Wedding attire trends may come and go, but a slimming silhouette will always be in style. For the bride striving to whittle her waistline for her walk down the aisle, designer Gilles Montezin has created "Le Cinch," a built in bodice and boning construction for his recently launched collection of figure-flattering wedding frocks.
Originally concocting dramatic designs as a costumier for The Opera Bastille in Paris, Montezin's wearable works of art has since showcased the sleek physiques of models in Women's Wear Daily and ELLE Sweden as well as actress Sarah Jessica Parker's style maven Carrie Bradshaw in Sex and The City The Movie. Continuing his flair for showstopping fashion, the designer's current collection of pret-a-porter wedding gowns sculpt the bride's shape into hourglass proportions with the assistance of "Le Cinch," a contemporary corset which reduces a woman's waistline between two to four inches.
Gilles Montezin wedding dresses range from $4,000 - $7,000 retail, and are available up to size 18W.
Alfred Angelo Unveils Recessionista Wedding Dress Collection
Recognizing the need in these tough economic time for dollar-saving bridal designs, Alfred Angelo has launched the Recessionista collection-- nine value-priced visions which marries the company's 75 years of experience in elegance with today's most sought after wedding gown silhouettes.
Whether a bargain-hunting bride is dreaming of the dramatic effect of a mermaid or fit and flare skirt, the Regency era romance of an empire waistline or the contemporary appeal of a two-piece ensemble, Alfred Angelo's more than 2,500 stores are now showcasing the Recessionista styles.
Dresses in the collection include an old Hollywood-influenced taffeta gown with a chapel-length train (seen in the top right photo,) a flirty cocktail dress in satin and lace (seen in the photo on the left) and a gown accented in one of Alfred Angelo's 55 shades of trim (seen in the bottom photo). The affordable attire's price tags start as low as $298.
Cost-cutting couples can also sign up to win The Big Tip Off contest, which was launched on April 1, 2009. One bride who sends in a budget-friendly tip for tying the knot will win an Alfred Angelo Wedding Stimulus Prize Package, complete with an Alfred Angelo wedding dress, four Alfred Angelo bridesmaids dresses, Palladium wedding bands courtesy of SkyFacet.com and a honeymoon furnished by NWA WorldVacations.
For more information regarding the Recessionista collection or the Big Tip Off contest:
11042008: Advice for Buying Wedding Dresses Online
In today's troubled economic times, women about to walk down the aisle often find themselves roaming the web in search of money-saving ways to make their wedding day dreams a reality. Should the cost-conscious option of shopping online for bridal attire be considered by budgeting brides when making a decision on an "I do" dress? Top London designer Johanna Hehir offers her advice on the subject of internet wedding apparel:
"Many brides are tempted by the hundreds of websites offering wedding dresses for sale on-line, but it is very much a case of, buyer beware. In addition to established retailers, there are now a considerable number of wholesalers and manufacturers offering to sell direct to the public, at what appear to be very competitive prices".
"Even though the prices are generally much lower than retail, it is virtually impossible for the bride to know if the dress shown on the website, will in fact be anything like the dress she actually receives. Some factories actually lift images from other designer's sites and pass them off as their own. What they are supplying is often a cheap, badly made copy of the original".
How can brides-to-be avoid the pitfalls of online purchasing? The couturier suggests the following:
"Brides tempted to buy on-line should always get references or testimonials and only deal with reputable companies, who they can trust. If at all possible, it is advisable to try the dress on first to check the style and size, as returns can often be difficult".
"Most websites sell standard sizes and the dress will probably need to be altered to fit, so brides should ensure they leave enough time for this. Brides should pay particular attention to measuring themselves correctly and if they are not sure, get someone else to help them. Remember that it is always easier to take a dress in than to let it out".
To allay cost concerns for potential customers, Johanna Hehir has recently launched her own online site, with designs at up to 50% off the retail price for the designer's standard styles. Although sacrificing the luxury of of on-site alterations, this option offers brides worldwide the opportunity to afford a Johanna Hehir creation.
