February 24, 2012
Celebrations
drama dresses Wedding gowns get gorgeous and glamorous in 2012
The record-review/Page 7A
Double happiness A pairing of tiered skirts — one long and one knee length — defines some of the most innovative, newest nuptial fashions. Ranging from tulle layers with graduated hems to distinct sculptural bubbles over floor-length columns of silk, double tiered skirts are all about shape and volume. Subtle silhouettes maintain tradition with a nod to current fashion. Cuts that push the geometric envelope are modern and edgy. It’s the perfect look for a bride that wants to be on trend.
Delicate, but all grown up Everyone is in love with lace. But, decidedly, this trend is not an embrace of the past. Far from tea party demure, today’s lace fantasies have both sugar and bite. Look for large, loose patterns, unlined constructions that show bare skin, cutouts, pieced-together applications, and sensual texture. For contemporary elegance, consider the highest quality you can afford. The handmade look of needlepoint lace, embroidered lace and ribbon lace all have a gorgeous hand. While a fully adorned gown would be absolutely luxurious, even a little lace can have a big impact.
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By TRACI DUTTON LUDWIG
trong and sexy or sophisticated and sweet, this year’s wedding dresses are for the statementmaking bride. Glamour is definitely in — but so is creativity and individualism. Enraptured by the recent fairytale nuptials of Prince William and Kate Middleton, bridal designers are indulging every fantasy with couture details, bold silhouettes and luxuriously sensual fabrics. Before these styles sashay down the aisle in a new season of love, here’s a peek into designers’ most blissful dozen.
Sun kissed White wedding? Not always. For brides dreaming of a different shade of pale, gorgeous options abound. This season’s favorite colors are inspired by a range of skin tones — blushing pink, sun-kissed bronze, warm tan and fleshy taupe. It’s the perfect palette for both color and neutrality. To avoid a washed-out appearance and enhance your skin tone, select a gown with a shade in contrast to your own skin color. Not ready to abandon the white or ivory altogether? Consider adding tone to broad sashes, corset laces or underskirts. These details can add unexpected winks of color and tie in beautifully to the groom’s suit or bridesmaids’ dresses.
Garter ready Leggy brides, get ready to stride. Thighhigh slits are the perfect flirts. When legs are standing in pose, these skirts are conventionally modest. But, as soon as the knee bends in motion, the flash of leg is absolutely electric. For ultimate movement, look for this style in simple or embellished sheaths made from fluid fabrics. “The higher, the better” is de rigueur, but simple alterations along the seam can easily alter a slit to each bride’s height and comfort.
Northern lights Party girls rejoice! Bling is not only for the engagement ring. Sparkle and shine are now defining the dress. Think dance floor diva, Art Deco siren and red carpet darling — decked out in a profusion of crystals, reflective beads, sequins, fringe and feathers. Long white gloves complete the look. Not surprisingly, bejeweled gowns can carry high price tags. To temper the cost without sacrificing the look, focus on defining details, rather than all-over bling. Even one statement piece — a glitzy headpiece, dazzling shoes or super sparkly jewelry — can carry the mood. With its amplified glamour and confidence, this look is all about star quality.
Take the plunge Today’s brides are taking the plunge in more ways than one. Deeply cut Vs and dipping cowls are energizing both bodices and backs with daring looks that enchant the eye. Sophistication comes from keeping the reveal in balance with ample coverage in other areas. Skin is sexy, but true seduction comes from unexpected contrast. A low décolleté gets ultimate impact when paired with long sleeves or a conservative back. Likewise, a bare spine purrs loudest against the whisper of a demure neckline.
Hourglass Corsets have long been an essential underpinning, but contemporary interest in lingerie details has brought them front and center. Laced-up, structured bodices have the magical power of molding any body into shape, while being supremely forgiving. Corsets work with almost any style of skirt, and their laced-up backs create a lovely view down the aisle. Nevertheless, the corset’s greatest appeal comes from its architecture. Corsets emphasize the curve of the bust and hips, as well as the smallness of the waist — or they can, at least, conjure such an illusion… even with that extra piece of cake at the reception.
Barely there The perfect compromise between strapless and sleeves, illusion necklines use sheer overlays to secure bare sweetheart cuts to the body. As elegant halters or sleeves, illusion necklines are more than just functional. Their gauzy textiles, rich embellishments and couture trims offer designers a wealth of creativity and give gowns a luxurious kiss. For fairytale splendor, look for illusion textiles adorned with beads or crystals. Their sparkle seems to emanate from the skin.
Horsehair
Arm candy
Disappearing act
The name is deceiving. Today’s horsehair — a textile used for adding definition and sophisticated flair to gowns — has little to do with stallions in the stable. Years ago, the term did refer to couture fabrics stiffened by equine hairs from tails and manes, but contemporary versions mostly come from woven polyester. Braids of synthetic horsehair have long been used for shaped hemlines and delineated garment edges. Now, designers are exploiting horsehair’s fine, delicate mesh for flexible structure — without excess bulk or weight. Look for ideal treatments in ethereal underskirts, illusion necklines and surface overlays that seem to float, like billowy froth, on top of skirts and bodices.
