TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Wedded To Style

ADVERTISEMENT

By CLOE CABRERA, The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 4, 2008

"You can wear it again," the bride said. She lied.

The laughable little lilac number with the puff-pastry sleeves and bow-bedecked derriere still hangs in the back of your closet, a true testament to your loyalty as a friend. Heck, you couldn't even sell it on eBay.

Just like the gowns Katherine Heigl's character, Jane, is forced to wear in the new movie "27 Dresses," bridesmaid dresses have earned a reputation for being, well ...

Hideous.

The horror of bridesmaid dresses has even inspired a Web site. UglyDress.com catalogs and comments on the worst-ever bridesmaid dresses. You can search by category - Bad Patterns, Bad Color, Bad Shape - or just cut to the chase and check out the worst of the worst, like the "Flat Chest Dress," "The Pregnant Prom Dress" or "Married in a Whorehouse."

But times are changing. Bridesmaid dresses are no longer the weakest link in the fashion food chain.

Today, style and flexibility trump the everybody-must-match-from-head-to-toe rules of weddings past. Brides are giving their bridesmaids more discretion in choosing their own dresses, bridal experts say. And new styles make it more likely the dresses will be worn long after the wedding bouquet crumbles.

"There are bad bridesmaid dresses," says Olga Rhoads, who runs Olga's Bridal & Boutique in South Tampa with her daughter, Michele. "But today, most bridesmaid dresses, about 80 percent of them, can be worn again.

"Brides today are very aware that not everyone in their bridal party can wear the same thing. They want everyone to be comfortable and look good in those wedding pictures."

Serving Double Duty

Olga's carries more than 850 bridesmaid dresses samples, and there isn't a Scarlett O'Hara wanna-be in the bunch.

Glorified prom dresses and tulle-lined kimonos have been shut out by streamlined designs and cutting-edge silhouettes in hues like citrus, clover, champagne and espresso. Sleek and sophisticated looks with tapered skirts and bubble hems are served up in strapless styles, or with plunging necklines, backs and other custom designs that can serve double duty at a cocktail party or an evening out.

"When you buy a dress and wear it as a bridesmaid once, it psychologically becomes a bridesmaid dress, and you can't wear it beyond the wedding," says Diane Murfee, a bridal consultant at Olga's. "A beautiful gown can be worn again."

Just as they are with dresses for the bride, designers are turning to the runway and red carpet for inspiration in dressing the rest of wedding party, says Catalina Maddox, vice president and general merchandising manager for David's Bridal, which has stores nationwide.

"Being a bridesmaid in several weddings can get overwhelming," Maddox says. "The two key trends are short dresses and fluid, long, goddess-inspired dresses that drape beautifully to the body. These trends reflect what is currently happening in the fashion industry, with dresses being the must-have item in a woman's closet, and long, soft dresses coming right off the red carpet."

The range of colors and more figure-flattering designs make bridesmaid dresses more likely to become repeat performers, Maddox says.

Styles, fabrics "so much nicer"

Andrea Stewart is shopping for her ninth bridesmaid dress, to wear to a cousin's October wedding in Michigan. She's hoping this one won't wind up in a thrift store like the dresses from weddings past.

"Not one of those dresses have I been able to wear again," says Stewart, 26, of Tampa. "They're so bridesmaidy."

For this wedding, the bride chose the color - cranberry - and is allowing her bridesmaids free rein on the style.

"It's great because we can all pick what looks best on us," says Stewart, holding an elegant V-neck, chiffon gown to her body. "Absolutely, the styles and fabrics are so much nicer than years past."

Brides and bridesmaids have enough to worry about without dress stress. Here are a few tips to help the selection process:

•The bride should visit the boutique first and get a feel for what she wants. She should pull several styles and then have the bridesmaids visit the store. "If everyone comes in together, things can get pretty chaotic," Rhoads says.

•Don't choose colors on the Internet; they'll never match the swatches in the store.

•Order all the dresses from the same designer so they will be cut from the same dye lot. You don't want color variations walking down the aisle.

•Strapless gowns remain the most popular because they work on most figure types if fitted properly. Empire-cut dresses are also flattering. The style falls gracefully and will "cover a multitude of sins," Rhoads says.

•Mermaid styles (snug on top and flared toward the bottom) and dresses cut on the bias are unforgiving. They hug every curve. Unless all your bridesmaids have a Halle Berry body, avoid it.

•If you decide to go with separates, remember: It's more expensive to alter two pieces than one.

•Have your dress measurements taken by a professional seamstress or at a bridal shop. A do-it-yourself measuring job will land you an ill-fitting dress, which can turn into a big headache for everyone.

•Skip the Pepto-Bismol pink, chartreuse or orange. Classic and simple styles and colors are more likely to be worn again.

•Make sure the color, fabric and finish complement the bride's gown. Find a style that complements your dress, but not too similar. You don't want the maids looking like the bride.

•Be aware that every designer has a different size chart. It's not uncommon to go up or down a size or two from one dress to the next.

If, at the end of it all, you're not happy with your bridesmaid dress, just take a deep breath and roll with it. After all, it is about the bride. And, you did agree to be there for her on her big day.

Reporter Cloe Cabrera can be reached at (813) 259-7656 or ccabrera@tampatrib.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT