Wedding Gowns & Bridal Fashion

Brides magazine debuts “Something Pink”—a national awareness campaign supporting Making Memories Breast Cancer Foundation, an organization founded to grant wishes to women with metastatic cancer and their families. Twenty-one designers created “pink” wedding gowns. The pink gowns will be introduced as part of the designers collection and will be available nationwide in retailers and bridal salons next month with 10 percent of the proceeds being donated to Making Memories.

The “Something Pink” gowns featured in the 20-page fashion portfolio in the Brides November/December issue include designs by: Vera Wang, Oscar de la Renta, Badgley Mischka, Nicole Miller, Reem Acra, Monique Lhuillier, Amsale, Anna Maier/Ulla-Maija Couture, Anne Barge, Mon Cheri, Sophia Tolli, Rivini, Watters & Watters, David’s Bridal, Demetrios, Eve of Milady, Melissa Sweet, Alfred Angelo, Mori Lee and Carolina Herrera.

Source: TimesUnion.com

Madeline Isaac-James maternity bridal launched its debut wholesale collection of maternity wedding dresses to the UK and international market at the British Bridal Exhibition.

The British Bridal Exhibition, Harrogate (Sep07) saw the debut launch of the new and exciting maternity wedding gown collection from British designer, madeline isaac-james maternity bridal.

This collection focused on enhancing the curves of the pregnant bride, with beautiful silhouettes that accentuate and flatter pregnant curves, using satin, lace, embroidered tulle, taffeta and exquisite beading detail. The six maternity wedding dresses in the new collection challenge traditional concepts regarding the style of gowns available to pregnant women, offering a stylish selection of gowns for this growing market.

Changing social attitudes combined with the fashion for high-profile celebrities to get married whilst pregnant has meant that a bride walking to the altar with a swelling waistline is no longer considered unusual. With recent figures indicating that up to 20% of brides are pregnant when they get married, forward thinking retailers are recognising the importance of catering for this section of the market.

Natalie Gladman, Designer, said “Our goal is to provide stylish, elegant maternity bridal wear to pregnant brides regardless of their stage of pregnancy. We have many years of experience in providing maternity wedding gowns to the UK and internationally, and firmly believe that the pregnant bride should not have to compromise on her wedding gown, nor should she have to resort to ’stretch fabrics’ to accomodate her bump. Our gowns have been designed to ensure that the pregnant bride can order a beautiful gown as soon as she finds out about her pregnancy, and is ensured a great fit regardless of her stage of pregnancy on her wedding day.”

madeline isaac-james maternity bridal have been providing maternity wedding dresses to pregnant brides throughout the world since 2002 and understand the very specific needs and requirements of the pregnant bride. In response to requests from brides to be for local stockists, the Spring Summer 2008 collection was launched at the British Bridal Exhibition in Harrogate, and the Madeline Isaac-James label will be offered to pregnant brides via selected stockists (UK and International).

Gladman added: “Pregnant brides are demanding elegant maternity bridal gowns that are comfortable to wear, stylish and flattering - which have generally been extremely difficult to find to date. We believe that pregnant brides and our selected stockists are excited with our new collection and we continue to work to ensure that a bride will not have to compromise on her wedding gown just because she’s pregnant.”

The new collection was very well received by wedding retailers at the exhibition, and a record number of bridal retailers have chosen to stock the madeline isaac-james maternity bridal range both in the UK and worldwide.

Enquiries:
Email: info@maternityweddingdress.co.uk
Website: www.maternityweddingdress.co.uk
Telephone: 01252 377725

About Madeline Isaac-James maternity bridal:
Madeline Isaac-James maternity bridal, a trading name of Does My Tum Look Big In This Limited, is the UK’s premier designer and provider of maternity bridal gowns and one of the first companies to specialise in this market in the UK. Based in Farnborough, Hampshire, the wholesale division designs and manufactures an affordable collection of maternity bridal gowns which are sold via selected stockists and in its own retail premises. In addition, Madeline Isaac-James is the UK distributor of the Jessica Kustura maternity bridal gown collection. New stockists are offered exclusive territories and Madeline Isaac-James welcomes enquiries from new stockists both in the UK and internationally.

Source: UKPRwire

Born in Maine, USA on June 19, 1930, Jessica McClintock did not receive any formal training in design. She attended Boston University in 1950 but received her Bachelor of Arts degree in San Jose State University, California in 1963. She completed and was awarded a Doctorate of Humane Letters in the Academy of Arts College in San Francisco.

McClintock was first married to Al Staples in 1949; He passed away in 1964 and she got remarried to Fred McClintock, with whom she has a son, Scott. She started out teaching for a number of schools, including one in Massachusetts from 1966-1968, and another in New York and California from 1968-1969. At the peak of the hippie era , she invested in the Gunne Sax Company in San Francisco where she served as designer for their lace-trimmed dresses. That investment brought her to what is now known as Jessica McClintock, Inc., of which she is the founder, CEO and President. The company, which is estimated to be $140 million, remains to be one of the highest-ranking manufacturers of women’s wear, bridal gowns and accessories.

Starting out with “granny” dresses and lace-trimmed clothes, McClintock expanded her collection to prom dresses and wedding gowns by the 1970s, incorporating lace in all of her designs, her trademark. In 1979, she introduced the contemporary Jessica McClintock line, and Gunne Sax was turned into the little girl’s division that featured teens’ wear made of ribbons, ruffles, Victorian lace collars and ballerina skirts.

In 1980, she opened her first boutique in San Francisco where she sold accessories, cosmetics and high-end designs. She drew her inspiration for her 80’s collection from girls’ dresses in the 1920’s by combining intricate Victorian details with maternity-like silhouettes. She utilized man-made materials, which made her clothing affordable. Son Scott McClintock followed suit, creating moderately priced dresses and sportswear that bears the same McClintock romance, but is more defined and sophisticated.

In 1986, the company was renamed Jessica McClintock. A year later, she introduced her first signature fragrance, Jessica McClintock (which became an all-time bestseller), along with the Jessica McClintock collection, which showcased sundresses and can-can skirts. During the 80’s she designed about 2,500 outfits per year, most of which were aimed at women in their 20s and 30s and which bore her trademark: feminity with an alternative yet uniquely romantic edge.

She received numerous awards in the 80’s including the California Designers award in 1985, the American Printed Fabrics Council Tommy and the Press Appreciation awards both in 1986, the Dallas Fashion award in1988 and the Merit award in Design in1989.

By the 1990s, the company expanded their realm to that which is beyond apparel, starting with the Young at Heart bed and bath line and a kitchen accessories deal with Barth & Dreyfuss, both in 1996. In 2000 they licensed a 50-piece furniture collection and a year thereafter, introduced area rugs. By their 30th anniversary in 1999, they have a record of 27 shops and 2 more fragrances under their name, Jessica and Jess. At the turn of the 21st century, Jessica McClintock established itself as one of the leading makers of women’s apparel and accessories. It continues to create fashion that is laced with nostalgia and mystery for any age, and has encompassed much more than just women’s wear, gracing a variety of product collections, from rugs to upholsteries.

