The Wedding Dress

"Silk,tulle, satin and lace-mere yards of fabric to some, but to every bride are at the heart of a romantic dream -- her wedding dress."

So begins Maria McBride-Mellinger's paean to the wedding dress, illustrated celebration of this most glorious of dresses. A contributing editor at Bride's & Your New Home magazine, the author brings to this gorgeous volume an appreciation not only of style and fashion history, but also of the cultural and personal significance of the wedding gown.

No other garment is as imbued with symbolism and tradition as the wedding dress. From the earliest wedding ceremony, the bride has been dressed in the finest of clothes. Part I, The Wedding Dress in History, traces the development of wedding dresses from the gossamer white linen shifts worn by maidens in ancient Egypt to the delightful and varied creations favored by today's brides. Historical descriptions, vivid paintings, and fabulous photographs take the reader on a journey through wedding gown history, revealing the centuries of meaning that lie behind this special dress, and significance of such accoutrements as the veil, the train, and the bouquet.

Today' bride enjoys as vast array of choices when selecting her own wedding dress. It might be a white silk ball gown with a cathedral train and floor-length veil; or a short, golden lace sheath with a lamé stole and no veil at all; or perhaps a white leather jacket paired with a tulle miniskirt. The stunning photographs in Part II. The Modern Wedding Dress, show that the dress may be short, long, elaborate, simple, formal, informal, white, colorful, or any combination thereof -- as long as it fulfills the bride's own fantasies. Here are explanations of the elements that make each dress wonderful: the details of shape -- from princess-line to sheath; of style -- from neckline to hemline; and of fabrics -- from silk to linen. Here, too, is a superb showcase of the top designers' most enchanting creations that will both delight and inspire the modern bride plus a look behind the workroom door at the creation of the dress from design through painstaking construction to delivery

Part III, Your Wedding Dress, presents the basic considerations that go into choosing a dress: from the details of the wedding itself, such as season and locale, to the bride's own needs, from cut to comfort. Also included are a discussion of the various shades of white, tips on tactics to flatter every figure type, and advice on veils, undergarments, shoes, handbags, jewelry, and bouquets. Since for many brides the wedding dress is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to indulge in the luxury of custom-made clothing, here is a guide to the salon experience. The author offers helpful advice for dressing on the wedding day, and suggestions on how to preserve the gown after it's all over.

About The Author

Maria McBride-Mellinger, author of Bridal Flowers (Little, Brown and Company), was fashion editor at Bride's magazine for five years. She is currently a fashion and decorating stylist, consultant, and writer for national magazines, and contributing editor at Bride's & Your New Home.