Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, February 10, 1991 TAG: 9102090011
SECTION: YOUR WEDDING PAGE: W-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By ANNE PIEDMONT
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
According to bridal experts, Roanoke-area brides are passing over the fads and glitzy wedding gowns popular in New York or Hollywood for traditional styles and fabrics.
That mood holds true for the entire wedding. Gone are the puffy sleeved, impractical, wear-it-just-once bridesmaid dresses; gone are the pastel-colored, prom-style tuxedos for the men in the party.
Jane Milliron, co-owner of Brides House and Formals in Roanoke, calls it a return to traditional values. She said the classic open-neck, short-sleeved gown, with a fitted waist, chapel train and elegant detail, is popular this season - both here and throughout the South. "There's a more romantic appeal to the wedding in this region," she said.
"Tradition is in. It always will be," Lois Ross, bridal consultant at Lynne Rene Bridal Boutique in Roanoke, said. "The gowns are more beautiful now than I've ever seen." Particularly fashionable are portrait necklines, lace, sequins and seed pearls.
Practicality, also, is in. Connie Pettus, manager of Terrell's in Christiansburg, has been selling a lot of "big, pretty gowns," but noted that today's brides "want a whole lot for the money, a more expensive look." That look includes sequins and pearls, long sleeves, high necks, trains and back bows. "The bride wants to stand out," she said.
Natural fibers, such as silk, or synthetics with a natural look, are popular with brides who want to get the best value for their money. Shantung is a popular synthetic, said Jean Wimmer of the Bride's House, especially for bridesmaid's dresses. A return to the traditional styles - rather than the fad, the soap opera look - also indicates women are buying with a view toward passing the dress on to another generation, experts said.
Popular colors are few: white and ivory, with ivory being more prevalent in fall and winter weddings. Milliron said blush-colored dresses have never been very popular here, but when she sells them, they usually are traditionally styled.
Women are getting married later in life, and bridal fashions reflect that trend. The straight, sheath skirt with a detachable train is popular for the mature bride, Ross said.
More attention is being paid to the back of the gown. Lace and detailing on the train are fashionable, as are waistline bows, according to Bride's House. Veils are becoming back-mounted to show off the bride's face and to provide back interest. Short veiling brings a sense of excitement, Wimmer said, while the very formal cathedral-length veils are appropriate for evening weddings.
Old-fashioned values may be in, but the old-fashioned look is not. "The old-timey style is out," said Pettus. Milliron said Bride's House is not selling as many ruffles or big sleeves as in the past. Ross, who has been a bridal consultant for more than a decade, noted that brides today have more individual choices and are less influenced by one look, such as that popularized by Princess Diana in the early 1980s.
Bridesmaids dresses also reflect the return to romance as well as the need for practicality. Not only are they styled to be worn again, but more sophisticated looks are available for older bridesmaids. Nancy Shawn, Bride's House co-owner, said the lengths range from long (for the very romantic wedding) to short, to short in front and long in back. Two-piece cocktail dresses are popular because they appeal to mature bridesmaids and because they are re-usable. "We're seeing less of the prom-dress look," said Ross.
Pettus said the wide range of choices for bridesmaids allows the bride to personalize the look of her wedding. Colors are no longer governed by the season, she said. Soft colors and soft florals are big this year, said Shawn, and so is dark purple. She added that they still see many black and white weddings.
Cotton and shantung are popular fabrics for bridesmaids dresses. Less common are satin and taffeta, because they have limited appeal beyond the wedding. "People are tired of taffeta and satin," said Wimmer. Tulle, though widely used in other parts of the country, is not as popular here, Milliron noted.
The return to tradition and practicality is inspiring the way the mothers dress. Two-piece suits in cottons, linens and brocades are the style, said Shawn. She noted that mothers these days often look beyond the wedding to other uses when buying the "mother's dress."
For the groom, the choice of tuxedo colors is simple: black or gray, according to Pettus. She is seeing less and less of the white tuxedos popular a few years ago.
Prices for bridal gowns in the Roanoke area range from $500 to around $1,200, depending on the type of fabric, the bridal consultants said. The natural fiber dresses tend to be more expensive, Milliron said.
The experts recommend a minimum of six months' lead time when ordering a wedding gown - "four months for the order and two months for fittings and portraits," said Milliron, but planning nine months to a full year before the wedding is not unusual. But, the bridal shops are quick to point out, brides on a tighter schedule should not lose hope. "We'll work with you," Pettus said.
There are companies that can fill last-minute orders - for both wedding gowns and bridesmaids dresses, said Ross, but the bride will find fewer choices.
Going for the fitting may be one of the least stressful parts of the wedding. Full-service bridal shops stock shoes, lingerie and even jewelry. "Just bring yourself, clean and neat," Ross said. Milliron recommended calling ahead to make sure the store has everything the bride needs.
by CNB