Posts Tagged ‘Bridesmaid Dress’

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Differentiating the Maid of Honor Bridesmaid Dress

Thursday, December 24th, 2009

The maid of honor is usually your dearest, closest friend or relative of whom you trust completely and know will be someone who’ll always have your back. They’re also the person you turn to for help with planning the wedding and advice on what to choose. Thus she should look different than the rest of your bridesmaids because she is extra special. There are lots of ways you can make her stand out from the rest while still blending into the overall look of the wedding.

Different top styling
Find two dresses in the same line that have similar styles or the same bottom half and different top or bust areas. This will make the dresses look cohesive when standing next to each other but still unique and allow the maid of honor to have her own moment in the spotlight. It’s nice when you let her be the one to choose the dress she likes best as well since she’s likely the one helping you the most with everything and deserves something a little extra that’s just for her.

Color
If you have two or three colors you’ve chosen for your wedding then find a dress you love and pick it in two colors; one for the maid of honor and one for the rest of the bridesmaids. The dress style will be exactly the same the only difference is the maid of honor gets it in say red while the rest of the bridesmaids get it in pink. The pink and red look great in photos and you have the best man follow the same pattern of having a different colored tie or cummerbund or whatever and the rest of the groomsmen in the same color as the bridesmaids.

Jewelry
If everything else is the same as the rest of the girls then give the maid of honor original jewelry. When everyone else is wearing miniature dangling earrings give her a pair of huge chandelier earrings to wear. Or make her choker or necklace wider than the rest. It’s alright for everything not to match, your goal is to make it look decent together as a whole and for your maid of honor to stand out and feel important because well, she is.

Sash/Belt
Add a sash or belt to the dress. This will not only make the maid of honor different from the rest it will also accentuate her curves by cinching her waistline. If the dress already has a sash or belt then change the color of hers and make it your second wedding color or a simple black or white which goes with most anything.

Completely unique dress
When all else fails let the maid of honor wear a completely different dress than the rest. Try not to let it be too different in color or style but it can be different overall. So if the rest are wearing short dresses she should likely wear a short or tea length dress as well, a long evening gown would look out of place in such circumstances. Coordinate with the other dress you’ve selected but let her have her way, to some degree.

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How to Reuse a Bridesmaid Dress

Monday, December 21st, 2009

Lots of women have them hiding in the back of the closet where no one will see them. You know what I’m talking about, the dreaded bridesmaid dress. Sometimes they are simply awful and you’re embarrassed to wear them much less spend a fortune on it in the first place. Other times the dress isn’t too bad but for two hundred bucks you should get more than one wearing out of it. There are lots of ways you can repurpose any dress and get some more bang for your buck no matter what you’re forced to wear.

Shorten those hemlines
The old “oh you could shorten it and wear it again” really does apply. Now it won’t work on all dresses because of the styles but there are several that it will and make for a lovely outfit to wear at another function or date night. You can even completely change the hemline taking it to a new level so it will look entirely original and have a more fun, sexy or darling look to it. Give the dress a fringe bottom even for a costume, the possibilities are endless.

Give it a dye job
Change the color and you instantly have a new dress. Some people might not even recognize the dress style after you alter the color if the change is drastic enough because different color palettes and tones attract the eye to various parts of the dress based on light and shadows. Where a pink dress  might draw the eye to the detailing of the bust a black dress could draw the eye downward to the curves of the hips because the black lines accentuate this feature and hide the bust detailing.

Add embellishments
Details such as beads, rhinestones, sequin and embroidery can make anything look entirely new and give it a second face. Add embellishments to the dress or if it already has too many take those off and cover the area with a new piece of sheer fabric to hide any holes left behind by the sewing. In addition to the embellishments you can always add some fun, funky jewelry to create a new look entirely.

Make something new
Take the whole dress apart so you just have the fabric and any detailing elements then start from scratch and sew yourself a new dress. Basically you’ll just be salvaging the fabric but this is still worth it because you’ll be able to make something you like and will wear again as opposed to a dress that just hangs in the back of your closet or is tucked away in storage somewhere.

