Tag Archives: Bridal Gown Shopping

American Music Awards Fashion Highs and Lows

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Last night the stars hit the red carpet in their Sunday best for the 2011 American Music Awards. No one was hatched out of an egg, no one ran across the stage naked and no one interrupted any one of Taylor Swift’s acceptance speeches.

The American Music Awards is the ‘casual Friday” of awards ceremonies. Most of the nominees and attendees wear shorter, less formal gowns.  I have always felt that this is where they dress to suit their personality, not the event. This is also what makes it so interesting to watch!

Most Perfect:

Selina Gomez – Although this look is slightly mature for a teenager, sheshi wore t Georgio Armani gown perfectly; slinky, shimmery, fitted and somewhat revealing. Her hair and accessories perfectly matched the gown’s style and the overall look is stunning. A+

 

Oddest fit:

Justin Beiber must have the tiniest neck in the world because every photo of him in a suit, the shirts are so baggy around the neck he looks like he is swimming in the tie. I can’t seem to get a read on this young musician’s style just yet since he seems to be all over the map.

Most Improved:
Nicki Minaj has a unique style that is still evolving. Although it may not be your taste, it is definitely moving in the right direction.

Worst Fit:

Christina Aguilera used to be a smaller size so she probably doesn’t understand the fit problems of a slightly larger woman. If you are anything over a size 4 – do not wear a bandage dress. I read at least two reports she might be expecting again. I doubt it – those dresses are just not very forgiving. The shoes are adorable, though.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Most Blah:

Jennifer Hudson looks great in any size. She was gorgeous as a heavier woman and looks even more stunning with her new svelte figure. BUT, her dress was just blah. It wasn’t hideous or ill-fitting, although I would have loved to see the waist cut a little lower… it was just blah.  I thought the shoes were too dark and a little clunky for the micro mini and her lipstick color was both sharp and flat at the same time.

 

 

 

 

 

Most Sparkly:

Kelly Clarkson has an amazing voice, regardless of her size. But this take off of the cartoon character Jessica Rabbit is all wrong. Too all-oversparkly, not a good cut and just  looks like Christmas ornament.  On the bright side, the top half of the dress is fitted beautifully and her hair looks fabulous!

 

Most Dramatic:
Jennifer Lopez had several looks, each one more stunning than the next. Although J. Lo solidified her place in fashion history a long time ago, she still WOWs the audience every time with her dramatic and daring gowns. Which one do you like best?

 

 

 

Most Ghastly-

Adam Lambert looks like a wax figure of himself. I get the edgy hair and eyeliner, I understand the odd outfits ( I grew up on Elton John) But when your pancake makeup looks like it was done by a mortician, it is time to re-think things a bit. Plus, I think the pants are a bit tight in the front seam, by the zipper. Seriously?

 

Who were your favorites from last night’s American Music Awards

-Penny Frulla for Bridal Expo Chicago

A Very Twilight Wedding

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This Friday (Thursday at midnight) fans of the Twilight series of books and movies will not only be moviegoers, they will be guests at the wedding of Edward and Bella.

I will share a secret with you: I am not a Twilight fan. Sorry, folks I just don’t get the whole vampire thing or the cult following. However, I love weddings. ALL weddings… even a Vampire wedding. I would go to a werewolf wedding, a trailer park wedding, a dog wedding – any wedding. Invite me and I’ll be there. You will recognize me immediately because I will be the one smiling from ear to ear, hopping up and down, ooh-ing and ahh-ing over every detail.. Why? Because I love weddings. So here I am.. in a pickle, deciding whether or not to go to the wedding. Oops… I meant movie! I’ll keep you posted on that.

I am very excited to report that Bella Swan’s  gown was designed by famed fashion icon Carolina Herrera and (according to her) took six months to design. She immersed herself in the books to get a feel for the character and what she would wear. Her goal was to make it reminiscent of the early 1900’s to mirror the engagement ring.  Breaking news: the gown will actually be  available in salons after the first of the year so loyal fans planning their own wedding can immerse themselves in the Twilight experience.

