From Here to Eternity
On your wedding day, you want to feel pretty. Glamorous. Maybe even a little sexy. But most important, you want to feel like you. And now you can. After seasons of clean and simple gowns designed to be worn long after the wedding, designers showcased a glorious crop of once-in-a-lifetime wedding dresses made to fit the mindset of almost any kind of bride, whether you want to feel like silver-screen ingenue Audrey Hepburn, the sophisticated diva Elizabeth Taylor or the ever-elegant Grace Kelly.
On your wedding day, you want to feel pretty. Glamorous. Maybe even a little sexy. But most important, you want to feel like you. And now you can. After seasons of clean and simple gowns designed to be worn long after the wedding, designers showcased a glorious crop of once-in-a-lifetime wedding dresses made to fit the mindset of almost any kind of bride, whether you want to feel like silver-screen ingenue Audrey Hepburn, the sophisticated diva Elizabeth Taylor or the ever-elegant Grace Kelly.
“It’s an exciting time to be a bride,” says Yolanda Cellucci, owner of Yolanda Enterprises in Waltham. “There’s no right or wrong anymore. It’s all about your style and what you want to wear. The options are endless.”
To that end, expect to see gowns from all ends of the spectrum for spring—from romantic, ’60s-inspired fantasy-inducing styles with lots of ruffles and tiers designed by Angel Sanchez, to chaste ’50s-ish gowns with satin sashes, bateau necklines and full knee-length skirts from Romaona Keveza. And thanks to the popularity of destination weddings, there was an ever-increasing abundance of sexy beach-perfect styles with keyhole necklines, low-cut backs and abbreviated lengths—like those shown at Amy Michelson—designed to show off tanned skin and toned arms.
“There’s a big choice for the bride now,” says Salwa Khoory, owner of L’élite Boutique in Boston. “Every designer showcased gowns in every style, with design influences from almost every decade. It’s as if they were saying, ‘It’s the bride’s turn to decide how she wants to look and feel, and we’re ready for her.’”
On many runways, there was drama to be had on wedding gowns as more designers embraced a look that can only be described as Hollywood Glamour. “Gowns for spring look very high fashion, very haute couture,” says Mireille Stanbro, owner of Boutique La Reine in Boston. “Glamour is returning in a big way.” Designers like Monique Lhuillier and Ulla-Maija used dramatic details such as ruching (think Marilyn Monroe) and draping to make gowns look red-carpet ready. Sexy peek-a-boo keyholes—seen at Reem Acra—also upped the glamour quotient. And both Henry Roth and Stephen Yearick embraced the use of Swarovski crystals for a hint of sparkle that gives bridal gowns that undeniable opulence we’ve come to expect from a starlet.
When it came to specific trends, perhaps the most refreshing was the inventive use of color. Champagnes and blushes remain standard options, but this time around, befitting the spring season, Justina McCaffrey unveiled a hidden layer of cerulean blue concealed beneath a delicate lace overlay. Another popular hue for spring is gold, shown to great effect in sashes, ribbons and embroideries on gowns from designers like Reem Acra, Carolina Herrera and Lazaro. Vera Wang also gave her gowns a Midas touch—the best example being an ivory organza version with a modern, golden, deconstructed bow tied gloriously about the waist.
As far as fabrics go, chiffon is playing a starring role on wedding gowns. “It’s light and romantic and it rustles lightly as it moves with the wind,” says Cellucci, who added that the tiered look is very popular for a dreamy, romantic vibe. Quixotic looks were established with lace, says Khoory, which was used to create modern dress lines by designers such as Carolina Herrera, Vera Wang and Carmela Sutera. Also popular, says Cellucci, is silk charmeuse, as it’s lighter than satin and moves more gracefully about the body.
There’s also, undeniably, a return of the much-maligned tulle. “It’s just sneaking back,” Cellucci says, pointing to its use by designers like Richard Glasgow and Lazaro. But don’t expect to see the several-layer petticoats and severe jet-straight look that prevented brides from getting too close to their grooms in the past. Spring’s tulle is both subtler and softer. Says Cellucci: “It just floats.”
Florals also flourished. “They’re definitely moving in,” says Cellucci. “But they’re being used in inventive ways.” There were ball gowns done in modern all-over floral prints, like Carolina Herrera’s lavish organza version sprayed with daisies, bodices punctuated with big Carrie Bradshaw-style buds, and roses used to bustle skirts, like those presented by Justina McCaffrey. Stanbro’s favorite use of the trend arrived via skirts that featured flora either cascading down the side—with appliquéd silk-organza flowers on English net by Shannon McLean—or dancing around the hem.
Expect to see lots of stoles—as well as fur shrugs and chiffon wraps—for spring. Even more current, according to Roseanna Martino, owner of The Altered Bride in Boston, are abbreviated shrugs that fall just under the bustline, made from delicate crocheted mohair or lightweight cashmere in the palest blush pink.
Another strikingly of-the-moment look, says Martino, is a capelet crafted entirely of strings of pearls and crystals that is made to drape about the neck. Equally modish: a chiffon poncho with silk petals and leaves. “It’s an extremely dramatic option,” says Cellucci.
Other popular spring accessories, according to Martino, include hair combs and pins—which have surpassed tiaras in popularity—made with chunky clusters of crystals and pearls. Pins add a finishing touch pulled directly off the red carpet. Look for sparkling heirloom-inspired versions to punctuate gown straps, necklines and even backs.
When it comes to the bride’s most important accessory—her groom, of course—it has become quite clear that variety is once again in vogue. Today’s marrying men want options too. And they have them. According to Chris Incollingo, regional manager of Mr. Tux in Boston, 70 percent of his customers still opt for a traditional two- or three-button notch lapel tux, while the other 30 percent want something a little more fashion forward. No surprise, then, that some tuxedo pants have followed today’s trends in men’s fashion, moving away from stodgy pleats towards streamlined flat-fronts sans cuffs. Long formal ties in shades of silver, black and white continue to be important, says Incollingo, with colors like pink and ruby red expected to be popular for spring.
As far as jackets go, Incollingo points to the rise of the single-breasted two- and three- button tux jackets made with higher-button stances for a more modern edge. Mr. Tux also carries trendy tone-on-tone designs like pinstripes, windowpanes and corded looks from designers like Perry Ellis, Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein, to offer grooms even more fashionable choices.
For a groom who doesn’t mind standing out, After Six has crafted a new tuxedo hybrid called the “Seven.” It’s a cool combo of the suit and tux that features a “diamond” lapel (picture a notch lapel with the notch filled in).
Bottom line? Whether you’re a bride or groom, it’s your day to shine. “A few seasons ago, all the brides wanted ‘nonwedding wedding gowns’ they could wear again and again,” says Stanbro. Not so today, when individuality is the name of the game and the hunt is on for that one special gown, the one that lets you be you.