dress in a darker color will result in a very lovely appearance. Brides with a darker skin color will want to choose their colors while also considering their make up also for the most beautiful appearance. If you have darker skin and do not consider your make up while choosing your fabric and during your fittings, you will not have a true reflection of how you will look on your wedding day.

Since you are making your own dress or having it made, you will be able to embellish it any way you choose. Brides can make fashion statements with fabric. You can range from delicate draping to more dramatic ruffles and fabric flowers. Ruffles, ribbon, ruching, gathering, pleats, fabric flowers, and draping are all special details that you can add to your gown. Just remember to keep your body type in mind when picking your embellishments.

Here are few places where you can start looking for your wedding dress pattern on line.

- Simplicity Patterns has been making patterns for generations. Look them up on the internet and browse through their patterns. They have a large selection of wonderful patterns to choose from.

- Vogue Patterns also offers a stylish selection of bridal patterns. Go to their website and browse through their collection also.

- McCall’s, is another trusted name in sewing patterns. They have a marvelous collection of patterns on their website to go look through.

Searching through all the wedding dress patterns may seem overwhelming at first, but by following the tips presented here you will end up with a stunning dress and you will be the most beautiful of bride’s on your wedding day.

Melinda Barton is an Internationally recognized wedding planner and author of the book Wedding Planning Secrets

She has given several TV and radio appearances and is passionate about helping everyone succeed in their desire to have the best wedding through simple and easy to use wedding planning secrets.

Source:

The second and final day of this years Wedding Expo was marked by exhibitions by different companies who offer various services to those who are planning to tie the knot.

Among the companies represented were those from the financial sector, fashion outlets and legal service providers.

Standard Chartered Bank representative, Mr Dan Haoleba Dikgaka said they attended the Wedding Expo to promote their new and unique product, the Diva Club Account which they launched recently.

He said they felt that since preparations for weddings are often spearheaded by women the Expo provided a good opportunity for them to market their product.

Mr Dikgaka said the account was their own way of giving back to women and appreciating their role in the society in general.

Letshego, also a financial services provider, promoted the various loans that it offers, amongst which are the Executive loan, Letshego loan, Letshego vehicle finance and FlashCash.

Letshegos Sales and Marketing Consultant, Mr Dikeme Maponyane said they also offer legal services to the public at affordable prices.

These products, he said are meant to cushion customers against financial ruin brought about by legal expenses.

Some of the legal protection products they offer are Tshireletso Guard which covers labour, civil and criminal matters, Executive Legal Guard which covers legal expenses accidental death, disability and medical expenses and Badiri Guard covering work-place related matters.

Ms Monana Bogatsu, the Managing Director of Fabulous Functions, an events management and florist company said her company was doing well and that most of her clients were big companies such as Shell Oil Botswana, BP Botswana and Gaborone Sun.

Ms Bogatsu said she advertises in electronic boards and also does door-to-door advertising, pointing out that some of her clients are referrals. I do a pretty good job and what I do advocates for me.

A representative of Lemat Fashions, Ms Thapelo Matale said they attended the Expo to market their business, which specializes in designing outfits for various occasions.

She said business was often slow except during Christmas time when many people hold their weddings.

According to her, everyone can afford to buy from them because they have flexible payment methods and their products are reasonably-priced.

Ms Patricia Mashabane, the Director of Art Cultural Centre, another fashion-design company specializing in German print or leteisi said shortage of material, stiff competition, exorbitant rentals and lack of skilled personnel hamper the day-to-day operation of her company.

An Otse-based charitable organization, Motse wa Badiri Camphill also exhibited some candles and pottery from its candle and pottery workshops.

The organization sources some of the materials used in candle-making from other countries because they are not available locally. Moulds used for shaping the candles are bought in Australia whilst wax is from Malaysia.

According to its representative Ms Lefoko Blake ,the aim of the organization is to help the disabled by equipping them with life skills.

Show attendant, Ms Bosa Botlhokobotsile said she hoped to gain a lot of knowledge as she is preparing for her wedding to be held next year.

She expressed happiness that such an event gives people an opportunity to compare prices and to meet business people She however decried the size of the venue saying it was too small for such an important event.

Source: BOPA

Jewelry designer Simon Ghanimian is a household name and has received accolades from fashion and bridal magazines, but his favorite part of the job is meeting the everyday people who wear his jewelry.

“That’s the best part of it,” Ghanimian said in a telephone interview from his studio in Los Angeles. “When I see the excitement on their faces, it makes me feel better. I like to listen to (the customers).”

He’ll have a chance to do that this week as he attends special showings of his collections — known as the Simon G. line — at Kranich’s Jewelers stores in central Pennsylvania. Ghanimian will be at the store on College Avenue in downtown State College from 3 to 8 p.m. Thursday, at the store in the Galleria Mall in Johnstown from 10:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Friday; and at the store in the Logan Valley Mall from 10:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Saturday.

“We’re really excited,” said Michael Kranich Jr., president of Kranich’s Jewelers. “He’s a super nice guy. And local people will get to see a product line from a designer who

doesn’t normally come to an area like this.”

Ghanimian’s visit is “pretty unusual,” said Amanda Gizzi, spokeswoman for the Jewelry Information Center, a nonprofit trade association based in New York City.

“He’s a relatively big name and has wide range of clients,” Gizzi said in a telephone interview. “As far as (jewelry designers’) names go, very few are recognizable, and (Ghanimian) is among those who are. … Once designers get more recognizable, they tend to do less in the way of trunk shows. It’s a great honor to have any designer come to a retail store.”

The lines offer something for everyone, Kranich said, with prices starting at $600, with most falling between $600 and $1,000.

“There are all kinds of different things,” he said. “There are pieces to start out with, very expensive pieces … he makes a lot of different things.”

Kranich said his stores have done business with Ghan-imian for several years and told him they’d like him to visit.

The stores usually have trunk shows, but Ghanimian has never been present for one at a Kranich’s location.

Though Ghanimian is best known for his bridal jewelry, the trunk show will also display the fashion side of his line.

Both his fashion and bridal pieces use combinations of white, yellow and rose gold with white diamonds and colored stones.

“The pink, or rose gold, is a flavor that’s coming back into the market,” Kranich said.

Ghanimian founded his company in 1981, five years after he immigrated to New York City at age 19 from Beirut. He said he specialized in bridal jewelry because it was “recession proof” — something people would buy no matter what the state of the economy — but there’s a personal side to it as well.

“It’s fun to do bridal,” he said. “The customer’ll wear it all their life. When you design the piece, you know they’ll look at in five to 10 years and still love it. There’s more longevity.”

Still, he wanted more interaction with the customers, so he turned to fashion jewelry.

“(With bridal lines), you sell the customer one piece and may not see them again,” he said. “With the fashion side, they can come back for anniversaries, birthdays.”

Customers, in fact, are what Ghanimian lists as his top inspiration.

