Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, February 14, 1993 TAG: 9302120219
SECTION: YOUR WEDDING PAGE: YW-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By ANNE PIEDMONT
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
CHOICE IS WORD IN BRIDAL FASHION
The word in bridal fashions in the Roanoke Valley this year is "choice."Area bridal shops report that several different looks are popular with brides - allowing each one to put her own stamp on the wedding.
"The sheath, with a detachable train, is very popular,' said Richard Deyerle, one of the owners of Formal Occasions. And, he noted, "the high-Victorian, open backed traditional gown is popular. It always will be."
Emily Wickham, bridal consultant at Bride's House is seeing more of a romantic, antebellum look this year, as well as the sheath and "mermaid" styles.
In keeping with the romantic look, she is noticing puffier sleeves "coming back in style" and rosette accents on the sleeves and on the back of the gown instead of a bow. Tulle and organza gowns "are even more popular than last year," she noted.
And, the simple, classic look "is still popular. It's always popular," she said.
White and ivory are the predominate colors for brides. Ivory, Deyerle said, is no longer just for the second wedding. In fact, ivory might be the color for the entire wedding party.
Wickham said she helped with several weddings where both bride and attendants wore solid ivory, and the colors came through the flowers. "It's very elegant," she said.
In past years, portrait collars have been popular, Wickham said, but now brides seem to favor portrait necklines without the collar, and with cap or long sleeves. "There's a lot of diversity," she said, "it depends on the customer."
One big difference Wickham has noticed from the past few years is that brides are willing to spend more. That may explain the return to the big, romantic wedding, she said. She's seen that trend in the average price of the gowns and in the size of the wedding parties - she's worked with several that will have eight to 10 bridesmaids.
Purple, amethyst, teal and fuchsia are the popular colors for bridesmaids' dresses, said both Deyerle and Wickham. Florals are big for the afternoon and "they're going back to floor-length for the evening," Wickham added. Not as popular this year, according to Wickham, is black for attendants.
She and Deyerle also are seeing bridesmaids' dresses chosen so that they can be worn again - such as the two-piece suits with straight skirts. The romantic, full-length dresses, however, are generally chosen only for the look, Wickham said. Price is a factor in attendants' dresses, Deyerle noted.
Formal Occasions features a unique service for bridesmaids: rental dresses. He offers one simple style, tea-length, high-low hemline and three-quarter length sleeves, in 14 different colors and a size range from 3-4 to 28. "It looks good on everyone," he said.