“Vintage gowns in, but pick carefully” |
| Vintage gowns in, but pick carefully Posted: 11 Dec 2010 02:33 AM PST There's something romantic about the idea of a vintage wedding dress, with the wonderful stories it could tell. Maybe there'd be some delicate lace, too, or exquisite siren-worthy satin. Some vintage dresses are those perfect gowns you dream of, says Mark Ingram, CEO and creative director of Manhattan's Mark Ingram Bridal Atelier, but others are too costume-y, too dated or, more likely, simply ill-fitting. "You can reach back to some vintage eras and look as contemporary as buying a new dress. But," he says, "you have to consider your figure first and foremost. If the dress isn't flattering to your figure type, just don't go down the road." Cameron Silver, owner of the Los Angeles couture vintage shop Decades and a resource for Hollywood red-carpet looks, warns that finding a pristine white vintage dress can be hard, and that a good vintage dress, if it's not an heirloom, can be more expensive than you'd think. Even with your grandmother's dress, there could be pricey alterations. "Don't do this because you think it's the easy way out, or that it'll be cheaper," adds Ingram. "You have to want it -- you have to want to have this look." But if you do find that ideal gown from yesteryear, Silver says, it's a magical moment. He once sold a full Chantilly lace wedding gown by Chanel. "It was such a thrill," he says. There was a more recent Olivier Theyskens for Rochas gown that practically brought tears to his eyes. (If you find a keeper, be ready to buy it right away -- no wavering -- because there's not another one stuck in some inventory closet.) If you're partial to embroidery, look at gowns from the 1920s-'30s, while sultry satin gowns come out of the '40s. Women with a full bust might look to the curvier '50s silhouette, says Ingram, while minidresses of the '60s are cool, yet hard to pull off unless the event is casual or the bride prides herself on being an individualist. That's usually the case with those who wear vintage, says Silver. "This bride doesn't want to look like everyone else." [Page 2 of 2] Still, you can hit contemporary fashion trends. Something from the '70s, a little bohemian but sexy, is probably the hippest look going. The period to stay away from is, no surprise, the '80s, with its oversize pouffy shoulders and tapered sleeves. "Right now, the '80s looks so dated. Yes, 20-30 years back is vintage, but if you're going back, that's a bad period to dip into. No 'Dynasty,' not even Princess Diana," Ingram says. A bride's goal often is a timeless look, but each era still has its signature, says Michael Shettel, designer of bridal brand Alfred Angelo. You might be best off with a classic silhouette, while adjusting embellishments and details to current tastes, he suggests. Ingram says the best of both worlds might be vintage or vintage-inspired accessories on a new dress. "Add a fur piece -- a shrug or a stole -- and it looks vintage, even if it's new, which probably means a better fit," he says. "If you do a vintage wedding dress, your accessories, hair and makeup have to be incredibly modern," says Silver. "You don't want to be the bride of Frankenstein." This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php |
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