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Romantic
Wedding Dresses from Katrina Marie Designs|
Interview by Grace Sydney
Photos courtesy Katrina Marie Designs
There is nothing more sensual
than the touch of velvet, and Katrina
Marie Designs offers wedding attire and a new line of lingerie fashioned
in this romantic fabric to fulfill any bride's fantasy. Following is an
interview with Katrina Jacobs, the creative force behind Katrina
Marie Designs, who offers her advice for brides-to-be.
Theme weddings are becoming increasingly popular. Why do you feel that
so many of today's brides are turning to the past for inspiration?
I feel that brides are looking
for something unique to express themselves on their wedding day. Wearing
a gown that is inspired by the past may show a bride's heritage or love
for a certain time period. Our population is also becoming more multi-cultural
and some brides want a gown that brings them closer to their roots and
individuality.
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Click
here for a gallery of more wedding dress designs from Katrina
Marie Designs
photo courtesy Katrina Marie Designs
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How has your theatrical
background helped to give you a unique perspective when designing gowns?
As a designer my theatrical
background gives me more tools to work with when creating my gowns.
There are many style elements found in fashion history that are not
being used in wedding dresses such as different fabrics, accent colors
and trim placement to various sleeve and gown cuts. Most designers create
"traditional" looks that have really only been in fashion
for the last 50 years. I have more design inspiration by researching
what people wore 100s of years ago than in modern times.
Your company offers a wide
range of styles, ranging from medieval and Celtic to fantasy and Gothic.
What advice would you give brides in search of a period gown that both
flatters her particular body shape and captures her unique spirit?
It's really up to the bride
to decide which style she feel the most comfortable wearing. Every bride
eventually finds the gown that captures her spirit by looking and trying
on gowns. Whether it is a fitted long sleeved gown with a hip belt or
a full skirt and circle flounce sleeve that flows and flutters.
Our gown collection is created from A-line and princess styles, which
we have found to be flattering on most body shapes and sizes. Some sleeve
styles are better on certain body types in which case we will recommend
the best choice for the bride's figure.
What advice do you have
for brides planning a summer wedding who would like to wear one of your
creations?
For our brides planning
a summer wedding we usually recommend a gown that has a sheer chiffon
sleeve or is sleeveless. We will also be offering new styles that are
strapless or have spaghetti straps. Since most of our gowns are made
from crushed panne and stretch velvet we sometime have brides concerned
with being too warm, but there is really little difference from a satin
gown made from the same fiber content.
Although
many brides would like their guests to don period attire, some are met
with reluctance. What advice can you give those hoping to persuade attendees
to wear attire in keeping with the theme of the wedding?
I think it is great if the
guests want to dress up, it can make the celebration more fun. My advice
is not to come in costume, but rather dress in attire that is inspired
by the period. Try something a little more creative than work attire
such as khakis, black suits and white shirts. We recommend free flowing
shirts and vests for the men and gowns with lacing or corset tops and
flowing skirts for the ladies.
What is the most requested
gown in your collection? What do you feel is the special appeal of this
garment?
I would have to say we have
the most requests for gowns that have a Tudor, Angel or Fairytale sleeve.
Our popular styles have been Kathleena, Juliette and Angelyn. These
gowns are appealing because they are simple and classic. We are currently
receiving interest in the gowns from our Katrina Marie signature collection
which combine elegant styling with jewel tone accents and metallic trims.
Our gown styles Valentina, Anastasia and Evangelina are designer favorites
and add romance and drama to the wedding event.
You also design a line
of intimate apparel. Could you tell our readers about Katrina Marie Designs
lingerie collection?
Our line of lingerie is
in the early design stage, but will compliment our bridal collection
quite well by combining the same fabrics and accents we use to create
our gowns. We currently have a few pieces including our lace edged crushed
panne Cami & boi shorts and our camy corset & panty with decorative
ribbon lacing up the front for a sassy renaissance look. These garments
are comfortable and flattering just like our gowns.
Not only can brides order
your gowns online, they can also visit Katrina Marie Boutique, which is
now open in downtown Bennington, Vermont. What should a bride expect upon
entering your showroom?
Our designer boutique is
a unique mix of special occasion attire including tops, skirts, pants,
dresses and gowns with complimenting jewelry and accessories. Our bridal
collection is exclusively designed by Katrina Marie Designs and is by
appointment only. The bridal showroom is a smaller more intimate section
of the boutique and features most gowns from our collection.
Where else can brides see
your creations?
We have displayed our attire
at Renaissance Festivals for almost eight years. Currently our gowns
are on display at the Ohio Renaissance festival, but we plan to add
a couple more festival locations by 2005 in the New England area. We
are also marketing our designs to boutiques around the United States.
At this time our gowns are only available through a few locations, but
we plan to have more bridal shops within major cities carrying our collection
in the next year. Please contact us for a salon in your area.
Is there anything else
you would like to tell our readers about Katrina Marie Designs?
Katrina Marie Designs offers
a unique collection of made-to-order bridal gowns, prom dresses and
evening wear that artfully blends rich stretch velvet, delicate floral
lace and flowing chiffon with the romance of the renaissance and fairytale
dreams. Our designs are inspired by past times but are created with
modern knit fabrics offering a couture fit at a ready-to-wear price.
For more photos of wedding
dresses by Katrina Marie Designs, click here for a gallery of beautiful
dresses
For
More Information:
Katrina Marie Designs, Inc.
133 Church Street
Hoosick Falls, NY 12090
Email: katcouture@msn.com katcouture@msn.com
http://www.katrinamariedesigns.com
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