Will this be a huge influence in the bridal fashion? Only time will tell. I thought Kate Middleton’s gown was going to change the face of bridal fashion, I thought at least one of Kim Kardashian’s gowns would be  a showstopper. I was wrong on both counts but, I still wouldn’t bet against this one. Carolina Herrera was designing clothing when I was still in diapers and  mastered the art of  effortless style long before that. She is one of the most sought after and talented designers in the bridal industry to date and if you add to this the unbelievable dedication of the Twilight fans – you might just have a breakout style influence for 2012. One can only hope!

-Penny Frulla for Bridal Expo Chicago

 

 

Walking Down The Aisle… IN STYLE

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Lets face it- Aisle runners have needed a makeover for a long time. For so long they were just white and boring and often times not substantial enough to keep your heel from poking through the material. Today’s aisle runners can still be simple or all out fabulous! For me, the aisle runner was the most interesting thing about the Kardashian Fairytale (Pre-Divorce) Extravaganza. Did you see it? It was embellished with borders, logos, monograms and crystals and it was phenomenal.

 

 

 

 

 

 If you decide to go the classic route with a simple white aisle runner, make sure it is of quality material and will hold up to several sets of high-heeled feet walking up and back. Make sure it isn’t slippery or lumpy. It should be taught, smooth and non-skid. Of course, sprinkling rose petals along the edges is a nice touch. The aisle runner can also be embellished with  the right lighting.

 

 

 

 

 

 

You can always choose and aisle runner in one of the wedding colors. Make sure the color doesn’t clash with the colors in the venue. And I’m not entirely certain that black is ever a good choice, even for an outdoor wedding.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aisle runners vary greatly in price. Of coures the price depends upon the length of the runner, the fabric, the added materials, logos, monograms or pictures. But make no mistake, custom aisle runners are the hottest new trend in weddings…. and they are fabulous!

 

 

 

 

– Penny Frulla for Bridal Expo Chicago

11/11/11 Weddings – Your Lucky Day!

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Most people pick their wedding date based on family events like birthdays or other anniversaries, some like the idea of getting married on Valentine’s Day, Christmas or New Years Eve. Then there are those dates like November 11, 2011 that have  a more celestial meaning. Since the year 2000, there have been one of those dates every month, only a handful falling on a weekend day and there are only a few left in the entire 21st century. These dates are referred to as ‘paradigms’ because they follow a distinct pattern and couples around the world believe in their power. In fact  11/11/11 was voted the the ‘luckiest’ wedding date of the entire year beating out Valentines Day by 26%.

Thousands of couples will be flocking to Las Vegas this weekend to take part in their own personal version of making history in order to get married on November 11th and hopefully hit the jackpot by using a lucky wedding date as a starting point. To be exact, it is estimated that over 3,500 couples have already booked wedding packages.

So does having this date guarantee a lifetime of happiness? Maybe.  Numerologists believe that each number has a trait and a “vibration” attached to it. So, you take the number by itself and then you also break down each two-digit number into a single digit. In this case, you add one plus one to get two and two in numerology equals love. Even math is romantic on this day!

11/11/11 is not just for weddings, either;  florists are offering specials for  11 roses delivered on Friday for couples who are feeling romantic …and lucky!  Is all of this just  an odd coincidence? Maybe…. but why take the chance? Bonus: If you are getting married and your birthday is this Friday, I would buy a lottery (ticket just in case).

 

-Penny Frulla for Bridal Expo Chicago

 

Good Manners For Guests

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If the number one etiquette faux pas on the part of brides and grooms is being late to the ceremony, what do you suppose the number one offense is for guests? If you guessed being late, you are correct.Walking into the church or ceremony site during the ceremony itself is not only a no-no, it is disruptive. If you cannot arrive on time, wait until after the ceremony is over to enter.

