Dress of the Week - Victoria

Welcome to our "Dress of the Week" feature. Here we'll showcase a spectacular gown and the details that make this gown unique and amazing. For our first one, we chose, "Victoria" from Nina Duong Haute Couture.

Victoria is an amazing dress when seen in person. The whole gown is hand made, starting with a small line of delicate beads along the front of the waist that gather light tulle in the front and the back, adding just a hint of sparkle.

The strapless top is not quite a sweetheart neck, but not straight across either, showing a soft curve over the bust which flatters a lot of women.

The tulle then falls over lovely light silk taffeta and has hand-cut flowers hand-sewn over the bottom of the skirt, emulating a fall of flowers. They are sewn on with silver threads, adding a hint of glimmer as you move.

The a-line skirt is flattering to most body types, and a crinoline can be added underneath to expand the skirt outward slightly if desired.

The small chapel-train is revealed by the tulle drape cut in an inverted V to expose the simple back line of the gown, so any length of veil will accentuate the gown.

This strapless gown is light as a feather to wear and is a perfect for an outdoor ceremony or a more formal indoor event.

As this is a couture gown, the price is higher than most gowns, but this gown is worth every penny for the discriminating bride who wants and expects the best at her wedding.

Paper Doll Formals is the ONLY bridal boutique outside of Ontario that carries Nina Duong Haute Couture and we have Victoria in-store, along with three of her friends, "Janet", "Lucille", and "Coco".

Next week we'll feature another spectacular gown with different elements.

Next Blog post: I Don't Like This, Or That. Or That Either!

Market Trends Part Deux

Formal wear trends for the fall/holiday season are an updating of the 60's, nude/pale pink, and sparkles.

I've tried to find photos, but they're not exactly what I want to describe.

The 60's dresses are slim-fitting, with a vertical stripe along a side. In crepe or jersey, with sleeves and draped collars. A huge trend is black over a nude skirt, some with polka-dots, some plain. Very "Mad Men" style.

Sparkles are popular, interspersed with lace, fringe, frills, flowers.

Again, one-shoulder styles are popular, with sparkles, beading or gathers.

Paper Doll has ordered some spectacular holiday styles in time for New Years and holiday parties in black, silver, and deep purple. When the photos are available, we'll put them on our Facebook page so you can plan on your holiday party outfit.

Next Blog: Dress of the Week!

Fall Trends Update

I just did my first 'mini-market'. Mini because "Market" lasts a week, and I only did two days of it. It's held twice a year in Vancouver for Western Canada, but the US has Dallas, Chicago and New York for their markets. There is also a Vegas market, but it seems that a lot of the dress lines aren't attending that one any more.

Ok, onto the future of dresses as I've seen it (so far). I went to visit three bridal lines and one formal/party line. The main trends for bridal I noticed were:

- textured skirts. Ruffles, frills, feathers, flowers (big and small) feathers AND flowers together, ruffled flowers.... lots and lots and lots.

This particular gown is very 'tame' from some that I saw. The ruffles vary in size from large to small, as do the different sizes of flowers, 'feathers', etc. There are some with beading, some without. These come in all silhouettes too, not just ball gown. Many sheath (mermaid) styles boasted frills along the bottom part of the gown, and there was one stunning dress with the pickups done in an organza over-lay that would take your breath away.

These textured skirts are going to be all over the place in the fall.

<--Impression Bridal

- more beading on the bust and bodice. Very intricate designs with a lot of bling along the top of the bust, but also some with just one giant brooch that gathers the bust fabric or the bodice fabric together.

While the rushing is still a popular style for the fall, the designers have sparkled it up on the top and the mid-section in many gowns.

More informal gowns have only one brooch holding the bodice, and many are in the shape of bows or flowers instead of vertical.

<--Da Vinci Bridal-->

- a lot more one-shoulder gowns. I would guess 50% are still strapless, 35% are one-shoulder, and the remaining 15% is split between halters, two straps, and sleeve/shrug type gowns. The straps aren't plain, either - they're embellished with flowers and ruffles, in sizes big and small.

These flowers are small compared to some I saw. These ones are in chiffon, but others were in organza or tulle, some very large, some very small with feathers and beaded centres.

(Forever Yours)

- bias-line skirts. The asymmetrical skirt is still very popular and now it's embellished with flowers, feathers, and ruffles (or all three!).

<--2Be Bride

Notice the flowers and feathers along the left-hand side of the gown. This is a very popular trend among many designs.

- a LOT more lace, with more styles of gown with lace.

<--2Be Bridal (A-Line)

Forever Yours (Sheath)

Both of these styles have lovely lace. The lace trend is growing and some are very intricate in design.

- belts are still around, but are now becoming detachable, or available in a myriad of colour choices to suit the bride's taste. Again, many of the belts have flowers on them - LARGE flowers.

This Da Vinci gown is typical of the type of belt that is coming, however black was a predominant colour to show the contrast against the ivory or white gown.

- quality. The gowns are exquisite and the craftsmanship and detail that has gone into them are amazing. You will definitely get what you pay for!

I'll talk about the formal-wear trends I saw on the next Blog post.

A Gown Made By Committee

There's a saying, "A horse made by committee is a camel". Here's a few photos of what a wedding gown might look like, if the designer took your word for it.

"I want a LONG train! You know... really long and impressive!"

"Besides, I want to give my guests something to do while pictures are going on..."

"Not me! I want something light and easy to wear, but also modern and edgy."

"Just nothing sharp around the bride til she's in her hotel room!"

"Well, me, I want a really COOL skirt. Something a little bit crazy, to reflect my original personality!"

"Just call me 'Twinkle Toes'!"

"I want a dress right out of a fairy-tale!"

"But I didn't mean Ursula from Little Mermaid!"

"I just want something that won't make me hot in the August heat."

"A little something I threw on... and nearly missed!"

"Well I'd like something with some colour, and safety. I'm all about safety."

"And I'm all about celebrating World Aids Day too."

"I'd like to show my national pride on my 4th of July wedding!"

"Hmmm... maybe a bit much. Does this come a little bit more subdued? But still original?"

"MUCH better!"

"I'm pregnant. Do you have anything that will fit me?"

"EXCELLENT!"

"I want something vintage. Something French. Something original!"

"How did you KNOW?!!"

Sometimes we should just let designers design without giving them ideas.