Clinton News-Record, 1985-2-27, Page 36Showcase '85, page
Brides are older and more sophisticated - the executive bride
clear — she is a confident shopper." Ms.
Katz notes that there are also many "ex-
ecutive brides" who are "encore," or
repeat, brides.
To serve these women, JCPenney and
other bridal retailers are showing a wider
range of sophisticated, trend -setting choices
in their new collection.
The spring, 1985, bridal fashions at Pen-
neyreflect influences from both Italian and
French designers. Lustrous embroideries
and fine laces are much in evidence.
Ms. Katz notes, "The bride-to-be today
has an image of the traditional that is not
the popular one of 'sweet, feminine, frill' —
it is more refined with emphasis on opul;nt
Tarn to page 11
Here come the brides — older and more
sophisticated than ever! According to bridal
industry figures, of the more than 1.5 million
women marrying in 1983 for the first time,
one-fifth were over 25 and, of those, one-
third were over 30.
Anyone who has paid attention to wedding
invitations over the past few years will also
realize that brides are not only older, they
are also frequently executive brides. These
are brides with full careers from which the
celebration of marriage is a brief, yet im-
portant pause in their hectic lifestyles.
Brides in their mid-20s are more likely to
be career women, and this trend peaks with
brides aged 30. Both their wedding celebra-
tions and their bridal ensembles are more
Wedding customs
from page 6
trousseau and planning the details of the
wedding.
Bridesmaids are no longer needed to aid
in the uncomfortable donning of the corset,
and in most cases the bride's train trails
gracefully behind her as she walks down the
aisle.
Rather than serving as ladies in waiting,
today's bridal attendants are chosen by the
bride as special friends whom she wants to
have standing with her on her momentous
day.
The enormous floral arrangements which
sometimes threatened to dwarf the Vic-
torian bride have given way to smaller,
more refined bouquets, with the bride usual-
ly carrying an arrangement of her favorite
flowers.
• While elements of Victorian wedding
customs are still present in.Modern
ceremonies, they have changed and been
adapted over the course of the years. No
longer is the phrase "love, honor and obey"
automatically uttered by every bride.
Men are also becoming much more in-
volved in making the wedding plans. Gone
are the days when the bride and her family
automatically took charge of all the ar-
rangements and decisions. From helping to
choose a china pattern to picking the wed-
ding site, the groom can now be involved in
all aspects of the pre -wedding planning.
No matter what the setting chosen by the
bride and groom, the freedom to design a
wedding day that fulfills their idea of a
dream come true will result in a happy and
memorable day.
Maids *_re
glamorous
Dressed in ruffles of organza, layers of
shimmering taffeta or yards of flowing chif-
fon, today's bridesmaids can be almost as
glamorous as the bride herself.
When choosing a dress appropriate for,
bridesmaids,, there are no rules but those
chosen by the bride. Although it can be dif-
' fjcult to select a colour and style that all the
bridesmaids love, today's choice of looks
makes the task a bit easier.
For starters, you can opt for one colour
and fabric thoughout the bridal party and let
bridesmaids select their own styles. This
seems to be an increasingly popular trend
and it allows the women to choose dresses
they can wear again after the big day.
This season, the big news in bridal wear,
for brides and bridesmaids, is bareness at
the neck, often to an off the shoulder sleeve.
Ruffles, varying from bold to delicate; have
made a comeback, and often adorn the
bodice of a low cut dress.
Fabric choices run the gamut from chif-
fon and organza to silk and taffeta, but syn-
thetics play an important role as they stand
up well for the occasion.
sophisticated than their younger counter-
parts' choices, even if the older bride is
marrying for the first time.
This changed picture of the American
bride is not an overnight phenomenon. It is
the result of social and economic changes
shifting through society for the past two
decades — and it is certainly making
changes in the bridal fashion business.
Editor -in -Chief of Modern Bride, Cele
Goldsmith Lalli, comments, "Older brides
often choose lace and train's -when marrying
for the first time. However, the type of gown
an executive woman selects is likely to be
more highly styled. For bridal designers
and retailers, this fine line has been a
fascinating challenge."
She adds, "Today's career woman has a
very different perspective concerning her
wedding plans than a young woman just out
of school — but she does want to look very
special with just the perfect dash of tradi-
tion."
Confident shoppers
Darlene Katz, buyer of bridal gowns for
the JCPenney Company, observes, " The
new brides want it all! They want their
careers, their perfect wedding, a spouse and
family — and they. wjaflt happiness and
fulfillment, beginning with the gown they
select from us.
`This career bride in the throes of wed-
ding planning is an exciting customer. Her
ideas are specific and her vision is quite
The
INTRODUCES
Mother of the
Bride & Groom
We have a wide selection of
Mother of the Bride and
Groom, as well ac idnsmaid
dresses which wou'd suit your
wedding needs.
Our dresses are available in
double chiffon and seven
beautiful pastel shades in long
(with matching half slips) and
short to match that carefully
selected wedding dress.
"Where Quality And Service Come First"
The
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32 Shoppers square, coderich 524-9431
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