Say "I Do" In Vogue
by Shawn Miller

Never is the question of what to wear fraught with more angst and significance than when trying to narrow options for the wedding day. This is the occasion when brides want to outshine all others — including their past selves — bridesmaids just hope to not be too embarrassed in an ensemble chosen for them by others, and grooms and groomsmen strive to appear worthy of their female counterparts. Fortunately for those contemplating a trip down the aisle in the not-too-distant future, with each passing decade, designers of wedding apparel seem to surpass in style and elegance all that came before. So that today’s brides, bridegrooms, and those who will stand with them at the altar, inevitably set new standards in defining what’s hot and what’s not when tying the knot.

Blushing Brides
In 2005, gowns for the bride are understatedly elegant. Gone are the heavily beaded, the big and the poufy. Women no longer want the dress to overwhelm and engulf the event, but rather complement and draw eyes to the woman inside the dress. Cuts are simple and fabrics with adornments that accent, not overpower. Even in bigger gowns, fullness tends to be on the sides and in back, preserving the frontal body shape. “Women don’t want to get lost in a dress,” explains Frannie La Russa, owner of the boutique, Here Comes the Bride.

While the dresses may be simple, their accoutrements are anything but. Designers are adding splashes of color to traditional whites and ivories with sashes in colors like forest green and chocolate brown. Karin Schroeder with the Erin Cole Couture Bridal Salon says, “Yes, the gown is simple, but the dazzle is in the accessories.”

Chandelier earrings, brooches at the tip of a bustle or to highlight a cut or curve in fabric, jewelry interspersed throughout the hair — all are trends she points to. Veils, like dresses, are sheer and also minimal; tiaras are not so popular these days, but jewelry and flowers interspersed asymmetrically throughout cascading locks are. And who are the designers dictating these latest looks? Vera Wang is still among the most adored — but also earning admiration are Rivini, Judd Waddell, and Ramona Kaveza.

Here Comes The Groom
As with women, the biggest changes in wedding wear for the groom are not necessarily in the clothes themselves, but in accessories, according to Jerry Klein of A Better Deal Tuxedo in La Jolla. In the business for more than 40 years, Klein explains that though not traditionally considered correct with a tuxedo, the Windsor tie is a very popular selection among grooms these days. Tom Powers, department manager of Jos. A. Banks in the Forum at Carlsbad shopping center agrees, and describes the most popular looks as, “A grey shirt with a black regular silk tie or a black shirt with a black tie — these are guys who just don’t want to wear a bow tie.”

Notched collars are in, shawl and winged collars out. According to Klein, the formality of the occasion — which generally dictates whether or not the groom opts for tails — depends on the size of the guest list. More than 300 attendees automatically qualifies the occasion as formal (though Tiger Woods did wear a business suit to his 2004 wedding — but then again, he is Tiger Woods).

As with women, the overall look for men is traditional and elegant. Shirts have minimum pleats, collars are pointed and traditional, the effect is conservative and tailored. Powers goes on to say that colors — even white — are out. “How many guys who got married in the ’70s can’t show off their wedding pictures because of their tux,” he laughs. But what is by far the most important aspect of the tuxedo? The fit. Make sure it fits properly — otherwise it’ll hang “like a bag” and come across as rented rather than refined.

Always A Bridesmaid
According to La Russa, the trend in bridesmaid dresses is a “high-end couture evening look versus the traditional bridesmaid dress.” The majority of dresses are strapless (very popular), spaghetti strapped, or haltered — sometimes with matching stoles. As with dresses for the bride, beading and embroidery tend to be very finely applied and tasteful — more elegant, less abundant. Fabrics — silk charmeuse, tulle, even lace has made a big comeback — are cut fitted on top, then tousle down in tiers, not the poufy ballerina kind, but A-line in shape. Tea-length is a top choice and colors for spring include mangoes, shades of pink, deep peaches, oranges, aquas, greens, and lots of black. The overall effect? Sophisticated and fun — a far deviation from dresses of the past, which languished in closets untouched after the debut donning.

Best Men And Bridegrooms
“Cummerbunds are out,” says Powers, defining one of the biggest don’ts in men’s wedding fashion. If the groom is wearing a black vest with silver detailing, the groomsmen will opt for the opposite (silver vest with black detailing). The aim is for groomsmen to complement the groom, not necessarily the bridesmaids. But that doesn’t mean the wedding party should clash, so popular color choices are silver, black, and red — all of which go nicely with the array of color choices in bridesmaid dresses. For those who do want a closer match between hers and his in the wedding party, Klein says fashionable choices in tuxedo accessories are pink, light sage, traditional blues and burgundies, and yellow — the latter emerging as a very popular color scheme. A more subtle color correlation can be achieved via the use of silk-colored handkerchiefs.

Well-Heeled Event
Just as in everyday wear, shoes set the ground-up tone for style and chic in a wedding ensemble. Stylish choices for her — brides and bridesmaids alike — are pointed mules with jeweled bands. Dressy sandals are dressed up even more with beading, stones, and brooches. Highly sought-after brands include Grazia and Salon Shoes. The highest end shoes boast jewels and pins in genuine stones, making that which adorns the feet often more valuable than the jewelry that decorates the ears, neck, and fingers.

Men no longer encase their feet in military-like shoes. Those who desire a high-lacquered look without the stiffness of these predecessors are opting for hand-lacquered, thin-soled shoes with a European cut. French cap toes and Italian slippers reign among the most stylish, with “some” shine preferable over high shine.