“I visit with quite a few (customers),” he said. “Customer feedback is very important. We see how they’re liking it and are always coming up with new ideas.”

Source: AltoonaMirror

25 local designers will show off their work at Portland Fashion Week
With one week to go until showtime, Portland designer Elizabeth Dye hasn’t decided if she will be showing wedding dresses. In preparation for her Oct. 22 Portland Fashion Week collaborative fashion show, Dye has been editing her show and touching up finished pieces for the past six weeks.

As a ready-to-wear and custom designer, Dye designs for the best of both worlds, but her decision to include both is not yet decided.

“Haute couture is being made by fewer and fewer designers everyday,” Dye said.

Designing custom-made wedding dresses is Dye’s outlet for extravagant creativity.

She enjoys designing alternative wedding dresses because her customers feel free to indulge their fantasies they wouldn’t normally explore in other areas of their lives, Dye said. But whether a selection of these dresses will walk the runway is undecided as of now.

This should not worry the Elizabeth Dye tribe - she cuts it closer to showtime than most designers because she likes the intensity of pressure that short deadlines bring.

Portland Fashion Week, which runs Friday, Oct. 19 to Wednesday, Oct. 24 features 33 designers, 25 of whom are local.

Dye will show her designs on Monday’s collaborative show titled “The Collections” alongside designers A Broken Spoke, Dayna Pinkham, Emily Ryan, Holly Stalder and Kate Towers, among others.

“Putting together a show is all about discipline,” she said. The trick, Dye explained, is narrowing down ideas for a particular show.

“I will wake up in the middle of the night with an idea or inspiration that is appropriate for fall or spring or good for living on my inspiration board for three years,” she said.

So what will next Monday look like for Dye?

“My rule is I can’t sew on the day of the show,” she said. “It is like a wedding day. I have to make myself eat.”

Sustainable fashion in Portland has been a buzzword in town for several years. Some designers have taken sustainability and applied it to every aspect of their business, but not all Portland designers stick to a strict sustainable diet of minimally processed and dyed fabrics.

“I also consider sustainable fashion to be living and working in the community where you sell your clothes,” Dye said.

Because Dye sells clothes from her own shop on NW 23rd Avenue, she cuts the environmental degradation common in the fashion industry by eliminating transport cost while maintaining that local connection to the community.

Portland designers have the freedom to be flexible within the city’s young industry. What Portland lacks in century-old traditions of textiles and couture is made up for with the value the community places on local talent.

“Portland and Paris fashion week don’t have much in common,” she said, “but that is good thing.”

Source:

Victoria Gooch is dressed in a black, tunic-style pantsuit and heels.

A Mimco cuff adorns her wrist, her hair is perfectly coiffed and her face made up, but not in an over-done way.

The fact that she looks this immaculate would not be so unusual for anyone in the fashion game … except that in her arms is her four-week-old baby boy, Mason, and it’s only 10am.

I’m in awe – and that’s even before I cast my eyes around the store and see some of the stunning pieces Victoria currently has in stock at her Maroochydore boutique, Eve.

Eve Boutique is located in one of Ocean Street’s original buildings. Polished floorboards and French-style boudoir chairs create the ambience of an exclusive dressing room.

Up until two years ago, this space was known as Victoria Ann Bridal. Victoria saw the possibility of widening the boutique’s appeal by incorporating cocktail, evening and racewear to the mix. And it’s a mix that works.

“It’s developed quite beautifully. We’ve got a nice little client base and a wide cross-section of women shop with us,” Victoria says.

“We still carry bridal lines, but we wanted to be a bridal boutique that wasn’t for production line brides.”

When sourcing designs for the boutique, Victoria says she looks for quality, a good cut, and interesting fabrics.

Eve is the only boutique on the Sunshine Coast where you’ll find Wayne Cooper.

“I made an effort to go down and actually meet Wayne and his team and, of course, to find out whether the product would work,” she says.

“There are certainly products that won’t work in here… the pieces that do work are from his formal Wayne Cooper label.”

These dresses sit well alongside other Australian labels such as Matthew Eager, Buonitta, Bang by Messina and Party.

“It’s so important to me to support Australian products. I think the fit is superior, the quality is superior and I think our designers are fabulous.”

A wide range of accessories, bags and shoes is stocked to complement the gorgeous frocks. Victoria is particularly excited about the millinery she has in store for the first time from Melbourne-based Ward & Wylie.

“I was just researching the internet for fascinators and everything I came across was the same old, same old.

“Then I clicked on this tiny link to Ward & Wylie and I clicked on this website and I said, ‘I had to have them’.

“When they arrived, I was just ecstatic. The quality is beautiful, they’re finished beautifully and the tags even refer to them as ‘she’ and ‘her’.

“They are for those who want the hat or fascinator to be the feature of their race day outfit.

“I only bought one of each style. I wanted them to be such that people would fall in love with them, wear them and put them on their dresser, look at them every day and just love them.”

Eve Boutique, 1 Ocean Street, Maroochydore; ph 5443 7472; www.eveboutique.com.au

Source: thedaily.com.au

My daughter is getting married in January. I would like to know what style and length a mother of the bride should wear. What colors are appropriate for a winter wedding? High heels are very painful since I got my leg hurt in a car accident. What choice do I have? Also, where do they have a good selection? Some stores don’t even have a dress department anymore.

– Lindy Sue, Homestead

The mother of the bride is expected to look appropriately festive for what is ostensibly a happy occasion, even if she thinks the groom leaves something to be desired. (And what mother — in her heart of hearts — doesn’t?)

For a traditional wedding, you will want to rely on dressy fabrics, such as silk, taffeta, polyester and brocade, to name a few. At more casual weddings, a breezy chiffon is fine.

The dresses are usually full-length, and often come with matching jackets or boleros. If not, make sure you have a pretty shawl or dressy sweater. If you can’t see yourself in anything other than a suit, make sure it’s memorable — with a metallic tint, sparkly adornment or shiny threads.

For winter weddings, you’ll want something in a more somber color — burgundy, blue, gray, black or just about any other wintry hue. Many mothers of the bride go for champagne or tawny — but for nuptials in January, go for one on the darker end of the spectrum.

This means you cannot shop the summer sales racks or the color will definitely be off.

Bigger, bulkier jewelry is also somewhat expected for the mother of the bride, and there’s nothing wrong with going for the costume variety.

If you don’t own any, start asking friends now because borrowed jewelry can be hard to nail down, especially since you’ll need a particular length and style to match your outfit.

Heel trouble is the easiest thing to remedy. Simply skip the stilettos. There’s no reason why you can’t find stylish flats or dress shoes with baby heels. Go to Saks, go to Shoe Rack, but just find something of relative comfort for eight hours.

Where to shop? Without knowing your budget, it’s hard to advise you. In general, smaller boutiques aren’t likely to carry formal gowns. Department store buyers, however, live to dress people for events like yours.

