Choosing a dress for your bridesmaids can be quite an adventure. Especially if you eschew the traditional bridal party look of 10 of your closest friends all dressed the same, down to their earrings and shoes.

There’s a relatively new trend (relative to the decades where women dressed their best friends in identical dresses) to have a coordinated bridal party that isn’t too matchy-matchy. Depending on how willing you are to relinquish control and leave the bridesmaids’ style up to your friends, there is a spectrum of ways to incorporate this trend.

The boldest way to achieve this is to pick a color (or color palette) and let your bridesmaids choose their own dresses. You can also make sure your girls are all on the same page by choosing a specific fabric along with the color(s). This gives the wedding party a cohesive look without forcing everyone to dress the same. It is also the best way to ensure that your girls have dresses that they love and can actually wear again. But make sure to choose a color that is flattering and is easily available so that your ‘maids won’t tear out their hair trying to find a dress they like or be resigned to the one dress that actually comes in that color.

Here are eight dresses all from Nordstrom that would work beautifully together. Top (from left): Adrianna Papell ($83.90), Donna Ricco ($158), Maggy London ($138), Adrianna Papell ($78.90)
Bottom (from left): Maggie London ($128), Maggie London ($158), Maggie London ($178), Maggie London ($138)

To let your bridesmaids choose their own dresses, though, you have to be a brave woman whose ’maids have great style. Or, if you’ve got plenty of time on your hands and love to shop, you can go dress shopping which each of your ’maids to make sure that all of their individual looks will work together. If you don’t have the moxie or the patience, there are more subtle ways to individualize your ’maids’ looks.

After their dresses, the most eye-catching part of your bridesmaids’ ensemble will be their bouquets. Have your florist design slightly different bouquets for each of your bridesmaids. Depending on the size of your bridal party, you can have each of their bouquets each composed of different blooms that are in your bouquet. Or you can have them carry unique bouquets in the hues of your wedding colors. If your colors are purple and green, one girl could carry bouquets of purple freesias and green hydrangea, a second lavender sweet peas and “green envy” Echinacea and the third agapanthus and cymbidium orchids. Be creative (or let your florist be, that’s what you pay them for), but make sure the bouquets compliment your own and all look harmonious together.

You can also let them choose their other accessories. You can suggest a type of jewelry (gold, silver, beads) or style (antique, modern, simple) and then set them free. Oh, and definitely let them choose their own shoes! It’s much more important that they’re comfortable than that they are all wearing the same cute heels. You want them on the dance floor, not hobbling around because straps were cutting into their ankles all during the ceremony. Besides, no one is going to notice what shoes they’re wearing anyway.

Or you can have your bridesmaids wear the same dress in the same color, but have them each wear it differently. How? Well, The Dessy Group has created the twist wrap dress.

The twist wrap dress comes in both a floor-length and short version and is available in twelve different colors. The ways to wear the dress are only limited by your imagination. Have a party to figure out the best way for each of them to wear it. The ways to wear the dress are limited only by your imagination. Besides letting your ’maids create their own looks, these dresses, made of matte jersey pack well and can be shipped in an astonishing 7-10 business days, which, for those of you not familiar with timelines for ordering bridesmaids dresses, is in a heartbeat.

So, gather your girls and let the adventure begin.

Happily Ever After,

{top picture from Michéle M. Waite Photography}

When I first got a glimpse of the many, many sartorial floral bouquets that spilled across the Spring 2009 runway, I immediately thought of that scene in the Devil Wears Prada when Miranda Priestly basically shoots down a fashion editor for suggesting the magazine incorporate new floral patterns in a spring spread.
Miranda: “Florals..for spring? Groundbreaking.”

Well, actually..I wouldn’t go as far as to say the new florals are groundbreaking, but here’s what they aren’t (thankfully): washed-out, pastel, fatiguing.

Spring’s flowers have a bit of 80s big-color allure..some even seem downright stimulating.

On the Runway..

Oscar de la Renta Spring 09

Oscar de la Renta Spring 09

Oscar de la Renta Spring 09

Oscar de la Renta Spring 09

Tracy Reese Spring 09

Tracy Reese Spring 09

Marc by Marc Jacobs Spring 09

Reality…

Heavenly Couture Red Rose Fitted Spaghetti Strap Dress — $17.95

Get Heavenly

A floaty ivory number by Heavenly Couture — $17.95

Heavenly Couture Ivory Dress

Heavenly Couture Flowy Black Floral Summer Dress — $17.95

Heavenly Couture Black Floral Summer Dress

If you haven’t heard of Modcloth.com, get clicking.

