Ethereal Beauty: {No. 17}

Since it's halloween, I wanted to find an editorial that reflected the day's creepiness.  I came across this shoot featuring Natalia Vodianova and though it's pretty moodiness was perfect!  Enjoy and happy halloween!!

How to Dress Your Body Type: Wedge Shaped

Two Fridays ago I began a five part series of posts helping you find gowns that will flatter your body type most.  This week I am going to focus on the "wedge" shape.  Like I said before, the key to flattering any body type isn't necessarily about "masking your flaws", it's more about creating balance.  Once you figure out which body type you have, you can then find ways to balance your figure, making it look more proportioned.  Because every figure is different, these posts are meant to act as a guide, not a list of hard-fast rules.  Once you start trying on gowns, utilize your consultant because she will be able to find gowns that will look great on your specific figure.  Remember, these are just to help get you started, if you love a dress and it doesn't fit these rules, try it anyway!  You never know how it will look until you try it on!

The Five Major Body Types: Pear, Apple, Wedge, Rectangle, & Hourglass... and yes, you should be jealous of my drawing skills hehe

What is a wedge shape? A wider shoulder and (typically) larger bustline, compared to a narrow waist and hipline.  It is also known as the "T" shape. 

How to flatter a wedge shape: Create the illusion of fuller hips in order to balance out a larger upper half.

Some styles to try: Sweetheart necklines, subtle mermaids, a-lines, scoop necks, wide v-necks, simple bodices paired with more elaborate skirts

Some styles to (possibly) avoid: Halters, narrow sheaths, racerbacks, straight across strapless necklines, dramatic mermaids

Some famous wedge shapes: Gabrielle Reece, Angelina Jolie,

Styles for Wedge Shapes:

These dresses that I'm going to feature this week will pretty much flatter a wedge shaped bride of any height, including petites.  If you are petite, just remember to avoid anything that has to full of a skirt or you'll risk looking overwhelmed by fabric.

Essance of Australia Style# D989

Tom & Beth: A Joyful Australian Wedding

Once again, EB's Australian photographer friend Kirralee Ashworth has submitted another gorgeous wedding!  This one features adorable couple, Tom and Beth, who were married just a few months ago.  

According to Kirralee, "Beth and Tom were married under a marquee at the back of the Anthelstane House. As Beth walked down the aisle with her dad, she gave the tulips from her bouquet to her closest friends and to her mother and mother in law. By the time she reached her husband to be she didn't have a bouquet anymore. It was very beautiful and had all of her friends in tears. The ceremony was taken by Remi Messenger and it had lots of beautiful, personal touches.  The flowers and decorations were put together by Beth and her family and friends. Creative photos and family photos were taken before the ceremony. Straight after the ceremony, Tom and Beth joined their guess for a cocktail party inside the Anthelstane house. Instead of having the usual wedding cake, Tom and Beth had a big cheese platter."  Uh yum!!! Tom and Beth were married on July 31, 2010.  Tom's "best woman" was Janet and Beth's "man of honour" was John. 

They walked down the aisle to Peter Gabriel's "The Book of Love".

Spring 2011 Bridal Preview

I can't believe it's already this time again, but here you go- a gorgeous cross section of what the spring collections have to offer!  Enjoy!!

Alfred Angelo

Alvina Valenta

Wedding Submissions

Hey EB readers!  We are looking for more real weddings and engagement photos to feature. Please click here to find how you can submit your wedding or engagement shoot and get featured on The Ethereal Bride!!

Click to enlarge

Click here to learn more about the weddings featured in the photos above!

Best of EB: Neil & Natalie Part I: Engagement Photos, Chicago-style

This was originally posted on April 25, 2010.

Ethereal Beauty: {No. 16}

I pretty much love everything about Crystal Renn.  The curves! The brows! The story!  What's not to like??  Basically, in a nutshell, she's an all-American girl who became an unsuccessful skinny-minnie model and then became a plus-sized model phenomenon!  Her memoir, Hungry, was a really inspiring and eye-opening read, and I pretty much feel that you all run (RUN!) to your library and read it! Now!!  Here is an editorial featuring the bombshell in all her healthy glory.  Enjoy!! And seriously, read her book!!!!

How to Dress Your Body Type: Apple Shaped

First of all, I want to apologize for not posting anything for the last week!  It's been such a busy few days, and I couldn't find the time to put out any quality posts.  Don't worry, though, I'm not going anywhere!!

Last Friday I began a five part series of posts helping you find gowns that will flatter your body type most.  This week I am going to focus on the "apple" shape (I know, what's with all the fruit comparisons??  I have no clue, I didn't make them up).  Like I said last week, the key to flattering any body type isn't necessarily about "masking your flaws", it's more about creating balance.  Once you figure out which body type you have, you can then find ways to balance your figure, making it look more proportioned.  Because every figure is different, these posts are meant to act as a guide, not a list of hard-fast rules.  Once you start trying on gowns, utilize your consultant because she will be able to find gowns that will look great on your specific figure.  Remember, these are just to help get you started, if you love a dress and it doesn't fit these rules, try it anyway!  You never know how it will look until you try it on!

