Rachel M. Johnson is a lover of all things pop culture. She's been writing about music and entertainment online for years.

Taylor Swift's Red Carpet Hits

Taylor Swift first burst onto the music scene with the release of her self-titled debut album in 2006. Since then, she's had five more record-breaking albums and received 10 Grammy Awards, 23 American Music Awards, 23 Billboard Music Awards, and 12 Country Music Association Awards (among many more accolades). Swift is one of the best-selling music artists of all time, having sold more than 40 million albums and 120 million single downloads. With a resume as impressive as hers and a career spanning 13 years, the songstress has served up many fabulous moments on the red carpet. Let's take a look at her top ten red carpet outfits.

1. 2016 Vanity Fair Oscar Party

Taylor Swift rocked this sexy, skin-baring black Alexandre Vauthier gown at the 2016 Vanity Fair Oscar Party. The singer took the red carpet by storm, not only with her freshly chopped bob but also with the plunging dress and thigh high slit. The whole look was complimented with a Jimmy Choo clutch and gold Giuseppe Zanotti shoes that paired stunningly with the gown. The fashion moment was a daring look for the hit-maker, and remains one of her best and most sexy to date.

2. 2016 Grammy Awards

The songstress was the talk of the night when she opted out of a gown in favor of a two piece, colorful Atelier Versace ensemble. The orange bandeau top matched her lipstick shade and the hot pink skirt was flirty and just the right amount of sexy. The outfit was custom made for her and she paired it with a diamond choker and Stuart Weitzman heels. It’s no wonder the ensemble truly made Swift stand out and demand the attention of everyone attending.

3. 2014 Met Gala

Swift expressed it was “a daydream realized” when she rocked a customized Oscar de la Renta ballgown to the 2014 Met Gala. The singer looked sophisticated and chic in the floor-length, blush satin-faced organza gown with matte gold sequins and rose gold metallic thread work leaves. Swift truly looked both like sweet and stunning in the dress, which she paired with minimal jewelry and her signature red lip. The simple elegance of the gown made the whole look effortless.

4. 2014 ACM Awards

The songstress definitely loves her crop top ensembles! Swift strutted her stuff in this J.Mendel white crop top with cutout detailing and a black, floor-length skirt with a thigh-high slit at the 2014 ACM Awards. She wore her hair in tousled curls and minimal jewelry, and of course rocked a red lip. During this time the singer began to move away from the glitter and the glam, and opted for a more mature and sexy style that clearly worked for her.

5. 2013 Winter Whites Gala

At the 2013 Winter Whites Gala, Swift absolutely stunned in a crystal gown with a full white skirt and embellished top. She looked lovely and ethereal in the dress, with her hair worn in an elegant updo that framed her face beautifully. Not only did she have a fabulous fashion moment, but she also was able to chat it up with Prince William himself. Not a bad way to spend the evening!

6. 2015 Grammy Awards

The hit-maker definitely turned heads when she showed up to the 2015 Grammy Awards in a beautiful ocean blue-green Elie Saab dress. The gown featured a floor-sweeping voluminous skirt over a mini-skirt. Swift accented the dress with matching green emerald earrings and bright purple Giuseppe Zanotti heels. She truly looked like a cool drink of water, and the unique and dramatic flow of the gown set her apart from the other attendees.

7. 2018 Billboard Music Awards

Va va voom! The Grammy-winner flashed some major leg when she showed up to the Billboard Music Awards in a blush-hued Versace number. The gown featured a gorgeous slit up the side that accented her hip with feather appliqué and silver floral. It was also a unique choice as it had one shoulder of the gown paired with the feathers, and was beautifully draped down her back. The other side had a simple strap that further complimented the look. Swift truly looked like a stunning Grecian goddess!

8. 2013 CMA Awards

Swift looked ravishing in red when she rocked an embroidered satin gown to the 2013 CMA Awards. The scarlet number was designed by Elie Saab and added a flair of drama to the evening. The look was completed with Jimmy Choo shoes and Lorraine Schwartz jewels that paired beautifully with the bold gown. The fashion moment stood out that night, with the scarlet shade demanding attention.

9. 2014 MTV Video Music Awards

In a more daring style choice, the songstress put her long legs to good use when she wore this sexy Mary Katrantzou romper to the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards. The turquoise printed number turned heads when she strutted down the red carpet, and the ensemble was paired with maroon Elie Saab shoes and wavy, tousled hair. The look was unexpected for Swift, who had been sporting more crop tops that year. Unique as it was, there’s no denying the singer pulled it off well.

10. 2012 CMA Awards

The singer looked every bit the belle of the ball when she arrived at the 2012 CMA Awards in a nude lace Jenny Packham gown, that was covered with sparkly red petals. With her long hair flowing in loose waves over her shoulders and red lip, Swift truly looked like a vision at the show. The ensemble was elegant and effortlessly sweet, and the floral touches gave the whole look a chic and airy finish.

© 2019 Rachel M Johnson

Comments

Rachel M Johnson (author) on April 21, 2020:

Hi Tiarna, I absolutely loved the pink dress she wore too! That and the Vanity Fair Oscar Party gown are my favorites!

Tiarna Georghiou from Brisbane, Australia on April 20, 2020:

I 100% agree with your selection!! My personal favourite is her gorgeous pink dress at the Met Gala in 2014.

Charlotte likes pretty things, and she loves the beach, sushi, coffee and seashells.

What the Dark Galaxy Glow-In-The-Dark-Dress Looks Like

I wanted to take this moment to review a dress I recently bought at Hot Topic. The dress is the Dark Galaxy Glow-In-The-Dark Dress, the Plus Size edition. The dress is 38 inches long and 95% polyester and 5% spandex. The beautiful, lightweight fabric, extra arm room, fitted waist, the delicate way that it hangs, and extraterrestrial purple color sold this dress for me. This dress retailed at close to 45 dollars, not including any discounts, which do become available from time to time at Hot Topic. I love this dress, and it's become one of my favorites.

Sizing for Hot Topic Glow-In-The-Dark Dress

The plus sizes range from zero to five, and according to the size/fit guide at Hot Topic, a zero is a size 12. A one is a size 14/16; a size two is size 18/20. Size three is 22/24, size four is 24/26, size five is 26/28, and size six is an equivalent to a size 30. As for me, I fall within the size two range or size 20 scope at Hot Topic. I am about 288 pounds at 5'5, and my measurements are 47 chest size, 47 waist size, 54 inch hip circumference, with a 40B size brassiere measurement. These figures are quite crucial because purchasing dresses online can be tricky. Usually, the models represented do not adequately replicate a real-life figure. Real life figures range in size, shape, length, width. In my case, I am more pear shaped, carrying most of my weight near my hips and rear end while being mostly flat-chested for a plus-sized woman. My most significant problem areas with dresses are usually the sleeves. My arms are rather large and typically plus-sized dresses with any sleeve constrict or get 'stuck' at my upper arm area, and therefore, are deemed unwearable.

Details Regarding Glow-In-The-Dark Dress

I did purchase the dark galaxy glow-in-the-dark dress, plus size edition, online. I was worried about it initially due to the sleeve on it. Upon feeling the fabric, the fabric is bouncy, smooth, fresh, and stretchy. It's wonderful! It's genuinely flowy and casual. At 5'4, the length hit at my knees, and even though the front panel seems more for more prominent busted women, it has a lovely ruching pattern that is very forgiving in the chest and stomach area. It fits perfectly at the waist and feels so gossamer-like. The colors of the fabric are completely beautiful, and the star patterns seem to shine. The Glow-in-the-dark effect is impressive, as the more exposed to light the dress is, the more the vibrancy of the glow is at night. This looks awesome under a blue-light as well. I was pleased to discover that the sleeves were flared and accommodate larger arm sizes. The neckline is modest and comes to a soft v point in the middle, introducing the ruched bust. The best part? This dress has pockets!

How to Wear This Dress

There's no tulle or gauze underneath, so the dress is excellent for those with slight sensory issues. It's also great for those who prefer a lighter, breezier, galaxy kind of dress that can be dressed up with a great pair of shoes or dressed down with a boat style shoe, or even gothed up with sexy lace-up boots. I wear this dress with my Sperry shoe's. I wear it when we go shopping at the craft store, or when we go visit my parents or father in law. On a breezy day, it's best to wear some kind of shorts underneath, as the wind can pick up this dress pretty quickly due to it's lightweight fabric!

© 2017 Charlotte Doyle

REAL Fashionista doing it her own way! Ms. Monae enjoys sharing her styling tips and ideas. Looking, feeling, smelling like a million bucks.

4 Dresses That Hide the Tummy

Belly bulge can be very embarrassing if you’re not wearing the right clothing. Maybe you’re having a hard time losing the belly bulge, and that’s okay. At least you’re trying. We all know that belly fat is hard to lose. While you’re working on getting it right and tight, you can still dress sexy and confident. Sometimes we just need a little guidance when picking the right outfit. In this article, I’ve handpicked four gorgeous dress styles. These dresses will help camouflage your tummy area while showing off your beautiful assets. Choose styles that work for your body type and party like it’s 1999!

The Illusion Dress

The Illusion dress does exactly what its name implies. This dress creates an illusion of a shapely silhouette. It outlines your curves and camouflages the stomach area at the same time. This gives your body a flawless and smooth appearance. The patterns in an illusion dress really do play tricks on the eyes. The eyes are forced to look at the pattern, so any imperfections are less noticeable. The elusiveness of the illusion dress makes it a clear winner for covering up belly bulge. The illusion dress has a sophisticated look that can be worn in and out of the office.

The Illusion Dress

The Wrap Dress

The wrap dress is elegant and offers a cozy feel around the hips and stomach area. It hides the belly bulge by giving you an extra layer of fabric to streamline your look. This lovely dress shows off your neckline, bust area, and waist. Some styles are tied at the side, and others have a wrap made into the dress. The wrapping around the waist makes the hips pop! Curves are awesome, and if someone begs to differ, they don’t know what they’re talking about. The wrap dress is perfect for semi-formal or formal events. No need for bold accessories because this dress speaks for itself.

The Empire Dress

The empire dress frames and flows, showing off your bust area and cascading down your waist. This dress comes in many beautiful casual and formal styles. Solids are great, but the patterned and colored styles are awesome. The longer dress styles work best because they not only hide the tummy area but also the thighs and legs. The empire dress directs the eyes to your top half and slowly guides them downward. Some styles are sleeveless and are great for summer outings. You can add a bolero or shrug for warmth or to add a more dramatic look. The empire dress is versatile and can’t be ignored.

The Ruched Dress

What is ruched you say? The ruched dress gathers at and controls the mid-section. The subtle coverage is so very flattering, almost alluring. These dresses can be sassy and classy and usually hug the body. We all love hugs, don't we? There are all types of sexy ruched dress styles. Some give just a little slimming coverage putting emphases on the waist and hips. There are other styles that drape over the tummy area covering it up completely. The ruched dress shows off the hips in a bold way while hiding the tummy. This is my “go-to” party dress for when I’m in a razzle-dazzle kind of mood.

The Ruched Dress

Reader's Poll

Love Your Body

The key to hiding a not so flat tummy is to draw the eyes away from that area. Show off your beautiful features by wearing clothing that accentuates your best assets. All dresses weren’t made for everyone. Your body type will influence what dress style will look good on you. If you choose styles that work best for your body type you will always look good and feel confident. My articles focus mainly on the pear-shaped body because it’s my body type and what I know. Love your body and be mindful of how to appropriately dress it. These 4 dresses will hide the tummy and help you achieve a great look. Add these styles to your wardrobe and feel confident and sexy every time you put on a dress.

© 2017 Miss Monae

Comments

Sherl on June 08, 2018:

Beautiful love the look

Miss Monae (author) from North Carolina on February 09, 2017:

Thank You MsDora for reading. The wrap dress is also one of my faves next to ruched. Comfortable and flawless.

Dora Weithers from The Caribbean on February 09, 2017:

Thanks for all these suggestions. If I could have all wrap dresses, I would be happy.

My area of study is fashion merchandising. But I have a secret weapon—I love to write a lot about fashion.

The History of the T-Shirt

Everyone knows that the basic T-shirt is recognized to be a plain shirt with short sleeves and a round crew neck with no collar. It was labeled the "T-shirt" because of the T-shape of the shirt from the sleeves to the substructure. In the early 1900s, the basic T-shirt was only used as an undergarment for men. After the Great Depression in the United States, it then became an everyday garment that both men and women wore openly.

How T-Shirts Are Used in Today's Fashion

Now, fast forward a couple of years later into the world of sparkles, lace, and 6-inch heels. Since the basic T-shirt is a plain shirt, you can easily find it a little difficult to change it into a fabulous outfit from a fashion magazine. How can the basic T-shirt compete with the latest styles, colors, and more polished fabrics and textiles? Well, I've discovered that almost anyone can convert the basic T-shirt into five lovely dresses with no sewing.

Widely, if your personal style is a classic "girly girl" or you just generally love clothes and fashion, then knowing how to convert your basic style into five dresses may be appealing to you. Fortunately, there are a variety of ways to style, dress up, and design the basic t-shirt today and I'm so glad that I've discovered a few ways to accomplish that. It will only take a few minutes of your time and before you know it, you will be proudly parading your lovely dresses at the beach, school or a summer party.

How to Convert a T-Shirt Into a Dress Without Sewing

The only supplies you will need is a basic T-shirt in extra-large.

1. The Tube T-Shirt Dress

Take your extra-large shirt and put it on, but instead of putting your arms into the sleeves, place your arms inside the opening of the neck. Now take the sleeves, bring it behind you and tie a knot with the sleeves to create a bow in the back. Be sure you make a secure knot in the back to prevent the sleeves from falling apart.

Tip: To style your dress, you can dress it up by adding a few of your favorite trendy accessories.

I incorporated some sparkle by wearing a dazzling diamond scoop necklace and earrings. I chose to add a rope belt to accentuate my waistline. To finish the look I included a clutch purse and some classic pumps and called it a day. With the tube dress, you can pull off wearing this to a nice summer party.

2. The Front Bow T-Shirt Dress

With the second dress you are going to repeat the same steps as the "Tube T-shirt Dress," but this time instead of taking the sleeves and tying them in the back, bring the sleeves to the front and tie a knot. Tie the knot as neatly as possible to showcase a really nice bow in the front.

Tip: Wear your hair up or in a ponytail for a more polished look.

I decided not to wear a necklace for this dress but make a bold statement with a pair of big flashy earrings. I added a nice white blazer for sophistication and class. I love bling so I cannot forget my favorite pair of emerald green pumps. You can wear the "Front Bow T-shirt Dress" to a party or on a cozy date night with your beau.

3. The High-Waist T-Shirt Dress

Slip into another T-shirt and place both arms into the neck hole of the shirt. Grab both sleeves and make sure your T-shirt is straight or in the right position. Take the right sleeve and cross it towards your left shoulder, then tuck the right sleeve into the top of the dress. Now do the same with the left sleeve. Take the left sleeve, cross it towards the right shoulder and tuck it into the top of the dress (or tuck the sleeves into your bra).

Tip: Don't forget to wear a strapless push-up bra with your dress for a more elegant look or form.

I love tights so I am wearing my dress with leopard print tights and a long black cardigan for a different style. My favorite pair of wedge heels add a little touch of spunk and it's the perfect match for this dress. Eye-catching gold jewelry and a clutch purse is a must have for this look.

4. The Faux Pockets T-Shirt Dress

Put on your T-shirt and put your arms through the neck opening of the shirt. This time you do not tie the sleeves or do anything but put them into the dress to create fake pockets. If you don't like the faux pockets, just sew the edges of the sleeves, tuck them back in and you will have real pockets.

Tip: It's best to steam press or iron your T-shirt for a more sleek and tailored form.

I'm rocking a thin bright-colored belt above the pockets to cinch in the waist and to reveal a softer silhouette. Short silver-studded combat boots is a great addition to the outfit. I am also parading my dress with ethnic print tights, bold jewelry, and with my hair pulled back into a low bun.

Faux Pockets

5. The Off-the-Shoulder T-Shirt Dress

Get dressed and put on your T-shirt, but this time instead of putting both arms through the neck of the shirt, only put in your left arm through the neck of the shirt. Next, you are going to put your right arm through the right sleeve. To create a "no sleeve" style tuck in your right sleeve at the shoulder. Then, you are going to grab the left sleeve and tuck it down into the dress to create a faux pocket on the other side.

Tip: Don't be afraid to wear big and bold accessories and play with the look of your dress. Let the inner diva come through and be a little sassy.

I am going for a more crisp and refined look with this dress. So I'm sporting a wide cinch belt to emphasize an hourglass shape and to accentuate my waist. To differently style this dress I've added sparkle by wearing my favorite chandelier earrings and I also layered a pearl necklace for a bit of elegance. I can't forget my black closed toe flats with faux metal studs to finish the look.

In closing, knowing how to convert your basic T-shirt into five dresses with no sewing, is a cute and quite neat discovery that adds a bit of creativity and design to any fashion wardrobe. Remember, you don't have to buy a plain white style to create your own dress.

You can recycle and use one of your boyfriend's shirts or any of your shirts. You can also use printed styles and those with different colors to incorporate your own spin into your dress. Enjoy your five different dresses and be the first to set a trend!

Where to Buy a Basic T-Shirt

Choose Your Favorite Dress!

Comments

Kathy on January 11, 2015:

Boy that relaly helps me the heck out.

PrincessJoy101 (author) from Fort Lauderdale, Florida on August 22, 2014:

Thanks everybody!!! I realized that there are a lot of ways to style your basic t-shirt and I wanted to show that and take it to the next level, making it trendy. Glad you all enjoyed my hub.

PrincessJoy101 ;)

Kim on August 20, 2014:

OMG Love those ideas! I've saved the link to include in a page when (& wherever) I make it as the site I was wrting on is closing down.

Ndila Kimeu on August 20, 2014:

Oh My Goodness, this is wonderful Cherie! Amazing creativity, kudos on this hub!

Chin chin from Philippines on August 19, 2014:

Great tips. Now I know what to do with those XXL t-shirts we have around that nobody wants to wear.

Kathryn Grace from San Francisco on August 19, 2014:

So glad you gave us "All of the above" in the poll, because I love them all! You've taken a simple t-shirt and made it look like high fashion. You have a terrific eye for accessories too. Now, I wonder if I can find an extra plus size t-shirt that will work on my plus size body. My head is spinning with ideas!

Kiss andTales on August 19, 2014:

Very creative ! PrincessJoy101 I like that you show more then one way to be creative with T shirts. And you topped off with accecories ! I must say that it would be a great thing to consider in any wardrobe. Thank you for sharing !

Veenoo from India on August 19, 2014:

Wow! these are lovely....very interesting. Thanks

SEXYLADYDEE from Upstate NY on August 19, 2014:

Great Hub! Congrats on making the front page. Dee

Selina Kyle on August 19, 2014:

great job! Very inventive and they all look great on you, too!

Linda Bilyeu from Orlando, FL on August 19, 2014:

Cool T-idea! You also make a great model.

mariexotoni on August 19, 2014:

This is so smart! Everything looks so adorable. Voted up!

Sami from Kansas on August 19, 2014:

Excellent job! I never knew that you could put together so many different looks with ONE T-SHIRT!!! My mind is officially blown by how much money I have spent shopping for multiple dresses that fit each of these different styles. You're creative and extremely inventive.

poetryman6969 on August 19, 2014:

And look good doing it!

Rebecca Mealey from Northeastern Georgia, USA on August 19, 2014:

Really. really clever and awesome. You should go into fashion designing....and you model well, too!

Donna Cosmato from USA on August 19, 2014:

Love this hub and your creativity - you could have a profitable career in fashion design if you ever give up writing! I've been looking for ways to add pink to my standard black wardrobe - guess I'll have to buy a pink t-shirt! Pinned, tweeted and shared on FB - this hub rocks!

Melesa Francis-Turner on August 19, 2014:

Awesome hub! You're so creative and you have a good taste for style too. I must try some of these. Thanks for the tips!

mours sshields from Elwood, Indiana on August 19, 2014:

This is very creative and a great idea and very original! I love it! Especially the high-waist one. I want to try it!

Marcia Ours

Liz Elias from Oakley, CA on August 19, 2014:

Congratulations on Hub of the Day! Well done, and very clever! I would never have thought of this myself. But then again, I'm not a 'dress' gal, but a jeans and t-shirts gal. Pure tomboy all the way. ;-)

Voted up, interesting and useful.

Comfort Babatola from Bonaire, GA, USA on August 19, 2014:

A friend shared something similar on Pinterest a while ago.

I like the Front Bow and the High waist.

It's hard to get some descent beach wears these days. Most everything leaves you hanging. So, I think the Front Bow and the High waist would be a great beach wear too.

Voted up and useful.

I've seen

Jade Samantha Cowan from Scotland on August 19, 2014:

You have made spare tshirts be worth having. Could you be my first follower on this?

Michelle Scoggins from Fresno, CA on August 19, 2014:

PrincessJoy101 great article and use of a tee-shirt!!! A tee-shirt is truly versatile and can be really played up :)

swilliams on August 19, 2014:

You are a very talented woman! Great tips! Voted up! And tweeted out!

Congrats on HOTD!

Kari on August 19, 2014:

I agree with Missi. This would have worked great for me when I was young. I guess you pack light? lol.

Janis Leslie Evans from Washington, DC on August 19, 2014:

This is incredible, Princess Joy101. You are extremely creative. These t-shirt creations are so wearable and easy to make. OMG, I can't believe. It is also a well-done article. You look great, too. Congratulations on HOTD. You definitely deserve it. Voted up, useful, awesome, and interesting.

Patty Inglish MS from USA and Asgardia, the First Space Nation on August 19, 2014:

This information is wonderfully inventive and saves a LOT of money on spring and summer dresses. Congratulations on this HOTD!

Dolores Monet from East Coast, United States on August 19, 2014:

If I had just heard this, I'd think, right. I can't believe how nice those T shirts look! What a cool idea and you look adorable.

Sunnyglitter from Cyberspace on August 19, 2014:

Awesome article! You look adorable in all of these styles. I think I'm going to try the high waist.

Jackie Lynnley from the beautiful south on August 19, 2014:

This deserved hub of the day! Fantastic. Makes me want to run out and stock up on colored t-shirts! And I probably will. Even better article having you model for us which of course not just anyone could do. Up and sharing. Congrats!

missirupp on August 19, 2014:

Darn it. Wish I knew about this when I was young enough to wear my shirts this way. Great ideas and good instructions with pics.

jtrader on August 19, 2014:

Creative ideas!!!

Dbro from Texas, USA on August 19, 2014:

Congratulations on Hub of the Day! What a fun, creative idea this is! You did a wonderful job of illustrating each of the different styles - it's almost hard to imagine all of those different looks coming from the humble t-shirt! The model is lovely too!

Thanks for this creative and inspiring hub. You helped me start my day with a smile!

PrincessJoy101 (author) from Fort Lauderdale, Florida on July 30, 2014:

Thanks Hautetropicgirl I'm glad you love the variations of the T-shirt dress :)

Hautetropicgirl from Sunshine State on July 30, 2014:

I love the many variations!

PrincessJoy101 (author) from Fort Lauderdale, Florida on July 24, 2014:

Thank you Christy, I'm glad like the designs :)

Christy Kirwan from San Francisco on July 24, 2014:

Wow, you look SO CUTE in these ! Such creative designs. :)

PrincessJoy101 (author) from Fort Lauderdale, Florida on July 18, 2014:

Team High Waist T-shirt dress ;)

Maina Ndung'u is a fashion enthusiast and has been a fashion consultant and blogger since February 2015.

What Should Women Wear to a Wedding?

If you have received a wedding invite and you’re wondering what to wear, here are the best style tips. Selecting the best wedding attire for a guest can be difficult. Some wedding invitations will specify a dress code. But if the invitation doesn't mention a dress code, knowing the basic rules will help you feel confident while also not standing out in the crowd.

Wedding guest attire should be formal but also appropriate. Any clothing that might attract too much attention is not a good idea. This is not your day to shine. It belongs to somebody else. The idea is to be elegant and charming and not detract from the bride.

Types of Dresses to Wear to a Wedding

There is a wide range of dresses to wear to weddings. Your selection depends on the type of invitation, the time of day, venue and season. In most weddings, a dress that is knee-length or longer is perfect.

Floral Dresses

These are ideal for summer and spring weddings. Many women pair them with flower adornments or accessories. For daytime weddings, this is the ultimate dress. Soft floral colors are also stylish for the bridal party.

