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    Wedding Gowns

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    Old Hollywood exudes class, glamour and style. The many men and women who graced the silver screens, sang right into people’s souls and kept many entertained have also gone down in history for their fashionable wedding moments.

    Decades later, we cannot forget the iconic looks some celebrity brides chose to walk down the aisle. Here are a few of our favourite dresses from famous brides in American history.

    Grace Kelly
    For her 1956 weding to Prince Rainier of Monaco, actress Grace Kelly stunned in an Victorian-inspired gown made of 125-year-old Brussels lace, taffeta, and thousands of hand-sewn pearls. The skirt was made of ivory faille and featured three petticoats: a smoothing petticoat, a ruffled petticoat and a foundation petticoat. The gown itself was made of 100 yards (91 metres) of silk net, and the veil was 90 yards (82 metres). To keep the veil in place, Kelly opted for a Juliet cap decorated with lace, orange blossoms and seed pearls instead of a tiara.
    Credit: Pinterest
    Audrey Hepburn

    Breakfast at Tiffany’s star Audrey Hepburn married actor and stage and film director Mel Ferrer in 1954. For their big day, Hepburn stunned in a Balmain-designed tea-length flared dress with a satin sash, a high neckline and balloon sleeves  that she accessorised with elbow-length gloves and a flower crown.

    Credit: Pinterest
    Priscilla Presley

    The King of Rock and Roll married longtime girlfriend Priscilla Ann Beaulieu in 1967 in Las Vegas. She wore a floor-length white babydoll dress made of chiffon, with a beaded neckline and pearl-encrusted long sleeves. And who can forget that bouffant veil!

    Credit: Pinterest
    Mia Farrow

    A then up-and-coming actress Mia Farrow married megastar musician Frank Sinatra in 1966. The actress wore a two-piece skirt suit with elbow-length sleeves, following the mod style aesthetic of the decade.

    Credit: Pinterest
    Elizabeth Taylor

    This iconic actress had been married a number of times throughout her life, but our favourite dress was from her very first marriage to Nicky Hilton in 1950. Taylor wore a high-necked satin gown designed by Metro-Goldwyn-Meyer costume-designer Helen Rose, who famously went on to design Grace Kelly’s wedding dress.

    Credit: Pinterest
    Julie Andrews:

    Before she hit it big with her breakout role in The Sound of Music, up-and-coming actress Julie Andrews married her first husband, set designer Tony Walton in Surrey on May 10, 1959. She wore a long-sleeved ankle-length gown decorated with floral appliqué and a trailing train.

    Credit: Pinterest
    Bianca Jagger

    Bianca Jagger epitomized ’70s style in her 1971 wedding to rockstar Mick Jagger. The Nicaraguan-born socialite wore a crisp white YSL Le Smoking jacket with no undershirt, atop an ankle-length skirt. She accessorised with a large, veiled sunhat.

    Credit: Pinterest
    Brigitte Bardow

    Actress Brigitte Bardowe married her Babette Goes to War costar, Jacques Charrier in France in 1959. Instead of a traditional wedding dress, the blonde bombshell opted for a pink gingham knee-length dress.

    Credit: Pinterest
    Jacqueline Kennedy
    Jacqueline Bouvier became Jacqueline Kennedy when she married future US president John F. Kennedy. For their 1953 nuptials, she wore an ivory silk-taffeta off-the-shoulder gown with a massive skirt. The dress was designed by black seamstress Ann Lowe, who opened the door for many other designers of colour.
    Credit: Pinterest
    Ava Gardner
    Iconic actress Ava Gardner married third husband Frank Sinatra in 1951. She wore an intricate dress featuring trim box pleats along the neckline and short sleeves, and accessorised with a pearl necklace.
    Credit: Pinterest
    Sharon Tate
    Valley of the Dolls actress Sharon Tate married director Roman Polanski in 1968 in true 60s style. She wore a high-necked babydoll minidress with puffed shoulders and long sleeves. She accessorised with ribbons and flowers in her hair.
    Credit: Pinterest
    Marylin Monroe

    Marylin Monroe married third husband, playwright Arthur Miller in 1956. For their nuptials, Monroe wore a mid-length figure-hugging gown with ruched sleeves.

