Fashion & Jewelry

Fashion 2008

Are you having trouble finding your dream wedding dress? The 2008 Bridal Collections at New York's Bridal Fashion Week top US designers, presented their latest bridal gown creations. The newest trends amongst these gowns included lots of dramatic poufs and layers, high empire waists (very flattering) and stunning gowns inspired by red carpet glamour.

Vera Wang’s bridal collection featured fishtail and one-shouldered gowns, 40’s inspired glamorous dresses and a unique minimalist capri panted pajama suit (which I personally think is cute but not suitable for a bride on her wedding day!). Wang’s distinctive creations also offered eye-catching back details such as dramatic trains, floral appliqués and intricate pleating.

Amongst the superstar designers displaying their work at New York's Bridal Fashion Week was Monique Lhuillier, who famously dressed Britney Spears on her wedding day. According to ETonline.com Monique’s favorite trend for bridal gowns this season are colored sashes, usually in silver or a muted color to accentuate the bride’s waist.

One of the much anticipated highlights of New York's Bridal Fashion Week was the unveiling of the "Kirstie Kelly For Disney's Fairy Tale Weddings" inaugural collection. Designer Kirstie Kelly produced her very own themed wedding gowns inspired by classic Disney heroines including Cinderella, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Ariel, Belle and Jasmine. The dresses, priced between $1,100 and $3,500, are said to be designed to be perfect for any princess on her wedding day. Take a look at the collection and see whether any of the Disney princess styles appeal to you.

Happy dress hunting!

Article: www.wedaholic.com

Jewelry Do's & Don'ts

So Harry Winston isn’t lending you a diamond choker and chunky diamond earrings like he does the Oscar nominees. But you still want something to add a little sparkle, adorn your neck and ears, and complement your gown on wedding day. Check out our bride’s guide to wedding jewelry and you’ll know just how to dazzle ’em on your special day.

Family Heirlooms. If you happen to have an amazing piece of jewelry at your disposal, wear it. A bride friend of mine wore a three-strand pearl collar with an emerald in the middle that was drop-dead gorgeous. Don’t hesitate to ask family and friends to borrow jewelry that you admire. Does Mom have a pair of diamond studs that you’re dying to wear? Does your sister have hanging pearl earrings? Those who are close to you may feel honored to fulfill the “something borrowed” category for your wedding day. Borrowed jewels have sentimental value and wearing them adds emotional punch to your wedding. Jewelry that has been in your family for generations also has a special feel. Imagine wearing the same strand of pearls that your mother and her mother before her wore to their weddings (just make sure that they have recently been re-strung). Plus, vintage jewelry is hot right now and can lend an added dimension to your bridal look. Be sure to take care of your borrowed jewels and don’t lose them.

Fake It. If you don’t have access to the real stuff, look for some fabulous fakes. These days it’s hard to distinguish costume jewelry from authentic gems. Many bridal salons and department stores offer an array of faux pearl earrings and necklaces. Faux diamonds are wonderful as well, and many of the pieces available combine the costume pearl and diamonds together for a sparkly and classic look.

Pearl Primer. Pearls are a bride’s best friend. The lustrous white color is a beautiful complement to a white or off-white wedding gown. Although timeless, pearls are hot now and evoke fashion’s current fascination with feminine things. They have been worn by style mavens for ages; they were a favorite of the late Carolyn Bessette Kennedy as well as Catherine the Great. Pearls are also extremely versatile. Choose the strand length that best enhances your gown’s neckline. A pearl collar, 12-13 inches, is usually made up of three or more strands and hugs the middle of the neck. It looks best with plunging or v-necks, boat necks or off-the-shoulder gowns and looks fab if you choose to wear your hair up. A choker, at 14-16 inches, is called the most classic and versatile necklace a woman can own. It goes with just about any gown neckline. Princess length is 17-19 inches and goes well with high and very low necklines. Brides should probably not go much longer than princess length to complement their gowns, although an opera length strand, 28-34 inches, can be doubled to make a lovely two-strand choker. A good size pearl runs from 5.5 mm to 7 mm.

Earrings. Although mere trifles, earrings really do complete a look. Do a trial earring run: try on various earrings and see which look best with your gown’s neckline and the hairstyle you plan to wear on wedding day. You want to make sure that your earrings show up. Drop pearls and pearls with some diamond (or fake diamond) sparkle are elegant wedding selections. The white of pearls can illuminate your face. You can also go for something more dramatic, such as hanging crystal earrings, but make sure they don’t overwhelm your dress. If your gown is heavily beaded and sparkly itself, you may want to wear subtle or smallish earrings.

Colorful. Jewelry is a great way to add color to your wedding day ensemble, if you dare. Sapphires, emeralds (or fakes) and semi-precious stones can add just a bit of punch to your necklace and earring choices. Colored pearls are all the craze now, and the hues range from gray to golden to pastel pink. Apricot pearls are among the trendiest selections. Be sure to keep colored jewelry choices subtle, though.

Dare to Be Bare. The options in jewelry can be overwhelming. How do you know which length necklace looks best with your wedding dress? Is your trendy four-strand pearl collar strung on wires a bit too trendy? One way to go is to keep it simple. As for necklaces, you might decide to skip them altogether. This allows you to show off your dress’ stunning neckline whether it’s strapless or high or in-between. And it allows you to show off your neck, which you might not want to show off in 30 years. You can also completely forego bracelets. Especially if you’re going to wear gloves, a bracelet can look funny and get in the way.

Time Flies. Another piece of jewelry that you can leave home when you walk down the aisle: your watch. Time does indeed fly when you’re having fun, so you won’t need a watch on your wedding day. You want to be caught up in the moment, not checking on the time. A watch can induce stress, especially if you’re trying to hit certain time targets for the cocktail hour, the first dance, etc. In addition, a clunky watch is not delicate enough for your wedding day look. Unless you have a slim and elegant watch encrusted with diamonds or pearls, or a special vintage bracelet-watch, it’s better not to tick tock on wedding day. The same goes for your bridesmaids. As for the men in your wedding party, watches are okay. Dress watches with leather or metallic bands are good choices. But tell your groom and his groomsmen to steer clear of sports watches and any watches that may beep inappropriately during your ceremony.

Bridesmaids. Give your bridesmaids some direction when it comes to jewelry. You can tell them all to wear pearls or no necklaces at all. You can let them show a little creativity and individuality by choosing their own earrings (you reserve veto power, however) or you can dictate the earrings you want them to wear. Some brides give earrings, necklaces or both that double as wedding day wear for their maids and wedding party gifts. It looks great if all of your bridesmaids wear the same jewelry; it’s also fine if you allow them to make their own choices as long as they are in keeping with the tone of your wedding.

Hair Jewelry. Another place for wedding day jewelry is in your hair. If you do plan to wear a tiara, which is super-hot right now as a headpiece selection, adding a necklace to your look may be sparkle overkill. Little bejeweled clips or pins strewn throughout your hair can add dazzle. If you opt for hair jewelry, tone down the rest of your jewelry selections.

Keep it Simple. Let your gown, not your accessories, stand out. Whether you go for classic jewelry or something a little funkier, make sure that your whole ensemble works together. Do some trial runs with your gown and hairstyle to see which jewels really complement them and enlist your bridesmaids for their input. Remember: proportion is the key. Jewelry is an important accent on your wedding day, but the best choices don’t take center stage.