Posted by Sherri Caudell Brennan, Shopping and Fashion Market Expert
Christina Dalle Pezze knew all too well that a good bridesmaid dress is hard to find. After several engaged friends returned frustrated from many rounds of dress shopping with stories of synthetic fabric embellished with a Bedazzler gone wild, she left her job on Wall Street and headed to the Fashion Institute of Technology, where she honed her sewing and design skills. A few years later, Simple Silhouettes was born, offering brides a comfortable, stylish, colorful alternative that has revolutionized the way we think about dressing bridesmaids. I had a chance to ask Christina some questions to help you through your bridesmaid dress conundrums. Here's what she had to say.
Sherri: Should bridesmaids be involved in the selection process of their gowns?
Christina: I think brides should decide on a color and length, then let bridesmaids select their own style. The look is more modern and lets the girls' individuality shine, but it still looks coordinated and formal.
S: What is the best bridesmaid dress shape for each body type?
C: For a pear shaped girl, try a dress that's narrow in the bodice and fuller in the hips, like our 2010 Collection styles "Phlox" and "Rocket," or our Simple Collection styles "Sweet Pea" and "Buttercup."
For a full figured girl, a dress that's more generously cut with princess seams is best. The seams elongate the body and allow for a more custom fit. "Calla" and "Heather" from our Classics Collection would work well.
For a top heavy girl, go for a neckline that optically minimizes the roundness of the bust line, such as a v-neck or mock wrap style. These necklines offer coverage but are still flatteringly sexy. "Senna," in our 2010 Collection, was created with this body type in mind.
For a petite bridesmaid, you want a higher neckline, which elongates a smaller frame. Our new one shoulder styles, "Wisteria", "Lotus" and "Calypso" would do just that. But if you're not into the one-shouldered style, try "Nettle" , "Jasmine,", "Iris," or "Camellia."
S: Is there a dress color that complements nearly everyone's complexion?
C: Your best bet is to stick with deeper shades, like jewel tones or neutrals like navy, black, and gray. The good news is that these colors are so current right now!
S: If an attendant is pregnant, how should she go about ordering her bridesmaid dress?
C: Typically, we ask that she order at the same time as all the other attendants, but that she omit her size. That way we know we'll be making the dress and can take the necessary steps to prepare for producing it. About six to eight weeks before the wedding, she should give us her size. Our "Laurel" and "Poppy" styles work great for attendants who will be pregnant the day of the wedding. And "Aster" and "Magnolia" are great for bridesmaids who may have just had a baby, since they are more generously cut in the waist.
S: What fabric travels well for a destination wedding?
C: The key here is to know that virtually every fabric will wrinkle, so to make the best of it, make sure you unpack and hang the dress immediately after your arrival. By the next morning, most wrinkles should disappear, but if you need to, you can touch it up using a hotel iron with a cloth between it and the dress.
From: Colleen | 1/8/10 at 10:14 am
This is awesome! Thank you!