Give it to someone else
If you know of someone who would love to wear it and has the occasion to do so then give it to them. They’ll appreciate the thought and you might even be able to exchange dresses, she gives you one and you give her one. That way the dresses are still new to you and you get more wear out them. This is fun if you have friends close to your size where you can make the clothing swap possible.

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Easy Ways To Create The Perfect Bridesmaid Dress

Saturday, December 19th, 2009

If you are looking for some ideas for a bridesmaid dress you will be happy to find a lot of information and tips on the following posts.

Here is a recap of published posts on our Bridesmaid Dress Blog.

White Bridesmaid Dresses

Two Piece Bridesmaid Dress Styles

Sleeved Bridesmaid Dresses

Strapless Bridesmaid Dresses

Satin Bridesmaid Dresses

If you wish to find more ideas, please use the search box on the right sidebar.

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The White Bridesmaid Dress

Friday, December 18th, 2009

White has always been the pure, sweet, innocent symbol of the bride. Wearing a white dress to a wedding in which you aren’t the bride is typically considered poor taste as it’s her day and you take away from her solo spotlight of being the only one in white. However trends change and the most recent one is the white bridesmaid dress. A knockoff of the Hamptons “white party,” all white weddings are all the rage. Some take it so far as to mimic the white party and ask guests to even dress in head to toe white. Beach weddings are taking this approach more and more actually. However this is not the norm and while neither are white bridesmaid dresses, those are the current trend.

So you’ve decided on a white bridesmaid dress, now you have to find the perfect one. That’s a lot easier said then done. There are some out there but the selection is far less than that of any other color dress because well, it’s far less common. So you may have to resort to looking for the dress at a regular dress store instead of a wedding dress shop. The beneficial side of this is that the dresses will likely cost far less since you can find one on sale, clearance or even regular price that is cheaper than the average “bridesmaid” dress sold at a wedding store. The downside is that they don’t usually have the same stock, they may not be able to order more or different sizes and they don’t typically have an onsite tailor so you’ll have to have someone else do any alterations or extra fittings that are required.

The next thing to consider is the shade of white. Do you want it to match the wedding dress or be a slightly different shade to create some off-set between the dresses standing up at the altar? Take a swatch of fabric from your dress to compare the colors and fabrics when shopping for a bridesmaid dress. That way you don’t have to guess what the colors are and whether or not they’ll look alright beside each other and in photos.

Lastly the style of the dress is really important when choosing a white bridesmaid dress because you don’t want it to look like everyone is a bride. A casual dress or shorter, simple dress is perfect. It should be very different from the bride’s dress either in terms of length or in terms of fabric and design. This is your day as a bride and you need to look different from everyone else.

White bridesmaid dresses can be the perfect compliment to a beautiful wedding. Just remember to keep the bride distinctive and the photos will be stunning!

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Two-Piece Bridesmaid Dress Styles

Monday, November 30th, 2009

A dress isn’t always a traditional dress, meaning all one piece. The two-piece dress look is actually fairly common some places and can put a nice spin on things especially if your bridesmaid aren’t really the girly-girl type. You can convince them to wear anything by saying it’s actually a skirt and top because it sounds a lot more casual and easier to wear than a dress. Just because it’s two pieces though doesn’t mean it is any less feminine or formal, there are tons of great two-piece styles to flatter any figure and look perfect in your precious photographs.

Corset bodice and skirt
An old-fashioned corset bodice style is popular. This works well on bust sizes of all sorts because the ties in the back or the corset let each woman adjust the bodice to fit their chest as they desire. You can also make the decision to push the boobs up or push them down. With the corset style the skirt is usually one that flairs out with loose pleats or darts.

Halter and skirt
A halter top is great for smaller busted women as it can create the illusion of a larger bust for those seeking more and they are more easily able to get away without wearing a bra. The halter can be one with thick straps or thin straps but the whatever is chosen should also be mimicked in the waistband styling of the skirt. For thinner women a drop waist with a loose waistband is stylish so that just a little bit of skin shows and it is made clear that the dress is a two piece not one. The showing skin look is very trendy and popular with the younger crowd.

