Couture Fashion Week – Isabel Zapardiez – Couture Bridal Designs
On Friday, February 16th, I attended the fashion presentation of Spanish designer Isabel Zapardiez, who unveiled a selection of stunning couture bridal designs inside the iconic Grand Ballroom of the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City.
Every model emerged as poised goddesses draped in silk satin, muslin, organza, tulle and brocade. Embellishments of Chantilly lace, crystals, mother-of-pearl and silver added to the drama and ethereal feel of the gowns they adorned. These creations had movement and body, instead of the usual stiffness of traditional wedding gowns. And, even though the fabrics were dancing in the air as the models walked, the silhouettes of the designs still consciously hugged and accentuated the feminine figures of the women.
What to do with your Bridesmaid dress
It seems that in throughout pop culture there has always been some stigma associated with bridesmaid dresses. When a female gets the invite to join her friend’s bridal party, she can’t help but feel honored, excited, but then fearful…of the bridesmaid dress she will have to wear.
When I think of bridesmaid dresses I think of the scene in the movie 27 dresses in which Katherine Hegel’s character opens a closet full of the most hideous gowns she’s had to wear at various weddings. It’s no secret that some bridesmaids have to spend money on ugly dresses that they may never wear again, but refuse to part with, because the dresses are never cheap. So, instead of tossing the expensive, ill-fitting, ugly dress, it remains in their closet as a reminder of how devoted they are to their friend, and how annoyed they are that they had to spend money on the frock.
But, why have some many women throughout history been forced to wear the most horrid gowns for the sheer amusement of their engaged friend? I’ll tell you why. No bride wants any other woman in the room looking more beautiful than her, so she makes it her duty, her passion, to make sure that you look like nothing more than…a bridesmaid. Don’t take offense, because when your day comes, you’ll probably do it to.
In the meantime, if you own a bridesmaid dress that you longer wish to hoard, head on over to newlymaid.com. This company allows former bridesmaids to mail in their hated gowns in exchange for a discount on a little black dress. I should also point out, that they also accept dresses from various social occasions as well such as prom and mother-of-the –bride outfits. When they receive your dress, they recycle the fabric to manufacture new garments or they donate them to a charitable organization, Clothes4Souls, which gives clothes to people in need all over the world.
If you want to have more fun with your bridesmaid dress, head over to Minnesota, which is hosting their first-ever Bridesmaid Bar Crawl on Friday, June 17th. Attendee’s purchase a ticket to wear their old taffeta masterpiece while enjoying drink specials offered at bars, pubs, and clubs in the downtown area. They also have the opportunity to enter a raffle to win some cool prizes. Proceeds from the event benefits Operation Glass Slipper, which provides prom dresses to underserved teens. Learn about donating prom dresses here»
Help an underserved teen go to prom: Donate your old dresses
The highlight of my high school existence was getting ready for prom. Months before the big day I went shopping and found the perfect dress: a pale pink mermaid style gown with black bows adorning the bottom. Now, years later the possibility of me ever attending another prom is pretty much zero. Even if I had to go to a formal or charity event that required me to dress up, I don’t foresee myself pulling out my prom dress from eight years ago, as my style has since evolved. Plus, there’s also the chance that the dress no longer fits me. So, instead of throwing it away or allowing it to collect dust in the back of my closet, the best solution is to donate the dress, which I only wore once, and will never wear again.
Every year, thousands of girls look forward to their prom; but, in these tough economic times some girls may have to struggle in order to be able to afford the cost of the big day. They have to pay for tickets for the event, transportation, an after party, and most importantly, the dress. For some girls, finding the gown of their dreams is the most exciting part of getting ready for prom, and there are many organizations out there that give undeserved teens the opportunity to find beautiful dresses free of charge. Help make their dreams come true by donating formal wear that you no longer want.
I’ve compiled a list of organizations that accept dress donations. This list is not exhaustive, and please feel free to suggest additions.
