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What to wear? What to wear? Before you begin to shop, it helps to know the wedding date, time, location, the degree of formality of the wedding and how much you want to spend. Each of these factors enter into your choice. And while there are informal/formal and time of day guidelines, you should know that many brides choose to disregard these guidelines. My suggestion is that you buy the dress that fits your dream and that makes you feel comfortable. Knowing how much you are willing to pay will help the process and it will help your salesperson find the right dresses for you to choose from. Generally gowns for evening weddings are dressier and backless and/or sleeveless dresses are fine for this type of event. And generally most of your upper body should be covered for a morning wedding. DRESS SHAPE Those who help brides pick their dress, agree that it helps to know what silhouette dress you desire - or what the overall shape you desire. You will have these shapes to choose from: Ball gown: This is the dress that looks like it is ready for the ball. It has a fitted corset with a very full skirt that reaches the floor. The waist line may be elongated in a triangle (called a Basque waistline) or dropped to hug your hips. These dresses may be highly embellished with sequins, lace and or crystals. This dress looks particularly well on women with small waists and small to medium breasts. A-Line: These dresses are flared from either the shoulders or under the bust. This is also called the princess line. It is flattering for most figures. Empire: A variation of the A-line, the bodice is cropped and the waist seam ends just below the bust line to create a flattering elongated effect. Works particularly well on women with medium to large breasts and less than tiny waist. Mermaid: This is a narrow, body-hugging gown that flares dramatically at or below the knee like a mermaid's tail. It is sometimes called a trumpet skirt. This dress is good for showing off a curvy body, especially for a taller bride. This gown may feel constricting. Sheath: This is a narrow, close-fitting gown that goes down to the floor in an unbroken line. This evening dress like bridal gown is currently very popular with buff brides. When the material is cut on the bias it is particularly revealing. It is almost impossible to kneel in this style. This is even more restrictive if combined with fitted long sleeves. Slip: This dress looks like a long tank top and is usually without ornamentation. It may be backless or bias-cut. It is most elegant on someone tall and slender. DRESS LENGTH How long should your dress be? There are several typical lengths for you to choose between, depending on the style dress, your height and the height heel you feel comfortable wearing. The standard lengths are: Ballerina: This length comes to the tops of your ankles and is generally used with full skirts. Full length: Just the tops of your shoes should show. The back should be short enough for you to dance in. This is also called floor length. Intermission: Also known as high-low, the front is cut shorter, about to midcalf, and the back goes to floor length. Mini: This length ends right above the knee or shorter. Street length: The knees are covered. Tea length: This length ends just above the ankle or at the lower calf. NECKLINE Once you've picked the shape dress you want, then you should consider the neckline. Your choices include: Bateau neck: Often called boat neck, this neckline follows the collar bone straight across and is high in front and back, and generally skims both shoulder blades. If the slit is narrower, it is called a Sabrina neckline. Halter: This dress is backless with one or two straps going around the neck or across the back to hold up the bodice. It is worn with a strapless/backless bran and though revealing is comfortable and sexy on most women. Jewel: This neckline is like a necklace around the collar bones. It simply curves at the base of the neck. If there is a keyhole or tear-shaped opening either in front or back, this is called a Keyhole. One shoulder: This is a dramatic neckline. The dress is asymmetrical and one arm and shoulder is bare and the other might be sleeveless or short sleeved or long sleeved. Portrait: A shawl-like collar is created from a fold of fabric. This frames the face and is usually worn off the shoulder. If not cut low enough it may be matronly. Scoop: This is a rounded neckline that is lower than the jewel neck. It may reveal a hint of cleavage. Strapless: These gowns are currently very popular. They leave the neck and shoulders completely bare and usually have a fitted bustier or corset-type bodice. Sweetheart: This neckline is open and sweeps down, coming to a point in the middle of the bust, forming a heart shape. V-neck: The neckline forms a deep V and it makes the neck look longer and slimmer. Wedding-band collar: This collar comes high on the neck and emphasizes a long, slender neck. The collar may be made from fabric different from the bodice, such as lace. SLEEVES Sleeve customs have changed with brides choosing to show their arms based on comfort and appearance. Here are the most common styles: Balloon: These are wide, puffy, wrist-length sleeves. Bell: This sleeve is narrow at the top and widely flared at the bottom. Cap: This wet-in sleeve is short, fitted and barely covers the shoulders. Dolman: Also called bat wings, the armhole extends out from the waist. The sleeve