Pages

Your Homework: Bridesmaids Dresses

Sunday, June 25, 2006

I was recently thrilled to be asked to participate in my first wedding, which will take place next May [jumps up and down with excitement; small girly squeal]. The bride also enlisted me for a little bridesmaids dress-hunting help. Now this is not exactly an area I am particularly familiar with (my own wedding will undoubtedly be something along the lines of a Vegas free-for-all, for which I will be able to justify several great designer outfits. Wedding dresses are nice and stuff, but I'd rather spend my money on Prada!) Still, I am taking my bridesmaid responsibilities seriously – nobody likes a bridal party slacker – and have been doing some scouting around.

Realization: Finding cute bridesmaids dresses is *hard*, even when you've established some simple basic criteria (non-strapless, non-pastel, non-outrageously expensive). Mega-bridal sites like The Knot and WeddingChannel.com do compile bridal party dress suggestions – but thousands and thousands of them. Trust me, once you've clicked past your 85th fuschia satin halter dress (yep, there's apparently still a humongous market for fuschia satin), you're ready to hang yourself with a color-coordinated chiffon scarf.

The other slightly tricky thing is that there are six of us bridesmaids for this wedding, so buying cute dresses from a regular store – which is what I would normally suggest to escape the glut of shiny pastels – could get problematic in trying to coordinate.

At best, I could come up with this, which is kinda pricey but which I love:
Vera Wang tulle gown, $330:

(Incidentally, I have to say that Vera Wang's Maids collection – created for bridesmaids, but really just a line of formal dresses – is a great source for black-tie attire. My favorite formal dress is a simple floor-length black Vera Wang dress that I've worn to a bunch of fancy functions. Even better: If you happen to, say, get a wee bit tipsy and spill wine down the front, it's likely no one will be able to tell.)

I also suggested something like this:
J. Crew Avery silk long cross-backed dress [but in black], $295

I also think a tea-length dress is very often overlooked, and can be very classic and pretty:
Vera Wang Bobinette high-neck dress, $260

Really, if it were MY wedding, I would be tempted to go with this:
Diane Von Furstenberg Jolie Empire-Waist dress [but in black], just knocked down to $165:

But… the bride requested floor-length. Apparently, church and knees do not mix. I am still desperately coveting this dress for myself, however.

I think the bride's ideal bridesmaid dress might be something like this, but in black and floor-length (and my suggestion would be a long, contrasting cream silk ribbon at the empire waist):

And so, a desperate plea! Can those of you with Actual Wedding Experience suggest any stores or sites to check out? Comments or e-mails would be highly appreciated.

8 comments :

Erin S. said...

For my wedding last August, I went with Aria bridesmaid dresses--extremely simple silk shantung in any possible color. Most of the styles are tea length, but there is a nice strapless floor length dress. See here.

They only sell thru their showrooms in LA, DC and Boston or online, but they have an easy to use try-on-by-mail program to test a style/size of dress out if you can't get to the store. Also, they make ties for the guys from the same silk if ya want.

Like your site quite a bit--you have a great sense of style.

Blogging Masterclass said...

I love love love www.simpledress.com

Holly

Sharon Fujimoto-Johnson said...

Have you seen Jim Hjelm's dresses? I think they're quite elegant.

http://www.jimhjelmoccasions.com/

Anonymous said...

if you can't get to the store. Also, they make ties for the guys from the same silk if ya want.
sharp BT-L221 battery
sharp BT-L441 battery
sharp BT-H21 battery
sharp BT-H22 battery
sharp VL-SE20U battery
sharp VL-SE50U battery
sharp VL-SW50 battery
kyocera BP-780S battery
kyocera SL300RT battery

kyocera RBP-780 battery
kyocera BP-1500S battery
kyocera BP1500S battery
ricoh DB-40 battery
ricoh DB40 battery
ricoh DB-20 battery
ricoh DB-20L battery
ricoh RDC-6000 battery
ricoh RDC-i500 battery

ricoh RDC-i700 battery
ricoh DB-40 battery
ricoh DB-43 battery
ricoh SLB-1137 battery
ricoh DB70 battery
ricoh DB-70 battery
ricoh DB80 battery
ricoh DB-80 battery
pentax DLi8 battery

Anonymous said...

Wholesale lingerie directly from China?
As a famous brand and specialized manufacturer of sexy clothing in China. We supply the international market with fashionable sexy lingerie and sexy costume since 2002. With advanced technology,all our products are of high quality. Now we have clients all around the world. Lingerie Wholesale and OEM are welcomed!

As a Lingerie Manufacturer, Charmingirl has standard workshop and production line, professional designers and experienced workers.
We do Wholesale Underwear,
Lingerie Wholesale, including corset and bustier,
Sexy Lingerie Wholesale, including bikini, underwear
Lingerie Wholesale, and Babydolls, Sexy Lingerie Wholesale, and
Sexy Lingerie Wholesale including sleepwear,clubwear.
Lingerie Wholesale from China: Lingerie China, you will find the
Leather Lingerie and PVC Lingerie, also you can buy
Christmas Costume and Xmas Lingerie
for your Christmas Lingerie Christmas day.
Our Wholesale center: Sexy Lingerie Wholesale can do Lingerie Wholesale online.
Halloween Costume,
also wholesale Adult Costume with fashion Babydoll Babydoll, and bra and panties Bra and Panties, Sexy Uniform Sexy Uniform is also our major products.
we have strong ability on production, research and technology, advanced facilities that is imported fromGermany and Japan, now our monthly output is 100000 pcs.

Anonymous said...

I usually buy the dofus kamas.
I hope i can get kamas in low price.
Ibuy dofus kamas for you.
dofus gold is present for you.
Do you like cheap kamas?

Anonymous said...

ugg boots
uggs
ugg australia
ugg boots
uggs
ugg australia
tiffany jewellery
tiffany jewelry
tiffany
tiffany jewellery
tiffany jewelry
tiffany
tiffany jewellery
tiffany jewelry
tiffany
tiffany jewellery
tiffany jewelry
tiffany
tiffany jewellery
tiffany jewelry
tiffany
tiffany jewellery
tiffany jewelry
tiffany
Tiffany Bracelets
Tiffany Rings
Tiffany Sets
Tiffany Bracelets
Tiffany Rings
Tiffany Sets
Tiffany Bracelets
Tiffany Sets
Tiffany Rings
ugg classic tall boots

platnumcn said...

Louis Vuitton Bags Nike Dunks Blog Tiffany Jewlery ed hardy clothing Nike Dunk Louis Vuitton Wallets Nike Dunks and Louis Vuitton Fashion Blog Jordan Shoes Louis Vuitton Bag gucci bags
gucci handbags hermes bag alexander wang bag miu miu bag nike dunk nike dunks nike dunks Louis Vuitton Bags Louis Vuitton Bag
Gucci Bags Hermes Bag nike air force Jordan Shoes Nike Air Yeezy Louis Vuitton Bags ugg boots Gucci bags Gucci bag Nike Dunks Nike sb