Modcloth.com Floral District Dress — $74.99

Modcloth.com Floral District Dress

Modcloth.com Aloha dress — $74.99

Modcloth.com Aloha Dress

Modcloth.com Grassy Meadow Glam dress — $59.99

Modcloth.com Grassy Meadow Glam Dress

Who knew? Nine West makes more than shoes — Sleeveless Floral Dress — $134.00

Nine West Sleeveless Floral Dress

Kensie Floral-Print Sleeveless Dress with Sash Belt — $98.00

Kensie Floral-Print Sleeveless Dress

Three Forever 21 tops that brim with bohemian wildflowers:

Fab Floral Chiffon Top — $12.50

Forever 21 Fab Floral Top

Forever 21 Floral Chiffon Kimono Top — $19.80

Forever 21 Floral Chiffon Kimono Top

Forever 21 Floral Portrait Chiffon Top — $17.80

Forever 21 Floral Portrait Chiffon Top

One vivid flower packs a powerful punch.
Democracy Sleeveless V-Neck Flower-Print Dress — $126.75

Democracy

A flattering high-waisted skirt coupled with just a peek of flower — Love Tease — $69.00

Love Tease Short-Sleeve Floral Dress

There’s nothing like a shift dress to make girly flowers look grown up:

AGB Sleeveless Belted Floral Print Sheath Dress — $64.00

AGB Floral Sheath Dress

Maggy London Floral Print Dress — $120.00

Maggy London

I would pair this one with metallic sandals and gold earrings..so casual and chic..Donna Morgan Floral Matte Jersey Dress — $120.00

Donna Morgan

Old Navy Women’s Cinch-Waist Sundress — $29.50

Old Navy

Old Navy Women’s Floral Crinkle-Chiffon Tops — $26.50

Old Navy

Avoid inducing nausea in those around you by keeping this bag away from other floral items — Old Navy Women’s Floral Canvas Hobos — $16.50

Old Navy

Oh my goodness. These Heather Clutches from Madimports.net are on sale for only 29.99. I want.

Madimports.net Floral Clutch

J-Crew Metallic Flower Belt — 68.00

J-Crew Metallic Flower Belt

Nelda’s Vintage Clothing floral black skirt from the 1970s — $25.00. Measurements: Waist: 28″ Hips: Full Length: 29″

Nelda's Vintage

This 1960s Blouse from Nelda’s Vintage Clothing is brand new — $30.00 Bust: 30″ Waist: Full Length: 21″ Sleeves: 13.5″

Nelda's Vintage

How cool is this? Urban Outfitters Chiffon Leaves Back Applique Tank — $38.00

Urban Outfitters

This gorgeous piece, which is made from vintage crystals, glass leaves and vintage lucite flowers from West Germany, was inspired by a trip to the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens. Rubytone is an amazing indie designer. $48.00

Rubytone

Old Navy Maxi Dress - Front

Old Navy Floral Maxi - back

Ok, I’m going to  just start posting these on my blog so that all of you can check/read it at the same place because I can’t keep up with the individual emails. Alot of us are going to weddings this fall, and I’ve fallen in love with the evening and cocktail gowns at Nordstrom – AND have found alot of them on ebay! I’ll post photos, then the link.

Maggy London, size 12 click here for ebay listing

lol. just seconds after i published my previous post, my friends started calling me. do they know about my blog or something???? i totally anonymous-ed it.

lol, nah.

we have an important event tomorrow. one of our best friends is getting married.

i don’t really want her to get married since she’d be hanging with other married people after that. i’m about 4 or 5 years younger than her but i still feel like i’m losing her. i didn’t even have much time to bond with her yet. there’re too many people in the group to have a one-on-one time with her.

anyway, blessings and well wishes to her, i guess.

i went dress hunting today. it is by far the most expensive piece of clothing i’ve bought in my life.

i have a full day tomorrow. seriously, last night and today were my only off days. i have been sleeping 3 hours a night.

Years ago, I read an article about a seaside wedding in one of my favorite mags, Coastal Living(CL). The bridal palette featured in the article was black and white and the bridesmaids could choose their own dress to wear. I bookmarked that idea in my brain for whenever my day would come.

Fast forward 5 years and I will be using that same black/white bridesmaid idea featured in CL for my wedding. My bridesmaids can pick their own dress (all black or black/white) in any style or fabric they choose, knee to tee length. I love that they have the chance to find something that suits their body shape. Hopefully, the dress they choose won’t wind up in the purgatory section of their closets. You know, that section in the back of the closet, reserved for those items that are somewhat special but you will most likely never wear again. I guess that is what storage or eBay is for…

Here are few dress styles that I have come across that I love. I’ll post more as I find them.

Maggy London available at Nordstrom.

Vera Wang @ Bluefly. Shown in navy but I love the cut, the ruffle sleeves and ruffle on the bottom.

Elie Tahari, @ Bluefly

a playful Betsey Johnson number