The Five Major Body Types: Pear, Apple, Wedge, Rectangle, & Hourglass... and yes, you should be jealous of my drawing skills hehe

What is an apple shape?  a wider waist compared to a shoulder and hipline that are narrower. It's also known as the "O" body shape. 

How to flatter a apple shape:  Create the illusion of a slim waist, making a balanced hourglass shape

Some styles to try:  ruching, empire waists, corset style bodices, a-lines and ball gowns, v-necks,

Some styles to (possibly) avoid:  sheaths, mermaid styles

Some famous apple shapes: Queen Latifah, Mia Tyler, Mo'Nique

Styles for Petite (aka 5'4" and under) Apples Shapes:

David's Bridal style# 9T3060

How to Dress Your Body Type: Pear Shaped

I've been planning to do a "dress your body type" post since I first started writing The Ethereal Bride, but have been a little unsure on how to go about it because it's a relatively large undertaking.  There are a few different body types and factors like height and waistline that come into play, so it would be hard to cover everything in one post.  After a lot of thought, I've decided to do a series of 5 posts, each focusing on a major body type- pear, apple, rectangle, wedge, and hourglass.  Within each post, I will focus on three height categories: petite, average, and tall.  The key to flattering any body type isn't necessarily about "masking your flaws", it's more about creating balance.  Once you figure out which body type you have, you can then find ways to balance your figure, making it look more proportioned.  Because every figure is different, these posts are meant to act as a guide, not a list of hard-fast rules.  Once you start trying on gowns, utilize your consultant because she will be able to find gowns that will look great on your specific figure.  Remember, these are just to help get you started, if you love a dress and it doesn't fit these rules, try it anyway!  You never know how it will look until you try it on!

For my first post (these are all in no particular order), I've decided to focus on the pear shaped body type.  A person with a pear shaped body type has a larger hip in relation to a smaller shoulder width.  Please keep in mind, the shape has nothing to do with weight, just how your bone structure is- you could easily be a size 4 or size 24 and still have a pear shape.  It just depends on your proportions and bone structure.

The Five Major Body Types: Pear, Apple, Wedge, Rectangle, & Hourglass... and yes, you should be jealous of my drawing skills hehe

What is a pear shape?  Larger hips in relation to a smaller shoulder width; It is also known as the "A" body type

How to flatter a pear shape:  Create an illusion of a wider shoulder and fuller bustline, in order to balance out the lower half of the body.

Some styles to try:  halters, A-lines, sweetheart necklines, ball gowns, v necklines, ruching

Some styles to (possibly) avoid:  sheaths, straight across strapless necklines, some (but not all!) mermaid styles

Some famous pear shapes:  Jennifer Lopez, Beyonce, Shakira, Jennifer Love Hewitt

Styles for Petite (aka 5'4" and under) Pear Shapes:

First of all, I seriously can't say enough about the power of ruching (the diagonal/horizonal pleats running across these bodices).  Ruching is one of those miracles of design that flatters EVERYONE.  It makes curve-less girls look curvier and curvier girls look svelte.  I featured three ruched gowns (the first 3) for petite pear shapes because the key is to flatter a wider hip by wearing a fuller skirt yet without overwhelming a short frame.

Alfred Sung style# 5259

Etsy Finds: October Edition

Back again for EB's monthly "Etsy finds" post featuring a few of the finest things Etsy has to offer.  As always, only seller's with 100% approval ratings made the cut.  Enjoy!!

The Cufflink Maker

Snazzy cufflinks are an awesome way for your groom to add a little personality to his wedding day while still looking totally put together.  The Cufflink Maker offers a whole bunch of different styles that are perfect not only for your groom, but also for groomsman gifts.

Union Jack cufflinks $24.99

More Spring 2011 Ready-to-wear Highlights...

Here are some more glorious spring 2011 highlights from the London, Milan, and Paris shows.  Like I said before, although these aren't specifically bridal styles, they are still great inspiration!  Enjoy!

Chloe

Best of EB: Veils: An Illustrated Guide

To wear a veil or not to is the eternal question asked by brides the world over.  It really just depends on your own personal preference and style, and there really isn't a right or wrong answer.  If you do decide to wear a veil, here is a guide, featuring the lovely designs of Sara Gabriel, to help you through the decision making process. 

There are a few things to consider when choosing a veil- width, length, cut, color, and what types of embellishments you want.  I will explain each of these in greater detail below...

