CityView Magazine

FEATURE Bling By courtney phillips TO Burlap Wedding fashions that wow guests and attendants T Among the many exciting and organic decisions a bride hey are an elite force, often takmakes in advance of her wedding, these are not the most unen for granted and, if they're complicated and it goes without saying that her betrothed doing their job correctly, al- wants as little input as possible. ways overshadowed. Historically, old Roman law suggested that bridesmaids Traditionally, their armor has been weak: chiffon, dyeable shoes and flowers. Their weapons were an endless supply of bobby pins and flammable hairstyles. Yet, they are first to venture down an aisle adorned with appointments, showers, cocktails, bachelorette parties and expenses. Their one reward? A blissfully wedded friend. They are the bridesmaids. To be chosen for such duty is the highest honor bestowed upon a friend, and in the South, any number under twenty is socially acceptable. Best Dress In exchange for their unending support in the months and days leading up to the 'big day,' a bridesmaid wishes only for a silhouette-flattering dress in a becoming color, a fresh bouquet and gentle guidelines regarding hair, makeup and shoe selection. and groomsmen be dressed identically to the bride and the groom to confuse ill-wishing evil spirits, in which case, the bride would likely be most unconcerned with making her friends feel special and pretty. Today, she wrestles with a different set of challenges: the figure of her friends, their confidence in current styles, financial constraints and practicality for the wedding venue. A most lofty and rarely accomplished goal of a bride is to choose a dress that her bridesmaids might be able to wear again. Unfortunately, the aforementioned constraints have made functionality almost impossible, until now. More than a range of colors or styles or fabric, it appears that this season's overarching theme is versatility. Fortunately for bridesmaids everywhere, customs are changing in their favor. In the last few years, it has become vogue for a bride to select multiple styles by one designer in the same color and let CityViewNC.com | 55

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