Feisty Fashionista….

How to wear red carpet trends on your wedding day and not regret it.

Wedding dress designers are popping up all over the red carpet helping stars look their very best for award shows. Designers like Reem Acra, Jenny Packham, and Monique Lhuillier are actually becoming red carpet staples.

 

This is fantastic for brides because it keeps the wedding industry stocked full of interesting and on trend gowns.

Designers such as Oscar de la Renta,  have actually gone so far as to transform their couture pieces into wedding gowns, such as the custom designed gown he created for Jennifer Garner for the 2008 Oscars. Even if you don't want an exact copy of a celeb gown, the red carpet is an amazing resource for gown inspiration. Now, you may be thinking "Lauren, we can't pull off the same dresses as movie stars" and my response is abso-fricken-lutely you can!!! In my dreams I may very well have the body of Penelope Cruz, but in reality, like with any trend, you have to find how the style works with your body type.  And right now the red carpet trends are totally working in our favor, yay! Billowy chiffon is being worn ruched and draped which is a fantastic way to hide any bump or lump that we may want to cover up. For example, Anne Hathaway's amazing Marchesa gown is a great way to show off your toned décolletage while camouflaging and slenderizing the midsection.

Ruffles are also huge right now and worn in a layered column skirt like Evan Rachel Wood really is an interesting look that is both elongating and totally hungry-girl friendly.

For the hipster, geometric patterns and origami shapes are interesting ways to funk up your wedding, which I always support. Eva Mendes looks stunning in Dior and the gown's defined waist keeps the gathered fabric from being overpowering or looking like an afterthought. Keep that in mind when shopping this trend. For those of you who are a fan of mermaid gowns, like Eva Longoria Parker's curving hugging Reem Acra, have no fear. First, curves are back, flaunt that bootie! Second, pay close attention to the cut of the gown,within the same shape there are gazillions of different cuts. It could be as simple as the flair breaking a bit higher or a bit lower than the knee to create your dynamite wedding day look. Try on as many styles as you can to find the perfect fit and listen to the sales women, they seriously know what they are talking about and they could help narrow down your choices thereby, alleviating mounds of stress.

With any set of trends you should always be conscious of going overboard, it is your wedding day and you really don't want to look back at your photos and wonder why you thought you could pull off a mixture of Gwen Stefani and Rihanna. Keep the little details in mind. When will a beautiful sparkly belt, like Olivia or Rumour's, go out of style? uh, never! Whether you are shopping trends or not, find a friend who will tell it like it is. If a dress makes you look like a hobbit you want someone who will speak the truth. Having spent some time working in a bridal salon, I can tell you I have just about seen it all and there is nothing more annoying than a bride shopping with a group of friends that "love" everything because let's be honest you looked like a vanilla frosted hooker in the last dress. Consequently, I was "let go" from that job. I digress.

So beautiful brides to be, don't forget to check out the runways and red carpets for ideas and inspiration when searching for the oh so important wedding gown. Until we meet again, stay bridal and be nice to your bridesmaids.

Lauren