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An Online Fashion Resource for Brides

HEADS UP

By bridechic · September 22, 2010 · 0 Comments · 34 Views
pickle and macaroni

While veils are still in vogue and ever traditional, the new head options are definately worth checking out. Some brides bypassing the veil are going for wide brimmed hats, fresh flowers or jewels in their hair. The idea is, if you’d rather wear a feathered toque down the aisle and it works with your gown, go for it.

Did our grandmothers have choices like this. No way. There were tight restrictions on what sort of headpiece was appropriate with the length veil she had to wear with her dress. Luckily times have changed. Wearing a veil with a headpiece is an option, not requirement anymore.

pickle and macaroni

Nigel Rayment
The Picture Hat-Starting with hats, I have to say picture hats are the most dramatic. Just look at some of these. Don't they all belong at one of Jay Gatsby's lawn parties? Also, the picture hat is the most classic for daytime formals. Wide-brimmed and typically constructed out of straw or horsehair, they are sometimes swathed in netting and organza.
Whatever look you want to create with this style, here are some tips to consider. Go ahead and put on your picture hat for the ceremony. Just do yourself a favor at the reception and take it off when you're receiving guests. Unless your hat's constructed of that bendy sort of horsehair with lots of give, when you reach out to hug and kiss people, your hat will fall off or bump someone. Picture hats go great with most silhouettes, especially ball gowns. The wide brim balances the volume in the skirt.

Amy-Jo Tatum
Horsehair hat wrapped in ivory tulle

Amy-Jo TatumStraw hat with hand-rolled silk dupion cabbage roses

Oni Onik
I think the fascinator trend helped usher in our current love affair with the hat. Even if you're wearing a veil, consider putting your bridesmaids in hats. From 1920-1950 it was a popular option to dress them in picture hats, especially for garden weddings. Think of it as just one of your many choices . . .

The Cloche — Pictured above and below, this close fitting helmet-like hat worn low on the forehead, with or without a brim, was all the rage in the 1920s. Today's versions are mostly felt, and complement vintage dresses and suits. The Cloche looks best over a bob or other short, spunky hairstyles.

Oni OnikThe Pillbox Hat — Round and brimless, this hat's worn either centered or back on the head. Though the style was first launched in the 1930s, Jackie Kennedy revived the look. And guess what? Martha Stewart wore a pillbox when she got married in the early sixties. Generally this hat looks best with suits and fitted sheath designs, but it's super with most other silhouettes.

Hat by Amy-Jo Tatum



Stephanie Williams Photography/Hat by Batcakes



The Cocktail Hat — This broad category includes toques, pancakes and beanies, to name just a few. Usually small and brimless, they sit tilted or perched atop the head, accented with flowers or a spray of long feathers. A cover of net or nose veil sometimes wraps all or part of the face. To add a touch of fun to simple gown, cover a cocktail hat fully in marabou or ostrich feathers. All cocktail hats look great with upswept hair and complement most silhouettes. They're also ideal as a headpiece attached to any length veil.

Nigel Rayment

Amy-Jo Tatum
The Turban — Adapted from Eastern headdress, the classic turban is a piece of fabric that wraps around the head. Trendy in the late 30s, the 40s ushered in some interesting variations, mixing functionality with chic. Their fame began with women workers who kept their hair safely out of the machinery with scarves tied up turban-style. Taking a cue from the street, designers hyped up the glamour, reinventing turbans in satin and velvet so they also complemented suits and evening wear. Tulle and netted turban head wraps topped off with bows or florals became the quickly-assembled head adornments of choice for wartime brides.

The Pagoda — Triangular-shaped and based on China's distinctive Cooley hat, this high-fashion version was popularized by Dior in the 1950s. Great with A-line and sheath styles.

Suzanne Couture Millinery

Wreath-Very romantic option. Pictured below, a wreath circles the head and is interwoven with flowers, foliage and in some cases, ribbons. Florists can put these together either with fresh, artificial or dried flowers. Some variations would be those made exclusively of English Ivy or dried roses and baby’s breath.

Pickle and Macaroni

HEADBAND -- typically attached to a gathered pouf veil, you can wear the headband individually without the veiling. Headband brides have that fresh, Estee Lauder look. Bands range in style from simple, narrow satin ones to those covered in pearls and crystals. A great option for hair worn down, not quite shoulder length like a bob.

