Less means more on bride's big day
Strapless is in and modesty less of an issue, but not everyone should "wear bare"
By Catherine Patch
Strapless is in and modesty less of an issue, but not everyone should "wear bare"
By Catherine Patch
Less is more come the big day, Toronto bridal wear experts agree.
The days are past when modesty was high on the list of what a proper bride should bring to the altar. In today's world, bridal right now, décolletage is in.
"Brides are going for less in every way - less material, less detailing, less fuss," says Yvonne Yu of Bridal Warehouse on Spadina Ave. where prices run from $100 to $3,000.
"The hottest trend is towards strapless, bare gowns," adds Kim Ironmonger of Valencienne Bridal Boutique on Eglinton Ave. W.
But should every bride wear bare?
"No," Ironmonger says firmly. "It depends on whether it's flattering to the bride's figure and on the venue - is it a formal church or synagogue wedding, or a small ceremony at home?
"I'm very honest with my clients. We are able to alter everything and anything a sample dress offers." Gowns at Valencienne are priced from $1,500 up.
"Metallics are big this year," she adds. And so are gowns embroidered in silver. One fabulous gown I did was gold lamé under four layers of ivory tulle. You couldn't really see the lamé just a sort of soft shimmer when the bride moved."
One bride-to-be embracing the shoulder-baring strapless look is Vanessa Kiss, 29, a store manager with Club Monaco. She's a graduate of Bishop Strachan School and the ceremony will take place at the chapel there on June 24. The reception will be at Canoe, 54 floors up at the TD Tower.
Kiss's strapless gown is ivory silk with organza and empire waist, with a chiffon shrug and cumberbund. Her dress is A-line and full-length, and Kiss sounds deliriously happy just talking about it.
"It's true that brides are showing more skin, more cleavage, whether they're first-time brides or getting married again," Yu says.
"Strapless dresses are our best-sellers. Many brides are also choosing gowns with halter tops or little spaghetti straps. For church or the synagogue, most women want a shawl or a little shrug they can wear and take off after the service.
Are parents thrilled with the bare look? "Sometimes the mothers might not be so happy at first," says Yu. "But today's bride is older and (probably) paying for her own dress. She's far more independent."
Bigger brides aren't exactly bundling up, either. "Most women of whatever size or age are following the trend to show a little more," says Yu. "Some large-sized clients do prefer a cap or elbow-length sleeve."
Other modest brides are buying strapless gowns then having straps added, says Patricia Tucci, manager of the newly opened Firenzia bridal salon on Dufferin St.
"The strapless look is definitely a big entry this year," Tucci says. "But it's a style that may not have much lasting power since it's not as versatile or practical."
Brides planning formal weddings in a church or temple need to find a co-ordinating shawl or jacket and, as Tucci points out, shawls often demand attention to stay in place.
Natalie Wong, 27, selected a gown by designer Catherine Langlois for her wedding last October.
Langlois, whose one-of-a-kind gowns sell for between $1,000 and $3,000, has run her business full-time for five years. She says her work is very satisfying because it engages her love of fine fabrics and costume history as well as involving working one-on-one with her clients.
Wong's gown took about four months to finish.
"We were a little short of time, but everything worked out," Langlois says. The delicately beautiful gown was of hand-embroidered and beaded silk chiffon over heavy silk charmeuse. The modified empire waist, wide boatneck neckline and full-length, A-line skirt with a short fishtail sweep was dramatic but didn't overpower the petite Wong.
The gown is neither stark white nor ivory, but a subtle in between shade. "I like to use natural white, the real colour of the fabric," says Langlois. "It's the most popular colour because it suits most people and it's very flattering to the skin."
When it comes to colour, pastel shades used as accents or detailing are also a trend being seen this year, Tucci says.
"A shade like rum pink is great even as a solid colour," she says. "it grabs attention and if you show it, you know it will sell very well in white."
Hard and fast rules about what to wear have gone the way of the do-do bird, according to Tucci, whose gowns cost from $500 to $3,000.
"Now couples might have a small wedding, maybe 20 guests, and still go the full hoo-haw - gown with a train and everything else."
