Well folks, lace and neutrals are not going away. These trends continue in many of the new fall bridesmaid collections, but a few designers have taken a fresh approach with floral-inspired laces and unique new shades. The color palette is shifting from bright summer hues to warm jewel tones like garnet and classic navy. A new trend that is popping up all over the place is the illusion neckline. Take a peek at the gallery for a few of our favorite Fall 2013 bridesmaid styles and let us know what you think in the comments.
Lace continues to be a strong trend this season. I love the scallop necklace detail in this swingy Donna Morgan dress, accessorized with a skinny metallic belt.
A different take on lace and neutral, two ongoing trends, from Lela Rose. The flowing chiffon skirt is balanced by the daisy lace top.
J.Crew introduced a lace collection in vibrant colors, like this bright poppy.
I like this variation on lace from the Dessy Group.
A new trend for Fall 2013 is the illusion neckline. This dress from Lela Rose is one of my favorite versions as the tiny gathers in the mesh adds detail and elegance.
J.Crew’s take on the illusion neckline, in a fun polka dot.
One of the season’s most popular colors—navy. I love the cap sleeves and V-neck illusion neckline—a total different take on this trend.
A touch of sequin at the neckline and waist in this Dessy Group style.
Another popular color this season is a deep crimson. I love the delicate layers of tulle in this BHLDN style.
A garnet style in flowing liquid jersey from J.Crew, with a unique pleated knot at the bust.
This velvet style from Donna Morgan is totally my wild card, but I kind of adore it for a winter wedding. The rich forest green is spectacular and velvet would be totally unexpected.
I’m loving the trend of farm-to-table weddings, when couples highlight local produce not only in their meals but in their overall theme. So why not let the bridesmaid look be inspired by some of your favorite dishes as well? Charleston Chef Maya teamed up with Reese Moore Weddings and Fabulous Fete to envision four bridesmaid looks based on fresh, seasonal dishes. First up, roasted butternut squash on a smooth ricotta and goat cheese mousse inspired a soft neutral gown with pops of sunset orange and pink in the flowers.
On the Sunny Side
Next, the perfect yolks of these huevos rancheros on petite black bean cakes were the inspiration for the sunshine yellow dress and matching gerber daisies.
Melon Perfection
These gorgeous melon cocktails with serrano ham roses provide the perfect palette for a coral dress and bouquet of ombre roses.
From the Sea
Charleston is renowned for its oysters, so a classic Oysters Rockefeller couldn’t be missed. The delicate shellfish piled high with sautéed spinach that almost mimics seaweed beautifully complements a sea foam green dress.
Yesterday I had the treat (chai tea included) of shopping BHLDN’s Pop-Up Bridal Shop on the Upper East Side, in New York until Oct. 20. If you’re not familiar with BHLDN (pronounced “Beholden,” by the way), you’re in for a feast of delight. Anthropologie’s sister store brings the Anthro style to wedding attire, with unique gowns and dresses that feature tons of lace, shimmer, ruffles and beading. The styles are feminine and soft, but definitely stand out from the crowd. Many of the gowns on offer strayed from traditional wedding white, moving toward sandy tans, soft greys and even pale pinks. The shop features a selection of wedding gowns, reception dresses, fine jewelry, and bridal headpieces. (Sorry, no shoes ladies.)
Though they didn’t stock their full bridesmaid collection (curses!), there are a few dresses for the maids and a lot of short reception dresses that would work for bridesmaids in need of neutral and white dresses, which continues to be a huge bridesmaid trend. Of course, I had to try on a few things! Here are my two favorites (please excuse horrid selfies).
I almoooooost bought this one, even though I have no occasion on which to wear it. Should an occasion present itself, I will be on the website in a heartbeat. The cut is incredibly flattering and the lace is just beautiful. This one was super fun and would make a great party dress as well. The best part was that even though it’s covered in beads, it’s incredibly comfortable and not too heavy. Would be a great dancing dress!
BHLDN Pop-Up Shop | Oct 14–20 | @ Anthropologie 1230 Third Ave, between 71st and 72nd Streets
Check out our special feature on Weddings Illustrated today, where I’m sharing my tips for keeping your bridesmaid look trendy but timeless. We’ve all had this experience: You’re flipping through an old wedding album—even one from just a few years back—and your eyes land on the bridesmaid dresses. The inevitable question pops into your mind: What exactly was the bride thinking? Avoid this situation with my four easy tips—or maybe just embrace it!
True Blu founder Rosie has a knack for putting together stunning looks, so I asked her to share two ensembles for a classy bachelorette bash: one for the bride and one for her bridesmaids. Rosie chose classic white for the bride with a modern peplum hem to keep the look fresh and accessorized with metallic gold and a little bit of sparkle. For the bridesmaids, bright fuchsia really pops in this ruffled but sophisticated dress. The pink is carried through in the accessories, with a touch of glitter to make the look as festive as can be. I can totally see these at a glamorous champagne brunch bridal shower or at a rooftop lounge for a bachelorette bash.
1. Peplum dress by Alice + Olivia 2. Gold pennant necklace from Madewell 3. Gold belt from MSGM 4. Wedding belles clutch from Kate Spade 5. Crossover slingback metallic sandals from Zara
I also had to take the opportunity to chat with Rosie about starting a blog for bridesmaids, with a focus on fashion and pre-wedding events.
So, tell me about how True Blu began. When did you start the blog and where did the idea come from?