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

Brides-to-be received some helpful hints for planning their wedding Sunday afternoon at the Daily American’s “Here comes the bride expo/show.”

More than 20 vendors filled a banquet room at The Ligonier Country Inn, offering brides and their families suggestions on how to make their wedding day one of a kind.

Rachel Fox of Shanksville was one of the many women who attended Sunday’s event. The young bride-to-be said the expo was very helpful in planning her May wedding.

“There is a lot of variety and different ideas here,” Fox said. “It’s nice to see all these vendors under one roof. I was able to talk with each vendor and get a feel for what I want on my wedding day.”

Photography studios to florists and caterers displayed their businesses service.

April Hershberger, owner of Mountain Top Travel in Grantsville, Md., provided brides with non-traditional wedding options such as a destination wedding.

Hershberger, who formed her company four months ago, recently got married in Jamaica, which sparked her decision to start her own business.

Sunday’s expo was Hershberger’s first show. She said it was successful. “It’s been going well today,” she said.

A fashion show illustrated the latest trends in elegant wedding wear provided by Beverly’s Touch of Elegance in Bedford.

Janie Ohler, owner of LaRena’s Bridal & Formal Wear in Somerset, spent Sunday showing sample dresses, tuxedos and suits of the new trends in bridal wear.

One of the new trends is brown tuxedos and bridesmaids dresses, she said. Also popular is two tone color dress and accessories such as sashes and belts, she continued.

Sashes and belts are popular in fall fashion and it had a strong influence in wedding wear, Ohler said.

Source: Daily American

BRIDES magazine debuts “Something Pink” — a national awareness campaign in support of the Making Memories Breast Cancer Foundation, an organization founded to grant wishes to women with metastatic breast cancer and their families. In an unprecedented collaboration, 21 designers have joined to create “pink” wedding gowns. The “pink” gowns will be introduced as part of the designers collection and will be available nationwide in retailers and bridal salons with 10% of the proceeds being donated to Making Memories. The campaign kicks off on Brides.com/somethingpink today and in the November/December issue of BRIDES available nationwide October 10th.

The “Something Pink” gowns featured in the 20-page fashion portfolio in the BRIDES November/December issue include designs by: Vera Wang, Oscar de la Renta, Badgley Mischka, Nicole Miller, Reem Acra, Monique Lhuillier, Amsale, Anna Maier/Ulla-Maija Couture, Anne Barge, Mon Cheri, Sabrina, Sophia Tolli, Rivini, Watters & Watters, David’’s Bridal, Demetrios, Eve of Milady, Melissa Sweet, Alfred Angelo, Mori Lee, and Carolina Herrera.

Millie Martini Bratten, editor in chief of BRIDES, says, “Many young women in our reader’’s age group today are affected by breast cancer; awareness is key to battling this disease. This initiative was a natural fit for BRIDES: bringing together top designers who responded so enthusiastically to the idea and our readers — women in love and knee-deep in wedding plans — who are eager to share their joy. In this issue we offer them a thoughtful, unique opportunity to send some happiness in another person’’s direction.”

In conjunction with BRIDES “Something Pink” fashion portfolio, wife and daughter of Presidential hopeful John Edwards share a private “conversation” about breast cancer and how it’’s affected both of their lives.

BRIDES “Something Pink” has also joined with Lifetime Television as part of their award-winning “Stop Breast Cancer for Life” campaign and created a special Video on Demand “Something Pink” that includes a behind the scenes look at BRIDES fashion shoot and interviews with designer Oscar de la Renta, Badgley Mischka, Reem Acra, Nicole Miller and Amsale. This VOD is available to Lifetime on Demand (Comcast) and will be available on Lifetimetv.com beginning October 1, 2007.

BRIDES is the leading bridal publication in America and is part of Conde Nast Bridal Media by Conde Nast Publications, a unit of Advance Publications, which includes twenty-seven consumer magazines and their Web sites, eight uniquely branded Web sites, the Fairchild Fashion Group, Parade, the Conde Nast Media Group, and the Shared Services Centers.

Making Memories Breast Cancer Foundation (MMBCF) is a nonprofit organization founded in 1998 to advance the awareness of breast cancer. The MMBCF hosts 32 gown sales per year, which are made possible by women who donate their wedding gowns in the spirit of celebrating other women and helping to make a difference in their lives. Bridal shops and manufacturers also donate hundreds of beautiful, new designer gowns every month. For more information on BABC, please log on to www.makingmemories.org.

Source: BRIDES Magazine

From pilgrim to picnic, incarnations of beige are all the rage for fall wedding gowns. Indeed, the elevation of beige is one of Bridezilla’s favorite trend to emerge from Bridal Fashion Week.

Do not be alarmed, gentle readers. Before the Spring 2008 Bridal Collections, Bridezilla too viewed beige as a shade best relegated to bar mitzvah suits and funeral flowers. But, like straw into gold, this overlooked color has reincarnated from a loose bride’s white into a subtler, more mellow champagne color we just can’t get enough of. After a spring and summer heavy on cloying green and pinks, we welcome this elegant change and its crisp, modern connotations. Still not convinced? Check out Bridezilla’s dazziling round up of beautiful beige wedding dresses, and you’ll see why we’d totally plight our troth in these posh frocks.

How fierce is this silk tulle tank gown from Angel Sanchez? Bridezilla loves how this boxy burlap gown mingles with the bejeweled bodice. Talk about formal meets function! This dress is the perfect confection of crisp sexiness, just right for an autumn wedding. From the slightly futuristic feel brilliantly mingling with a touch of Fiddler on the Roof, bridezillas agree this high-fashion gown blows the styrofoam white bridal gowns out of the water.

Vera Wang 2008
We love the criss-cross effect of this Vera classic, which makes waists look teeny tiny and ball gowns more dramatic.The delicate etched flowers resemble letterpress in a way that Bridezilla finds gorgeously new, and the interesting peaked pleats on the strapless bodice keep the dress perfectly demure without being dull.

Carolina Herrera Spring 2008
Last but not least is the most decadent dress in our round-up. This gown is perfect for the Bridezilla who craves a more offbeat hue but doesn’t want to sacrifice all the beading and baubles of a traditional bridal gown. With heavy encrusted embroidery, jeweled flowers and darling bows, this gown is a perfect study of autumn plenty, and we love how the pink mums brighten the look. Bridezilla approves!

Source: bridezilla.com

The Gown. The Slipper. The Kiss. The Prince. A new chapter will be written in the Disney tradition of fairy tale wishes and finding true love at the west coast debut of Kirstie Kelly For Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings. The bridal gowns inspired by the Disney Princesses will be showcased on the runway as Disney introduces an all new “Blossoms” for flower girls collection alongside a one-of-a-kind platinum wedding gown that captures the essence of the most beloved princess of all time - Cinderella. In celebration of fairy tale endings, Disney will also introduce the first woman to select a Disney Princess-inspired wedding gown for her own wedding.

The collection combines a fashion-forward look with timeless elements inspired by the Disney Princesses themselves, including Ariel, Aurora/Sleeping Beauty, Belle, Cinderella, Jasmine and Snow White. Bridal gowns priced between $1,100 and $3,500 US dollars, a “Maidens” for bridesmaids collection, and “Jewels” that accessorize even the fairest of them all are now available at specialty boutiques in North America, Japan and Europe.

