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The Opera Collection – Wedding Gowns with Operatic Flair from New York

StrictlyWeddings.com was contacted by Gilles Montezin a New York designer, originally from Paris, who wanted to be one of our exclusive bridal gown partners. We’re still in the building stage for New York, but wanted to share some of the designer’s work from his Opera Collection with our fans.

The Gilles Montezin bridal collection pays homage to the art form of opera by bringing together a complex combination of drama, sensuality, femininity and emotion; all of the characteristics found in the most beloved operatic productions. Based on a design philosophy that focuses on the curvature of the female body this collection features classic couture tailoring. This collection also introduces an optional body shaper Le Cinch™; an abbreviated interpretation of the traditional corset that nearly doubles its predecessor’s figure-enhancing effects. Le Cinch accompanies every dress in the collection so every bride can achieve the perfect hourglass silhouette with unprecedented comfort. The fabrics of each dress are manipulated to produce textures and opulence rarely found in bridal attire. The romantic silhouettes are designed to accentuate and celebrate the female form.

Keeping within the tradition of Gilles Montezin ready-to-wear, signature details for each dress include antique lace linings, intricate hand stitching, elaborate construction and lush fabrics. Creative Director, Gilles Montezin believes everything touching a woman’s body must be beautiful inside and out. The collection is designed for the discerning, sophisticated bride. Sizes are available up to 18W. Larger sizes are available via special order.

The Alix&Kelly Collection – Hollywood style goes bridal

Brides and their maids have all the more reason to celebrate now that acclaimed costume designers Alix Friedberg and Kelly Mijailovic have released their collection of classic, luxurious, and affordable dresses designed for more than one-day wear. With 28 years’ combined experience dressing finicky actresses in over a dozen feature films, including Gone Baby Gone , Dan in Real Life, and the upcoming futuristic film Game starring Gerard Butler and Amber Valletta,  Alix and Kelly have refined their keen ability to flatter any woman’s body.

Now they’ve taken their skills from the big screen to the big day.

The alix&kelly collection reflects its designers’ passion for timeless beauty. All garments—from bridal gowns and bridesmaids dresses to flower girl dresses and yes, even the groomsmen’s neckties—are crafted with only the finest fabric. “We pay close attention to the construction, fabrication, and fit of our dresses so that women will want to wear them again and again,” says Alix, who the Hollywood Reporter recently recognized as one of ten people under 35 worth watching.

Though alix&kelly officially launched May, 2008, Hollywood had its hands on the coveted collection long before. The dresses were featured in a December, 2007 episode of The Real Housewives of Orange County and adorned the divas of CSI Miami last March. Though Alix and Kelly love Hollywood’s attention, their biggeest joy comes from helping real brides and maids feel their most beautiful and confident on their big day and beyond.

Bird Cage Wedding Veils

Who started the trend?  Movie stars, of course!

Reese Witherspoon donned one in Sweet Home Alabama, then Grey’s Anatomy star, Katherine Heigl wore a bird cage veil at her 2007 winter wonderland wedding in Park City, Utah. This glamourous star has true old Hollywood style and wore it just shadowing her beautiful eyes for a sultry vintage feel .

Traditional bird cage veils or face veils as they were called in the 1940’s are crafted with either French or Russian netting. French netting has a delicate soft lace feel and Russian netting has a bit more volume and has more pouf. Wearing a bird cage veil is a terrific modern alternative vs. a traditional and often fussy tulle veil. They are great on short hairstyles and are so light they can be easily pinned on.

Wearing it on an asymmetrical angle brings on the air of vintage charm and adds instant style to simple contemporary style wedding gowns. For added kick, add an embellished fascinator of feathers, silk flowers or a fabulous hair gem to it. Depending on your face shape, lash length and shape of bird cage veil you choose, we recommend wearing them above your lips, so there’s no hesitation to your first kiss!

Source: Susan Metropoulos, The Left Bank Jewelry, Chicago, Illinois

Quail Makes the Bridesmaid the Belle of the Ball

Frumpy shapes, insane frills, and unflattering color choices—such is the fate of many a bridesmaid forced into the traditionally heinous bridal-party dress. Finally, rescuing us from those inevitable wedding woes, Quail designer Michelle Williams has introduced a bridesmaid dress collection that we could actually get some wear out of and won’t be stashed away in a dark closet right after the reception. Her reliably gorgeous and feminine dress designs will appease even the fussiest of bridesmaids like a vintage-inspired florette dress and they are affordable, too. Go to www.quailbridal.com for more info.

