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CHICAGOSTYLEWEDDINGS.COM238
Perfection
WRITTEN BY LYNN TANGORRA • PHOTOGRAPHY BY RUSH PRODUCTIONS PHOTOGRAPHY & VIDEO
Brides are seeing more options when it
comes to selecting the perfect dress for
their big day. There is now flexibility in
what is considered appropriate for a
wedding dress, and brides can get cre-
ative and trendy when it comes to bridal
fashion.
High-Low Gowns
For starters, do you want a long or short
dress? This may seem like an odd question
since the majority of brides wear long
gowns, but now you can have both. For
those who are indecisive, the very trendy
high-low gown may be the perfect fit
for you.
“High-low gowns are a great way to bring
a bit more edge to your wedding day style
– no matter where you get married,” says
Shannelle Armstrong-Fowler, chief stylist
of Haute & Co. Bridal and Revolution
Bridal. “Brides can truly show off their
fabulous wedding shoes as well as walk
the aisle with ease if wearing a traditional
gown brings a fear of falling.”
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Even if you fall in love with a long wedding
gown, ask if the alterations team can
make it into a high-low dress. This trend is
still on the rise, and if you’re looking for a
wow factor, this will definitely catch people
by surprise. Whitney Port anyone?
Separates
This trend is great for every style, taste,
and budget. Brides are able to have their
personality really shine through by pairing
any top they want with any bottom.
“Separates have became very popular in
the last year. They give the bride the
option to mix and match and personalize
her look. Not everyone will pair the same
two pieces together,” says Natalia Lagunas,
store manager of Bijou Bridal & Special
Occasion. Try a lace crop top with a
flowing chiffon maxi skirt.
“Separates can also give the bride a more
comfortable fit,” she says. “It gives them
the option to order the top in one size and
the bottom in another depending on their
measurements.”
Detachable Details
This popular trend includes the option of
also having a gown with a detachable por-
tion such as a skirt or train. This can act
as a fun transition between a ceremony
look and a reception look. “We are just
starting to have requests for detachable
skirts and trains — something we have
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accommodated through alterations, but
now there are gowns to show the brides!”
says Kathryn B. Trocki, proprietress of
Kathryn’s Bridal. “We absolutely love the
Sophia Tolli Maeve gown where the skirt
completely comes off to showcase a lace
sheath. Simply beautiful and changes the
look for the bride!”
Tattooed Lace
It’s all about that lace. Lace has always
been a popular choice for bridal gowns.
SEPARATES
This trend is great for every
style, taste, and budget.
Brides are able to have
their personality really
shine through by pairing
any top they want with
any bottom.
TIP
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Now, you can take that lace and make it a
daring look with a “tattooed” style gown.
This trend has been seen on almost every
runway this season. One of the most pop-
ular ways to incorporate the lace is to
have a gown with an illusion back.
“Brides love the detailed backs with lace
appliques against a sheer fabric on their
skin,” Lagunas says. “The tattoo lace is
also used in long sleeves and illusion
necklines.”
Brides can opt to have a dress with
“barely there” details or opt for a more
solid covering by adding sleeves. “So
many lace dresses have this detail, and
brides love it!” Trocki says. “It is drama
and romance at the same time.” This
might be a little scandalous for Grandma’s
taste, but it’s your day!
Bold Colors
Here comes the bride all dressed in ivory,
champagne, or blush pink. Right now, it’s
all about color.
If you’re looking for a non-traditional alter-
native to white that’s not too bold, go with
champagne, moscato (soft blush), or
almond. These options are close enough
to white for an unobtrusive look, but allow
you to pick the most flattering color for
your skin tone.
According to Lagunas, many designers
and vendors are using more color in
gowns than you would expect. For exam-
ple, lace dresses are available to brides
with ivory or white lace on top, but the
underlay is available in colors like cham-
pagne, almond, blush, pearl, and rose
gold among others.
“It is very popular and common to not
wear white on your wedding day. At our
store location, all of our bridal samples
are available in an ivory, not in white,”
Lagunas says. “Ivory is a softer color for
most skin tones, which makes it easier
to wear. To the naked eye, ivory tends to
look white depending on the shade. A
true bridal white is going to be very strong
and bright.”
Many brides are walking down the aisle
sporting gowns that are Rose Quartz (a
pale pink) and Serenity (a cool blue), the
Pantone Colors of the Year. “We have
always displayed more shades of ivory
and champagne, and now added to the
mix are shades of pink and blue,” Trocki
says. “Our brides love that they can try so
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many different colors and be able to visu-
alize what their dress will look like in the
shade they choose.”
For those more daring, popular colors for
bridal gowns include seafoam green, pale
blue, fuchsia, black, and lavender. Many
brides are even branching out into the
wide world of patterns. Now those options
pack a visual punch!
Off-the-Shoulder Gowns
One of the hottest trends right now is off-
the-shoulder silhouettes.
Ideal for all body types, this style is so
popular that it is extending into next year’s
bridal collections. It combines a sexy look
and a romantic feel. “Off-the-shoulder is
hot,” says Antonietta Cervantes, owner
and designer of Veiled by ChaCha. “We
are even transforming strapless gowns to
off-the-shoulder gowns.”
Veils, Accessories, Capes
Accessories are a perfect way to add a
little extra something for your special day.
Brides are adding to their looks with belts,
dramatic bows, bold jewelry, and capes.
Bridal capes keep you warm for outdoor
photo shoots and are perfect for areas
where the weather may be chillier, even in
the warmer months. Yes, the Midwest
tends to get confused on when it’s spring
and fall.
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“Bridal capes are the hottest trend right
now,” Armstrong-Fowler says. “It can bring
a wow factor to a traditional ceremony
that requires the bride’s shoulders to be
covered. Bridal capes bring a memorable
and enchanting visual as the bride walks
down the aisle.”
Adding an accessory like a cape may not
be for everyone, but you can still spice up
your look with dramatic necklaces and
earrings. “Brides love statement necklaces
as long as they don’t overpower her look,”
Trocki says. “We have been seeing the
long dangle earring make a comeback
recently, and pairing the earring with a
sparkly bracelet is also very popular.”
Many bridal shops are seeing a rise in
popularity with rose gold pieces paired
with statement earrings. Even accessories
like floral headpieces are popular right
now. Who said you had to be royal to
wear a crown?
Trendy and unconventional fashion op-
tions may not be your cup of tea. Not
to worry, you can still stick to tradition
but include some trendy fashion items.
Armstrong-Fowler feels that while not every
bride wants a look that strays from the tra-
ditional view of bridal fashion, there is
always room for adding non-traditional
elements, such as bridal capes or wearing
bold jewelry.
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Never fret, millennials are not forgetting
about traditional gowns. “Traditional styles
will always be around and will always be
classic no matter what the current trends
are,” Lagunas says.
“I think that romance and femininity is
what brides truly want to have in their
gowns,” Trocki says. “Traditional silhouettes
are by far the top sellers. Every bride
dreams of her fairy tale day!”
“Bridal capes are the hottest
trend right now,” Armstrong-
Fowler says. “It can bring a
wow factor to a traditional
ceremony that requires the
bride’s shoulders to be
covered. Bridal capes bring a
memorable and enchanting
visual as the bride walks
down the aisle.”
“