Chicago Wedding & Party Resource 2018 Fall / Winter

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FASHION & ACCESSORIES
52 | FALL & WINTER 2018 CHICAGO WEDDING & PARTY RESOURCE
(cont. from page 50)
STAY AWAY FROM ANYTHING
TOO TRENDY
Sure, it’s great to be trendy, but what
happens when trends fade into fads?
Kpoene’ Kofi-Nicklin, custom dress
designer and owner of Chicago’s
Mignonette Bridal, regularly cautions brides
about following trends too closely, finding
its best to avoid trends.
If you keep seeing a certain dress style in
magazines, Kofi-Nicklin says, it might end
up feeling dated when you look back on it in
wedding photos 20 years from now.
“We do a lot of heirloom gown revamping
so we see a ton of puffy-sleeved, high-
necked dresses that are all from the same
period, the 70s and 80s, and it’s because
brides shopped for what was trendy,” the
dress designer says.
INCORPORATE CLASSIC ELEMENTS THAT
NEVER GO OUT OF STYLE
Mignonette, which Kofi-Nicklin opened
in 2011, offers brides a variety of options
when it comes to dresses: choose from
a collection of gowns including the
latest designs and perennial Mignonette
favorites that brides can try on in-store;
work with Kofi-Nicklin to create a unique
gown made just for you; or go with
heirloom revamping to modernize a dress
that’s been in the family.
No matter the route, Kofi-Nicklin starts by
having brides try on a variety of shapes
and styles. For those looking for classic
elements, she says
A-line gowns are always a timeless shape
while details like tulle skirts, and fabrics like
Chantilly or Alencon lace, or silks like satin,
chiffon, or organza never go out of style.
“Anything with strategic sheer panels,
super-tight mermaid skirts, or anything
too boho will probably not stand the test
of time -- and might horrify Grandma!”
Kofi Nicklin says.
Aisle Chic’s Russell agrees that lace
elements have always been in style. “From
the wedding day looks of Grace Kelly to
Kim Kardashian, lace can be styled very
differently, but it will always feel bridal,”
she says.
BREATHE MODERN LIFE INTO A CLASSIC
To create a dress that’s a literal
interpretation of modern yet classic,
brides can look at restoring and
customizing mom or grandma’s wedding
dress. Working with heirloom gowns is
the best because the dress is already
special to the bride and her family, says
Kofi-Nicklin. While wedding dresses are
always special, shes says, an heirloom
gown is a symbol of even more than
that -- it’s a piece of family history.
To modernize a vintage dress, Kofi-
Nicklin says it can often be as simple as
removing a puffy sleeve (goodbye, 80s
look) or lowering a neckline to bring a
gown back to life.
PERFECT STYLES FOR BRIDESMAIDS
AND THE MOTHER OF THE BRIDE
Don’t forget about the special women
in your life when creating a vision for a
modern, yet classic wedding. There’s
always that stereotype of bridesmaids
being forced to buy a dress they’d never
be caught wearing again, but that doesn’t
need to be a reality. Because current
bridesmaid dress trends like jewel tones
and mismatched dresses could go out
of style, focus on finding a look that
both you and your girls can see loving in
photos for years to come. For mothers
of the bride and groom, there are also a
variety of looks that can help moms look
trendy and Mary’s Designer
Bridal Boutique in Annapolis, Maryland,
mother of the bride dresses are the
specialty. Mary’s notes that modern
(cont. on page 54)
So you’re thinking about
another dress –or two!
Here’s when it works to
have an extra out t
during the evening.
One day, two dresses? Why not!
Brides are loving the idea of a
quick change, but rst consider
why you want to make a switch:
Is your heart simply torn between
two dresses, or is that full ball
gown you love for the ceremony
just not conducive to dancing
later on?
If there’s room in your budget
(consider the cost of additional
alterations) and wedding-day
timeline, it can be a fun way to
make a double fashion statement
– just make sure you get plenty of
photos in both frocks.
A simpler idea is to change up
your accessories, like wearing a
traditional veil for the ceremony
and a irty feather headpiece at
the reception, or going from a
natural makeup look during the
day to a sultry smoky eye or bold
red lip as the party progresses.
Second s and T hird s