Fashion: The Not-So-Bridesmaid-Dress

You ask 8 girls to be bridesmaids and the day comes to pick out "the bridesmaid" dresses. Finding the same dress for everyone is a challenge in itself...maybe you have women with different breast sizes, dress sizes or an age range. Also the cost is another key component given today's economy.



Today's happy alternative is the not-so-bridesmaid dress. The cuts are simpler and the fabrics are cotton/silk blends with minimal adornments. Using the same fabric, each attendant can pick out their own style resulting in a variety of silhouettes from halters to strapless to a shift. Designers are responding to that trend with styles that capture the glamour, romance, and sophistication that we see on the red carpet. The crossover of luxury, high-end designers like Vera Wang and Badgley Mischka, who have dressed the famous for years, has brought high fashion into the bridesmaid market at affordable prices.



Collections for bridesmaids are showing shorter hemlines, sleek A-line silhouettes, and luxurious fabrics in a non-traditional palette of colors such as bronze, platinum, and chocolate brown, or hybrids like rosy oranges, sagey greens, and even prints.



Stores now offer on-line preordering, so the dresses are available to try on with no charge. Take careful measurements of all your bridesmaids (it’s best to have someone help you!), and figure out exactly what sizes you need. Then, you can search on-line by size, price and color. Choosing the right not-so-bridesmaid-gowns can be easy and fun.