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The
theory of the shifting erogenous zone ensures that fashions
are never static; last season’s exposed navel will be
passé by the time dress designers rediscover the female
neck.
But
glamour remains the in-word for bridal attire. Asymmetrical
hemlines and chain-mail are mere blinks of the eye when
it comes to the ageless, timeless look that only a perfect
wedding ensemble can create.
Glamour,
whether understated or flamboyant, remains the key look
for gowns. Strapless styles seem set to reign - within
reason.
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Wedding
gowns that could easily double for ballgowns have all
the attributes of yesteryear’s salons. Classic A-lines
and fitted sheaths alike are coming back into fashion.
Like
the crystal touches on the much photographed gown worn
by Catherine Zeta-Jones’, ornamentation is merely a
finishing touch, and mainly confined to bodices.
A
wedding gown is the only item of clothing in a woman’s
life that makes her completely and totally the star
of the show. This happens because not only does she
not have to compete with anyone else wearing a similar
item of clothing, but because a wedding is her day - one
that she chooses to share with her husband.
Finding
an affordable gown doesn’t mean compromising one’s wishes,
or burning a hole in one’s budget, or going for a style
that would otherwise have been dated.
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One
present trend is for a prospective bride to collect
press cuttings of film stars or other personalities,
on their wedding day, in the hope of purchasing something
similar from the shops.
Wedding
salon owners are inundated with pictures of recently-hitched
brides, rather as if bridal trends could be exemplified
by what people with mega-budgets and questionable tastes
choose to wear on their wedding day... which may or
may not be a sponsored publicity stunt anyway.
But it
doesn’t hurt to look - or to dream.
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Each
star’s gown could have cost something in the region
of Lm2,000 - mere peanuts when one has a megasalary
or commands high fees for publicity appearances, let
alone a starring role in a film.
The
bride with a more modest expense account hopes to find
the equivalent, of course, for much less. But just because
a gown suited someone with whom we feel an affinity
(all right then, someone whom we hero{ine}-worship!)
it does not mean it will suit us.
It
is traditional to keep your gown away from the eyes
of your intended - Madonna managed to keep it
well away from the eyes of the world too, until the
crucial moment. Designed by Stella McCartney, it was
strapless with a full skirt and the waist of the fitted
bodice was accented with a sash that combined the Union
Jack and the American Flag. Kitsch, if you like, but
Madonna re-invents her image, it seems, every time she
goes to the bathroom.
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Strapless
styles remain amongst the most important bridal styles.
Variations on the theme include ball gowns with full
tulle Cinderella-like skirts, as well as more streamlined
A-line designs in matte satins, often accented with
delicate embroidery or lace patterns, or, occasionally,
genuine antique lace seamlessly incorporated into the
design.
Hollywood’s
newest second-generation darling, Kate Hudson, married
last January. Her attire was the perfect choice for
the cool Aspen, Colorado location of her wedding. Her
parents Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell never actually
got around to tying the knot themselves.
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Their
daughter grasped the opportunity to wear her exquisite
Vera Wang gown and matching fur trimmed full-length
coat.
Wedding
coats and capes, if the weather calls for them, could
be the next big thing for brides. They are ideal to
wear over bare looks for winter weddings when travelling
the ceremony to the reception.
The
petite Catherine Zeta Jones was ample proof that true
glamour never goes out of style. Her fitted Christian
Lacroix ivory sheath was accented with stardust embroidery
on the bodice and was a knockout with a fishtail train,
offering a stunning back view as the bride walked down
the aisle.
If
one has the figure for them, streamlined sheaths are
timeless. The new Mrs Douglas topped off her wedding
dress with an antique jewelled tiara. Tiaras are the
latest headpiece of choice for the bride... even if
their ATM cards do not stretch to the real thing in
gemstones.
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