I have loved NewYork Magazine for years and now I am adding their wedding issue to my list of favorite reads.
Here is a good article I found on their website. nymag.com/weddings/ Thought you might enjoy it too. Love the suggestion at the end of the article.
Ask the Experts: The Gown Designer
“The dress should fit like a glove. So, no bra! If you must, sew a bustier into it.”
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(Photo: Brad Paris)
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Elizabeth Fillmore
Who should brides bring along to gown-shop?
No one. Friends, mothers, sisters—it’s the danger zone. You’ll get
sidetracked; you’ll get everybody else’s opinion but your own. Go to
three stores. That should be your limit.
Tell me about your gowns.
I cut close to the body. I’m known for hourglass silhouettes, not ball
gowns. Lace is one of my favorite materials to work with, from guipure
to Chantilly. If I use beading, it’s extremely delicate, because unless
it looks like fairy dust, it can get heavy.
To what degree is fashion influencing bridal attire?
When women see bold textures, pieces of bunched-up tulle, or really
unique flowers used in wedding gowns, they’re not afraid of it.
What are you digging right now?
Sleeves. They add so much character and don’t have to look
old-fashioned or mumsy. You can wear a jacket with a lantern sleeve
over a sleek strapless gown.
Are you a wedding-gown purist?
I prefer shades of ivory instead of white. They’re more flattering, and
if you can’t buy a “designer gown,” soft-ivory gowns look more
expensive. Incorporating color is best done through the shoe.
What about a colored sash?
It chops the dress in half and draws attention to the wrong place. It’s
a recent trend and I want it to go away. I think it already is.
Are you a fan of veils?
I love long, cascading, vintage-style veils. Sometimes a
fingertip-length veil is better suited for a petite bride, as she may
be overshadowed by all the tulle of a long cathedral veil. Tall girls
look great in long veils, and some brides don’t need one. Tia Mazza
designs beautiful veils and headpieces (she’s carried at Bergdorf
Goodman).
How coordinated should the bridal party be?
I don’t like it when bridesmaids are all in the same black dress.
Variation is prettier. They should be in dresses that relate in color
scheme, all in the same fabric, but with different necklines.
Ah, the “scene change.”
Love it. Some of my brides do change into another dress after the ceremony. It’s pretty extravagant.
Especially because brides never wear the dress—or, dresses—again.
Oh, I always tell girls to throw a Champagne party and to ask all their friends to come in their wedding gowns.