Pastel Dresses

Pastel dresses are elegant and ultra-feminine. They are especially appropriate for daytime weddings. Pastel dresses are cute and versatile for many occasions.

Maxi Dresses

The maxi dress is a good preference for an outdoor wedding. A maxi dress made with chiffon or silk in brilliant colors will make you feel confident no matter how formal or casual the event is. These dresses are perfect for summer as well as winter weddings. In case it’s very cold, you can layer a sophisticated coat or jacket over the dress. You’ll keep warm and still look amazing.

Little Black Dresses

A little black dress if perfectly acceptable for the majority of weddings. It is especially appropriate to wear for evening weddings. If you feel like black is too dark for the occasion, you can accessorize it with lighter colored shoes, jacket or jewelry.

Sheath Dresses

The sheath dress is one dress that never goes out of fashion. It is suitable for all women and enhances the feminine figure. For a day wedding, choose cotton or linen floral print. You can also opt for a bright color with matching shoes. For evening weddings, satin or chiffon fabrics look chic and polished.

Skater Dresses

A skater dress is flexible for a wedding occasion. You can choose from a wide range of colors, materials and lengths, depending on the type of wedding. For an evening wedding, you may choose one in chiffon and your favorite color. For a day wedding, choose cotton in a bright color or print.

Evening Gowns

Long gowns are ideal for black-tie weddings. Choose appropriate accessories and jewelry to create a fabulous and feminine appearance.

Cocktail Dresses

This is ideal for black tie and semi-formal weddings, which are usually held in the evenings. You can wear a cocktail dress that is either sleeveless or short-sleeved.

How to Wear a Skirt to a Wedding

Wearing a skirt to a wedding is appropriate as long as it isn't too casual. A skirt can be a good option for semi-formal weddings. If you want to wear a skirt, choose one that is an appropriate length and go for something that is stylish and graceful. As a rule of thumb, if you can't wear it for an evening event, you should not wear it to a wedding. Try avoiding skirts that are:

• Too revealing
• Too casual
• Too business-like

Pencil Skirts

A pencil midi-skirt is simple, cute and fashionable if styled the correct way. The wrong choices can make this outfit look office-like. If you choose a black or neutral skirt, go for a top with simple decorations like ruffles. Avoid pairing a skirt with a button shirt, especially if it is white.

Pencil skirts can make walking difficult, so they usually have slits to help with movement. When buying a skirt with slits, make sure the slits aren't too high.

Maxi and Midi-Skirts

Maxi and midi-skirts can easily be paired with more formal tops. For instance, a neutral maxi skirt will go well with a lace blouse.

Best Tops for Skirts

The best tops to pair with skirts for a wedding are feminine blouses. These include lace blouses, peplum tops and ruffled tops. Masculine tops like men’s shirts or blazers pair well with ultra-feminine outfits like floral printed satin or chiffon skirts. If you must add layers for warmth, something like a tweed or velvet jacket will look sophisticated.

Shoes and Accessories

If your skirt is neutral, choose brightly colored shoes to add zing to the look. Neutral and dark shoes go with bright and printed skirts. Try to match or closely blend your shoes to the blouse.

If your skirt is medium length, you can wear closed shoes. For long skirts, opt for strappy or open footwear. Accessorize with a statement necklace to make the outfit look more formal.

Acceptable Colors to Wear to a Wedding

While almost all colors are acceptable for weddings, some might make you feel uncomfortable or embarrassed. Your attire should make you blend in with the other guests. You should feel confident without demanding attention. Some outfits may be fine for a guest but be inappropriate because of the color.

Can You Wear White to a Wedding?

The colors white and ivory are frowned upon by many wedding guests. Wearing these colors makes you look like you are trying to compete with the bride. If you wear white to a wedding, some people might get the impression that you are jealous. If you really want to wear white, wear accessories in other colors. Prints with white as the background are also welcome. Also, be careful with the design of your white dress. If it looks like a bridal gown, it is not appropriate for a wedding guest. Better yet, just choose a different color.

Can You Wear Black to a Wedding?

Many people argue about whether it is appropriate to wear black to a wedding. Some parties argue that you should wear black only if it is an evening wedding. But a little black dress is appropriate for almost any occasion, including weddings.

Can You Wear Black and White to a Wedding?

Black and white when worn alone can be considered inappropriate by some people at weddings. But wearing them together is not inappropriate. They can be mixed in any form including checked, stripped or other patterns and combinations.

What Not to Wear to a Wedding

Though some weddings have a specific dress code, many don't, and there are outfits that you should not wear. As you ponder on what to wear, always remember that the impression you make is important. Below are some outfits that you should not wear to a wedding.

• Top with an extra-low neckline, especially if you have no bra. This may be particularly improper if it shows too much of your bust.
• A white dress that can be confused with the bride’s gown.
• Micro-mini skirt.
• Transparent dresses or skirts, especially if it shows your underwear.
• Office or business wear, although an elegant pantsuit with heels works if you don't like dresses.
• T-shirts.
• Jeans.
• Backless dresses that show your bra band. If you want to wear a backless dress, make sure it has a built-in bra.
• A dress or skirt that shows your bike shorts underneath.
• Flip-flops, unless it’s a casual, flip-flop wedding.
• Plastic footwear.
• Sportswear like a jogging suit.
• Sneakers or tennis shoes.

If you avoid these types of clothing, you will have a clearer picture of what you can wear to the occasion. Avoid clothing that screams, “Look at me!” This can be seen as desperate and disrespectful to the bride.

Feel Confident and Look Radiant

With these styling tips, you will feel confident as you leave for the wedding celebration. Always make sure to check yourself in the mirror before venturing out. If you’re unsure of your clothes, opt for another style.

If the wedding is at night, you can select richer and bolder shades. Also, be sure to familiarize yourself with the norms of your locale. When the event is over, you’ll be glad that your wedding attire paid off.

Marie has been living and teaching both Spanish and English in Spain for many years.

Spain Is 'Different'!

Spain is a country of great contrasts. For many years the Spanish Tourist Board had an advertisement on British T.V. in which the final signature caption on the logo stated: “Spain is different!” I thought this was great advertising, as it summed up what had taken me over 30 years to come to understand as a foreigner living in this wonderful country. Spain was different, but not only different to Britain and the country in which it was targeting its tourism campaign. Spain was different, even within its own national boundaries. A visitor would never become bored travelling around Spain, venturing into different regions, each with its own peculiarities, characteristics, and customs.

All Shapes, Colours and Styles

Andalusia

Spain is made up of 17 very distinct regions, all having their own particular gastronomy, regional customs, dances, regional dress. Several are even are proud to communicate in their own language or dialect, and are making great efforts to revive these, especially in those communities where they have fallen into disuse in the past years.

The region of Andalusia in Spain is one of the 17 regional communities above mentioned, located in the south, with five of its eight provinces having coasts on the magnificent Mediterranean Sea. Andalusia is blessed with a benign temperature and is bathed in Mediterranean sun for most of the year, and can reach high temperatures, especially in the summer months.

Origins of dress

It is to this part of Spain we must go to find the origins of the typical Spanish Flamenco dress, a dress which enhances to the full the female form and has become the typical Spanish national dress for the rest of the world looking in on Spain.

Andalusia in southern Spain

Typial Andalusian Dance

The Seville Cattle Market

Today the Spanish flamenco dress is an icon of “haute-couture” in the world of fashion, its style often being highly acclaimed worldwide.

However, the Spanish flamenco dress had very humble origins. This beautiful dress has evolved over the years from the wives and daughters of livestock farmers and gypsy women in Andalusia. These farmworkers would wear long dresses and skirts with frills and ruffles often covered by aprons at work in the fields. This style of dress of clothing, apart from being comfortable to wear, was also very becoming and showed off to great advantage their womanly figures. When the country women accompanied their men to the cattle fairs around the region, they would adorn themselves even more for the special occasion. It has been documented that it was at the Seville Cattle Fair in April of every year that the fashion among the country folk became more and more prominent.

Beautiful Flamenco Fashion

High Society at the Fair

The Seville Cattle Fair slowly changed its focus, and by the end of the 19^th Century, it began to be an occasion for festivity as much as for trading with livestock. As the upper classes of Seville began to attend the fair for social reasons, the higher class women took on the style of the farmers’ wives and made it their own. The fashion at the time in Spain was more conservative and modest so the profusion of frills and the tight waistline of the ‘traje de gitana’ or ‘gypsy dress’ as it was known, was a welcome change. The fashion statement was made at the famous 1929 Ibero-American World Exhibition in Seville where the dress was presented as the fashionable dress of Spain, and it was there where it became considered the typical Spanish national dress. The style has been named as the “guitar-style” or “guitar-cut” owing to the curves and long neck of a guitar, enhancing not only the waist and hips, but also the long neck and head of the female figure.

See Some of the Most Beautiful Dresses in Flamenco Fashion

Tradition and Modernity

The Spanish Flamenco dress is one of the few regional dresses that have been able to evolve and change, often to the beat of the latest fashion trends. Yet there are unwritten rules for all the changes that are made. There is a clear technique always present, which is that of blending the strong basic tradition of the dress with the modern trends of fashion and style. How this is accomplished is a credit to the talented designers dedicated to their craft, the craft of creating this wonderful art form, the Spanish ‘flamenco’ dress.

Fashion Parade

The Dress Becomes Alive!

The basic parameters of the dress do not change, so the dress always clings to the waist and hips and the lower part of the dress is decorated with fun-loving frills and ruffles which play an intrinsic part in the dress. The flamenco dress isn’t simply ‘worn’, as other dresses or items of clothing. When walking or dancing, the dress literally comes alive and takes on its own personality. It just takes a discreet, mischievous kick of the heel and swing of the hips and the dress is no longer just a garment, but an attribute to the wearer. When dancing flamenco, the dress literally becomes almost a prop, an accessory to the dance, as the “bailaora” (flamenco dancer) lifts her frills and flounces with a great passion, to uncover her ankles, performing the spectacular “taconeo” or ‘flamenco tap dancing,’ so famous in Spanish culture.

Ibero-American World Exhibition in Seville, 1929

It even has its own fashion dynamics and has an extensive following in Andalusian society nowadays. Since its official debut in the Ibero-American Exhibition in 1929, the flamenco dress has changed throughout the decades. There was a time when bright garish colours and big spots or ‘lunares’ were very fashionable. During the ’60s the skirt and sleeves became shorter. Necklines have also changed over the years, sometimes deep, sometimes squared, sometimes more rounded. The nineties saw the greatest changes as the waistline lowered and the dresses became lighter, graceful and altogether more figure-hugging and sensual.

Designers

There are flamenco dresses to suit all sizes and some pockets as they are never inexpensive. In fact, Flamenco dresses can be prohibitively expensive, especially those designer dresses which can be made to order and can take weeks to make. Designing new-look flamenco dresses has become a big business in Spain now for years and moves millions of euros every year. Top designers such as Yves Saint Laurent, and Vittorio and Luchino have designed wonderful pieces, but there are hundreds of more Spanish designers producing magnificent creations all year round.

Elegance

Hairstyle

As the Spanish flamenco dress sets the female form off at its best, then the hairstyle which goes perfectly with the dress is, as the long neck of the guitar itself suggests, is swept up and retained in a type of bun, showing off the neck at its best.

Accessories

Of course, as every fashion-follower who knows their salt will tell you; the accessories which accompany these creations are of the utmost importance and can ‘make or break’ the look. So the hair is often kept n place by a tall stylish hair-comb. These hair-combs have often been in a family for years, they can be family heirlooms of great sentimental value handed down to the females through generations. Something which will never go out of fashion as the Spanish character so easily loves to blend their family history and legacy with younger generations and even can become a fashion item.

Hairstyles often incorporate a flower of a complimenting colour, some years worn up high, other years lower down by the neck. Then there are the earrings to be chosen. Earrings form another important element in this style, embellishing the neck and always in colour and shape according to the latest trend; some years long and pear-shaped, other years perhaps big garish gypsy-style rings but always present.

Fans

The Spanish ‘abanico’ or fan is also an integral part of the flamenco style. A flirtatious flutter of the fan often forms part of the flamenco dance. These fans can also be family heirlooms, such as the hair-combs mentioned above, and will compliment the coquette style of the dress. Footwear also has to be considered when choosing the right accessories for the dress. A quick flip of the ankle to ruffle the frills and give an air of frivolity yet confidence at the same time will naturally reveal perfect shoes, always complementary in colour and style.

Why I Love It!

What has fascinated me about the flamenco dress is that it is extremely complementary to the female figure, regardless of the weight and size of the wearer. I have seen all ages and sizes of girls and women wearing these dresses over the years, and they all have their figures complimented by this particular style. There might still be hope for me!

© 2013 Marie Ryan

Comments

Tommie A Grande-Cantu on July 01, 2020:

This is part of my heritage!

Kate Swanson from Sydney on July 03, 2013:

Looking great Marie!

Marie Ryan (author) from Andalusia, Spain on July 03, 2013:

Thanks Dolores, I'm glad you enjoyed the hub.

Actually, I have much more to share now as I have been out all morning taking photos at the village fair which started today in my town. I can't wait to get started on my next hub!

Dolores Monet from East Coast, United States on July 03, 2013:

Awesome - I had the pleasure of watching a live Flamenco performance at a folk festival. Though I had seen it on TV noting compares to the real thing. The beautiful costumes and the wonderful music was a real treat. Voted up and shared!

Marie Ryan (author) from Andalusia, Spain on July 01, 2013:

Hi Marisa, Thanks for including my hub on your flamenco page! I have addressed all the issues you mentioned and hope all is rectified. I certainly still have a lot to learn here on the hubs and I will take great care from now on. Please keep me on the straight and narrow!

Marie Ryan (author) from Andalusia, Spain on June 30, 2013:

Lady E, glad you enjoyed the beautiful dresses. I just never tire of the style and elegance of this dress.

Elena from London, UK on June 29, 2013:

Madre Mia! The dresses are so elegant. It's nice to read about the background of it. Thanks for all the photos and video.

Thelma Alberts is a natural born Filipina who lives in her adopted country Germany for more than 3 decades. She loves traveling in Europe.

A dirndl skirt is a traditional German and Austrian folk dress which is worn by all types of women in Germany, Austria and the Alps region. A dirndl (pronounced "dirndel") skirt or dress is derived from the word dirndl, which means a young woman or girl. When you hear somebody mentioning dirndl, he or she either refers to the girl or to the dress.

What Is a Dirndl?

A dirndl consists of a full tight bodice, an integrated blouse which has a very low neckline, a short, 3/4 or long sleeves and a skirt. An apron is attached to the skirt which can either be short or long.

The everyday dirndl is usually made of cotton and simple in design. This is usually used for women who are working and living in the countrysides like in Tirol and in Bavaria, Germany. Modern, fashionable dirndl is usually made of cotton, velvet, or linen with lace and creative embroidered designs.

Dirndl originated in Austria and was used as a uniform for servants in the 19th century. In the south of Germany, which is the Bavarian region, older women who live in the countrysides wear dirndln (plural of dirndl) as everyday dresses.

Types of Dirndl

Summer Dirndln

Summer dirndln are made of light cotton, linen or velvet and it is short or just below the knees. Embroidered or not, they are typically used during festivities like a town festival or Oktoberfest in the last two weeks of September. Oktoberfest is a beer garden festival traditionally located in Munich, Bavaria, Germany.

Winter Dirndl

Winter dirndln are made of thick, warm cotton or wool and have long sleeves, long skirts, and a long apron. The neckline is high. It is usually in a dark and rich color.

The Knots on the Apron

The locals say the knot of the apron on the skirt indicates the status of the woman wearing the dirndl. The knot situated on the left side of the apron means the woman is single. The knot on the right side means married or engaged, the front side means she's a virgin, and the knot in the back means she's widowed.

The Knot's Message

What to Wear With a Dirndl

A dirndl can be worn with many different accessories depending on the occasion. You can wear it with:

• A shawl, embroidered or not. It depends on how warm or cold the weather is.
• An embroidered silk scarf for a special day.
• Boots in the winter.
• Sandals or ballerina shoes in the summer.
• Sports jewelry.
• Silver earrings.
• A brooch.
• White socks.
• Dirndl Purse.

Dirndln for Work

Women who are working in tourism branches in Germany and Austria wear dirndln to show their traditional folk-wear to tourists. Some waitresses in restaurants wear dirndln as their uniforms. German folk theater actresses sometimes wear these clothes during their plays.

A dirndl is a sexy dress to wear, especially those embroidered ones. I have worn one when we had an Oktoberfest in the restaurant where I worked before. I was thrilled and delighted to get to wear the dirndl. It was a beautiful dress which I got from my lady boss. She bought them for us to wear just for Oktoberfest in our restaurant.

How Much Does a Dirndl Cost?

The prices of dirndln ranges from €100 to more or less €1,000. It depends on what kind of material it is made of. The more embroidered it is, the more it costs. However, if you buy dirndl out of season in the Trachtenhaus (costume shops), you might have the chance to buy it cheaper.

Where to Wear a Dirndl

A dirndl is not an everyday casual dress except when it is required at your work. It is a comfortable dress to wear but for me, it is only good for special occasions like Oktoberfest and German folk parties. Don't get me wrong, but I will only use this dress when everybody else does. I don't want to be stared at in the streets.

Vote Please!

© 2012 Thelma Alberts

Comments

Thelma Alberts (author) from Germany on September 19, 2017:

Hi Farhaj! I am glad you like Dirndl. Yes, there are different types of Dirndln here in Germany. At the moment, they are expensive which costs at least 50 Euro. Especially now that Oktoberfest started last Saturday. Thanks for reading and commenting. Have a great week.

Farhaj Hussain on September 19, 2017:

Oh wow... I never knew that this dress called dirndl skirt... Felt so good to read about these traditional dress.... And they have different types of dresses for different season... Would love to wear one some day if I get a chance to wear this Dirndl skirt.... Thanks for sharing.... Love reading this

Thelma Alberts (author) from Germany on September 10, 2017:

I see. Thanks Carol for dropping by. Have a great week.

Carol Taylor on September 07, 2017:

I haven't but mum did..I love this post :)

Thelma Alberts (author) from Germany on May 12, 2013:

Thanks for dropping by Christy. When you see a woman wearing this dress in your country, you now know that it´s a German and Austrian traditional fashion dress. This kind of dress is an export article from Germany. Have a lovely week!

Christy Birmingham from British Columbia, Canada on May 12, 2013:

I had never heard of this type of dress before. Very neat to learn more about your culture, Thelma!

Thelma Alberts (author) from Germany on January 19, 2013:

Yes, they are very fashionable dresses. You can buy dirndl online or when you are planning to visit Germany. Thanks for stopping by Mama Kim. Have a lovely weekend!

Sasha Kim on January 18, 2013:

those are some fashionable Dirndls! Hmm.. now I want one! ^_^ thank you for the great hub Thelma! Voting a bunch and pinning!

Thelma Alberts (author) from Germany on January 10, 2013:

I love dirndl too, but it should not be a mandatory dress because then I will not like it when I´m force to wear it. Thanks for stopping by TravelinJack.

Jack Baumann from St. Louis, Missouri on January 09, 2013:

Oh I love the dirndl, should be mandatory dress!

Thelma Alberts (author) from Germany on December 15, 2012:

Thanks Justsilvie for another visit. I appreciate that. Thanks for sharing as well. Have a lovely day!

Justsilvie on December 14, 2012:

Lovely article! I also have worn a dirdle and I think it was the most flattering dress I ever wore. Voted up and shared!

Thelma Alberts (author) from Germany on November 27, 2012:

Thanks ignugent for dropping by. I appreciate that. Have a great day!

Thelma Alberts (author) from Germany on November 27, 2012:

Yes, tammyswallow. These clothes were worn by the Von Trapp family in the movie The Sound of Music. It is a beautiful film. Thanks for your wonderful comment.

ignugent17 on November 26, 2012:

Very interesting. It is always nice to know something new about things from different countries. Dirndl added to my list of words.

Tammy from North Carolina on November 26, 2012:

These are really pretty. It looks like something worn in the movie Sound of Music. This is a very beautiful, interesting, and well written hub!

Thelma Alberts (author) from Germany on November 21, 2012:

Thanks Eddy for your wonderful comment. I appreciate that. Have a great day!

Eiddwen from Wales on November 20, 2012:

I had never heard ofthese skirts before but i do now. Thank you for sharing this great hub Thelma and here's to so many more hubs for us both to share on here.

Eddy.

Thelma Alberts (author) from Germany on November 19, 2012:

Thanks for your visit Crystal Tatum. Have a good day!

Thelma Alberts (author) from Germany on November 19, 2012:

Hi Glimmer Twin Fan! I could imagine how lovely you were as a young girl wearing a dirndl. Dirndl is beautiful especially the fancy one for special occasion. Thanks for your comment and for sharing this hub to others. I appreciate that. Have a lovely day!

Crystal Tatum from Georgia on November 19, 2012:

What an interesting topic for a hub. Voted up and interesting.

Claudia Mitchell on November 19, 2012:

This is a great hub. My mom is german and growing up I had a dirndl as a young girl. They are far too unflattering to me now, but they really are beautiful. It's always fun to see some of the more "fancy" ones when going out for a special occasion in Germany. Shared and voted up!

Thelma Alberts (author) from Germany on November 19, 2012:

Thanks for stopping by Nell. I did not know about the `Teddy Girls´. I´ll google them later. Have a great week!

Thelma Alberts (author) from Germany on November 19, 2012:

Thank you Bas yor your comment and encouragement. Take care. Regards to all;-)

Nell Rose from England on November 18, 2012:

I remember that the 'Teddy girls' of the fifties wore them, fascinating history of the dirndl skirt, thanks! nell

Bastinck from The Netherlands on November 18, 2012:

Well, you wrote about something I knew nothing about, apart from the oktoberfest that is. It was interesting. Keep up the good writing.

Thelma Alberts (author) from Germany on November 18, 2012:

Dirndl is one of the fashions in Germany. In fact, there are special companies making dirndln all over Germany as these clothes are popular now all over the world especially in USA and Japan. Thanks for your visit GoodLady. Have a great week!

Penelope Hart from Rome, Italy on November 17, 2012:

Beautiful! It's a wonder the drindle dress hasn't become more fashionable, but perhaps it makes a great Goth outfit? I really like this hub, it's so feminine and sexy.

Thelma Alberts (author) from Germany on November 16, 2012:

Hi drbj! I did not know the significance of the apron knots placement until I was researching for this hub. I might have tied my apron knot on the left side without knowing that I should put it on the right side as a married woman. No wonder some men were twinkling their eyes to me when I had dirndl on, lol. See...Men should not rely on the knot placement on the apron. Have a lovely weekend drbj.

Thelma Alberts (author) from Germany on November 16, 2012:

Thank you for your visit vespawoolf. I appreciate that. Have a great day!

Thelma Alberts (author) from Germany on November 16, 2012:

Hi Tracy Lynn Conway! I love the materials used for dirndl too, especially the velvet one. I don´t have dirndl, but I think I´ll buy one when I find something that suits me. Ready made dirndln are to big for me. I always have a trouble finding clothes for me in Germany. Thanks for your comment. Have a lovely weekend!

drbj and sherry from south Florida on November 16, 2012:

Fascinating dirndl information, Thelma. Never knew about the significance of the apron knots before. They can make a significant, positive difference for guys seeking gals who are unattached.

Vespa Woolf from Peru, South America on November 16, 2012:

What an interesting hub! I've always thought the dirndl to be sexy and feminine. Thank you for sharing!

Thelma Alberts (author) from Germany on November 16, 2012:

Hi Carol! I´m glad to know you own some dirndln. Thanks for stopping by. Have a lovely weekend!

Tracy Lynn Conway from Virginia, USA on November 16, 2012:

I just love the fabrics that are shown for these dresses! I also love that they are still being worn and sold. I am always attracted to history and beauty and I enjoyed reading the story behind the dinrdl.

carol stanley from Arizona on November 16, 2012:

I have had a few of these throughout the years. Great hub..

Sharilee Swaity has been an online writer for more than 9 years. Her many interests include plus-size fashion.

Dare to Wear a Dress

There is just something about a dress that screams "woman!" Wearing a dress is a sure-fire way to feel more like a woman, bring out your inner girl and lift your spirits. Why don't we wear more dresses? Wearing a dress takes a bit of courage—it's a bold move. The dress has a little bit of "look at me" in it and sometimes we might not want to be noticed. This article has some great tips for choosing a dress on your plus-size body.

