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***Following here are some notes of fabrics that you may be considering for your perfect wedding gown. How some fabrics suit your body shape and style appear in my Bridal pages but a direct link appears here.

LACE - the most romantic fabric about. Delicate yet dramatic, feminine and flirtatious, this fabric is one of the world's most previous textiles. Just so beautiful for your wedding day.

Chantilly Lace is very fine and delicate needlepoint lace with a sweet scalloped edge.

This gown has hand-beaded white Chantilly lace shimmering over a narrow antique ivory mermaid gown with a sweep train.

Chantilly is a cotton design on nylon netting - expensive but soft and pretty. Often has scalloped edge that can be cut off and re-joined. The floral and scrolled designs that make up the lace are woven onto a fine hexagonal mesh.

ALENCON lace starts with a sheet net back ground. Then flowers and designs are created by needlepoint, and edged with a very heavy cotton or linen thread.
It is defined by its rich dimensional cording outlining the floral designs. This lace is often re-embroidered with pearls, sequins or crystals.

Choose your under fabric carefully for the best effect of this wondrous lace.
To add body to sleeves, mount on to veiling net. Keep seams narrow or match pattern and oversew. Needs a warm iron or steam iron on towel.

LYONS Lace is very like Chantilly - it has a floral design and is made on a very finely woven hexagonal mesh. It is stiffer more than delicate and the pattern is outlined with fine silk or cotton threads.

GUIPURE lace has an almost geometric look, with a large repetitive pattern.
It is created without a net background, instead using built-up layers of thread to create a textured, three-dimensional pattern. Sometimes called Venise lace.

EMBROIDERED NET also called embroidered flouncing is a fine nylon net with bold embroidery with a luxury viscose yarn. Expensive and can be used an an over-fabric. Does not need any decoration.
Too heavy for a veil, but a good choice if you want an instant fabric, with a border design of scalloped edge and wide width for long skirts.

NYLON LACE sometimes called "allover lace" is light weight suitable for veils and over-dress. The lace is not exspensive but needs to be chosen carefully as spaces between flowers, etc are large. Does not crease and is washable and motifs can be cut from the fabric and applied to plain fabrics or plain net.

ORGANZA is a fine crisp transparent silk fabric for over-dress, sleeves, veils, etc.
It does not lie flat when gathered, so use same width as under-fabric and gather both materials together. Creases and can be expensive.
Looks great over something like Moire. Use cheaper organza for supporting style features like sleeves and frills and petticoats.
Needs a warm iron

POLYESTER ORGANZA is crisp inexpensive transparent fabric that is hand washable and does not crease.
Good for over-fabric or a big sash, bow, collar, etc.

MOIRE is thick dense fabric with heavy crosswise yarn giving it a ribbed appearance.

Moire has a characteristic water-mark pattern on the right side. Can be hand-washed and is usually acetate or acetate with nylon

This beautiful gown (pictured) has a full Organza skirt with a sweep train. The bodice features Guipure lace with scattered glass crystals and a sweetheart neckline.

SILK CHIFFON is a soft floaty fabric, plain or printed.
Great for elegant styles such as those with very full sleeves, cape collars, or full skirts. Complement it with a good under-fabric. Use it with a strapless bodice beneath.
Is expensive, but does not crease. Do not wash.
Needs a very warm iron, and can also be used for binding, sashes, and deep neckline frills.

Frock (left) has an unusual sleeve/cape combination which this fabric would suit.

VOILE is a lightweight sheer plain-weave fabric with good draping qualities. Can be cotton, polyester, nylon or a mixture of fibres. Can be used for over-dresses, sheer sleeves and can also be featured with pintucks, smocking, frills, and hand-embroidery.
Some Voile has a woven pattern of stripes, spots or checks. Needs to be pressed with a steam or warm iron

This beautiful gown (right) is Silk Satin & Organza with strapless embroidered bodice, finished with pearl and crystal beads at neck and waist. Skirt has a full box pleat.

SILK SATIN is a soft luxurious beautiful creamy fabric, sometimes called Slipper Satin.
Is expensive but creases very little. Needs care and hand-sewing and needs lining. Frays a little but drapes and gathers very well.
Can be featured as narrow binding, quilting, beading, piping and rouleau.

THAI SILK is an expensive thick heavy rough-surfaced silk. Beautiful with a distinctive lustre. Crisp enough for big sleeves, crinoline skirts and can be dry-cleaned only.
Thai Silk needs to be lined, and does fray.
Needs a warm iron, and can be featured with deep frills, top stitching, beads, pearls, bold embroidery, and quilting.

Finding a bridesmaids dress that everyone likes and that suits every body shape and skin colour tone, takes some thought and tact.
There is, now, no hard rule about having to be identical in style or colour.

Stay away from fabrics that screech "bridesmaid" and look for comfortable fabrics like stretch velvet, chiffon, matte jersey, even soft cotton.

The style does not have to be identical to that of the Bride, but needs to match the formality of the bride's gown. They can be sleeveless or sleeved, either can be short sleeved with one long sleeved. Its a personal choice, so long as they blend.

Perhaps one of your Bridesmaids is very tall, another very petite, and perhaps another a little plump. I have a web page titled "No Bodys Perfect" where you can see ideas on body shapes and the clothing styles to suit. (click here)

Some brides let their bridesmaids pick a colour of choice, in a single style. Maybe all in toning autumn tones, OR maybe the colours of the rainbow, OR soft pastels OR bright jewel brights.

Some wear the same style in different colours, and some wear the same colour in different styles.

I have a web page titled Colour Imaging where I show a little on colours to suit skin tones. (click here).

There are quite a few "styles" that suit all body shapes, and there are particular colour tones that suit all or most skin tones. Check out my other web sites mentioned and get some ideas. Princess or A-line and empire styles are flattering to most shapes (as in above photo). For more ideas have a look at my Bridesmaids Pages on My Bridal Site (click here).

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