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Not Your Mother’s, Mother’s Dress – Find a Gown That Is Right For You

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I am 50. Yes, I’m 50! I have two sons who are 10 & 12 years old. Mathematically they could be my grandchildren. It is difficult enough right now for me to find a dress to wear to a wedding or other function and I cannot imagine how hard it will be for me when they reach the age they are ready to get married. Why is it so hard for women my age to find just the right dress? How much time do you have?

Most women my age who are not 100% comfortable with their bodies hide behind their clothing. They wear baggy sweaters, mom jeans and/or frumpy clothing most of the time. When it does come time to find a dress for the wedding of their child, they panic and all wind up wearing a long dress with a jacket. Here is a tip: THEY ALL LOOK THE SAME!. Satin jacket with crepe dress or crepe jacket with satin dress – it is nearly a uniform of the wedding mother who just can’t find anything else. There is also a double standard: we are told we can’t wear short dresses anymore no matter how great the legs but, designers consistently show strapless gowns for women who shouldn’t have worn them when they were 20 , much less when they become AARP members. Hardly fair, is it?

As a woman over 50 I can tell you that there are other options. Here are a few things to remember before you buy anything for your adult child’s wedding:

#1) Forget everything you read or see on TV. If you have great, shapely legs and want to wear a shorter dress, wear it! 4″ above the knee is about the limit for a host of reasons but, short skirts are not limited to the X or Y or Z generation.

#2) Accessorize. Find a dress you love in your size and forget about being perfect or looking like a supermodel. Make the most of a simple, elegant dress by accessorizing to the max! Great necklace and earrings, beaded scarf, or even a hat will draw the eyes to your face and away from the mid-section where you may be a little thicker than you used to be. A great pair of heels will also do a lot for your self -image.

#3) Wrap it up. Consider a wrap dress if your tummy isn’t as flat as it used to be. A wrap (around) dress can hide 10-15 lbs easily. If the fabric is right and you accessorize properly, you will look stunning. Diane Von Furstenberg gave us the quintessential wrap dress in the 1970’s and it has evolved into a garment that can literally be worn for any occasion depending upon the fabric.

#4) Who are you? Don’t forget your personal style. If you have always liked a certain type of dress, don’t shy away from it because you are older. Underneath the laugh lines, next  to the spanx, lies the same woman who ran cross-country, captained the cheerleading squad, pledged a sorority and later attended every PTA meeting. You are what you are and what you are needs needs no excuses.

#5) Undergarments are everything. You don’t need to wear a girdle or a corset, you don’t need to wear extra tight super control top pantyhose.  But, wearing the right panties and bra will make any gown look better.

I know how you feel. Every day someone tells you that you don’t look your age, in fact you don’t really feel your age.  You walk confidently down the street in shorts in the summer, you play tennis, ride horses, swim, or run. You feel like you get better each and every day until you are confronted with that hideous mirror in the dressing room and the fluorescent lights! Let me tell you – those lights are lying. You are better! You don’t need a face lift  butt lift or liposuction….. all you need is the right dress, just ask Helen Mirren!

-Penny Frulla For Bridal Expo Chicago

 

Music To Your Ears

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We all know that the musical score of a movie can have huge influence on our perception of  that movie. From the pulsating terror achieved in films like Psycho and Jaws, to the triumphant victories in Star Wars and Pirates of The Caribbean, it’s hard to think about a great film without also being influenced by that film’s score. Your movie is your wedding  and it needs to be carefully ‘scored’, paying close attention to the theme, time of day and number of guests.

Consider this:

There should be no point in time from the moment the first guest arrives until the last guest leaves where there is no music. As the guests arrive, have a harpist  gently playing at the front of the church.

Music is such an important aspect of life that it is impossible to over-emphasize it’s importance. If there is a lull in the music, guests can get fidgety and cranky.

During cocktail hour, have a string quartet playing near the bar. This way people will be  less likely to notice if there is a line at the bar or diminishing appetizers.

You can have a band and a DJ. Having both will give your guests an even wider array of listening pleasure and trading off can give the band a much needed break. However, if  you choose only the band make sure you have music playing while they take their break.

When you have your wedding video edited, make sure you have the proper ‘soundtrack’ as well.. Having just the right music and editing will make it more like an actual movie and less like a home movie.

Since the music is such an  important aspect of the day, don’t leave anything to chance, make sure you check the references and credentials of every music professional that you interview and ALWAYS have a backup plan just in case.  

-Penny Frulla for Bridal Expo Chicago

 

Covering Up For Comfort… and Style

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Bridesmaid gowns have gone crazy! Good crazy, that is.  Long or short, strapless or halter, chiffon or satin, there is a bridesmaid gown for every figure type and budget.  Designers are showing what brides have been asking to see for decades….. “SOMETHING YOU CAN WEAR AGAIN!” The best part is that many designers are offering fashionable options for bridesmaids who aren’t comfortable showing too much skin.

Cape – How about a nice little chiffon covering? If the gown you select doesn’t offer something like this, you can always have them made for you.

 

 

 

Shawl – Something to wrap around your neck or arms, it usually dresses up the gown and is definitely more formal.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Scarf – For a more fun, edgy look try adding a luxurious Pashmina or silk chiffon scarf in a totally different color than the gown.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wrap – Narrower than a shawl or scarf, this ‘wraps’ around the bodice to  give some shoulder coverage and is intended to be worn all night. 

 

 

Bolero – Of course there is always the bolero jacket like Princess Katherine wore with her reception gown last April.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last, we come to the shrug, which is a short open-front ‘jacket’ with little or no sleeves.

 

You can have so much fun with scarves, wraps, shrugs and capes that the possiblities are endless. The perfect way to dress up a simple gown,  and allow the bridesmaids a little coverage.  

-Penny Frulla for Bridal Expo Chicago

 

Is Getting Engaged on Valentine’s Day Right For You?

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A whopping 10% of all engagements occur on Valentine’s Day. That translates into millions of couples across the U.S, a lot of diamond rings, a lot of romantic dinners and a lot of proposals.  The pressure of proposing on this particular holiday is unbelievable, which begs the question, “Why Valentine’s Day?” There are lot of pros and cons to consider before you decide this will be the anniversary of your proposal ….. as long as you both shall live.

Pro: Because so many people propose on Valentine’s Day, there are a wide variety of  ‘packages’ which remove a lot of the work from you.

Con: Some restaurants and florists hike up their prices for Valentine’s Day, and many special discounts are not available on that date.

Pro: It will be an easy date to remember, especially if you are both inclined to celebrate this holiday in really romantic fashion!

Con: Because so many couples get engaged on Valentine’s Day, you may feel that your engagement date is contrived.

Pro: No romantic gesture is too large for Valentine’s Day. You can pull out all the stops and go for it!

Con: If your partner is not used to this kind of grand gesture, you may be met with some cynicism.

The day you decide to propose is very personal and very special, it should reflect both of your personalities. If you decide to pop the question on this day when everyone is expressing their love, remember –  it doesn’t have to be public and it doesn’t have to be as historically significant as dropping the engagement ring in a champagne glass. It can be sweet, personal and very sentimental.  Valentine’s Day is a wonderful day to embrace the love you found with the person who makes you the happiest and if you add another layer to that (your engagement)  it is an even better reason to celebrate!

-Penny Frulla for Bridal Expo Chicago