Got a fashion emergency? Send your questions to Herald fashion and style writer Kathryn Wexler by going to www.MiamiHerald.com and clicking on Tropical Life. Or by snail mail, 1 Herald Plaza, Miami, FL, 33132. Answers will appear online and in the Wednesday Style section.

Source: MiamiHerald

The most romantic weddings take place in small village churches – providing a picture-perfect setting for beautiful bridal gowns, says Hilary Alexander.

Photographs leaked from the set of the Sex and the City movie, currently being filmed, show that Sarah Jessica Parker’s character, Carrie Bradshaw, finally gets her ”Big” wedding.

Her dress, specially designed by our own Vivienne Westwood, is a picture-perfect bridal fantasy of corsetry and crinoline in ivory satin. But glamorous gown aside, the fact that the wedding (whether ”real” or, as has been suggested, part of a dream sequence) takes place in the middle of New York, tarnishes the gloss for me.

I felt the same about Desperate Housewife Eva Longoria’s choice of Paris as the setting for her metropolitan marriage last year – cities simply don’t inspire the imagination or set off beautiful wedding attire in the way that the countryside can.

I have a hopelessly romantic view of the perfect wedding, despite the fact that I have been married twice – on both occasions in a register office.

In my idealised nuptials, however, there is always a stone country church, preferably at least 300 years old and surrounded by meadows, a winding path from the lychgate to the ancient timbered doors, hinged in curlicued iron, and a series of stained glass windows through which the sun streams on to a flagstone floor.

This dream of the perfect country wedding is one that some couples achieve without any trouble, happily avoiding the thunder of traffic as they take their vows, or confetti falling on litter-strewn pavements as they make their first appearance as husband and wife.

Designer Alice Temperley chose the village church in Kingsbury Episcopi, close to her family’s farm in Somerset for her wedding to Lars von Bennigsen, co-founder of her company, in July 2000. She wore one of her own designs.

“It’s just so much more romantic and a little wilder in the country,” says Temperley. “You can have horses and carts, and people feel freer.”

In fact, ancient churches in rural locations have become a fashion pack favourite.

Former supermodel Claudia Schiffer, wearing Valentino, and film producer Matthew Vaughn chose the parish of St George’s, Shimpling, near their Suffolk home, for their wedding in May 2002. Stella McCartney – in an updated version of her mother Linda’s dress – and Alasdhair Willis travelled to the island of Bute, off the west coast of Scotland, for theirs in August 2003.

Fashion stylist Katy England, wearing Alexander McQueen, married Primal Scream frontman Bobby Gillespie in a village church in Staffordshire in July last year, while Savannah Miller, designer sister of actress Sienna, and her eco-builder husband Nick Skinner, wed in Devon. Savannah wore a vintage dress by Jan Marie von Giebelhausen.

Even when the venue is grand, a countryside location is still favoured: Elizabeth Hurley’s Versace dress looked stunning against the splendour of Sudeley Castle in Gloucestershire, where she married Arun Nayar in February; England football captain John Terry and Toni Poole, who wore a Steven Hakes creation, held their nuptials at Blenheim Palace in Woodstock, Oxfordshire, while his team-mate Steven Gerrard married Alex Curran, who wore a £60,000 Elie Saab design, at Cliveden in the rolling hills of Buckinghamshire.

Many of the most atmospheric wedding venues are churches, but sadly, for all their picturesque beauty and traditional charm, such ceremonies are in decline. The 40 per cent drop – to just one in four of all weddings – has caused much discussion among representatives of the Church of England.

Four years ago, it began a promotional drive to market 16,000 parish churches as ideal marriage venues. The regulations that prevented a couple from marrying in any church except one in the parish where they lived or worshipped, unless they applied for a special licence, were relaxed by the General Synod in July.

The new rules simply require the bride or groom to provide a demonstrable connection to a chosen country parish church, such as having close relations living and worshipping nearby.

Well-known and particularly pretty parish churches, such as St Michael’s in Betchworth, near Dorking, Surrey – which featured in the film Four Weddings and a Funeral – and St Mary the Virgin in Turville, Bucks – from the television series The Vicar of Dibley – are likely to become increasingly popular.

Couples seeking a more remote, architecturally unusual or particularly deserving church will not baulk at more erudite research, such as Simon Jenkins’s bestseller, England’s Thousand Best Churches, or Sir Roy Strong’s latest work, A Little History of the English Country Church.

Your dream setting is just waiting to be found.

Country Wedding Tips

•Avoid heels if you are going to be anywhere near grass. Consider jewelled flat sandals, satin ballet pumps or even bare feet with flower garlands at the ankles.

•If your dress has a train, make sure someone sweeps the pathway and entrance, otherwise you are likely to end up trailing leaves and twigs all the way to the altar.

•The rules are generally a little more relaxed than they are in the city, so you will probably be able to scatter sequins and petals.

•Choose a more natural bouquet with ivy, smaller rambling roses and even wildflowers to echo the rural atmosphere, rather than a sophisticated spray of lilies.

•The Designer Wedding Show (box office: 0870 190 9098; designerweddingshow.co.uk) is at Battersea Park, London SW11, October 26-28

Source: Telegraph.co.uk

Jewellery (spelled jewelry in American English) refers to ornamental devices worn by persons, typically made with gems and precious metals. Costume jewelry is made from less valuable materials. However, jewelry can and has been made out of almost every kind of material. Examples include bracelets, necklaces, rings, and earrings, as well as items like hair ornaments or body piercing jewelry. Jewelry, particularly when made with precious materials, is generally considered valuable and desirable. Some cultures have a practice of keeping large amounts of wealth stored in the form of jewelry. Jewelry can also be symbolic, as in the case of Christians wearing a crucifix in the form of jewelry, or, as is the case in many Western cultures, married people wearing a wedding ring. And what can symbolize love and, of course, the wedding ceremony more than a diamond?

Diamonds are graded by four characteristics: cut, carat (weight), clarity, and color. All four of these properties determine how much a diamond is worth.

Cut - What is the proportion of the diamond? Round brilliant diamonds are commonly cut with 58 facets. The better proportioned these facets are on the diamond, the more light will be reflected back to the viewer’s eye. This is extremely important. When cut properly, the diamond will sparkle more. Diamond cuts are measured by the table percentage, so always ask for it. Cut also refers to the shape such as: round, pear, and oval.

Carat - How big is the diamond? Larger diamonds often cost more per carat due to their size. There are 100 points to a carat. Hence a 50 point diamond is 1/2 a carat. (There are 5 carats to a gram.)

Clarity - How clear is the stone? Clarity ranges from flawless (perfect) to I (included). Here is a summary:

Color - Diamond colors generally range from D - X for white and yellow diamonds. D is the whitest. Around S they become “Fancy” yellow Diamonds. One can also find green, pink, red, blue and brown diamonds - though these are usually irradiated.