One of today's top London designers, sample the silhouettes of Johanna Hehir in the following gallery:
Top photo: Make an opulent entrance in a Duchesse A-line designed with a pick up skirt that creates a cascading effect rivaled in beauty only by the ultrafeminine flower applique cutouts which hug the bride's shoulders. The lavish look is tied together with a sash at the waist.
Second Photo: This design's curve-conscious bodice culminates in a multi-tiered fishtail skirt.
Third Photo: Yards of rich duchesse satin trail behind the bride and pool at her feet when wearing this strapless style, which features a beaded band which highlights the hips and waist.
Gallery of Johanna Hehir Wedding Dresses, Page Two
A gallery of Johanna Hehir creations:
Top Photo: Pleated to perfection, the vertical folds of this softly sentimental silhouette offers the illusion of elongation for the bride, while the garment's empire waistline echoes the fashion of a Jane Austen-era heroine. To further enhance the gown's nostalgic nuances, a dainty shrug designed with cap sleeves that flutter with the slightest movement and a delicate lace trim can also be ordered.
Second Photo: One of the most requested styles for a walk down the aisle is the classic A-line. This design, created from Italian silk Mikado, is embellished with beaded French couture lace accents on the bodice, followed by yard of unadorned silk which flows gently to the floor.
Third Photo: Offering a hint of Old Hollywood glamor, this Harlowesque silk crepe silhouette features a v-neck and French couture beaded band around the waist to show off a bride's fit figure.
8012008: Dollar-Saving Wedding Dresses From Alfred Angelo
While soaring prices are causing many couples today to cut corners on their wedding day dreams, cost-conscious wedding dresses with that "wow" factor are available for the bride on a budget. For over 75 years, women ready to tie the knot have turned to Alfred Angelo for affordable bridal attire. As individual as the woman saying "I do," Alfred Angelo offers a wide range of wedding dress styles, including the following:
* For the destination bride in a frugal frame of mind, a high-low hemline or a multi-tiered skirt that would flutter in the breeze during an outdoor ceremony are just a few of the ethereal touches found in the Destiny collection. All marked at less than $1,000, many of the designs bear a price tag of $599 or under.
* The Dream in Color collection showcases the current trend of adding a hint of a hue to a wedding dress. Fifty-five colors offer a rainbow of ideas for those who wish to color coordinate with their bridal party, whether with a simple sash or a splash of color on the train of the wedding dress.
* On the opulent end of the scale, gowns in both the Sapphire and Piccione collections are show stoppers. Silk satin, silk taffeta or luster satin are transformed into dreamscapes sprinkled with crystal beading and metallic embroidery. Although more expensive than others offered by Alfred Angelo, these fantasy frocks, at under $2,599, are still far less than many on the market.
* Flaunt your full-figure physique in one of the many curve-loving creations available in the bridal plus department, from shoulder-showing strapless to the demure design of a redingote. Sizes for all gowns go up to 28W.
Wedding Party Attire: Just like the bridal gown selection, 55 colors offer a broad spectrum of shades for members of the wedding party. Bridesmaids dresses, which come in sizes 2 to 28W, sport the most popular ceremony silhouettes from strapless to separates.
The tiniest participant to take a trip down the aisle will look angelic in a flower girl garment in organza, satin, or taffeta. Made in sizes 2T to 16, the tea-length or full-length dresses sell for $225 and under, with many of the selections available for less than $100.
In the following Bodas USA clip, Michael Shettel-- the creative force behind Alfred Angelo-- discusses the brand's 2008 collection (Although the opening moments of the video are in Spanish, the interview is conducted in English):
Reaching back to the past for inspiration, Katrina Marie Designs offers timeless bridal attire. Each creation a vision of velvet and lace, the design house fashions frocks for a complete "I do" experience, from bridesmaids and wedding dresses to honeymoon lingerie. In the following exclusive Lovetripper interview, designer Katrina Jacobs gives advice to brides who dream of a theme wedding.