Plus-Size Dresses From the Past

The first source we will consider when looking at how to wear a dress are beautiful women from the past. We will go back in time to an era when "plus size" was not unusual but considered beautiful. What can we learn from the women of this time? Let's examine first some paintings from the Renaissance era and see how they wear their dresses.

The first lady we will look at is from a painting by Titian called The Woman At Her Toilet. The women is thought to be a model. We don't know her name but we do know that Titian chose her to appear in several of his works. The other painting we will examine is by Peter Paul Rubens and it is also named The Woman At Her Toilet. Both of the women would be considered plus-size according to today's standards.

What can we learn from these Renaissance beauties and the way they dress? Let's take the lessons from them to apply to today's dressing.

Principles for Choosing Plus-Size Dresses

1. Create a corset by drawing in the smallest place in your body. Look for a dress that creates a waist for you at your smallest part, often right below the bust line. If the dress does not have this shape built into it, consider accessories such a belt or a scarf to create this silhouette. If you are blessed with a natural waist, emphasize it. If you don't have much of a waist, create a faux waist by cinching in the smallest part of your silhouette, either through the cut of the dress or by accessorizing.
2. The skirt part should flow out from the waist or create a waist. This creates a pleasing silhouette. Notice how their skirt is made to flow outwards. When the skirt part flows out, it camouflages a large tummy and hips.
3. Emphasize your assets. Both of these dresses feature an open neckline that emphasizes the women's neck and bustline. Flattering necklines for the plus-size woman are the v-neck the sweetheart neckline and the scoop neckline. Some plus-size women feel that because they are big in some places, they are "not allowed" to show off their best parts. This is nonsense! None of us are perfect but showing off our best parts does bring less attention to the other parts.

Good Dress Style Choices

Here are some specific styles to consider when shopping for your plus size dress. These styles are great for many plus sized women, but be sure to try different styles on, to see how they work on your particular body. All of these dresses help to create that fantastic hourglass silhouette.

• A-line dress is a classic shape that tucks in at the waist and gently tapers down. This kind of dress is flattering for most body types.
• Pintuck dress is one of the most recent trends that is very beautiful. It is actually a modified A-line style that features a flowing skirt for a flirty look.
• Wrap (or faux wrap) dress is a shape that is very compatible with a bigger woman's body because it is adjustable to any body and hugs the curves very well. Just be sure that there is enough material in the dress to cover your body.
• Maxi dress is a style that can be attractive for a plus size girl if care is taken to choose the right style. For maxi dresses, be sure to maintain a defined waist and do not allow that loose "mu-mu" look. As well, you may wish to consider a side split to break up the bulk of a maxi dress. An open neckline at the top also helps to offset the long length of the dress.
• Shark bite hem dress is a very lovely style that features an asymmetrical hemline. This dress line is very flattering for a bigger girl because it creates a diagonal, which makes the woman look less big.
• Con dresses are known as bar dresses and are very tight. For evening wear, they can be very attractive and tend to tuck a woman in very well. These dresses are very revealing, though, and do tend appeal to women in their twenties.

Why a Dress Is Your Best Friend

Remember that a dress can be your best friend. Many plus size women shy away from dresses because they think they are for the "skinny girls" but it is not true. A dress allows you to show off your curves in a way that no other piece of clothing can.

Just be sure to avoid the mu-mu style or anything that has no fit. Don't go for boxy, shapeless dresses, either. One more style to avoid is the long, shapeless "prairie dress" so popular in the late 1980s. So, go for a flattering shape, and you can look feminine and beautiful in a dress.

I hope you enjoyed this article and found it useful. As a plus-sized woman, I enjoy writing about fashion that is good for a more voluptuous body. I have also written about plus size tops. If you are into working out, you may want to check out my hub on plus size workout wear. I also wrote about some of the best ways to accessorize your plus sized outfit.

More Good Style Ideas

© 2012 Sharilee Swaity

Comments

Glenda on May 29, 2018:

Thank you so much for this article. I love your positive, uplifting (no pun intended!) celebratory tone and the beautiful, inspirational illustrations!! I'm going to Google pictures of Adele in dresses. I already knew about A-line dresses and V-necklines, but you presented even that familiar information in a fresh way, and you added new ideas that I had never thought of. I felt good about my body after reading this. The only problem? Now I want more!

Misty on December 27, 2017:

This is so much more of a better visual experience than other sites I have seen today. Those sites that have those tiny women modeling plus size clothes. Why do they insult like that. Its just mean. So thank you. For something real!

Joan Harrington on October 01, 2017:

the pic's above like the pintail dress and the other one the models are not plus size put those dresses on a 2x or 3x size pic' of a woman to actually see what they look like on a bigger woman

Sharilee Swaity (author) from Canada on June 10, 2015:

@Stargrrl, I am so glad you found it helpful. Thanks for the comment, and sorry for the long delay in answering.

Stargrrl on February 24, 2015:

This was a really good article. Very helpful advice!

Sharilee Swaity (author) from Canada on August 05, 2012:

Love, thank you for coming. I am so glad you appreciated the article. Take care.

Lovelovemeloveme from Cindee's Land on August 04, 2012:

Interesting hubs with pictures and examples. Thanks

Sharilee Swaity (author) from Canada on July 30, 2012:

@PSP, you are so right. The wrap dress, especially, is so flattering and attractive on any woman. Thanks for the great comment!

@Maddie, thank you so much. Yes, I think we all tend to stick to old favourites but it's good to know there are some other options out there to try, too. Take care!

Maddie Ruud from Oakland, CA on July 30, 2012:

I am a curvy lady, and I find that empire waists are incredibly flattering, so I often go for what I know, but wrap dresses are a great wardrobe staple, too!

plussizepixie on July 30, 2012:

Another great hub prairieprincess. Personally wrap and maxi dresses are my favourite style dresses. I think they flatter every type of curvy figure as long as they have been designed well and fit you.

Sharilee Swaity (author) from Canada on July 28, 2012:

@Teaches, thank you so much. Yes, there are definitely are options out there. Dresses have come a long way in the last while. Have a wonderful day!

Sharilee Swaity (author) from Canada on July 28, 2012:

@Tonipet, wow! That is great that you linked my site to your hub. I really appreciate it. I will go over and have a look, too.

And yes, it is true that we sometimes are too busy to really "glam it up" and get girly. You make an excellent point. But well worth it when we do and it's great for all sizes to look beautiful, too. Thanks for the great comment and support.

Dianna Mendez on July 27, 2012:

I found this interesting and love how you have posted examples in dress. You have options, even if wearing a plus size. Great topic and it will be useful to so many women.

Tonette Fornillos from The City of Generals on July 27, 2012:

Hi prairieprincess. With the almost fast-forward kind of lifestyle women have today, daring to wear a dress do takes a lot, but if one does, even if she has to go for a plus-size, things could be beautiful..a lot lot and lot beautiful. I love all your tips, and I'm linking my "Fat, Thin, Tall, Short - Clothes for Your Figure" hub. We'll be helping many women. Hope that is okay. Thanks once again and keep up!

Sharilee Swaity (author) from Canada on July 27, 2012:

@Amar, thanks for your comment. I do understand that not everyone has a waist but I meant to suggest is that the dress should create a silhouette that suggests a waist, often right below the bustline. which is often the smallest part on many women.

Have a great night!

@Kashmir, ha ha! That made me laugh! I don't think you should dare to wear a dress, no matter how much anyone begs. LOL. Thanks for the comment and stopping by. Have a wonderful weekend!

Thomas Silvia from Massachusetts on July 27, 2012:

Hi my friend, sorry even if you dare me I'm not wearing a dress . :-) But really this is all great information to help all woman that may wear a plus size, well done !

Vote up and more !!!

Lesley Charalambides from New Hampshire on July 27, 2012:

I do so agree that a dress helps you feel feminine, and that there is no reason for a plus size woman to feel afraid of them, but we'll have to agree to disagree on cinching in the waist.

Speaking as someone who hasn't had a waist since 1997, trying to pull it in just doesn't work for me, but you are right, i'st easy to get inspiration from the past. I find empire waists are ideal, they allow we show a little cleavage when I want to, but cover over the total lack of waist.

Plus size isn't a single shape as I'm sure you know, maybe yanking in the waist isn't for everyone.

But I did enjoy your hub!

'Cut and Chic' came from the idea that every outfit should be styled with a mix and match of vintage pieces with high-street pieces.

How to Make Clothing Fit Without Alterations

I'm sure you've heard the expression before, "A little goes a long way." This wise, old adage holds true with vintage clothing as well. If you happen to find yourself falling madly in love with a vintage garment but sadly it's too big for you or it's not "hugging" you in all the right places, chin up my dearies! Don't pass up a fabulous dress just because you think it won't fit or that you'll have to spend too much money on tailoring. The answer may just be something you already have at home. Here are some examples of how to make a dress fit in all the right ways.

Add a Belt to Flatter Curves and Give the Illusion of an Hourglass Figure

Above is an adorable shirt dress from the 1950s to early 60's by Mode O' Day. It's a size medium to large, so if you're petite, the dress on its own would be too overpowering on your figure. Even if it is the right size for you, the dress is cut more or less straight, which might not be that flattering on most figures.

A quick and easy solution is to add a belt. A skinny one would suit this dress better. If you don't already have a skinny belt, we suggest investing in one. It can be used with so many outfits! This one was only around $5 from Forever 21, so it's not like you have to break the bank to own one!

Use Safety Pins to Make a Chic Wrap Dress

Safety pins? Yup, that's right. You may already have collected a few safety pins from your previous purchases, in which case this won't cost you a penny. This works great with shirts, dresses, or light jackets that are just too big and baggy. Transform an ill-fitting garment into a cool and chic statement piece. Simply wrap it around your curves and pin it in place with safety pins.

The pins we've used are small and discreet enough to go unnoticed, but why not be creative and work your inner crafting cleverness and show it off. Use colored safety pins or large gold safety pins a la Elizabeth Hurley's Versace gown and get ready to turn some heads!

Pinning may lead to puckering of the fabric in the back. If it doesn't look as flattering in the back as the front, loosely gather the back into pleats and pin those together. You may need a friend to help you with this one.

Use Ribbon to Create an Empire Waist Line

A large maxi dress, like this one above, can make you feel like a sack of potatoes. Take a tip from Edwardian fashion and add a ribbon just under the bust to create an empire waist line. It's uber-flattering and covers any lumps and bumps around the tummy area, which I think most of us can agree we can do without!

Comments

Sasha on March 23, 2019:

Great tips! Will be trying them out soon. Thanks!

Esmer on August 06, 2012:

These are clever and practical ideas worth recommending.

CutandChicVintage (author) from New York City on August 06, 2012:

Thank you very much! I'm very honored to have my hub considered and to be amongst such really great company!

Michelle Simtoco from Cebu, Philippines on August 04, 2012:

I admire women who know how to add the "something" to make it look good! I wish I could that more... hehe

Congratulations on your Hubnuggets nomination. This way please to read and vote https://discover.hubpages.com/community/A-HubNugge... Enjoy!

CutandChicVintage (author) from New York City on June 28, 2012:

Hello Julie! Thank you! :)

Blurter of Indiscretions from Clinton CT on June 28, 2012:

This is a cool idea. Thanks for the tips!

I love complete outfits and that includes educating others on how to choose the perfect stockings.

You'd be surprised at how easy shopping can be once you've armed yourself with knowledge of which dress styles suit you best. The right cut makes you feel good wearing it and can brighten your whole day.

Here's an introduction for the most common types of dress. You're probably already familiar with round, square, and V-necks. Let's see what else is there for us to know.

The Empire Waist

An empire waist falls far above the natural waistline. It is a cut that puts the waistband right below the bust. This creates an outline that's especially flattering to those wishing to disguise the stomach area or emphasize the bust.

Since the empire cut sits higher up between under the bust and the waist, it creates a high-waisted appearance. This style is also known as the "High Waist."

Princess Cut

Seams in a princess-cut begin at the waist and moving upward. The vertical lines feature the waist and elongate the torso as it curves up to accommodate the bust.

Brides love this fit, which starts small on top with a wonderfully-fitted bodice, tapers at the waist, then flows freely down for the rest of its length.

Similar to the empire waist, pear and apple-shaped ladies love the princess cut because it doesn't hug the tummy or mid-section. Instead, the linear panels produce a slimming effect, drawing the eyes lengthwise down the seams of the dress.

Shift

Cute and comfy, a shift dress is defined as a straight line dress without anything that cinches the waist. It's a garment that falls straight from the shoulders down the hemline. This cut of dress typically has darts around the bust.

The shift-cut offers a roomy, boxy look. One with a slightly flared hem can balance a large bust and smaller waist.

Its simple lines basically are designed for the garment to move and shift with you. Since the outline helps conceal any problem areas in the middle portion, it looks perfect on all body types.

Don't confuse the "shift" dress with the "sheath" dress. The latter is shaped by tucks on the waist area and is form-fitting.

Sheath

This is the sheath type of dress. As you can see, it is outlined to fit close to the body. While the style is almost unadorned, the sheath dress is a straight-cut dress and nipped at the waistline.

Wearing this style accentuates the waist with the skirt portion either fitted or straight line. Sheath dresses come in any pattern and length, but seamstresses simply love creating ones with short sleeves and reaching-the-knee length.

Basque or V-Waist

A basque-cut dress has a V-shaped fitted portion at or just below the waist. The waistline accentuates the hips by giving an illusion of an elongated contour. It perfectly suits curvy, short-waisted, and wide-hipped figures.

The "V" or "U" shape can plunge deeply below the natural waistline or can feature a large waistband, fitted bodice, and a softly pleated skirt running down just below the knee. The basque waist is also known as the dropped V waist.

Since basque is a 1923 style, it generally presents a long silhouette, closely fitted sleeves, and a bodice that is too tight to permit the dress to be slipped over the head. The 1950s basque waist dress pattern comes in full-circle skirts.

Bias Cut

The bias is when the cloth is cut at a diagonal angle instead of following the line of the weave. This style creates a unique look and feels different when worn as the fabric drapes softly over the body accentuating body lines and curves.

Unlike the other styles in this list, a bias cut refers not to the pattern, but to the orientation of the fabric. A plain weave has horizontal and vertical threads. A bias-cut turns that weave so that the threads in the fabric run diagonally.

This allows the garment to gracefully cling to the curves of the body. Because of the diagonal fall of the fabric, it develops a very natural draping, ensuring a straight and smooth hemline.

Fabrics cut on the bias appear as softer, thinner, and more fluid, stretchy, and more supple than those cut on the lengthwise or crosswise grain.

A bias-cut creates a different look from standard garments. Though it won't wrinkle as easily as a straight-grain garment would, it could "grow" on a hanger, so it is suggested to store bias-cut dresses folded and flat.

Dropped Waist

Very classic-inspired style, the drop-waist is a lot relaxed and comfortable to wear.

The cut features a loose-fit from the shoulder to the hips and transitioning into a pleated skirt. It skips the natural narrow-waistline look by dropping it at the hipline, hence, its name "dropped waist."

This style may come in a few patterns but typically the dress hangs very loosely giving an overall proportion that makes you look lean and tall. A dropped waist dress may be short (above the knee) or long (below the knee) in length.

Halter Cut

Generally, a halter cut helps define not only the bust but also the shoulders. A halter dress is the popular sundress style that ties around the neck, exposing a great deal of the shoulders.

Although they can be made more formal with the kind of fabric used and added embellishments, halter dresses are typically backless and very casual; some are designed as beachwear in large tropical prints. This cut is usually secured at the back of the neck and the waistline.

Mermaid Cut

Mermaid is a body-hugging dress that dramatically flares out from the knee or down the hem. It creates silhouettes that mold curves—perfect suggestion for special occasion dressing.

Unlike other designs, mermaid dresses conform well with almost every bodice and neckline style. A long-sleeve design and a high bateau neckline (boat neck) creates a sensual, alluring accent on the body.

Blouson

From the name itself, blouson tops are designed with the extra fabric below the waistband so it looks puffy, flowy, and full.

This blousing effect creates a lovely camouflage that covers the hips and stomach area. Many women like the way this cut and style hides a pudgy midsection.

If you look at it, the whole ensemble looks like top clothing or blouse being tucked in and then pulled slightly out just enough to create a graceful flowy effect over the waist.

Wraps

Wraps are skirts and dresses that wrap around the body. They carry a fresh spin that accentuates the waist and draws attention upward to your decollete.

A wrap is a timeless dress style with a flattering silhouette that cleverly separates and lifts the bust, creating a more hour-glass figure. Wraps are known as a bust-enhancing, waist-whittling, and hip-reducing style. Curvy women look great in these dresses. However, more willowy figures can adjust the dress to create curves.

Tunics

Tunics are versatile. They are typically a long garment that's about knee length. Usually, they're worn belted with tights. Tunics are easy to dress up and dress down, making them a fabulous alternative to both casual tees and dress shirts.

They go well paired with slender bottoms, bootcut pants, or the perfect tights, but not with flared or baggy jeans. You can even wear shorts with a tunic! As long as your shorts are longer than the hem of the tunic.

Want to sew your own tunic exactly like the one above worn by our model? You may be a novice stitcher, but the cutting and construction simply need basic darts to master.

Yes, you're right - it looks like a button-down shirt made into a dress that's either long or mid-thigh.

A shirtdress is a style of dress with the details of a boy's or man's dress shirt. So that means it comes with a collar, front buttons, and cuffed sleeves. The garment may also come in cotton, silk, or denim.

But while it is cut with no seam at the waist, this dress is especially tailored to hug the figure with flattering darts and seams so it highlights a slender waistline.

Drape

Drapes are made of an entire piece or layer of cloth. They are not cut into parts as in fitted dresses. Any draped garments are one-piece items that can be held for the fabric's lovely gravity alone.

A drape cut usually describes the way fabric hangs when made into a garment. You can use the cloth for draping, knotting, sash or belts, fixed with pins, design as clasps, or any way you want to tie it. When a dress is cut in a drape style, the flowing fabric hangs loosely on the front and back bodice of a dress.

© 2012 Tonette Fornillos

Comments

hyhuh on March 21, 2015:

i need kids styles not adult please put kids styles my friends say i do not look nice everyday of my life

Seston on December 14, 2014:

I was drawn by the hosenty of what you write

Antonia Lamberti from Italy on March 21, 2014:

Thank you for your answer, I really apreciate. It really helps me a lot.

I found here http://www.wearona.com/style/top-10-spring-essenti... the Lyric Dress from Kate Spade, I think is amazing. Is exactly how you said.:D Hugs for you too!

Tonette Fornillos (author) from The City of Generals on March 20, 2014:

Hi Antonia, so glad you came by. I looked into the 2014 trend and it says the current fashionable styles are like cut-outs at the waist, asymmetry of neckline and hem, draping, layering, deep cuts and flounces....whew! I guess it goes with anything flowing. "Beach" dresses are getting loud -- embroidery, lace, knitted, etc... it's everything that suggests a feeling of comfort in style -- hot and cool at the same time.

After summer, drapes and waist cuts are very trendy -- so again anything that you wish, you can play it up with a style. Why not go empire? It's the safest style :=) that goes with all occasion.

Hope that helps Antonia. I think you're ready for summer!:-) I think we have a lot in common, beginning with our names, lol. I'm Antoniette, by the way. Hugs for a warm and happy summer! -Tonette

Tonette Fornillos (author) from The City of Generals on March 20, 2014:

Very welcome Cherylann. Basque, I believe, is timeless and a style that goes with any body type. For the curvy, it gives a "heightened look" that can leave a "sexy shape" :=). I'm slender, but feeling pretty in a basque style, lol. It surely will make you feel great, as well. Thanks for the comment. Enjoy! -Hugs to you:=)-Tonette

Cherylann Mollan from India on March 10, 2014:

Hi Tonipet! Thanks for this hub. It gave me a good insight into dress cuts that will suite my figure. I'm definitely going to try on Basque or V-waist dresses as I think they'll complement my figure. Thanks again for the tips!

Lola from London on February 10, 2014:

The basque and revel cuts suit my figure the best. If you stick on a pair of heels with any dress they will make you look amazing!

https://hubpages.com/style/Crazy-Platform-Shoes...

Lola from London on January 28, 2014:

The revel cut is my fave! Looks awesome dressed up or down.

Thanks for sharing. x

https://hubpages.com/@theseshoes

Tonette Fornillos (author) from The City of Generals on January 25, 2014:

You're welcome red smith. I hope your new website will bring inspiration to learning and beauty. Just what the world needs now. hand-in-hand, we can do it. I wish you luck! Go go go! :=)Wishes from me -Tonette

Tonette Fornillos (author) from The City of Generals on January 25, 2014:

Hi EaseUp. It makes me excited about your next piece -- I'm sure some knowledge makes fashion wiser and prettier. Thank you for reading and happy shopping! -Hugs from the city of generals :=)-Tonette

red smith on January 24, 2014:

I'm putting up a website myself so this site really helped me with it. Thanks for the brilliant ideas!

EaseUp on January 06, 2014:

this is wonderful.. Now i know how to go about shopping for my next piece of garment!

Tonette Fornillos (author) from The City of Generals on November 06, 2013:

Hello Beezkneez. What a wonderful hubby you are. You can surprise her with a wrap-style dress -- it's classic, elegant and trendy... a piece that most women would not hesitate to wear on any occasion. Thanks so much for visiting and reading, I hope you have picked the best dress cut for your wife. Lucky she is to have a man like you. Allow me to send you a basketful of love wishes for you both. Keep up and happy loving! -:=)Tonette

BEEZKNEEZ on November 06, 2013:

I think that I need to find a dress for my wife. She has been dying for some new dresses. Thanks for the ideas.

Tonette Fornillos (author) from The City of Generals on July 01, 2013:

Thank you Nicole, glad you found this informational. When we have some know-how on which dress cut best suits our shapes, we can come out even more confident in our choices of style. Best of fashion and smiles to you :=)-Tonette

Nicole S Hanson from Minnesota on July 01, 2013:

Very informational and interesting! Nice hub :)

Tonette Fornillos (author) from The City of Generals on June 29, 2013:

Great to know that, Marion. Most often than not it pays to know some details. Goodluck and thank you for dropping by. :=) Happy weekend!-Tonette

Tonette Fornillos (author) from The City of Generals on June 29, 2013:

Thank you IslandBites. Hope you find this helpful. I think your Caribbean cooking is a must-try. Loved those little decadence:=) Smiles from the city of generals:=)-Tonette

marion langley from The Study on June 29, 2013:

This apple loved this!

IslandBites from Puerto Rico on June 29, 2013:

Nice hub!

Tonette Fornillos (author) from The City of Generals on June 27, 2013:

Hello healthygurl. I'm glad you find this helpful. Just a little knowledge of the different dress cuts can be enough to help us find the best pattern for our body shapes. When we know what best flatters us, shopping is easier and no guilt, lol. Thank you for reading and for the nice comment. Keep up and nice meeting you.

Hugs :=)-Tonette

healthygurl from Canada on June 27, 2013:

This article will be helpful for when I shop for my next dress. Great tips!

Tonette Fornillos (author) from The City of Generals on March 31, 2013:

Hello queendresses100, wow I missed on this note of yours!... so sorry. But thank you for reading, hope that makes it easier to pick the cut you're going to have for your next dress already :=). Many thanks for sharing this bateau neckline link, I think it's a must-visit. Thanks again for visiting and have a great Easter Sunday :=). -Tonette

Tonette Fornillos (author) from The City of Generals on August 09, 2012:

Hello AG dots n stripes. So nice to know you find this very educative. I hope the different cuts and styles will bring you to the heights of your clothing business. It pays knowing which cut suits one's shape and personality, it adds. Thanks for reading, I really appreciate. Enjoy your styles!

AG dots n stripes on August 08, 2012:

Hi. I live in Nigeria,my name is aghogho. I am so thrilled to be connected to this page. I make clothes but I have always wanted to know more abt styles, body shape etc.the styles are classics.I was wowed when I started reading about different cuts n dresses. I use them but don't know their universal names.pls keep them coming. Its very educative to me. I love dis page. thk u

Tonette Fornillos (author) from The City of Generals on July 13, 2012:

Hi MariaTheresa - Styles that has stood the test of time, I'm so with you a 100%. Truly elegance is classic. Thanks for dropping by, hope you're in the best.

Teresa Martinez from Philippines on July 13, 2012:

The styles you featured here are so classic, they will stand the test of time. It should remind us women that there are many options to choose from than the "hippest" styles of today which may not necessarily fit us all.