Well, after getting married in 2007 I couldn’t for the life of me stop browsing through wedding magazines. My wedding was being replayed over and over again. Is there anything that could’ve been done differently? These thoughts played in my mind repeatedly, and with good reason. You see, during the planning of my wedding many of my friends looked to me for advice on assisting them to assist me. My first reaction was “I’m fine…I have it all covered.” Which was definitely not the case. I tried my best not to reach out to avoid being that annoying nagging bride. What I didn’t realize was that my friends sincerely wanted to help me. Funny thing is I’m also the over excited friend that takes initiative to plan the bridal shower and bachelorette party for family members. So I guess in hindsight it all makes sense, right?
Weeks passed, and I realized that I should start a business related to helping the friends of the bride. Over the years, I brainstormed and finally decided to create an online resource to helping the friends of the bride with advice and tips, bridal shower and bachelorette party planning. I officially launched the blog last summer but didn’t really start devoting actual time until October.
I decided to call the blog True Blu as a symbol of friendship. True Blu by definition is someone who displays unwaveringly or staunch loyalty.
Has your vision for the blog changed at all since you first started?
It actually has changed just slightly. Initially, I wanted to feature content that I would never feature today. Some would call it a little risqué and possibly offensive. I soon shifted gears and after doing more thorough research decided to take the blog in a different direction.
Is there an article or topic you’re most proud of? What articles or post seem to resonate with your readers?
This is kind of tough. Hmm…it would have to be the inspiration boards and fashion collages I’ve personally created. It’s a long and daunting process looking for the right image for each board or collage, but I find it rather enjoyable. Readers tend to love these as well since it allows them to visually start planning for their friend’s pre-wedding fete.
I’m really inspired by the fact that you’re putting together your own inspiration shoots. How did that come about?
Aw, thanks Caitlin! In the process of starting my blog I knew I wanted to actually create my own photo shoots (with the help of extremely talented vendors, of course). Seeing that there was little visual inspiration online dedicated to bridal showers and more specifically to bachelorette parties, I felt there was a definite void. And the best part is always the end result!
So, let’s talk about something. More and more I’m seeing photo shoots with mismatched bridesmaid dresses and finding out they come from surprising sources or were pulled straight from the bridesmaids’ closets. But the girls I know in real life seem to still be ordering from traditional bridal retailers, like Alfred Sung, J.Crew or David’s Bridal. It got me thinking. Where do most people actually end up ordering their dresses? Are brides still turning to traditional retailers or branching out to smaller online shops? How many people are given free reign to choose a dress they like as long as it’s in a certain color, or even just pull something from the closet at home? And is the trend to splurge on a high-end style or go for the affordable steal? And so, a poll!
You can vote for more than one option, so you can include both the dresses you selected for your own wedding and any dresses you’ve worn as a bridesmaid for your friends’ weddings. Your dress not listed? Please write it in and leave details in the comments below! I’m really interested to see what we discover!
We may be slowly moving away from the traditional bridesmaid dress search as it becomes more and more common for brides to choose mismatched dresses or leave the choice of dress up to their bridesmaids. That said, while plenty of brides may encourage you to wear something you own or pick up something cute in a particular color palette, many, many brides are still going to opt for the traditional matching gowns. In that case, here’s what you need to know about shopping for bridesmaid dresses from a bridal retailer.
Before you go
1. You need an appointment. Shopping for bridal attire isn’t as easy as stopping by your local department store. Call ahead and let them know how many girls will be coming in. If there is a particular designer or dress you are hoping to try on, make sure to confirm that they carry it. Nothing is worse than showing up to your appointment only to find that they don’t carry the dresses you wanted to try on…even though their website said they did.
2. Be prepared to work with a “bridal consultant.” Most bridal stores work using consultants, which are salespeople who pull styles for you and basically chaperone you around the store. This can be disconcerting, especially your first time. No one really likes someone hovering over them while they try to make a decision. A good bridal consultant can be helpful, so start out friendly. But if your consultant is making you nervous or putting pressure on you to buy, don’t be afraid to ask for some space. Once the consultant has brought you the dresses, say “Can you give me a few minutes? I’d like to have some time to really think everything over.” They should take the hint and take a step back.
3. Do your research and come prepared. Some bridal stores may have racks that you can peruse, but others will keep only a few samples on the floor and consultants will collect dresses you want to try on. The more prepared you are, the more productive your trip will be. If you have specific dresses in mind, come with printouts and style numbers. If you don’t know quite what you’re looking for yet, try to make a few decisions before you arrive. What color are you looking for? What length? What type of fabric? Consult our guide to bridesmaid dress fabrics and finishes here to get an idea.
At your appointment
4. Wear a strapless bra and bring high heels. You’ll want to see how the dress falls with heels and have the proper undergarments so you can get the full effect. If you plan to wear your hair up, have a hair tie to pull it back as well.
5. They’ll only have dresses in one or two sizes. This is one of the most frustrating parts of the process. Though some retailers are exceptions (David’s Bridal carries a full range of sizes), most traditional bridal boutiques only carry gowns in a sample size. This varies from store to store, and some will carry two sizes, a smaller and larger. In my experience, the sizes I most often see are a 6 and a 12, with an occasional sighting of an 8 or 10. If you’re tiny, the bridal consultant will have clips to help cinch in the dress so you can get an idea of the silhouette. If you typically wear over a size 12 or want to try on a maternity style, a traditional bridal appointment may let you down.
I know what you’re thinking. Wait, if I can’t try on the dresses in my size, how am I supposed to know if it will look good? Excellent question. Seriously. Continue reading →