Flared pants
There are two ways that pants can work as a two-piece dress. First the pants can be flared so much that they meet in the middle of the legs and look like a skirt pleating itself. In the second fashion the pants have a sheer chiffon layering over them that looks like a flowing skirt. As the girls move the layers blend together and create a full look but give them all the freedom and ease of movement that comes from wearing pants.

Strapless and bolero
Another unique two-piece look is a strapless dress and matching bolero. These can be found in several stores and are great for nighttime weddings or weddings during the spring and fall seasons where the weather changes a lot during the day and the ladies may need some covering for their shoulders to stay warm.

Ruffled top and high-waisted skirt
The sexy business dress look can translate to the wedding aisle well. Choose a ruffled top and a high-waisted skirt to tuck the top into. Avoid the bulky look of tucking the top in by cutting it just two inches longer than where the skirt hits so there’s no excess material.

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Styling The Sleeved Bridesmaid Dress

Thursday, November 26th, 2009

Bridesmaid dresses with sleeves are very common yet most people don’t think of them because they’re rarely pictured in bridal magazines, on the runways or featured in movies. Most people get the picture of a strapless dress in their minds when they hear the phrase “bridesmaid dress.” However strapless and thin strap dresses aren’t for everyone or every season actually. Sleeved dresses are beautiful on their own but accessorizing and dressing them up can make them even better. Here are some ideas.

Shoes
The right shoe can be a statement all in itself. If you choose a simple sleeved dress then go for a dramatic and over the top shoe selection. The shorter the sleeves the more open the shoe should be to balance out the skin factor (amount of skin being exposed). Longer sleeves warrant high heel short and long boots (especially for winter weddings). A sweater dress look is perfect for winter and looks stunning when paired with a stylish pair of leather boots.

Earrings
Long sleeved dresses are easily dolled up with a killer pair of chandelier earrings. The trick with earrings is to create contrast. So if you have a black dress choose earrings that stand out against the black if the earring falls down close enough to the dress and the same color as the dress if they are on the short side.

Hair decorations
If you choose to forgo the jewelry then you can still add some sparkle and shine with hair decorations. Make an updo more interesting by inserting rhinestone pins, using clips or adding other decorative elements. There are lots of things you can do to add some fun to the hair styles and overall look by simply putting something in your hair and playing up the look of the dress.

Necklines
Interesting necklines are key to making the sleeved bridesmaid dress work and be attractive on anyone. A V-neck shows off cleavage which may be one woman’s asset. A boat neck look is simple and works on most any shape and facial structure. Unusual necklines can add a lot to the design of a dress and are one of the most important elements when there are sleeves involved as it is where the eyes are drawn to.

Backless
A bridesmaid dress can have sleeves and any neckline in the world but if it’s backless that suddenly becomes the main feature. For women who want to cover up their front and be dramatic as they walk down the aisle go for a backless look. You’ll have to have the ladies get some stick-up backless bras but it’s worth it because people will be in awe as they pass them and they see the strong, confident look of an open back.

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Form Fitting Sexy Satin Bridesmaid Dresses For All Body Types

Thursday, November 19th, 2009

Satin is the most popular fabric chosen for bridesmaid dresses because it’s formal, beautiful and has a true “wedding” feel to it. However satin is a very form fitting fabric naturally and while there are A-line and more open styled dresses made of the fabric to hide specific features that may be less desirable it is still clingy and will show off one’s body. Satin doesn’t leave a lot of room for flaws. But that doesn’t mean you can’t choose a form fitting satin dress if your bridesmaids aren’t all supermodels, it’s just a matter of choosing the right styles so everyone has an equal opportunity to look their best and feel confident.

Full bust
Ladies with a lot on top need some support to keep things in place. The best style for this is a thick strap satin gown. Thick shoulder straps with a high waist give the support needed for an ample bosom by working it into the structure of the dress. Thick straps also allow the ladies to wear their favorite bra because the straps are large enough to hide the bra straps. Another great option is a short sleeve look with thick sleeves to offset the bosom and create an evened out look.

