HOOPskirt 101

The girlfriends guide to a really BIG Dress

Nancy (of A Newport Affaire) emailed me over the weekend and I just had to share with you this video she has put together. It's so cute and clever.

A little bit about HOOPSkirt 101: Nancy has dedicated it to her next bride Jennifer who will be getting married in Newport RI next September. When Jennifer tried on a grand ball gown with a circumference 10 times her waist, Nancy wondered, "what would the logistics be for a gal wearing a dress that size"?

Enjoy the video . . .

Something Pink Day 11: Wedding Dress

Love this wedding dress from Raylia Designs - the above dress is shown in Candlelight/Victorian Rose, but is available in 6 other color combinations. (style number is: W7602LZ - Arrilla)

2009 Wedding Gown Trends

Today's post is from Christina Demarco and she unveils the bridal fashion trends for 2009. It's time to say good-bye to A-line wedding gowns. 2009 brings new looks in bridal wear and Cristina DeMarco (Vice President and General Manager of Bridal Reflections in New York) shares with us what's hot in bridal styles that will suite even the most fashion forward and traditional brides.
1. Cap Sleeves: Keeping your shoulders covered may be favorable in some churches but it is also stylish, sophisticated, and sexy. "Cap sleeves show off a lot of skin while simultaneously keeping a sense of mystery by covering your shoulders," states DeMarco. Look for St. Pucchi for the best in this trend.

2. Soft-Ware: You'll see less and less bold hardware and beading on the gowns because the latest looks keep treatments subdued. "You'll see lots of delicate beading this year," she says. Gowns will still have intricate treatments but with a rich, fine look. Look for Ines Di Santo for the best in this trend.

3. Rich Fabric: It's all about the fabric this season from rich taffeta and delicate lace, to heavy silk. Choosing your fabric is just as important as the style and cut because it really brings your whole look together.

4. Cut: Sexy, low-cut backs are making their way down the aisle as are V-neck cuts in the front. "More and more brides are moving away from the strapless, A-line gown. Styles are evolving to help brides show off their best assets, whether that it their arms, neck, or back." Look for Ramona Keveza for the best in this trend.

Thank you Christina for sharing these trends with us.

Dress Designers: (all images courtesy of Bridal Reflections)
Top Left {St. Pucchi} Top Right {Ines Di Santo} Bottom Left {Avine Perucci} Bottom Right {Ramona Keveza}

Pre-Owned Wedding Dresses

Josie from PreOwned Wedding Dresses wrote to me recently and introduced me to her company. I had to share it with you as I think it's a brilliant idea. At Josie's site, you can purchase your wedding gown or sell your own. Some of the gowns are samples, some brand new with tags still attached, and others have been previously worn.

What I love about PreOwned Wedding Dresses is that unlike Ebay, you don't pay a commission when your gown sells and your listing stays active for 12 full months or until your dress sells (whichever comes first). According to Josie and her seller survey, 18.2% of gowns have sold in 1 month and 57.6% within 6 months.

Josie has listed these 3 benefits of PreOwned Wedding Dresses:
1. We have over 1300 new, sample and used wedding dresses for sale..this is more than any other wedding dress resale site . . . and we feature top designers like Vera Wang, Monique Lhuillier, Melissa Sweet etc.
2. We have an advanced search feature which lets buyers browse using as many or as few criteria as they would like. The criteria includes keyword (anything like chapel train or ivory), designer, size, neckline, silhouette, price, dress height (important if the gown has been hemmed) and location.
3) We have security features that help protect sellers. Specifically, we do not post a sellers email address directly on the site (helping to prevent spambots from harvesting email addresses) and we filter and block scam inquires (which are so common on the internet) from reaching our sellers in the first place.

To see recent testimonials from both buyers and sellers, please click here

Would you consider purchasing your wedding gown online?

The above images feature gowns currently available at PreOwnedWeddingDresses.com:
Top Left: Mori Lee gown for $600, Top Right: Peter Langner gown for $1,500, Bottom Left: Monique Lhuillier gown for $4,300, Bottom Right: Justin Alexander gown for $500

JLM Couture Fall 2008 Bridesmaid Collection

Yesterday, I wrote about the release of the Fall 2008 JLM Couture Bridal Collection, today I wanted to showcase some of the bridesmaids dresses in the Fall 2008 collection from Jim Hjelm Occasions, Lazaro and Alvina Valenta.
The Jim Hjelm Occasions bridesmaid collection, designed by Francesca Pitera, features "away from the body" silhouettes and a new tissue taffeta fabric that Francesca feels is a wonderful light weight fabric and drapes beautifully.
The Alvina Valenta bridesmaid collection by Victoria McMillan features beautiful designs for every figure, from graceful, soft fluted gowns with halter necklines to chic tea-length dresses accented with feminine bows.
Lazaro has carried his art-deco inspiration over to the bridesmaids, and this collection features sophisticated silhouettes, beautiful embellishments, and airy fabrics.

