Modern Flair
If you love an updated, urban style, a modern wedding dress may be for you. Look for dresses that have asymmetrical hemlines, close-fitting skirts or glamorous rhinestone-lined spaghetti straps.
Hippie Chic
Hippies are back -- or at least hippie fashion is. A bohemian look adds charm to your wedding dress. Seek out multi-tiered skirts and lots of bead work. Fringe is another great "hippie" look. Pair your hippie wedding wear with wooden or funky gold or silver jewelry.
Go Retro
A retro wedding gown lets you step back to simpler times. The fifties offered many of the most wonderful and sophisticated styles ever seen in wedding attire. A sleeveless, close-fitting bodice is very fifties. So are gloves, pillbox hats and short, beaded face-covering veils. Buy lots of crinolines (stiff, stand-out slips) to give the skirt a vintage look.
Other retro possibilities include the thirties, with head-hugging caps and dropped waists, or the mod sixties, with shorter looks and cute calf boots.
Beach Dress
One very soft style that's great for a unique look is the beach dress. Wear an easy, flowing hemline that falls to mid-calf. Spaghetti straps or a halter top bodice top this soft summer style. If you're getting married out-of-doors, top your beach dress with a floppy straw hat.
From Distant Lands
Paris has long been known as the center of glamorous attire, but other nations and cultures have wonderful fashion ideas, too. Check out what's new in European, Asian and South American fashion for fascinating wedding wear.
Short and Sweet
If you're the daring type, go for a shorter hemline! A cocktail dress can be elegant and dramatic, and a knee-length hem is understated and chic. Mid-calf works well for taller women. Be careful not to go too short, though -- a simple rule of thumb for your wedding hem is two inches above the knee at the shortest.
Pretty Pieces
Some brides elect to wear two pieces rather than one long gown. A fitted bodice shirt with a long skirt that flares at the hem offers high drama. But two pieces offer more than just style; they're usually more comfortable, as they give more movement at the waist. Consider this style for your unique wedding wear.
Add a Touch of Color
If you really want to stand out on your wedding day, choose a colored fabric. Ruby red, emerald green and midnight blue offer drama, pastels are sweet and subtle, and prints are playful. Today's bride doesn't always have to wear white.
You can also try a solid color gown with colored decorations, borders or lace. (See Colored Wedding Dress for more tips.)
Special Somethings
Try a few special touches, such as:
- faux fur (at the cuffs, neckline or hem)
- colored beads
- ribbon threaded through the bodice
- hand-crocheted lace
- multiple fabrics (satin with tulle; silk with cotton)
- faux jewels or rhinestones
The sky's the limit when it comes to your gown. A unique dress is just a shopping trip--and your imagination--away.