Celebrated designer Kirstie Kelly of Kirstie Kelly, Inc., has collaborated with Disney, bringing her couture design expertise to the process of creating high-end bridal gowns that give women around the world the opportunity to live the dream of being a princess on their wedding day.

The west coast debut of Kirstie Kelly For Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings will take place on Wednesday, September 19, between 10:30 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. at KABC TV Soundstage B, 500 Circle Seven Drive, Glendale, CA 91202. For more detailed information, including interview opportunities, please contact Aaron Hunt, corporate communications manager at Disney Consumer Products, at 818-544-0393 or aaron.hunt@disney.com.

Disney Consumer Products (DCP) is the business segment of The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) that extends the Disney brand to merchandise ranging from apparel, toys, home decor and books and magazines to interactive games, food and beverages, stationery, electronics and animation art. This is accomplished through the work of DCP’s various lines of business: Disney Toys, Disney Apparel, Disney Food, Health & Beauty, Disney Home, Disney Stationery, Disney Publishing, Disney Interactive Studios, Baby Einstein, and www.disneyshopping.com. The Disney Store, which debuted in 1987, also falls under DCP, through stores currently owned and operated by unaffiliated third parties under licensing agreements in North America and Japan, and wholly-owned stores in Europe. For more information, please visit www.disneyconsumerproducts.com.

If you belong to Latter Day Saints or just interested in wearing a modest prom dress that doesn’t show too much skin, we know that finding the perfect dress can be hard and at some dress shops, near impossible. It’s true that most prom dresses can be very revealing with plunging necklines, bare-less backs and hip-high skirt slits.

A more modest prom dress is one that covers the shoulder, back, upper arms and from the knee up. In the past, it was almost impossible to find a modest dress in an evening wear shop, but times are different and modest, LDS gowns are popping up all over the place. There are even Web sites that are entirely dedicated to LDS prom and bridal gowns.

If you live in a town that is completely clueless to the idea of modest prom dresses, don’t hesitate to try and make your own. Just grab some nice fabric and patterns and put yourself to work. Making your own LDS prom dress can be an adventure and accomplishment in itself.

Source: Tiza.com

The bride is the center of attraction on her wedding day and it is important for her to look her best on that special occasion. Therefore bridal jewelry, chosen tastefully and worn properly, will surely add complement to her wedding dress and make her look as beautiful as any bride should be.

Jewelry refers to ornaments worn by persons, typically made with gems and precious metals. Jewelries worn symbolize the events, the culture, quality and the temperament of the wearer. For instance jewelry, particularly made with precious materials, is generally considered valuable and desirable and the rest are less expensive and are called costume jewelry. It 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. Whatever be the reason or events bridal jewelry needs extra attention.

Bridal jewelry can include old piece of jewelry that had once been owned by his mother, grandmother, or past brides in his family or can be from the collection of new or both can be used judiciously. Antique jewelry that has been passed down to brides in the family from generation to generation would reinforce a sense of family, tradition and continuity in a wedding ceremony. And if the bride prefer to go for the latest jewelry then there are thousands of bridal jewelry stores, both the Internet e-commerce sites and bricks-and-mortar stores, offering a dazzling array of accessories to make the bride shine on her wedding day.

And what can add additional sparkle on the wedding ceremony more than a diamond? Diamonds are ranked by four characteristics: cut, carat (weight), clarity, and color that determine the worth of a diamond. Watch out for the better-proportioned facets that are responsible for the sparkle. Carat is another important characteristic feature of a diamond. A carat means 100 points and 5 carats make a gram. And the last is the clarity. The color of the diamond ranges from D-X for white and yellow diamonds but one can also find green, pink, red, blue and brown diamonds that are usually treated to bring the variety. Not to be duped while making a purchase for the diamond jewelry and get the true value for your money does not overlook the fine print. Diamonds are sometimes filled with glass to camouflage the inclusion and make them appear clearer which can be damaged by heat, ultrasonic cleaning, and by re-tipping. Store your diamond jewelry with precious care because they are brittle and get damaged if handled roughly.

Indian weddings have always been very special social occasions, a celebration of a lifetime, with preparations commencing months before the “D Day”.

However, with India going global, pre-wedding anxieties are now passe with the on one-stop solution for a perfect occasion.

Wedding today is an industry, thanks to the pan Asian wedding extravaganza “Bridal Asia”, which pioneered the concept of “all in one platform for wedding” in the late 90s, claims Divya Gurwara, CEO Bridal Asia.

From beautiful cards, regal Rajasthani mandaps, choicest designer wear with exquisite jewellery and accessories to gourmet cuisine ranging from Japanese Sushi and French wine to Kathiawadi dishes, everything is taken care of at “Bridal Asia”.

October, an auspicious month for Indian weddings and sales, has been chosen for the exhibition which is being held every year from 1999 onwards, she told media.

A jewellery designer who dabbled in custom-made pieces, Divya realised the vast potential of an Indian wedding wayback in 1990 when the very concept was novel.

“I felt a need of quality platform which caters to the elaborate preparations that go into an Indian wedding would not only be a boon to customers but also provide an opportunity to those in the industry, from fashion designers to confectioners to give their best,” she said.

Bridal Asia’s forte, says Divya ‘is targeted at the middle class, upper middle class and the high-end. The budgets are made to suit all these categories’, she says.

Striving to provide quality and variety, the three-day exposition being held at Delhi from October 16 this time will not only have the who’s who of Indian fashion such as Sabyasachi Mukherjee and Anita Dongre but also fresh talent like Kamaali & Shruti, Pallavi Singhee and Hemant Lalwani.

Bridal Asia which “has always acted as a creative bridge between Pakistan and India”, will also have Pakistani designers like Sahar Atif and Honey Waqar with their brands “Karma” and “Bareeze” and popular Bangladeshi designer Maheen Khan, said Divya.

“International brands are looking at the Indian wedding market which is becoming more and more stylish and the example is Jimmy Choo (footwear), Gucci (bags) and La Perla (Lingerie) being brought by Murjani group at Bridal Asia, this time”, she said.

Reflecting on the wedding trends, Divya says the whole wedding paraphernalia has undergone a “major transformation”.

Fashion Guru Prasad Bidapa feels “the wedding kaleidoscope has absorbed all the modern waves”. In the 90s, though wedding decor was not opulent, the embellishments were heavy. “It was flayer ed heavily embroidered lehengas and ornate sarees in silk in hues of brown, red and orange which were popular with the full-bodied brides”, he said.

The demure bride of yesteryears has been replaced by a modern woman ready to take on a man in all spheres, says Manoviraj Khosla, a designer known for his stylish work.

“Experimentation and uniqueness is the name of the game today,” he said.

While lehengas are “structured and fitted to the body with the bride ready to show her svelte figure, the sarees are transparent adorned with svarovski crystals, coloured pearls and even shells”, says Bangalore’s own Namrata G.