Tonette Fornillos (author) from The City of Generals on June 05, 2012:

Hi Helen - So nice that you find this worth-reading. The problem with a lot of us women is we're too busy to learn the other types of dress cuts yet we keep looking for what could suit our shapes best. Wish this finds a good place in your list. Thanks for following too Helen. Blessings!

oceansider on June 05, 2012:

Hi Tonipet,

I like your hub which shows and explains the different types of dresses, and who looks best in each kind of style.

Thank you...and also, thank you for following my hubs. I following your hubs as well, as of a moment from now.

Helen

Tonette Fornillos (author) from The City of Generals on May 29, 2012:

Yes Christin, and most of us are so limited with the round, square and V-necks. Perhaps it would be more fun to explore other famous and fabulous dress cuts. So I've thought of making a hub out of it that we all learn together. So glad you've realized that. Enjoy!

Ann-Christin from UK on May 29, 2012:

Really good hub I didn't realise there were that many dress styles.

I enjoy helping others in the process of finding that dress that is just right.

The Search Begins

In the year leading up to my wedding, I attempted to make myself an expert in everything wedding-related.

One of my goals as a bride was to find the perfect bridesmaid dress that would flatter each girl and it had to be my favorite color: purple.

Throughout my searching, I discovered one thing . . . there are so many choices! While hunting for that perfect bridesmaid dress, I've discovered that there are some websites out there that make it a bit easier to envision the color scheme I was looking for.

I've also found that while browsing, a dress that wouldn't normally catch my eye in another color, is absolutely beautiful in my favorite color.

Certain websites have a feature that allow a bride to click on the color of her choice, which in turn changes the dress that color, making it much easier to make decisions between different shades of colors and also to picture what the dress would really look like.

The best part about this list is that most bridal shops carry these designers, so it is possible for the bride to have an idea of what she likes before the actual shopping begins!

My Top 6 Bridesmaid Dress Shopping Websites

Below, I have compiled a list of bridesmaid dress designers who provide a website with the color changing feature. These are by no means all of the websites out there, but these are the ones I've found the most helpful and user-friendly.

I have arranged these websites in order by how user friendly they are, however, I will also note the other features of the websites that can sometimes make up for a bad web design.

Overall, I do like all of these websites as the color-changing feature they all offer is a huge advantage. I encourage brides and bridesmaids alike to check out all of the websites and hopefully they will help you get one step closer to finding the perfect dress for your big day.

1. Alexia Designs

Alexia Designs is my favorite website for bridesmaid dress shopping. The huge selection offered with three collections is one of the many perks. This website takes the cake when it comes to user friendliness.

Best features:

• Awesome color-changing feature! This feature allows you to test out different colors on dresses you love. Certain colors can really make a dress look different in a good or bad way, so I felt this was important.
• Color-specific. When you choose a certain color, only the dresses that are available in that specific color pop up. I loved this feature because that meant I wouldn't get my heart set on a dress that didn't come in the right hue.
• Huge Selection. Alexia Designs has three huge collections with so many different styles to choose from. I'm a girl who loves to have options and lots of them!

2. Dessy

Dessy offers the biggest selection of dresses by far. There are six collections to view with a style and look for just about everyone.

The website is pretty user friendly as well. There is no "view all" feature, however, you can view 18 dresses at a time, so it's not a huge draw back.

Best features:

• Enormous selection. Dessy boasts six different collections of dresses with styles from conservative to less formal.
• Search refinement. The search tool on this website is amazing. You can narrow your search by dress length, neckline, detailing, silhouette, sleeve length, and fabric. I loved this feature since I knew I wanted a shorter dress for my bridesmaids. Very helpful.
• Color family search. Searching by color family allows all dresses in each specific color family to pop up. Then, each dress will list each of the different shades of that color available, specific to that particular dress. You may discover a shade or color you never considered before!

3. Moonlight Bridal

Moonlight Bridal has a great overall website when it comes to the bridesmaid dress search.

There are two collections to choose from, depending on what style you're looking for. The collections are pretty small, but there is a lot of variety.

4. Bari Jay

Bari Jay's website is not my favorite when it comes to being user friendly, specifically because there is not a "view all" option, however, the designer does have some very modern and unique styles available.

There is also a decent range of colors available.

5. Jasmine Bridal

Jasmine Bridal offers three different collections when it comes to bridesmaid dresses. I love the amount of variety offered when it comes to dress selection and I love the styles as well.

This designer offers my favorite styles.

6. Watters

Watters provides two collections to choose from. However, I would rate this website low on color selection and user friendliness.

There is no "view all" feature, so that leaves the shopper clicking from dress to dress, one by one.

I LOVE Your Feedback!

Tiffany Donald on February 03, 2020:

Hi. I am getting married Saturday, June 20, 2020; however, tge dress I had chosen last year for my bridesmaids ladt year, in October, is not available this year. I like elegance but not too much because that's my day....lol

I would like to share a photo of the type of dress, I have been looking for my beidesmaids.

If you can be of assistance, I receive it.

Stella on October 08, 2017:

Very informative lens. If I may add sone more web store: runwaycatalog.com They have a vast selection of brand name dresses that could perfectly do for prom.

sara on April 15, 2016:

Well, there are several aspects of wedding and making it perfect. Wedding invitation card is one the important aspect of making any marriage special.

http://wedding-paln.blogspot.com/2013/03/need-wedd...

Kimberly Schimmel from Greensboro, NC on May 22, 2013:

I just want the great jewelry! Very pretty lens.

Takkhis on March 18, 2013:

I am bookmarking this lens now! I may need this one in the future :)

Wedding Mom on March 18, 2013:

great lens! Thank you for sharing. I really love your suggestions.

Kristen (author) from Wisconsin on February 18, 2013:

@anonymous: Thanks! I appreciate it!

anonymous on February 18, 2013:

My wife has to get one soon so I posted your site on my facebook, Ill tell the wedding girl to check it out. Nice lens...

Sheilamarie from British Columbia on February 18, 2013:

I'm sure you're helping many brides to make decisions. Nice lens!

anonymous on November 20, 2012:

Thanks for such a nice lens! I really enjoying while reading.

MartieG aka 'survivoryea' from Jersey Shore on October 31, 2012:

You put together some good information for brides-to-be! :>)

Jogalog on October 31, 2012:

These dresses are lovely. I think it's good to always try to find dresses that the girls may be able to wear afterwards too.

ShineRita on October 05, 2012:

These bridesmaid dresses are so beautiful!

PS: Thank you so much for visiting and liking my 2013 Peacock Wedding Theme Ideas lens - I really appreciate it! :>)

Ana on September 02, 2012:

These are very useful links you provided. As far as bridesmaid dresses, I like everything purple on this page - including the dresses, the lens' theme:) and your writing! Enjoyed reading your lens!

KimGiancaterino on July 23, 2012:

These are beautiful bridesmaid dresses and you did a wonderful job of presenting them here.

anonymous on July 21, 2012:

I love your suggestions. That green bridesmaid dress from Jasmine Bridal is awesome!

BuckHawkcenter on July 13, 2012:

All gorgeous dresses and wonderful websites to find those tough bridesmaid dresses!

MillBucks on July 05, 2012:

I just love the gorgeous layout of this page, well done!

kmyangel on July 03, 2012:

when I was a bridesmaid at my sister wedding I didn't find the perfect dress I was looking for :(

karMALZEKE on June 07, 2012:

This is a superb lens!!!! I love the show of dresses. Moonlight Bridal was my very favorite. All the weddings I was ever it I could not stand the dress.

kabist on May 21, 2012:

for more cheap and fashion bridesmaid dressesï¼here give you a nice siteï¼www.honeybuy.com

Bill Armstrong from Valencia, California on May 03, 2012:

Short and sweet, too much writing, some more pictures etc would go down nicely

I enjoy writing articles that help women feel more comfortable in their own skin and clothing.

If anyone tells you to just go with your heart and buy whichever wedding dress you like the most, that could possibly be very bad advice. When it comes to choosing a wedding dress, short women are not as genetically lucky as their taller fellow bride-to-bes. Those long legs and high torsos tend to look nice, or at least alright, in all types of dresses: mermaid, ball gown, babydoll, A-line, you name it. They can wear them all and pull it off. It's no wonder why the average height of fashion models is 5 foot 10. Short women (including moi!), unfortunately, don't have that advantage. If you're short, you have to be more careful and finicky about selecting your dress in order to look your best on your special day. Certain styles of wedding dresses can add some visual height to your body, while some may not make you appear any taller but simply flatter your petite size. But, if you choose the wrong wedding dress for your body type, it could really work against your small figure.

Best Wedding Dress Styles for Short Women

A-Line or Princess Wedding Dress

There's a good reason why the A-line silhouette is the most popular among all types of wedding dresses; it looks beautiful on any body type. An A-line dress is fitted around the bodice and flares just right below the waistline. Narrow-framed short women who want to create the illusion of extra height and curves will certainly love this wedding dress style. Besides making a petite figure appear taller and fuller, it also works marvels for pear-shaped women who wish to hide their large hips.

Empire Wedding Dress

Charmingly simple and Victorian-inspired, most empire wedding dresses are slightly flared and made of flowy fabric. It is tight-fitted around the chest, and the rest of the dress flows down from right below the bustline.The high-waist silhouette subtly "adds" a few inches to your legs. If you want to embrace your smallness instead of trying to appear taller, however, a knee-length or tea-length empire dress with a crinoline underneath is a lovely choice. It is sometimes called a "babydoll dress," and makes petite women look nothing but adorable. Brides with small busts tend to like this style of wedding dress a lot, as it visually enhances their upper section. And for short women with thick waists, an empire dress can nicely conceal that fullness in the mid area.

Sheath Wedding Dress

Close-fitted all the way from the top to the bottom hem, sheath dresses are great for slender short women who want to boast their slim hips. Plus, the lengthy tubelike shape of a sheath dress can visually elongate your body by one or two inches. However, I have to warn you it's not the most comfortable dress style to wear. So if you're planning for some "serious" dancing at the reception party, a knee-length sheath dress is probably better than a full-length one.

Unflattering Wedding Dress Styles for Short Women

Ball Gown Wedding Dress

A ball gown is similar to an A-line or princess wedding dress, except that the skirt is much fuller. Think of what Cinderella wears to the ball; that's it. Why is it not so flattering for short women? Well, even though it is a very elegant style, it doesn't create a lengthy flowy line from the top to bottom like an A-line wedding dress does. The skirt of a ball gown usually resembles a huge upside-down bowl, which doesn't add much visual height and can appear too overwhelming on a small frame.

Mermaid Wedding Dress

A mermaid wedding dress is basically a sheath dress with a fishtail. It is not ideal for petite brides, especially those with very short legs or large midsections. The flare at the knees visually divides the lower body into two parts, and that could make short legs look even shorter than they already are. One way this type of dress can work on a petite frame is to keep the fishtail small and modest. The larger and more extravagant, the less flattering it will be on short women.

Comments

missioneventsaz from Arizona on June 07, 2012:

Great advice for petite women!

Om Paramapoonya (author) on December 28, 2011:

Thanks! I'll post some pics on FB :)

anglnwu on December 27, 2011:

Haha, let's call ourselves petite--we may not be very tall but we're skinny. Good luck on your dress--send pictures.

Om Paramapoonya (author) on December 27, 2011:

@Healingwords - Thanks, Ann. And yep, having another dress for the reception party is also a good solution to the sheath dress issue! :)

@randomcreative - Yeah, I agree it seems like lots of dresses at most wedding boutiques are made for tall women. I'm glad you found this hub helpful. :)

@anglnwu - You're short, too? Now that's one more thing you and I have in common besides the fact that we're both from the Teochew clan and have a significant other named Steve! hehehe

anglnwu on December 26, 2011:

Om,gosh, you're almost there. Thankfully, there's a wedding dress for everyone, even short women (me included too...sigh). Good tips and rated up.

Rose Clearfield from Milwaukee, Wisconsin on December 26, 2011:

As someone who is short and doesn't like shopping for dresses in general because so many of them are made for taller women, I really appreciated this! Thanks for the great tips.

Ann Wehrman from California on December 26, 2011:

Om,

Sigh!! Lovely dresses displayed and an informative Hub. Good advice for those of us under 5'5". Regarding the problem with a long sheath wedding dress at the reception--one could always change to something looser for that, for easier dancing...

Simone enjoys fashion and fashion accessories. She also finds garments to be more about strategy than stereotypes.

Because weddings (theoretically) only take place once in one's life, wedding dresses are a big deal. While many wedding dress designs are classic and generally uniform, there are some highly unique, unusual, and downright ridiculous wedding dresses out there. I've shared some of my favorites below.

Some of these dresses derive their uniqueness from their culture (or subculture) of origin, others from high fashion, and still more from the very eccentric brides who commissioned them.

I hope you find this collection of unusual wedding dresses to be amusing, interesting, and perhaps insightful. Whether the photos and video below inspire you to design your own unusual wedding dress, or just laugh and point, there is no denying that they are fascinating artifacts of fashion!

Unusual Wedding Dress Designs

I'm going to start off this collection of unique wedding dresses by looking at dresses made by specific designers and creative brides. After that, I'll look at interesting wedding dresses that are tied to cultural traditions.

When it comes to simple wedding dresses created by couturiers and brides themselves, it goes without saying that a certain degree of strangeness. Most designers, be they within the old-fashioned couture network, or more modern fashion circles, or even the amateur leagues, design wedding dresses at some point (even if they are just sketches). Most of them are normal—some are exquisite—and some are just plain strange. Here are some of the most notable ones.

The World's Most Unusual Wedding Dress

In my humble opinion, Yves Saint Laurent is responsible for the world's most unusual wedding dress.

I'll never forget the day I first saw it—it was featured as part of a YSL retrospective at the De Young Museum in San Francisco, and it stuck out like a bone-white, fuzzy, dead thumb. I think it's the most hideous "dress" I've ever seen (and from what I heard other museum-goers saying, I was certainly not the only one feeling this way).

A mixture between a sarcophagus, a tea cozy, a condom, and a Russian doll costume, this wedding dress makes some VERY loaded statements . . . though I can't quite be entirely sure what they are.

Theatrical Wedding Dresses

Because wedding dresses have become such charged cultural icons, it comes as no surprise that musical artists and other celebrities have utilized them for performing purposes.

Though not technically used for wedding ceremonies, theatrical wedding dresses contribute some of the most outlandish and fascinating designs to the world's pool of unusual wedding dresses. Between stars' huge production budgets and access to super creative designers, the wedding dresses that have been worn on stage are probably the most strange when it comes to interpretations of modern, mainstream designs.

Wedding Dresses Inspired by Food

Food is beautiful, delicious, addictive, dangerous, nourishing, and without a doubt inspiring. Food can also be breathtakingly beautiful—it should come as no surprise that some clothing designers might incorporate aesthetic elements of wedding cakes, cookies, vegetables, fruit, and other visually fascinating treats into the odd dress or shoe.

What may come as a surprise, however, is that some designers have decided to just turn food into dresses—wedding dresses included. To your write, you'll see a wedding dress inspired by profiteroles . . . that is actually comprised of profiteroles.

I wonder if they ate it after the wedding. Heck - seeing as the thing weighed ten kilograms, they could have fed an entire wedding party with the dress!

Unusual Wedding Dresses With Crazy-Long Trains

Many young brides are drawn to at least some sort of train for their wedding dresses—they bring a sense of history, regality, and romance to the ensemble and allow the wearer to flaunt sumptuous fabrics, lace, and beadwork.

The Valentino wedding dress pictured to the right offers a great example of wedding dress train showboating. The intricate lacework is far too precious to touch the ground!

Perhaps the most famous unusual wedding dress with an incredibly long train is that worn by Princess Diana in her epic royal wedding. At 25 feet long, that particular train reached ridiculous lengths, but its designers, David and Elizabeth Emmanuel, were only catering to the fairy tale wedding visions of both Diana and her adoring public.

What makes that dress in particular so unique is not only the incredibly long train but also the almost cartoon-like extent to which it exaggerated almost every traditional feature of a wedding dress. In addition to the train, the shoulders, skirt, and veil were also exaggerated and theatrical.

Wedding Dresses Meet Subcultures, Themes, and Locations

As I mentioned earlier, many dresses are tied to subculture, and one reason why I love subculturally-affiliated wedding dresses is they can be ANYTHING! Take, for example, hardcore nerds who decide to have a Star Wars-themed wedding. Their wedding dresses can be as elaborate as those worn by Queen Amidala!

Even more mainstream folk can opt for crazy wedding grab by having a themed wedding (e.g., Prom theme, Belle Epoque theme, Under The Sea theme, Zombie theme . . .). Themed weddings rock!

The setting of a wedding can also lead to some very unusual costume choices. Pictured to the right is a snapshot taken of a wedding ceremony at Burning Man, an annual arts festival that takes place in a remote Nevada desert. As you can see, the unconventional setting and event enable not just the bride, but EVERYONE to wear insane outfits (as is clearly evident with the bridesmaids).

Unusual Wedding Dresses Tied to Traditional Culture

Each traditional culture has its own unique form of dress. I think we only see them as unusual because we're all starting to dress the same.

Seeing as we're all adopting a sort of borderless uniform—both in wedding chapels and in everyday life—let's take a break to celebrate some unusual wedding dresses from other traditional cultures—and one modern one, too!

Shinto Wedding Dresses

Some of my favorite wedding dresses are Shinto wedding dresses, which I would imagine may seem very unusual to some, as they are hardly the white, beaded standard we are so accustomed to.

Let's take a second to talk about these—Shinto wedding dresses are actually kimonos—elegant robes with long, wide sleeves and a hem that ends right around the ankle. The traditional kimono worn by brides for Shinto wedding ceremonies is called a shiromuku and is all white.

The particularly awesome thing about wedding dresses as worn for Shinto-style weddings is that a bride gets more than one—in addition to the shiromuku, which is worn for the wedding ceremony, brides get to wear a more colorful kimono called an irouchikake for the reception.

Some brides who have chosen to go all out for their weddings might even have a Western-style wedding dress for part of the reception as well.

Is this the best of all worlds? Absolutely. The more wedding dresses, the better!

Traditional Russian Wedding Dresses

When it comes to Russian wedding dresses (traditional ones, at least), I am more fascinated by the headdresses than the dresses themselves!

The image to the right displays a commemorative stamp showcasing the culture of Russian People.

The Russian bride on the stamp is wearing a national headdress, which includes amazing beadwork and a beautiful white veil.

It looks pretty heavy, and the shape is fascinating—I have never seen one worn in person, but imagine it would be quite a sight!

Aceh Wedding Dresses

Also heavy on the headgear are traditional Aceh wedding ensembles.

Aceh is a region at the north end of Sumatra, an island in western Indonesia. Aceh is comprised of several different ethnic groups, including Alas, Aneuk Jamee, Kluet, Simeule, Acehnese, and Chinese.

All of these groups have some influence on traditional garb, and while the wedding clothing shown to the right is predominantly Acehnese in nature, it probably contains a decent amount of outside cultural influence as well.

What's not to love about combining tradition with bright color, shiny metals, and a bit of outside influence?

Traditional Peranakan Wedding Dresses

I am absolutely floored by the amazing patterns and fabrics of which traditional Peranakan wedding dresses are comprised.

Typical Peranakan clothing consists of a long dress worn with a batik sarong with three brooches (called kerosang). Shoes are often embellished with handmade beads (though today, more pass-produced beads are utilized).

Peranakan wedding garb incorporates these elements while utilizing all the best fabric and beautiful batik patterns, often mixing in Chinese symbols.

Palestinian Wedding Dresses (From More Isolated Villages)

Also very impressive are traditional wedding dresses worn by women of Ramallah and other Palestinian cities outside (and in this case, specifically south) of Jerusalem.

Utilizing beautiful patterns and fabric with rounded dowry headdresses and flowing silhouettes, these dresses look far more comfortable than the nuptial designs many modern Western women have opted for.

Because many Palestinian villages have been somewhat isolated, their clothing has become a unique defining element and is less influenced by the outside world.

No wonder women's wedding dresses in Ramallah are so beautiful and unique!

Hebron Area Wedding Dresses

Wedding dresses outside of Jerusalem sure are fascinating—more south of Jerusalem in the Hebron area, traditional wedding dresses are heavily embroidered, which on its own is not so unique, however, the heavy panels on the front and back of the dresses are absolutely exquisite.

The dresses' veils, called shambars, feature both sequins and silk embroidery. The 'iraqiyeh, or headdress, is my favorite part—I love the beautiful coins (many of which will be passed down from generation to generation) and can only imagine the beautiful sound they make when the bride walks.

A lot of brides obsess about makeup and hair, but one of the unique aspects of Hebron bridal costumes is that those wearing them do not have to worry as much about these things!

More on Gypsy Wedding Dresses

• Gypsy Wedding Dresses
  I used to be under the impression that large wedding dresses had gone the way of the dinosaur and that slim silhouettes would be reigning supreme for the foreseeable future.

Gypsy Wedding Dresses

Even the UK, known for kicking off what is now becoming the universal "normal" wedding dress design (white, feminine, etc.), has some very unusual designs, thanks to one of its nomadic subcultures: Gypsies.

The UK documentary series My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding ignited a great deal of interest in the flamboyant and creative dresses designed for Traveller brides for their weddings.

As many Gypsy weddings involve unusually young couples (at least in terms of modern standards), the dresses commissioned by brides-to-be have characteristically girlish themes, reminiscent of Disney princesses and fairy tale heroines.

Often embellished with LED lights and Swarovski crystals, these dresses offer a very interesting combination of modern brands and technology with caricatures of 17th-century silhouettes.

While these large, flamboyant dresses are only worn by a small subculture, they are definitely worth noting as some of the most notable and unusual wedding dresses out there!

An Intro to My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding

Face It: All Wedding Dresses Are Unusual

The more you look at wedding dresses, the more you will realize that they are unusual. Wedding dresses are, by definition, unusual. If they were not, women would be getting married in their best dresses, and there would be no such thing as dedicated garb for nuptials.

Scoff, drool, or laugh all you want at wedding dresses; no matter what, they're here to stay, and they'll only get weirder.

Comments

nicnk from Northville on June 03, 2019:

Not good but great content https://divinitydjs.com/

poetryman6969 on December 07, 2013:

I hate to think what Lady Gaga's wedding dress would be like. Would it be edible?

torrilynn on December 07, 2013:

I agree with you that YSL has made the ugliest wedding dress ever! It looks ridiculous and I for one would never ever wear it. Overall, great article. The different dresses shown and the designs were good. Voted up.

vibesites from United States on November 01, 2013:

I thought brides never wear white in Japan because white symbolizes death. But now I learn from you about the shiromuku dress and I Google'd for it -- it indeed is beautiful. Maybe the color symbolizes anything else.

I think gypsy weddings are fun and a bit frivolous, at least in the dresses. :)

Ryan Swayt from Salt Lake City, Utah on November 15, 2012:

Thanks for the post. I think that the pic at the top of the hub is by far the most unusual wedding dress.

wrenfrost56 from U.K. on June 21, 2012:

Woah! I'm with you the YSL one is by far the weirdest. Another awesome hub. :)

missioneventsaz from Arizona on June 07, 2012:

Wow! What an interestingly odd collection of wedding dresses.

Angela Brummer from Lincoln, Nebraska on May 29, 2012:

How truly entertaining! Thank you so much!

Haydee Anderson from Hermosa Beach on May 02, 2012:

Wow, that was a very interesting read. I really like the photo of Valentino's wedding dress with the long train. Thanks :)

Laura Brown from Barrie, Ontario, Canada on April 29, 2012:

The dress I wore for my wedding had almost nothing in common with the dress I had designed in my head all the years before I was married.

Kelly Kline Burnett from Madison, Wisconsin on March 31, 2012:

Simone Smith,

Wonderful! For my second marriage, I wore white and a vintage dress with a large hoop - am I ever the romantic and my hoop would not fit in the front of the car! Our best man had to drive and we HAD to sit in back! Oh, you brought back memories. Thank yoU!

designemporia on March 27, 2012:

Wow... so that's what happens when you write a really interesting article... row after row of congratulatory comments... Loved reading the comments as much as laughed at some of these really funny dresses

Simone Haruko Smith (author) from San Francisco on March 14, 2012:

Thanks Peggy W! Well, the first one *might* be my favorite... if my wedding involved being pushed down a mountain!

Peggy Woods from Houston, Texas on March 12, 2012:

I agree with you on the looks of that first one in particular...odd to say the least! Good collection of wedding dress ideas you have here Simone. I can rest assured that you would not choose that first one as your favorite. Ha!