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Hair Florals- They compliment simple evening gown silhouettes with a tropical feel, A-lines and ball gowns with a touch of the romantic. There are three kinds of florals: Fresh, artificial and hand-rolled fabric flowers. All are beautiful choices. Fresh can be ordered through your florist possibly echoing some of those in your bouquet.

Henley Photography
Artificial flowers are typically silk, some so well made they look like they were just picked out of the garden. Hand-rolled flowers are made out of fabric like dupioni, organza or shantung, sometimes in the same fabric as your gown. These have a real haute couture look and are usually attached to a barrette or spongy wire-wrap. You’ll need the help of a hairdresser incorporating fresh flowers into your hair. Artificial ones sometimes come with an attached comb—sometimes not. If not, you’ll need help anchoring these in. Some hairstylists will even weave poufs of netting through the flowers, creating a real high-fashion look.

TIARA -- Just the tiara — no veil. This is a classic look. Most tiaras are made out of crystal and rhinestone. Best when the tiara sits upon a well-coiffed up-do.

the knot

the knot

Alice Hart

Alice Hart

The Fascinator-These fascinating fascinators of plumes and feathers by Alice Hart are the cross between headpiece and hat many brides are looking for to expresss themselves on their wedding day.

HAIR JEWELERY -- These can range from Mother of Pearl hairpins to crystal adorned hair-sticks and clips. You can wear one or many sprinkled though a beautifully coiffed head. Top notch hair styling is a must to wear these properly.

Alice Hart Couture Millinery
Suzanne Couture Millinery
Queen of Hats
Leah C Couture Millinery
Tiger Lilly Hair Jewelry

tacori.com- tiaras and hair jewelry

Dulken and Derrick-Sounds like a law firm but it is actually a site for some of the most exquisite silk flowers.

LE CHAPPEAU CHIC FOR SPRING 2009

By bridechic · February 10, 2009 · 0 Comments · 12 Views
Hat by Batcakes
Pair any hat here with an imaginative gown and you'll get retro with an edge. Though a well designed hat has always been classic, the looks here are making their way into some Spring collections. My theory on le chappeau? Lately we've seen the evolution from those fascinators and pouf veils we still love so much into full blown versions of hat. Designers are coming up with fresh innovations all the time; hats can be hybrids--a combo of hat and veil-- as the 1950s cloche band by Batcakes in the above post photo is, or as floppy brimmed as the farthest photo below. The point is, since we're loving hats so much lately, designers are getting the message bringing out more beauties each season.

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Top Hat or Derby anyone? Why not? If a man in a tux can wear one so can a bride in a gown.

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My favorite. The classic picture hat.Wide brimmed and typically constructed out of straw or horsehair, they are sometimes swathed in netting and organza

So if you're in love with hats but not sure how to go about choosing one, here's the lowdown:
You can use some of the same guidelines choosing hats that apply to veils: the more minimalist the gown is in detail, the more ornate the hat can be; whereas the more ornate the gown, the simpler the hat. Once you start trying them on, you’ll see it’s all just a matter of getting the symmetry right. You do need to get in front of a mirror, gown on and alterations done to rightly evaluate how the hat and gown work together.

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cross between a cloche and beenie
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pancake hat with net ruching

Experiment. Getting the right look is all about personal choice and working out the proportions you like.
And speaking of proportion, if you’re petite you can certainly take the width of a picture hat as long as you scale down the brim some to match your proportion. Also any hat that adds height like a derby or pillbox will work well. A taller bride with her heart set on one of these styles might have to experiment a bit—wearing a pillbox tilted to the side or back further on the head. She might have to forego the derby altogether and settle on something lower in the crown. Generally, fuller silhouettes like ball gowns need wider brims to balance out the skirts, although evening gowns and sheaths also look great with wide brims. Smaller hats work best with more columnar looks; try adding poufs of veil or netting to work with fuller skirts.

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Straw derby
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Classic floppy-brimmed picture hat
Below are some excellent online resources for hats to get you started in your browsing. Best of luck . . .

HAT BRIDES

By bridechic · June 25, 2010 · 0 Comments · 295 Views

You'll find most hats
these days borrowing from vintage looks.  Why?  I have a theory:  We haven't had
a real evolution in hat fashion that ran parallel with the trends simply because
hats are not a mandatory fashion piece anymore.  Nevertheless, many brides are
hat happy and looking at this option when it comes to topping off their
look.