In jewellery, it was ethnic Kundan and gold jewellery and delicate diamond pieces made marks. Accessories (bags and footwear) were almost an after thought. The embellishments today, feels Rocky S are “minimalistic yet fashionable and make a statement”.

Ritu Kumar, Czarina of Indian bridal fashion says in jewelleries “a lot of white gold, chunky diamonds and big coloured gem stones, precious and semi precious which are getting picked up”. Even beautiful artificial jewellery ” a total taboo in the 90s is making mark as long as it is unique and exquisite”, she says.

Ritu Beri, who has made a name in the global fashion arena feels “accessories have a strong presence today. It is a blend of tradition and modern. From a traditional brocaded batua or a clutch bag with swarovski crystals or animal print, what is important is making a style statement.

In decor, it is “understated opulence which is in. White drapes, crystals, white roses, pearls and mandaps in golds, reds and even block vegetable-dye prints are favoured”.

Source: The Economic Times

ANDRE KIM’S fashion show on a recent Saturday evening ended, as his shows always do, with wedding gowns and “Ave Maria.” The models then all lined up on the outdoor stage to summon Mr. Kim, who appeared on the runway, triumphantly, in his trademark all-white space suit.

It was another successful show for Mr. Kim, 72, still South Korea’s most famous and powerful fashion designer, some four decades after he made Western dress popular among Korean women. An instantly recognizable cultural icon because of the futuristic suit he has chosen to wear for 30 years, and a favorite of consumers and comedians alike, Mr. Kim threatened to overshadow his own collection.

The applause continued. After bowing several times, Mr. Kim stepped off the stage and shook hands with the Koreans and foreigners sitting in the front rows. But he was hardly done for the day. He and his entourage had left Seoul in the morning and arrived here in this former coal mining town, now a gambling resort with Las Vegas-style hotels, after a three-hour drive across the peninsula.

“Pardon me, pardon me, I must leave immediately,” Mr. Kim, famous for working seven days a week, said in English. “I have work in Seoul early tomorrow morning.”

With that, Mr. Kim began making his way through the crowds. His suit’s baggy pants made a rapid swishing sound. People grabbed their camera phones, some not fast enough. Mr. Kim, like some costumed superhero, had already disappeared in the late summer evening’s darkness.

SUCH is Mr. Kim’s power that everyone from the most sought-after actresses to the wives of ambassadors posted to South Korea have modeled in his shows. In recent years, he has lent the Andre Kim brand to cosmetics, sunglasses, golf equipment and interior design, as well as washing machines, refrigerators and other home appliances manufactured by Samsung.

But it is the clothes — usually baroque, in bright, bold colors, with Byzantine or Renaissance motifs — that have made Mr. Kim. They exude a Western sensibility, sometimes loudly, as with his collection of dresses featuring prints of paintings by Rubens, Ingres, Michelangelo and Raphael.

“Fashion should portray grace, intellectual and artistic beauty, youthful energy,” Mr. Kim said. “Not too classic. I don’t like ‘old.’ Even though I was born in 1935, I don’t feel my age. I feel like a teenager who is 10 or 15 or 20 years old — fairy tale, fantasy, young and brilliant.”

In the early 1960s, when Mr. Kim began designing, the country was still recovering from the Korean War, information from abroad was scarce and very few Korean women wore Western-style clothing.

Yang Sook-hi, a professor of textile and clothing design at Sookmyung Women’s University, said that while female fashion designers also took up Western fashion in the early 1960s, Mr. Kim popularized it through fashion shows and the mass media.

“Andre Kim contributed in a way that greatly appealed to the general public, and he was very proactive in this,” Ms. Yang said. “He became known to all South Koreans.”

Although Mr. Kim grew up in a farming village outside Seoul, his earliest memories revolve around clothes. During Japan’s colonial rule, he said, he remembers hearing of privileged Korean women, called modern women, coming back from Japan dressed in the Western fashion already popular there. When he was in kindergarten, he remembers, he was deeply impressed by the sight of a bride during a village wedding.

“Since an early age I was into art,” he said. “I started by painting landscapes, but then I started to draw Western dresses as if I were dressing women. But the reality at the time was that women were still wearing traditional Korean dresses.”

Before anyone else here did, Mr. Kim also grasped the importance of creating an image — in his case, one that dovetailed with a domestic longing for the West’s imagined luxury and sophistication. He started by jettisoning his first name, Bong-nam. At the suggestion of a friend in the French Embassy, he reinvented himself as Andre, which sounded “poetic” to him. He sprinkled English words — “elegance,” “romanticism,” “fantasy,” “intellectual” — into every other sentence.

“I love the Oxford accent — it is very dignified,” Mr. Kim said. “I love America very much, the citizens, the government, the politics, the culture. But I love the Oxford accent. I feel it’s more intellectual.”

Over time, an Andre Kim dress became part of the closet of many well-dressed women here. Mr. Kim was invited to design the dresses for the Miss Universe pageant. He received cultural awards in Europe.

“I grew tremendously,” Mr. Kim said, “in line with the South Korean society and economy.”

EVEN as his dresses changed with each new collection, though, Mr. Kim settled on the white space suit for himself.

“I used to wear regular tailored suits until 30 years ago,” Mr. Kim said. “But because I don’t exercise, there came a time when I could no longer wear tailored suits in a way that satisfied the style. The suit I designed is not only futuristic, but it covers the figure I lost by not exercising.”

He keeps more than 100 copies of the suit, changing two or three times a day. The white space suit has become a fixture of every important social event, where he invariably occupies the best seat or table. Only the ever thicker makeup on Mr. Kim’s face, and the thinning hair he covered by painting his head boldly in black, betrayed the passage of time.

Yet, as South Korea opened up in the 1980s, Andre Kim seemed, especially to the young, a vestige of a long-vanished country.

On top of that, a few years ago Mr. Kim was forced to reveal his real first name, Bong-nam, in a court appearance. Many howled that the man known as “Andre” actually had a name that sounded old-fashioned and country-like.

Mr. Kim was unfazed.

“When I watch television and see comedians mimicking me, I feel embarrassed,” he said. “But when I go out and meet the public, I’m popular. People ask for my autograph. They take photos of me or together with them. I see that as the public’s love for me.”

Source: New York Times

Bridal Asia, the annual wedding fashion exhibition, is now targeting Dubai, London and South East Asia.

Held in New Delhi every year, Bridal Asia features bridal clothes, jewellery, accessories for men and women, along with silver ware and home décor furnishings.

According to Divya Gurwara, CEO, Bridal Asia, the company is now looking to take the event international, covering Dubai, London and South East Asia as they have a huge NRI population. Year 2003 saw a Bridal Asia fashion show held in Pakistan.

The 2007 Bridal Asia exhibition-cum-sale will be hosted in Delhi from October 16-18, and will feature 80 participants, who include prominent apparel designers such as Sabyasachi Mukherjee, Malini Ramani and Gaurav Gupta; jewellery designers like Tanya Kohli. Also part of the event would be fashion houses, jewellers, home furnishing companies and accessory designers from the country. additionally, four designers from Pakistan will also showcase their products.

International fashion brands such as Jimmy Choo, Gucci and Etam will also feature in the event. Around 75 per cent of the products featured are in the apparel segment (lehengas, sarees, kurtas etc) and in jewellery.

