| Bridesmaid
Dresses: Current Styles & Trends - Page 2
Top 5 Tips for the Modern Bridesmaid
By Nadine Bedford from JLM Couture
The Single Biggest Trend
The top trend among brides and their maids is to let the
bridesmaids
flourish with their own unique touch. In the past the dreaded
bridesmaid dress became the fodder of endless horror stories and "ugly
bridesmaid dresses" halls of fame sites. Thankfully, those days
are no longer. Hopefully.
Keeping Everyone Coordinated
It's all about versatility these days. No one wants a "bridesmaid
dress," they want a lovely special event dress that can work first
and foremost for the big day, which it was purchased for, but also
for many dress-up events down the road. To keep the party on the
same page, choose a color or color scheme and a fabric that the
girls must stick to. If that doesn't quite work, choose a color and
a length or style. From there you can continue to narrow down the
requirements, but overall, let your girls enjoy some freedom in
choosing something that compliments their personality and body type
for their bridesmaid dresses. A cheerful party will only reflect
fabulously on the beautiful bride.
It's all in the Details
Details are all the rage right now. Following along the lines of
letting bridesmaids choose their own style many bridesmaid dress
designers are taking one dress to start and adding different bits of
flair to each successive one. Not only does this help keep the
continuity in check, it allows for the modern appeal of not being
too matchy-matchy. Having girls all in one color and one fabric, but
with mixed details, say one with a boat-neck and another with floral
embellishments, will allow the girls to not only get more wear out
of their dress, but will also create subtle points of interest
within the bridesmaid party without stealing the show from the
bride.
Getting the Glitter Right
In continuing with the "personal touch" trend, go ahead and let them
choose their own jewelry. Like the bridesmaid dresses you could
choose a metal and gem that you would like to showcase, but allow
the girls to use special pieces from their own collections or find
jewelry on their own that fits your guidelines. If you want a little
more control over the situation, hand out the guidelines and ask
your girls to send you photos of their choices before purchasing. At
least this way you can completely nix the sparkling tiara and
pageant jewels from parading down the aisle before you.
Connecting the Dots
If you really want to keep everyone connected in one special way you
could choose a signature color for the bridesmaid dresses, from your
bouquet for example, and have each girl wear the same color on the
same piece. Opt for a sash around the waist for that traditional
look or a set of bridesmaids' bouquets in different shades of your
bouquet. Maybe it's a nail polish color that pulls it all together
just right. Take it bold or create an air of mystery and make it a
secret that only guests paying attention can decipher.
Today's modern bridal
party has far more options and the trends are really taking
advantage of that. Let your bridesmaids be creative, yet keep one
hand on the harness to rein it in when need be. Remember, you don't
want a bunch of sad sacks standing by you at the altar; you want the
women you love most in your life to reflect the glowing happiness
you feel on the wedding day you've been planning so long for.
Take a look at our
bridesmaid dress etiquette section for more information. |
