Posts Tagged ‘bridesmaid dresses’

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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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Popular Strapless Bridesmaid Dresses

Monday, November 23rd, 2009

Strapless dresses are known to be the most popular type of dress for a formal event. Thus for a wedding lots of bridesmaids and brides seem drawn to the strapless look because of its combined elegance, class, sex appeal and femininity. Strapless bridesmaid dresses are one of the easier to fit to a bridal party with varied sizes because the bust is the main component in initial fittings.  Thus one of the things you really have to consider is the fit of the top and how it is constructed. Depending on the material and overall styling of the dress there are different ways it can be made and each fits in its own way.

Elastic top
These strapless dresses have an elastic band around the top that holds the rest of the material up. These are easy to fit to most busts as long as the elastic is new and hasn’t been worn out making it too loose. Elastic tops are typically sewn into more casual, relaxed fabrics such as cotton blends and chiffon.

Fitted top
Usually made of satin, a fitted top is most common on a more formal style dress and must be fit ahead of time so alterations can be made if needed. Some designs have a high waist that supports the bust while others have a flush finish front where the fabric is continuous and the fit comes into play on the sides which may be scrunched.

V-cut bust
A V-cut strapless dress is a special fit dress that has to be customized for each person to truly fit them correctly in most circumstances. V-cut fronts have a princess or pageant feel as they are ultra glamorous and suggest a greater level of sexiness than other strapless designs. These tend to run on the higher end of the price chart but are perfect for a glam affair where everyone wants to look like a star.

Tied
A tied back strapless dress tends to be one made of chiffon or similar material because it’s lightweight, pliable and stretchy, all the requirements of material for tying and still looking fashionable. While there are some satin strapless tied back dresses they tend to also have a fitted front so that the back ties can still look fairly unwrinkled and fashionable.

There are some ways to deal with any fit of a strapless dress and the easiest one is to find the perfect bra. Strapless bras have come a long way through the years and there are numerous choices you can try to find the one that best suits your needs to fit into the dress in an appropriate manner. Stick-on bras work well for smaller chests that don’t need any support however there are now some stick-on bra styles that have underwire built into them to provide some support for a larger chest. This way you don’t have to deal with the annoying issue of the bra hooks poking up in the back of the dress throughout the day. Or for the unique and rare fitted lower back strapless design you can pull the dress off without having to have saggy breasts by going braless. This also applies for the tied back strapless look as few bras will fit just right under the ties without being seen.

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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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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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Why Black and White Bridesmaid Dresses Are Stunning Choices

Monday, November 2nd, 2009

blackandwhitebridesmaiddressBlack and white bridesmaid dresses aren’t the most popular choices but they should be. There is no doubt that black and white dresses are stunning for any occasion, weddings included. Here’s a look at why brides should go with black or white dresses for their bridal party as opposed to any other color regardless of the event’s chosen color scheme.

Black Thins
The color black is known to have magical slimming properties because of the way the eye perceives depth and the way light is absorbed into the coloring. Choosing a black bridesmaid dress will help your ladies feel comfortable in whatever you select because it will hide any bodily imperfections or insecurities they might have. Black fabric that fit’s the body tightly will still thin because the contours of where the fabric hugs are hidden with the coloring so no matter what you settle on as long as there is actual fabric you’ll be doing your bridesmaid a favor in helping out a softer body to make it look hard.

White is Classic
Who says only the bride can wear white? The all-white wedding look is actually very popular and can be quite stunning. It’s like an upscale Hamptons bash and can be a refreshing change for everyone involved. The photos will look clean and crisp as long as the whites all match each other.

Both Match Everything
Black and white match every other color so trying to find something that coordinates isn’t a problem at all. In fact you can easily set any color beside the black or white and have it look perfect. Black and white dresses are good as separates and good as a combined dress as well so you can select a black and white dress if you just don’t want one solid color or another.