    Credit: Pinterest

    Feature image: Pinterest

    Chrissy Tiegen is known for sharing much of her life and hilarious musings on social media. Her latest confession about shopping guilt is truly fascinating, and has left fans greatly amused.

    The model admitted to feeling guilty trying on clothes or using store restrooms, and has devised a guilt-induced tactic to deal with it.

    It all started when a fan tweeted this at Chrissy Tiegen.

    “One time I saw you at barneys and you bought a Celine bag so you wouldn’t feel guilty about asking to use the bathroom,” a fan tweeted. “I knew I loved you before but that solidified it.”

    “Wowowowow anyone that knows me knows this is very true all too often,” Chrissy responded.

    The model later shared a message her friend had sent her, proving that this is a habit of the stars.

    “Sort of like that time you bought like 5 wedding dresses you knew you would never actually wear because you felt guilty about ‘just trying on dresses’ which is precisely the point of TRYING ON wedding dresses I love you,” a friend wrote to her.

    “THOSE WENT TO GREAT HOMES,” Teigen responded.

    Her followers were left polarised by this admission. Some fans argued that her actions were indicative of wealth and privilege, while others defended her right to spend her money how she likes.

    Tiegen ultimately wore three Vera Wang dresses for her 2013 wedding to musician John Legend in Italy.

    Celebs, they’re just like us.

    Feature image: Instagram / Chrissy Tiegen

     

    Wearing white may be tradition, but it’s not a rule. Over the decades, many celebrity brides have decided against the expected, instead donning colourful gowns that truly made a statement.

    From blush pinks to marigold yellow and even vivid purple, these famous brides have laid a serious case for colourful wedding dresses. Here are some celebrity brides that didn’t wear white on their wedding days

    Elizabeth Taylor:

    Screen icon Elizabeth Taylor went for bold colour for many of her eight weddings. She wore emerald green for her 1959 wedding to Eddie Fisher, yellow for her 1964 wedding to Richard Burton and a rainbow gown to wed Burton again in 1975.

    Credit: Pinterest
    Credit: Pinterest
    Credit: Pinterest

    Also read: Always a bride: Elizabeth Taylor

    Keira Knightley:

    Not only did she wear a colour-tinted dress, actress Kiera Knightley chose a knee-length dress she already owned. She paired her pale-pink Chanel minidress with sunglasses and a cardigan for her big day, and has since reworn the dress on the red carpet.

    Credit: Pinterest
    Kaley Cuoco:

    The Big Bang Theory actress Kaley Cuoco married former professional tennis player Ryan Sweeting in 2014 wearing a bright pink custom Vera Wang gown.

    Mandy Moore:

    Mandy Moore wed musician Taylor Goldsmith in a lacy, tiered pink gown by Rodarte that perfectly complimented her pink wedding colour scheme.

    Credit: Pinterest
    Julianne Moore:

    Oscar-winning actress Julianne Moore went against tradition for her big day in 2003. Instead of white, she donned a lilac Prada dress featuring a deep v-neckline to marry director Bart Freundlich, who matched witha purple tie and striped shirt.

    Credit: Pinterest
    Sarah Jessica Parker:

    The Sex and the City star went polar opposite tradition, opting for a black gown she purchased off-the-rack to say I do to Matthew Broderick back in 1997.

    Credit: Pinterest
    Kristen Bell:

    Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard tied the knot at a courthouse back in 2013. For their big day, Bell wore a simple black dress.

    Credit: Instagram / Kristen Bell
    Anne Hathaway:

    Anne Hathawy looked every inch of a princess on her big day. In 2012, she married actor and producer Adam Shulman in a custom-made pink Valentino gown that she accessorised with a beautiful Flapper-inspired headpiece.

    Gwen Stefani:

    ‘Hollaback Girl’ Gwen Stefani had the best of both world’s for her wedding dress. When she married musician Gavin Rossdale in 2002, she did so in a pink dip-dyed gown by John Galliano for Christian Dior.