Hat: Amy-Jo Tatum Bridal/Photo
by Ron Greystar
Photography

Above and below are
two versions of picture hats, the most classic in head wear for daytime formals.
Wide brimmed and typically constructed out of straw or horsehair, they are
sometimes swathed in netting and organza. Whatever look you want to create with
this style, here are some things to consider when wearing it. Go ahead and put
on your picture hat for the ceremony. Just do yourself a favor at the reception
and take it off when you’re receiving guests. Unless your hat is made out of
that bendy sort of horsehair with lots of give, when you reach out to hug and
kiss people the hat will either fall off or scrape someone. Picture hats go
great with most silhouettes, especially ball gowns. The wide brim balances the
volume in the skirt.

 

Boring
Sidney

Cocktail Hats like the one above include toques, pancakes and beanies to name
just a few. Small and brimless, these hats sit tilted or perched atop the head,
usually accented with flowers or a spray of long feathers; a cover of net or
nose veil typically wraps all or part of the face. To add a touch of fun to a
simple gown, cover a cocktail hat fully in marabou or ostrich feathers. All
cocktail hats look great with up swept hair and most silhouettes. Ideal as a
headpiece attached to any length veil

 

Pictured above is the cloche, a close fitting helmet-like hat worn low on the

forehead with or without a brim. All the rage in the 1920s. Today’s versions are
mostly felt and straw, complimenting vintage dresses and suits. Look best worn
with a bob or other short hairstyles.

Silent Shudder Photography

Top Hat or Derby anyone? Why not? If a man in a tux can wear one
so can a bride in a gown.  We're seeing some minature versions lately that sit
perched on the side of the head like the one above . . .

Tagged with: hats, bridal hats, VINTAGE HAT, PICTURE HAT

VOGUEING IT UP WITH HATS

By bridechic · January 6, 2010 · 0 Comments · 14 Views
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Why am I always bringing up Holly Golightly when I talk hats? Unique and a spinner of the unexpected, I feel Truman Capote's elegant but mercurial character would have indeed worn a hat on her wedding day. For all of you out there with a touch of the Golightlyesque, a hat can provide that unexpected element of fun. Add to that finding the right one can make for a real adventure.

Hats above offer variation on the classic picture hat, perfect for the daytime garden reception.

A few tips: Some of the same guidelines for choosing veils apply to hats as well. For instance, the more minimalist the gown is in detail, the more elaborate that hat can be; whereas the more ornate the gown, the simpler the hat. You’ll see it’s all just a matter of getting the symmetry right once you start trying them on. You do need to get in front of a mirror, preferably with your gown on and alterations done to evaluate how the hat and gown work together. As far as accessorizing your gown with a hat, add gloves, earrings and pearls and you've amped up the glam to a real haute couture look. The length glove you choose has to do with preference and the style of your gown. Generally, long gloves and wide brims give off more of a high fashion look—short gloves and little hats, a more lady-like appearance.
Amy-Jo Tatum

 

Amy-Jo Tatum

Floral hats add panache to up done hair, especially the pancake hat directly above which can sit perched sideways.

 

Even smaller than the pancake, we're seeing more of these miniature derbys the size of doll hats. I couldn't resist showing you this one with added beading and ribbon. A perfect topping off for the costume-inspired bride.

SILHOUETTE

By bridechic · April 2, 2010 · 0 Comments · 103 Views

 

John Truong Photography


Whatever silhouette you choose is going to be the foundation of your look—the appearance you create once you make your entrance, dance your first dance, cut the cake. The right silhouette creates a positive visual chemistry, like a light turned on, illuminating the unique beauty of your female form. There are three basic silhouettes: the sheath, the ball gown and A-line. Within each of these big three derive a few variations deserving closer examination 

  I. THE SHEATH


Ryan Chua Photography
                                                                   
The sheath is long and columnar like a cylinder. Styles vary and have waistlines and skirt features that are usually as snug up top as on bottom. The sheath can work for the bride who wants a stylish, simple presence as well as one who wants to make a more powerful statement with her veil or accents of laces and a train added. This is an ideal gown if you’re short and slim. The unbroken columnar line creates height. Although, it’s also great for tall, thin, physically fit brides as well. If you’re statuesque or prone to heaviness, look toward more flattering A-lines.
Variations of the Sheath

Chemise or Shift-Relaxed version of the sheath. Falls in a straight line usually cut on the grain of the fabric. The waistline if any, is loosely fitted and fits low on the hips a la 1920s style.



