Blushing over the Nude

So, if it isn't clear by now, we love ALL of the raw materials it takes to create a wedding, from the photos and movies, to the florals, the venue atmosphere, and extra "stuff," but most especially, we love the gowns. We love making brides look and feel beautiful, and inspiration is everywhere for us. 

​When we see an alabaster column on an architectural wonder, we also see a modern gown that says sophistication.
When we see a bowl turned upside down on a cooking show, we see a ball gown, in all of its romance, fairytales and frosting.
And when we see lace, we think tradition, nostalgia, and the classic bridal silhouette. There is so much craftwork that goes into creating the desired illusion with lace gowns, so today we want to give some practical advice when shopping - with trepidation - for a lace wedding gown.

When brides come into our boutique interested in trying on lace, we often see them trying to sort out why the gown looks so strikingly different on the hanger than it does on models. They see the mesh sheath underneath the lace,  and slowly back away.
"Will I look proper?"
"Why does it look dingy?"
"Does this look more like a prom gown than a wedding gown?"
"What will my grandmother say?"

The Rack vs. Reality

Gowns with a nude mesh liner look vastly different on the hanger than they do on your body, so we often dispel a bride's concerns with a simple directive: Try it on!
We've heard brides say, "this lining looks muddy," but then will try on a couple of options and be thrilled with how the gown looks even on the palest skin.

An ivory lace gown with nude, champagne or a similar colored lining looks incredible once you put it on. Even brides with very pale skin are astonished at how the mesh disappears, the white or ivory lace pops, and they still look covered and demure. Trust us on this!

Remember that mesh lining helps create a canvas for the lace. Bright whites and colors pop when the "background" matches the skin, whether it's on your sleeves, under the skirt, bodice or throughout a gown. In the images above and below, the sleeves have a nude liner, and yet it's nearly impossible to spot.

What is White?

When our great-great grandmothers got married, they wore their very best dresses. After Queen Victoria chose to wear white for her wedding in the 19th century, it became the standard for brides everywhere. White symbolized virginity, purity, wealth, and so on. But most of those ladies said "I Do" wearing a color more akin to ivory or cream. We didn't have the bright white fabrics that we have today. To prove this point, all of the photos we've shared in this blog are actually using ivory gowns. 
As with the mesh lining- our eyes deceive us. What looks like a blinding bright white is actually softer and less harsh, while still being classic and modest.

If you want to wear bright white for your wedding, we can help you sort that out while still trying on lace. If it's your second wedding and you'd feel better in a softer hue of white - don't fret. We can help you determine which styles of lace would suit the occasion and suit you best.

As always, we urge brides to keep an open mind when they are shopping with us, and encourage them to try on gowns that may not represent what they originally had in mind. You'll be surprised, we promise.
​If in doubt, try it on and ask questions!

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