Diamonds are often treated. If you are concerned about getting true value for your money, know what you are getting. Be sure to read the fine print.

Diamonds with inclusions are sometimes filled with glass to make them appear clearer. An inclusion is an imperfection internal to the diamond. Filler can be damaged by heat, ultrasonic cleaning, and by re-tipping. The filling does not repair the inclusion, it just makes it less visible. They can be painted to offset a yellow tinge. The paint wears off rather quickly.

Finally, now that you have that precious stone, here are some tips as to how to take care of it. Diamonds are often thought to be unshatterable. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Diamonds are brittle: If you hit a diamond hard, they WILL crack or chip if mishandled. Don’t wear your diamond when doing rough work.

Storage: Store diamonds separately. When stored with other jewelry, diamonds may scratch other jewelry (or each other).

Cleaning: The best method for cleaning is a jeweler’s polishing cloth. Many jewelers will clean your diamond ring for free if you are making another purchase in the store.

About The Author
Lisa Arons is a writer at http://Beautiful-Earrings.com where you can find a variety of articles and items including necklaces, rings and bracelets. Visit http://www.beautiful-earrings.com for additional jewelry information and merchandise.

The lush grounds of the Marriott Hotel played host to the city’s first glitzy Asian Wedding show. The sequin-spangled spectacular featured a range of traders showcasing their exotic and vibrant wares.

Beautifully-embroidered saris and luxurious lenghas transformed the hotel, in Peterborough Business Park, Lynch Wood, Peterborough, into a treasure trove of Eastern delights all under one roof.

Would-be brides and bridegrooms were serenaded by live music and were able to get advice and tips from wedding planners, photographers, florists, beauticians and fashion designers.

People looking for last-minute finishing touches to their wedding dos were also inspired by the razzle-dazzle of the free event.

Source: The Evening Telegraph

Planning to marry during the summer months but worried about getting too much sun? Are your bridesmaids sun-averse? Look no further than Bella Umbrella for your solution!

Parasols are fashion-forward and good for more than just decorating fruity drinks. With Bella Umbrella, you have the option to rent vintage umbrellas and parasols or purchase your own. On Bella Umbrella, the bridal parasols are mainly for rent for anywhere from $10 to $20, but there are lots of fun options for sale. Consider this for your bridesmaids in place of a bouquet — how cute would they be sauntering down the aisle and posing with it in front of them?

I guess there are some obstacles, such as if your guests use them, will they block the views of other guests? Will it look silly if everyone holds their parasol differently? Can your maid of honor hold yours and hers while you kiss your groom? If you’re teeny-tiny, could a gust of wind blow you away? I just keep thinking of the photo op this presents, and I think it could be fantastic for the right wedding.

Talento Kanda Uno (32) had her long-awaited wedding in Tokyo yesterday. She married pachinko mogul Nishimura Takuro (37) in a traditional shinto ceremony at Meiji Jingu shrine.

The ceremony was followed by a hugely extravagant reception downtown at the Hotel New Otani. A lucky 777 friends and fellow celebrity guests were invited to the reception and bridal fashion show that is said to have cost ¥600 million (771 actually turned up). Kanda wore a 105-carat diamond and platinum tiara, necklace and earring set that arrived just days before from Antwerp and cost some ¥300 million.

Kanda’s friend Ohguro Maki (37) performed a ballad she had composed specially for the occasion, leaving both the bride and groom in tears. The couple have not yet registered their marriage and plan to do so on October 13, an auspicious taian day on the traditional calendar.

The daughter of a bureaucrat, Kanda entered the world of showbiz in 1992. After many years as a regular on the variety show circuit, recently she has been working more as a fashion designer. Yesterday’s reception featured dozens of her bridal designs. She has never made a secret of her taste for the high life and there was never any doubt that she would marry into money. Nishimura is the founder of the major Nittaku chain of pachinko parlors, with annual sales of ¥200 billion.

Source: JapanZone

“Sometimes it’s harder to commit to the dress than it is to the fiancé.” - Ronnie Rothstein.

Say Yes to the Dress reveals the inner workings of the world’s premier bridal salon, Kleinfeld Bridal. Part fashion show, part bridal story, part family therapy, we uncover the hurdles every staff member faces to make each bride completely satisfied on what may be the single most important day of their lives.

Watch as a team of specialists guide brides through the process of selecting, fitting, altering and delivering each flawless dress in time for the perfect day. It’s not a stress-free endeavor, but somehow by the final fitting Kleinfeld pulls all of the details together. Part docusoap surrounding the shop, but more the fascinating tales of the women who are in search of the most important dress they’ll ever buy.

Gloves for the bride. Elegant, flattering … practical, too, if your beautiful 19th-century stone church is a tad drafty. Glove length is traditionally measured in “buttons”, running from the 2-button “shorty”, which ends at the wrist, to the 21-button full-arm glove, which goes right up to the armpits.

The length most often seen in bridal wear is the “opera” length, to the middle of your upper arm. Tradition dictates that these long gloves are not put on or taken off in public. (Too seductive for polite company, don’t you know.)

Well, this presents the bride with a problem: If you can’t take it off, how do you get the ring on?It’s unlikely to fit over the glove, besides looking just plain goofy. Tradition has an answer to that, too, and it means you can’t use a modern glove of spandex or lycra — you’ll have to go with the old-style lace, kid leather, or satin, complete with mousquetaire.

Mousquetaire: handy little set of buttons, which enable you to open the glove at the wrist, fold the glove back, and free your hand. Still elegant, still flattering, and with accessible fingers! Tradition: it thinks of everything!

Source: Aisledash.com

Because of the growth of the revenue from salin bridal gowns, David’s Bridalshop decided to sale on-line a line of 14 beautiful bridal gowns. The new fashion trend in the area it is recognized in this dresses but also the good price that they have (it starts from $99 up to $ 200).

According to recent studies,online sales of wedding gowns accounted for 5.5% of sales in 2006, with6.5% projected for 2007 - a potential increase of nearly 20% in just oneyear. In response to this growing trend and in an effort to meet the needsand preferences of today’s brides-to-be, David’s Bridal - the nation’sforemost bridal retailer - recently launched the db Online Collection, thecompany’s foray into selling bridal dresses via their website. Theimpressive collection of fourteen beautiful new bridal styles is soldexclusively at www.davidsbridal.com.

With prices starting at $99 and most dresses retailing for under $200,the db Online Collection offers affordable luxury with new trend-drivenstyles, available in either white or ivory. A dress featuring color accentswill be added later this month. The collection offers a multitude ofsilhouettes ranging from A-line to ball gown to sheath, and all styles areavailable in missy sizes (2 - 16) and David’s Bridal Woman sizes (14W -26W). Images and video are shown on both missy and plus size models so allbrides can easily visualize their wedding day look. An online fit andsizing guide helps customers find the perfect style for their body type andpersonality.

