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Who’s That Bridesmaid? Long, glamorous styles are bringing sleek, chic and plunging necklines to this oft-dreaded dress  2008's hottest trends for bridesmaids dresses include floor-length, accent sashes and a more formal style. Image courtesy Charsa Keeping it short and sweet – at knee-length and tea-length hems – was the overarching trend for bridesmaid dresses for the past five years, a welcome alternative to the less flattering, bulbous, balloon-sleeved dresses once foisted on these helpless attendants. Now, the fun and flirty bridesmaid dress is going glamorous for the spring season with longer styles as the fabled walk down the aisle for even the bridesmaid is getting dressier. No need for her to run amok, however. Designers such as Nicole Miller, Jenny Yoo, Coren Moore and Charsa are creating sleeker styles with clean details such as a contrast sash at the waist or a peek-a-boo back. “The tone is getting more formal in weddings and that’s translating to the bridesmaid dresses as well, which look more sophisticated,” says Sandra Usherov, showroom manager for New York-based Jenny Yoo. “The shapes are more modern, more form-fitting. It’s not the poufy dress of the past.” Jenny Yoo introduced a handful of long looks for the 2007 collection, including a V-neck wrap dress in silk charmeuse with a ruffled bias trim along the neckline, and a cutaway skirt and a strapless A-line dress in shantung with a triple-pleated waistband and a long train-wide sash in the back. Based on their sales success, the majority of the 2008 season will contain longer styles, Usherov says. Ready-to-wear influences are also guiding the more fashion-forward, longer silhouettes. “A lot of styles you see in clothing boutiques are translating over to the bridesmaid market,” says Charlene Scheil, founder and designer of Charsa Designs, San Francisco. Scheil says she added about eight floor-length bridesmaid styles for the spring 2008 line in silk dupioni and faille (a ribbed fabric similar in texture to grosgrain ribbon) with dropped waists, pleating and boning for support. Longer dresses with mermaid skirts, sweetheart necklines and back details are popular design requests at the Flair Bridesmaid Boutique, Boston, says owner Christine Colon. “Longer dresses are more fun than they used to be,” Colon says. “Designers are paying much more attention to style.” Also heightening the elegance of the dresses is the darker colors brides are selecting for their attendants. Neutrals in brown, navy and champagne are popular as are jewel tones like sapphire blue. And, making a more frequent appearance is the color black, once seen as an option for more somber occasions. “Brides are choosing black so their bridesmaids can wear these dresses again and again,” says Megan Duffley, owner of the Chic Bridesmaid Boutique, Plymouth, Mass. “Black is no longer seen as funeral clothing.” |
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