Whether you are having a traditional wedding or a Rockabilly Wedding… some of you may still want the traditional pearls . . .

Bridal Jewelry~ With an emphasis on pearls . . .
Since the beginning of time, pearls have been a symbol of unblemished perfection. They are the oldest known gem. Pearls symbolize purity and innocence which is why they are so much a part of wedding jewelry. In the Rigveda, an ancient Hindu book dating back to 1000 B.C. Krishna, the preserver, brought forth pearls from the depths of the sea to give to his daughter on her wedding day. Thus started the tradition of giving pearls to the bride.

Did you know . . during the Crusades, gallant knights returning from the Holy Lands would bestow pearls to their “fair ladies” for their wedding days; and that pearls were at the height of wedding fashion with royal weddings in the French House of Burgundy in the 14th and 15th century? Everyone from the bride to her male guests were adorned in glowing pearls.

From Queen Elizabeth I to our modern Queen Elizabeth II, the tradition of wearing pearls on the wedding day has continued. At the beginning of the 20th century, pearls were as much a nuptial gem in the United States as diamonds are today.

Today, the tradition of bestowing pearls upon the bride continues. Often the father of the bride or the groom gives the gift of pearls. Many brides give their bridesmaids pearl necklaces, bracelets or earrings too. In addition to being able to wear pearls for pretty much any social event (they are a staple) they make a great heirloom, keepsake to pass down. Visit LaptopBride.com for some great links to pearl jewelry - at both affordable and extravagant prices.

Bridal Week and bridal fashion shows are typically treated by the fashion world as a somewhat lesser event than other big events, such as NY Fashion Week. Afterall, there’s only so much white a person can take, and after awhile all the gowns just start to look the same.

But judging by the designs that were shown off last week for the spring 2008 bridal collections, next year’s gowns are going to be a little more high-fashion that we’re used to. The standard lace and satin pieces are taking a backseat to more out-there creations including off-the-shoulder dresses, pleats, ruffles, and even some pastels.

As if the hunt for the perfect wedding dress wasn’t already a big enough ordeal…

Source: Cleveland Leader

Think your bridal gown is the most important garment you’ll need for your wedding? Think again! Your shoes could make or break your day. When your feet hurt, it shows on your face, and you only want smiles on your wedding day.

Top Wedding Sites, Inc. recently sat down and spoke to Lori Dunn, Bridal Stylist and wedding attire expert. Here’s Lori’s professional shoe selection advice.

Brides spend a lot of money on their dress, their tiara etc., and then choose to save money on the shoes. Why do you recommend they look for a quality, well made shoe instead of skimping? And how do they recognize quality?

? A quality shoe generally is going to have a great fit, so it’s going to be comfortable. Sacrificing quality for a bit of cash could very well end up making your wedding day (and the days following) painful! Don’t dismiss the importance of a quality shoe!

? You get a good, comfortable fit from a well-made shoe because it’s constructed from fine leather and fabrics. Cheap materials don’t feel good on your feet the moment you put them on, and it’s not going to get any better as the day goes on. You’re probably going to have to pay more for comfort, but remember: you’re going to be on your feet all day.

? Designer and name brands normally represent quality - like Vera Wang and Stuart Weitzman. The materials are also important; look for things like leather soles, silk, “lined in leather”, embroidery or Swarovski crystals. These high-end materials and embellishments generally mean quality.

? You may be surprised when you try on a quality, designer shoe - I find a shoe with an extremely high heel or pointy toe can be quite comfortable because of its superior construction.

? I always say, “Great shoes are like nice lingerie, even though no one sees it, you still feel beautiful when you wear it.”

Lori’s Shoe Smarts!

1. Shoes with a pointed toe tend to run a little smaller. If you tend to be in-between sizes, it’s a good idea to chose the bigger size and put a pad in the ball of the shoe or heel if you have to.

2. Wear shoe pads to cushion your feet for the long day.

3. A “strappy” sandal or sling back tends to slip. A long narrow adhesive shoe pad stuck to the strap can solve the problem. Using wig tape works great too!

4. Consider high quality silk dyeable shoes that will hold up through several dye processes so you can get more wear from your shoes after the wedding. A dyeable silk shoe of good quality can normally be dyed up to 4-6 times.

5. Think about getting two pairs of shoes for your wedding day. You may fall in love with the 4-inch heel, but after the ceremony and formal pictures, you may be ready to change into a lower heel for dancing.

6. If you have a simple dress, have fun with your shoes. Choose a pair with crystal or pearl embellishments, try a touch of color; Pale blue, for your something blue perhaps. However, make sure the shoes complement the dress and match the look of your wedding attire.

Shopping online makes the wedding planning process a breeze but some brides might be afraid to buy wedding shoes online for fear they won’t fit or won’t be what they expected. What advice do you have for bride’s who are considering buying their wedding shoes from an internet shop?

7. Make sure to start your shoe shopping 2 to 3 months before you actually need them for your dress fitting so you avoid paying rush handling and shipping fees. Do not be afraid to order shoes online! Select stores with contact information readily available so you can call and ask questions, ex: if a shoe runs narrow, big, etc.

8. Some online stores charge a restocking fee or specify exchange on certain shoes, so read the returns policy before you buy. Some brides just don’t want to deal with that, but a lot of brides say it’s a good tradeoff. They like shopping online for the large selection that they can’t come close to getting in their hometown.

9. Shoes can definitely be a tough fit; so before purchase, you should always know your true shoe size. I recommend stopping by a specialty shoe store to have your feet measured just to be sure. Ordering the correct size the first time is going to increase your chance that your first purchase will be the right one. Do this at the end of the day for the most comfort, since feet tend to swell throughout the day.

10. When you get the shoes, handle them with care. Try them on carpet so the soles aren’t scratched, and always try the shoes on with pantyhose so you don’t leave toe prints. If you decide the shoes need to be returned, they’ll be in pristine condition. Dirty or damaged shoes are going to be difficult, if not impossible to return.

Lori Dunn is a 15-year veteran of the fashion industry. A former model who has graced the pages of elite magazines — as well as a professional makeup artist and hairstylist — she’s now one of the top bridal consultants in the United States.

Matthew Ennis, Marketing Manager at Top Wedding Sites, Inc. home ofTop Wedding Sites,Top Wedding Questions and Second Weddings.

Designer Vera Wang unveiled her spring collection under the Fashion Week tents at Bryant Park on Friday, displaying metallic printed skirts and boldly colored dresses.

But for those who can’t afford $1,500 dresses - or higher-priced items from Wang’s runway line - the bridal-gown-guru-turned-top-ready-to-wear designer also has launched a more affordable option.

Simply Vera Vera Wang officially debuted last week at Kohl’s department stores.

The clothes, from $34 to $200, shuttle Wang into the ever-growing group of designers who have partnered with discount chains to sell luxury-style clothing to everyday people.

Experts are calling the trend “mass-tige” - prestige for the masses - and say those who capitalize on the idea, such as Isaac Mizrahi, Ralph Lauren and Martha Stewart, are smart.