As part of the company’s ongoing effort to add value and improve thebridal shopping experience, David’s creative team implemented an innovativeidea for capturing the beautiful movement of the db Online Collectiondresses. The industry leader is among the first to integrate cutting-edge”motion” technology that enables fashion photographs to seamlessly come tolife right on the product pages. Using this unique feature, brides can seehow each dress will move and how it will appear from all angles, withoutthe interference of a pop-up or video player. To further enhance theshopping experience and provide a better feel for the intricate dressdetails, brides are able to zoom into product images to view theembellishments and fabrics. Brides can also “virtually try on” dresses inthe db Online Collection using David’s proprietary Dress Your Wedding tool.

The introduction of the db Online Collection gives brides-to-be theability to select from an even greater assortment of high-quality, elegantstyles for their big day, from the comfort and convenience of their ownhome. Each dress is specially constructed with an easy, flattering fitdesigned to boost confidence in online ordering and ensure the dressesarrive in “ready to wear” condition.

In addition to the launch of the db Online Collection, David’s recentlyadded online product ratings and reviews to the entire David’s Bridalassortment, using their signature “heart” logo in lieu of “stars.”Customers can easily enter their review of products and upload associatedphotos or videos, allowing all website visitors the ability to shareopinions and gain insight from real brides’ experiences.

“The launch of db Online Collection and additional online featuresemphasize David’s Bridal’s commitment to providing an unparalleledselection of beautiful styles, at affordable prices, to best suit brides’shopping habits,” says Robert Huth, President and CEO of David’s Bridal.”The David’s Bridal name promises superior quality and fashion-forwarddesign, as well as the ultimate in shopping convenience. We’re pleased tocontinue to enhance the customer experience for our brides and arecommitted to expanding our online offerings in 2008.”

Every db Online Collection style is available for immediate deliveryand may be returned via mail only (seewww.davidsbridal.com for shippingand return details). Online bridal gown customers are entitled to David’sBridal Rewards savings and are encouraged to visit any of the 280+nationwide David’s Bridal stores to complete their wedding day look withalterations, accessories and bridal party attire. For additionalconvenience, davidsbridal.com also offers coordinating invitations, giftsand favors to further personalize a bride’s big day, as well as links topartner websites that offer gift registry, travel, photography and otherservices.

About David’s Bridal
With more than 50 years of bridal experience, David’s Bridalunderstands the importance of providing brides-to-be with a vast selectionof exquisitely crafted dresses, available at affordable prices. Today, withmore than 280 locations nationwide, David’s Bridal continues to expand itsretail store locations, while maintaining its philosophy of superiorquality, value and service. To locate a store nearby, consumers can call1-877-693-BRIDE or visit www.davidsbridal.com

Source: David’s Bridal

These are good times. When you can literally shop till you drop and yet be eager for more. Trousseau shopping is all about indulgence and why not? So what will it be for the brides-to-be this year? Should you opt for a body-hugging corset or play it safe with a contemporary choli? Does it make sense to hold on to your mother’s jadau jewellery or invest instead in a diamond set? What colour codes to stick to and what shoes to pick…phew, who said shopping was going to be easy! But we prefer you banish the blues and go by this guide-book. We found the answers with our designer frat in the city and here’s a compilation of the top ten must-haves, must-flaunts for the bride-to-be. Go on, get that shopping list ready!

1. VELVET: The soft and silky fabric moves away from cozy razais and makes an appearance on all ensembles formal. Yes, velvet, the fabric that died away on the trend-o-meter some years back is clocking big again. “It’s a rich look that sells well for velvet. I recommend at least, one formal outfit in this fabric a must for every trousseau,” advises Sector 8 based designer Babi Grewal. From suits to sarees to Indo-Westerns, take your pick.

2. KALIDAAR: This trend seems to have come a full circle. Remember the Anaarkali suits that boasted of umpteen ‘kalis’? Well, time to pull it back from the design books. “Kalidaar suits with a tight churidaar are a wise investment,” feels designer Poonam Sood, who runs her store in Sector 22. She also recommends dipping deeper into the colour palette. “For a trousseau, a kalidaar suit can be styled in rich colours with traditional zardozi and even brocade,” adds the designer.

3. CLUTCH: This one’s still retained its hold on the must-have list. “Clutches are classic buys,” says Col (retd) ADS Gill of GADS Leather in Sector 7, that stocks up on a smart collection of the same. “Clutches come in a variety of avatars but I suggest a classic gold or black one for a trousseau. Also, an increasing number of brides are getting potlis matching with their lehenga for the D-day,” adds Col Gill. For more casual wear, big bags are best, and remember metallica is the colour for the year.

4. LINGERIE: Trousseau shopping is incomplete without some super sexy lingerie. From “teddy sets” to “doll” nighties, the trend for cute yet naughty nightwear continues. “Essentials today include seven-piece sleep-ins to net nighties,” mentions Dolly Singh, who runs her lingerie store Attractions and is deluged with young brides asking for colourful innerwear. “Some time back black and gold colours were the only choices, today trousseau should boast of mutli-colour sets,” says Singh and adding, “Satin and lace rule but one must include sensible stuff too like a T-shirt bra.”

5. PHULKARI: It’s a must for every Punjabi bride. Only this traditional ensemble has undergone some changes. “For one, it’s no longer restricted to just an odhni,” is what city-based wedding stylist and designer Honii Sandhu has to tell us. More recently, Sadhu designed a Phulkari lehenga for a bride and has her hands full designing Phulkari outfits. “One Phulkari piece is essential in a trousseau and I feel a bride shouldn’t get all the outfits in her trousseau stitched at once, some are best kept for later,” is Honii’s advice.

6. THE VANITY CASE: Now’s the perfect time to splurge on the best make-up and fragrances. “Brides have to keep the glow intact even after the wedding. So it’s wise to invest in some good make-up essentials like mascara, compact, blush-ons and yes a good mix of lipsticks in a variety of colours,” mentions make-up expert Bhavna. Also since perfumes will leave a dent in the wallet, make sure you select classics that best suit you. Estee Lauder, Davidoff, Chanel and Burberry are good picks.

7. STILETTOS: The six-inch heel is back! Steer clear of platforms and opt instead for some sky-scrapers that are must for a trousseau. The market is brimming with tie-ups, wedges and stilettos and the latest trend is the bejeweled look. So let your toes toe in line too! As for colours, make sure you pack in gold and silver to play safe.

8. SO SARI: Your trousseau will be incomplete with the seven yards. Babi recommends holding on to traditional weaves as brocade and short silks are fast riding up the trend charts. “Colours like beige and cream are also finding their way into a trousseau and there’s nothing like a sheer saree accentuated with small bead work,” is Babi’s suggestion.

9. JEWELS: When it comes to baubles, the bride for the year can forget minimalism. Divya Gurwara, CEO, Bridal Asia and an expert on bridal trends says, “You are the bride and must look every bit it. Nothing works better than kundan. But choose carefully, because some of the stuff available can look tacky. So opt for jadau with polki diamonds. Nath, tikka, jhoomar… go for it all. In fact, these are the only things you should load on.” Time to raid your grand ma’s locker, no?

