feeling lost amidst tulle, chiffon, taffeta and organza? here’s a little guide on the silhouettes typically applied to gowns and formal dresses.

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as jill looked up wedding songs and discussed wedding themes, i can’t help but imagine what songs and what theme i would have selected if my husband and i had a traditional wedding ourselves.

my husband and i both love music. and love it a lot. while we may not entirely agree on many songs, there is one genre and era that brings us together: motown.

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ok, i used to like vera wang, now i positively adore her. she was in last night’s idol studio audience. she happened to outfit michelle delamor for that episode.

in a white top that looks like a miniature version of vera’s opulent wedding gowns, cropped motorcyle jacket, cutaway gloves, black tights and leather boots, michelle took on a biker bride ensemble and was obviously the night’s best dressed contestant. i wonder, will vera wang come out with a line of ready-to-wear like this? i sure hope so.

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why get married during the christmas season?

1. appropriate decors and trimmings are easier to find and are more reasonably priced this time of the year.
2. hotels, restaurants and halls are lavishly decorated already, minimizing reception costs.
3. christmas carols can form part of your wedding songs.
4. many family and friends from overseas are home for the holidays; all of you can reunite on the wedding day (not to mention, you don’t have to spend for their airfare at all!)
5. numerous additional design ideas like snowflakes, poinsettia, mistletoe, wreaths and berries can be included in the theme.
6. there’s magic in the air!
7. and, my personal favorite, you have the right to go crazy with sparkly things like lights, crystals, candles and glitter!

the wedding dress

for winter: faux fur and stylish jackets

if christmas happens during winter in your country, take warmth into consideration. remember, bundling up doesn’t mean looking frumpy and shapeless. you can keep the cut of your dream gown using warm fabrics like brocade or faux fur. you can even use a stylish coat or jacket.

fur, either trim or a full-on coat, adds the perfect charm to a winter wedding dress.

from bride and wed-shopping.

i have always loved the sight of a slim jacket over a bouffant skirt, like this cardigan (left) or this structured overcoat (right).

from fashionbride.

for the maximalist: gold and platinum with lots of embellishment

what is christmas decorating if not shiny? radiate the season in shades of the most precious metals in materials that sparkle and extra-elaborate details that will give the june bride a run for her money. this is december, this is the holiday, this is your chance to live out your most opulent fantasies.

yards and yards of material in gold or platinum in keeping with the traditional christmas scheme. you have the right to remain shiny!

from wedding ideas magazine.

pearls, crystals, lace, tulle... embellish to your heart's content!

dress at left from elie saab.

for the sweet and stylish: red and green bows

like christmas presents that come with a bow, an elegant dress with a sash tied into a nifty ribbon will evoke wonderful memories of the season.

whether on an art deco-inspired design (left) or a jane austen-esque cut (right) a sash pulls the dress together.

from bridalwave.

although a simple sash without the bow is also very attractive, the idea is to create a parallel to gifts. and they usually come with a bow.

from onewed.

for the bold: red and green dresses

red and green may not make a traditional wedding dress, but everybody knows they are traditional christmas shades. if you are courageous enough, why not take the plunge? reds in ruby or burgundy; greens in emerald or forest hues.

if you can handle it, go all out and wear the season's shades.

from red hot brides and bridalwave.

not that bold? then put the red and green in the details.

from house of brides.

and, finally, my favorite:

from okbbaru.

a long lean trench that drags down to the floor in a flowy train with fur trim and crystals around the waist. over a slinky gown. and those gloves, that purse, that little tiara! stuff sleigh-ride-in-the-snow dreams are made of!

first off, i like jersey material. jersey knit, that is, not cotton. i have a ton of tops and a number of shift dresses in that fabric.

strangely though, i couldn’t stand wearing jersey when i was pregnant, especially jersey dresses. i had some issues with dresses that clung snugly onto or skimmed along my hips and thighs. which was a minor challenge since fashionable maternity dress choices in fabrics other than jersey were not easy to come by.

aside from that, i thought jersey was too casual for work or strictly formal affairs, and i didn’t want to be an “exclusion” to the rule just because i was pregnant.

one of the more apparent problems i encountered with maternity dresses not made of jersey is many designs seemed so dowdy and, well, exaggeratedly wide. of course, i understand the rationale behind making these dresses bigger, being fabrics that don’t stretch, but i hope retailers keep in mind that maternity clothes are not tents. an expectant mother would love to feel sexy now more than ever.

so if you are like me as a pregnant shopper, you might want to check out www.apeainthepod.com, one of my favorite maternity sites that offers styles such as these fabulous maternity dresses:

flutter-sleeve dress in silk and chiffon

sleeveless white dress with collar and pleats in sateen

ruched empire waist dress in denim

kimono style dress with baroque print

formal dress in velvet

sleeveless formal dress in charmeuse

work wear in knit and tweed

all photos lifted from www.apeainthepod.com.

it’s june, the wedding month. why is it traditionally the wedding month in our climate anyway?

it’s not unusual for brides to dislike being upstaged by the bridesmaids, but do they say anything about the flower girls stealing their thunder?

i like flower girl dresses and the creative license behind designing them. unlike a bridesmaid dress, you can make a flower girl dress as princess-y and as poufy as you want and the wearer would love you for it. you can even let her wear a tiara and that wouldn’t look ridiculous. heck, a foliage headdress is a given for some. plus they get to carry a basket!

champagne colored dress with embroidery details and scallop edges. let's see the bridesmaid get away with something like this...

black dots on white with black sash and red flower brooch. i hate polka dots on grown women, but i adore them on little girls.

green organza, embroidered and embellished dress with adjustable waist.

striped, halter style with sash. perfect combination of traditional and modern elements.

ivory dress with pick-up skirt and brown sash. super cute if the bride has a similar skirt design. like a mini-me of sorts.

i have to say, though, that i like the simplicity of this one best. she can wear it with pearls, a pair of gloves and stockings.

let the little girls shine too! being a flower girl is one of the most remarkable childhood memories any girl can ever have. i know it’s one of mine.

photos from www.mygirldress.com