Mismatched Bridesmaids: Trendy or future classic?

 

     

      Mismatched bridesmaid's dresses is an emerging trend in the bridal industry. Whether or not this is just a trend that will vanish within years or a new classic look is up for debate. Classic matching dresses or the mismatched bridesmaid's look both require guidelines in order to keep peace and organization for the bride and the bridal party.

         The classic matched dresses look allows uniformity and makes the decision clear without the fear of someone picking a dress not suitable to the guideline. The bridal party all wearing the same color palate and dress does draw the eye in towards the beautiful bride in white, but everyone will be looking at her anyway!

        Considering the plummet of the economy, budget-conscious brides have been choosing the mismatched dress look. Considering many of the girls have to travel to get to the shower, bachelorette, and wedding parties, a majority of money is spent on travel, gifts, accessories, shoes, and so much more just to be a part of the wedding. Allowing the girls to choose their own budget for their dress is helpful so they can put more money into other ventures.

  

      Here are some guidelines to help the bride with a successful mismatched look:
-Require a fabric. Tell the ladies that they all must choose a certain fabric such as chiffon, satin, dupioni silk, etc. This will still allow some uniformity and recognition as the bridal party.

-Require a color. It can be a specific fabric and color so they will all look even more similar and close to the classic matching look while still allowing them to choose their own dress. It does look beautiful allowing a certain color and different looks as well because it still looks uniform and formal, but that is for the brave bride that trusts her ladies in the wedding! For example, the dresses pictured below are purple but all different fabrics and styles. When pulled off correctly it looks very unique and glam!

-Require a style...or not! If you want to stay uniform by making everyone wear strapless, but still allow different fabrics, that still works. If you want the ladies to choose from different styles, that is an option. Strapless, halter top, one-shoulder, wide sleeves, etc. are all options for a bridesmaid's dress. Different body types look flattering in certain styles of dresses as well. If you have a large bridal party, allowing the different styles is desired. A pear shaped woman will not look the same in a dress as a top heavy woman, so this is a way to make every body type happy!

-Require a brand. Some women are not familiar with companies that carry a wide variety of fabrics and colors geared for a bridesmaid. At our boutique we carry Bill Levkoff, Belsoie, Jim Hjelm, Watters, etc. so choosing a designer may help the ladies in the decision process. The bride could even choose a few style numbers and have the ladies in the bridal party choose from the bride's selection. For example, the Bill Levkoff dresses below are all chiffon sweetheart dresses that can be similar yet different options for the ladies.

-Require length. Everyone having long or short will make the dresses less distracting. Long dresses are typically more expensive because of the added fabric but they will cover the shoes which can be one less thing the bride has to coordinate, the ladies could choose shoes they already own. Short dresses are functional for places like here where we live in Charleston since it is so hot here and hotter longer! Requiring a color of shoe is something to consider so someone does not choose a distracting shoe with the short dress while still allowing them to choose from their own shoe collection!

-If the mismatch look is too complicated for you, then allowing the ladies to choose their own jewelry, shoes, handbag or hairstyle is a way to be trendy and different while remaining traditional.

 

 

 

 

 

       Sometimes all these decisions are overwhelming for brides but have a vision for how you want the bridal party to look and giving direction is appreciated by the bridal party. Often too many opinions are given whether the bride chooses the dress for them or if they choose their own dresses, just remember it is the bride's day and her vision.

      Allowing the ladies to choose their own dress almost guarantees they will wear it again. Since they personally chose it, there shouldn't be any complaints about never wearing it again!

     Whether or not you consider the mismatched look to be a trend or future classic is up to you to decide. It makes sense for the economy now but in a few years hopefully when the economy is more balanced, maybe the classic look will be more common again. As long as it timeless (think '80's poofy sleeves and scary accessories like umbrellas eek!) then you will never regret your decision to be budget conscious and open mided about bridesmaids dresses.

       

     Either way, you want the experience of looking for bridesmaids dresses to be a fun one while having everyone involved and feel special.