10. The Cocktail Dress: Forget all black. In fact, a muted gold smock is this year’s answer to last year’s tunic. “Kurtis are passé and smocks, a more elder and subtler version of the frock is this year’s pick,” mentions Prabhdip Brar, head of fashion at NIIFT. Trousseau should pack in a smock highlighted with muted gold, which Brar feels is the which Brar feels is the colour to flaunt. If you are edgy about a short dress, team it up with ciggie pants or tights. Now, wasn’t this easy?

Colour to flaunt. If you are edgy about a short dress, team it up with ciggie pants or tights. Now, wasn’t this easy?

Source: ExpressIndia.com

HE’S used to designing for royalty - both of the Windsor and Hollywood varieties - working with everyone from Princess Diana to Elizabeth Taylor. But, when it comes to demanding customers, David Emanuel says they are nothing compared to the forthright females he met at the Trafford Centre.

“They definitely tell you straight what they think,” he laughs. “Whereas my couture clients might be a little more, let’s say, tactful.”

The women he saw on his recent jaunt up north weren’t multi-millionaires, flashing a gold card and asking for extra sequins on their evening gowns.

In fact, the dressmaker to the stars was here to meet customers at bargain-hunters’ chain Bonmarché.

Yes, it’s possibly one of the last places in the fashion universe you’d expect to find the man behind Princess Diana’s wedding dress.

But it’s where he has chosen to launch his first high street range, lending his name to a new designer collection in 100 Bonmarché stores.

He’s certainly not the first designer to collaborate with the high street, following Stella McCartney for H&M and Giles Deacon at New Look. But why Bonmarché? Nobody would argue it’s at the fashion frontline.

Down-to-earth

“I’ve had other chains approach me but guarded my name fiercely. But the Bonmarché people were very professional and lovely to work with.

“I’d never been in any of the stores when they first asked me so I went round a couple and visited them. I could clearly see it needed something. It’s clear that the customer base was an older lady and there’s nothing wrong with that. These ladies want stylish things but they also want a good price.”

Deal done he started designing a stylish, yet mature, range to add a bit of class to the plain chain. However, despite decades of experience in the fashion industry, he still had a lot to learn about high street prices.

Not too pricey

“Let’s be brutally honest - people are only prepared to spend a certain amount nowadays,” he says. “If a lady wants a one-off piece they come to me and they have to spend a lot of money, that’s understood.

“But on the high street they want a bargain. I could design the most wonderful things but they won’t work if they aren’t the right price. We’ve been careful to keep it between £10 and £70 max.”

However, his new found love of the high street does know some bounds.

While he reckons high street ranges from trained designers are a bonus for fashion-savvy customers, he’s none too pleased about other famous faces, like Kate Moss at Topshop or Lily Allen at New Look, wading in.

“I’m a trained designer, as is Stella McCartney, and we design clothes. It’s the other people who muddy the waters, I don’t have time for that. I’m sorry but you would need to be a trained architect to design a building wouldn’t you?”

No fan of celeb ranges

Of course, he will always be remembered for Diana’s famous wedding dress of taffeta and antique lace, with its 25ft train, which he designed with then-wife Elizabeth.

But for now, he says, he’s happy to be working on something a little less grand.

“Undoubtedly, Diana’s wedding dress was the ultimate highlight. I never realised I would always be linked with it. But I like to move to on the next challenge.

“I’ve been very lucky in my career, it’s a thrill to dress Madonna and Elizabeth Taylor. But they have an open cheque book. Here the challenge is to get the clothes out looking stylish but at a price that’s affordable.”

Source: Manchester Evening News

Moments that highlight many a wedding day is to suffer from nerves. This is not unusual due to the fact that this is the one day in your life when all eyes are upon you. It is the bride that will always will be the centre of attention at the wedding and why not with all the effort put into looking fabulous. Nerves affect many brides mainly due to worry of everything going according to plan. Well if you have planned your wedding day with careful thought then you need not worry.

Before the mention of accessories lets talk on the item we would like to accessorize and that is the wedding gown. Choosing your wedding dress without doubt has to be wonderful experience with so many stunning designs and styles to choose from. We now need to highlight areas that need to be considered when selecting what is going to be the perfect wedding dress.

What you have to keep in mind when choosing your gown, wrong choice - wrong image - wrong you. Different gown styles are not particularly designed with you in mind so all that glitters is not gold meaning, no matter how glamorous some of the gowns are does not mean it is going to be the ideal wedding dress for you. Your shape figure height are important issues that need to be looked into before committing to buy. Take along a member of family or friend to help you pick the dress that will give you the perfect look.

If the wedding dress you see adorned on the mannequin/dummy standing in the bridal shop window catches your eye do not act on impulse. Just because it looks great on the dummy does not necessarily mean it will on you. We can not have you looking like a clown in your gown.

Can dreams come true, yes. You will go to the ball Cinderella. Fairy godmothers do exist armed with needle and cotton to conjure up the dress you may have always dreamed of wearing? All you have to do is to provide the details of the fabric colour and style you would like and with her magic needle you get to walk down the aisle where your prince charming awaits in the gown of your dreams. A good thing by having your wedding dress tailor made is because any alterations to meet the requirements of your comfort level can be done at your own leisure. The seamstress can advise you on certain materials and fabric for your wedding gown.

White/ivory/ beige are favoured colours for a wedding dress. Accessories protrude an air of elegance when worn up against these shades. Neutral/pastel colours are so easy to coordinate with the bridesmaids attire.

Looking through magazines to gather ideas will keep you updated with all the wedding fashion gossip.

No bridal gown on a dummy will ever look as good as the real thing nor do the get to walk down the aisle. So there you have it, choosing the ideal dress you have perfection. Now go knock them dead because today the worlds your (oyster) another lovely shade for the gown.

After hours of research I found this fabulous site and hey what do you know everything you could possibly need is all here to make your wedding day special..Well worth a visit dont just take my word for it http://www.your-wedding-planning-help.com.

Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kacy_Carr

Jewelry is one of the oldest and most widespread type of accessory. It is made from materials of particular beauty or rarity, providing the person who wears it with elegance and style. Today, women have a lot of accessories to choose from and the Internet is perhaps the best place to find interesting items.

Somewhere around 1890, a daring young man invented an automatic cutting machine and paved the way for crystal jewelry. His name was Daniel Swarovski and up to this day this brand holds one of the biggest collections of crystal sculptures, jewelry and chandeliers. With the passing of time, new techniques were discovered and Swarovski earned a name in the field of luxury crystal jewerly.

The advent of the Internet allowed people to avoid those long, dreadful hours spent shopping. This type of shopping is enjoyed by many people not only because it is time-efficient, but also because of the wide range of products available online. Today, there are plenty of websites providing various Swarovski crystals and introducing the world to high-quality jewelry items.

