The Lowdown #2: Bari Jay

Bari Jay is all about glamour. They have simple styles too, but most of their line is a little on the daring side, not your “typical bridesmaid.” If you are looking for long chiffon dresses, they have some very elegant options, also some great short and sassy styles. Overall they tend towards a more formal, evening look.
One downside to the line as a whole is that the fabrics don’t have quite as much variety for color, especially compared with many other bridesmaids lines. That’s not to say that Bari Jay doesn’t offer options, but where another designer might have 60 satin colors they’ll have 30. They do have some colors that can be hard to find- for instance a very mustardy yellow- called “Mustard!,” and also a green called “Forest” that is kind of leafy, not dark, not too bright. I’m a fan!
Recently Bari Jay started what they call their “White” line, which is bridal. We don’t carry it through Netbride, but it’s basically bridesmaids as wedding gowns. Nothing too tremendous. A lot of their other bridesmaids styles can come in white or ivory, but not all. It's a little confusing!
Bari Jay does make junior styles to match some, not all of its bridesmaids dresses. Like most junior maids lines, they modify the styles so that they appropriate for younger girls. The styles they do for juniors tend to be the simpler, more classic ones for obvious reasons.
So, if you are going for an elegant evening look, or want something really interesting (like a one shoulder with one long sleeve), check out Bari Jay!

Give your Bridesmaids a Job Description

Traditions vary, change and evolve, and it is often unclear ( other than some glaringly obvious duties, like stand up at the wedding!) what is expected of a bridesmaid. There are books, magazine articles, and blog posts discussing this, but what it really comes down to is what the bride wants/needs. And that can vary a lot.

So, in order to avoid any confusion, hurt, or frustration, err on the side of giving too much info. If you are having showers, parties, etc, let them know which dates you'd like them to keep free and how you see their role in the event. Give them a breakdown of what you're thinking for the wedding day and days leading up to it. Make clear who is paying for what for any expenses like clothing, shoes, accesories, accomodations, etc. Don't assume that they know your expectations, and also ask them what theirs are. If you are thinking they will have a lot of things to be involved in, and they are thinking they just show up for the wedding, that needs to be clarified.

Who gives a rib…cage?

I do. And so should everyone who has anything to do with ordering gowns in any way.
No designer asks for the ribcage measurement, but the size of women’s ribs can vary even for the same bust measurement. Some designers are notoriously cut narrow through the ribcage area: Jim Hjelm and Mori Lee are definitely in that category.

So, what can YOU do to make sure your rib cage doesn’t cause you any headaches? Here are a few things.

1) Know your body. As you try on dresses, if you notice that things that fit well in other areas are constricting you through the torso, your rib cage is probably relatively large for your frame.
2) If you know you have a large ribcage and/or you are looking at a designer that is cut narrow in that area, you’ll usually see that your waist measurement puts you up a size from your other measurements. Not always, but the waist measurement is usually the best indicator when your ribcage is an issue. So be aware of your waist measurement!
3) Remember that you can always take in, but it’s more difficult, and sometimes impossible, to let a dress out. So don’t take risks, plan to take it in.

The Lowdown #1: Watters, Wtoo, and WaWa

Periodically, I'm going to do a nice long informational blog about different designers we carry. I'll try to keep it brief, but there is a lot to say!

In their own words, Watters gowns are “Sophisticated,” “Gorgeous,” “Fresh,” and “Graceful.” When I think Watters, I think of two things: elegance and style. Their gowns are of an exceptional quality both in terms of fabric and design, and everything they do is done well. Here are some characteristics of each line:

Watters Bridal:
If you are looking for great design, timeless elegance, and you care about fabrics, Watters is your line. Most of their dresses are silk, and they are just stunning. They have a great range of details, from classic lace to modern textured floral elements, but even their more whimsical styles still have class.
While some of their gowns do have quirky details, Watters overall has a more traditional, romantic feel. If you are looking for something very sleek and modern, or sassy and “out there,” they won’t have as many options for you. Also, because of the silk fabrics, their price point tends higher.

