Plus Size Prom Dresses

When Bridesmaid Dresses Attack

2009-08-22T06:55:00.000-07:00

Always the bridesmaid, never the bride. So goes the refrain of single ladies whose fingers continue to be devoid of an engagement ring, much less a wedding ring, and who have collected a closet full of bridesmaid dresses. Don’t pity yourself, ladies! There is hope for you yet. Well, at least, where stopping your bridesmaid gowns from completely invading your closet is concerned!
Accessorize, Abridge and Add
Often, dresses of any kind only need a few well-placed wedding accessories to make them look new. This is also true with bridesmaid dresses, which can be transformed into cocktail dresses with elegant jewelry like pearl necklaces. Or you can wear a blazer or bolero over them to transform them from day wear to night wear! It’s just a matter of creating new styles out of old clothes, really.
Also, you can always shorten the hem, trim down the shape and cut off some parts to transform old bridesmaid dress into something new. For example, a few inches off the hem will turn an ankle-length dress to a cocktail dress. Or a puffy skirt can be trimmed down so as to make a new skirt suitable for the office.
If you want to keep the overall look, you can always add little touches here and there to the dresses. You can make them trendier by adding the colors of the season, adding well-placed funky touches, and adding your personal mark. Again, it’s all a matter of styling yourself.
Slit, Shorten and Sew
On the other hand, if you are into arts and crafts, you can always slit the bridesmaid gowns into workable materials, shorten the fabric according to your design and sew them into various household items. Of course, this presupposes that you have more than 27 ways to recycle them!
Just to give you ideas on how to recycle your dresses through using the sewing machine, you can make table runners, tablecloths, place mats, curtains, quilts, handkerchiefs, shower curtains, Ottoman slip cover, bed canopy, wall art, room divider, kitchen apron, lamp shade accents, coasters, chair slipcovers, and even as upholstery for your blah headboard. Just think of the fabric from your dresses as any other store-bought fabric and you should be able to come up with more ideas.
Re-Sell, Recycle and Return
If you don’t have the time to sew or you can’t think of more ways to add pizzazz to your bridesmaid gowns, reselling, recycling and returning them are good ideas. Besides, who wants to keep memories of one’s eternal bridesmaid role?
You can sell them on online auction sites, thrift stores and consignment shops that will allow for a small fraction of your expenses to be recouped. Now, if you don’t want to make a handsome profit out of a used dress, there are charitable organizations that will happily oblige disposing your dresses to less fortunate girls. Or if the store where you bought your bridesmaid gown accepts returns of dresses in good condition, run the store now!
When you have employed all these tactics to fend off an attack of the bridesmaid dresses, you will discover that always being the bridesmaid but never the bride isn’t so bad after all. At least, you don’t have to worry about the cost of divorce!

Mother of the Bride and Groom Dress Guide

2009-08-22T06:51:00.000-07:00

Sure – the day may be all about the bride and her big dress, but as the mother of the bride or groom – you need to shine too. Here’s everything you need to know to ensure you look stylish and perfectly coiffed on the big day.
Getting Started
When it comes to selecting wedding day attire, the bride goes first. The moms need to start shopping as early as possible – but not until after the bride has selected her gown and the bridesmaid dresses. Once this has been done, the bride will discuss her preferences of lengths, colors and styles with her mother or both mothers. If you’re not happy with the style she suggests, let her know and work out a compromise. It is her day – but the moms have to be comfortable too.
Here is your guide to selecting mother of the bride dresses and mother of the groom dresses:
Etiquette
Typically the mother-of-the-bride (MOB) selects her dress (taking cues from the bride), then politely consults with the mother-of-the-groom (MOG) as soon as possible to inform her of the style. The MOG should then select an ensemble that complements – not matches - that of the MOB. This custom is definitely not required, however. If the MOB is lagging and the MOG is anxious to get shopping, she can definitely take the initiative and consult with the MOG or the bride. Regardless – it’s important for everyone to be flexible and considerate.
Style Tips for the Moms
Color
Everyone has their own preferences, and any color can really be worn if the bride and moms agree on it .That is to say, most would advice against these hues:
White or Ivory – (don’t compete with the bride)
Black – (don’t appear as if in mourning)
Red – (don’t be too flashy)
You usually can’t go wrong with lavender, beige, silver, burgundy, blue and rose.
Matching the Bridesmaids?
There is no rule that says that mothers’ dresses should match or coordinate with the bridesmaid gowns. You can either choose to stay within the same color family – yet different shade (i.e. maids are in sea foam green, you choose a deep emerald green), or feel free to mix and match as you see fit. Again – talk to the bride about her preferences.
Formality
While you have more room to maneuver in color – the formality of your gown should match the formality of the rest of the wedding party .If it’s an evening wedding and the maids are in floor length prom gowns – it’s probably best to avoid a short hemline in a casual fabric – and vice versa.
Where to Shop for Mother of the Bride Dresses and Mother of the Groom Dresses
Most department stores and many specialty boutiques feature appropriate gowns that can also be worn again in another formal party ,such as cocktail dresses can be wore in a prom or evening party ,even sometimes ,some wedding gowns also can be wore in a prom or evening .Shop with a trusted friend or relative, one whose judgment you can trust to help you choose the style and color that is best for you.
Finding cheap mother of bride dresses online is pretty simple. However, you do have to know how to go about doing it. Your best bet is to search for these dresses using your favorite search engine. For example, if you like Yahoo, then you can go to Yahoo Search and type in mother of the bride dresses. Here you are going to come up with tons of different sites that are offering great deals on wedding dresses. The only thing that you have to do after that is make sure that it’s a trustworthy site. To do that, simply look for online reviews for that site. If there are any bad reviews out there, then simply do not use that site. This just insures that you do not get ripped off online.

