Spice up your traditional wedding dress
by glamourbride on 07/11/09 at 11:59 am
Wedding Gown designed by Elizabeth Saunders
News for new brides
Hey…psst! Yes you, the modern glamour bride looking for a way to hold on to some tradition, I have a secret for you. You can strike a balance between an innovative and a traditional wedding – The trick is in the dress.
Being a twenty-first century bride is not as easy as your lipstick smile makes it appear. You’re required to juggle work, plan a wedding, be a gracious bride-to-be, play nice with the in-laws and to top it off, you’re expected to do it all in heels. No, it’s not easy to be a new age woman, so why not delight in a piece of the past.
You can have a wedding complete with an ultra chic venue, voguish accessories, the hippest DJ and a masterpiece of a hairdo, but why not be the picture of perfection in a dress that mixes the old with the new.
Traditional does not mean stale style
By no stretch of the imagination does a traditional wedding dress need to be outdated or boring. Everyone wants something unique and traditional dresses can be. There are many conventional designs out there that can mirror your personality. Nothing is stopping you from taking that timeless piece and adding a touch of fashion forward thinking that says ‘this is me’. Regardless of your silhouette preference, every bride needs to look for three things, timeless elegance, quality and individuality. Once you find that, become an artist and use your dress as a canvas.
How to look and feel like a modern day princess
Feeling like a princess really captures the fantasy of what it means to be a bride. Using current trends that encapsulate the princess feel but add a bit of electricity will turn any gown into your perfect fit. Here are a few tricks to achieving an up-to-date look from the bottom up.
Getting to the bottom of things
A new trend that has emerged is a ‘high-low hemline’. This is where the back of your dress is long and draping and gets shorter toward the front. Ending the front hemline just above the knee is ideal. If you want a less adventurous cut but still want to show off some leg, then try a scalloped or short bubble hem. Pair shorter dresses with sweetheart necklines and you have a winner. If you want to be the belle of the ball, bouffant bell-skirts never fail. For a little tweak try a fishtail or tapered skirt. Tiers of silk organza, wispy tulle, feathers, ruffles or chiffon can be added to your gown to add flair to the bottom.
Middle Musts
Photo by Dylan Laubscher
Belted gowns are a big fashion yes, from structured corsets to delicate ribbons worn right below the bust. Empire waists are perfect for any figure because they draw the attention toward your face and create an elegant frame. Your body shape will look so fantastic you can deny ever eating the top layer of your wedding cake during a nervous wedding day binge. Dressmakers are also leaning toward Grecian silhouettes which are ruling the runway. The waistbands and embroidery of Grecian styles can be a clever way of adding a bit of theme colour into your dress. Basque waists or v-waists seem to be making a comeback. It’s a dropped waist that starts at, or just below, the natural waistline and dips in the centre creating a ‘v’ shape. Any of these designs are sure to make your traditional dress become a standout.
Top of the pile
Instead of the sweetheart neckline or strapless front, why not show a bit of attitude with an asymmetrically draped gown or a ruffled collar? Keyhole necklines and one shoulder dresses can also spice up your design. If you’re more of a sultry soul then dare to bare in a deep v-neck or a plunging bustier.
If you prefer to be covered up, please don’t rely on a monkish sleeve. Rather go for a capped sleeve, lace shrug or a shawl.
Colour diversity and pattern
I know what you are thinking, ‘there’s nothing traditional about a coloured wedding dress’. Think again sister! Gowns are seeing themselves geometrically rich and painted in a kaleidoscope of colours. The titillating 20s are an ideal inspiration for an original design. The decade reveled in clothes with ‘movement’ by creating dropped waist flapper-style dresses, stylized crystals and draping. Before colour excites you too much and you start diving into swatch samples, remember
Wedding Gown designed by Elizabeth Saunders
that colour affects the style and mood of your ceremony. When you wear light colours, everything is tender and romantic. Darker colours will create a dynamic and lively atmosphere.
Allow the colour of your ensemble to tie in with your colour scheme. It doesn’t have to be your entire dress either. Add a splash with a sash or perhaps in the appliqué details. If you’re dramatic, get a two-toned wedding gown with a coloured bodice against a white or off-white skirt.
Arty embellishments
Eye catching rosettes and floral embellishments are simultaneously sophisticated and sweet. Collections are seeing themselves with buds at the hip, neckline and shoulders. Floral embroidery in contrasting colours on the white gown includes burgundy, navy, dark green and even black.
No matter which trick you use to take tradition to trendy, remember that classic style is never out of fashion; and a beaming smile is the perfect accessory. Go on glamour bride, be creative.
itumeleng
May 29th, 2010
I AM GETTING MARRIED FEBRUARY 2011, SO I NEED A TRADITIONAL ATIRE
Lusanda Netshifhefhe
Jul 6th, 2010
I need traditional wedding dress design samples. Do you have any you can forward?
glamourbride
Aug 27th, 2010
Hi Lusanda. Unfortunately we cant forward but have you taken a look at out wedding directory?