Wedding Gowns & Bridal Fashion

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.