original:
http://blog.theknot.com/2013/12/20/the-best-dressed-brides-of-2013/
By: Jennie Ma
One of the best parts of my job as fashion editor here at The Knot is that I get to see the gorgeous wedding gowns from the runways on you beautiful real brides. You all know how to put a personalized twist on the dress and make it your own. Here are some of the best dressed brides that I’ve spotted this year.
Helena’s Modern Chic Style
Photo by Sofia Negron
Making a major style statement was one of Helena’s fashion goals for her wedding. To do that, she picked a Pronovias gown with a one-shoulder neckline made of dramatic ruffles. The trumpet-style silhouette started with a darted bodice and was curve-hugging all the way to her knees, flaring into a three-tiered skirt with a sweeping train. There wasn’t a stitch of beading — only thick fabric and modern lines. Helena wore one statement piece of jewelry: custom champagne diamond earrings, made for her by her jeweler groom.
Amber’s Whimsical Wedding Dress
Photo by Ciara Richardson Photography
Amber found her bridal inspiration from Kate Moss’s whimsical English-countryside wedding. She loved the romantic style of the wedding and, to echo that element, wore a delicate formfitting gown with long lace sleeves that was custom-made. She topped her ethereal look with a colorful floral crown that matched her overgrown bouquet for a feminine yet slightly wild-child feel. She kept her hair natural with loose waves and added subtle cat-eye makeup for some playful drama.
Lauren’s Timeless Elegance
Photo by Justin DeMutiis Photography
Throughout her planning, Lauren kept one question in mind: Will I like this in 50 years? As a result, her style choices were traditional and timeless. A longtime admirer of Monique Lhuillier, Lauren had her eye on the Catherine gown. She fell in love with the classic A-line skirt, intricate lace details and scalloped neckline. To make it her own, she shortened the sleeves to three-quarter length and added a crystal and chiffon sash. She wore her hair in an elegant low bun and topped it off with a cathedral-length veil.
From the album: A Classic Timeless Wedding in Tampa, FL
Photo by Chenin Boutwell
An unconventional bride, Belinda knew she wanted an edgy wedding gown but was looking for one that would still allow her to “feel like me.” True to her ways, she let her fiancé choose the silhouette of the gown — his request was a slim-fitting dress–and fell in love at first sight with, not a white, but a blushVera Wang dress. She was concerned that the exposed boning would be a bit too out-there even for her, so she softened the look by adding a simple rhinestone belt.
Gabrielle’s Glamourous Ruffles
Photo by Gavin Wade Photographers
Gabrielle was looking for a wedding gown that was chic yet different. Her search ended when she laid eyes on this multitiered-ruffle gown by Oscar de la Renta. The dress was playful enough that it mirrored her personality, but also made a serious fashion statement. Gabrielle knew that with so much going on with her dress, her hair, makeup and jewelry needed to be understated. She chose a simple floral clip paired with a cathedral veil that was handmade by her friend’s mother.
Karen’s Classic Vintage Gown
Photo by Heather Waraksa
Karen went into wedding planning with a specific style in mind: classic vintage. So a romantic lace gown by Monique Lhuillier was an easy choice to fit that look. Delicate cap sleeves gave the dress an old-world quality, while the fitted silhouette added a serious dose of glamour. Karen wore her hair loose and sideswept, accented with a Sara Gabriel feather-and-rhinestone hair clip. She stayed away from dramatic red lips and dark eyes, and instead kept her makeup palette pretty and peachy.
Kelly’s Bohemian Style
Photo by Braedon Photography
Kelly knew her wedding wouldn’t conform to traditional styles. Rather than focus on a color palette, she used words such as whimsical and bohemian as her inspiration and style guidelines. Kelly achieved her vintage vision with DIY touches. With the help of designer Miss Tashina, she brought her dream lace-and-chiffon wedding dress to life, complete with romantic cap sleeves and cream-colored accents. She created a one-of-a-kind headpiece using flea market finds such as a brooch and old chain necklaces.
Jess’s Art Deco Dress
Photo by Redfield Photography
Jess admits that she was skeptical when she started dress shopping. She wasn’t sure she would find anything that fit her style and didn’t want a gown that looked too bridal. But then she laid eyes on a Jenny Packham gown with gold accents and knew it was the one. The vintage style with ornate beading, sequins, gems and appliqués made her feel like a starlet in an old Hollywood film. She kept her accessories simple, since the dress was covered head to toe in embellishments.
Beth’s Golden Sheath
Photo by Michelle Gardella Photography
Originality was everything for this fashion-forward bride — her only style mantra was to forget all the rules. Beth started out looking for gold dresses for her bridesmaids, but when she saw this David Meister gown, she knew it was “the one.” So she decided to flip tradition and put her bridesmaids in ivory gowns, while she wore gold. To keep her accessories minimal, Beth added three gold pavé bracelets and a beaded headband to complete her look.
Allison’s Vintage-inspired Style
Photo by EE Photography
Earthy, romantic and vintage-classic were the adjectives Allison used to describe the look she was going for. Since she also wanted her style to be timeless, she knew early on that her dress would be lace. But instead of the standard ball gown, Allison opted for a formfitting Enzoani trumpet-style silhouette to add a hint of sex appeal. She played up the classic dress with dramatic vintage-inspired touches like a retro feathered birdcage veil, a flirty ruffled bolero and a glamorous bold-red lipstick.
Lindsay’s Rustic Charm
Photo by Leah McCormick
For Lindsay’s engagement shoot, she wanted to match the woodsy vibe of her wedding location — the foothills of California. The resulting style was a unique blend of airy romance and rustic whimsy. Lindsay found an ivory chiffon gown at a vintage store, added a pair of rugged riding boots and topped off the look with a borrowed feather capelet. She kept her hair and makeup similarly natural and charming — with textured waves and barely pink lips.
Julia’s Dramatic Dress
Photo by Orlando of CLY CREATION
Julia drew all of her design inspiration from her venue — a lavishly romantic rococo-style mansion. She admits that her Ysa Makino dress would have been over-the-top anywhere else, but it perfectly fit the theme of her turn-of-the-century setting. Because of the textural floral appliqués and heavy beadwork, she decided not to wear a necklace and completed the look with a set of sparkly earrings. She continued the floral motif from her dress with a single silk flower accenting her sideswept bun.