Swetank Raj from India on January 30, 2012:

That's just awesome hub!

Priscilla from El Paso on January 11, 2012:

This is a very fun and interesting article.

Simone Haruko Smith (author) from San Francisco on January 11, 2012:

That's a great approach, MissFrost! Can't please everyone, right?

MissFrost from 50% Island Girl, 25% East Coast Girl, 25% Country Girl on January 10, 2012:

Wow! What a fun article! I wore a pink wedding dress to my wedding....I had the mind frame that it's my wedding, and if people don't approve of my dress, then too bad:)

Simone Haruko Smith (author) from San Francisco on January 09, 2012:

Let's just say I'm not opposed to the idea, shea duane!

Ooooooh! You've got some major fun ahead of you, brielise! And yeah, Diana's dress was a bit... much. But she was young, idealistic, excited... one can see why she made that choice!

And that's the point of them being unusual, luv-iggy, though I agree that just taking one or two elements from these dresses and letting them be would often lead to more tasteful results.

luv-iggy on January 08, 2012:

Most of these dresses are a little over the top in my opinion but if you were to take off some parts of them they could be really pretty!

brielise on January 06, 2012:

It's so interesting to see some unusual wedding dresses since they've really all started to look the same to me - does anyone else think strapless ballgowns are way overdone? My boyfriend and I are on the verge of engagement so I've been keeping my eye on dresses and want something different - although probably not that different! As for Princess Diana, around the time of the famous Will and Kate wedding there was a whole special on that dress. People raved about it then but apparently experts thought she looked like she needed an iron: too frumpy and wrinkly and very overbearing! You could hardly see her!

shea duane from new jersey on December 30, 2011:

Are you planning to wear a Star Wars dress?

CvilleFashion from Charlottesville, VA on December 01, 2011:

Cool hub! Although I'd never wear it, I'm sort of digging the uber-long Valentino train!

provobluetango on November 14, 2011:

Because weddings (theoretically) only take place once in one's life, it makes sense not to spend a ton of money on a dress you'll only wear once, for a few hours.

The first picture looks like a bride burrito!

The Second, (Beyoncé Giselle Knowles)is interesting because of the juxtaposition between a white dress symbolizing purity, and a dress that shows off and draws attention to her crotch.

Some of the other pictures, especially the traditional Japanese gowns were awesome.

Finally the dress made from rolls.. What the?? He probably didn't eat for the entire day just so he'd be hungry enough for his wedding night...

This was a Hilarious Post! Thanks!

chelseacharleston on November 14, 2011:

Super interesting!

Tara on November 14, 2011:

My wife watches My Big Fat Gypsie Wedding and most of those dresses are over the top too.

Fierce Manson from Atlanta on November 13, 2011:

Interesting hub Simone, the pictures are very unusual indeed. Enjoyed learning about some very unique wedding dresses. Thanks for sharing.

jenp123 on November 13, 2011:

What a unique idea for a hub! Thanks for sharing! Lovely pictures, too.

writingfrosh from Philippines on November 12, 2011:

Your welcome! It's my pleasure. :)

Simone Haruko Smith (author) from San Francisco on November 12, 2011:

Thanks for the suggestion, writingfrosh! I'll have to check them out!!

writingfrosh from Philippines on November 12, 2011:

Hi Simone! This is such an interesting hub. Since the Shinto wedding dress is your favorite, I also suggest that you check out the traditional wedding dresses of Korea. It also has a colorful design and an intricate headpiece.

bigbooooty. on November 11, 2011:

ew, dey be nashty.

Simone Haruko Smith (author) from San Francisco on October 10, 2011:

Wow, I can only imagine it is heavy, Alina Marie! Yikes. But they look so cool @_@

Thanks so much for sharing those links, too!

Alina Marie on September 29, 2011:

Or just watch this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aL4OWnEa4Og&fea...

Alina Marie on September 29, 2011:

Good info. About Russian head wear. It is heavy. And the more wealthier family of the bride was more stones was used not only in head wear but all over the dress too (pearls, jem stones, diamonds). And people still wear this costumes. Just not to get merry.

It is very popular for little girls and boys to learn national folk dancing. And very often you can see this costumes on stage.

This is "Russian Dance" from the Swan Lake. All the girls wearing Kokoshnik (that's the name of head wear)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0RW2gEJqIU&fea...

Simone Haruko Smith (author) from San Francisco on September 21, 2011:

Glad I had a new one for you in this collection, cgreen7090!

And you're quite right, Perpetua. These dresses do a pretty good job of that, I say!

Wedding planning seriously does need humor, Centerlinemassage! Congrats on your upcoming marriage!

I bet your designs are gorgeous, zatalat. Much prettier, I'm sure, than many of the dresses here!

zatalat from Global on September 19, 2011:

this is very interesting hub. Being a designer I liked it very much. it has great information and ideas.

Centerlinemassage from Atlanta, Ga on September 18, 2011:

As someone who is in the process of getting married I find this both somewhat helpful and very amusing. Helps puts some humor back into the wedding planning!

Perpeptua on September 18, 2011:

I guess the idea for a wedding dress is to make the bride the centre of attention so that makes all of these ideas great - as long as they are wearable.

cgreen7090 from Tennessee on September 17, 2011:

I love looking at unusual wedding dresses. You showed one I had never seen before.

summertime8 on September 17, 2011:

Really interesting and some beautiful pictures.

htodd from United States on August 28, 2011:

Thanks for the great post..nice

Simone Haruko Smith (author) from San Francisco on August 11, 2011:

Thanks for stopping by maxravi and happypuppy!

And I'm a fan of the videos too, Naomi's Banner. They afford a much better look at some of these singular garments.

Naomi's Banner from United States on August 09, 2011:

Extremely interesting Hub. Especially liked the wedding videos.

happypuppy on August 09, 2011:

Interesting hub. The wedding dresses are very unusual and bold.

Ravi Singh from India on August 09, 2011:

I like your unique thought.Marriage generally happens once in a lifetimes , so dress should be special one!I like the pics.thanks for your hub.

Simone Haruko Smith (author) from San Francisco on August 03, 2011:

Thanks so much, Thelma Alberts! Hey, I suppose the benefits of an edible 10 kilo dress is that your friends and family can help to lighten the load!

Thelma Alberts from Germany on July 30, 2011:

Hi! I love this hub. It is awesome, funny and interesting. Imagine, wearing a 10 kilos of wedding dress that can be eaten by the guests! The bride must have had a backache after that. Voted Up! Thanks for sharing.

Simone Haruko Smith (author) from San Francisco on July 28, 2011:

I strive to be infromatic, SHAJEEL!

And this is quite true, ReceptionChair. I love it too! Heck, weddings really are like theater, so why not put on a good show?

And that butterfly dress sure is wild, isn't it Jennie Demario? I'd have trouble just wearing it to my wedding. Heck, I wish I were wearing it now, to be entirely honest.

Venture Boyz from Floating in the clouds on July 26, 2011:

what!? lol.. Some of these don't even look real. Let your imagination run wild on your special day. I want to wear the dress with the butterflies on it.

ReceptionChair on July 25, 2011:

Even a basic wedding dress is unlike any other dress, so I guess that if you want to do something unique, then the only way is 'weird'! Personally, I love it. I think weddings are just theatre and so the 'costumes' should be as theatrical as possible. It's a shame the men have to look so dull !

SHAJEEL on July 13, 2011:

very interesting and informatic Hub

Simone Haruko Smith (author) from San Francisco on July 07, 2011:

Oh, but it's the impracticality that makes these dresses so fun! Hehee.

ournote2self on July 07, 2011:

I saw a couple episodes of My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding and those dresses are ridiculous! I can't imagine wearing something so big and confining for an intire day.

And a dress made out of food? That's just crazy talk and not at all practical!

Thanks for sharing!

Simone Haruko Smith (author) from San Francisco on July 02, 2011:

Yeah, isn't it insane? I'm glad you've seen it now! Hope it doesn't give you bad dreams O_O

Hayley LaGarce from Kansas City, MO on July 01, 2011:

I'm in shocked that I've never seen the thumb dress before. Thank you fo enlighting me!

Simone Haruko Smith (author) from San Francisco on June 24, 2011:

Hahaa, your reaction was better than mine, LittlePayday! I gagged out loud when I saw it in person! Hardly the proper reaction for inside a museum... but... well...

Simone Haruko Smith (author) from San Francisco on June 22, 2011:

Yep, I'm with you on that, Ebower!

Erin Bower from Georgia on June 22, 2011:

Very unusual dresses. I think least attractive one was the first one that looked like a cocoon.

smcopywrite from all over the web on June 17, 2011:

i really liked all of the great gowns. although these are unusual, i found a lot of them attractive. nice hub.

Nyesha Pagnou MPH from USA on June 02, 2011:

Hi Simone Smith,

This is a really interesting hub. Thanks for sharing.

Best,

Journey *

suejanet on May 31, 2011:

Very interesting hub.

WillSteinmetz on May 11, 2011:

David Hilowitz- This is cool.

Simone Haruko Smith (author) from San Francisco on May 05, 2011:

Thanks Obscure_Treasures, and isn't it an incredible train, Treasuresofheaven? The more I learn about wedding dresses, the more I realize that they're often used to show off expensive lacework and fabric. The more a dress has, the more expensive it is, so long trains can really show off one's wealth.

Sima Ballinger from Michigan on May 05, 2011:

Great hub! The gown with the outrageous long train was kind of funny - there was more train than the dress! This is a good, informative and enjoyable hub to read. Enjoyed the photos very much!

Obscure_Treasures from USA on May 02, 2011:

Great hub this is!

Simone Haruko Smith (author) from San Francisco on April 22, 2011:

Oh wow, thanks Mrs. J. B.! And LOL - I know XD

Mrs. J. B. from Southern California on April 21, 2011:

First I love your name because that was my second daughter's name.

Now on the wedding dresses... Huh. Hmm. Well. Alrighty Then.. If You Say So..... My...

Simone Haruko Smith (author) from San Francisco on April 11, 2011:

Hahaa, totally swedai!! Though if I saw someone in that tampon of a wedding dress, I'd just push him/her right over. And THEN run.

swedal from Colorado on April 11, 2011:

Wow there are some nice dresses there, but I think if my wife had been wearing that first one I may have run the other direction!

SJKSJK from delray beach, florida on April 10, 2011:

It is amazing that every culture has it's own style.

Simone Haruko Smith (author) from San Francisco on March 24, 2011:

That they are.

Aoife on March 24, 2011:

Weddings are speical

Simone Haruko Smith (author) from San Francisco on March 22, 2011:

Agreed!

thedutchman on March 21, 2011:

Wedding is very SPECIAL occasion for couples and everything that involves wedding need to be SPECIAL also.

Haydee Anderson from Hermosa Beach on March 21, 2011:

for many of us, our wedding day comes only once in a lifetime and its really a fun idea to have a unique wedding dress.

Simone Haruko Smith (author) from San Francisco on March 21, 2011:

Thanks, Hyphenbird!

Brenda Barnes from America-Broken But Still Beautiful on March 21, 2011:

This is such a fun and interesting Hub. I love wedding dresses and this was fscinating for me.

Up and Awesome!

Simone Haruko Smith (author) from San Francisco on March 21, 2011:

I totally agree, funmontrealgirl. And you make a good point about wedding dresses needing to be wearable, too! Imagine spending a wedding day unable to dance, move, or feel comfortable!

funmontrealgirl from Montreal on March 20, 2011:

I think wedding dresses should be unusual since all brides are unique in their own way. But I hope, they look presentable, wearable and.... unusually beautiful? Nice hub!

Simone Haruko Smith (author) from San Francisco on March 16, 2011:

Thanks for stopping by, ChristineVianello! When it comes to fashion, wedding dresses indeed come across as the most interesting - at least as far as I'm concerned. They have so much extra meaning!

ChristineVianello from Philadelphia on March 16, 2011:

Great hub! I think those wedding dresses are the most interesting pieces of fashion I have ever seen!

Simone Haruko Smith (author) from San Francisco on March 16, 2011:

Thanks for checking the Hub out, IntimatEvolution and crystolite!

Emma from Houston TX on March 16, 2011:

Interesting article which has a lot of interesting photos of cool wedding dresses that really fascinated me.

Julie Grimes from Columbia, MO USA on March 15, 2011:

Too cool!

Simone Haruko Smith (author) from San Francisco on March 15, 2011:

Oh yeah- that's hands down the world's weirdest wedding dress. I really wanted to torch the thing when I saw it in person!

Yena Williams from California on March 15, 2011:

The first one is definitely the strangest. A cross between tea cozy and condom is a fantastically accurate description. Lol!

Simone Haruko Smith (author) from San Francisco on March 15, 2011:

Oh, there certainly are - if I were to delve into themed weddings, this overview would go on for AGES!

Brittney Cavallari on March 15, 2011:

I'm sure there are stranger ones than these.

Simone Haruko Smith (author) from San Francisco on March 13, 2011:

Thank you, Anu! And I remember hearing that quote, cjv123 - and it really sticks, because she was sort of an idol to so many people. Weddings... gosh, they're such charged, fascinating things!

Carol from Michigan on March 13, 2011:

And a side note to the Princess Diana wedding dress is - she said about her wedding day, "I felt like a lamb going to the slaughter." How prophetic and sad. But - your Hub was not. I have two grown daughters and one is thinking of a possible wedding in the near future so this was of particular interest to me. What fascinating photos - no accounting for people's taste! Great fun Simone!

Anu Sundaram on March 13, 2011:

Really loved the pictures :)

Simone Haruko Smith (author) from San Francisco on March 12, 2011:

I'm glad you like it, vox vocis! Yeah, that butterfly one *is* fun - and those are Swarovski crystals!

Jasmine on March 12, 2011:

Great idea for a hub, Simone! I really enjoyed the photo gallery - unusual wedding dresses indeed! The one with butterflies on it is awesome.

Simone enjoys fashion and fashion accessories. She also finds garments to be more about strategy than stereotypes.

I used to be under the impression that large wedding dresses had gone the way of the dinosaur and that slim silhouettes would be reigning supreme for the foreseeable future. This might be the case for most people, but it certainly isn't the norm in all subcultures, especially gypsies, or travelers, as has been revealed on the UK documentary Big Fat Gypsy Weddings, which made its debut in February 2010.

The dresses featured in Big Fat Gypsy Weddings sport skirts larger than any I have seen at large since the eighteenth century, and even those seem somewhat demure when compared to these modern confections of fluffy tulle, glittery Swarovski crystal, and even LED fairy lights.

Once I discovered the documentary, I had to have a better look at these unusual, big wedding dresses. They are certainly unlike any dresses I have ever seen!

Huge Skirts

One of the most salient aspects of the dresses featured in Big Fat Gypsy Weddings is their girth. Have you ever seen skirts so large—I mean, aside from the skirts worn by Mother Ginger in the Nutcracker ballet?

These skirts are so large, in fact, that the brides wearing these big wedding dresses need several people to assist them with entering and exiting vehicles and squeezing through doorways. When the brides sit down to eat their meals at their own wedding receptions, it is actually easier to sit them down in an open area and bring the tables to them rather than struggle to move the massive clouds of cloth under the table. Dancing with the bride poses another logistical challenge, though doing so would certainly be an interesting experience.

Traditional and Risque

One of the common themes presented in Big Fat Gypsy Weddings is the dichotomy of a culture that is conservative, religious, and old-timey and yet full of girls who marry young and dress and dance in a rather racy, suggestive manner.

Many of these gypsy wedding dresses reflect that clash - they have huge, traditional skirts (which, in the past, were used to literally make it difficult for men to get close to women), and yet elements of raunchiness, like a miniskirt up front or low strapless corset. The contrast in both style and messaging is fascinating.

Super Sparkly

Dresses have long been bedazzled with precious stones to show off wealth and prestige. It is only in this modern age that expensive stones and jewels have been relegated mostly to the realm of jewelry.

Many of the gypsy wedding dresses shown in Big Fat Gypsy Weddings harken back to the olden times with their use of Swarovski crystal. While many wedding dresses stick with normal sequins or generic rhinestones in the embellishment department, dressmaker Thelma Madine (responsible for these impressive gowns) has opted for a branded, pricey option when adding bling to bodices. I find this choice interesting because it reflects the status-seeking conspicuous consumption we used to see with dress detailing in the days of yore.

Themed Dresses

Many of the dresses designed by traveler wedding dress designer Thelma Madine seem to have themes (e.g. sunflowers, butterflies, etc...), which adds another interesting twist to this bridal wear.

While most "themed" dresses are usually seen at costume parties or proms, theme wedding dresses only make the occasional appearance at themed weddings (for example, Star Wars weddings, or something of the sort) and are more like costumes than dresses. In this case, the dresses are certainly wedding dresses first and foremost (at least they are not costumes designed to make the wearer seem like a particular character or think), but they do present an interesting hybrid between costume wear and bridal apparel.

The easiest explanation for these themed, prom-like dresses is that the brides wearing them are about prom age. If a teenager is to be married, she is far more likely to want something fantastical, flamboyant, and costume-like.

Glowing Gowns

One final differentiation point between the gypsy wedding dresses featured in Big Fat Gypsy Weddings is the occasional use of fairy lights beneath the skirts.

That fairly lights have crept their way into these wedding dresses is particularly interesting because it might be seen as taking a relatively new trend of using LED fairy lights in wedding reception venue décor a step further.

Indeed, LED fairy lights and tulle have been intertwined for a dreamy, magical feel quite a lot in modern weddings, however, it has taken the adventurous, fantastical, and young ambitions of young traveler brides-to-be to think to incorporate the lights into their skirts.

Though the battery packs must be cumbersome and the lights a hassle to deal with, the skirts of most of these dresses are so huge anyway, added interior lighting could hardly be seen as a bother.

Comments

Sissipink on May 20, 2019:

I love those big poofy pink gypsy wedding dresses!

Kathy Baker on May 13, 2013:

Your dresses look like luscious cream pies! I know you have to have a wonderful crew of helpers. I am self taught, I make beautiful dolls......creating is so much fun, I can tell you are a natural. Thank you for showing the world the magic of your needle and thread. Keep up the beauty~~~ Kathy Baker, Dallas Texas

Paige Ronchetti from Chicago on June 06, 2012:

I'm so into that TV show! They've made a version in America now, and the dresses are just as huge.

jade masterman on April 03, 2012:

these dresses are absouloutley amazing!x

LIBBY DEEM on March 19, 2012:

WOW I LIKE THAT DRESS YOU NO IAM A GYPSY TOO I LOVE I LOVE THAT MY NAME IS LIBBY DEEM SHE IS A GOOD DRESS MAKER I LOVE THAT DRESS IS COOL

Simone Haruko Smith (author) from San Francisco on February 10, 2012:

So bad, my dear m haseeb ur rahman, that they're good.

m haseeb ur rahman on February 09, 2012:

first two dress veryyyyyyyy badddddddd

Simone Haruko Smith (author) from San Francisco on January 10, 2012:

Thanks, homesteadbound! Yeah, I wish I had the chance to watch more of the show myself!

And congratulations, Emma! That's really exciting!

emma on January 10, 2012:

i am a gypsy and i am getting married in england 2012 august 11 x

Cindy Murdoch from Texas on January 09, 2012:

This was such a fun hub. Now I wish I had seen the show. I have always been fascinated by the gypsy culture. Great hub. The would be a good hub of the day!

Simone Haruko Smith (author) from San Francisco on January 09, 2012:

KingdomCovenant, I recommend contacting Thelma Madine's shop. She's the one who designed those dresses. The shop address is here:

136 London Rd.

Liverpool L3 2926.

KingdomCovenant on January 07, 2012:

Can somebody please tell me where i can get that dress that is featured above next to the words in bold 'Huge Skirts'? i have been looking for something like that for a very long time! (the huge, wide dress in photo 1)

SHAJEEL on July 13, 2011:

Very useful information.nice hub

Simone Haruko Smith (author) from San Francisco on February 19, 2011:

Oh! Imagine that! A big black fluffy wedding dress! Boy, that'd be awesome. I'd be tempted to wear that with a big pair of knee-high combat boots and run around with a machete, like some big, deranged cloud of death.

Good point about the toppling over. I think that happens once or twice in the show. Kind of inevitable, isn't it?

Vivian Gomez from Woodside, NY on February 19, 2011:

I think if I were to go big, I would probably go black. If I were to go with ivory it would be somewhere in between. Not one of those slip-things, but not anywhere as bubbly as these. Don't get me wrong--they are gorgeous, but I can see me toppling over and recreating that scenes from Indiana Jones.

Cynthia is an administrator, has a degree in Business, Economics, & History, and is a qualified Hypnotherapist. She loves to write & travel.

What Is a Kaftan?

Kaftans have made a huge comeback onto the fashion scene in recent years, becoming increasingly more popular or both casual and formal wear. But what is a kaftan and when and how would you wear one? A traditional kaftan or caftan is a garment that is a loose, ankle-length robe which has long, flowing sleeves.

They were originally worn by men in the Middle East and were long robes that buttoned up the front and were made in either cotton or silk. They often had a belt or a sash around the waist with long or elbow-length sleeves. If you want to know what these may have looked like, there is still an amazing collection of imperial kaftans sewn in rich, luxurious fabrics that were once worn by the Ottoman Sultans of Turkey displayed in the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul.

Some of these rich garments were so prized and valuable that they were presented to generals if they were successful in battle or important officials of the Empire during religious festivals. They were also historically worn by men in Russia, where they were more of a long, suit with tight sleeves, and by the 19^th century they were generally only worn by the shopkeepers and poorer people.

Where in the World Are Kaftans Traditionally Worn?

Caftans are still a very popular traditional dress to wear in Morocco, where they are worn by women rather than men, and they can be bought in a wide range of fabrics, colours and designs, and are worn to weddings, engagement parties and other formal occasions. There are even top-end designer Moroccan kaftans that retail for a lot of money, as well as simpler ones for more casual events. They are also worn in West Africa, where they are also known as a boubou, and these kaftans are simple robes that slip over the head and are often very brightly coloured and patterned. There is also a tradition of wearing them in Southeast Asia, where the fabrics that are used to make the kaftans have been dyed using the batik method of producing colourful floral and abstract patterns.

These days, however, kaftans have been adopted as a great style to wear in many other parts of the world as they are an exceptionally versatile garment that can be worn in very many trendy and individual ways and for lots of different events. One of the reasons that contemporary caftans are so sought after is that they are easy to just slip over your head and are an undemanding and comfortable garment to wear.

Kaftans on the Beach

One of the most popular ways of wearing one these days is as a coverup on the beach. A kaftan made from a light, breezy fabric is the perfect thing to accessorize with your bikini or swimsuit and as a long one covers most of your body it can really help to protect your skin from burning due to the strong rays of the sun. Because this is not a fitted garment, it will also help you to stay cool on those long hot days on the sand and is also great if you a bit self-conscious about your body in swimwear and want to coverup but still stay cool and looking gorgeous.

For the beach, it is best to try to get a kaftan in a natural fabric such as organic cotton, as natural fabrics breathe and help to keep your body cooler. Team up your beach caftan with a stylish pair of sandals and maybe even a belt and some designer shades, and you have the perfect outfit for lunch at that little beachside restaurant for very little extra effort.

Kaftan Dresses

Kaftan dresses can be worn for both formal and casual occasions, and the styling opportunities for them are endless. These great dresses suit women of almost any size or shape depending on the style you choose and also can helpfully disguise any bits of flab that you do not want to be accentuated. Moreover, long-sleeved kaftans with a low V-neck are incredibly flattering for women with a bigger bust.

For some boho chic, cinch your kaftan in with a wide leather belt to make your waist look tiny, find the perfect floppy brimmed hat, and pop on a pair of flat, leather sandals. Add a pair of large, designer sunglasses and a soft, fabric shoulder bag and instantly you have your perfect boho-chic outfit that you can wear on weekends, to casual summer parties or to the beach. For more formal occasions look for one in a more luxurious fabric such as silk and choose a more fitted design. Or add some seductive allure by choosing one made from layers of luxurious, sheer fabric.

Dress your evening kaftan up even more with some chic statement jewelry and jewelled sandals with heels. Again a great gold or silver belt will add to the luxury feel of your outfit and highlight your narrow waist. If you want to enjoy wearing the brightly coloured, patterned kaftans of West Africa, you can find them complete with the matching scarves and headwraps that will complete your outfit.