JLM Couture Fall 2008 Bridal Collection

JLM Couture Bridal and Bridesmaids consists of Tara Keely, Lazaro, Alvina Valenta, Jim Hjelm and Occasions. I've just received press releases and photos from each of these designers on the release of their Fall 2008 collection and had to share with you some of the dresses from each. Today I will feature the bridal collections from each designer. Check back tomorrow to see the new bridesmaids dresses for Fall 2008.
The Jim Hjelm Bridal and Jim Hjelm Occasions collections are designed by Francesca Pitera. This season, Francesca introduced a beautiful re-embroidered Chantilly lace and a hammered silk charmeuse. Francesca says the Chantilly lace gives the gowns a "romantic and vintage mood". She is also know for her unique detailing and feels that details are important because they "add unique and special touches to the gowns".
Designer Eric Woo's Fall 2008 collection for Tara Keely is a modern interpretation of old Hollywood Glamour. This collection, named "Modern Glamour" incorporates new fabrics, colors, and back details to give the collection an updated and fresh look.
Inspired by the art deco era, Lazaro seamlessly combines streamlined silhouettes with his signature Spanish embroidery in the Fall 2008 collection. Something very unique, is that several of Lazaro's gowns feature a removable lace overlay that reveals a stunning silk charmeuse gown underneath, providing versatility for the after-party.
Designer Victoria McMillan of Alvina Valenta's Fall 2008 collection features her signature romantic details and ultra-feminine silhouettes. Victoria has incorporated a range of unique necklines such as softly scooped, a variation on the traditional halter and a daring off-the-shoulder style.

Love Collection Debuts from Enzoani

Yesterday I received a press release from Enzoani (known for its high-quality and affordable designs) that announced the launch of its 2009 Enzoani and Blue by Enzoani bridal collections, as well as the worldwide debut of the Love Collection.

From the press release:
"The Enzoani Love Collection featured colorful and modern pieces to perfectly compliment both the, Enzoani and Blue by Enzoani bridal collections. Unlike your typical bridesmaid frock, Enzoani specifically designed the new line "...with a color palate that is stylish for all occasions..." not just for a loved one's wedding day, but by making each piece one that can be worn to a multitude of events for years to come. After receiving rave reviews from Buyers, Retailers and the like, Enzoani has certainly ensured that the Love Collection will indeed surpass its initial debut season expectations.

Established in 2005 and based in Southern California, Enzoani has quickly gained notoriety as a premier bridal fashion house by providing its clientele with modern couture pieces but for a fraction of the cost."

For more information, please visit:
Enzoani and Blue by Enzoani or you can call 866-Enzoani.

Sarah Houston's Couture Collection

I've been in touch with Kim from Sarah-Houston.com and found out that after much success with her maternity line of wedding gowns, Sarah Houston has created a couture line which now includes 25 wedding dresses. Fifteen of which are brand new and just being launched in the US and Europe in Sept/Oct of this year. From her web site: "Sarah's gowns combine timeless romanticism with enduring elegance". The above images are a peek at some of the dresses from the couture collection. You can see more of the dresses at Sarah-Houston.com. Sarah Houston's wedding dresses can be found in stores in the US, Canada, UK and Europe.

Vera Wang Fall 2008 Collection

Below are photos of some of the gowns shown during the Exclusive Vera Wang Fall 2008 Bridal Fashion Show during yesterdays NJ Wedding Salon held at the stunning Palace at Somerset Park. There was a total of 22 dresses modeled, I've selected 15 to show you (only because 1 of 2 things happened with my photos of the other seven dresses)
A. the photo is blurry
B. I was only able to capture the back of the dress
Please pardon the occasional head cropping and eyes closed. While I love taking photographs - I'm definitely not a professional :)

Which dress is your favorite? Please leave your comment(s) and/or thought(s) and I'll reveal the top winners next week. (My personal favorites are #1 with the velvet ribbon sash, #4 cotton tulle and #6 triple tiered silk organdy)
Photos 1, 2, 3

Photos 4, 5, 6

Photos 7, 8, 9

Photos 10, 11, 12

Photos 13, 14, 15
Sorry for the saturated photos above - something must have went wrong with my flash.

