Bridesmaids CAN have style too!~~

So it seems the bridesmaids these days are given more options and choices as to silhouette and color choices for their bridesmaids dresses. From my personal experience I loved that we were given the option of what length we wanted, and thankfully the bride opted for a classic silhouette. A strapless 50's inspired dress. The bridesmaids were of all heights and sizes, but the simple classic silhouette flattered all our different figures. And the design itself was a play on the bride's dress so all the bridesmaids dresses complimented the bride rather than take away. In short, it was a very cohesively designed bridal party.

Now if all brides were to give their bridesmaids options on what suited their figure best we'd have a happier bridal party. I mean, I know that this day is about the bride, but is it so wrong to give the bridesmaids options? They have their personal style, and I'm sure they know what suits their figure best. I find it visually appealing when all bridesmaids are in the same color (bride's choice of course), but each bridesmaid has a different silhouette that suits their figure.

Cheap w/poor quality? or Spend slightly over budget with couture quality?

So, my first question to all my clients is always, "What is your budget for your wedding dress?" It seems that everyone, including myself, is always looking for a great deal!~ And who can blame them?  I'm always trying to look for a bargain!~ But the truth of the matter is, making a custom designed wedding dress that is catered to your taste level and fitted and re-fitted to fit your body mold, it can get pricey.  But the difference b/t store bought and custom made is quite significant. Store bought is generic, and can fit but not perfectly, therefore having to pay extra (at some places) to have it taken in.  Where as custom made, all the fittings, your choice of fabrication, little details only you can decide on are all included.  So my question i guess is, as a bride, what would you rather have?  Would you be willing to pay slightly over budget to get that wedding dress of your dreams? 

change.....

Does every little girl dream of their wedding day?  I assume that most, if not all, little girls dream of what their wedding day would be like, and that would include what kind of dress they would be wearing walking down the aisle holding their father's hand.  I myself, as a little girl, always dreamed of walking down the aisle wearing some form of a fabulous dress.  A ball gown indeed was what I had dreamed of, but who knew I wouldn't grow tall enough to pull off a ball gown?!~ But as I got older and began to explore my personal style and started to realize what my dreams were in life, my belief of what a wedding dress should look like changed.  In high school, as my heart drew closer to coming to the decision of becoming a bridal designer, I thought to myself "why are wedding dresses white."  I had nothing against it, just curious.  So I did a little research.  

The western tradition of wearing white on your wedding day started in the Victorian era, and the trend was started by Queen Victoria.  Traditionally, before Queen Victoria decided to wear white to her wedding, most brides wore the brightest color or what they thought to be their most expensive dress.  Pretty much what we would think today, in our time, to be our best out-fits to make that one and only first great impression, that is what they wore.  There was no real "special" dress to wear for that day per se.  Just something better than what they had in their closet that can be worn again later on.  

So after doing much research I decided to make a wedding dress for my fashion show in high school.  But in color.  Of course I had to add a white one but I decided to opt for a green as well with a hand painted hem (hideous if you ask me now, but my mother still keeps it for memory's sake).  And now, as a designer, my thoughts of bringing old tradition back constantly roams my head, and of course in the most stylish of ways.  I can't help but wonder, what if a modern bride today wore something that can be worn again?  Say.. to a cocktail party or dinner party or just a girl's night out.  

The idea of using color on a wedding dress can be daunting, I can't say i'm the biggest fan of that tradition yet as I love the soft creamy white that a bride wears on her special day.  But the idea of bringing back the tradition of wearing it again even after the wedding day, just makes sense in my head.  

Just like how tradition has changed over the many centuries, my thoughts of what I had wanted as my wedding dress and the kind of wedding dresses I wanted to design has changed.  Not only from a designer's point of view, but also from a point of view as a girl who is looking for that perfect dress. 

simplicity. is that a NO NO for a bride?

I often wonder, as a designer, what it would be like to transfer runway looks to the bride walking down the aisle. I've been thinking a lot lately about how chic and edgy it would be for a bride to wear a sleek ivory sheath dress with maybe a touch of lace and a simple veil.  How about a well fitting white pencil skirt with a soft flowy top with a touch of feathers and a short lace veil?  Or a soft flirty chiffon skirt with a cute lace button down top? Or for a beach summer wedding what about a pair of crepe de chine ivory shorts with an embroidered silk charmeuse scoop neck tank top?  Does this sound all too casual?  It just seems more practical, especially in this economy, and of course extremely stylish.  Every woman has a certain style that no other person can imitate, and on your wedding day that style that only you can carry shouldn't be eliminated, it should be highlighted.  I realize that every bride wants to feel like a princess on their wedding day and rightfully so.  But I think the younger generation of brides can still pull this off without wearing the traditional ball gown.  Our generation has been given the freedom to dare to be ourselves. The new 'tradition' is now within our hands. We create our own definitions of tradition. In other words, those ivory shorts with the embroidered silk charmeuse scoop neck tank top? If I so choose it to be my 'wedding gown', I have created my own wedding tradition. I care not what generations past have worn or planned or envisioned....Since this wedding is all about me, every little detail will be catered to however I imagine it.  

Of course, this is just MY point of view as a designer. My most important contribution is to create a bride's dream into a reality - be it a ball gown or a runway wedding.

wedding dresses

Why is it that most (not all), but most brides feel the need to wear a really big ball gown that is sooo unflattering on them?  The wrong silhouette on the wrong body type.  Must you wear a long gown that swallows you up and wraps itself around you so you can't walk? Must it be a ball gown that's wearing you instead of vice versa? Must it be 10 miles long? I understand the bride wants to stand out and look beautiful and wear a dress that you probably won't ever get to wear, but honestly, in this day in age you can stand out and look great without sacrificing your personal style! If you're short, that marshmallow ball gown ain't gonna look so hot on you~ Case in point, know your body type, know what silhouette suits you best and stick with it.  I find that the best way to get to know your body and find the best silhouette is to shop around first.  1) Go to all the wedding boutiques you can and try on as many different silhouettes as possible. Don't feel guilty trying on soo many dresses because most of the time the sales people are more than willing to help you.  2) Once you find that perfect silhouette, stick with it.  Then the second round of trying on dresses is for the design elements.  Since you have a silhouette in mind it'll be soo much easier to try on dresses.  Now the focus this time is on fabrication and design. 3) With that in mind think of necklines, sleeves or no sleeves, straps or strapless, flowy or fitted, soft or structured.  The detailed design elements is where you start to make it your own. Once you've figured out those minor but crucial details you'll be that much closer to finding your dream dress!~ Good luck ladies!~