Full hips
Show off those curves without showing off too much with a nice A-line dress that is tight at the waist and flutters out from there showing that she does have hips but hiding the cellulite and other undesirables that she may also want to hide which naturally come with larger pear-shaped women. Curves are beautiful and should be celebrated but there’s a fine line between sexy and “oh she shouldn’t be wearing that.” Accentuate the hourglass shape and play it up with a slightly more fitted bottom if the ladies are comfortable with it and can confidently pull it off. This is for those with voluptuous rears like Jennifer Lopez or Beyonce who are fairly toned and have defined waists.

Small bust
Those with smaller busts can tend to wear most anything because there’s nothing to fall out or to be held up and supported thus she can go backless without fear. Halters tend to look amazing on small busted women because they create the illusion of more bust and give the option of having a creative back where she must go braless. Smaller busted ladies might also like a really deep V-cut front accented by a long necklace simply because they can pull it off.

Small hips
Those without curvy hips usually want some so fake everyone out and put your girls in a hip hugging dress with a scrunched back so create a fuller look instantly. Avoid the A-line as she will be lost in it and it will make her look like a stick figure in a sheet, formless and unfeminine.

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Choosing The Inexpensive Bridesmaid Dress

Tuesday, November 17th, 2009

Say the word “wedding” and it seems like the price on something suddenly skyrockets. So when you start shopping for dresses you might find you run into the same situation. A seemingly ordinary dress that your bridesmaids might wear goes from $75 to $150 while no details on the dress change. It’s actually somewhat ridiculous. So while the average price of bridesmaids dress remains in the $120-$150 range that doesn’t mean you have to spend that much. In fact you can find tons of inexpensive bridesmaid dresses if you just start looking in the right place and make a couple different design choices. Here are some things to avoid so you don’t fall into the expensive bridesmaid dress trap.

Name brands
No one really needs a name brand bridesmaid dress. It’s the bride who is the center of attention, not  her attendants and there are tons of dresses that are cheaper that can be used and then reused. Name brands never used to exist when it came to wedding fashions, now they seem like one of the staples. Save money and pick the dress you like based on the dress itself not the label.

Big chain stores
Stores that are found everywhere and have a retail name, meaning they’re a large chain, usually have limited choices and high prices. Avoid these and you’ll be able to find a lower priced dress that is actually likely of a higher quality and more fashionable. The dresses at these stores tend to be fairly cookie cutter in design and quite ordinary.

Shopping too early or too late
It sounds strange but when you shop too early sometimes you end up actually spending more money. This is true if you start looking around and find a dress you think is just perfect so you buy them thinking it’s a good deal only to find something you like more a month later that is half the price of the first one.  However shopping too late can be mean you end up with whatever dress you happen to find that can arrive on time regardless of the price.

Unusual colors
If you choose a color that is really unusual or you’re insistent that the color matches everything else exactly you’ll end up spending more on a dress because your options are limited and you might end up having to pay to have it dyed. If you’re more flexible with the colors you will be able to find a great deal since you’re open to various possibilities. Or if your color is something really common like black, the choices are seemingly endless.

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Casual Bridesmaid Dresses For Every Woman

Friday, November 13th, 2009

What most people think of when they hear “bridesmaid dress” is a matronly, floor-length satin dress in an off-the-wall color. It’s pretty but in a frumpy manner and doesn’t really compliment the feminine form. This is the old bridesmaid dress tradition, nowadays brides have expanded their thinking and are choosing fun, flirty and fresh dresses for the most important women in their life to wear.

Today’s bridesmaid is confident yet not the center of attention, sexy yet appropriate and reserved, and casual. Sure there are formal gowns out there being worn but the trend is more casual attire so the ladies can feel comfortable in their own skin as they dance the night away. Additionally, unlike the satin prom gowns of past decades, these dresses can actually be reused and worn again for another event, night out or just daily running around town. Now not every dress can fit every woman. These are some tips for shopping for casual bridesmaid dresses to ensure a successful search and a dress that everyone is happy with.

