Wedding Gowns & Bridal Fashion

Have you ever seen an ugly bride? Probably not. No woman intentionally goes out of her way to plop down more than $887 (the national average, according to the Fairchild Bridal Group’s American Wedding Survey, 2005) to find an unattractive gown that does little to enhance her assets. Why have a wedding if you’re not going to look like the queen you are, right?

No, brides are much smarter. They shop early - frequently a year in advance to find the perfect gown. They bring along friends and relatives to offer soft critiques, and they try on a variety of styles before making the critical choice.

But how do you wade past the fluff and stuff often found in gargantuan bridal guides to discover your own true bride inside? Very carefully . . .

Dress color
Chastity no longer determines bridal gown colors. A woman’s choice is often due to how she thinks a dress looks against her skin. And retailers say the jury is split. Brides, they say, buy as many ivory and champagne-tinged gowns as they buy of the more pristine white ones.

Furthermore, WeddingChannel.com editor-in-chief Rosanna McCollough says September has emerged as the most popular month for weddings, which might account for the more avant-garde bridal offerings seen in powder blue, iridescent pink and even blood red.

Dress style/silhouette
For more than a couple of seasons, strapless has been strong, regardless of the time of year or the bride’s size. And it continues to be the most pervasive dress style found at many bridal boutiques, although halter-neck gowns and capped-sleeve ones have gained momentum.

And, thanks to noted bridal designers like Vera Wang, Monique Lhuillier and Angel Sanchez among others, more attention is being brought to a bride’s sweeter sensibilities. Now you’re likely to find sweeping looks that incorporate draping overlays, velvet waist ribbons and sashes, lots of chantilly lace and bows that are thin and wispy or big and bell-like.

Some gowns are full and full-length this season while others are tea-length and fit closer to the body. Drop-waist, natural-waist and empire-waist gowns are all accounted for, too, although trains appear to be going the direction of the dinosaur.

One reason for this, some say, is the onslaught of destination weddings, which are held out of town, on a beach or cruise ship far away from one’s familiar church or synagogue. Such venues often mean that the bride must tug along her dress; thus, the simpler the dress, the better.

Bridal hair
Soft and romantic is what’s in this bridal season when it comes to hair, area stylists say. You might see a slicked-back chignon under a veil or two, but chances are it will include a few petal curls on top, says Bob Pitts, who co-owns Studio 703 in Chesterfield, Mo.

Loosely tousled waves are most popular for brides with longer hair, he says.

‘‘Most hairstyles are a little bit more retro,’’ he says, and most start thinking of a plan to grow out their hair shortly following their engagement.

But don’t look for too many flowers in the hair. Pitts says hair is kept fairly plain, with the exception of possibly a tiara.

Source: The Pueblo Chieftain