Dark Alternatives to the White Wedding Dress

For that sophisticated look a sleek black wedding dress can be ideal. And, unlike many traditional white dresses, the black wedding gown can be adapted to be worn on other occasions.

So how will the concept of a black wedding gown go down with family and friends? Is there still a prejudice towards anything other than the expected white or ivory, or will the black wedding evening dresses for less dress represent an alluring and decadent option for the bride who wants to take her vows in elegant ebony? And is it perhaps time to change the old adage, "Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue," to read "Something old, something new, something borrowed, something black."

The white wedding gown isn the first choice for every bride, many women these days opt to marry in different coloured dresses. Yes, even black, but there still seems to be a school of thought that suggests it not everyone idea of the perfect dress. But if youe a bride to be and a dress as dark as midnight is your choice, youl want to know where to shop for the perfect mysterious black bridal gown.

New York City Bridal Boutiques are quite used to a wide range of requests when it comes to wedding dresses so if you ask for a wedding dress in black you won be nice evening dresses thought odd, in fact there are Bridal Boutiques in New York City that carry ranges with black dresses as part of their options.

And it may surprise those who oppose the idea of anything but white for a bride to learn that up until as late as the 1930s some cultures only considered black as the colour choice for wedding dresses. But this was to do with practicality. A black dress would be more serviceable and could be used again, and kept as a best dress after the wedding.

So black is actually just as traditional in terms of its place in history, as white when it comes to the colour of a wedding dress. That little snippet of information might come in handy when the alternative or even gothic bride wants to persuade a mom or aunt with fixed views of the merits of a gorgeous seductive black gown.

Although she wasn the first bride to wear white, Queen Victoria wedding to her beloved Prince Albert in 1840 had a huge impact on the collective consciousness. And since then the popularity of white wedding gowns continued to grow, especially in higher society. But if you really can turn your back on black, rest assured that the New York City Bridal Boutiques will be able to provide you with something truly beautiful that reflects the sophisticated side of your personality.

Prom Dresses What To Consider When Choosing Your evening dresses buy Look

Prom night is a once in a lifetime experience, one last celebration before graduation and a chance to party with friends who will be moving far away to college in a few months. One of the best parts of prom is in the planning and anticipation. You want to get all the details just right for the special night and there's one purchase that's probably the most important element of all and that is the prom dress.

It can be overwhelming trying to decide on the right dress, but it's also a chance to have fun and let your personality shine in a big way! By taking a little time to plan out your purchase, you can save yourself tons of stress and make the shopping process much easier.

Promtourage is an innovative application from David's Bridal's that acts like your personal virtual prom shopping assistant. Every girl needs a little help when it comes to prom dress shopping, and Promtourage comes through with exclusive online tools that allow you to plan nearly every facet of prom night even before the limos roll up. All you'll need to do is find the right date!

Promtourage offers an interactive virtual shopping tool that lets you create models that replicate you and your friends by choosing the right skin tones, facial features, hairstyles and body sizes. This way you can find the most flattering look. Think about how long it would take to try on hundreds of dresses, in different colors and with various accessories.

Now imagine how quickly you can narrow down your choices to just the right look using this virtual dressing room. Guys aren't left out here either, so you can perfectly coordinate with your date. With message boards, shopping lists to email and the ability to share designs with friends on Facebook and MySpace, there's no limits to the fun and function of this program.

When it comes time to browse styles, an easy way to narrow down your choices is by first browsing by color and then by available sizes. Online, David's Bridal allows you to click on a color and see all the dresses available to you in a specific color and you can also browse through traditional size offerings as well as special sizes for fuller figures.

Once you've narrowed down your selection, it's time to let the fun really begin with a host of accessories to choose from to bring your look from divine to dynamite! Coordinating and choosing the right shoes, jewelry, lingerie, handbag, hair accessories and gloves are all important finishing touches and will add the icing to the cake to any outfit.

When choosing your prom dress it's important to be in the know of the hottest trends and latest fashion happenings. There are some exciting styles being introduced for the new decade and taking one or two of them and making them your own can create a truly modern and fashion-forward look.

Prints take center stage with a wide variety of styles, from exotic and daring animal prints to modern florals and bold geometrics. Another hot look that will suit anyone's prom style is the gorgeous glam look. Here embellishments, transparent fabrics and strapless lace dress classic cuts combine to create prom dresss that look straight off the red carpet.

But you don't need to go with an entirely trendy dress to look modern chic. Prom dresses can also feature small touches of hot trends. Be a little bold with a cut out feature that shows off a little back or waist. These flirty features add a sexy surprise to sophisticated looks. Bows and ruffles are also big and can add a vivacious touch to prom night, while bejeweled necklines come in all shapes from round and halter to keyhole and sweetheart.

Any asymmetrical element will also be hot, so look for straps, necklines and drapings that add architectural elements to the evening dress design. Don't forget to be trendy with your accessories. Load up on rich jewelry (that doesn't have to cost a lot!) and add a glittering handbag for a burst of excitement. Extra-high heels, whether they be platforms or simple strappy styles will give everyone supermodel height. And finish the look off with a beautiful sparkling hair accessory, like a bejeweled headband or crystal comb.

Of course there are a lot of elements to consider when creating your prom night look. But by taking some time to browse at the options available to you and checking out all the hot trends of the moment, you'll be able to make an informed choice. It pays to take into account your body type and skin tone to select a dress that truly flatters your figure and face. After years of school, prom night is the ultimate time to shine, and by picking the best dress for you, the night will truly be a memorable experience.