Amy-Jo Tatum Bridal

Slipdress or Evening Gown-Carolyn Bessette wore the classic of all classics when she and JFK Jr. tied the knot. Cut on the bias, it hugs the body, evoking 1930s Hollywood chic. Ideal line for brides in tip-top physical shape who like to strut trim bodies. Be warned though. Toned and tight through the belly, hips and thighs are a must.




Amy-Jo Tatum Bridal



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Fitted Shell-Think of enchanting Nancy Kwan in The World of Suzie Wong, sporting her Mandarin collared Shell and you’ve got the lines right. In fact, a floor-length Mandarin shell in ivory brocade would be an excellent choice for the bride who wants to add an exotic aspect to her look. The shell was also popularized by Jackie Kennedy and Audrey Hepburn circa 1960s. Check out Audrey’s celebrated black dress in Breakfast at Tiffany’s only think white.




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Amy-Jo Tatum Bridal

The Mermaid-Pictured above, this silhouette is half and half: half sheath, half ball gown. Fitted long and snug to the knees then POW! Either a full flared skirt or tiers of ruffles complete the look, sometimes falling into (no pun intended) a fishtail train in back. Big glam look in the 1950s in heavier, highly polished satins. Bombshells like Jane Mansfield donned some high voltage, kitchy-chic with this cut. The above image is a more modified version of Mermaid.


II. THE BALL GOWN

S1 Studio

Gown by Amy-Jo Tatum Bridal

Christian Dior revolutionized fashion in 1947 with his “New Look”. Cinched waists atop skirts flowing in yards of fabric over layers of crinoline marked a turning point in twentieth-century fashion. The hourglass, the most defined female silhouette, was a hark back to the belle époque.  The ball gown is indeed an hourglass and remains the most dramatic of all bridal silhouettes. A ball gown can be as romantic a confection as those seen in the corps de ballet, flowing in swirls of white tulle; or as edgy and structured as the silk faille versions in 1950s Paris Vogue. But it doesn’t matter whether the fabric used to create it is delicate, mid-weight or heavy, one aspect of the ball gown always remains the same: the skirt and its understructure are both based on volume. Thus, sweeping skirts equal sweeping entrances especially awesome on brides who know how to work their strut.

Regardless of its formality, a ball gown seems to have flex when it comes to showing up anywhere and looking beautiful. While they go great in all the splendor of a full-blown cathedral ceremony, imagine an outdoor garden wedding where nature, big and diverse as a thousand cathedrals can be the perfect sanctuary.


Tall, slim brides carry this silhouette off best. Also if you’re medium to tall and pear shaped, you’ll benefit from the uber-volume in the skirts that camouflage your every imperfection from the waist down. Petite brides who want some gown drama might be better off going with the more modified A-line since the mass of a ball gown skirt will swallow you up.

Variations of the Ball Gown

Bouffant or Hourglass-Fitted bodice with cinched natural or dropped waist atop gathered or pleated full skirt.



Gown by Amy-Jo Tatum Bridal

Bubble-Pictured below.  The bubble swells out of a cinched, natural or dropped waist. Skirt curves in a balloon like shape at the hemline.




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Petal-Very structured overskirt. Imagine a fuchsia. A cinched natural or dropped waist sitting atop a full skirt with curving understructure that slits open in the front. Sometimes shows a bit of sheath-like under dress peaking out.







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Shirt dress-A more relaxed version of the hourglass, a classic and tailored look concentrating as much on the bodice detailing as the skirt. Typically has long shirt-like or billowing sleeves and full gathered skirt. Can be made out of lightweight fabrics like organza, chiffon and crepe, as well as medium weights like linen. Nice for a garden reception, especially with a wide- brimmed hat.


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               Circa 1972, This Oscar de la Renta Vogue pattern is a classic version of the Shirtdress through and through.