“Every designer, I think, dreams of what I would call ‘brand stretch,’” says Michael Stone, CEO of the Beanstalk Group, a brand licensing company. “The ability to service many different markets and demographics, with a variety of products at a variety of values and pricepoints. And very few actually are able to pull it off.”

Wang is one of those few.

After achieving celebrity status in the early 1990s with beautifully simple bridal gowns, Wang moved artfully into ready-to-wear, to great acclaim. Since then, she has put her signature style on fragrances, jewelry, shoes, stationery, dinnerware - and even a Serta mattress.

But aside from her slightly lower-priced Lavender label, which offers apparel from about $300 to $800, most shoppers without celebrity or socialite status could only dream of owning her award-winning clothes.

Simply Vera makes those dreams a reality.

Unlike some other low-end lines, such as Madonna’s at H&M or Sarah Jessica Parker’s at Steve & Barry’s, Wang stays true to a designer feel, despite the discounted prices.

The Kohl’s skirts and dresses have many of the feminine details Wang has become known for - such as bows, ribbons, lace and sheer layers - and the pieces boast the same architectural cuts of her ready-to-wear line.

She’s kept a familiar Vera Wang color palette, the coats are fabulous, and nearly all of the pieces look as if they cost at least twice as much as they actually do.

“It looks really fashion-forward,” says Samantha Bishopp Mollett, senior fashion market editor for Glamour magazine. “It’s pretty crazy how similar it is to her runway collections. There are so many signature kind of Vera details. Her rouching and beading and appliques, and the netting that she does in her runway as well as bridal collections, makes it look really high-end.”

Some may say a little too high-end. Convincing customers to spend $200 at Kohl’s for just about anything might be a tough sell, even if the label does say Vera Wang.

But on a recent trip to the Kohl’s in Ellicott City, a saleswoman said the line was selling quickly - especially the dresses - even though the store began displaying the line, without fanfare, before the actual launch last week.

And shoppers seemed impressed - at least by the aesthetics of the line.

“It’s cool. It seems very stylish,” says Jenny Roman, 36, an Ellicott City stay-at-home mother. “It’s something different.”

Roman wasn’t surprised to see such fashionable clothing at Kohl’s. She says she often wears Kohl’s apparel when going out in the evenings and usually garners compliments.

But she wasn’t sure she would buy any of the Simply Vera line.

“I’m not a waif,” Roman says, “So it’s hard.”

Designer clothes are often cut for a more narrow frame, but Roman might want to give Simply Vera a try in the dressing room.

After all, the collection carries sizes up to 16, and some of the clothes appear a little oversized. One short-sleeved textured coat, for example, was big enough to layer over one of Wang’s sweaters, a silk-blend tee and a jacquard skirt.

But that may be purposefully done. Among the style-savvy, Wang is known for her elegantly casual layering. Those fashionistas who follow her work, experts say, will recognize, and most likely love, the lower-end interpretation of such details.

“There are girls here in the office who are so excited about this,” says Nicole Phelps, executive editor of Style.com, which is based in Manhattan. “And given that the prices are so affordable, I think it will appeal to younger women, possibly college age and even high schoolers.”

Experts believe Wang’s foray into the middle-class will be very successful.

One reason is that bargain shoppers have become used to this high-low approach to fashion.

“I remember when Halston went into JC Penney and [critics] said it was the end of Halston,” says Stone. “I think people are more accepting now of a brand having an ‘upstairs’ place and a ‘downstairs’ place, much more than they were.”

And - unlike some pop music stars or celebrity spouses who have ventured into clothing design recently - Vera Wang has taken time to cultivate her “upstairs place” in fashion, making hers a name people associate with quality.

“I think that this kind of collection works for someone like Vera who really does have strong design identity,” Phelps says. “When you look at something of Vera’s you really know that it’s hers.”

Source: Baltimore Sun

A wedding is an expensive occasion for even the most humble bride and groom. Imagine, then, the wedding that includes the most expensive wedding dress in the world. The Diamond Wedding Gown is a collaboration of Renee Strauss, owner of a highly successful bridal salon in Beverly Hills, and Martin Katz, who deals in rare jewels. Featuring 150 carats of diamonds, the dress is valued at US $12 million.

The world’s most expensive wedding gown was unveiled at the premier Luxury Brands Lifestyle Bridal show in February of 2006. Later in the year, Dubai’s Fashion & Diamonds show also featured a gown touted as the world’s most expensive wedding dress. Yumi Katsura’s design, however, is only valued at $8.5 million. Despite being only the second most expensive wedding dress, it features 1,000 pearls and one of the world’s only two 5 carat white gold diamonds.

The occasion of marriage is a special one for any person. In India, it is considered a highly sacred bond. An Indian woman regards the day of her marriage as the most important day in her life. To make this special day perfect, preparations go on for months on end in Indian households.

Jewelry plays a very important role in Indian weddings. An Indian bride is usually decked up from head to toe in beautiful jewelry that complements her attire and her personality. Typically, an Indian bride uses the following ornaments:

Maangtika or tiara
The tiara, called the Maangtika in Hindi, is used to adorn the centre forehead parting of the bride. Maangtikas are now available in different styles and colors. Usually, for bridal wear, a Maangtika with a decorative centre piece is preferred, with a long string. In the modern times, tiaras in the form of crowns are also being used.

Hair accessories
The trend of using hair accessories is getting highly popular in today’s times. It is fast becoming a fashion statement. The hair accessories should co-ordinate with the attire of the bride. If the bride’s dress is studded with diamonds, hair accessories encrusted with diamonds can be used. Pearl headgear and silver hairpins are also in vogue in the fashion world. In certain communities in India, elaborate headgear made of flowers is used as part of bridal wear.

Earrings
Earrings are available in every imaginable style and color. They range from small, delicate ones to dangling, heavy ones. Earrings are available in different metals and using different gemstones or pearls. Nowadays, the trend is to wear earrings covering the whole ear. Brides typically wear earrings that are attached to a chain, which is hooked in the hair.

Nose ring
The nose ring traditionally worn by Indian brides is in the form of a ring, which is attached to a chain that is hooked in the hair. It is called ‘Nath’ in Hindi. In certain castes, the nose ring is worn without the chain. With the changing fashions, the nose ring is also undergoing a change. It is now available in different styles and is fast becoming a fashion statement.

Necklace
The necklace is the most versatile piece of bridal jewelry in today’s times. It is available in a variety of styles and colors. The type of necklace is chosen depending upon the neckline of the bride�s dress as well as the color and pattern. According to fashion experts, a long necklace would look good with a deep neck, while a choker would suit a smaller neckline.Armbands: An armband is called ‘Bajubandh’ in Hindi. It is also a widely used piece of bridal jewelry, which is worn on the upper part of the arms.

Bangles
The bangles are one of the most important part of a bride’s attire. A variety of bangles made of different metals and studded with different gemstones and pearls is available in the market today. Nowadays, bracelets are becoming popular as bridal wear.

Finger rings
Finger rings are also one of the most important pieces of bridal jewelry. There are a number of styles available in the market in case of rings. Like other jewels, rings are also available in different metals, colors and gemstones. Generally, finger rings are worn on the ring fingers. However, finger rings can be worn on several fingers, as per the preference of the bride.