Seasonal
Take the season of the wedding into consideration. There are a lot of different kinds of casual dresses and each season has its own styles that work within that season but perhaps not in another season. For example a long-sleeved sweater dress is perfect for a casual winter wedding but not a summer bash. Spring weddings warrant simple flowy chiffon dresses, summer some short flirty styles and fall weddings a tea-length tank design.

Time of day
Is the wedding in the morning, afternoon or at night? This will drastically change the dress you should choose. A night wedding is typically more formal and will be chillier so you should make some sort of arrangement for a covering such as a jacket, shawl or bolero that the ladies can put on. Or choose a casual dress that is heavier in weight which will hold in their body heat more efficiently.

Material
Satin is not a casual dress fabric but cotton and rayon are. Think about the type of fabric you’re looking into using. Silk can be casual depending on how it’s designed and whether or not there are accompanying fabrics. Look at the fabric and consider whether it fits your theme, style, tone, time of day and feel of your wedding. Then think about whether it’s casual or not.

Trendy looks
Trendy dresses are often very casual however they’re also trendy meaning they don’t look good on everyone, you have to see the look in the photo albums ten years later and they aren’t always a good trend. Thus choosing a trendy bridesmaid dress is often a scary decision because it’s not a certainty.

Styling
Any dress can be made more casual or more dressy depending on the accessories you pair it with.

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Beautiful Chiffon Bridesmaid Dress Designs

Wednesday, November 11th, 2009

Chiffon is a great material to work with to create all sorts of women’s clothing because it stretches well, is easily dyed and has an ultra feminine look to it. Numerous dresses, both casual and formal, are made with chiffon. Most incorporate silk layers, satin or cotton/rayon blends, there are very few dresses made entirely out of chiffon because it’s quite sheer. Hollywood starlets have shown up in fashion spreads because of this problem because they obviously didn’t realize how the lighting and camera flashes would affect the look. So unless you want your bridesmaids to suddenly be the center of attention (and not in a good way), then you should avoid these pure-chiffon gowns altogether.  These are some great chiffon dress styles that you should consider when choosing your bridesmaid dresses.

Casual dresses
For a nice spring or summer wedding a lightweight chiffon dress is the perfect choice as it will keep the ladies cool and fit the season‘s fashions. This works even better for an outdoor ceremony where the look and feel of nature plays with the material and lets it flow freely. When it comes to casual there are lots of different looks, these three will help you find the one that fits your wedding day needs.

Boho chic
Thin Kate Hudson bohemian smart and you’re on track. Free flowing dresses are great for bridesmaid gowns as they are beautiful with very little effort and can be used in spring and summer weddings. Add a headband or some flowers in their hair and you can make them look hippie chic, perfect for a small, casual wedding.

Sunday casual
Think of something you might wear to church and that can make a great bridesmaid dress. Let it be patterned or printed and allow the chiffon to flow easy.

Short and flirty
Show some leg and bring those hemlines up. Short is fine for a fun, festive wedding. This usually works best for a party type setting or a summer wedding.

Formal dresses
Chiffon is most commonly used as a top sheer layer for formal gowns as a decorative element. It is great for adding light beading, sequins and rhinestone details to for that extra bit of shine and glam. The long layers of chiffon also create a sweet princess effect without being overly full. From prom to black tie business there’s a wide variety of formal wear and chiffon covers them all, these designs are the best choices to achieve bridesmaids’ bliss.

Runway chic
Choose something a little avant-garde and fashionista to make a statement. Jagged cut hemlines, various lengths and altered necklines or sleeves are all designer-like looks that are completely formal and make for fun bridesmaid dresses.

Fairytale princess
A puffy, multi-layered look provides the Cinderella effect that many brides seek for themselves and bridesmaids. A full chiffon dress can be paired with any top such as a bodice, strapless or even halter style. Give the ladies some sparkly bling to wear and you’re set.

Fitted sex goddess
A tight chiffon dress says the woman is confident and comfortable with her sexuality. A chiffon wrap dress is fitted and shows off her curves.

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