BRIDE MAIL: THE TALL BRIDE

Photo by Henley Photography

BrideMail@Bridechic.com
I’ve spent most of my life in blue jeans so I have no idea what to look for in a wedding dress. I like the idea of wearing a long, white dress on my wedding day but I’m finding it confusing to know what I’m going to look good in. I’m 5’9” and slender. Can you help?

How lucky can you get? You’re going to hear it again and again—tall women look best in any style (well, just about) whether it be ball gown, A-line or sheath. Some words of caution though: There have been some tall, svelte, otherwise lovely brides of late who went way over Niagara with the frou-frou and piled on drapery. Yes, you certainly can carry around more weight and bulk than most but still need to keep scale and proportion in mind even if you are tall.

GO FOR:
*Sheaths and evening gown silhouettes. They really compliment your body if you’re in shape.

*Two-piece dressing like a floor-length suit or coat and dress combo. It’s original and takes someone like you to really carry it off.

*Shrugs and boleros. You’re one of the lucky few that can wear them.

* A ball gown. Talk about drama! You’ll look like Giselle!

*You can go all out and carry off all those beautiful back details: florals, bows, big and intricate bustles, etc.

*Heavier fabrics like brocade and velvet, you can carry them..

*a wide belt or sash in a contrasting shade or color if you want to appear shorter.

PASS UP
*Bouffant hair-dos and high headpieces. Unless, that is, your groom has the proportions of Wilt Chamberlin.

*Victorian gowns with high necks and long tight sleeves. All that elongation puts you over the top.

*Long panel trains. You’ll come off even thinner.

*Flats or ballerina slippers if your hem is above the floor and your feet are long and narrow. You’ll come off looking like Olive Oil.

WHAT'S NEW IN THE GOWN GALLERY?

EVA. The most versatile gown in my collection, I think. We amped up the glamour factor for Sarah here by adding the birdcage veil and opera gloves.

These photos are the work of Berkeley photographer, Bill Smoot. I knew if he ever photographed my collection, each piece would have that editorial/fine art feel to it. Bill is actually a fine art as well as wedding photographer. As a result, his photographs seem more like moments in time rather than the proverbial posed portraits you find in so many wedding albums. More can be seen on his site www.smootphoto.com

Hair: Gayle Parker

Gown and accessories: Amy-Jo Tatum
Model: Sarah Ashton

NEW FINDS

Gorgeous! It's as if Chicago shoe designer James Ciccotti crafted these shoes to go with just about every gown I ever designed. With the shoes above I am especially in love.

In Ciccotti's collection you'll find handbags, men's lace up shoes, and coming soon, brooches and pins. Definitely worth a peek at his site at http://www.jamesciccotti.com/

WHAT'S NEW IN RETRO?

Feathers. Cocktail hats with veils. Long strands of pearls. Opera gloves.

This simple cut velvet gown with just the right accessories instantly becomes retro.

The veil of this hat easily becomes a shoulder drape.

Once this whole look is pulled together it can be reminiscent of pre-1920s as well as 1930s Hollywood.

Photos: Henley Photography
Gowns and accessories: Amy-Jo Tatum Bridal Couture

YOUR SILHOUETTE

Photo by Henley Photography +
Admit it, this cotton eyelet dress is about as hourglassy as you can get. Whether you go flared or straight up and down, the silhouette you choose is going to be the foundation of your look—the first impression you create once you make your entrance, dance your first dance, cut the cake. The right silhouette creates a positive visual chemistry. Something like a light turned on, illuminating the unique beauty of your female form. There are three basic silhouettes: the sheath, the ball gown and A-line. Within each of these big three derive a few variations deserving closer examination. Read this article . .

HAIR CHIC

Hair stylist Kathie Rothkop and make-up artist Robert Ward getting Sarah ready for the shoot

For sometime now I’ve wanted to add hair art as an ongoing feature. Watching the love and care stylists put into their work makes me realize just how much hair is indeed an art form. With or without the veil, hair is one of the most significant aspects in pulling together a total look. Shown here is the extraordinary work of hair designer Kathie Rothkop of Salon Glam in Novato California. Working with her on this shoot was awe-inspiring; she wove wonders with flowers and hair jewels, wigs and the layering of locks. Her appreciation of hair history is especially seen below in Kellie’s 1930s film goddess look.

Photography-Henley Photography
Make-up-Robert Ward
Gowns-Amy-Jo Tatum

Hair-Kathie Rothkop

Top: 1930s glam look. Rhinestone studed Stephanotis blossoms decorate Kellie’s marceled and wrapped sweep.

Middle: Florals add romance to Sarah's bun. Below and Bottom: Braids wrap and fall loosely as stephanotis is placed along this hair roll.

More of Kathie’s work can be seen on her website at http://www.harriffic.com/

I love this girly kind of look you find on chick lit covers. Cheryl Hoffman of Cheryl Hoffman Illustrated Stationary has an Etsy Store full of these adorable images. The greeting card middle left Cheryl created during her engagement. She says, "I was daydreaming of different styles of weddings and pouring through all the beautiful bride magazines. Deciding which kind of wedding to have is so difficult. I really needed about 10 weddings to fullfill my creative dreams. For this piece, my thoughts were of something airy and lazy. I could almost hear the breeze in the leaves and feel it brush away strands of hair on my shoulder. Silent and dreamy, like something in a super8 film but elegant and fresh as well . . . ."

The top illustration is a bridal shower invite that looks sorta like Carrie Bradshaw's Vivienne Westwood gown , don't you think? Want to see more of Cheryl Hoffman's Etsy Store? Go to http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5060511