Width:

The width of the veil is determined by the width of the fabric before it is gathered.  Veils typically come in two standard widths- 108" and 72" wide.  Basically, the wider the veil, the poofier it will be.  Most veils are 108", but if you are going for a simpler look then the 72" size might be the way to go.  Veils can be made out of any width fabric, so if you want something even fuller than 108" or slimmer than the 72", then some veil companies will make custom changes. 

Length:

There are lots of different lengths to choose from when picking your veil.  The exact measurement differs based on your height, so they will either order a standard measurment (each company's are different) or they will do a custom measured length. 

Chin length

Chin length is most typically seen in a Russian or French netting style, but can sometimes also be seen in tulle (like the one pictured) and can be worn either as a blusher or as a veil.  It is best paired with sophisticated, minimalistic gowns.

Veil by Sara Gabriel, style "Drew"

Ethereal Beauty: {No. 15}

I was really excited when I came across this almost ten year old post from Britain's POP magazine.  It features Gisele in the middle of stunning and surreal scenery, channeling one of my favs, 1960's model Veruschka.  While the makeup styling is a little over the top, it's definitely doable as an everyday look.  Like anything "high fashion", the key is to just tone it down.  Using black and white powder shadow and a lighter hand instead of cream shadow and liquid liner will allow you to create a similar look that is much more wearable.

Veruschka- the inspiration for this shoot

Précis: {Week of 10.3-10.9.2010}

Clockwise, from top left:

Marie Antoinette: Inspiring women for over 2 centuries

Carey Mulligan takes on couture

Queen Victoria is one popular lady

EB takes the guesswork out of styling maids

It's EB's Six Month Anniversary!!

I can't believe six months have gone by since I started this little blog!  I had no idea when I started it that it would become as successful as it has.  129 posts and over 26,000 page views later, The Ethereal Bride has reached viewers in over 90 countries and on six continents.  For EB's little half birthday, I've decided to share the top ten most popular posts of all time because, really, who doesn't love a good top ten list??  So, without further ado, here it is:

10. Everyone Needs Etsy! posted on June 16, 2010
247 page views

This was the first post I wrote exclusively featuring a variety of Etsy designers boasting a 100% customer feedback rating.  Because of the success of this post, I've turned it into a recurring feature.  

Style Icon Inspiration: Marie Antoinette

Like many others, I became fascinated with ill-fated Marie Antoinette when the movie came out four years ago.  The combination of the saturated pastel colors, rich fabrics, and over the top decor of Versailles grabbed my attention and hasn't let go since.  I figured I'd get away from 20th century style icons for a change and use Marie- the movie character and actual person- as inspiration for this post.  Note the similarities between some of her portrait gowns and movie costumes!

Best of EB: How to Mix and Match Bridesmaids Styles

Originally posted on May  6, 2010

I've received a request from a bride inquiring how to style bridesmaids using different dresses.  I'm actually so glad she brought it up because it's definitely worth talking about. There is (in my opinion, anyway) a right and wrong way to do it. This has become a pretty popular trend in recent years, and I have seen it turn out super cute and, unfortunately, also seen it look really bad.  Note: you can click to enlarge the photos below.   

For example, you have a bride who wants to be laid back and conscientious of her girls' budgets, tastes, and figures.  She says to them, "just go buy a short, red dress.  I don't care where it's from or what style it is, just as long as it's short and red."  This way, she thinks, everyone can pick a style that they feel comfortable in and can afford, but also still look uniform.  This is actually a horrible idea.  What the un-bridezilla doesn't realize is that every designer has their own version of "red" and that "short" can mean anywhere between upper thigh and ankle length.  This is what horrifying results would inevitably occur:

Don't do this!

These are all super cute "short" dresses with "red"-like names, and yet, they all look so different!

Top row, from left: Suzi Chin dress in "tomato" from Macy's, Wtoo #751 in "azalea", Mossimo dress in "red" from Target, B2 #B3091 in "cranberry", David's Bridal #8585 in "apple"

Bottom row, from left: After Six #6559 in "valentine", Alexia Designs #972 in "scarlett", Love by Enzoani #B16 in "burgundy", Calvin Klein dress in "rouge" from Nordstrom, Jessica McClintock #53789 in "red"

Ethereal Beauty: {No. 14}

This week's installment of Ethereal Beauty features rising star Carey Mulligan in her Vogue cover debut.  Here she is styled in gorgeous haute couture and photographed in the South of France with soft, yet precise makeup and a shock of platinum blonde hair. 

Dior Haute Couture and vintage hat

Précis: {Week of 9.26-10.02.2010}

Clockwise, from left:

The un-bridal shoe

Another definition of ethereal

The many faces of Doutzen Kroes

EB has travel lust

Constanza Corleone is one of ten gorgeous movie brides

Happy weekend!!

Another lovely does of ethereal inspiration...

Once again, I've googled "ethereal bride" to learn more about what those words mean to different people.  I came across this great photo shoot on Wedding Obsession featuring gorgeous gown and stunning scenery.  Enjoy and happy Friday!!