Other serious infractions of good manners include:

Inappropriate Attire – Showing too much skin is in poor taste as well as not following the dress code, if one is stated on the invitation. If the bride is not dressed like a stripper – you shouldn’t be, either. If the invitation says black tie – don’t wear jeans.

Drinking – Overindulging in alcohol at the reception to the point of being out of control is unacceptable. Pace yourself.

Unplug– Texting, answering phone calls or checking your schedules on your phone during the ceremony or reception is a huge no-no. Turn your phone to vibrate or silent, especially during the ceremony. If the babysitter calls, let it go to voice mail and then step outside to call back. 

RSVP– Not sending the Reply card back and then showing up with your entire family is a guarantee that you will be welcomed with a surprised look and quite possibly not have a place to sit. If you receive a reply card with pre-paid postage, send it back and try to do it on time so the hosts have enough food and seats for everyone.

Being a good guest is easy: send in the reply card, show up on time, turn off your phone and limit your drinking. You and your host will have great memories if you obey just these few simple rules of etiquette.

-Penny Frulla for Bridal Expo Chicago.

 

 

 

 

Removing Pesky Stains ….

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Red wine (in moderation) is good for you…. or so I’ve heard. I repeat this over and over so, I hope it’s true. Cranberry is definitely good for your kidneys, this I know is true.  But what do you do when a glass of Red wine spills down the front of your very expensive white silk bridal gown? Or if your semi-healthy cranberry/vodka  cocktail is knocked over with a disastrous result?

Lets face it – no one plans for accidents and sometimes even your best efforts cannot remove a stubborn stain. No matter what happens keep the day in focus but, try your best to be prepared. hen al else fails, try these tips:

BLOT- never rub because it causes the dye to sink into the fibers. Most fibers are treated with chemicals -most notable formaldehyde. This is especially true nowadays when so  many gowns are made overseas. The fabrics are treated with chemicals to preserve them during the shipping process and quite honestly to keep foreign contaminants our of the U.S. Rubbing the stain penetrates the barrier and almost certainly seals the stain permanently. DO NOT RUB.  Take two pieces of absorbent cloth, one in the inside of the garment and one on the outside and blot until there is no residue on the cloth.

RINSE – once the liquid  has been blotted and the surface is almost dry, hold a clean cloth under the garment and soak it with club soda. Try to do this without having the club soda run down the front of the gown. Repeat the blotting process until nearly dry again.

DUST – dust the remaining spot with cornstarch, talcum powder or salt. This will absorb the remaining liquid and then be easily brushed off. Do not rub the salt into the stain. DO NOT EVER RUB satin fabric, it will permanently ruin the finish.

DEAL – with whatever is left of the stain as best you can and more importantly RUN to the dry cleaner as soon as you can after the wedding.

There are of course, a lot of other stain removal ideas ( in no particular order)and a lot of other stains. Spaghetti sauce, chocolate, ink, marker and other mutli-colored food satins.

Bleach Pen or Shout – use according to directions

White wine – only to be used over a red wine stain to dilute the red pigmentation

Vinegar – in place of club soda. If you don’t mind your gown smelling like vinegar.

Wine away – a more eco-friendly option to bleach.

Last but nor least lets talk about fabric’s mortal enemy: Candle wax. Lets say you are lighting a Unity Candle and OOPS- the candle wax drips down the front of your gown. Don’t touch it until it hardens.  Freeze with ice and then scrape off whatever is on the surface. You should not try to use anything on your own since the products used to remove the remainder of the wax are highly flammable and leaving it will not make it worse.

If all else fails and you are left with a slightly stained gown for the remainder of your reception, I advise what one reader suggested: Own it! You can’t go back in time and you can’t spend your entire evening obsessing about something so unimportant. Look into the eyes of your loved one and remember what really matters.

-Penny Frulla for Bridal Expo Chicago

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wedding Expenses – Who Pays For What?