The history of Swarovski crystals is long and rich in detail. Since its appearance, many generations have worn these priceless objects with delicate and refined features. In order to keep up with the latest trends imposed by the fashion stylists, designers have started to successfully mix classic designs with modern and innovative ideas, resulting in amazing collections and attracting customers worldwide.

There is no doubt that Swarovski crystals available for sale online are extremely popular. Fashion styles have changed over years and these jewelry items have managed to be just as popular no matter what. On the Internet, one can find incredible selections suitable for various occassions including anniversaries or weddings. Wearing Swarovski crystals is a true demonstration of style and the incomparable crystal purity is what mainly draws women to them.

Crystal jewelry has been used as adornment since a couple of centuries ago and Swarovski crystals do not make any exception. The possibility to find exactly what you want online, among all the available Swarovski crystals, increases if a lot of patience is dedicated to Internet searches, but even without a lot of effort, there are still plenty of options out there. Women now have a ton of choices and every item has a special price. The popularity of these crystal beads comes as no surprise; quality jewelry is something everybody wants to have and evey fashion movement includes.

Swarovski crystals are cut in a very special way in order to refract as much light as possible. Also, experts add some sort of chemical coating in order to increase that effect. There are many popular coatings including Aurora Borealis, Volcano and Aurum. All of them serve to the creation of these wonderful pieces of jewelry, famous for their beauty and uniqueness all over the globe.

Regarding the most recent fashion trends, the Internet has given us some insight. Beads are in style now and online there are a lot of Swarovski beads waiting to be bought. They come in all shapes and sizes, being full of color and leading a true revolution in the jewelry industry. The demands are higher and higher, many women considering beads as voguish and sparkling.

Swarovski beads are some of the most beautiful crystal jewelry. They are made of the finest materials and are more than brilliant. Every day, women purchase such products being profoundly interested in their general appearance. They want to do everything they can to improve their looks and beads can really help in that matter.

When Daniel Swarovski created the more than famous brand, he wasn’t aware how long the tradition was going to survive. The beads however have become extremely popular. Online shopping of Swarovski beads has proven to be a great alternative for busy jewelry enthusiasts, offering enticing jewelry pieces.

Jive Jewelry is a Canadian based online jewelry retailer featuring the latest in stunning sterling silver jewelry, sparkling Swarovski crystal jewelry and fabulous bridal jewelry. Jive Jewelry works directly with jewelry manufacturers throughout the world to guarantee great selection, and even better prices.

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Qatar Expo Events Management announced The International Wedding Exhibition & Fashion Show Doha (IWED) 2008, Qatar’s first major wedding event, to be held from 4th to 7th May 2008 in the New Qatar International Exhibition Center.

With more than 100 stands, IWED is open to both wedding professionals and the public. Visitors will discover a vast range of high quality wedding products and services from wedding planners, fashion designers, wedding gift suppliers, flower designers, honeymoon organizers, footwear designers, catering companies, jewelry designers, hair and beauty products & stylists and hotel groups.

Fernando De Guama, Qatar Expo’s Director of Exhibitions and Events commented: ‘IWED is set to become one of the Middle East wedding industry’s leading events. The Qatari wedding industry alone is now worth US$ 400 million each year. Wedding is part of the service industry that is set to grow to meet the growing number of population resulting from the countries development.’

‘IWED will feature the very best international wedding products here in Doha. While there will be a strong focus on European design, notably French and Italian, these will feature alongside the latest ideas from the Middle East. There will be so much going on at IWED you could literally plan your entire wedding in one day,’ stated De Guama.

IWED highlight will be the twice-daily Fashion Show featuring elegant wedding gowns, evening wear designs, brought to you by leading fashion designers from the regional and international markets.

In addition, IWED features seminars presenting the latest hair and make up styles by well known make up artists from Egypt, Lebanon and Qatar.

Source: CNN

Find the perfect engagement ring, wedding bands, wedding day jewelry and jewelry gifts, along with great ideas and advice.

Buy bridal wedding jewelry, including rhinestone and crystal tiaras. Free wedding planner information also available!

Affordable wedding jewelry, wedding accessories, wedding jewelry for bridesmaids and the bridal party and bridesmaid gifts. You will find unique pearl necklaces, diamond and …

Although jewellery has reportedly been a g hit with men over the past years, men wearing excessive jewellery can hardly be called a phenomenon. Wearing earrings, rings, bracelets or necklaces is usu…

In the Muslim wedding tradition, the Muslim brides are given much importance as the Muslim grooms. It is the bride’s family that takes the first step towards the groom’s side to fix the marriage.

Carrie Bradshaw is getting married — or at least that’s what new sneak photos from the set of the Sex and the City movie seem to show. Sarah Jessica Parker, who plays the fashion-obsessed Bradshaw, was snapped yesterday stepping out of a New York apartment in an extravagant Zac Posen wedding dress, before taking a limo to the wedding set.

Joining her were castmates Charlotte (Kristin Davis), Samantha (Kim Cattrall) and Miranda (Cynthia Nixon), quashing rumours that Cattrall had not returned to the set since an on-set bust-up last month.

However, there was no sign of Mr Big (Chris Noth) in the wedding scene — despite previous scenes of them together holding hands — sparking speculation over the groom’s identity.

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Chris Noth was spotted on-set last week with Davis, whose character Charlotte will be pregnant in the movie.

But Charlotte may not be the only character who will sport a baby bump.

OK! Magazine reported a witness’s account of a scene where Carrie flanked in a flattering peach dress balancing in towering high heels is walking with her best friend Stanford (Willie Garson) before they run into Bitsy Von Muffling (Julie Halston).

“Carrie Bradshaw pregnant! Mazel Tov! When is it? September? October?” Von Muffling blurts out.

However, the UK magazine reported a subsequent take of the scene revealed a different story.

For the full story, fans will have to wait until the movie hits American screens in May 2008.

Source: ninemsn

White silk, lace, embroidery, petticoats… what does your dream wedding gown look like? Have you found the person who will make it for you?

When you ask around the first name that usually comes up is Vera Wang. This creative and talented artist often went with her mother to fashion shows in Paris. She got frustrated with the lack of fashion in bridal wear and decided to create her own shop. Today she is the hottest name in this industry, dressing such glamorous ladies for their nuptials as Jessica Simpson, Mariah Carey, Vanessa Williams and Sharon Stone.

Another name to watch out for in bridal fashion is Monique Lhuillier. This lady always wanted to be a fashion designer. She attended the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising but didn’t go into designing wedding gowns until after she designed her own wedding dress and then she decided to get into this business. Today she designs gowns for such celebrities as Britney Spears, Christine Baumgartner (wife of Kevin Costner), Natalie Imbruglia and Charlotte Ross.