I will be posting photos of the backs of some of the dresses in another post either this afternoon or tomorrow - some of them were absolutely beautiful. Don't forget to vote for your favorite dress(es) shown above.

Check back all next week as I will be highlighting more from The Wedding Salon show - there will be inspiration, photos, ideas and new trends.

Queue Bridesmaids Dress Collection

Last Monday I received an email introducing me to the Queue 2008 debut of the bridesmaids collection called Bloom. There are 4 dress collections including Flutter, Pixie, Blush and Willow. Even though it's called a bridesmaids collection, I could see some of the styles being worn by the bride, in particular the Chloe and Colette designs. I also love the dresses with a sash - adds a great splash of color and accentuates the waist. My favorite? . . . the Sofia dress (shown above on left, black dress with purple satin sash - I love the detail with the hand-sewn triple layered taffeta flowers that increase in size from waist to hem)

The following is from the introductory email I received that explains about the collection: "The Queue line debunks the myth that bridesmaid dresses are either flamboyant or flavorless, Queue is a line of fashion forward bridesmaid frocks that hold true to one simple design principle - "Wear it, in a wedding or not." Available in a varied selection of fabrics, colors and sizes, Hannah's designs meet the practical needs of a wedding party but otherwise transcend all wedding style stereotypes. As part of her disciplined design approach, Hannah wore each dress conceived for her debut collection to a cocktail party, luncheon, dinner or other social event. Only those dresses deemed "dotted line" worthy - meaning you would want to wear it, in a wedding or not - made the final cut. The result is a well edited collection of cocktail and tea party inspired bridesmaid dresses that not only stand up, but stand out, in other contexts. With a focused design vision that is romantic, chic and whimsical, Queue is luxurious in both look and feel. High-end fabrics such as silk chiffon, taffeta, tulle and silk satin are layered to create texture and substance, while unexpected details such as hand finished taffeta flowers and unfinished chiffon edges evoke a highly-stylized aesthetic that appeals to brides and bridesmaid alike."

Queue is available at Bella Bridesmaid and online at QueueCollection.com.

Weekly Wedding Tip

brought to you by bridalguide.com
Deciding on a Wedding Gown
"Even if the first gown you try on screams "you," make yourself model a few more styles before deciding. If possible, sleep on it before you commit."

For my own wedding I was convinced I had to find a dress that would allow me to wear a bra with it. I had never worn a strapless before and didn't quite understand how the world of undergarments for a formal event worked. Thank goodness the dress consultant I was working with made me try on a wedding gown with spaghetti straps. She said they would simply sew cups into the dress . . . who knew it could be so easy? As soon as I tried on that dress I knew it was ”the one”.

Personally, I recommend trying on a few styles that you may not have even considered - you never know - you might just find your dream wedding dress unexpectedly. How did you find your dress? Did you try on many styles at one shop or visit a few places? Did you sleep on it and then make your decision? I'd love to hear about your wedding gown shopping experiences.

At the bridalguide.com's wedding dress gallery you can browse by designer to find the wedding dress of your dreams.

Wedding Dresses as shown (left to right)
Mori Lee from PerfectBridal.com
Chiffon Empire Dress from David's Bridal
Watters And Watters from PerfectBridal.com

The Ever Popular Topic - The Bridesmaid Dress

courtesy of Karen Warren Ltd Bridal Collection
I recently received an email from Karen Warren Ltd. discussing one of the best ways to let a bride's personality shine through. This can be accomplished with something as simple as the bridesmaids' dresses. According to Karen Warren Ltd., "Reflecting youth and sophistication, the bridesmaid dress tells the story of the bridal party, depicting their fashion style, friendships and flair."

Here's the rest of the story:
Solid colors, dress separates, and sundresses are the bridal fashion trend in 2008, introducing carefree and vibrant colors for spring and summer, and jeweled "glow" tones for fall and winter. Always a classic, the A-line dress and skirt is joined by the fit and flare, with hemlines either mid-calf or more popular for 2008, right below or above the knee. Dressy separates remain an important option for the bridal party, with more-forgiving styles and comfort allowing bridesmaids to mix back into their every day wardrobe. The new seven-button cocktail coat and flat front wide leg pant promises to be an elegant wardrobe addition long after the wedding festivities are over.

