Sunday, July 8, 2012

Wedding Gown Pet Peeve

I love weddings and everything associated with them.  One of my pet peeves though is how designers of bridal gowns have made it challenging for women to buy wedding gowns that are not strapless.  It is almost as if the industry outlawed wedding gowns with sleeves or at least straps.

Wedding gowns that are strapless are not complimentary on many women.  If you have a big bosom or if you are just generally overweight a strapless gown will make you look like a stuffed pepper.  If you have big upper arms a strapless gown will showcase it.  If you have a thick waist a strapless gown will showcase that as well.  Even women who are very skinny have to be careful.  If you have really boney looking shoulders or small breasts a strapless gown is not the most complimentary.  

I have spoken with women who were recently married and they said that some stores did not have a single gown with sleeves on it.  They simply did not carry wedding gowns with sleeves anymore.  This has been the case for the past decade or more.  I know that styles come and go but this trend has gone on for way too long.  The decision to wear a strapless gown or one with sleeves should be left up to the bride.   When a woman goes in search of her wedding dress she should have a huge choice of gowns that are not strapless.

I did a search of Google images for wedding dresses and all of the results were for strapless gowns.  I then refined my search for wedding dresses with sleeves and came up with some beautiful results.

           This is totally stunning and completely elegant.

 This wedding gown is the color of blush pink.  It is great for a summer wedding.  While it does not have sleeves it is not strapless either.



This gown has a classic look to it.

 Another classic gown that is great for a summer wedding.










 This gown is similar to the one above it.















 Back view

 Front view


8 comments:

Anonymous said...

You are so right about the lack of sleeved options for brides. I am so tired of the strapless ballgown look. What I think is funny is when a bride says that she wants a "traditional" dress and she means the Vera Wang-style strapless ballgown! I guess that means I'm old.

Trudy said...

I've noticed that trend, too, and wondered about it. I got married ages ago (can't believe it's been 20 years- gasp!) before that strapless style really started to dominate. You'll never guess what style dress I had - I think it would be late Victorian. Sheer lace with satin buttons down the back and high lace collar; slightly mutton sleeved with lace to the wrist.
The dresses you show are gorgeous. Sleeveless is fine for some (hich mostly tries to be sexy, I think), but I adore anything that screams feminine and romantic.

Collar City Brownstone said...

Hi Trudy,

I think that strapless wedding gowns look great when they are on the hanger but do not always translate well when actually worn. If a bride really wants to wear a strapless gown no matter what she looks like in it that is her right though. I just don't care for how the industry made strapless gowns dominate giving brides very limited choices for sleeves versus strapless.

I am sure that you were a beautiful bride. I would love to see a photo if you don't mind sharing.

Kirby Carespodi said...

When I got married in 1983, I wanted strapless, but there weren't any strapless gowns and I wound up with long sleeves. Now that my daughter is looking at wedding gowns (she is not even engaged yet), I think there's nothing prettier than a cap or short puffed sleeve, but she wants sleeveless.

Collar City Brownstone said...

Hi Kirby,

I love wedding dresses with short puffed sleeves too. There are pretty dresses that are sleeveless, but since I have thin arms I prefer a dress with some type of sleeve.

Sharon said...

The first pic is very Grace Kelly, and the 9th very Lauren Bacall. Both are lovely, and much more flattering than most strapless gowns.

Iron Chef Kosher! said...

The reason strapless gowns are so prevalent is laziness/greed: they are easier & cheaper to make. I am hoping that the Duchess of Cambridge has given the industry a nice boot up the backside in that respect.

Collar City Brownstone said...

The Duchess of Cambridge was gorgeous in her wedding gown. It is well over a year since Kate married her Prince and so far I am not noticing a turn in the strapless gown trend.