Ring bracelet
A ring bracelet is a bracelet that is attached to finger rings by way of chains. It is a custom in certain castes in India to wear ring bracelets.

Source: Fibre2fashion.com

There have been many changes in bridal fashion over the years. The familiar white flowing wedding gown is still very popular but it is not everyone’s first choice. Once brides were expected to have a traditional wedding dress but now they can wear anything they want. Bridal fashion can include just about any color or style of outfit, and it doesn’t have to be a dress for the bride either.

The main reason for these changes in bridal fashion is the increased freedom of choice as to where the marriage ceremony can take place. There has been a decline in traditional church weddings and alternative locations are becoming more and more popular. Bridal fashion has changed accordingly, especially with regards to the color of outfits.

Brides-to-be are looking for bridal fashion that suits their personality as well as their coloring. Many women do not like to wear the traditional white because it has a tendency to drain the color from their face and is not the most flattering color for them. Many bridal fashion designers have latched on to this and offer dresses in a wide range of colors and styles.

The most important thing about a bride’s wedding day is that she enjoys it and feels special. If you don’t want a traditional white wedding dress then don’t buy one. Whatever you decide to wear for your wedding day it will be your own unique form of bridal fashion.

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

Fashion show for Brides to feature Bride’s gowns and Bride’s dresses from leading wedding dress designers such as Maggie Sottero, Caroline Castigliano, Vera Wang, Mori Lee, Augusta Jones.

Guides for Brides Ltd - one of the UK’s leading online directories for weddings and wedding suppliers, announces The Bridal Showcase, to be held on 23rd September at the Oxford Centre on Banbury Road, Oxford. The Bridal Showcase is the first wedding event of its kind to be held in Oxfordshire and will feature bride’s gowns and bride’s dresses from leading wedding dress designers such as Maggie Sottero, Caroline Castigliano, Vera Wang, Mori Lee and Augusta Jones. For more information please contact 01235 770078 during office hours, or visit www.guidesforbrides.co.uk

Wedding event for brides to be, bridesmaids and brides’ mothers
The Bridal Showcase is the first of its kind in Oxfordshire. Held exclusively by ladies and for ladies; it is intended to be a sophisticated and enjoyable event to help brides plan the most important day of their life. “On the 23rd September from 12noon-6pm, brides to be, bridesmaids and mothers alike will fill the stylish surroundings of the Oxford Centre on Banbury Road, Oxford”, explain Alison Hargreaves, Director of Guides for Brides. “They will have the opportunity to take advantage of the top wedding businesses and professionals from around the county, while raising money for female related charities.”

Oxfordshire’s most popular bridal boutiques“Entertainment and inspiration collide with fantastic fashion shows set to live music throughout the day, showcasing the latest and most stylish bridal gowns, bridesmaid dresses and mother of the bride outfits from a range of leading designers,” enthuses Alison.

“The day is far from your usual wedding fair. For the first time ever brides will have the opportunity to see gowns being modelled on the catwalk and then try them on themselves.” Oxfordshire’s most popular bridal boutiques will all be present at the event, offering brides expert advice and a selection of gowns never seen before in one venue. Health and beauty practitioners will be on hand to assist attendees with professional guidance on looking fabulous for their wedding day.

This event is intended to be diverse, where attendees will be able to speak first hand with female wedding experts. From photography to florists; cakes to cars they will receive credible advice from the elite of wedding professionals to help them to plan their day.

Further details from Guides for Brides 01235 770078
or www.thebridalshowcase.co.uk.

About Guides for Brides
Guides for Brides Ltd are the creators of the definitive “Guides for Brides” wedding directory, available in both paper and online versions. This free “Bride’s Bible” is currently published in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Gloucestershire, Hampshire, Oxfordshire, Surrey and Wiltshire. The invaluable Guides for Brides wedding website launched in 1998 is one of the UK’s most comprehensive databases for wedding businesses and wedding information.

Companies can contact Guides for Brides for more information about including their business in the Guides for Brides booklets on 01235 770078 during office hours, or at www.wedding-advertising.co.uk

Contact Details

Contact: John Maddaford (Wedding Fair Co-Ordinator)
Phone: 01235 770078

Web: www.guidesforbrides.co.uk
Web: www.thebridalshowcase.co.uk
Email: info@guidesforbrides.co.uk

Guides for Brides Ltd
Larkhill Farm
Wantage,
Oxfordshire
OX12 8PJ

Darcy Miller, editorial director of Martha Stewart Weddings magazine, selected gowns by Monique L’Huillier, Melissa Sweet, Lela Rose and Reem Acra for lucky “Today Throws a Martha Stewart Wedding” winner, Jessica Mapel, who is allowing viewers to decide which of the four designer dresses she will wear to her televised wedding in New York on Oct. 5.

But, for those of us who don’t have Darcy on hand to short-list the perfect dress, she gave us 10 tips to narrow down the right look.

1. Give yourself enough time. Finding the right gown and allowing for fittings and alterations can take several months.

2. Know the location and time of year of your wedding before you choose your dress, so that you can pick styles that suit both the setting and the season.

3. Take pictures of dresses that you like to the bridal salon, but be open to advice from the experts. It’s impossible to know how a style will look until you try it on, and you may be surprised to discover new styles that suit you.

4. Be honest about your budget. Don’t go to Vera Wang if your budget if $500. Remember to factor in the cost of accessories, shoes, a veil and underwear in addition to the dress.

5. Check out fashion magazines in addition to bridal glossies. It’s a great way to get a sense of your own personal style, which will help in choosing the right dress.

6. If you’re not sure about a dress, keep trying. Women often know when they’ve found the right one.

7. Bring your mother or a trusted friend along for advice, but keep it small. Advice from too many people will confuse you.

8. Word-of-mouth is a great way to find a hair and makeup person, but take a trial run way before your wedding in case you don’t like their work.

9. Save money by finding someone who can do both hair and makeup and is based close to the venue so you don’t have to cover travel expenses.

10. Carry an emergency kit of makeup. Make sure you get the same products your makeup artist will be using.

Source: DailyNews

Doesn’t Vera Wang ever get tired? Her cheap-for-chic line launches next week at Kohl’s. Her name is stamped everywhere, from plates and stationery to mattresses and frothy bridal gowns. But she’s always maintained it’s her signature ready-to-wear collection that’s her true baby.

After last season’s dark, moody Russian revolution collection, Wang has brightened up (the show kicked off with “Here Comes the Sun” blaring overhead). Her spring collection is inspired by ancient Rome, as evidenced by scores of loose-fitting frocks and draped toga dresses. Like a lot of the designers we’ve seen this week, she’s embracing earthy tones _ shades of brown, beige, green and gold _ and intricate details such as bold jeweled and leaf necklines are a standout.

While another reporter griped to me that her pretty aesthetic never changes and there are never any surprises, I have to say that Wang does what she does best. And it’s freakin’ gorgeous.

Source: The Dallas Morning News

Think what a strange thing a wedding dress is. In a style utterly unsuited to any other use, it is fashioned at vast cost and, once the tears are shed and the vows uttered, consigned to dark imprisonment for life among the attic mothballs.