Spring and Summer Color Choices: spring greens, cornflower blue, pale pinks and summer oranges

Fall and Winter Color Choices: berries, champagne, warm chocolates, dark greens and deep purples

Sundresses: spaghetti straps, one shoulder or pocket options, always flirtatious at the knee or floor length

Elegant Separates: mix and match skirts and wide-leg pants, with tops, jackets and cocktail coats

Fabrics: silk dupioni, summer linen, and classic chiffon

"We are thrilled to introduce these beautiful colors, dressy yet relaxed fabrics, and elegant style options to our wedding party division." said Karen Hipwell, President of Karen Warren Ltd. "With simple elegance ever so popular, the bridal party should be noticeable and stand apart from the guests, humbly representing the theme of the wedding."

The wedding party division of Karen Warren LTD offers a variety of colors, fabrics, styles and lengths that flatter every figure. Many of the styles are offered in ankle and short lengths and customers can pick their own mood setting colors. A sleeveless silk dupioni shell with a built in sash offers a number of looks depending on how you tie the sash. It‚s feminine and formal when tied in the front into a bow. A more tailored look comes to life as the sash ties in the back and drapes along the skirt. Finally the same top becomes a lesson in classic simplicity when wrapped around as a sash and paired with silk pants or capris. When pairing the top with a skirt in the same fabric and color bridesmaids can create the illusion of a formal dress. A classic look in silk dupioni is always in style with a simple taupe top and black skirt and sash. It is offered in a number of stunning color combinations for the more sophisticated wedding party. The separates also offer bridesmaids a better fit with the option of different sizes for top and bottoms.

The Latest Trends in Bridal Gown Styles

The current trends for wedding dresses include:

Trend 1. Shorter Lengths - satin short party dress with floral embroidered bodice in ivory from the Vineyard Collection at Priscilla of Boston.
style Ricki.

Trend 2. Side Seam Pockets - full skirt with pleats and a bustle - featuring silver embroidery and beading from Eden Bridal (image courtesy of Brides.com). I love the idea of pockets in a wedding dress - they are perfect for stashing away a few tissues, warming up chilly hands, or just a comfortable place to rest your hands for pictures.

Trend 3 and 4: Open Back and Lace - v-neck double satin and tatted lace floor length gown from Lela Rose
(image courtesy of Brides.com)

Trend 5: Cotton - empire waist, slight A-line skirt, spaghetti strap with concealed back zipper in white cotton eyelet from Simple Silhouettes.

Trend 6: Belts - strapless v-neck dress with 2" wide ribbon belt - sequined lace on an A-line skirt from Forever Yours Bridal.
(image courtesy of Something Special Bridal)
style 48109

Trend 7: Covering Up - vertically shirred tulle overlays the strapless, empire bodice onto the slimfitting gown with appliquéd and cascading lace with matching bolero jacket. Available in 3 lengths and in White, Ivory, Cream from Mori Lee.
style 2181

Trend 8: Corsages - satin and lace dress with satin flower and sweeping train by Alfred Angelo. Dress available in White or Ivory with Trim in 55 colors.
style 1149

Special Occasion Dresses from Chadwick's

Whether you are looking for a special occasion dress for your rehearsal dinner, your bridal party, a mother of the bride or groom, or a party - you are sure to find a dress to fit your style at Chadwick's. Some of the styles could even be considered for your wedding dress, like the cap sleeve gown for only $139.99. The prices are budget-friendly and the dress styles range from flattering vintage to vibrant red to pretty bold colors to soft chocolate.

Top Photo
Bubble-Hem Dress, $139.99
Tulle Dress with Satin Trim, $179.99
Sleeveless Empire Waist Dress, $99.99
Tea Length Satin Gown, $139.99

Bottom Photo
Shirred Halter Gown, $159.99
Cap-Sleeve Gown, $139.99
Lace-inset Mock 2-Piece Dress, $159.99
Beaded Empire Gown, $159.99

Tulipia Bridal's Spring Collection

Tulipia Bridal has released their latest collection of wedding and evening gowns for Spring 2008. Their wedding dress designs are exceptionally beautiful and unique. Tulipia Bridal uses a variety of materials including taffeta, satin, chantalier, pleated satin, veil tissue, pleated lure, and more. Adornments are created with the use of Swarovski crystals, beadwork, flowers and others.
You can see the entire Spring 2008 wedding gown collection here. Click here to locate a store near you that carries Tulipia Bridal Gowns. Tulipia Bridal also carries evening gowns that could be worn by bridesmaids and mother of the bride/groom.