Wtoo Bridal:
Wtoo is the lighter side of Watters. Still elegant and classy, their dresses tend to be a little lighter in terms of construction, slightly less formal, and they use alternatives to silk so they are a little less weighty for the budget as well. If you are looking for an over the top, crazy beaded dress, you won’t find it here. If you want something elegant that doesn’t take itself too seriously, check Wtoo out.

Watters and Wtoo Maids:
As far as design goes, these two lines are very similar. They tend towards the elegant but have some fun things as well. The major difference you will find is in the fabrics: Watters has silks, Wtoo doesn’t, so the pricing trends of the wedding gown follow here: Watters tends higher, Wtoo is more reasonable. Most of their shorter dresses also come in floor length, and the lines use some of the same fabrics. So if you want to let your bridemaids do all different styles, there are a lot of different dresses in the same fabric between the two lines.

WaWa:
Watters Flower girls has styles that can work for little ones and also some that work for Junior maids. They use the same fabrics as the bridesmaids lines for the most part, and some of their styles are similar. You won’t find a lot of options for junior bridesmaids here, but they have some very classic satin styles if that’s what you’re looking for. The flower girl dresses work well with the wedding gown lines but aren’t too matchy.

100th Post!

This is my 100th post!
I'd like to thank my mom, for giving me the faith in myself that I could do whatever I put my mind to.... just kidding : )

I may be the only one who's excited, but that's ok. I've learned a lot researching some of these posts, and I like to think that there are brides out there, maybe reading but not responding, who've found some little tidbit useful.

Next week, I will begin doing intros to all the designers we carry, with info that I hope will be helpful in navigating the many many choices that are out there.

Flower Power!

Whether or not you embrace or eschew a wedding veil, a flower in the hair is often the perfect accent to complete your look. Most flower accessories are extremely versatile: you can place them wherever you want, and they will work with almost any hair style. There are a vast variety of different styles out there, so whether your style is classic, out-there, or anywhere in between, you can find something that complements your gown and shows your personality. Above are three different styles by Erica Koesler (my favorite veil/headpiece maker!) to give you taste:

The first style is A-5341. It's cute and sweet and a little bit retro. Next is A-398- it is a gorgeous, softly romantic piece that has just a hint of sparkle. Last is A-418. It's much more dramatic, and guess what? IT COMES IN BLACK!

Check out www.ericakoesler.com for lots of other fabulous options!

Fact or Fiction?: Strapless means it'll Slide Down

Have you ever heard anyone say this: "Oh, you don't want a strapless dress. You'll be pulling it up the whole night!"? I'm sure many people have been to a wedding where this is the case. But, the issue is not the lack of straps but a lack of fit. Let me explain what I mean.

Every woman's body has a curve in at the waist and out at the hip to some degree. Some people have it more than others, but it's there no matter what. So if you get a dress that is fitted at the waist at all, whether it's natural waist or drop, if that dress is fitted properly to your waist, it should not be able to slide down over the hip. The shape of the body won't allow it, unless the dress isn't fitted enough. So make sure you have alterations to make the dress fit perfectly.

There are also a couple of other things to keep in mind as you select a strapless gown:
1) If you are busty, make sure the bodice has adequate depth. Every dress is cut a little differently, so some will work and some will be too shallow. If you get something that doesn't have the right shape in the bust to be able to accommodate your figure, it won't be comfortable even when it's "correctly" fitted.
2) If you are small busted, make sure have to the bodice taken in enough, and know that you may need to sew in cups to fill it out. Most bodices are boned to enhance a woman's shape, some more so than others, so look for things that have a delicate cut.
3) Gowns also have different amounts of structure. Almost all strapless gowns have some type of boning in the bodice- they have to ! But some are more structured than others, so choose accordingly. Make sure the bodice of the dress you choose has enough structure that you feel secure.

So, the strapless=sliding down thing is a fiction, as long as you get your dress fitted. Even the perfect cut for you will most likely need to be altered so that it is also a perfect fit. Be sure to take it to a good, experienced seamstress so that you can enjoy your day worry free!