Wedding Gowns – Tips and Trends
You probably pictured your dream wedding gown long before your engagement, perhaps even before you started dating. Today’s brides have more choices than ever before. The variety of fabulous fabrics, gorgeous ornaments and embellishments as well as alluring accessories permit today’s bride to create a truly breathtaking look.
You probably pictured your dream wedding gown long before your engagement, perhaps even before you started dating. Nevertheless, it is wise to consider the words of the experts before you finalize on your purchase. The experts agree that a bride looks best when she’s expressing herself and her unique sense of style. They also encourage brides to opt for a gown that is well fitted, flattering to her figure and consistent with current trends. From ready to wear to Haute Couture, the modern bride has more choices than ever before. The variety of fabulous fabrics, gorgeous ornaments and embellishments as well as alluring accessories permit today’s bride to create a truly breathtaking look. Even if you are completely settled on the look of your wedding gown, keep an open mind, do some research, and listen to advice, but in the end choose only what makes you happy.
Dress Styles
Before you begin the hunt for your dress, take a moment to review the basics. There are four basic wedding gown types, each one with its own merits; each silhouette compliments a different body shape.
- Ball Gown – this is the fairytale bridal look, fitted in the bodice with a flairing, full skirt. This classic gown compliments most body shapes. A recent trend is to elaborate the back of the gown’s skirt with gathered material and ornate bows.
- Straight Gown – this sleek and chic look is the “anti-ball gown” and is usually reserved for the hip, modern bride with a tall and slim figure. Choose this gown shape if you want to evoke a self-confident image with a contemporary feel.
- A-line/Princess Gown – very similar to the ball gown, with skirt not quite as full. A variation on the A-line gown is the Empire Style gown. This gown features a high waistline just below the chest that flows into a long A-shaped skirt. This style is ‘forgiving’ on figure flaws, slimming and elongating the body.
- Mermaid Gown – this style has gained widespread popularity of late; it is very form fitting tapering narrowly to the floor. The skirt in this gown flairs from the knee into a full circle and often features a train.
Dress Color
Even if you are set on having a white wedding gown, not every shade of white will be right for you. There are various shades of white and off white even ivory; some shades of white may match better with your skin tone. Here again an advice of a wedding professional may come in handy.
Dress Details
Highly detailed dresses continue to dazzle the world of wedding fashion. Some of the hottest trends include detailed embroidery as well as stylized ruffled and asymmetrical treatments. Some designers have been using touches of contrast in their gown designs, like black trim around the neckline as well as colored waist sashes and other bold accents. Sashes and bows around the waist have been seen on the dresses of many designers.
The Skirt
The skirt, in general, tends to be more detailed, especially in the back, and asymmetrically ruffled. A skirt may be split and also contain tulle or crinkled organza in combination with silks and satins as seen on some Vera Wang designs. Gentle bowties may be scattered to adorn a light airy skirt. Beading and embroidery, however, are quite popular with many designers and these are usually attached to stronger and sleeker materials.
Wedding trends come and go, and even though brides always want to be on top of the latest, usually it’s important to keep your personal style and sense of self in mind, and in the end go with the gown that makes you feel you.
