F A S H I O N S , J E W E L R Y , A C C E S S O R I E S F O R M E N & W O M E N
C H I C A G O W E D D I N G & P A R T Y R E S O U R C E
45
104 West Main St
West Dundee, IL
(847) 426-5806
Fax (847) 426-5886
Mon-Thu 12-8; Fri 12-5; Sat 10-5
Finding The Perfect Dress For Any Occasion Since
1997 ~
~
Volle’s
Bridal & Boutique
53 S Old Rand Rd, Lake Zurich
(847) 438-7603 vollesbridal.com
“We want to make you feel like
the only bride in the world.”
Family Owned Since 1971
CMA Bridal
The dream. The dress. The place.
Serving our clientele since 1974
BRIDAL GOWNS • QUINCEAÑERA
BRIDESMAIDS / MOTHER OF THE BRIDE
PROM • TUXEDO RENTALS
AMPLE SELECTION OF PLUS SIZE INVENTORY
1708 S. PAULINA ST. ~ CHICAGO, IL 60608
(312) 666-5904
CMA BRIDAL
109W. State St. | Geneva, IL 60174
By appointment only
847-701-GOWN (4696)
Get Glamorous
Don’t stress about
the dress. Follow
these steps to find
your signature look
By Anna Sachse, CTW Features
With her gorgeous gown, elegant ac-
cessories, sleek coiffure and glowing
visage, the bride is the quintessential
icon of a wedding. But modern wom-
en also want their look to reflect their
individuality. If that pressure has you
in panic, take comfort. These beauty
guidelines will get you feeling both
chic and unique.
DRESS FOR SUCCESS
You typically need to order a gown from
a traditional wedding salon about six
months in advance, so start shopping
around early, visiting the go-to bou-
tiques and shops in your city. If you’re in
a rush, hit up places like David’s Bridal
where you can buy off the rack and walk
out the door, advises Rachel Leonard,
fashion director for Brides magazine. J.
Crew and BHLDN also are good, quick
resources. However, if you have ample
time, you can often get amazing deals on
designer dresses by checking out flash-
sale sites like TheAisleNewYork.com
or RueLaLa.com, or attending a Brides
Against Breast Cancer event. (Note:
dress prices can range anywhere from a
few hundred dollars to a few thousand
or more.)
Another possibility – if you need
flexibility with the timeline, payment
options and design elements – is hav-
ing a custom gown created for you. Or,
for a truly cost-effective way to wear
something unique and meaningful,
have your dressmaker redesign a be-
loved vintage wedding gown into a
new style that feels contemporary.
Regardless, before you settle on
a dress source, it’s helpful to think
about details like the formality of your
event – for example, if you’re having a
church wedding, you should probably
skip that backless number. That said,
keep an open mind – you might be the
avidly anti-strapless type, but it turns
out this popular style is especially flat-
tering for your body type.
Looking for some fashion-forward
leads? Trends in short dresses include
the ’60s trapeze look and a short-in-
the-front/floor-length-in-the-back
hemline, which can really showcase
a fabulous shoe, says Leonard. Also
color on the bridal runways, includ-
ing pale peach, a dark lilac and for the
more gothic bride, black or a black-
and-nude look. Other unconventional
trends include low-draped and sheer
backs, and front or side slits – just be
sure to avoid ankle straps, as they can
make legs look shorter and thicker.
Shortly after you order your dress,
you’ll want to settle on your shoes –
you should bring them to your first fit-
ting, as they may affect the alterations.
It’s possible to push purchasing a wrap
and/or clutch to the last minute, but
you’ll ideally want to decide on any
hair accessories (a veil, fascinator,
hat, crown or clip) and jewelry a few
months prior, as they may impact your
hair and makeup choices.
Copyright © CTW Features
