As times passed, women's fashions changed. Hems rose and fell,

Wedding Dress fashion designer vera wang Superstitions

Before you launch into this article, please remember that superstitions are just for fun. Thirteen is the unluckiest number in some parts of the globe, the luckiest in others, and of no importance of all in still others. Weddings can add a lot to worry about to your life you dont need to top that off with a fear of meeting a lizard on the way to the ceremony.

My friend Annes policy on superstitions is one of the best Ive heard: If she thinks something will bring her some extra good luck, she adopts it. And if she thinks it will bring her bad luck, she ignores it as though its the silliest thing shes ever heard of. After all, if youre going to choose to believe in luck, why not stack the deck in your favor?

Making the dress

The one unlucky superstition Im in full favor of is the one that says its bad luck for a bride to make her own dress. Why not let someone else do it while you stay tasked on looking lovely? Some traditions elaborate on the idea by saying that the number of stitches you make in your own wedding dress will be the same as the number of tears you shed during your marriage, so it seems like a clever superstitious bride might be able to rig things in her favor by contributing a manageable four or five stitches to the process.

While youre supervising the dressmaking process, the luckiest fabric is supposed to be silk. English tradition says that you shouldnt wear a patterned wedding gown, and should especially avoid patterns showing birds, but some Asian traditions recommend wedding dresses with cranes on them to ensure a faithful husband.

If you decide to forego having a wedding dress made entirely, think hard about whom you borrow one from a borrowed wedding dress is supposed to bring good luck to the bride who borrows it, but bad luck to the wife who lends it out.

Wearing your dress

Youve probably heard that the groom isnt supposed to see you in your dress before the wedding, but did you know that you arent supposed to see you in it either? You can get around that little trick of luck by fitting your dress in sections, or by leaving a little bit of the hem undone. Some brides even wait and have a bridesmaid put in the last few stitches right before the trip down the aisle.

Planning on having kids? Pay attention during the reception: The first child who tugs on your skirt jovani couture will be the same sex as your first child.

Things on or in your dress (other than you)

If you want a sweet marriage, you should hide a lump of sugar in your glove or sleeve. (Whats that? You want a rich marriage? Talk to your shoes. Or better yet, put coins in them.) For a lucky marriage, sew a few hairs into your dress, and for lots of children, sew cowry shells onto or into your dress.

If you happen to find a spider in your wedding dress, do a little happy dance once youre done yelling Ick! It means very good luck and a happy home life.

Above all, dont forget that as a bride, you yourself are a lucky charm to everyone around you. Save the pins from your wedding dress (and bouquet, if there are any) to give to your friends theyre supposed to bring your pals luck in everything from love to gambling! You might also consider sewing love knots to your dress. These are little figure eights of ribbon that you can give out as good luck charms later.

Congratulations on your engagement!

And good luck!

Wedding Dresses

Over the centuries wedding dresses have changed, but a bride has always wanted her dress to be special, to make her look more beautiful. Centuries ago, only the rich could afford materials of red, purple, and true black; therefore, the wealthy brides would wear dresses of color adorned with jewels. The bride would actually glitter in the sunshine. The dress with flowing sleeves or a train was a status symbol, for the poor had to use material as sparingly as possible. alfred angelo bridesmaid dresses Factory-made materials, with their lower costs, caused the lost of the original meaning of the train of a wedding gown, but it became a tradition over time.

Fashions changed from gowns of color to ones of white, or a variation of white, but since it wasn't a practical shade for most purposes, blue became another favorite, as did pink. In the 1800's, gray became a color for wedding gowns for brides of lower classes because the dress became re-used as the bride's Sunday best. For those who had to wear a dress that would be used for regular occasions after the wedding, many brides would decorate the dress for the special day with temporary decorations.

The "traditional" wedding dress as known today didn't appear until the 1800's. By 1800, machine made fabrics and inexpensive muslins made the white dress with a veil the prevailing fashion. By the nineteenth century, a bride wearing her white dress after the wedding was accepted. Re-trimming the dress made it appropriate for many different functions.

As times passed, women's fashions changed. Hems rose and fell, but the long dress, with or without a train, remained the length preferred by brides. Sleeve lengths and neck styles changed with the current fashions, but mainly remained modest. Full sleeves, tight sleeves, sleeveless styles came and went and came again. Simple designs to elaborate have been found over the years.

Today's wedding dress fad appears to be the strapless dress, which looks lovely on some figures. Some brides still want styles of the past.

The main consideration for a bride-to-be is what is appropriate for her to wear. Style should match her figure and her financial means, as well as the setting for the ceremony. For example, a larger framed woman should try on the dresses she likes, and then choose one that flatters her. Every bride wants to look lovelier on that special day. If she has $500 to spend on a dress, then she shouldn't be looking at $5,000 dresses. If the wedding is to be held in a garden, a heavily beaded dress maybe should be avoided.

Appropriateness is the key word as a bride searches for the perfect dress, whether in real life or written into a story. A full length mirror often tells the truth either place.