... SOMETHING NEW; FORWARD-THINKING STYLES EMPHASIZE FIGURE, FORM AND ELEGANCE WHILE LEAVING '80S EXCESS BEHIND.Byline: Barbara De Witt Daily News Fashion Editor A gown to build a dream on. No matter if it's a garden party wedding or a traditional church ceremony, brides want a wedding gown as magical as Cinderella's - something that makes them look taller, thinner and fashionably elegant. ``It's all about pretty ... ladylike la·dy·like adj. 1. Characteristic of a lady; well-bred. 2. Appropriate for or becoming to a lady. See Synonyms at female. 3. Unduly sensitive to matters of propriety or decorum. 4. but not old-fashioned ... especially since they'll be wearing the dress forever in photos,'' says Collene Kennedy, spokeswoman for the David's Bridal chain. In the past, when girls married right out of high school, dresses were younger-looking with more frou-frou - much like the one worn by Princess Diana, says Kennedy and other bridal experts. But today's brides are usually older (in their mid-20s) and have more sophisticated tastes, translating into sportier lines that include sleeveless styles. Punctuating that point is J.C. Penney fashion spokeswoman Cami Alexander, who reports that only 20 percent of today's brides are ordering long sleeves. Even designer-to-the-stars Yumi Katsura Katsura or Katsuura might refer to: Architecture
It's definitely not your mother's bridal gown, and it's a big departure from the sequined se·quin n. 1. A small shiny ornamental disk, often sewn on cloth; a spangle. 2. A gold coin of the Venetian Republic. Also called zecchino. tr.v. evening-gown style of the '80s that Agoura Hills-Westlake Village wedding consultant Jean Picard described as a ``decade of conspicuous consumption.'' ``Today, even if she can afford an elaborate gown, a bride wants something understated and elegant, probably in silk and satin. And the designs most often requested have a sleeveless bodice with a scoop neck, attached to a slim, A-line or ball gown-style skirt,'' says Picard. The heavily decorated headpiece head·piece n. 1. A protective covering for the head. 2. A set of headphones; a headset. 3. See headstall. 4. An ornamental design, especially at the top of a page. 5. with a long veil of the '80s is also passe pas·sé adj. 1. No longer current or in fashion; out-of-date. 2. Past the prime; faded or aged. [French, past participle of passer, to pass, from Old French; see , but tiaras are gaining in popularity. And gloves? ``Well, they're always in good taste, but locally I've had very few girls want them,'' says Picard. On the other hand, it may be due to California's warm weather, as J.C. Penney stores have observed that, nationwide, glove sales are actually on the upswing. ``I think it's because they embellish the newer and plainer gowns,'' suggests Alexander. Words like ``plain, simple and bare'' seem to be the buzzwords Below is a list of common buzzwords which form part of the business jargon of Corporate work environments. General Conversation
According to Kennedy, ``Bare is more important than ever, but not a strapless strap·less adj. Having no strap or straps, as a dress or an undergarment. n. A garment having no strap or straps. strapless Adjective gown. Spaghetti straps look fresh this season, emerging on ballerina-like ball gowns with form-fitting bodices and full, flowing skirts of tulle Tulle (t  l, Fr. tül), town (1990 pop. 18,685), capital of Corrèze dept., S central France. Firearms and other goods are made there. Tulle was built around a 7th-century monastery. , chiffon chiffon (shĭfŏn`), plain-weave, lightweight, sheer, transparent fabric made of cotton, silk, or synthetic fiber; it is made of fine, highly twisted, strong yarn. and organza or·gan·za n. A sheer, stiff fabric of silk or synthetic material used for trimming, neckwear, or evening dresses. [Probably after Organzi (Urganch), a city of western Uzbekistan. . The delicate straps will draw the eye to the shoulders, neckline neckline The line that connects the two lowest points on the intermediate declines of a head-and-shoulders chart pattern. In an inverted head-and-shoulders formation, the neckline connects the two intermediate tops. and back, which continues to be an important focal point focal point n. See focus. .'' Back details, she adds, include moderate scoops accented with self-fabric rosettes, or laces up the back with Elizabethan flair. Although Katsura doesn't do '50s ballerina gowns and rosettes, her collection does have the bareness everybody's talking about, whether it's a slit up the thigh of a silvery sheath, or a low-cut empire-waisted peasant dress with embroidered em·broi·der v. em·broi·dered, em·broi·der·ing, em·broi·ders v.tr. 1. To ornament with needlework: embroider a pillow cover. 