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Now Introducing the Stylish Bridesmaid New gowns eschew the frills and ruffles in favor of repeat usability, modern style.  Image courtesy Banana Republic The good news is that bridesmaid dresses no longer have to be the hideous contraptions that have long been fodder for movie and television jokes – not to mention real-life wedding days. That's a great relief if you've been avoiding your best friend, dodging her request to be a bridesmaid at her wedding. The not-so-good news is pink is back. But if you swore off pink after the high school prom, you do have other options. Popular clothing stores such as J.Crew and Ann Taylor are offering stylish dresses for bridesmaids. Designers are creating outfits you can customize to flatter your body and you can get the dress you're supposed to wear at a reasonable price, say wedding experts. Here's are some tips on what you can expect if you're shopping for bridesmaid dresses. Color It's not just Molly Ringwald who's "pretty in pink." "I'm seeing a return to pink in its many shades," says Lynda Barness, president of I Do Wedding Consulting in the Philadelphia area. "Fuchsia with a bright green sash accent is big," Barness says. Unfortunately, fuchsia, unlike navy, champagne or ivory, isn't the hue many women are likely to wear after the wedding. Speak up if you're presented with a color you don't like, says Diane Forden, editor-in-chief of Bridal Guide magazine in New York. "If the bridesmaids say the dress [color] isn't one they're crazy about the bride should accommodate them," Forden says. Length While long dresses are still fashionable, tea-length gowns that ends about three to four inches above the ankle are becoming more popular. Forden is seeing mid-calf length pleated skirts with halter-neck tops. "You can wear this as a dress to another wedding," she says. Cut "I'm seeing some really pretty dresses in simple lines," Barness says. She also notes the abundance of strapless dresses. "They're cut straight across the top, but not low-cut or terribly revealing. These flatter all bust sizes," Barness says. Fine fabrics, such as silk, call for dresses with clean lines and you'll see more of them, say the wedding consultants. Individualization If you don’t want to look like part of a matched set alongside the bride, relief is in store. "I'm seeing bridesmaids wearing the same style, but not exactly, Forden says. Separates allow bridesmaids to stick with one color but tailor the look. One woman might choose a sleeveless top, another a cap sleeve and a third with a slightly different skirt, according to Forden. Even if you're locked into one dress you can still express your individuality with your accessories. "Too much matching feeds into the cookie cutter look. The accessories don't have to match. You don't have to match the shoes. Choose a shoe style in silver or black or navy," Forden says. |
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