    Credit: Pinterest
    Dita von Teese:

    Living up to their unconventional relationship, burlesque performer Dita von Teese donned a Victorian-inspired violet gown custom designed by Vivienne Westwood when she married metal performer Marilyn Manson.

    Credit: Pinterest
    Jessica Biel:

    Jessic Biel wore a stunning cotton-candy pink couture Giambatista Valli gown to marry longtime love Justin Timberlake. The custom stapless dress featured layers of delicate tulle.

    Credit: Pinterest
    Amber Tamblyn:

    Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants actress Amber Tamblyn went bright for her wedding dress. She opted for a marigold-yellow gown to say ‘I do’ to actor David Cross in a low-key ceremony back in 2012.

    Credit: Instagram / Questlove
    Shenae Grimes:

    90210 actress Shenae Grimes went for black dress from Vera Wang’s Fall 2012 bridal line to marry musician Josh Beech in 2013.

    Credit: Pinterest

    Feature image: Instagram / Kristen Bell

    Most, if not all, mothers dream of the day their daughters will walk down the aisle. Often, they also imagine that their little girls will be happy to wear their wedding dresses from decades passed.

    While this is an easy ‘yes’ for some brides-to-be, others may be a bit on the fence. Don’t feel bad about it! There is nothing wrong with wanting to be completely original on your special day.

    A practice of tradition for some and sentiment for others, wearing your mothers wedding dress can have a lot of meaning behind it. However, you may (like many others) be willing to give up this custom in favour of individuality and self-expression.

    To help you weigh up your options, here are some pros and cons of wearing your mother’s wedding dress:

    Pros: 

    – Your mom will be over the moon 

    This is a beautiful way to honour your mother, and it will definitely make her happier than words can explain. A mother loves to see herself in her daughter.

    – Money and time saved 

    Finding a wedding dress takes a lot of time. It includes several trips to various bridal stores and many fittings too. All of this will vanish if you use your mother’s wedding dress.

    You know what else will disappear? The hole in your pocket in the shape of a gown. The money directed towards your dress will dramatically decrease.

    – Possibility of alterations

    You could alter the dress to keep the pieces of your moms dress that you love, and include parts of a dress that you’d love personally. You could get the best of both worlds.

    Cons: 

    – Less exciting 

    While shopping may be a big task, it is very exciting. Your girls and your mom, all the special ladies in your life, accompany you to find the dress of your dreams. You may miss out on that experience.

    – May make you feel overly cautious 

    Of course all brides are careful when it comes to their wedding dresses. However, when it’s an heirloom passed down to you, you may feel extra-stiff on your wedding day as you don’t want to spill anything on it or damage it in any way. This could make you a bit uncomfortable on your special day.

    – Lack of individuality and orginality 

    You may feel a bit like it’s not your dress. This will be unpleasant and can put a damper on the day.

    Image: Unsplash

    This season’s Bridal Fashion Week was nothing like we’ve seen before. Amid the coronavirus pandemic, designers displayed their new Spring 2021 collections virtually instead of on the runway.

    Although many designers opted to skip the season entirely, a few soldiered on to present the looks they’ve worked so hard on these last few months. Here are a few standout looks from this season:

    Viktor & Rolf Mariage

    Pronovias

    Amsale

    Reem Acra

    Savannah Miller

    BHLDN

    Feature image: Instagram / Viktor & Rolf Mariage

    The world is a wild and wonderful place, with more cultures than we can count. With different cultures come different traditions, fashions and ideas. We take a look at the fascinating traditional outfits countries across the globe choose to get married in.