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Many years ago it was completely understood that the bride’s family paid for the wedding. The groom’s family paid for the rehearsal dinner and the honeymoon and everything else was up to the parents of the bride. Of course times change. Today’s couples are not only slightly older but, have usually lived alone or out of their parents home for an extended period of time. Nowadays, aside from how much you are going to spend on your wedding, the next biggest concern regarding your budget is who pays for what.

Before you start making the guest list, have an open honest conversation with all parents at the same time. Ask how much they are able or willing to contribute and then you can move on to figuring out how much you are able or willing to spend, keeping in mind that the average U.S. wedding cost hovers around $30,000.  Having an honest conversation will determine everything from where you have the wedding to what you will wear and avoid any unpleasantness related to the cost of the wedding.

In most cases, everybody has already had the discussion about finances leading up to the moment when the engagement ring arrives and they know full well how much they are going to contribute. In rare cases, nobody has any clue about their responsibilities. In order to avoid stepping on anyone’s toes, here is a slightly modified traditional checklist of ‘who pays for what’ and remember these are NOT rules, just guidelines.

Bride & Family:

  • Invitations, announcements, programs, Thank You notes, place cards, guest book and accessories.
  • Church or synagogue, musicians, organist,
  • Bridal Gown, veil, shoes, accessories and trousseau.
  • Flower arrangements for Church, Reception, Bridesmaid Bouquets and Huppah ( for Jewish ceremonies)
  • All professional services, including food, drink, decorations, and music.
  • Engagement Party and all related expenses.
  • All Photography and video.
  • Groom’s ring.
  • Wedding transportation to and from ceremony and reception.

Groom & Family:

  • Marriage License and officiant fees.
  • Groom’s outfit
  • Bride’s bouquet and going-away corsage, boutonnieres for men, and corsages for mothers and grandmothers.
  • Complete honeymoon.
  • Rehearsal dinner.
  • Bride’s ring.

Of course this is merely a guideline and anyone who is willing to help is encouraged to do so. The absolute best scenarios are when everyone works together and shares the expenses equally.

-Penny Frulla for Bridal Expo Chicago

The Splurge of Your Dreams

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Brides everywhere agree: if they could splurge on just one item for their wedding -it would be their bridal gown. Maybe they have dreamed of a certain gown their whole life, maybe they recently spotted a designer must-have or maybe they just tried on a gown out of budget that they cannot seem to live without. 

There are a few things you should focus on when gown shopping and not one of them includes the price. A great deal is only a great deal if you are getting more in value than you are paying in dollars:

Fit – The gown should fit your body type. Just because it looks good on a model or mannequin does not mean it will hug your curves the same way. And it if it doesn’t look good on the runway or in a magazine, it will probably not look good on you. All designer have their own patterns whether it is fuller in the bust or more ample in the waist so find the right fit for you.

Fabric – The fabric should be beautiful and easy to care for. Stylists and designers everywhere are still buzzing about the late Princess Diana’s bridal gown debacle. Remember how she came out of the carriage a wrinkled mess? Silk taffeta is a gorgeous fabric but does not travel well. Make arrangements to get dressed AT the venue to avoid problems like this, if you can.

Finish – The gown should be as beautiful on the inside as it is on the oustide. No unfinished seams, no boning sticking out, no loose threads and no puckers. The hem, the zipper, the closures (hooks or snaps) should all be tightly and neatly sewn. If there is lace or appliques, everything  should be sewn symmetrical, smooth and neat as well.

Feel – When you put the gown on it should not only make you feel beautiful, it should also feel comfortable. Do you want to be gasping for air or tugging at the waistline of your gown for the entire day/evening? Is it so tight you have backfat? If you feel good, you will look good.

If the ‘gown of your dreams’ has all of these qualities, then go ahead and splurge. Splurge a little -not a lot. You should never go too far over budget. Of course you want to look beautiful but, if you spend WAY too much on the bridal gown, you will have to cut expenses somewhere else and you want your entire wedding to be memorable – not just the gown.