Pictured below from her collection –  The Peony Top (left) and The Peony Dress (right)

Vera Wang Weddings – 2010 Spring Collection

We just got this great email from Vera Wang. She’s introducing youthful charm and romance through hand-painted tulles and silks in her Spring 2010 collection. The wedding dress featured here, Didi, showcases innovative design techniques from Vera Wang. Below are her insights on the design inspiration behind Didi.

The Inspiration
The Didi embraces color for its fresh interpretation of modernity and romance in wedding fashion. In particular, Didi’s unique design is showcased in citrus, a core color of this collection’s palette. This color – and this wedding dress – can be described as nothing less than vivacious. Didi illustrates an important technique in the use of color: hand-painting. The full skirt is a combination of hand-painted organza and tulle that tumble from the structured, pleated bodice into artful deconstruction. You will see this frothiness throughout the collection, along with a very specific delicate lightness that is created through the layering of fabrics rather than crinolines (stiff petticoats under the skirt). The pleats on the Didi’s bodice are particularly dramatic at the back of the wedding dress. Didi captures artistry, which is another common thread in Vera Wang’s recent collections, along with whimsy and charm. These themes are soft, but not antiquated. The crispness of the design technique and the use of color establish the modernity of these wedding dresses. Keep in mind, Vera Wang wedding dresses shown in color are also available in traditional white and ivory; contact one of our wedding consultants for more detail.

The Bodice
The design of the bodice is the centerpiece around which other components of a wedding dress are created. Like a foundation garment, a bodice is defined by its construction and its fit. The bodice of your wedding dress should be tailored to the length of your torso. Precise fit is crucial for a strapless wedding dress, such as Didi, as the bodice requires stays for support.

Romanticist
A Romanticist is a bride who is willing to embrace fantasy. Her love of beauty translates to enchanting wedding gowns with grand details delicate ruffles, billowing sleeves or layers of tulle, as shown here on Didi. Passionate and adventurous, the Romanticist seeks to be transported by her wedding dress.

Source: Vera Wang

NOTE: There will be a Vera Wang trunk show at Warren Barron Bridal, March 4-6.

Vintage Wedding Gowns – Not for the faint hearted

Brides of the past. Captured in time through fading photographs, or perhaps vividly preserved on the artist’s canvas with mysterious faces and unique shapes and their gowns … absolutely exquisite.

Now that you are ready to walk down the aisle, you may be wondering if you can do so in a dress drawn from the pages of time. The lure of a vintage wedding gown can be strong. For a price that is often a fraction of the cost of a new gown, you can wrap yourself in a one-of-a-kind look that’s as stylish now as it was generations ago.

• Fabric deteriorates over time so you need to choose wisely or you could find yourself leaving bits of your dress behind as you march down the aisle. It is highly unlikely that a gown pre-dating the nineteenth century will be wearable.
• Unless you’re a veteran vintage shopper with an eye for spotting fabric damage, your best bet is to ask around until you find a reputable vintage shop. If you aren’t sure where to begin, try contacting a nearby theater company or historical society for recommendations. Once you’ve found a good shop, be very clear with the sales staff about your intentions for a particular dress. A wonderfully preserved Edwardian gown may be perfect for a quiet, intimate wedding, but not for a wild bash with a swing band.
• Don’t expect the perfect fit. There are two different schools of thought when it comes to resizing a vintage gown. Many vintage clothing mavens insist that the only way to go is down. Vintage gowns often do not include additional material at the seams and new trims and fabrics will likely not match the original cloth in shading or quality. Others however, maintain that letting out a vintage gown successfully is possible, although extremely difficult — often requiring creative embellishments to cover gussets and new stitching. So if you happen upon a fabulous dress that is just too small, you may be far better off continuing your search than struggling with difficult restyling.
• Perfect but unwearable? Create a reproduction gown. Find out if the gown you’ve fallen in love with could be used as a pattern for a seamstress to make you a new one.  Their are even fabrics that have that vintage feel.