fits tightly at the wrist. Fitted: These are long and tapered. They may be designed to come to a V-point at the top of the hand. Juliet: This is a long sleeve that has a pouf at the shoulder with the rest tapered. Three-quarters: These end just below the elbow and are finished with a small cuff or band. T-shirt: These are closely fitted to the shoulder but are slightly fuller and longer than a cap sleeve. TRAINS The train you choose will change and transform your dress. It forces you to walk more regally as it swishes behind you. They are either detachable or made to be gathered up in a "bustle" with the help of buttons or loops so that you can dance. The common lengths are sweep, chapel and cathedral. The sweep train just reaches the floor; the chapel train trails three to four feet behind the gown, and the cathedral trail six to eight feet. TIP: Look how a dress's train is bustled before you buy it. AND have your maid of honor or whoever will be in charge of "bustling" your dress to come to the last fitting for a lesson, otherwise you will be away from your party while someone figures out how to bustle your dress. DOES IT HAVE TO BE WHITE? No, it doesn't. Some brides just go away from white altogether. Others pick dresses trimmed with other colors. But since the late 1800's, white has been the standard color. All whites are not the same, there are many different shades of white and some will look better on you than others. Absolute white or blue-white or stark white isn't the best color for most blonds, but can be stunning on dark-skinned women. Generally dresses in this color or polyester. Natural white, or silk white, or diamond white is a softer white. It is flattering for fairer brides. Generally dresses in this color are made in natural fibers like silk, cotton or linen. Off-white has pink undertones and is generally called champagne or rum. This shade is flattering for olive or darker skin tones. Creamy white has golden or yellow undertones and is termed ivory, eggshell or candlelight. It usually looks good on fair brides, but remember that one designer's ivory may greatly differ from another designer's. WHERE DO YOU SHOP? How do you find the dress of your dreams? Usually you try on samples in a Bridal Shop. When you find one that you like, they take your measurements and any custom-order information and send it to the manufacturer. Depending on the designer and manufacturer, your dress is either custom cut and finished to your specifications, or ordered in the closest size and altered by the Bridal Shop. Most brides purchase their gowns at Bridal Shops which vary in size. Larger shops will obviously have a greater selection and sometimes lower prices. Most shops operate by appointment only. If you can schedule at a non-peak time, you will get much better and faster service. Some designers and manufacturers allow you to order their dress with changes - such as neckline. You will want to know if the shop will do any alterations in-house. There are Discount Bridal Shops that have a large variety of mass-produced gowns in all sizes. These gowns will be substantially less expensive and the store's atmosphere will be less service oriented. You can usually take your dress home when you buy it. And today you can shop on the Internet. There are Web sites where you can look at the dresses or order catalogs. One thing to know is that in many cases, dress purchases made on the internet are final. In other words you may not be able to return or exchange the dress, of if you can there may be a restocking fee. Be sure to actually try on some gowns in a store so that you can make an informed decision about style, size and fabric. Every day there are hundreds of dresses on Ebay. Some are new and some are used. These can be a great bargain if you are an informed shopper. Be sure to research the seller's feedback, return policy and shipping fees. Questions that you might want to ask the seller include: Has the dress ever been worn? Has it been altered? Has it been cleaned? Are there any stains? Dresses can be rented if there are rental stores in your area. If you are interested in a used dress, check your local classified ads. You can sew your own or have a talented seamstress make one. Be sure to get references for the seamstress and if possible see other gowns they have made. It is important that you be very clear and specific about what you want. Don't wait until close to the wedding day to check the progress on your gown. Remember to check within your family and friends to see if there is a gown that someone in your family has worn that might be the perfect gown for you. BEFORE YOU PAY Be sure to check the dress to make sure that you thoroughly inspect the dress. Does it look right? Are there any tears or loose threads? Are there any stains? Are the seams sewn straight and smooth? Are the seams secured and finished so that the edges won't fray? Is all the fabric running in the same direction? Is the fit right? Think twice if it needs major alterations - it may never look right. Check to see if you can move in the dress. Can you sit, kneel, and dance? Can you do all this without the fabric pulling in all the wrong places? Below are Web Sites to help you plan your special day. Click on the Green Button to Pick up your Vera Wangs and go. ModelBride helps every bride walk down the runway - er - aisle, in style. Glamourous shoes, handbags and jewelry help brides find their style. |
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