Kaftan Tops and Tunics

Kaftan tops are great for casual wear and come in many different colours and designs. In the winter, choose one in a thicker, warmer fabric and wear it over jeans and leather boots. In the summer choose a lighter fabric, such as silk or cotton, and wear your kaftan top over shorts. Choose some great beads or jewelry to dress your top up or to achieve that perfect casual look.

Kaftans for Loungewear and Nightwear

If you are trying to stay cosy and warm or alternatively if you are wanting to stay as cool as possible, then a kaftan is the perfect loungewear or night wear. A flowing caftan in a thick, warm fabric is the perfect loungewear for cuddling up on the sofa on those long winter nights, or for staying toasty warm under your duvet all night. Pick one out in a lovely light fabric such as soft, luxurious organic cotton or a filmy silk if you want to look elegant and stay cool on those long, hot sultry summer nights. They make perfect loungewear and sleepwear because they are so loose and comfortable, and are so easy to just slip on over your head.

Where to Find a Great Caftan

So these are great garmenst to have in your wardrobe if you are into personal style. One of the most exciting ways to get a great kaftan is to find one when you are travelling; haggling for your chosen garment in a bazaar in North Africa or the Middle East is likely to be an experience that you will always remember!

If you are not planning any exotic trips, then you will be able to find a great selection of them in the shops. However, one of the very best and easiest places to find a wonderful kaftan is online. There is an amazing range for you to choose from, so go online today to choose the perfect one for you.

Comments

luxaccess on November 06, 2017:

Very nice blog and interesting as i was afraid to wear such type of clothes but now i think i can go with it.

Bhudie Shien on May 26, 2017:

Thank you for writing an article of kaftans.. I just bought a very fashionable kaftan dress and wanted to know the meaning of it.. so thanks to you!

CMHypno (author) from Other Side of the Sun on January 05, 2011:

Happy New Year Hello, hello! Thanks for reading about kaftans and leaving a comment

Hello, hello, from London, UK on January 05, 2011:

They are comfortable and beautiful.

CMHypno (author) from Other Side of the Sun on January 04, 2011:

With the freezing weather we are having in the UK, it is more a case of a cosy, warm kaftan to wear snuggled up in front of the fire, Sidney! Thanks for reading about kaftans and leaving a great comment

SidneyMorgan from Australia on January 04, 2011:

With our very strong Australian sun, and the number of red burn people I saw on the beach over the New Year weekend seems more Australian should be covering up and trying out a few styles of kaftans that are made for the beach. Thanks for the informative hub.

CMHypno (author) from Other Side of the Sun on January 03, 2011:

As a woman it is always great to be able to wear a garment like a caftan, that can hide a few bumpy bits and doesn't require tortuous underwear! Thanks for reading about how to wear a kaftan and leaving a great comment, katiem2.

Katie McMurray from Ohio on January 03, 2011:

I love it, the Kaftan or Caftan is stylish and comfy, two very good qualities when it comes to womens wear. Thanks for the info on what a kaftan is and how to wear a caftan! :) Katie

I am an idealist, an optimist, a romantic, often a traditionalist. My writing mostly revolves around the beauty in our lives.

The Little Black Dress Is a Wardrobe Classic and Necessity

The "little black dress" is an essential component needed to completes a woman's wardrobe. In fact, I think it should be the foundation piece. You can create a variety of looks using just one dress and a few classic staples to build around it. A classic white shirt and a navy jacket are just two of the handful of classic pieces that join the stellar style heights of a black dress.

It is a rule of fashion that every woman should own at least one simple, elegant black dress that can be dressed up or down, depending on the occasion. Those who are clever can manage the art of wearing just one dress that can traverse the social etiquette of cocktail parties, school graduations, racing carnivals, and even funerals.

Because the LBD is a wardrobe classic, the style should be simple, elegant, and timeless. This means it should still be stylish in 10 years' time. The only downside to this is that the LBD will be so perfect that it will be threadbare from wear within one year, let alone a decade! So when you find the perfect one, be sure to buy at least two!

Short History of the Very First Little Black Dress

A little black dress is a special evening or cocktail dress, generally of a simple and elegant cut. An absolutely perfect one can be transformed from daytime wear to evening wear with a few quick accessory adaptations.

Coco Chanel is credited with the creation of the LBD in the 1920s. Her intention was to design a neutral-colored dress that can be long-lasting and versatile. Her first black dress was published in American Vogue in 1926. It was calf-length, had long sleeves with a straight silhouette, and was made of wool for day wear and crepe, satin, or velvet for evening wear. Later variations included sleeveless, lace, pleated, and chiffon designs. The dress was dubbed "Chanel Ford" after the Model-T Ford due to its simplicity and accessibility for women of all social classes. Vogue predicted that the LBD would become a "sort of uniform for all women of taste." (1)

The Chanel little black dress is an everlasting symbol of sophisticated chic and has been copied and modified many times to please ongoing generations of stylish women worldwide.

How the Little Black Dress Became a Fashion Staple

Due to its simplistic style and affordability, the little black dress continued to grow in popularity through the Great Depression and the Second World War. In the later decades, it took on an elevated luxury status as Hollywood leading ladies wore it on the silver screen. In the most prominent example, this style was epitomised by Audrey Hepburn, who played Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany's.

Hubert de Givenchy's designs for Audrey Hepburn's character, Holly Golightly, established the new standard for the little black dress. Going beyond the classic Coco Chanel version, Givenchy's style resonated with so many women that Hepburn's dress in the film became the blueprint for all highly sought-after black dresses thereafter.

Whether it was Chanel's black crepe-de-chine sheath, Givenchy's updated version, or today's modern dresses, the key to wearing an LBD correctly is by accessorizing.

How to Choose the Perfect Little Black Dress

There are no steadfast rules when it comes to choosing a dress that fits the generally perceived criteria of a little black dress.

The first rule is that it must be tasteful. But how does one explain tasteful?

Generally speaking, the dress must be classic, sophisticated, elegant, and simple. It can also have a quirky, unexpected twist, but the style should ideally still be trendy a decade later. It should be able to take you from the office to a cocktail party, dinner at your parents-in-law, the horse races, the theatre, or even a funeral. The perfect one can be dressed up or down with a quick change of lipstick, jewelry, handbag, shoes, scarf, shawl, or jacket.

How to Wear the Perfect Little Black Dress

Black is never boring!

A little black dress needs to be simple, sleek, refined and classy - often with a subtle, surprising twist of style to counter the critics who do argue that black is boring.

Accessories should be minimal. A black pump, a black clutch. Personally, I am a pearl girl. So while I definitely advocate the "less is more" ethos, I would, at the very least, add a pair of pearl earrings and possibly a single-strand pearl necklace.

Above all else though, the ultimate way to wear the perfect little black dress is with confidence!

The LBD in Illustration

These gorgeous illustrations are from the Rose Archive at the Shankar College of Engineering and Design in Israel.

The Shenkar College is one of the most respected fashion institutions in Israel, and the only educational institution in the country to hold an archive of fashion and fashion-related artifacts.

The Rose Archive has donated a sample of illustrations to WikiCommons in the hope of promoting Israeli fashion in the context of historical and contemporary design.

Source

1. BBC: The Dress That's Always in Style

© 2009 AJ

Comments

AJ (author) from Australia on September 20, 2016:

Hi Vespa. We are probably all still searching for the perfect Little Black Dress, and if / when we ever find it, will be sorry we didn't buy two or three!

Vespa Woolf from Peru, South America on September 20, 2016:

I agree that the little black dress is an essential. I have several, probably not the perfect one. Chanel was certainly the epitome of style and class. Thank you for the beautiful photos and ideas for finding the perfect little black dress.

Vintage fashion is my hobby because I am fashion-conscious and try to be unique. My personal signature? Wearing vintage-inspired apparel.

Winter weddings are the dream of many young women for the simple reason that the pristine white of winter, the bare trees, the feeling of warm tradition, and the white snow all add to the mystical romance and uniqueness of weddings in winter.

The winter bride somehow looks chic and classic. Maybe it’s the crisp, white bridal gown, or the beautiful stole or bridal coat that’s worn over the dress, but whatever it is, there is something that makes winter weddings appear much more sophisticated and glamorous than spring or summer weddings.

Taking it a step further is the vintage-themed wedding with the bride wearing a vintage-inspired gown. And in order to complement the style, bridesmaids and groomsmen can equally wear the appropriate apparel inspired by vintage fashion to suit the mood.

A winter-wonderland wedding may sound like one that needs a budget that’s way up there to implement, but it is not necessarily true. A winter-themed event is certainly not as pricey as many seem to believe.

There is either of two concepts that may be adopted . . .

1. Going fully vintage inspired
2. Creating a mix of the traditional with the contemporary

For example, if the wedding event is planned to be fully inspired by the 20^th century, or even earlier, asides the apparel that is worn by the groom, his bride, and the train, there should be a touch of vintage detailing or accessories such as décor, table glassware, centrepieces, serving dishes, cutlery, including ornate vintage-inspired wedding cakes made up of just a couple tiers as is the tradition of old.

Design Ideas

A great way to get vintage finds and save some money is by visiting estate sales, trunk sales or bazaars where the odd items and pieces appropriate for winter and weddings can be discovered.

On the other hand, a mix of the old and new is one of the biggest trends right now. It is also a great way to save money, especially for those on a tight budget. For example, the bride's wedding dress may be a style of the 1950s while décor items may be modern objects.

Traditional Winter Nuptials

Classic winter wedding ideas are centred on winter wonderland fantasies with colours like:

• White
• Powder blue
• Silver
• Red
• Green

Textures and ornamentation include:

• Layered silks
• Satin
• Sequins, pearls, and intricate beading

Accessories that will give the perfect vintage look and accentuate a bridal gown include:

• Antique-silver hair accessories
• Bold jewellery with clusters of faux gems
• Strands of large pearls and beads
• Bold cuff bracelets
• Birdcage or visor veils
• Feather and flower combs
• Large and prominent chandelier earrings for wedding dresses with bare necklines
• Tiaras
• Long dramatic beaded gloves are good for extra glamour.

Any of these will draw attention to the bridal gown and re-enact the fashion style of the 1920s to the 1950s.

This wedding style is a great opportunity to use family collectables, treasures, heirlooms, and bridal ensembles.

Items such as grandmother’s antique bridal gloves, mum's silver brooch & earring set, or an aunt’s bridal jewellery set and other timeless pieces can be used as accessories or embellishments to enhance winter bridal gowns and give the ensemble a semblance of vintage wedding style.

So What’s Trending?

Several designs are stealing the show this season. Here are a few of the most popular.

Regal Ball Gowns

These styles have been a regular favourite over the centuries and are still trending. They are also the appropriate bridal wear for that time (winter) of the year if you desire an opulent 'fairy-tale wedding in winter wonderland'. Ball gown designs possess so much opulence, flamboyance; with some kind of regal feel.

Coloured Wedding Dresses

Many believe pure white bridal gowns are the only acceptable colour. Yes, white may appear to be a classic colour, but it wasn’t always so. Centuries ago, there were wedding dresses of colour and today, the trend is fast catching on. Besides, in many regions of the world, wedding attire is quite colourful. If you don’t want to go the ‘whole hog’ . . . like wear a red or black wedding dress, you can wear a white, pearl, or champagne dress and add a dash of colour . . . the sash, lining, satin band, or the like. This has become a hot trend with bridal wear designers.

It’s been predicted that someday, these coloured bridal wears may steal the shine off white wedding gowns.

Greek Goddess Design

If you want a style that’s not only classic but sexy with a modern twist, you’ll love the enchanting cut of a Greek goddess-inspired dress. It can come either as a long fluid gown or as a romantic dress with overlapping layers that almost clasps your silhouette.

Victorian

Winter bridal gowns accented with gold tones are popular for winter or fall weddings. Choose darker coloured gowns in tones like champagne and dark ivory, especially in natural fabrics such as raw silk. Wear gold jewellery accessories to compliment these colours and textures. There is just something timeless about the richness of gold that adds luxury and elegance to bridal wear.

Professional Dyes

And if you want a wedding dress that looks aged (kind of antique) you can always buy a white dress and have it professionally dyed to make it look like a timeless piece, an heirloom.

Additional Tips

• Planning a wedding in winter, including ordering for your vintage-inspired bridal gown, bridesmaid/flower girl dresses, etc. is best done well ahead of time. That’s the best and wise way to go.
• You’ll save money when you purchase everything a few months earlier. They are much cheaper to buy before the cold season sets in.
• Finally, if you are looking for something to give you inspiration or ideas of vintage-inspired styles, this is best done online. Even if you decide not to buy a wedding dress on the net, you will still see hundreds of bridal wear that will stir your creative juices.

© 2009 viryabo

Your Views Are Welcome

viryabo (author) from Lagos, Nigeria. on November 14, 2011:

Hi Lori, you can send me a PM where it says "contact viryabo".

Cheers

lori on November 06, 2011:

Where do I find he red fur trimmed gown

Erin Bower from Georgia on June 22, 2011:

Wow! Gorgeous dresses. It makes me want to get married in the winter someday instead of the usual spring and summer.

viryabo (author) from Lagos, Nigeria. on May 06, 2011:

Thank you Sun Girl, glad you like it.

Thanks for visiting and leaving your nice comment.

Cheers

Sun-Girl from Nigeria on May 04, 2011:

Great hub with sexy and colorful samples of wedding gown which really attracted me a lot.

Hev on May 02, 2011:

Where can I get a little cardigan like the one Keira Knightley's wearing with that blue tulle skirt...it looks fantastic but I can't find anything similar anywhere....

viryabo (author) from Lagos, Nigeria. on February 10, 2011:

@ Sophia,Thanks for your nice comments and i appreciate your visit.

Cheers.

@Fashion, thank you.

fashion on February 09, 2011:

very nice post....

sophia on January 24, 2011:

SO gorgeous. I'd love to do a vintage fur-lined gown. However, I don't think I'd like a blue gown or a short gown - you'd look more like a Victorian maid than a bride! Definitely visited a lot of sites, including angieslist.com - but yours is great!

linen-fabric from Belarus on November 08, 2010:

Nice hat - I'm going to give it a try.

vintage crockery hire on November 03, 2010:

I love the winter gown 'with a dash of colour' , though if it was mine I would be most concerned that in a traditionally wet winter it would pick up all kinds of dirt it the tail.

wholesale cheap Chanel on August 21, 2010:

??The perfect!These articles written too great,they rich contents and data accurately.they are help to me.I expect to see your new share

Lisa Meeks on July 13, 2010:

I love the fur trimmed wedding gown - where do I find it??

samantha tirado on June 16, 2010:

well im just looking at da chanpaion one with ther fur on top i would like to no were i kan buy this dress because im starting to plan my sweet16 n that dress is so beatiful

viryabo (author) from Lagos, Nigeria. on April 05, 2010:

Thanks Gurnav. I appreciate the visit and finding time to leave a comment.

Cheers

Gurinder Kohli from Minneapolis, MN on April 04, 2010:

Wow what a collection. Brooches will go great with many of the dresses/outfits.

viryabo (author) from Lagos, Nigeria. on February 17, 2010:

Hello Anna marie, thanks for your visit. You can have the fur-lined coat custom made to your satisfaction.

https://bellatory.com/clothing/sewing-vintage-wedd...

It is a wonderful piece isn't it.

Thank you so much for your visit and GodBless.

viryabo (author) from Lagos, Nigeria. on February 17, 2010:

Yenajeon, you must be creative or in the fashion design field. Its wonderful to have ones wedding dress designed by ones self.

And Kieras gown is unique and so beautiful and 'fuss free'. Im so glad you love it. It could inspire you for an idea for your gown. Wishing you all the best.

Thank you for your visit and nice comments.

GodBless

Anna marie Hetherington on February 17, 2010:

in the picci under kiera knightly that hooded white fur lined coat...where do i find it???

Yena Williams from California on February 11, 2010:

I like the blue gown kiera knightly is wearing. I plan on designing my own wedding gown, but that is just gorgeous!

viryabo (author) from Lagos, Nigeria. on January 02, 2010:

Thanks RosWebbArt. I know, judging from what i've seen of your works in your hub, you will make awesome paintings of these attires.

Thanks for dropping by and your nice comments.

Ros Webb from Ireland on January 02, 2010:

I would love to paint these dresses!! great hub..

viryabo (author) from Lagos, Nigeria. on December 06, 2009:

Hello Barbara, Thanks for your visit. It is a lovely dress custom made as a vintage winter wedding dress. You may not be able to find it at wedding boutiques. Have it custom made, choosing your fabric carefully. The upper portion fits as a corset.

Glad you like it.

Barbara Marie on December 06, 2009:

Im actually so so in love with one of the dresses you have posted and i have no idea where to find it , it is the second dress under the video , right under the red one, any idea where i can find it?? please help, thanks

viryabo (author) from Lagos, Nigeria. on December 06, 2009:

With This Favor, thanks for your comments and your visit. Glad you enjoyed it.

Cheers.

With This Favor on December 05, 2009:

Wonderful winter bridal gowns... These are definitely outside the box! I enjoyed your hub :)

eastbridal on November 12, 2009:

Getting ready for your big day? Take a look at this site and see what they can do to make your wedding an extravagant experience. With their unique wedding dresses, couture bridesmaid dresses and wedding accessories and links to some great designers, you surely can’t go wrong….

viryabo (author) from Lagos, Nigeria. on November 10, 2009:

I'm sure your wedding was wonderful and different. Thanks Gabrielle for your visit and nice comments.

{Gabrielle} from United States on November 09, 2009:

I had a Christmas themed wedding and it was so much fun to plan! You have so many great things here! I loved looking at all the different gowns.

Debbie on October 08, 2009:

I love the first dress you are showing ( The Blue Tulle with sweater top) Who is the designer or is this vintage? Where can I find this gorgeous gown

viryabo (author) from Lagos, Nigeria. on September 19, 2009:

Hi Helen, thanks for the visit and for the big thumbs up. If i had to get married again, i'd definitely go for a winter wedding. The winter wedding dresses ooze with style, don't they.

Helen Cater from UK on September 19, 2009:

Oh what I would give just to try on some of these dresses. Thanks and a big thumbs up from me.

viryabo (author) from Lagos, Nigeria. on September 16, 2009:

Hi addicted2fierce. Thank you for the visit and the nice comments.

ADDICTED2FIERCE from NY|Houston on September 16, 2009:

i love it! too bad im not gettin married lol..very detailed and well put together.

From the Middle Ages style to the present day, the history of fashion is not only intriguing, it is fascinating and inspiring to many of us.

History of Wedding Gown Styles

Classic styles of wedding gowns still hold an attraction for antique and vintage fashion enthusiasts. Old-chic, coupled with the air of fantasy, fascinates many brides who desire to re-live the past in a modern-day setting.

Wearing special bridal dresses for weddings did not come into effect until the 19th century when ceremonious wedding traditions of the medieval times gave birth to modern wedding customs. The rituals of joining two people together in matrimony never required anything special unless perhaps you are of royal stock.

For most of history, there were no wedding gown styles as such. Brides rarely had a dress made specifically for her wedding. All that she had to wear was her best dress for the ceremony, and there were no specific colours either.

At the time, brides wore black, brown, or such dark colours with only a few exceptions. Colours like green or yellow were considered unlucky; remember the myth, “Marry in yellow, ashamed of your fellow.” The commoners wore dark colours because they hid stains and imperfections.

Later, blue became the popular choice because it represented purity and piety with a connection to religion and the Virgin Mary. And though gowns made in white can be traced to the early 1400s, it was not popularized until 1840 during the wedding of Queen Victoria, where she wore an elaborate white dress. It soon inspired a following. By then, white wedding gowns became the most befitting colour for wealthy brides.

Now, most wedding dress colours are white, eggshell, ecru, or ivory. Not necessarily because they are a symbol of wealth, purity and virginity, but because the colour has become a lasting trend.

The 1300s to 1400s

Both men and women of the 14th century wore a garment known as a cotehardie, a floor-length, form-fitting gown with an open, wide neckline and full length (or elbow-length) sleeves. They probably featured some form of patterns like damask or stripes that were usually two-toned.

By the 1400s, wedding gowns of wealthy medieval brides were hand-sewn in fabrics like satin, velvet, and silk and came in deep rich tones of blue, red, and gold. Blue was a popular colour because it signifies virginity and purity. Wedding gowns for brides from the lower class were made from cheaper fabrics like cotton, wool, or linen. They were usually dark or muted colours with styles that were copies of the designs of the wealthy.

Lower-class brides would copy the style of noblewomen as much as possible with dresses made out of inexpensive fabrics such as cotton and linen.

The first documented instance of a noble wearing a white wedding gown was in 1406 England. At the time, Philippa of England wore a tunic with a cloak made in white silk and bordered with grey squirrel and ermine fur.

Nuptials Attire of the 1500s to 1600s

During the Elizabethan era, the middle-class bride would wear her best gown and kirtle, and if she could afford it, she may sew a new dress. Wedding gown styles were full-length and would cover most of the body except where it had a plunging neckline. The wealthy made their gowns with luxury fabrics like velvet, corduroy and satin; the lower-class made theirs from flax, wool, and cotton.

Colours came in a variety of different shades: for the less privileged, red, blue, greens, white, grey, black, orange and tan were the usual hues of bridal dresses. The wealthier brides had their gowns adorned with jewels and gold and silver threads.

The outfits were worn with cloaks most times. The necklines and cuffs, decorated with linen or silk ruffs (crimped or pleated collars or frills), were usually full and wide.

White wedding gowns were not the custom colour at the time, but in 1559, Mary, Queen of Scots, wore a white wedding gown in 1559 when she married her first husband, Francis Dauphin of France. The only reason why she did is that white was her favourite colour.

The 1700s to 1800s Bridal Gowns

Before the Victorian Era, when white wedding gowns became popularized by Queen Victoria in 1840, a bride had the choice to wear any colour she desired, including black. A decade later, white became the traditional colour for bridal gowns.

Wedding gown fabrics were satin, silk, tulle, organdy, linen, and gauze-like materials. The more elaborate and pricier gowns were made from lace, just like the Queen Victoria wedding dress.

The earliest Victorian style wedding gowns came with a fitted bodice, small waist, and a full skirt. The skirts (bustle style) were voluminous and plumped up with undergarments like petticoats and hoops; inner-wear worn extensively at the time.

The mid-Victorian era brought an emergence of middle-class wealth, and the wealthy gladly exhibited their new riches. At this time, around the 1870s, bridal wear designed by Frederick Worth in Paris was the ultimate status symbol! For those who could least afford it, the bustle styles were copied.

By the late Victorian period, the bustle style disappeared; shorter trains and bigger sleeves became the trend, and the veil became the standard bridal wear. Widows who remarried did not wear pure white. They wore shades of white, like ivory, including salmon, lavender, rose, or violet and satin dresses trimmed with ostrich feathers.

1900s Edwardian Brides

At the turn of the century, the Edwardian era, the styles of wedding gowns were charming, at best. They were lavishly styled, elegant, soft and often pricey, with very long flouncy trains, sometimes over seven feet long. They were generally adapted to the trending styles of the day and were sewn with lots of trimmings like embroidery, lace, or frills.

Although the original vintage wedding gowns were mostly made from cotton batiste and soft cream-white satin, today's version of the Edwardian bridal dress can be made with light to medium weight fabrics such as satin, taffeta, voile, crepe de chine, or batiste.

Edwardian style wedding gowns had a characteristic high lace collar neck, nipped waist, big and bold leg-o-mutton sleeves, full sweeping skirt, and plenty of lace detail. Today, recognised as vintage wedding gowns, the style is still popular for its representation of pure classic feminine beauty. Remember the “Gibson Girl” look? It was an Edwardian style.

The 1920s to 1930s Bride

By the 1920s, the flapper style became a hot trend. Usually cut loose, it was a ‘flirty and sexy’ style shift-dress that drops straight down the body, rather than display curves like wedding dresses of the previous era. By the mid-20th century, wedding gowns were almost always white and remain so until today.

The 1940s and 1950s Styles Wedding Dresses

In the 1950s, wedding dresses became a high fashion affair and most brides wanted to dress just like the silver screen stars. Audrey Hepburn, Marilyn Monroe, Grace Kelly, and Debbie Reynolds were the rave at the time. The popular styles they inspired had sweetheart necklines, small waists, and full layered skirts. The hour-glass silhouette was the rave.

Tea and full length strapless bridal gowns with matching lace, silk or satin bolero jackets and three-quarter length sleeves were also worn for the ceremony. It was not acceptable to wear sleeveless wedding gowns until the 1960s.

Bridal Fabrics

There was a wide variety of fabrics for bridal wear ranging from man-made textiles to natural fibre fabrics. They include ribbed silks, Duchesse satin, lace, tulle, linen, cotton, and polyester-cotton.