Now, you may be saying to yourself that you can’t afford the price tag of these designers. You may be surprised. While it’s true that to ask these designers to make a gown specifically for you would be expensive, you can get their designs off the rack, so to speak in places like Saks Fifth Avenue and Nieman Marcus. You can also check out the online stores for wedding gowns made by these wonderful designers.

Quite a number of brides don’t wish to waste their gowns, sitting in their closets, just mouldering. That would be a shame. Their generosity, your find, an absolute treasure. Check out the bargains to be had from purchasing used wedding gowns created by these very same designers. They are absolutely beautiful and can make you feel absolutely glamorous on your wedding day without breaking your bank.

Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lesley-Ann_Graham

If you know any little girls you’ll probably know by know that their hair will stay picture perfect for about ten minutes before they’ve had a play with it and undone all your hairdressers good work. A good wash and comb should really suffice and then top off with a pretty hairband. It’s easy to slide into place time and time again. This one features parchment flowers with organza ribbon and beading. £19.99 at Aaryanna Designs.

Source: Bridalwave

If you’re into fashion at all, you’ll probably have noticed that wide headbands have made a real comeback in recent months, and it’s a trend that’s now been adapted for brides by none other than Isaac Mizrahi for Target. This wide satin headband is available in champagne and white and is just $12.99. This will create a pretty, “Alice-in-Wonderland” type of look which is very off-the-moment, and while it’s perhaps not the most glamorous of bridal looks, it’s definitely different, and could be a nice choice for your attendants if you don’t fancy trying it out yourself.

Source: Bridalwave

Spring Fab Bridal Expo is the Cape’s biggest and most upmarket fashion, accessory, beauty and bridal event of the year. Now showcased twice annually due to demand.

Exhibitors
Top Fashion Designers
Co-ordinators
Companies specialising in:
Hair and Make-up
Accessories/Jewellers
Artists
unique bridal Haute Couture
Fashion Boutiques
Designers of invites
Reception Venues
Hiring Services
Flower Art Specialists
Function Designers
Video/Photographers
Magazines and Directories
Wedding Registries
Health/Beauty Services
Honeymoon Destinations
Caterers

Venue: Cape Town International Convention Centre
Dates: 27th and 28th October 2007
Times: Saturday 27th : 09h00 - 17h30 Sunday 28th: 09h00 - 17h00
Entrance Fee: R50 Adults, Children under 12 Free
Contact: Carin Brynard
Tel: +27 21 981 4737

Modern weddings are filled with customs and traditions. One of the most celebrated wedding traditions involves the tossing of the wedding garter. The practice of garter-tossing dates back to as early as the mid-fourteenth century. In order to confirm the union was consummated, it was customary for a family member to retrieve a piece of the bride’s clothing, particularly an undergarment. It was believed that the piece of clothing would bring good luck to the person who received it. Through the years the tradition was altered, as the bride was often rushed and had her clothing torn off as guests fought for the coveted prize.

The “garter,” which was a garment used to hold up stockings, became the sought-after item. This tradition evolved as the groom began removing the garter and tossing it to the guests so they would not endanger the bride. Fortunately we still practice this very tradition today. The bride typically wears the garter on her right leg as the groom removes it during the reception. He then tosses the garter to the single men in attendance. The gentleman who catches the garter is the proud recipient of the “good luck” and is said to be the next to be married.

While some brides continue with the traditional garter custom, others will wear two garters: one to be removed at the reception for tossing and the other to be kept as a keepsake of her wedding day.
Many brides decide to make their garters blue so they have “something old, something new, something borrowed and something BLUE.” However, this isn’t entirely necessary. Any bride can still use traditional white garters and even create garters in colors to match their wedding themes. Garters today are even personalized with your names and wedding date to make it a perfect keepsake.

There are an unlimited ways to customize your wedding garter. So when your wedding day is here, continue the customary garter tradition, or start your own!

Source: MyGarter.com

Everyone has heard the age-old saying, “Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue”. These items are supposed to bring a bride good luck and happiness in her marriage. You can incorporate these things into your wedding in many creative ways.

Your wedding dress can serve as any of the four requirements. Many brides wear a new dress, but you could opt for a vintage one if it fits with the style of your wedding. You could also borrow your mother’s dress, or that of another friend or relative. Wedding dresses are not required to be white or ivory any more, so a blue dress is an option if you so desire.

If you love vintage jewelry, it’s a great way to incorporate something old with style. Online auctions are often a good place to find antique earrings, necklaces, bracelets, brooches, and even hair accessories. Your local antique store is also a great source for vintage jewels. Just make sure that whatever you choose fits into your wedding’s theme and your dress’s style.

Something new is rarely a big concern on your wedding day. If you are not wearing a new dress, you probably have a new piece of jewelry or pair of shoes. If these are all old or borrowed, go out and buy a pair of pantyhose to serve as something new.

Your borrowed item could be just about anything. Jewelry is popular for this purpose as well, so if your family or friends have any jewelry that you’ve been dying to borrow, now is a good time to ask. If your mother or sister still has her garter, she would likely consider it an honor to lend it to you for your wedding day.

Something blue is often the trickiest thing to come up with. Garters often come in blue, but if you really don’t want a blue garter, don’t wear one just for that. Blue shoes are an option if they will look good with your dress. Hair pins or barrettes would work as well. If blue doesn’t match your clothing or theme at all, you could always wear blue underwear or a piece of jewelry with a small blue stone.

There is another part of the “something old” saying that many people are unaware of. It calls for “a silver sixpence in her shoe”. A sixpence is an old British coin that is no longer minted, so it could be hard to find. You could substitute a dime or old penny. You can also find keepsake sixpence coins at specialty shops. Or if you want to follow the saying to the letter, check with coin shops or online.

The something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue tradition is all about symbolism. It encourages the bride to remember her family, friends, and past while looking forward to her new life with her husband. Finding a way to work each of these things into your wedding attire can be fun and memorable.

Source: Bridalocity

Ballerinas and bridal gowns. Canadian designer Justina McCaffrey regularly pairs the two for her New York runway shows.

McCaffrey, dubbed Canada’s Vera Wang, brought her unconventional fashion show to Edmonton for the first time Sunday for the Bridal Expo at the Shaw Conference Centre.

She says she prefers putting dancers instead of stick-thin models into her dresses because dancers are more healthy looking, more average looking.

“They’re also just better people, more earnest and eager to work for you,” says the designer who still takes the occasional class with the National Ballet.

Her dresses, exclusively available at The Bridal House Couture in Commerce Place, feature high busts and little waists made to flatter the female figure and make her look five pounds lighter, McCaffrey says.

Each style is made of 100 per cent white, ivory or greyish blue silk and features French lace made on 100-year-old looms, freshwater pearls and swarovski crystals.

Because each dress costs between $2,000 and $5,000, they are sometimes marketed as society wedding gowns, but McCaffrey says her desired bride is someone comfortable running through fields and who loves to laugh a lot.

Source: edmontonjournal.com