III. THE A-LINE


Henley Photography
Gown by Amy-Jo Tatum

The hourglass wasn’t Christian Dior’s only reinvention. His A-line hit big in 1955 and stayed with us. An A-line cut is a more modified form of hourglass, bringing with it refinement and understatement. Fitted through the bodice, the A-line can have a slight to moderate flair in the skirt. Dubbed by fashionistas as “The Deb Dress” it’s been one of the most popular silhouettes for the reason it flatters just about every figure type.


Variations of the A-line


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Classic-Slightly flared like the gown above, you see it everywhere; mostly with a strapless bodice in medium to heavy fibers. Stunning.


Smoot Photo

Gown by Amy-Jo Tatum

Princess-Shown above, this version has a fitted bodice flowing into a skirt that has two parallel vertical seams running up front and back; can have a slight to full flare in the skirt. Very flattering. Especially great for petites or any woman wanting to add height. Heavier brides benefit too from the vertical seams drawing the eye, up, up, up.


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Trapeze-Think of a triangle and you get a loose fitting A-line.  The first Trapeze premiered in Yves Saint Laurent’s 1958 collection. Some versions have a lot more ease in the cut than others. Couture and bridal versions tend to look like classic A-lines with a little more slack in the torso area. Great for heavier brides.This variation can swallow up petite brides if the dress is too loose or made out of heavier fabric. 







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Tent-Another smart choice for the heavy bride.  This triangular gown hangs from the neck or a yoke, flaring way out at the hemline. Pictured directly above: Priscilla wore a to-the-floor version when she married Elvis in Las Vegas. Both bride and groom's wedding costumes are in Graceland . . .
 
IV. THE SUIT

No matter how simple or paired down a gown can get, some women just can’t get into wearing a dress even on their wedding day. For this reason, the classic suit is becoming a stylish alternative. Like the sheath it’s long and columnar only in two-pieces with a jacket and straight skirt. There are of course exceptions as in the above photo. Skirt shapes can be flared like A-lines or take on full bell contours even under man-tailored jackets. Pantsuits are another option with pant legs varying from slim cigarette widths to wide culotte cuts. Consider a suit one of your options.
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THE GARDEN PARTY BRIDE

By bridechic · February 4, 2010 · 0 Comments · 65 Views

SPRING CHIC

More from the "Every Which Way Romantic" series, this week we're concentrating on the Garden Party Bride. So what makes up this feminine style? It has alot to do with the outdoors, gardens, flowers, gazebos and great weather. Imagine a party a J. Gatsby's. Doesn't it conjure up images of croquet parties on acres of lawn? You'd see some wide-brimmed straw or horsehair hats wrapped in tulle and hand-rolled florals, silk and organdy dresses, parasols, maybe a touch of Chantilly lace over gloved hands. Garden parties revolve around Spring and Summer festivities. It could be a tea, a dance or luncheon wedding. You can incorporate this sort of style in putting yourself and groom together or design a whole wedding theme around it.

SMP Gallery

1920s

Here are a few inspiring ideas to get you going . . .

Flappers

Silent Movies

Jazz

The Charleston

George Gershwin

The Great Gatsby

Chanel, Poiret and Erte

The House of Eliot

Mia Farrow and Robert Redford in The Great Gatsby

Tagged with: garden party, gatsby, amy-jo tatum bridal couture

A DAY AT CITY HALL: A LOOK AT THE NEW CIVIL WEDDING

By bridechic · October 28, 2009 · 0 Comments · 37 Views

Monday, October 12, 2009

Photography: Shelah Osbrink aka digital She

Makeup and hair: Christal Saville

Models: Jocelyn, Ashton and Tejel

The brief city hall ceremony or ‘champagne wedding’ is every bit as significant as the formal wedding planned months ahead. City hall weddings are ideal for couples who don't want to bother with juggling florists, caterers, bands and wedding planners. No longer considered the spontaneous events they once were, civil ceremonies are going through new approval and popularity. Some couples simply prefer the ease of a short ceremony with a few friends and family to share in the celebration. City hall weddings offer a fast, elegant and meaningful ceremony (which most are these days) and in the case of the opulant San Francisco City Hall--the use of a palace for half an hour or so for the price of the marriage license and officiant. Now that's a real bargain!