Inspired Designer Wedding Dresses

2009-08-22T05:46:00.000-07:00

Growing up, many girls spent hours on end imagining what their wedding would be like right down to the very last detail. As little girls you would dance around the house humming music to which you swore would be your wedding song. You would prance around your house whistling ‘here comes the bride’ as you carefully practiced your eloquent walk that you would one day take down the aisle as you wore your picture-perfect designer wedding gown. After years have passed and you have found the man of your dreams, all that is left to do is find the perfect inspired designer wedding dress to complete your childhood wedding fantasy.
Short Style
If you take much inspiration from the youthful elegance portrayed in posh sundresses that you see confident women donning, then a short-length gown is perfect for your wedding. Ivory lace wedding gowns with strapless are a trendy option for a lovely afternoon ceremony. This shift dress features a blush organza ribbon under the bust line, and is completely covered in intricate beading. In this short alternative to the flowing gowns, you will be as comfortable walking down the aisle as you would be having lunch at the new restaurant.
For the brides who wish to maintain some of the traditional wedding elements in their gowns while adding a bit of fun, then ivory wedding dresses with a bateau neckline can be a timelessly elegant option. This gowns , complete with a satin bodice, is completely covered with English Net and layered with whimsical lace. The full skirt on this gown will allow you the perfect amount of bounce, as you strut down the aisle, without taking away from the dress’s beauty.
Royal Style
Cinderella, a favorite childhood fairy tale for many little girls, is often pictured as the ideal wedding. As they eagerly watched this heart-warming story, they dreamt of the day that their own prince charming would come rescue them. And, of course, they would drift off picturing the perfect wedding dresses they would be wearing as they kissed their knight in shining armor. A modern take on this classic fairy tale style can be achieved by selecting a feminine and flirtatious white gown made of silk satin, with delicate spaghetti straps and a full skirt that includes an elegant train which flows as you walk. The front appliquéd skirt and richly detailed embroidery on the bodice are the perfect combination, while the intricate details on the ribbon around the waist are perfect complements to the overall look. To complete this in true princess style, consider adding a large crystal necklace, dangling earrings and a sparkling tiara.
Some brides prefer to take their style inspiration from queens who set trends hundreds of years before Cinderella ever lost her shoe. These brides will be pleased to know that those ever-popular Renaissance looks they desire have been updated for a modern wedding look. An elegant Victorian blouse in silk taffeta will catch the attention of all who attend your classic wedding. This ivory top is complete with all of the ruffles one would expect of the queen, while the skirt provides a modern twist. The mermaid skirt is meticulously jeweled with crystal and platinum for a one-of-a-kind look suitable only for the chic.
Slim Style
If you are a bride that gets inspired by the sleek, form-fitting garments seen on the red carpet, then a silk crepe Georgette gown, in diamond white, could be your perfect look as you demand the attention from paparazzi. The neckline of this modern gown is notched to draw the eye to the elaborate beading at the top of the empire waist. The cut crystals wrap all the way around the midriff of this dress to make sure you are picture ready from every angle. While the dress contains enough length in the back for a small train, a crepe or chiffon scarf could be draped down the back to further add a touch of flowing grace.
Another radiant look in diamond white is a silk satin Chiffon gown. This plunging v-neck is reminiscent of the Greek goddess style, especially with the soft flow of the skirt as it descends from the thick waistband. A detachable train ensures that you will be ready to go from ceremony to reception with minimal effort.
A strapless gown in ivory is another look that is sure to demand the attention of everyone in attendance. A stunning alternative to the typical satin is Chantilly Lace cascading down the slim-fitting gown. The gowns’ draped bust and pleated skirt will give you the appearance of floating down the aisle. You also have the option of wearing the matching wrap to give a touch of elegance for a more formal evening affair.