2. flowers. Always a trendsetter, Katsura has plenty of color options this year, including pink and peach. And it has trickled down to mainstream stores such as David's Bridal, where Kennedy says pale pink and lilac are their newest bridal party colors. Speaking of bridesmaids, they're all wearing the same color this year, but not necessarily the same dress design. ``That way, each girl can have a dress that flatters her figure,'' says Picard. While stoles have been a staple in formal attire in recent years, Kennedy says trendies will wear a cardigan sweater instead. Blame it on Hollywood. After stars like Meg Ryan and Gwyneth Paltrow showed up at award galas with twin sets, the whole idea of formalwear has changed. The ring Wedding rings have been worn since ancient Roman times as a symbol of eternal love and a public pledge of fidelity. But those first rings were big clunkers made of iron, and it wasn't until the Renaissance period that brides with big bucks started flashing gold rings with a ruby or emerald. Then in 1477, when Archduke arch·duke n. 1. In certain royal families, especially that of imperial Austria, a nobleman having a rank equivalent to that of a sovereign prince. 2. Used as a title for such a nobleman. Maximillian of Austria was betrothed to Mary of Burgundy Mary of Burgundy, 1457–82, wife of Maximilian of Austria (later Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I), daughter and heiress of Charles the Bold of Burgundy. , there was a major shake-up in the wedding-ring biz. Creating a trend that's still hot, Maximillian placed a gold ring set with a diamond on the third finger of her left hand before the wedding day as a sign of his romantic intentions. And it's been called the engagement ring ever since. According to Nadine Ono of the Diamond Information Center, the reason he picked the third finger was because he believed (like the Egyptians) that the love vein ran through that finger and to the heart, and the reason for the diamond was its durability. The significance of the ring hasn't changed, but styles come and go. When movie queen Ginger Rogers got a marquise-shaped diamond ring in the '30s, everybody wanted one. And when Grace Kelly flashed an emerald-cut diamond in the '50s, trendies followed. Today's celebrities are picking all kinds of diamond shapes. Barbra Streisand got a huge round brilliant-cut stone, while Claudia Schiffer has an oval with side diamonds, and Jada Pinkett Smith Jada Koren Pinkett Smith (born September 18, 1971) is an American actress and singer. She is married to actor/rapper Will Smith. Biography Early life Jada was born September 18 Jada Koren Pinkett in Baltimore, Maryland to Robsol Pinkett, Jr. got a pear-shaped diamond for her engagement ring. But most are favoring platinum over gold, says Laurie Hudson of Platinum Guild International. According to Hudson, platinum was popular in the early 1900s, but it went off the market during World War II when it was used by the military. Says Sally Furrer, ``Besides the renewed interest in platinum, there's a major trend to romantic retro designs from the '30s and '40s, when rings had a lot of profile interest. By that I mean the center diamond is set very high, with a filigree filigree (fĭl`ĭgrē), ornamental work of fine gold or silver wire, often wrought into an openwork design and joined with matching solder and borax under the flame of the blowpipe. design on the sides.'' And on her head ... That long, elaborate train of tulle that Princess Diana wore down the aisle has gotten shorter and shorter and is all but disappearing. An elbow-length veil is more popular this year, especially when attached to a Cinderella-like crown or tiara trimmed in pearls or diamonds, say wedding experts such as Tina Burman of Tina's Toppers in Woodland Hills, who reports tiaras are best sellers at her store. But there's also a trend to diamond barrettes and hairpins, inspired by the many Hollywood stars who wore them to the Oscars, says Collene Kennedy of the David's Bridal chain. She adds that some brides are removing their traditional veils after the ceremony and wearing the jeweled hairpins for the reception. More subtle than a tiara, the jeweled hair ornaments of the moment are designed like tiny flowers and insects attached to hairpins and can be worn by both the bride and her attendants. Whether diamonds, pearls or those colored gemstone gemstone Any of various minerals prized for beauty, durability, and rarity. A few noncrystalline materials of organic origin (e.g., pearl, red coral, and amber) also are classified as