Designers Create Gowns With Clean Modern Lines
Elizabeth Duran
You probably thought that choosing your wedding gown would be a blissful experience, the highlight of planning your wedding. But now that you’ve looked around a little, you realize just how many decisions go into a dress you’ll only wear once. A-line or gathered? Cathedral or sweep train? To bead or not to bead?
The entire process can be confusing. And for many women, they must update the image they’ve held in their hearts since girlhood, when they dreamed of a stark white, hoop-skirted ball gown with yards of trailing lace.
Today’s bridal gowns are much more sophisticated, pairing rich fabrics with simple lines to create dresses that showcase the woman inside. Brides want to look elegant, not like daddy’s little girl. That means accentuating what you have rather than creating a fake effect. You want “you” to stand out, not your dress.
And the good news is that designers are listening, starting with the cut of the gown. Brides have made the A-line skirt the most popular silhouette today, a look that flatters any figure type. The woman who still craves a full skirt may opt for the new, two-piece ensembles that pair ball skirts with bustier tops for a sexy, up-to-date look.
What you won’t find are many gowns that cover the arms. The popularity of strapless or spaghetti-strap gowns is growing fast. It’s a welcome trend in the heat and humidity of the summer months, but if the thought of baring shoulders and arms makes you nervous, there are options.
You can find very, very similar styles with short sleeves, styles with a full or higher back that allow you to wear a regular bra, or even styles that feature sheer illusion sleeves.
With so much skin visible these days in bridal fashion, you may want to check with your church to see if there is a dress code. Depending on the rules of your house of worship, you might have to be completely covered. Options might include a shawl or wrap to go over your dress. It’s also possible to alter a gown, add a bit of lace, in order to receive the proper approval.
To show off the gown’s simple lines, designers are calling on richer, more luxurious fabrics such as georgette, crepe, chiffon, and matte satin. Lace and tulle are used sparingly, if at all, while organza is in great demand.
In keeping with the pared-down look, designers are adding dainty embellishments such as tonal or contrast embroidery and tiny glass beads or pearls. The decoration is often placed on the bodice, rather than on the skirt, to draw the eye up toward the bride’s face.
When you begin to try on gowns, you’ll discover an amazing range of whites and ivories. There’s a shade for every skin tone, and the professional at your bridal salon should be able to help you find the best color for your complexion. Candlelight, diamond white, pearl and rum pink – soft, subtle tones that flatter most complexions – are fast becoming bridal favorites.
When it comes to choosing a veil, the most important rule of thumb is to select one that won’t compete with your gown. If the back or bodice is ornate, the veil should not overwhelm the look. Instead, select one with ribbon edging or subtle embellishment that echoes your gown’s ornamentation.
To determine the right length of veil, you might want to consider the time of day and formality of your wedding. The more formal the wedding, the more appropriate it is to wear a longer veil. Another option is to use a longer veil in place of a lengthy train on the gown.
Happy is the bride who chooses a detachable veil, experts said, showcasing her headpiece and allowing her to move, dance, and to hug freely after the ceremony. And when it comes to headpieces, an understated gown calls for a headpiece that will notch up the drama.
Delicate tiaras in a number of metallic finishes and sporting crystals, beading, cut stones or pearls top off the look with suitable glamour. Wearing a tiara is an indulgence only a bride can consider, after all. But if you’re less of a glamour girl and prefer simple elegance, check out the newest in jeweled hairpins and bun wraps to finish your look.
If you long for an ensemble that will still look terrific when you thumb through your wedding album in 25 years, take heart. There is a gown out there waiting for you.
True, you have a lot of choices. Though it sounds cliché, when you try on the perfect gown, you’ll know it’s “the one” just by the way it makes you feel.