So it appeals all the more to the imagination that Charlotte Middleton became the sixth bride in a century to wear a splendid Japanese silk dress embroidered with pearls, first seen at her great-grandmother’s wedding. It has become part of family tradition, handed on like a treasured christening robe or precious piece of lace.

A wedding dress is old-fashioned in the same way that all families are old-fashioned - for every child’s ancestors stretch back to the beginnings of mankind. Heirlooms are pale images of that great inheritance, but they cheer each generation they touch.

Source: Telegraph.co.uk

In the month of November, it’s a good time to buy sneakers and wedding gowns. When it comes to sneakers, again, we are through the back-to-school season, and retailers are looking to clear sneakers off the selves to make room for winter boots. And when it comes to wedding gowns, most brides get engaged in November and they put the purchase of the dress on the back-burner because of the holiday season. November is the time when the bridal stores are quieter and retailers are more willing to negotiate on prices.

Source: CBS News

What best way can a bride think of rising to the very special occasion in her life, if that occasion does not have the glitter of jewelry in it! Brides today need not despair and give up hope if diamonds are outside their reach. Welcome to the world of moissanite bridal rings! Wondering what the price of moissanite bridal rings could be? Smile. You don’t have to earn a ton of money to own one of these exquisitely crafted beautiful bridal rings. Jewelry stores and jewelers would strongly suggest that a diamond is after all a diamond and is always the last word in bridal fineries and outfits. Great suggestions of course, if there were no relevant alternatives that could work equal wonders.

Imitation diamond rings they may be but you would be excited to know that all moissanite bridal rings are given the stamp of quality before they leave your jeweler’s store. Skilled craftsmen get to the last handcrafted detail and make every single ring a piece of enviable jewelry. Each ring is measured meticulously in the laboratory for its refractive index, its color, clarity and its hardness. Moissanite unlike diamond does not crack under pressure since cracks and fissures are absent and research has proved that a piece of moissanite jewelry can well last beyond its lifetime.

Moissanite Imitation Diamond Rings Make A Great Fashion Statement!

A moissanite ring on your bride’s finger is more than mere sparkle. It is an affirmation of the everlasting commitment and love you feel for her. On her part, she may feel very special wearing her moissanite bridal ring on her special day, its shine and fire adding to the brightness of her eyes.

Finally do not get carried away by someone telling you that you made a mistake settling for imitation diamond rings. You know your finances best and surely you would not want to spoil the magnificence of a once-in-a-lifetime experience by having to worry about debt repayments. It is the wise couple indeed who recognise that a diamond ring might be nice but isn’t essential, and that there are some things in life more important, like kids and a house, and that it may not be so smart to go into debt just for the ring.

Therefore in the new millennium, moissanite bridal rings are the true choice of the young heart.

Find out more about Moissanite as well as Moissanite Engagement Rings and other types of Moissanite rings at Peter’s website, The Magic of Moissanite.

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

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.

Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Beach, Florida.

Find more about wedding shoes as well as designer shoes at http://www.designershoesplus.com

Falguni and Sushil Jhaveri of Fuel, the eclectic fashion boutique at Chowpatty, hosted a glittering fashion preview for their Fall-Winter Bridal line that had breathtaking bridal-wear showcased by designers Shaahid Amir, Payal Singhal, Purvi Doshi of Azalea and Nandita Thirani.

“The upcoming wedding season requires a great deal of wardrobe-stocking and with today’s brides wanting the best of everything, we at Fuel, aim them to give them just that,” said Falguni and Sushil.

The collections were modelled by some of Mumbai’s most beautiful women. Sushma Reddy, looking like the perfect bride in a baby pink creation was complimented by Monica Vaziralli for looking “one hot number that every young man would want to make his bride!”

Madhoo, who was hitherto a regular guest at Fuel was requested to model for the bridal collection — a request that she said, “I simply couldn’t resist taking up!” Looking like a million bucks in a netted sari, Madhoo’s nervousness seemed to disappear into thin air as she sashayed down the ramp amidst much cheering.

Pooja Missra and Tara Sharma also walked the ramp and when Tara was asked about her own wedding, she couldn’t stop giggling coyly!

Two other surprise packages on the ramp were yesteryear’s model Rachael Rueben who confessed to be “overwhelmed to be back on home turf” and Tina Hussain who, as her hubby actor Hussain Kuwajerwala remarked “has a penchant for springing up surprises!”

The guest turnout at this event was equally glittering, to say the least. Sonali Kulkarni looked svelte in her toned-down avatar. Others cheering the models and designers on included Sundari Khan, Vikram Phadnis, Arshiya Fakih and Rij Eappen and Suchitra Pillai.

Source: The Times of India

They called on Norfolk women to hand over the most precious piece of clothing in their wardrobe for a fundraising fashion show.

But staff at a local cancer charity have been given so many beautiful wedding dresses that they can now stock their own bridal boutique in Norwich.

The Big C had envisioned a trickle of gowns and accessories when it put out its unusual plea last month, with many women perhaps reluctant to part with a treasured memento of one of the most important days of her life.

Just days later, the charity for Norfolk and Waveney has been overwhelmed by the generous response and has enough stunning dresses, bridesmaid gowns and accessories to open a dedicated floor at its shop in Timberhill.

The dresses - each with its own unique story - range from vintage 1950s frocks, to elaborate modern gowns and even a dress fashioned from a pair of curtains by a hard-up bride in the sixties.

Managers Rosemarie Bennett and Wendy Brown, who have had great fun sorting through the donations, said many of the 100 dresses are good enough to be worn again and to be given a new lease by future brides.

Others may not make it down the aisle again but are a fascinating piece of fashion history from bygone wedding days - and perhaps perfect for a theatre group or film company.

“We have an absolutely beautiful modern dress in our window,” said Ms Brown, surrounded by dozens of dresses that will go on sale from next week.

“The lady who brought it in said she had paid £1,000 for it, and we are selling it for £250.

“We’ve still got another 60 to 80 to pick up from around north Norfolk.”

Ms Bennett added: “It’s been incredible - we had five dresses brought in before 11am on one day alone, and we’ve had at least three or four every day.”

Staff at the shop steam-clean each dress and ask donors to fill in a card giving a brief detail of its history, although some of the items have been donated brand new by dressmakers and bridal shops.

Sharon Hulbert, the charity’s communications manager, said: “Our managers have been hearing some fascinating stories when the dresses are donated.

“I think the cancer connection really inspired people, and they felt they could give up their dress if it was giving support to such a good cause.

“We are getting so many, and have more to pick up, that we thought we’d open our own bridal shop, and it looks fantastic.

“People should not think we’ve just got a load of naff charity shop dresses because they are really, really not, but they can get a stunning wedding dress for a fraction of the price new.

“We want to keep on promoting it and maybe it could be something that is unique to us.”

The dedicated bridal floor at the Big C charity shop on Timberhill, Norwich, will be officially opened by Anglia News’s Clare Weller at 10.30am on Friday. Dresses are priced from £50 to £250.

Source: EDP24