The wide choice of available textiles allowed many brides to make new wedding gowns for the occasion. They were sewn by tailors, dressmakers, or experienced family members, mostly with the aid of wedding dressmaking patterns. Some brides re-cycled and re-fashioned old heirloom wedding gowns into the latest fifties fashion.

Sewing Vintage Wedding Gowns Tailored Specially for You

If you plan to have an antique or vintage-themed wedding, it is most unlikely you will find authentic gowns today. Most of them are either displayed in museums, stashed away and forgotten, or kept as heirlooms stored away in old vintage trunks.

Your best bet is to have your gown sewn especially to your desired vintage style, for the occasion. There are also antique and vintage bridal dresses sewing patterns you can buy online from stores like Amazon, Etsy, and eBay.

And not only are there professional tailors and dressmakers who can tailor your dress, but there are also online professional tailors that will design and produce vintage wedding gown styles for you.

Further Reading:

Vintage Fashion: Style of the 1950s Woman

Vintage Inspired Winter Wedding Gowns and Dresses

© 2009 viryabo

Your Views Are Welcome

Steven Hill from Maui, Hawaii on January 18, 2020:

Really informative article on wedding dresses. Way more history than i thought there was.

howtosewadress on November 05, 2011:

Great hub, saw you on google and grateful I clicked. Keep up the awesome job!

Kimberly Schimmel from North Carolina, USA on September 28, 2011:

What a lovely hub! I'm so glad I found this. I really enjoyed looking at these dresses.

vintage wedding dresses on August 06, 2011:

very nice collection. I have been search for such great wedding gowns for so long

viryabo (author) from Lagos, Nigeria. on July 01, 2011:

Thank you camd,for visiting and for your nice comments.

Cheers

camdjohnston12 on July 01, 2011:

Very interesting and good hub!Vintage wedding gowns are still popular nowadays.

viryabo (author) from Lagos, Nigeria. on February 20, 2011:

Bestforbride, thanks for the compliments and for your visit.

Cheers

bestforbride from Toronto, ON, Canada on February 15, 2011:

Great hub with a lot of information. Creating custom vintage wedding dress should be very exciting.

viryabo (author) from Lagos, Nigeria. on January 19, 2011:

Mysisters, thanks so much. And thanks for visiting.

Cheers

mysisters on January 19, 2011:

Nice Hub. These Vintage wedding dresses are beautiful!

perfectweddingdressfinder on November 09, 2010:

Very thorough information. Neat seeing the vintage wedding dress patterns!

vintage crockery hire on November 03, 2010:

OMG these dresses are gorgeous. I have just started to take knitting lessons. I think that I have subscribed to the wrong course!! Though, it would probably take me many years to get anything even 1% decent because these are amaing

viryabo (author) from Lagos, Nigeria. on July 02, 2010:

Thanks Diane.

Vintage bridal gowns are awesome pieces, but i know sewing them must be a work of art. The intricate works surpasses the wedding gown designs of today.

Thanks for the visit Diane.

Cheers

Diane Inside on July 01, 2010:

Very interesting hub, Wedding gowns to me are one of the most ambitious undertakings because you want everything to be so perfect. But How beautiful when they are done. I love to sew but I haven't done anything by way of wedding dresses. Lovely photos.

viryabo (author) from Lagos, Nigeria. on January 18, 2010:

DWP, thanks for visiting. Im sure you must have an awesome collection of vintage wedding photos. WOW!

Cheers.

Destination Wedding Photographer on January 18, 2010:

I love the vintage style and I love to shoot vintage weddings! Nice hub!

viryabo (author) from Lagos, Nigeria. on January 08, 2010:

Hi Tracy. Thanks for dropping in. And for your nice view.

Cheers

Tracy Monroy on January 08, 2010:

Nice history of the Buttericks and how they developed patterns for sewing. The vintage wedding dresses are so lovely.

viryabo (author) from Lagos, Nigeria. on December 23, 2009:

Thanks for the visit and comments 'learning to sew'. Will visit the site. Cheers

Learning to Sew on December 23, 2009:

Fantastic Dress!!! I found a nice site http://www.findaseamstress.com that has a nice layout for users to find seamstresses in their area or by specialty. Happy Sewing

viryabo (author) from Lagos, Nigeria. on December 06, 2009:

Hi 2uesday,

Thanks for your visit. I'm glad you found some inspiration here. And thanks for your nice views.

Cheers.

2uesday on December 06, 2009:

This is a lovely hub, lots of inspirational photographs and ideas. Thank you.

Wendy is a journalist who has been writing online since 2007 on topics such as plus size fashion, learning languages and traveling.

Here are some tips on how to choose the best wedding dress for your shape, places where you can buy them or order them made-to-measure, and lots of photos to bring inspiration for your dream dress.

Be the bride everyone will remember for her beauty.

It is every woman’s dream to look her best on her wedding day. Most women spend months looking for the perfect wedding gown, but if you wear over a size 14, or are curvy or overweight, the task of looking for the gown can easily become a nightmare.

You look at wedding magazines and in bridal shops and all you see are slim models. What about some “real shape” brides?

Surely not everyone fits into a size 12 or under dress, and surely not all brides feel like starving themselves before their big day. So what to do? Where to look?

Tips for Finding the Right Dress

Start your search as early as possible.

The more time you have to look for your dress, the less stressed you will be.

Instead of checking on wedding magazines, check professional photographer’s portfolios.

They do have photos of real brides of all shapes with all types of dresses so you can have a better idea of what would suit your shape.

Do not buy a dress in the hope that you will lose weight.

That will only stress you out and ruin the fun of preparing for your wedding day.

Try your wedding dress with the underwear that you are going to wear on the day.

A made-to-measure corset can make a dramatic difference to your shape. Having said that, do not try anything too drastic.

If you are not used to wearing a corset, then shrinking your waist two inches is acceptable but squeezing yourself to make your waist six inches smaller can end up with you bruising or even fainting during the wedding ceremony.

Make sure you are comfortable in your dress.

When you try it on, don’t just stand and look in the mirror, but also sit down in it to check that it is comfortable and does not bulge in an unsightly way. Can you move properly? Can you dance with your dress? Does it look nice from the back?

Try something different.

Informal wedding dresses look wonderful on plus-size women. They are simpler in style, fabric and detail than traditional gowns.

They are perfect for garden and beach weddings, although they can also be worn for more formal ceremonies as well.

Don't be afraid to break the wedding colour rules.

You might want to consider wearing a less harsh-coloured wedding dress. An all-white dress in a full-figured woman is not always flattering.

You might want to consider a combination of colours like the Scottish tartan wedding dresses, or “medieval combinations." If you prefer a more traditional look, you can always try shades of cream and ivory instead of a stark white.

1. Best Bridal Prices

Best Bridal Prices offers the most complete size range (1-Petite to 54W, plus custom-made) at the best prices.

They also offer professional advice to plus-size brides. Just have a look at their plus-size wedding gowns, I am sure that you will find what you are looking for!

2. Alfred Angelo

One of the most recognized bridal names in the America, Alfred Angelo is the oldest and largest family-owned bridal company in America. They can offer bridal gowns in sizes 16W to 26W USA; 30 to 56 European; 34 to 58 French; and 6 to 30 UK.

Their dresses follow the latest fashion trends, fabrics and embellishments to create unique collections.

3. Curvety.com

At Curvety.com, dresses are custom-made to your measurements, ensuring the perfect fit.

Made-to-measure means you can have your perfect dress whatever your clothes size and with the perfect fit comes perfect accentuation of your glorious curves.

How to Deal With Problem Areas

Be honest with yourself, and embrace your body shape rather than hiding it. Know your best areas and work around them.

Here are some ways to enhance your best features and distract from others.

1. Chubby Arms

If you have thick, chubby arms, or if you have lost lots of weight and your arms are saggy, it is preferable to choose a dress with sleeves.

There are plenty of lovely long-sleeved wedding gowns that will help disguise thick arms. Loose sleeves made in flowing transparent material would be perfect.

• If you don’t want to wear long sleeves or if you are getting married in the height of summer and want to wear a sleeveless dress, the best option is to wear a cover up over your arms.
• You can still wear even a strapless dress if you team it up with a lace shawl. It will look classy and will disguise your problem area without making you too hot.

• A 3/4 sleeve lace bolero can also be a good cover up for saggy arms. Just make sure that the sleeves are not tight and the bolero does not have extra decorations such as sequins, embroidered pearls, plumes, or stones. A simple-cut bolero is better to draw attention away from your arms.

• Avoid spaghetti straps. A strapless dress or a thick-strapped dress is much better to disguise thick arms.

• Avoid very large pouf sleeves extending from shoulder to elbow.

• Avoid very short-fitted sleeves that just cover the shoulders.

2. A Big Bust

• If you are heavy at the bust, a plunging neckline will ease your silhouette.
• Wedding gowns that are simple, without a lot of frills, decorations and extra fluff, on the top area, are often good choices.
• Make sure you have the support you need under your wedding gown by wearing the right undergarments.
• Avoid shiny fabrics on the top of your dress.

3. Tummy

• Empire-style dresses are perfect to disguise a bulging tummy. The waist just skims over your tummy area and the slim skirt elongates your silhouette.
• A-line dresses are also very flattering if you do not have a small waist.
• Avoid dresses that are too tight or figure hugging.

4. Hips

• If you are heavy at the hips but with a small waist, a full skirt might disguise your hips and enhance your small waist.

• If you have a slim top, you can benefit from wearing a princess-style dress. Enhance your top and disguise your heavy bottom part with a full skirt.

• Mermaid style dresses can also work for your shape if you are curvy as in an “hourglass shape” and not too heavy on the hips.

5. Height

• If you are under 1.60m. and overweight you might want to consider wearing a short dress. You can choose different lengths to flatter your size, anything from under the knee to a ballerina ankle length dress.

• Wearing a short wedding dress does not mean that you cannot wear a long train to elongate your silhouette.

Petite and Plus Size Runway Show

And you, what size are you?

© 2009 Wendy Iturrizaga

Comments

Joyce Reynolds on September 23, 2014:

Still single. Love your wedding dress.

weddingair from CA on November 23, 2011:

Good post. It is important to know what kind of wedding dresses you are going to wear. Wedding Dress must be according to your size and it should be beautiful, you should look beautiful in this dresses, should carry it comfortably.

cheap ugg on October 05, 2011:

These tips are very useful!Thank you for your brilliant sharing

Wedding Planning on August 12, 2011:

Great Hub!!!!! This will definitely help bride who want plus size wedding gown.............

wowedding from USA on August 08, 2011:

These tips are very useful!Thank you for your brilliant sharing. This post is really awesome! I am looking forward to your next masterpiece in the very near future!

fashion on July 15, 2011:

Informative hub.Many brides will find this advice helpful. I really like your work.

Wendy Iturrizaga (author) from France on June 20, 2011:

Kellye: The best thing to disguise extra skin on the arms with a beach wedding dress would be to team up the dress with a lace shawl wrapped over the arms and shoulders. The shawl can be kept on loosely wrapped around the arms for the photos, showing only back and shoulders.

It will look classy and will disguise the problem area without making you overly hot.

To give you and idea I found this: http://www.inweddingdress.com/style-bc401.html

Kellye on June 18, 2011:

I would like to submit that there is another use for this type of information and to me as I planned my own wedding and especially as I am helping a good friend plan hers it is even harder to deal with. My friend (as well as I) had gastric bypass surgery. While she has lost close to 200lbs and is probably a size 10 or so, she has the extra skin on the arms (batwings). Any suggestions how to deal with this at a beach style wedding? The upper arm needs covering with a sleeve but a plus size dress will not work nor a long sleeved dress. Ideas anyone? Thank you in advance!

pinesapples on June 08, 2011:

BY reading your hub, i know plus-size wedding dresses can also bring out brides beauty. I am confident now, because i need not to control my diet, and be fat, be happy.

Weber Genesis E320 on April 22, 2011:

Just proves that every bride is beautiful, jus like every person is beautiful despite the packaging

smcopywrite from all over the web on April 18, 2011:

terrific hub. the average american woman is a size 14. therefore, more and more choices and varieties are being provided because of this.

Haydee Anderson from Hermosa Beach on February 17, 2011:

we always want to look best on our wedding day, whether we are slim or not, and this hub has really helpful ideas.

perfectweddingdressfinder on November 09, 2010:

Great information to help the plus size bride pick out a wedding gown that will be complimentary for her figure.

mbt shoe on November 05, 2010:

camera to photograph you in the dress. Sometimes the dress looks great in the mirror, but not so much in the photos. You have to find one that works for

Wedding Trendista on October 28, 2010:

I love the dresses shown here, as well as the prices here. The tips for people with specific problem areas are priceless.

I would also suggest, when trying on dresses, to bring someone with a camera to photograph you in the dress. Sometimes the dress looks great in the mirror, but not so much in the photos. You have to find one that works for both!

TopUniverse on October 26, 2010:

Nice dresses. Some great tips to buy a plus size wedding dress.

plus size wedding dresses on October 19, 2010:

The article is very comprehensive.

Yeah, it is impractical for a bride-to-be to do a crash job of slimming. Choosing a nice plus sized wedding dress is the best choice.

Corset Wedding Dress on September 30, 2010:

Awesome Dresses, now a days most of the people are in search of plus sizes. This is a good hub to find such information.

TheWeddingSecret from Bath, UK on September 21, 2010:

Really interesting read - and those dresses are gorgeous!

lynnsuming on August 11, 2010:

Actually I will have my wedding this coming Sept. i am plus size too and I get my wedding dress from www.myecstock.com, the dress was customized without extra charge,just received the dress yesterday, fits me quite well.

masha on June 30, 2010:

Selecting and matching dress

Different people have different stature, how to choose their own dress? Now, we can give you several proposals.

Delicate petite person – They are suitable for High Waist, yarn surface, waist wedding dresses, in order to modify the proportion of body. You should try to avoid lower body skirt being too fluffy, rotator cuff design should avert overly exaggerated; the upper body can be more changes, waist proposed micro-low-waist with wedding dress in order to increase the slender sense.

Tall slender person - a natural sub-racks, any style of dress she can attempt, particularly in fishtail tight dresses are more display her posture.

Plump person - who are suitable for straight cutting of line, wear more slender. Lace flowers should use a thin flat lace, not select high-collar style; design of waist and skirt should avert too complex.

At the same time, different skin colors of person also have a different choice for dress .As follows:

White type: She can choose series of tender wedding dresses, should avoid selecting those much thick colors such as red and black velvet, otherwise it will feel significantly contradiction.

Healthy dark type: choose bright colors to match healthy image and show skin color. Indeed, she also can select black, many movie stars are wearing prom dresses walking on the red carpet! They are dazzling!

evening dresses

Jewelry: can choose pearl, sapphire, emerald, diamonds, high-quality accessories, including select man-made gemstones.

Shoes: high-heeled sandals with small loops or strong modification, matching high-heeled shoes with the wedding gown dresses, if the toes exposed, you have to make a facial, and the facial of face, hands should be modified simultaneously.

Package: exquisite, multi-use patent leather, soft leather, velvet, gold and silver blended material, producing with the mosaic, embroidery and other crafts, gorgeous, romantic , ingenious and decency is common features of dress with the package.

All the decorations are selected to create the best image for dress! What hesitation you do, make orders quickly!

FashionFame from California on April 06, 2010:

What a superb and realistic hub Princessa. Just loved your choice of topic and writing along with beautiful pictures. Would like to read more of your writings. Joining your fan's club and would like to invite you to join my fan's club. Keep up the good work.

Wendy Iturrizaga (author) from France on February 22, 2010:

Sophie and Hairupdostyles: Thank you for your support.

IT_Studios: Thank you for the photo tips, I am sure many brides will be taking your advice for their wedding photos.

Hairupdostyles on February 20, 2010:

great photos and videos - a really helpful hub!

sophie on February 15, 2010:

Fab post. Some gorgeous wedding dresses in the pictures :) Its lovely to see a hub wedding page on plus size women for once :) xx

Wendy Iturrizaga (author) from France on January 11, 2010:

allangering: really happy to read that you found your perfect wedding dress.

Isabelle22: Thanks to the internet plus size women have a great choice of very fashionable clothes.

Isabelle22 from Somewhere on the coastline on January 11, 2010:

It is great to see hubs for plus size women. The average size of most women is not stick thin. Beautiful dresses too. Thanks.

aefrancisco from somewhere down the road on December 27, 2009:

SO lovely! Its fits me ! :)

Loose diamond on November 18, 2009:

Nice hub.

Each one has desire to look good and beautiful on her wedding day. Thanks for posting a great hub.

Wendy Iturrizaga (author) from France on November 16, 2009:

wsp2469: Thank you for clarifying your point.

wsp2469 from Alta Loma, Ca on November 16, 2009:

I'm sorry. I must have confused you. I was referring to weight when I mentioned looking your best--not personality. A woman changing what she appears to be as a person is a whole different discussion.

I wasn't referring to social standards of beauty really. I was referring more to being healthy. (My baby-momma weights much more than she should for someone her height and age so she is losing weight. She has said she won't get married until she is at that healthy weight.)

She will feel more confident and happy when she is at a healthy weight. So when I said looking your best I was actually referring to looking your best in a more medical/factual sense.

There was once a time in the history of our world when they painted pictures of overweight women. That was also a time when people did not live very long. So, yeah, it's not good to blindly try to fit in with SOCIAL standards. That's very true!

Wendy Iturrizaga (author) from France on November 15, 2009:

MAYRAPINK: thanks for your support and yes, of course ladies with extra weight can be as beautiful as any other women. I think that beauty is an attitude more than a look.

bodyshapers: it can be frustrating for brides to look for a suitable dress when they over a size 14.

martycraigs: thanks for commenting!

wsp2469: I have to disagree with you. Looking your best stops being looking your best when you are going to spend your time trying to be someone that you are not. Looking your best DOES NOT mean fitting in social standards of beauty. Looking your best means to mean to be confident and happy the way you are.

wsp2469 from Alta Loma, Ca on November 13, 2009:

Whatever happened to wanting to look your best and exercising and dieting so that you don't NEED a plus size wedding dress? I know that would totally make your hub and indeed plus size wedding dresses unnecessary but still . . . traditionally, women work and struggle to get in the best shape they can and don't let up until AFTER they have a ring on the finger.

martycraigs on November 13, 2009:

I agree with bodyshapers that this is a great hub with great tips so that a women looks great for her wedding.

Lose Belly Fat Fast on November 10, 2009:

Hmm that's an interesting topic there

bodyshapers on November 06, 2009:

What a great hub, and a topic that isn't mentioned enough. Weddings are special days and every bride should feel great about how they look on that special day. Great resources as well.

MAYRAPINK from texas on October 13, 2009:

the models on here are gorgeous..only goes to show ladies with a little extra are just as beautiful! :) I am not a size 12 but I do have a bigger chest and this makes it hard to find dresses that will look nice and not sleazy! I think a bride is sexy as long as they have confidence and love because nothing shines brighter than a bride in love :)

Wendy Iturrizaga (author) from France on October 07, 2009:

I am happy you all like the dresses. I wanted to show that a plus size wedding dress is not limited to a "baggy do", there are beautiful designs that enhance a plus size figure. The only tricks are to be patient to look around and find them and choose a model that enhances your shape as opposed to hide it.

magdielqr on October 06, 2009:

Wow! I really love this hub. This is a great collection of links and cool videos.

Cheap Wedding Favors on October 04, 2009:

I like the assortment of dresses, good hub.

MaryD008 on July 13, 2009:

Nice Hub Princessa some really nice dresses

Wendy Iturrizaga (author) from France on June 15, 2009:

Thanks for visiting and for all the comments girls. Don't forget to tell us if you have a favourite shop for fashionable plus size clothes.

Betsy Baywatch on June 15, 2009:

Great hub!Thank you for sharing.

Tips to Pregnant on June 07, 2009:

Any tips for pregnant bride to look amazing on her wedding day?

cheap wedding gown on March 27, 2009:

They looked amazing with those gowns! every bridal should be the most beautiful and happy. ^^

Wendy Iturrizaga (author) from France on March 02, 2009:

SweetiePie: Nice to see you around :) I hope this hub can help find inspiration to many brides and make their wedding preparations more fun.

Thanks for the comment on my new avatar.

SweetiePie from Southern California, USA on March 01, 2009:

Excellent hub Princessa and I am sure many brides to be will find this advice helpful. I really like your new avatar picture by the way.

Wendy Iturrizaga (author) from France on March 01, 2009:

Laila, we always see incredibly slim and tall brides in the magazines, but some of us are neither slim or tall ! So we need to work with what we have to make the most of it. A bride is beautiful for her happiness showing in her expression, the dress is just an accessory, but a very important one.

I love giving advice on wedding dresses and tips on how to restore them.

Importance of the Wedding Dress

My younger brother recently asked me, "Did your wife ever get kinda crazy while planning the wedding?" Apparently his fiancée is taking the planning very seriously, while he thinks the wedding details "don't really matter" and just plans to "show up" the day of.

I explained to him that wedding details are very important to women and most women spend quite a bit of time and energy thinking about what they'd like for their big day. It's safe to say that my wife thought of our wedding details well before she even met me!

And there's probably no more important detail to the bride than her wedding dress. Some brides have the option of wearing a dress inherited from their mother or grandmother. These dresses are often very beautiful with high-quality materials—they don't make them like that anymore! But because the dress hasn't been properly stored, it's not in the best shape. Thankfully, there are a few things you can do to restore an old wedding dress and have it looking as good as new.

How to Clean That Vintage Wedding Dress

Common Issues With Vintage Wedding Gowns

Some issues commonly seen in old wedding dresses are:

1. Discoloration (often from white/cream to yellow).
2. Compromised fabric integrity (rips, tears, etc.).
3. Missing button/sequins/etc.
4. Poor fit.
5. Difficult wrinkles or odor.

Tips for Cleaning Antique Wedding Dresses

Here are several things to keep in mind when attempting to restore your old wedding gown (should you choose to not have a professional do it for you).

1. Metal rusts easily (especially old metal).
2. Old fabric should be handled delicately.
3. Silk and satin are the most difficult material to restore, whereas polyester is easier.
4. If restoration simply isn't possible, consider other options before scrapping the dress all together.
5. Sugar stains are virtually impossible to clean up if they have "settled" on a gown.

Vintage Wedding Dress Restoration

First and foremost, do not bleach your wedding dress in an attempt to clean or restore it. Bleach will further weaken the strength of the original fabric, possibly dissolve buttons and other decorative items, and it doesn't even work.

Instead, follow this step-by-step guide on how to clean that yellowed wedding gown.

1. Prepare the dress. Remove everything metal that is a part of the dress. Buttons, clips, hooks, and pins might all be made of metal and should be carefully removed.
2. Prepare the bathtub. Fill an empty, clean bathtub with either lukewarm or cold water (not hot) and a gentle liquid detergent such as Woolite. Also, line the bathtub with a white sheet. Place the dress on the sheet in the water. (This is done so that the wedding dress isn't forcefully pulled in and out of the water, thus stressing the fabric).
3. Use the sheet to clean the wedding dress. Gently lift and lower the sheet that has the wedding dress on it. This is done so that the existing stains are loosed and the entire dress is adequately soaked. If necessary, you can soak your dress up to 24 hours or more. If stains remain after the soaking and cleaning process, see below for spot removal tips and suggestions.
4. Dry the dress. Find a way to lay your dress flat and dry it that way. Drying it flat will reduce winkles that will in turn need to be ironed out later. Some experts suggest using a vinyl rack to minimize the stress done to the fabric.
5. Press/Iron the dress. Using a clean iron on it's lowest heating setting, begin ironing your wedding gown. Iron the gown one layer at a time. Slowly increase the heat settings of the iron to determine what the dress can handle, but lower the heat immediately if the
   • Iron begins sticking to the fabric of the dress
   • Dress becomes discolored during ironing
   • You smell or see any evidence of burning
6. Complete finishing touches. Repair or replace the metal pieces removed in step one.

Wedding Gown Spot Removal Tips and Suggestions

If there are still stubborn stains left after the above method of cleaning your wedding dress, you still have some options. Here are some spot removal tips and tricks to clean your wedding dress:

1. No club soda. Club soda is really just carbonated sugar water and will not adequately spot clean your dress. See the video below for more details on this and other great tips from an expert who was on the Martha Stewart Show.
2. Use a sudsy spray solution. Many experts suggest brushing the solution onto the affected area and gently brushing it with a toothbrush. Others have had success with using OxyClean on the difficult stain.
3. Try a paste of lemon juice and salt. Just be careful to closely monitor your dress if using this method. Check every couple minutes and once the stain is gone (or if you notice any compromise in the fabric), rinse the area with lukewarm or cold water immediately.