Featured Dresses:
Top Left - Thrift
Top Right - Ageratum
Bottom Left - Omela
Bottom Right - Nasturtium

2008 Fashion Trends for Mothers of the Bride and Groom

A couple of days ago I received an email that discussed the new trends for mothers of the bride and groom and wanted to share them with you.

According to Karen Hipwell, president of Karen Warren Ltd. Bridal Collection - "style conscious and hip, Mothers of the Bride and Groom have set the trend for 2008 bridal fashion, with beauty and comfort at the top of their list. Whether it is the match look or staying with one tone of the bridal party, or perhaps the mix and match alternative, the mother today promises to be ultra fashionable. Gowns are softer offering a lighter fabric, continuing to cover appropriately, yet daring a style or two of a younger appeal. Separates extend the wardrobe after the party is over while the sophistication of a shorter suit or flare front wide leg pants for a destination or casual wedding."

Here's Karen's list of the latest fashion trends for mothers of the bride and/or groom:

Bolder Colors: corals, slate blue, lilac, champagne

Elegant Separates: designed with classic elegance in mind, chiffon overlay skirts soften bodylines and offer and air of elegance wearing a wrap to complete the look. Mix and match skirts and wide-leg pants, with tops, jackets and cocktail coats.

Fabrics: silk dupioni, summer linen, lace and classic chiffon

"Mothers today are glamorous and as a member of the bridal party, moms too are romantic, showing us sophistication and elegance, supporting the role and walking with pride." said Karen Hipwell, President of Karen Warren Ltd. "Our mother of the bride and groom collection offers beautiful fabrics, flattering lines and quality workmanship accentuating the positive and giving woman a creation they will want to wear again and again."

The wedding party division of Karen Warren LTD offers a variety of colors, fabrics, styles and lengths that flatter every figure. Many of the styles are offered in ankle and short lengths and customers can pick their own mood setting colors. A sleeveless silk dupioni shell with a built in sash offers a number of looks depending on how you tie the sash. It's feminine and formal when tied in the front into a bow. A more tailored look comes to life as the sash ties in the back and drapes along the skirt. Finally the same top becomes a lesson in classic simplicity when wrapped around as a sash and paired with silk pants or capris. When pairing the top with a skirt in the same fabric and color mothers can create the illusion of a formal dress. A classic look in silk dupioni is always in style with a simple taupe top and black skirt and sash. It is offered in a number of stunning color combinations for the more sophisticated wedding party. The separates also offer mothers a better fit with the option of different sizes for top and bottoms.

Cute Flower Girl Dresses

Yesterday I received sample images of Laura Ashley's new 2008 spring and summer dresses for little girls and wanted to give you a sneak peek. These new designs would be a great option for your flower girl(s). All the dresses are 100% Poly with appliqués, embroidery, and overlays. Starting this month, you will be able to find them at Nordstrom's, Macy's, and boutique stores. They are affordably priced from $69-$89.

Wedding Gown Hemlines Become Shorter

On Get Married this morning I saw a segment on a new trend with shorter hemlines for wedding gowns. I can see these shorter length wedding gowns being worn for casual weddings, destination / beach weddings, or maybe even to change into for your reception. Dancing would certainly be easier and you wouldn't need to bustle the dress. What wedding gown length will you be wearing on your special day?

Wedding Gown and Bridal Dress Lengths include:

Ankle Length - cut to the ankle with feet exposed (perfect for brides that are fearful of tripping and falling down the aisle)

Ballerina - sits about 2" above the ankle (perfect for outdoor weddings)

Full/Floor Length - barely touches the floor with just the toes of the shoes showing

Intermission - falls between the ankle and knee

Knee Length - ends just below the knee (perfect for more casual weddings and/or bridesmaid dresses)

Tea Length - sits halfway between the knee and midcalf

Mini Skirt - falls above the knees

Credit for Above Pictures:
pic 1: by Alfred Angelo
pic 2: by Jasmine
pic 3: by Casablanca
All dresses can be purchased thru PerfectBridal.com