DRESSING ROOM : Simple, sleeveless gowns still trend for brides
Posted on Tuesday, March 7, 2006
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/adg/Style/147986/
This time last year, I was in full second-time-bride-freakout mode (and am still advising anyone who will listen to not try to plan a wedding in only four months ).
Although I was fortunate to have a one-of-a-kind gown custom-made by a seamstress in Lagos, Nigeria, the usual bride-to-be plans to shop for the traditional American creation that incorporates yards and yards of white silk, satin and / or taffeta; is encrusted with pearls and rhinestones; billows out behind her in a regal train and may cost her or Dear Ol’ Dad an arm and a leg.
Here’s a look at what’s out there for the brides of spring 2006.
In the Jim Hjelm Bridal Collection, designer Francesca Pitera incorporates tiered, ruffled satin organza skirts, rhinestone-studded necklines, bows, pearl beading, Chantilly lace, shimmery belts and chapel trains to create gowns that are simple, but stunning.
Victoria McMillan, designing for the Alvina Valenta Couture Collection, also goes for memorable simplicity, combining luxurious fabric with variations of classic shapes. Her gown details include embroidered hems and bodices, chiffon flowers that decorate shoulders; a ribbon encircling an empire waist.
For the current collection of his self-named line, Cuban-born Lazaro reaches into Hollywood’s past. He borrows style details from silverscreen starlets — dropped waists, body-conscious silhouettes, fuller princess skirts. Fabrics include silk charmeuse, English net and tulle. Rhinestones, embroidery and ruffles make up the embellishments.
The Occasions Bride Collection, made for the young, fashion-forward bride, goes heavy on the silk organza, floral embroidery on bodice and hem, and studded belts.
Yes, the sleeveless / strapless trend continues in bridal wear, so do your dumbbell exercises. Lane Bryant goes bridal
So guess who has begun offering wedding gowns ? Lane Bryant... or at least its Web site, lanebryant. com.
Brides who wear sizes 14-28 are invited to take advantage of the chain’s new bridal dress collection, which features styles created especially for plussizers. Three very-simple-butelegant styles, $ 149. 50 each, are available: A floor-length satin gown; a satin-bodice gown with flowing chiffon skirt; and a cocktail-length lace-bodice dress of lace, satin and tulle. Two-piece dressing comes via a bejeweled sleeveless top, $ 299. 50, and fishtail-hem skirt with sweep train, $ 99. 50. Accessories (no headpieces / veils ) and undergarments are also available. Gown-buying 101
David’s Bridal offers these tips to the more than 25 percent of brides-elect who became engaged over the Christmas season. Establish a budget, and stick to it. Go to a store that offers a wide range of prices, styles and sizes. (Yeah, like David’s Bridal, which carries gowns size 0 to 26 W in a price range of $ 299 to $ 1, 200 ). Got to have that fourfigure-price gown ? Find other, less-important-to-you items on which to scale back.
Check out magazines, Web sites and bridal shows for gown styles that best suit your personality and body type. If you’re in the know and, better yet, have photos of what you want, you’ll make your and your gown consultant’s job easier. Not that you shouldn’t come with an open mind. You may have your heart set on some 50-yard, princess-y creation that covers you in ruffles and seed pearls, then try on a simple A-line, empire-waist, plunging-V-neck number and find that it was made for you. If you want more personalized attention, schedule a weekday appointment. Bring along a person whose opinion you value.
The day you buy your gown, schedule the appointment for your fitting... and when that appointment comes up, bring the undies and shoes you plan to wear. Best to have the gown altered where you bought it. Going once, going twice
Biore Skincare and Sopranos star Jamie-Lynn Sigler have announced the “Sunday Night Strip” charity auction on eBay. com. Proceeds from the auction will go directly to The Jamie-Lynn Sigler Foundation, which works to promote positive body image among young people and supports initiatives that help champion activities to encourage confidence and selfesteem.
Up for auction will be signed items from Sigler, including a Sweetees T-shirt, a pair of Tepper Jackson pajamas and an autographed black, leather Sopranos jacket. Other celebrities have also autographed and donated their favorite Sunday-night pampering essentials, including a Hanky Panky lace camisole set with matching boy short signed by Desperate Housewives actress Nicolette Sheridan. Stars of popular Sunday night television shows have autographed and donated memorabilia from their The gift of fashion In response to the Dressing Room column about prom dress fashions, reader Suzanne Hamilton called in with a suggestion for those who don’t know what to do with their old prom dresses: Donate them to girls in need. When she donated her daughters’ prom dresses some years ago, “it was much appreciated... and every dress that I delivered to the counselors at [Little Rock ] Hall High was ‘ adopted, ’” says Hamilton, a former Parent Teacher Student Association president at the school. “[This is ] a wonderful way to recycle dresses that were probably only worn once and could be enjoyed by another young lady who is in need of a prom dress.” Meanwhile, Dressing Room welcomes news releases from any schools or charitable organizations that are seeking prom-dress donations for such a purpose. Dressing Room is published biweekly. Send news releases and Fashion Picks candidates to Helaine R. Williams, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, P. O. Box 2221, Little Rock, Ark. 72203, or e-mail:
hwilliams@arkansasonline. com sets, including a pair of scrubs signed by the cast of Grey’s Anatomy; and the pilot script of The Sopranos, signed by the cast.
The auction begins Sunday and ends March 19 at www. ebay. com / biorestrip.