    1. Ghana

    Ghana, like many African countries love vivid colours for celebrations and each family has its own cloth pattern that features on the bride and groom’s wedding outfits.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/BBfAuhOJbCk/

    2. Mongolia

    Traditional Mongolian clothes known as “deel” make part of the wedding outfit. The bride’s deel is of lighter colours and the groom’s is darker colours. The bride typically wears a beaded head piece too.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/mklg05Lve0/

    3. Kazakhstan

    In a traditional Kazakh wedding, brides typically wear a headdress known as a “Saukele” with a long pointed feather arrangement as well as a facial veil.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B_t73IOFkzy/

    4. Ukraine

    The Hutsuls are a sub-culture in the Ukraine that wear colourful outfits with flower-laden head pieces on their big day. Ribbons and beautiful fabrics join together to create a joyful look in both the bride and groom’s outfits.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/BXoFK7rF3Kx/

    5. Thailand

    Made of luxurious Thai silk, traditional brides wear a two piece, usually off-shoulder with a flowing design and an iconic bow around the waist.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B5jvSpNJW4P/

    Image: Instagram

    With the coronavirus pandemic, weddings as we know them are put on hold. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t tie the knot.

    Creative couples across the globe have decided the downsize their weddings, opting to say their I do’s from the comfort of their homes. If you’re still keen on getting married, you’ll need a dress.

    While South Africa is currently under lockdown, there are many clothing retailers that are still allowing people to order and will deliver once the lockdown ends. Online shopping is the best solution at the moment, so get clicking away to find your perfect fit.

    Here are some casual options for your paired-down big day:

    Flute sleeve lace dress – R499 on Superbalist

    Feature image: Unsplash

    There’s a lot of debate about custom wedding dresses versus off-the-rack dresses. Many claim that a custom dress takes much more time and effort. Since we’re in a nationwide lockdown, perhaps now is the perfect time to consider a bespoke gown.

    With a custom gown, there are many advantages. Your imput is the most important thing, whereas with off-the-rack gows, you might have to settle for what’s available. The world is your oyster with a tailor-made gown, you can let your imagination run free to come up with exactly what your dream dress looks like. Not only that, you won’t have to spend hours in stores trying on dress after dress.

    Since you have two weeks (possibly more) left at home you can get to thinking. Start by searching Instagram and Pinterest to gather some inspiration. From there, you can note which styles are your favourites, what fabrics and colours you like, and other small touches to make your wedding dress truly unique.

    You could even spend some time chatting to dressmakers, offering them your ideas to see if they’re able to create something that you’d like. With the technology we have these days, you could have your entire first appointment online, as long as you can take your own measurements.

    Of course, with a custom dress you may have to spend a bit more money and have a few more fittings. However, these problems are easily turned into non-issues if you try hard enough.

    You may be saving money in other areas of your wedding expenses as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. For example, if your guest list is slightly trimmed to ensure that you have a smaller gathering (since we may still have some restrictions after the lockdown ends) then you’ll save money by getting a smaller venue, or by catering for less people. You’ll also save on printing and sending invitations. These savings could be used for your dress, if you’d like.

    A bespoke dress ensures a perfect fit, no style limitations and many more up sides, so it’s worth considering. After all, who knows you better than you!

    Image: Pexels

    Originally, “kimono” was the Japanese word for clothing. These days, it refers more specifically to traditional Japanese clothing. Typically in the olden days, color combinations represented either seasonal colours or the political class to which one belonged, according to web-Japan.com.

    Traditional kimonos have beautiful floral designs and are made of silk.


     
    In modern times, the Japanese rarely wear kimonos except on special cultural occasions like weddings, funerals, tea ceremonies, or festivals.
     
    As the world turned into a global village over the years, different cultures and fashions were influenced by each other, taking inspiration from the beautiful designs of foreign nations.

    It’s not advisable for Westerners to wear traditional Japanese bridal kimonos on their weddings without specific reasons, however taking design inspiration and adapting it to your own style is a great way of celebrating wonderful cultures and learning about customs around the world.

    Take a look at these incredible gowns inspired by kimonos, mixing East and West in a splendid way:

     
    Image: Pixabay

     

     

     

    If you want to feel like a princess on your wedding day but don’t want to look too dated, fear not. With simple touches, you can upgrade the traditional princess look to match with today’s times.

    Mix modern trends with the traditional princess gown shape to give you a fresh yet romantic look. Think back detail, unique necklines and detachable overskirts.

    Here are some ideas to inspire you:

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B-uTp3Tovd3/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B97eHBUAQ1O/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

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    https://www.instagram.com/p/B56N1O0J4Br/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

    Feature image: Unsplash