We've all heard past horror stories of bridesmaid dresses-unsightly confections, overflowing with lace, puffs, tulle and can-can that no one would ever dream of wearing again. Luckily, the modern trend in bridesmaid attire is to have more versatile dresses or even separates (skirt and bodice or shift dress and shrug) that may have a better chance of seeing the light of day after the wedding. Believe it or not, a bride's first task in choosing bridesmaid attire is to choose her bridal gown. The reason for this is that the bridal gown sets the tone of the wedding. It can be used to determine the formality of the wedding; for example a ball gown-styled dress connotes more of a formal affair, while a white slip dress would be more appropriate for a beach wedding. Selecting the bride's gown before choosing the bridesmaids' dresses, makes it easier for the entire look of the wedding to have consistency.
Brides should decide on a flattering colour or colour scheme for the bridesmaid dresses. This colour may match or be complementary to the chosen wedding décor colours. The "bridesmaid uniform" (where all bridesmaids are in identical dresses) has now become somewhat outdated. Modern brides are now giving their bridesmaids more leeway in terms of choosing dress-styles and fabrics that suit each bridesmaid's body type. The A-line dress style usually looks good on most women. It's popular since it hides most figure-flaws.
Also, remember that bridesmaids' jewelry, shoes, hosiery and handbags should be in proportion to their body types as well. Here are a few recent trends regarding bridesmaid dresses, which have emerged within the last year:
• Black and white printed dresses
• Cocktail length dresses or the slightly longer tea-length look; versus the longer dresses of the past.
• Dresses featuring flounces, ruffles and pleating.
• Embellishments such as belts and sashes.
• Bold colours are popular now, such as: tangerine, marigold yellow, violet, coral, magenta, deep blues, grass green and emerald green. These vibrant colours are also balanced out with muted colours such as: pale ice-blue, dusty violet, taupe, nude and charcoal.