Realize though if you go with this simple a ceremony, you might be dressing yourself differently than the traditional bride. Because civil weddings usually take place on weekdays when government offices are open to perform rites, chances are you’ll be in a street-length suit or dress—possibly white but it doesn’t have to be. Any color or length is fine as long as you look good in it and feel special. When these shots were taken there were two other weddings going on--one formal--the other less formal with the bride in a street-length dress. Whether or not you you go all out as a bride is your decision. Realize though you’ll be dressing for a lifetime of shared memories, so it’s worth the effort to opt for a few ‘bride’ touches here and there.

For brides bypassing the ‘all out’ bash for that brief and private gathering, below are some ideas for putting together the type look you want. First let’s look at some of the hemlines you might consider as a non-traditional bride.
Mini: Well above the knee; a light-hearted and playful length.
Just Above the Knee: Popular length for the casual bride. Ideal for suits and cocktail dresses.
Just Below the Knee: Another great length for a suit or cocktail dress. Proportion flatters many figure types and a range of ages.
Ballet Length: full skirt falling just above the ankles. Sometimes worn with tulle petticoats.
Asymmetrical: Irregular hemline falling diagonally.
Handkerchief: Another irregular hemline that falls to a point, more a treatment than length as the longest point usually falls anywhere from the knee down. Typically in sheer fabrics like chiffon. Very chic and in now.
Ankle Length: An inch or two above the floor.
Floor Length: Yes, this is a good choice for an informal wedding as long as the dress is simple in its cut, doesn’t have a great deal of volume in the skirt or train extending beyond the heels. Picture a slip dress or tailored suit.
SILHOUETTES
Silhouette is really the shape and style of your dress—the overall effect of how you’ll be seen and see yourself. Think of silhouette as the foundation of your look. Below are a few to consider:
Suit: Elegant in floor length; chic in shorter versions. White wool is most striking especially on winter brides. An ideal look for the night time or hotel wedding, especially with a hat.
A-line or Princess: Flatters most figure types. It’s fitted through the bodice and can have a slight to moderate flare in the skirt.
Fitted Sheath: Fitted through the bodice and skirt. Go just above or below the knee and you have Audrey Hepburn’s dress in Breakfast at Tiffany’s (think white though)—perfect for a cocktail reception.
Relaxed Sheath: As in slip dress. Add some delicate beading or hand painting and this makes for another cocktail wedding knock-out. Again, any length is great for this style. Try a short veil or pouf of netting as a headpiece.
Empire: Fitted in the bust and flared below. Wear a mini in this silhouette and you have a Baby Doll cut. Longer styles in the empire lean to a more elegant 1930s look, particularly styles with asymmetrical or handkerchief hemlines. All lengths would be elegant at evening weddings.
Hourglass Dress: A natural waistline atop a full skirt. Dior claimed fame to the Hourglass in 1947 once restrictions were taken off fabric. Now can you picture it? Those French Models in fashion lay-outs with wasp waistlines atop full skirts? A beautiful silhouette in any length.
Shirt-waist Dress: A more relaxed version of the Hourglass—a classic and tailored look, usually with billowing sleeves. Can be made out of lightweight fabrics like organza, chiffon and crepe, as well as mediumweights like linen. Nice for a garden reception, especially with a wide- brimmed hat.

Now that you have some idea of what your dress can look like, finally, a word about the groom. For an informal wedding your groom can wear anything stylish from his best suit to something more laid-back like a navy sport coat or silk shirt and khakis. Clothing here follows the simplicity of the celebration, and one of the most important things you and your groom need keep in mind is, informal weddings are brief and the attire though stylish and even elegant, is never ultra formal. War brides of the 1940s had swift weddings with quick preparation out of necessity. Today couples are fortunate. The informal wedding is a choice having more to do with lifestyle and many times the belief, less is more…

WHAT'S NEW IN THE GOWN GALLERY?

By bridechic · February 26, 2009 · 0 Comments · 11 Views
Check out the new chic from my 'Dioresque' series, a capsule collection of 1950s-inspired dresses. 'Marisol' is the first off the work table. Inspiration for this dress along with a few other gems I'm working on began when my girlfriends all chipped in and got me about 16 yards of cotton Georgette for my birthday. Yes, you heard that right, cotton Georgette. With this, I was able to make 4 samples with cinched bodices atop oodles of skirt and petticoats.
Of course the cotton Georgette was a limited run and quickly consumed by my fervent sample making. However, I tracked down some practically identical linen Georgette. Also the linen is eco-chic.
What I love about these tea-length dresses is they dress up well with accessories. We tried both hats and veils, gloves and no gloves; large and small florals, every type from carried-in-your-arms-like-a-newborn bouquets as well as those small nosegay arrangements. Just about everything works with this dress. Personally, I love the 'New Look' wide-brimmed hat swathed in tulle. These photos are already up on my website and I've had so many comments, about this hat in particular.