Wedding Restoration Expert on Martha Stewart

How to Incorporate a Vintage Wedding Dress in the Wedding Ceremony

If your vintage wedding dress is unusable for whatever reason, don't just toss it out! You can still incorporate it in your wedding ceremony and use it as "something old."

Here are some things you can create with an old, unusable wedding dress:

• Ring Pillow
• Bridal cap
• Veil
• Hairpiece
• Garter

Or, you could even display the heirloom dress somewhere at the wedding where everyone will see it, possibly near the guest book.

Before you decide to "recycle" that old gown because you can't clean it yourself, carefully consider an experienced professional who specializes in wedding dress restoration. They are your best bet to have your wedding gown properly cleaned and restored.

But if you want to try it yourself, then the tips above will help you make that wedding dress look good as new.

Additional Wedding Cleaning Tips or Comments

Susanne Melnyk on September 02, 2019:

I have a 71 year old wedding dress that my mom wore and then 38 years later I wore and I pulled it out of the wedding preservation box for my son's fiance and it has yellowed even though it was out of light and preserved in a box for 33 years. What can I do -- It has long vertical panels of lace and I think it is satin but it may be silk. I have not been able to verify as there is no fabric label to do so. HELP!

Connie Lawless on October 01, 2018:

I washed my sister's 64 year old dress and except for the smell it turned out clean. I than hung it to dry the only thing I haven't gotten out is the musty smell and I'm working on that

Kimberly on March 30, 2018:

My dress is from the 1800's. Help.

Pauline M. Conley on June 19, 2017:

Thank you for having all of this information. I am making items for brides to wear on their wedding day out of their GrandMother-in-laws dress, which has yellowed and I put a kettle of water to boil, then dropped in two sliced lemons. with the ends discarded. then I turned down the water to a simmer and put in some of the lace to test it. I let it simmer 10 minutes and it is working!! I will let you know how it turns out and try to post pictures of what I do with the lace and gown.Here's hoping!!

Mary Miller on March 13, 2017:

my dress is made of Bombazine and lace. It's from 1964. Will this method be safe for it?

Mary on September 18, 2016:

My wedding dress is white velvet and is 58 years old but sadly it has yellow spots. It was cleaned but kept in a box after cleaning. I took it to a shop which specializes in wedding gowns but they could not remove them. Can anyone help me?

Kelly Miller on May 09, 2016:

I have a 70 year old wedding dress that belonged to my great grandmother. What should I do with it? Looks like the beetlejuice dress!

Julie on June 23, 2015:

I used this method on my mother's 55 year old dress that I wore 31 years ago, had preserved, but the preservation didn't work. My son is now engaged and it inspired me to bring out the dress and see what I could do to restore it. It looks great! I am working on just a few small stains yet to get it totally back in shape.

Shirley J. Bush on October 28, 2013:

My wedding gown with lace jacket is almost 60 years old. It has been stored in its original cardboard box in climate controlled houses. It has yellowed considerably. My granddaughter would like to wear it for her May wedding. Any solutions for the yellowing that I might try?

Ashley Kelnhofer on September 16, 2013:

I'm getting my vows renewed next Christmas. When my grandmother was ill she told me I could have her wedding dress. Since my husband and I were married in a court house the first time, we're going to renew in a church and have a wedding. Anyway, the dress is from her wedding 56 years ago! It's yellowed and wrinkled from being in a box for 55 years. Will this technique work for this old of a dress? I've heard horror stories of dry cleaners not taking their time and having issues with small tears, small stains or complete discoloration. I'd like to try this method first if it'll work.

Thanks!

ourforeverisnow from Maine on July 17, 2012:

My goal is to have the cheapest wedding possible and this hub just saved me 200 bucks! Thank you so much for sharing this! I bought my gown and a thrift store for 45$ i couldn't believe it. And it fit! There are no big stains, just hem dirt. I am so glad i researched it! Thanks again, voted up!!!!

danceprincess87 on May 30, 2012:

I am hoping to wear my grandma/mom's dress when I get married someday, but its extremely yellow because its from sometime during the 1940s. Is this method safe for a dress that old? Its made of eyelet lace and some very sheer fabric. Super fradule fabric so I'm worried about cleaning it. Its pretty expensive to have it cleaned professionally because its such weak fabric too.

Brenna on April 09, 2012:

The wedding dress I'm going to try and restore was last worn when my grandparents got married 62 years ago!!! Wish me luck!

Irish on March 25, 2012:

Ive been recently engaged and would like to wear my grandmas dress. She was married in the 40s and the dress has been in a cardboard box in a hope vest ever since. It's in surprisingly good condition and fits me

Perfect. Should I try this on a dress so old?

Robyn on March 25, 2012:

My mother's wedding dress is 27 years old this year. I would like to wear it when I get married.However, it is satin and there are spots on it where the fabric has yellowed (from humidity?). How do you clean satin? Any tips would be very much appreciated!

Kay on January 31, 2012:

My vintage wedding gown has a bodice of alencon lace that has yellowed. Can this be restored to original ivory?

Louise on January 17, 2012:

I had my wedding dress and Head gear cut down for my daughter's First Communion. My daughter looked beautiful in it and I was delighted to see the dress used again.

linda on January 14, 2012:

my wedding dress is 50 years old, could it be white again for my Grandaughters wedding dress?

Jjoann Davis on October 30, 2011:

Thank you for the good information. My mother's wedding dress is 71 years old. It is satin, with a long train. It has turned yellow and has some stains, I hope your method works. It sure will be worth the time and effort. Do you think it will work? It is such a beautiful vintage wedding dress.They don't make beautiful dresses like this anymore.

Jerry P on September 05, 2011:

My gown is 45 years old. Married in 1966. I wanted to use it in a fashion show 'Reflections of the Past.' It has a white lace cage overlay a white crinolin liner that has yellowed. The lace is not bad but the crinolin is very yellow. Will this process work on the crinolin liner?

Sally B on April 19, 2011:

I'm hoping to revamp my 20 year old wedding dress for my daughters deb. It is made of raw silk and has some yellow stains. Will this method work well on this dress????

FOREX NINJA on March 30, 2011:

Wow.Nice,great and useful piece of info you shared in here.Thanks for bringing this to my knowledge.

Dr. Mom on September 17, 2010:

My Moms dress is over 65 years old and I'm wanting to try this. My daugher wants to wear her grandma's dress. Sweet huh? Hope it works.

Chris on September 15, 2010:

Maybe somebody can help me.I recently have come across a few dresses of sort and they all are abround 40-50 years old.How do I go about finding an estimate on what they are worth?

WeddingConsultant (author) from DC Metro Area on July 06, 2010:

Stacie, that sounds like the ideal conditions for this type of wedding dress cleaning method. Start with only a little detergent at first and be sure to be extra gentle since the dress is older.

If it doesn't clear up the discoloration at first, you can always run through the process again using a little more detergent until you get the right mix.

Stacie on July 05, 2010:

I am wearing my mother-in-laws 30 year old hand made wedding dress that is slightly discolored. Will the yellow color come out using this cleaning method or would I be better off letting a professional clean it?

WeddingConsultant (author) from DC Metro Area on May 24, 2010:

Good luck Cooper!

e. Cooper on May 20, 2010:

Will try this- though I hope it works on a 24 year old dress!

WeddingConsultant (author) from DC Metro Area on March 06, 2010:

Hi Angie,

You're in luck- this method will work just fine on ivory colored dresses! If there is silver threading in the gown that should be fine too, but if you're nervous about it or the thread seems to be overly fragile, go light on the Woolite and/or only allow it to soak for a couple hours. If it needs more cleaning and it did fine with the couple-hour soak, repeat the process :)

Good luck!

Angie on March 03, 2010:

WC - will this method work to make an ivory gown, white, even if the original color is ivory? Also, if there is silver threading in the gown, would this cleaning method fade it? Thanks!

WeddingConsultant (author) from DC Metro Area on March 01, 2010:

haha @jass

Brittney, it's supposed to do just that! I'd be extra careful with it since it's 20 years old, but it should turn white after you treat it.

brittney on February 28, 2010:

my moms dress is 20 years old and its kinda turning yellow will this make it purely white again???

jass on January 19, 2010:

i will never ware something like that man .....

cheap wedding gown on March 26, 2009:

I am also don't know how to deal with my own wedding dress, it's very beautiful and I love it... Maybe I can sell it in some second hand shop?

Thanks for your info,it's helpful.

WeddingConsultant (author) from DC Metro Area on February 16, 2009:

BeatsMe I hope you get some use out of it :) Thanks for stopping by.

BeatsMe on February 14, 2009:

A lot of people are restoring old wedding dresses. This hub is going to be useful.

WeddingConsultant (author) from DC Metro Area on February 09, 2009:

Thanks for reading Anna, I hope you got some good info.

What were you thinking of doing with the wedding dress?

Anna Marie Bowman from Florida on February 07, 2009:

Great info!! My wedding dress is almost 7 years old, and despite the fact that I am now divorced, I hate to throw it out, or sell it, seeing as my mother and I worked together to make it. Maybe now I can find a way to do something with it. It has been sitting in a trunk all this time.

WeddingConsultant (author) from DC Metro Area on January 19, 2009:

Nano, thanks for stopping by. Not sure of the relevance of your link as it has nothing to do with wedding dresses, and your sentence structure is gramatically questionable, but thanks for making the effort.

nano seal from Singapore on January 18, 2009:

Hi WC: Great infor here. Thank you for sharing all these.This website have a lot tips, I feel very useful!http://www.tipsonlinetoday.com

WeddingConsultant (author) from DC Metro Area on December 29, 2008:

Ohhh good luck Kat! My wife's wedding dress is just about the same age...she's still not sure what she's going to do with it.

GG, this was just for you :) Hope you get good use out of it. Let us know how it all goes!

Zsuzsy, thanks for chiming in with your expert advice. I am glad the hub hit on the same advice you give to people at your tailor shop!

Zsuzsy Bee from Ontario/Canada on December 27, 2008:

WC! Great hub. I have dealt with quite a few vintage dresses at my tailor shop and this is pretty well the same I suggested to all. The one job that always worried me was the pressing... scarry stuff

Super hub regards Zsuzsy

Kiz Robinson from New Orleans, Louisiana on December 26, 2008:

WC!! This advice is greaaaat. As I may have mentioned, my mom's wedding dress is 27 years old! It's in freakin' fantastic condition, and rather than paying out the nose and ears for some mean old person to handle it roughly and probably bleach the crud out of it, I'd rather take a smack at restoring it myself. I've printed this bad boy out and am going to try it out once my tub is ready. :D

cgull8m from North Carolina on December 26, 2008:

Great tips. I will keep this article in mind. Hope your brother has a great wedding. Cheers.

Kat07 from Tampa on December 25, 2008:

GREAT STUFF! You know, my poor dress has not been cleaned since the wedding 2 1/2 years ago - I may need to dip it in the tub with your methods before it rots away!

Wendy is a journalist who has been writing online since 2007 on topics such as plus size fashion, learning languages and traveling.

The babydoll dress is once again in the fashion spotlight for spring and summer. To look stunning while wearing this style, make sure you choose the right length, match it with high heels, and get proper support from your undergarments.

What Is a Babydoll Dress?

If you have been living on another planet and have failed to see Hollywood icons, like Sandra Bullock, wearing this type of dress, then it is not too late to catch up with this fashion. The style is, as you can imagine, highly inspired by the babydoll nightgown. It is feminine and flirty, and ideal for those days when you are feeling a bit bloated. It usually skims gracefully over curves and accentuates your best assets, such as beautiful breasts or a great pair of legs.

How to Wear a Babydoll Dress

The thing about this type of dress is that it can make you look incredibly sexy or horrendously ridiculous. If you have an ample bosom and a relatively flat stomach, then this look can make you look both sweet and sexy. However, if you have heavy thighs, opt for a longer version.

Get Proper Support From Your Undergarments

This tip goes for every item of clothing. Proper undergarments that hold everything in place can make a big difference to your overall look. If you want to wear a babydoll dress with a deep plunging neckline, choose a push-up bra to enhance your assets. Highlighting your assets will drive attention away from problem areas and will give you the appearance of an hourglass figure. Some of the Victoria's Secret babydoll dresses come with built-in brassieres.

Choose the Proper Length

Just a few inches above the knee is best. If you are petite, you can wear it a bit shorter, but not too short. Bear in mind that babydoll dresses are flowy, and they will "show off" on a windy day. This brings me to the next rule: never wear one during a windy day or for doing vigorous dancing like ceilidh or salsa, unless, of course, you want to show your "jewels" on every turn!

High Heels

Try to pair your dress with wedges—they are not too flashy but give you good height. If you are wearing it to the beach, choose flip flops with a little heel or wedge for a bit of glamour.

Printed Patterns Look Better on Tall Girls

If you are petite, colour-only dresses will look nicer on you. If you have a small bust, you can give the impression of enhanced breasts by choosing a style in which the bust colour is different from the rest of the dress.

To Avoid the "Pregnant" Look

To avoid looking "pregnant" or bloated, wear appropriate makeup and avoid going out with a "morning sickness" look. Wear high heels and walk tall! Look at Rihanna in the picture below. She is wearing a babydoll with high heels and proper makeup, and she just looks stunning!

Rihanna in a Babydoll Dress

How to Wear a Babydoll Dress If You Are 40+

• If you are over 40, I would recommend wearing darker shades and heavier fabrics.
• Another tip for the over 40 group age is to wear long leggings. Leggings provide a more sophisticated look.

Origins of the Babydoll Dress

In 1956, the movie Baby Doll, starring Carroll Baker, gave origin to the popularity of the babydoll nightgown—the costume worn by Baker's childlike and sensual character in the film. Although the film was heavily censored and banned in some countries, the babydoll style gained force, and more than 50 years later, it is still fashionable.

With the years, the babydoll has made a jump from the bedroom to the high street, where women of all shapes enjoy the freedom of wearing this seductive, but playful style.

Why Should You Wear This Style?

The babydoll dress keeps coming back in style over the years because it is very "forgiving." With an empire-waisted dress, you don't need to be extremely thin to look good and sexy. It allows you to show off a nice bust and great legs and hides a not-so-toned tummy and the hips area.

How to Choose the Perfect Dress

If you want one that will last for a long time, regardless of fashion trends, go for a long-wearing fabric, like wool or silk. An A-line shape or a trapeze style is flattering on most women. Avoid the extremely voluminous styles, as these can make most women look pregnant.

The babydoll dress is perfect for everyday wear, and by adding some accessories, you can change it from a daytime look to a nighttime outfit that's perfecting for going out for drinks after work.

Horrors to Avoid

• Don't wear it too short. It is true that a short dress will make your legs look longer, but wearing it too short will only make you look "tarty."
• Shorter styles are only suitable for young girls. If you are over 30, a hemline just a few inches above the knee is more flattering.
• Avoid lace trim. A babydoll dress with a lace trim looks too much like a nightgown!
• Keep accessories to a minimum.

Kate Mara's Extra-long Babydoll Dress At the Golden Globes 2019

© 2008 Wendy Iturrizaga

Comments

Jason McFoy from Pakistan on August 12, 2020:

I am from Pakistan, and i find out that only best online lingerie store in Pakistan is https://nightdress.pk/

SClemmons from the Carolina Coast on November 22, 2018:

Please don't take this the wrong way, but you look great in the baby doll dress.

Christian Louboutin Heels on July 14, 2011:

I read with great interest.Thanks for you sharing.

chocomousse on June 22, 2011:

Very simple and airy babydoll dresses. You can feel good for any occasion in Ladies tunics like this

fabgirl21 on March 27, 2011:

Thanks for the hub! I love Petra Nemcova's dress! I would definitely like to own one like that. My sister just bought a beautiful blue babydoll dress from Jovani and she looked pretty good in it. I think I might have to steal it from her :x

dresses on February 28, 2011:

I love baby doll dresses, they look so cute and casual. Great for the summer.

mysisters on January 20, 2011:

Great Hub. These are some nice selections on baby doll dresses. They come in so many different colors and styles and you can dress them up or down.

china wholesalers on September 03, 2010:

This is a great post and makes me think of where I can fit in. I do a little bit of everything mentioned here and I guess I have to find my competitive advantage.

Rachel on June 17, 2010:

I just found out I'm pregnant (for the first time) and wondering if a cute baby doll and high heeled sandals would look good if done right.

Babydoll on June 03, 2010:

I admire what you have done here. Well, this is my first visit to your blog! Looks great! Keep up the good work!

Babydoll on June 03, 2010:

I've been reading a few posts and actually I enjoy yours.

This is exactly what I was looking for. Thanks a lot for the tips!

Wendy Iturrizaga (author) from France on April 16, 2010:

gwennies pen: The great thing about a babydoll dress is that if you look carefully enough you will find a cut to suit every shape and age.

Kimberly: Babydoll dresses are a staple in my wardrobe, they are great when I don't know what to wear or when I am filling a bit "bloated" they hide all imperfections and enhance my loved areas :)

kimberlyslyrics on April 15, 2010:

Hands Down my favorite style of dress. I live in Canada and don't find this style often so mail order I use and Victoria Secrets has adorable ones

just loved this hub, need to go

must buy new dress

lol

Kimberly, Thanks

gwennies pen on January 09, 2010:

I use to wear baby doll nighties. This style in a dress is flattering. I appreciate you sharing this hub, even though I am petite and older. Thanks for the tips where to find them. I guess I like the feminine look as I am a bit old-fashioned. It is interesting to see how fashion makes its full circle, isn't it? :)

Wendy Iturrizaga (author) from France on January 08, 2010:

Glad you liked it!

Van Woods from California, CA on January 08, 2010:

Greta Hub and An Amazing Collection.....

Thanks very much!

Van Woods, California CA

Hunter Riley from Nashville on December 16, 2009:

Nice hub. A baby doll dress has always been a favorite of mine. It's such a fun summertime item of clothing. Always light and very comfortable. Dress it up with sexy high heels like these: http://highheels.onsugar.com/ or stay with traditional flats or even flip flops. Such a versatile dress.

bruce520 on December 15, 2009:

Great hub!

I like to share this babydoll dresses link also.

http://www.2sshoes.com/product.asp?page=2&cate...

Really chic dresses!

Erin Bower from Georgia on September 28, 2009:

awesome hub...love the gorgeous pics!

Wendy Iturrizaga (author) from France on September 03, 2009:

iwhcpanties: maybe after reading this she will try on a couple next time she goes shopping... It is all about finding the right cut to enhance one's figure.

iwhcpanties on September 02, 2009:

This is nice, I love the dress’s and wish my wife would wear them, or what we call sun dress’s anyway.

Wendy Iturrizaga (author) from France on September 01, 2009:

scenechika1234: yes, too short is never a good idea at any age.

scenechika1234 on September 01, 2009:

i think she made a good point about too short baby doll dresses because you don't want to buy a dress that is too short for you. i might only be 15 but i know what im talking about because a girl started that "too short" baby doll dress trend and got a lot of girls in trouble. i don't wear a lot of dresses but i would wear that dress! i think that they are absoluteley beautiful no matter what your body shape (type) is.

Wendy Iturrizaga (author) from France on August 31, 2009:

I am glad you all like the babydoll dresses. They are so flatering that one looks great every single time wearing one of those!

Leanne on August 31, 2009:

I love the dress Nicki Hilton is wearing :)

very cute, and very flattering!

Designer store on August 11, 2009:

Interesting Post!

orientantique on August 05, 2009:

The above is beautiful girls with attractive fashion.

Staci-Barbo7 from North Carolina on August 02, 2009:

I love the baby doll top, as does my daughter. To create an adorable yet modest look, we pair the tops with leggings.

Priyanka Swamy from Concord, CA on April 21, 2009:

Babydoll dresses are great for spring and summer. They can be casual or dressy. Great tips on finding the best babydoll dresses for your body and some really cute dresses.

cheap wedding dress on March 30, 2009:

I love babydoll dress, I prepare to buy 2-3 pieces for the coming summer. Thanks for sharing.

cheap wedding dress on March 29, 2009:

Nice hub! I like babydoll dress, and wanna buy some for myself this summer. Thanks for sharing. Those pics looks attractive and sweet.

singapore fashion on March 24, 2009:

very nice dresses and great hub. keep it.

Wendy Iturrizaga (author) from France on March 15, 2009:

Coast Dresses and JennifersJumpers: you are welcome. The great thing about a babydoll dress is that there is one for every style and age: long, short, colourful, monochromatic, summery, vintage, dressy... and the list goes on!

JennifersJumpers on March 15, 2009:

Thanks for showing different styles of the babydoll dress. Everyone doesn't want cleaving showing! I really liked the vintage dress.

Coast Dresses on December 21, 2008:

I totally agree that there is a babydoll style for any age. My mum thought she couldn't wear one but I went shopping with her and we found a lovely shrug to go with her dress and she didn't look like "mutton dressed as lamb" like she thought she would lol

sherlynavia from United States on October 15, 2008:

Great hub! Paris Hilton babydoll dress is great. I love babydoll dresses. Thanks for sharing.

sun goddess from davao city, philippines on September 26, 2008:

seen one in marks and spencer recently in my sojourn in Sinagore and the one that victoria beckham wore in the net... didn't know it would make such a come back since... i dunno... the 80's or the 90's.... looks absolutely cute but i don't think i could wear one here... :) it's summer here 365 days in a year...

ideaman21 from Chicago, IL on September 24, 2008:

I want to thank you for making me aware of the 1956 film. I had never heard of it and I love classic film. Its amazing where you can find a gem in this world when you are looking for something else.

Wendy Iturrizaga (author) from France on September 09, 2008:

sun goddess: Dresses are so cute and feminine. I also like the short babydoll style in long sleeves for winter, worn with boots looks very casual and chic.

BTW have you seen the new leather dresses? they are absolutely gorgeous...

sun goddess from davao city, philippines on September 08, 2008:

great hub!!!! i absolutely loooooooooooooove baby doll dresses.... no, i loooooooooooove dresses..... :) it's cute, fun and flirty.... embelished sandals seem to work for me though when i'm wearing baby doll dresses.. :) but you're right about the wedges and heels part... they look absolutely divine.... thanks for the tips!

Wendy Iturrizaga (author) from France on August 28, 2008:

Om Paramapoonya: You are right, stick to short dresses to make your legs look longer. I do like long dresses, which seem to be all the rage in Paris just now, but as I am not very tall, they are not flattering for me neither.

Paranoid86: The dresses are cute or sexy depending on how you wear them. that is one of the reasons why I like them.

paranoid86 on August 28, 2008:

nice hub, very up to date in fashion world.

the dress were really cute.

https://hubpages.com/author/paranoid86/latest/?rss

Om Paramapoonya on August 27, 2008:

Nice hub! I actually have a lot of baby doll dresses myself. The reason I like them is that I'm short and long dresses just don't look good on me. So I guess I'm going to stick with this trend for a while. :-)

Wendy Iturrizaga (author) from France on August 23, 2008:

Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment :)

2patricias: I think that there is a baby doll dress for every age, you just need to find the most appropiate one for your shape and age, and of course, you should wear the rigth accessories with it to avoid looking out of place :)

Isabella Snow on August 18, 2008:

Yes! I love this, I'm going to see if I can find one for me!

desert blondie from Palm trees, swimming pools, lots of sand, lots of sunscreen on August 18, 2008:

Fun hub...this is a look I was surprised to see make such a strong comeback...but it's certainly a comfortable style that hides a lot of tummy flaws that USA women suffer from right now.

Sapristi! on August 13, 2008:

More girls should re-conceptualize the babydoll look. And also read your article. I see all these stick-thin girls looking 5 months pregnant in these dresses! ...maybe I'm just jealous 'cause I can't pull it off ;)

ausmark627 from Victoria, Australia on August 12, 2008:

Great stuff! I love baby doll dresses, but used to have difficulty pulling it off. Thanks for the new info!

Auction Dresses on August 12, 2008:

Good info. Love your hub. The black and white babydoll dress looks so light and summery.

topstuff on August 11, 2008:

Oh i know too much about baby doll dress,i think yes its not very late.

2patricias from Sussex by the Sea on August 11, 2008:

Good hub. This is a look for the young! After a certain age baby dolls are not flattering.

Annie Couture from Colorado on August 10, 2008:

great hub, great look!