Borrowing from high street trends, capes and short capelets are today’s most popular coverlet for fashion-forward brides. Practical over bare shoulders during religious ceremonies, capes and capelets are also fun. Swingy movement, jewel buttons and richly textured fabrics make capes and capelets playful and versatile. Fur is a refined choice for cold-weather ceremonies. Crochet work is fresh in a garden scene. Lace and illusion fabrics are striking during any nuptial. And vintage pieces, such as from the 1960s, would be a chic “something old” accessory for the unique bride.
Cinderella might be known for her glass slipper; but, really, she was all about the ball gown. If there’s one time for a girl to wear a really big dress, her wedding is it. A perennial favorite of youthful brides and big, banner weddings, ball gowns will never lose their devotees. Voluminous skirts, lightweight fabrics, beaded waistlines, scattered floral details, unique bodices and deconstructed silhouettes distinguish the season’s freshest styles. Go all out for fantasy. The best ball gowns embody the fairytale dreams of princess brides on their wedding day.]
On her Royal wedding day last April, Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge, wore a couture gown that enchanted the world. Its long lace sleeves reinvigorated an interest in arms, and designers have answered the call in a distinctly feminine way. Disregarding the puffs and puddles of the past, today’s sleeves focus on the sinuous lines of the arms or enhance the delicate roundness of the shoulders. Look for body definition in long fitted sleeves or in compact cap sleeves that embrace the shoulders. Breathable textiles such as lace, organza and chiffon are not only elegant, but also comfortable in any season.
Fairytale poufs
Main image courtesy of Ines DiSanto, designer of ready-to-wear and custom bridal gowns, from the Spring/Summer 2012 Couture Bridal Collection. Top row from left: Image courtesy of Rita Vinieris’s Rivini, which ushers in a refreshing new era of simple luxury. Image courtesy of Hayley Paige, a new, fresh, bridal line at the JLM Couture company. The latest wedding fashions courtesy of Legends by Romona Keveza, a diffusion bridal line that is young in spirit and inspired by glamorous fashion icons. Bottom row from left: Courtesy of Revini, alluring in its design, chic in its perfection. Ines DiSanto’s Spring/Summer 2012 Couture Bridal Collection; and Marchesa, whose beautifully crafted designs fuse high fashion with an eclectic aesthetic.
Where to Party Continued from page 2A
The firm, Gould said, handles arrangements for approximately 500 parties a year — “weddings and social events on the weekends and corporate events during the week.” Angelo Liberatore of Harvest on Hudson in Hastings-on-Hudson said the first aspect of planning a party involves determining just how large the event will be. “There’s definitely a correlation between the number of people and the size of the room,” he said. “A party of 30 people just doesn’t look good in a room that’s too large and subsequently too empty.” Harvest on Hudson and its sister restaurant, Half Moon in Dobbs Ferry, have rooms to accommodate large and small events. “We meet with our clients and show them our properties before determining which one is right for them,” Liberatore said. “We do not have a formal questionnaire, but do a physical walk-through of the properties. We find that works best because they know exactly what each room looks like.” Different room layouts also lend themselves to different kinds of parties, Liberatore said, agreeing that in the case of bar and bat mitzvahs the “adults can be on one side, the children on the other side, with the dance floor in the middle. That way the kids can have a great time and the adults don’t feel as if the kids are right next to them. The kids have their own little ‘cocktail party’ while the adults have their own cocktail party.” The reverse situation often occurs with weddings. “When you have an older crowd it’s possible they might not want to hear a loud band,” Liberatore said. “We can situate some of the wedding guests in a separate room farther away from the music.” In the case of Liberatore’s venues, some clients prefer a “total buyout” of a restaurant. In other words, the clients and their guests are the only people in the building for the whole time of their party. “Since we have so many different rooms we’re able to offer many options,” he said. “What would be a private dining room for one party can be the bride’s dressing room at another party, for example. It depends entirely on what the client wants and needs, and of course we determine that together in consultation with the client. It’s always a pleasure to learn exactly what each person is looking for and make sure the event meets every expectation.” A relatively new venue in northern Westchester is The Willows, which overlooks the lake at Oak Ridge Commons in Vista. General manager Marietta Solleveld said The Willows is used frequently for bar and bat mitzvahs, as well as birthday, anniversary and sweet 16 parties. “We have one main room with partitions that allow us to make that into whatever size the party would work for,” Solleveld said. “Determining what a client needs begins with a telephone conversation, then a sit-down meeting here. We want to make sure that The Willows is the right place for that particular party, then we do all the planning and everything that goes into making sure the event is successful.” As with any venue, there must be plenty of room for cocktails and conversation before the meal, as well as dancing afterward, if that’s part of the plan. Birthday parties and corporate events such as Christmas parties would also be perfect at The Willows, Solleveld said, calling it appropriate for “slightly less formal” gatherings. She laughingly summed up what could be the golden rule of party planning, at least for those looking for a wedding venue: “My feeling is that a less formal place might not be right when you want to have your first wedding. But when it’s time for your second wedding, you can relax, be less formal and have a great time!”