Wedding Gowns Online???

I have to admit to feeling shocked that anyone would actually buy a wedding dress online.
I understand that there are all these super fashion savvy gals who trawl through e-bay and find the most amazing designer pieces. Cute Chanel skirts, Chloe frocks, boots from Christian Louboutin. I have friends who have found all of that online and it seems to work out brilliantly. But your wedding dress??  All I can think of is the risks!! Maybe you have dressmaking skills so you can fix it up if it's ill fitting, but I fear that is the least of your worries.
We recently had a bride email us about an utter disaster. She was sent the wrong dress and then sheer panic set in as the wedding date loomed and she had NO DRESS! 
Perhaps this indicates only that you should be careful who you buy from online, but my personal view is different. How can you be confident about the gown unless you have actually eye-balled it? In fact if you love clothes and fashion the gown search is a big part of the intense joy of getting married.
Furthermore when it comes to your wedding gown don't you need to:

1. Feel and choose the fabric and embellishments? 
2. View all the work of the couturier or designer up close?  
3. Have that exciting expereince of trying lots of different styles on (in lots of places)?
4. Have the opportunity to customize the gown to suit you?

That's just a few basic questions. My answer is yes to all.
Can it be that the motivation to purchase online is that you may get a bargain?  Could it be the thrill of the internet search? If so you can still search online and no doubt assist your knowledge of where to go to find what you want. However I can't imagine forfeiting the fabulous experience of visiting many glorious parlors full of stunning wedding creations and being pampered by the experience.
I've said it before - it's only once in your life (hopefully) so why compromise?

Kirstie

(See below gorgeous strapless, ruffle skirt couture gown from Annette Of Melbourne.)

Wedding Shoes

 (pictured shoe from Cinderella Bella called "Scarlet")

For some the humble shoe is an after thought. A thought that takes place after the wedding gown choice. It's that gown you have to match so shoe spotting is a bit of a waste of time until you know about the rest.  Following that huge decision about the dress, suddenly you can get shoe panic. You don't know where to turn and what to go for! It's worth remembering some key things

• How long will you be in these shoes and if you want a killer sexy heel then how much foot pain can you bear? (Weddings are always a long day!! Anybody who's had agony at the race knows to avoid it on the happiest day of your life.)
• Colour does not have to be perfect match of cream or white. 
• Colour options with a cream or white dress are metallic- silver, bronze gold
• Couture shoes do exist - so if you must match with exact fabric of dress - it can be done.
• Expensive shoes aren't always more comfy but often natural materials eg; leather, silk fabric are less painful than synthetic ones.  
• Your size and type of foot - (I mean narrow, wide, long, tiny) has to be considered before you choose a shape. Avoid the squeeze!

For a certain gal shoes have equal importantance from the start - shoe connoisseurs or dare I say shoe fetishists are devoted to a gorgeous shoe and believe it pulls everything together . This type of fashionista is usually willing to sacrifice comfort too. Even if they are under a big long dress and only glimpsed occasionally that shoe has to be HOT!

Can you have it all? - comfort and beauty? - some say yes - depends on your foot and the shoe. They have to go together. So many people I know swear that outrageous shapes and heels are "really comfy" when I know it would kill me. Maye it's their own peculiar foot! I totally understand that for your wedding a shoe that's pretty or even better outstandingly beautiful can win over some practical compromise. As usual it's up to you.

Anyway I love these shoes pictured - all available at the gorgeous Melbourne shoe shop Cinderella Bella. Great name for a shop as Cinderella got the perfect fit didn't she?    

That nice big pretty heel is from Badgley Mischka and is called Miscka.
The practical and flat - very cute! is called Samantha.

Till next time.
Kirstie

Designer Gowns

I have just finished a really busy time on Bride's fashion shoots for the June issue of the magazine. I love the opportunity to see what our talented local gown designers have created.  As usual there were some fabulous shapes, details and luxurious fabrics for us all to drool over.  Brides these days are just so lucky as there is so much choice - everything from fussy frills to divine sleek & simple sheaths. Your choice just depends on what type of gal you are, what styles  are flattering on your figure and what have you always dreamed of!
  l am aware a lot of girls have had dreams & visions of the perfect wedding dress - with a little bit of the  Hollywood Glamazon / Red Carpet influence which is why I reviewed those Golden Globe frocks a while back and this week - Yay! - it's the Oscars!! These gowns are always inspiring to the bride and I think especially in terms of beautifully cut dresses and spectacular show stopping ideas you can't go wrong if you spend some time getting familiar with the latest couture en masse!

If you are going to star in your own full length dream dress then you could worse than emulating the world class stage!

Here's my faves: (starting with sparkle and ending with Grecian!)

I am loving the Goddess shapes, soft hair and muted pink blush tones!

You could wear any of these as a bride and you'd look appropriate and HOT!!

Till next time....

Kirstie


Images : Fairfax Digital