 A little 1950s background here on bridal chic. Back then it was trendy to wear sheer dresses made out of organza or Georgette over an under bodice. Liz Taylor's dress by Helen Rose for her role in Father of the Bride is a good example of the style and one widely copied by stores and manufacturers of the time.  So is the pattern below.  

 If you want a fascinating read on 1950s bridal couture, visit Vintage Fashion
History, a site chock-a-block full of interesting info on the origins of hourglass silhouettes like these.

ALICE HART LOOKBOOK: COUTURE MILLINERY FOR THE NEW YEARS BRIDE

By bridechic · December 29, 2008 · 0 Comments · 85 Views
Lately some hats and headpieces have become an art form worthy of a place in a fashion museum. Alice Hart Couture Millinery of Vancouver, B.C. is up there specializing in hats and whipping up some magnificent one-of-a-kind fascinators and cages. Her head wear caught my attention for the pure playfulness as well as originality.















Above the shoulder veils and headpieces like these are great for showing your gown to its best advantage.















Want to see more of Alice's work? Check out her site www.alicehart.com. Also if you're more of a hat bride--oh la la! Definitely worth looking at the craftsmanship on her wide-brims and cocktail hats with feather varied treatments.

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STREET CHIC BRIDE

By bridechic · November 23, 2009 · 0 Comments · 22 Views

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We find ourselves in a toney neighborhood this time where our street chic bride is sporting a shirtwaist, something I haven't seen since the 1980s. Fancy of New York designed this timeless and classic shirt dress. The shirtwaist is actually a more relaxed version of the hourglass, a tailored look concentrating as much on the bodice detailing as the skirt. Typically shirtwaists have long shirt-like or billowing sleeves and full gathered skirt. Can be made out of lightweight fabrics like organza, chiffon and crepe, as well as medium weights like linen. The above version is duchesse satin. Nice for a garden reception, especially with a wide- brimmed hat.

A BRIDE IN THE CITY

By bridechic · March 18, 2011 · 0 Comments · 47 Views
For me the backdrop of a ccityscape conjures weekday weddings and alternatives to the big white traditional gown.  City Hall nuptials usually happen quickly with a celebration somewhere nearby--a restaurant, club or private home.  This means a bride has all the chic touches that say wedding only abbreviated.  Hems are usually ankle or tea length, veils either short or some hybrid of hat/veil combo . . .   
An ankle length, scoop necked silk jersey dress and wide-brimmed horse hair hat.   
White Chantilly all over  lace dress with a two layer tulle elbow veil edged in satin . . .
And the bride wore a shocking pink moire double breasted sleeveless jacket and skirt.  Pink jeweled buttons adorn the front . . . 

An elegant silhouette in casual fabric: Sabrina neck white linen dress . . . a great look for the bride who is more at

POUF

By bridechic · January 28, 2011 · 0 Comments · 27 Views

 Check out these chic little poufs from Alisa Brides on Etsy.  The combo of feathers and use of netting is fabulous.  Paired with a simple gown like this it shows off your gorgeous face.  Wear a suit or shirt dress and you take on a whole new look of elan  . . . The above is a short birdcage with french net, feathers,  tulle, and a crystal flower.

French netting with silk handmade flower and scattered Swarowski crystals

This veil of Russian netting emulates a wide-brimmed hat with a tulle flower with sparkles and large crystals.
 

Russian netting with roses, Swarovski crystals, and ribbon.

IT'S HERE

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Please note some images on Bride Chic are photos from previous shoots and editorials of my collection pieces. Since I do admire other designers work, I’ve also added from online sources to share a different perspective. There’s no profit from the display of these photos -- they are being shown for the informational and educational benefit of brides and aficionados of bridal fashion. I always list my source, providing a link back. If you feel an image here violates your intellectual property and/or copyrights, please email your concerns to me (amyjotatum@gmail.com) and I will gladly remove the photos in question. Thank you!

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