THE SKIRT WITH VOLUME

THE DEBORAH DRESS

Voluminous skirts have come and gone through history but one thing is certain--brides who love them do so with a passion.  Full skirts with yards of crinoline underneath also make a real dramatic statement about being elegant and girly at the same time.  Here are a few photos from my Dioresque Collection that I unearthed recently.  You just can't imagine how totally fun these were to create and put together . . . ..

THE ODETTE DRESS

THE AURORA DRESS

THE ISOBELLA DRESS

 THE MIRA DRESS

THE GEORGETTE DRESS

Dresses and headpieces by Amy-Jo Tatum

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GETTING THE BALLERINA LOOK

Just how much does the world of ballet influence bridal? A lot. Traditional ballet costume evolved in the era of the Johann Strass', a young Queen Victoria, and Giselle, an 1840s ballet by Aldophe Adam. Think classic corps de ballet in long white tulle and a floral wreath and you've nailed it. Also reflecting the silhouette of the ballet costume as we know it, Queen Victoria clinched the look when she married Prince Albert wearing yards of white lace and dressing her flock of attendants the same.
The hourglass silhouette is most synonymous with ballet and remains one of the pinnacles of bridal wear. The ball gown is as romantic a confection as those seen in the corps de ballet, flowing in swirls of white tulle. The skirt and its under structure are both based on volume. Thus, sweeping skirts equal sweeping entrances especially awesome on brides who know how to work their strut.

Though tulle is the most typical fabric for the ballet-inspired gown there's a whole range of gossamer sheers like organza, silk organza, chiffon, and Georgettes that work beautifully. Defined, tulle is a fine mesh netting with a hexagonal pattern that comes in silk, cotton, nylon or acrylic/silk for power netting.

 

Gown and wreath by Amy-Jo Tatum//Photos by Scott Williams Photography

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SHIRR GORGEOUSNESS!

 

 I'm wowed by anything shirred.  in case you're wondering shirring is an application made up of  pleats or gathers running either horizontally or vertical. Lately we're seeing shirring mostly on bodices.  This shirring over lace is hot right now in bridal and evening wear, especially with tulle, chiffon or any transparent fabric forming soft folds.

   

Dresses by Amy-Jo Tatum

Header Photo by Bryan John Hendon/Gold Dress by Divine Elegance

Photo 2 by Dominic Colacchio Photography

Photo 3 by Bride Chic

Photo 4 by Lirette Photography

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TAKE THE SHORT CUT AND SKIP THE TRAIN

 I'll agree, dresses with full and spread out trains can be beautiful but aren't every bride-to-be's cup of tea.  The good news is, you can go formal without pulling that train around all day?  So what are your choices if you like a high dress look but want to skip the train?  If the dress you have your heart set on does have a train wear it bustled.  In fact, some brides love the bustling effect  (train tacked up and under like the one below) and prefer to keep that French 'Gigi' look going the whole day rather than letting it flow.  Another option is any formal to-the-floor dress, a full bell skirt  like the one directly below made out of gorg fabric certainly makes up for having train and/or bustling going on .  

Above:  These A-line and sheath silhouettes don't necessarily need a train to be elegant . . . .

 Below: Ballet Length ball gowns (just above the ankles) show off pretty shoes and allow for easy movement .

Dresses by Amy-Jo Tatum

Photo Credits

Header Photo: Lirette Photography

Photos 2 and 3: Lirette Photography/Strotz Photography

Photos 4 and 5: Bill Smoot Photography

Photo 6: Dominic Colacchio Photography

Photos 7 and 8: Ryan Chua Photography/Diana Maire Photography

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O! how much more doth beauty beauteous seem

By that sweet ornament which truth doth give.
The rose looks fair, but fairer we it deem
For that sweet odour, which doth in it live.
The canker blooms have full as deep a dye
As the perfumed tincture of the roses,
Hang on such thorns, and play as wantonly
When summer's breath their masked buds discloses:
But, for their virtue only is their show,
They live unwoo'd, and unrespected fade;
Die to themselves. Sweet roses do not so;
Of their sweet deaths are sweetest odours made: 
   And so of you, beauteous and lovely youth,
   When that shall vade, my verse distills your truth.

--William Shakespeare--Sonnet #54

CREDITS

Photography: Taralynn Lawton

Dresses and headpieces: Amy-Jo Tatum Bride

Julie Morgan Hair and Makeup

Models: Oasis and Amber

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A CLOUD OF TULLE

What could say bridal more than a cloud of soft tulle? Tulle is that fine mesh netting with a hexagonal pattern that comes in silk, cotton, nylon or acrylic/silk for power netting. Tulle is familiar because its the standard material for bridal veils. But did you know it comes in lighter versions and is used in bouffant skirts. The one pictured above proffers that ballerina look Vera Wang popularized a few years back? While the big tulle skirt is classic, edgier versions of late suggest special effects like draping, ruching and pick-up treatments over more modified skirt silhouettes. There are many different tulles and uses of it. These images show some stunning examples. 

                                          Images by Taralynn Lawton Photography and dresses by Amy-Jo Tatum

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AWESOME SHOOTER SERIES

Today you'll find me over on One Wed Blog sharing the images from a recent shoot with the incredibly talented fashion and wedding photographer Taralynn Lawton.  Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, Taralynn's light-filled images are a real inspiration for capturing both the fashion and bridal aspect.  READ MORE . . . .

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HALTER DRESSING

Believe it or not, the halter we see in so many bridal collections evolved from early 20th Century swimwear. Golden Age Hollywood designers popularized the look for evening, dressing stars like Garbo and Harlow. Actually the look was so radical and daring back then, tongues clucked as the etiquette police of the time declared, 'no nice lady wore such things out at night'. Ladies had different ideas though and wore the back-baring halter anyway. Halters once again made their comeback big time in the 1970s with the return of glamour and disco. During this time Cher's designer Bob Mackie took advantage of this look to bring out her best lines. Thanks to the ages, we have so many variations on this abbreviated neckline. Below are just a few stunning examples.

PHOTO CREDITS

Top photo S1 Studio/
Row 2 Lirette Photography

Row 3 S1 Studio
Row 4& 5  Lirette Photography
Row 6 Copyright Bride Chic

All gowns and head wear by Amy-Jo Tatum Bride

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WHAT'S NEW IN THE GOWN GALLERY?

I've always loved the weight and feel of a fabric called antique satin, a cross between shantung and satin crepe.  Here I mixed it up with a little white Chantilly lace, adding a tulle overskirt for a real romantic look.  Modeled by the lovely Sabrina, she's showing off just about every aspect of this dress's charm, as a fitted sheath and ball gown all at once. Oddly enough this particular piece was inspired by another Sabrina--yes, the fictional one played so beautifully by Audrey Hepburn in the 1954 film of the same name.  If you remember the scene where she shows up at the party in a number she describes as, " Yards of skirt and way off the shoulder . . ."   This dress is as lovely inside as out, lined in soft China silk.  The hand-rolled floral headpiece is also available as a custom order.

 
                                    Gown available through Amy-Jo Tatum Bride. More pictures available on request . . .

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