The Cut
Finding the perfect dress for your bridesmaids can be an exciting yet daunting task. If you have a bridal party consisting of women of various ages and size you want to pick the most flattering type of dress for everyone. There are various styles of dresses on the market today ranging from a-line, empire, and column cuts to all different types of necklines including off the shoulder and halter. I for one have witnessed a bride pick out her dream dresses for her bridesmaids to soon be disappointed in how they look, as the dresses she chose were without consideration to who was wearing them. The cut of the dress should be based upon two main factors: the formality of the ceremony and the body types of your bridesmaids. For instance, if you are planning a June wedding to be held outdoors, perhaps simple column dresses with slightly deep V necklines are appropriate. If, for example, your bridal party consists of more curvy, size 10 women, then mermaid dresses should be avoided.
color scheme. This makes for a uniform color choice but each person has her own look. Remember not all bridesmaids in a wedding party must be dressed identical.
The Body
The most crucial part of your bridesmaids looking fabulous in their dresses at your wedding is their bodies. Virtually every dress can be altered and custom made to fit a woman, but if the woman is not fit, than even the most expensive couture dress will not look flattering. Rather than focusing on the designer of the bridesmaids’ dresses and covering up unsightly areas, a better solution is improving what’s underneath. Let’s face it, every woman deserves to look her best and feel great. What a wonderful gift a bride could give her bridesmaids is a personal trainer before the wedding. If more than one woman from your bridal party were to start a weight loss program, they could support each other and make it fun. In an interview by the Style Network, Vera Wang described the few ways to look stunning in a dress. She stated “Less is more. You want to look as natural as possible the day of the wedding. You do not need fake tanning, overly done makeup, or an extravagant dress. You need a personal trainer.” Vera Wang, an internationally known designer and entrepreneur was recently named Womenswear Designer of the Year by the prestigious Council of Fashion Designers of America. Remember it is not what cut or color dresses you choose for your bridesmaids, rather the bodies that are fitting into them.
The Color
The season in which the wedding takes place will dictate the color palate of the event, along with the bridesmaids’ dresses. For example, spring and summer weddings typically consist of lighter, pastel colors like light purple, pink, light green, etc. On the other hand, a winter or fall wedding may include darker, richer colors such as red, dark blue, and black. There are many ways to incorporate the same colors into all the bridesmaids’ dresses without having each person wear the same exact garment. Dresses available at Elite Boutique, my favorite local New Jersey bridal shop, has a range of dresses to choose from allowing the bride to pick different cuts of dresses in the same
Best Regards, Lauren Benyola
E-mail me with any questions. I would love to hear from you. Lauren@ActionFigureWoman.com