Black is Easy to Shop For
Find a black dress is easy, they’re everywhere. So while some brides struggle to find that burgundy dress that just screams “pick me” as a bride looking for a black dress you’ll be met with choices everywhere you go. Black is the most common dress around thus shopping is simple.

White is Beautiful and Pure
There is something about a white dress that is just pure, innocent and beautiful. Putting on a white dress is instantly relaxing and soothing to the soul. White bridesmaid dresses are youthful (a fact any woman loves) and anyone who puts one on is given a bright, enlightened glow.

Both Defy Seasons
Black and white aren’t seasonal, they work all year around therefore you can find them all year round as well. Sure white is easier to find in the spring but it’s not like retailers but all white bridesmaid type dresses away for a whole season because they don’t. Black and white bridesmaid dresses can work for any season and any time of day.

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Stylish Bridesmaid Dresses for Larger Attendants

Friday, October 30th, 2009

For those brides with friends on the bigger size shopping for bridesmaid dresses for larger attendants can be a challenge. A lot of the time ladies with a little more on their bones feel awkward because traditional bridesmaid dresses aren’t made to fit bodies shaped like their own. So when looking for dresses there are some special notes you have to consider so that your friends still look fabulous and feel comfortable.

Avoid strapless looks
Strapless dresses stay up because of the bust pressing into the fabric. However for a larger person who typically has a larger size bust this style will just cut into their chest and make their boobs look squashed and be very uncomfortable. It’s an unflattering look in the bustline and all they’ll be doing all day is adjusting the top half of their dress.

Tea length
Too short and you’re getting scandalous, especially if they have some extra cushioning in their thigh region or cottage cheese flabby thighs and cellulite which they’d be self-conscious about. Too long and you’re just putting them in an A-line tent and taking away any hint of sexuality or true flirty femininity. That’s why a tea length cut is best. It shows off the ankles and calves giving the ladies some curves and definition but still covers up the less desirable areas. Also they don’t have to worry about the dress dragging on the ground or being blown up by the wind, they can be carefree and happy.

Detailed bustlines
Since you’re likely to avoid a dress with any deep V-necks or other revealing necklines as bulging breasts or those in constant danger of falling out isn’t flattering or sexy for a wedding so instead give the bustline a boost with some detailing. Choose a dress with beading or sequins and embroidery to draw attention to this area and keep the eyes focused up, not on a wider waist or overly full hip region.

Stretchable fabrics
Fabrics that don’t stretch or breathe are too form fitting and won’t fit every body type thus you’ll be left with the unflattering bulges and pockets of fat that no one wants. Stretchable fabrics are much more forgiving and will work with every body instead of against it. Rayon and cotton/lycra blends are great because they move with the body as it moves instead of over forcing an unnecessary stretch and simply falling loose. Satin is almost never good for a larger bridesmaid for it is too tough and doesn’t have any “give” to it.

Belted high-waist dresses
Creating a high-waist helps hide a bigger belly and makes for the illusion of a longer body thus thinning it out instantly. Choose a dress with a built-in high waist belt. This is a trendy style which is flattering on most anyone and one that your bridesmaids will be thankful for because of its instant slimming effects. Try to go with a good one or two-inch wide belt, too large will defeat the belt look but too thin will just accentuate the belly bulge instead of hiding it.

Image Source: http://www.zimbio.com/Prom+Dresses/articles/292/Dress+day+Plus+Size+Line+Gown

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How to Avoid Ugly Bridesmaid Dresses

Wednesday, October 28th, 2009

We’ve all been there, standing beside a close friend as she says “I do” dressed in an ugly bridesmaid dress wishing we were sitting in the seats hidden away with the rest of the guests. For some reason there is a terrible stigma that goes with the bridesmaid dress. Some people believe a bride chooses a hideous dress because she doesn’t want anyone to outshine her on her most special day. Others contribute it to the simple fact that it’s nearly impossible to find a dress that looks fabulous on every bridesmaid. While you may not choose an outfit that absolutely everyone falls head over heels over it is easy to make sure that you avoid an atrocious dress which no one likes. Here are some ways to make your ladies in waiting happy and stop the flow of unnecessary “I’m not wearing that” tears.