In ancient mythology, the Igigi were deities to be worshipped. As the old adage goes, the more things change, the more they stay the same, as today full-figure brides feel like goddesses when they tie the knot in IGIGI creations.
Since its launch in 2000, the clothing company has catered to curvaceous clients in search of attire that will enhance their ample assets, including such famous physiques as Hairspray's Nikki Blonsky, who donned designs by IGIGI's creator Yuliya Zeltser for red carpet appearances at the Critics' Choice Awards and the Screen Actors Guild Awards, and chanteuse Jill Scott, who looked regal in a burgundy crown jewels gown when she graced the cover of Essence magazine.
Available in sizes 14 - 32, plus-size brides will be voluptuous visions in IGIGI's lace wedding dress, made with a diaphanous overlay accented with lace flowers, which gives an ethereal illusion to the empire waist gown. For the bride contemplating a beach wedding, the charming crochet lace dress features an off-the-shoulder neckline and flutter sleeves that dance in the breeze as you say "I do," while the sensuous feel of a velvet shrug enhances the elegance of a lace and velvet gown, which would harmonize with more formal surroundings.
Figure-flattering frocks are also available for members of the wedding party. Bridesmaids can walk down the aisle in style in any of IGIGI's range of chiffon and satin floor-length or cocktail style silhouettes.
Costume designer Deborah LaFranchi, known for her television and film designs plus and her other contributions to Disney’s theme park development in the United States and Tokyo, has unveiled her 2008 bridal collection.
Since the opening of her bridal division in 2006 , Deborah LaFranchi has become a leading bridal couturier for VIPs. LaFranchi have designed over 100 theatrical productions in the Los Angeles area over the last 20 years.
LaFranchi smiles at the comparisons with Vera Wang: “I am flattered when fashion editors and entertainment critics write nice things about my work. What impresses me the most about Vera is her dedication and work as the youngest fashion editor at Vogue Magazine and the exceptional work she later did for Ralph Lauren. I admire her sense of simplicity—when it comes to wedding gowns less is more.”
80403: Designer Chris Kole Debuts The Cotton Bride Collection
As environmental awareness grows, more and more brides are cottoning to the idea of an eco-friendly frock for their wedding day. Introducing a fresh look for timeless attire, designer Chris Kole's new collection, The Cotton Bride,is the first American-based wedding wear to utilize all-natural fabrics, including cotton and linen.
His name synonymous with sophisticated, special occasion silhouettes for over a quarter of a century, Kole's 19 debut wedding dress designs features jacquards, georgettes, piques, batistes and organzas, while a wide range of accents ranging from the innocence of eyelets to the bejeweled beauty of a crystal trim allow each bride's personality to shine. Ideal for spring or summer I do's, the comfort of cotton will make walking down the aisle a breeze.
The hand-made masterpieces of The Cotton Bride collection can be ordered through Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue and at a number of chic boutiques. For more information, visit www.thecottonbride.com.
The Cotton Bride by Chris Kole (www.thecottonbride.com) features 19 hand-draped, hand-sewn gowns constructed from the most magnificent natural fibers, including cotton and linen. The collection boasts unusual batistes, organzas, piques, georgettes and jacquards in a range of silhouettes - from feather-light and subtly-beaded T-length gowns with gathered skirts, to breezier, less constructed pieces perfect for the increasingly popular destination, outdoor or summer wedding. (PHOTO: Business Wire)
80313: Wedding Dresses for Pregnant Destination Brides Unveiled
If you're pregnant and planning a destination wedding, be sure to have a look at the new collection from A Pea in the Pod(R), Mimi Maternity(R) and Motherhood(R) Maternity.
The new looks includeA Pea in the Pod's luxurious custom made, handbeaded gown, Mimi Maternity's romantic burn-out dress with ruffle detailingand the hot fashion and low prices of Motherhood Maternity's tiered cupcakewedding dress.
We thought they all were excellent choices for destination weddings. The cupcake wedding dress (left) is a good option for beach ceremonies while the longer dresses make excellent options for hotel venues.
What's Hot for Brides-to-Be?