gemstones. styles first created by Tarina Tarantino, they give a formal look to simple bobs and add elegance to up 'dos, Kennedy adds. Other options include jeweled metal ``nets'' for chignons - a hairstyle that Oscar-winning Gwyneth Paltrow has single-handedly brought back into focus. The bouquet A centuries-old tradition, the bridal bouquet isn't just any old bunch of flowers. Bouquets add color, drama and fragrance, and change almost as frequently as wedding gown tastes. And they also express the bride's sentiments. For instance, in Queen Victoria's time, brides carried or wore fragrant orange blossoms that mean purity and fertility; and when America's screen queen Elizabeth Taylor married Nicky Hilton in 1950, she carried a small bouquet of white orchids that signified beauty and ecstasy. But 31 years later, when Lady Di married Prince Charles, that little bunch of orchids had exploded into a yardlong cascade of orchids and ivy (signifying beauty and fidelity), and local brides followed her floral fashion taste. This year, gowns and flowers are less extravagant, and the trendiest bouquet is a dainty nosegay, tied with a ribbon and easily held by the bride and her bridal party. The flowers are usually white, but according to celebrity florist Mark Held of Mark's Garden in Sherman Oaks, the most stylish bouquets have a splash of color and very little greenery. ``Pink, lavender and purple - even platinum - are becoming very popular, and you'll see them in roses (deep love), tulips (a declaration of love) and violets (faithfulness),'' says Held, who adds that tiny gardenias (joy), lily of the valley lily of the valley, common name for either of the two species of Convallaria, spring-blooming perennials of the family Liliaceae (lily family). C. majalis, the species usually in cultivation, is native to Eurasia; C. (happiness), and stephanotis (happiness in marriage) are the currently trendy white flowers. And on the cutting edge are bouquets of herbs, green roses and lemon-scented geranium geranium, common name for some members of the Geraniaceae, a family of herbs and small shrubs of temperate and subtropical regions. Their long, beak-shaped fruits give them the popular names crane's-bill (for species of the genus Geranium, leaves. Regardless of the flowers or colors, the trend is to a tight, all-flower bouquet, with smaller versions for the bridesmaids and even the mothers of the bride and groom. ``Nobody's ordering corsages these days ... not for the bride's going-away outfit, or for the mothers. They don't even want the newer wrist corsages to drag around, but the groom's boutonniere is still a must,'' he says. CAPTION(S): 10 Photos, 3 Boxes Photo: (1--Cover--Color) On the cover: Dreamy gowns with a Cinderella theme are hot looks for spring and summer. Design by Yumi Katsura. Available through Saks Fifth Avenue. (2--3--Color) Ball gown skirt-and-sweater ensembles like Anthony Mark Hankins' design for the Home Shopping Network “HSN” redirects here. For other uses, see HSN (disambiguation). The Home Shopping Network (HSN) is a mostly 24-hour shopping network that is seen on cable, satellite, and some terrestrial channels in the United States. and Sears, right, are inspired by Hollywood stars such as Meg Ryan and Gwyneth Paltrow. Instead of seed pearls, look for embroidered gowns such as this Yumi Katsura design, top left. Associated Press (4--5--Color) The ultimate in modern bridal gowns is this wear-again sheath, left, by Yumi Katsura. Right, The bohemian peasant mood in fashion is reflected in this pink flower-trimmed gown, also by Yumi Katsura - worn with a tiara. Both are from Saks Fifth Avenue, Beverly Hills. Tina Gerson/Daily News (6--Color) One of the most popular looks of the season is the Cinderella ball gown with a tulle skirt and corset corset, article of dress designed to support or modify the figure. Greek and Roman women sometimes wrapped broad bands about the body. In the Middle Ages a short, close-fitting, laced outer bodice or waist was worn. By the 16th cent. top, from David's Bridal stores. (7) The '50s nostalgia trend has also hit the bridal market, with bateau ba·teau also bat·teau n. pl. ba·teaux Nautical 1. Canada & New England A long, light, flatbottom boat with a sharply pointed bow and stern. 2. necklines and dropped waists, such as this design by Amsale Aberra. (8--Color) no caption (Wedding rings) (9--Color) no caption (Bridal bouquet) Bouquet courtesy of Mark's Garden photo by Evan Yee/Daily News (10--Color) no caption (Hair ornaments) Box: (1) The ring (See text) (2) The bouquet (See text) (3) And on her head ... (See text) |
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