Haute Hues

Accents no longer accepted! Today’s brides want their dresses full of color

By Nola Sarkisian-Miller
CTW Features

Image courtesy Vera Wang

Here comes the bride all dressed in … red, silver or ice blue?

As the new millennium’s naught years wind down, the decade has proven that never before have weddings been as individualized and personalized and perhaps radicalized as today. The changes are evident in her wardrobe as brides now flirt with wearing non-white gowns.

Adding a dash of color in the form of sashes, lace and ribbons has been en vogue the last five years. Now brides are willing to take the matrimonial plunge in showier fashion with all-over color and designers are trotting out a handful of options each season, usually focusing on subdued shades.

Vera Wang lit up the Spring 2010 runway with nudes, pinks and more, including a charcoal tissue organza one-shoulder ball gown and a citrus hand-painted watercolor organza strapless gown with a tucked tulle skirt and lime grosgrain bow. For the sophisticate, she offered a black tissue organza sweetheart gown with a black grosgrain bow at the waist.

Jim Hjelm unveiled gowns in blush and sherbet for the Spring 2010 collection. Some designers offer bolder options, including Maggie Sottero’s fiery red A-line taffeta ball gown with hand-placed flowers from the Fall 2009 collection.

Boutiques are slowly cottoning to the more daring trend and are giving the new looks a whirl. M bride in La Jolla, Calif. carries Peter Langner’s gowns in soft pink and lavender along with Angel Sanchez’s white trumpet gown with a black one-shoulder dotted with rosettes, which has been a popular seller, according to Angela Hinch, the assistant to the owner at M bride.

“We’ve had one bride come in looking for a gown in ice blue,” Hinch says. “It seems that brides are more willing to branch out.”

The question is how daring is she? Ines Di Santo offers a red gown overlaid with black lace that was on hand during the designer’s trunk show at M bride one month ago. So far, there are no takers, Hinch says.

One challenge the colorful gowns creates is how to outfit the bridesmaids. The goal is to ensure that bridesmaids’ dresses won’t compete or clash with a more vivid gown. Champagnes and neutral tones work best for the presentation of the bridal party.

“If you’re wearing a specific color, you definitely don’t want to be too matchy with the bridesmaids,” Hinch says.

Copyright © CTW Features

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