Remember, everyone has budget. Whether your budget is $1300 or $13,000, there is a gown for you. Designers are now rolling out their 2012 designs as we speak and I have a feeling the gown of your dreams is waiting for you.

-Penny Frulla for Bridal Expo Chicago

Veils, veils and more veils!

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Considering the average bride spends $275 on her wedding veil and headpiece, it only seems natural that we examine how bridal head-wear has evolved in the last 100 years.

In the 1920’s it was the cloche hat with a long, heavy lace edged veil attached.

In the early 1930’s it was an even longer veil with little or no lace edge but still attached to a smaller version of the cloche.

In the late 1930’s it evolved to a larger headpiece (not a hat at all) usually paired with a smaller, fingertip veil and no lace edge at all.

In the 1940’s the veil became less significant as women were wearing hats – decorative, embellished and grandiose!

The early 1950’s saw the return of the veil, mostly fingertip or even shorter along with a small hat (of course) and the latter part of the 1950’s was dominated by the return of the lace edge, thanks to Jacqueline Kennedy.

Along comes the 1960’s and the re-invention of the veil. BIG and short and long and wide, along with a pillbox hat or all by itself – the veil was back!

The most popular headpiece throughout the 1970’s was called a Juliet cap which sat on the back of the head with any and all kinds of veil, short or long.

The 1980’s was veil paradise – long veils embellished with sequins and the famous “pouf” which came in layers attached to the back of a headband that usually came to a point in the middle of the forehead, sometimes with a giant teardrop in the center. Or a huge bow on the back of your head with an even huger veil attached. Everything over-embellished bend your imagination.

The 1990’s brought an end to the era of big is better and more is not enough. The headpieces were streamlined just like the gowns and most of the time you would see a woman with nothing more than a silk or some kind of embellished flower on the side of her hair, low in the back with a long simple veil.

At the turn of the century, Tiaras were the headpiece of choice and veils were attached to them in  various ways, almost always so they could be removed after the ceremony and you could wear the headpiece without the veil for the reception.

The current trend in headpieces is crystal headbands and hair ornaments. Most are worn with some sort of detachable veil, some are worn without any kind of veil at all.

The veil has gone through many different changes and stood up to dozens of trends. However, brides across the board seem to agree on one thing: the veil is very important to the overall look and most don’t feel completely dressed for their wedding without it.

-Penny Frulla for Bridal Expo Chicago

September 11, 2011

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You can talk to anyone over the age of 16 and they will tell you they knew exactly what they were doing on September 11, 2001.  It didn’t matter where in the U.S. you lived or if you were an American citizen living in another country, on that day we were all New Yorkers. Yesterday marked the tenth anniversary of the somber events that changed history forever.

When couples choose their wedding date it is usually based on the day they met, another important event in their life, Valentine’s Day or perhaps their parents’ wedding date. It is unusual that people avoid a date entirely but this date seems to hold some negative feelings for people who remember or were affected greatly by the events in Washington, Pennsylvania and New York.

In the years following 9/11, many wedding vendors offered discounts around the date to attract bookings. Ten years later some vendors still have trouble filling their appointment books for September 11. However, there are the couples who are not afriad of chosing this date and during the wedding ceremony, they take time to remember those who lost their lives on that day. One of our brides took the plunge on Sunday, marrying her best friend who also happens to be a Chicago firefighter! Which to me is perfectly fitting and apropriate. I wasn’t there but I can imagine  the tears of joy and I applaud their selection of this day to move forward.

Oddly enough September 10, 2011 was statistically the  busiest wedding day of the year. “According to our numbers, it’s the most popular date of the year,” said Anja Winikka, site editor of TheKnot.com, a wedding planning website that has more than 37,000 members set to take the plunge on 9/10/11.

As the years pass, any stigma associated with that date will eventually go away. As the wounds heal and the memories are not as fresh, as the younger generations who have no memory of this except what they read in history books get  married and as people realize something my mother shared with me … “Life is for the living”.

-Penny Frulla for Bridal Expo Chicago