Finding your vintage gown can be a daunting journey, yet it could equally become an exciting treasure hunt.

It will require a little legwork, but with the rise in popularity of vintage clothing, you can be certain that the resources you need are within reach.

Old is new again. If you have a specific image in mind for your gown, or want an updated look on a classic style, you might want to opt for a reproduction gown rather than an authentic vintage gown. If you love the hourglass look of the 1890s but prefer a slightly less constricting neckline, it will be far less heartbreaking to rip apart and restyle a reproduction than an authentic piece of history.

Whether you greet your big day in a fabulous forties Dior design or a reproduction of a turn of the century lawn gown, a vintage wedding gown can transform your walk down the aisle into a magical moment plucked from an antique photograph. Who could imagine a grander entrance?

Photographs courtesy of Table4

Bridal 2010 Collection Statement from Marchesa

The Spring 2010 bridal launch collection brings Marchesa’s ethereal aesthetic to the modern bride. With silhouettes that are both timeless and romantic MARCHESA’S bridal collection is an air of fantasy in a cream colored palette.

Classic column and strapless gowns draped in silk crepes, tulle and chiffon are adorned with hand embroidered silver and pearl embellishments as well as feathers and hand draped rosettes. Cloud colored cocktails are sculptured in tulle overlay and duchess satin.

The Spring 2010 bridal launch collection brings Marchesa’s signature silhouettes to the wedding world .

Photos and copy courtesy of Warren Barron Bridal

Rock-n-Roll Bride

The following post is from our guest blogger, Alera Kingham, who you can visit at OneWhiteDress.net.

Ever since I first come across this boutique designer I fell in love with her romantic and timeless approach to bridal couture. Los Angeles Designer, Claire Pettibone Couture says “When I create a dress, it’s all about the fabric and the woman, and how these elements are combined to enhance each other”. This is so visible in her ability to design dream like gowns that harmoniously represent the pure essence of a Bride in love.

As much as I adore her ongoing range I am loving the 2009 collection. But what is a ‘Rock n Roll Bride’?  I can liken it to that tiny tatoo of a butterfly you had done when you were 17 on the inside of your ankle…  You could have gone with a grotesque dragon across your shoulder blade and down one side of your arm but rather, you chose a more subtle approach. Call me a rebel but it’s that ongoing battle of Good vs Bad…  Mozart vs Death Metal…  Steamed Vegetables and water vs Pizza and beer.

OK, so maybe I went a little off track there… Regardless of how you see them this collection focuses on Divine figure hugging pieces making best use of soft fabrics which creative movement and shape. Think Silk charmeuse, Cotton crochet lace, French cotton voile, Velvet and Tulle, combine them with some delicate styling and a tiny tattoo of a butterfly on your ankle and your dream gown awaits!

Elizabeth Fillmore 2010 Bridal Collection: Beautiful Wedding Gowns, Inspiring Designs

We were so excited to receive these wonderful photos from the 2010 Elizabeth Fillmore Bridal Collection yesterday. All jewelry shown is by Meridith Griffin exclusively for Elizabeth Fillmore Bridal. There’s nothing more to say except “wow” these bridal gowns are exquisite!

Elizabeth Fillmore Bridal Gowns can be found in Dallas at Warren Barron Bridal.

Must I Wear a White Wedding Dress?

Do not feel obligated to wear a white wedding dress, if you don’t want to. It is not a wedding requirement and many modern brides are choosing wedding gowns in a variety of colors from off white to royal purple and crimson red. It is true that for more than 100 years, brides have been wearing white flowing gowns on their wedding day, and it would seem that it is the traditional attire. After all, walk into any bridal boutique in North America, and you will immediately be inundated with wedding dress choices, all in white. However, take a moment to ask the bridal consultant and you may be surprised to learn that most dress styles can be special ordered in colors other than white.

White wedding dresses, long associated with virginal purity could be considered, by some brides, as overrated and outdated. In fact, there are a higher number of second marriages now than ever before. If you want to wear a wedding gown that is mint green, peachy orange, iced lilac, red velvet, or buttercup yellow, go for it! And it may be as simple as a touch of color amidst the white. It is your special day, and you should feel comfortable wearing whatever wedding dress best suits your personality, and a gown you will look back on fondly.

Gown from Neiman Marcus