Assess the Ladies’ Bodies
Look over your girls’ bodies. Examine their curves and be honest about what their assets are as well as their areas to hide. No one is perfect and you’re not picking them apart in a mean way, you are just trying to find the best way to highlight everyone and make them all look stunning so don’t feel bad about analyzing your girlfriends’  figures.

Inquire about their Preferences
Ask each girl what she likes and doesn’t like. Be sure to mention that you aren’t sure you’ll be able to make everyone happy but that you want to know how they feel about various styles and what they think looks best on them individually. Even asking them just this once will make them feel more included in the process and happier no matter what you decide on.

Have a Fashion Show Day
Invite all your girls out and go dress shopping. Ask them to all try on a bunch of different dresses so you can see how various styles and cuts look on each lady. Take digital photos if you want to be able to look back at how the styles varied.

Shop on Your Own
Go out shopping on your own without the girls around so you can look at all the styles and make a decision without being influenced by one person more than another. This will help you make sure you choose what is best for everyone, not just your best “best friend” or the lady who happens to tag along that day.

Narrow Down the Selections
If you don’t want to make the final decision then gather everyone and narrow down the options. Have each lady vote on their favorite and then it’s simply a matter of what dress gets the most votes that is chosen. This eliminates you from being to blame in the grand scheme of things because you essentially let them all decide (even though you limited the selection).

Create Options
If you still don’t want to responsible for choosing the dress or simply cannot come to any conclusions then just let the ladies select their own dress. Give them a list of boundaries or some specifications of what the dress should be such as the color or length and then make sure you approve each dress. Avoiding an ugly bridesmaid dress is then in their hands and they can’t complain because they picked it themselves.

Image Source: http://stylenews.peoplestylewatch.com/2007/04/20/calling-all-bri/

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Easy Ways To Design The Perfect Bridesmaid Dress

Monday, October 26th, 2009

perfectbridesmaiddressThe perfect bridesmaid dress, it seems like an illusion at times. Most women don’t have the same taste in clothes let alone the same body types and the more attendants you have the more opinions, variations and considerations you have to deal with. This can all lead to a disastrous dilemma for a bride trying to make sense of everything and choose something she and her ladies like. Thus many brides decide to design a dress for their bridesmaids as it is then set in stone and she can select the most number of features possible to highlight everyone’s assets and ensure it’s something she enjoys and approves of as well. Designing the dress is actually quite easy and there are a number of ways it can be done.

Dress Up Time
Take all your ladies out and have them try on a wide variety of dresses with various necklines, lengths, sleeves and even kinds of fabric. Take pictures of each lady in each dress so you can compare what looks good and what doesn’t between everyone.

Cut and Paste
Print the photos you took then cut and paste the elements you like. You’ll basically be making a mosaic Picasso looking bridesmaid dress if you use parts from different girls and dresses. This however will let you see all the elements combined to give you a better idea of what the combination really looks like.

Sketch It Out
Get some good old fashioned paper and pencil and sketch out your design. Use the Picasso cut and paste figure as your base for the drawing if you did that, if not then start from scratch with your ideas and just begin putting the pencil to paper. The sketch doesn’t have to be perfect so don’t beat yourself up over your stick figure design, just get the ideas down.

Online Dress Design
For those who are drawing challenged or just don’t even want to attempt trying to make a realistic looking dress there is such a thing as the internet. Not only is the internet great for researching dresses it’s also perfect for designing the bridesmaid dresses of your dreams. Find a site that lets you create dresses virtually. These sites give you a body to dress then you begin incorporating different elements such as the necklines, sleeves and so on. You can create numerous designs, easily switch things in and out to see how they look and have some fun creating any dress you can imagine. The best part is it’s so easy that anyone can do it and then you just print the diagrams and you have your design before your eyes in minutes. With technology like this there’s no reason you should let anything stop you from designing the perfect bridesmaid dress.

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