Belle of the Ball
{ Getting Gussied - Beauty, Not a Beast }
Belle of the Ball
You don't have to be wearing a gunnysack to green up your gown. Look for surprisingly slinky (or refined, if that's more your thing) fabrics that are easy on the earth.
Green Gowns - A collection of different brands using sustainable materials for dresses.
Deborah Lindquist - Check out Deb's couture bustier with skirt and train.
Rene Geneva Design - Beautiful, superinventive bridal corsets (and dresses) made from hemp silk that you can then rock on your wedding night with your undies and even postwedding with jeans.
Junky Styling - Customized dresses, gowns, and suits reconfigured from vintage clothing.
Go vintage - Reusing a dress is even better than sustainable fabrics, since you don't need any new materials and they don't take any energy to produce. (See "Old Dress, New Tricks" side bar for info on how to find a killer vintage bridal gown.)
Old Dress, New Tricks
From our pal Summer Bowen, founder of eco-fashion online boutique BTC Elements: five tips for picking a vintage gown.
- Consider going tea length. If you've found the perfect dress, but it's too short, see what it looks like pinned up a few inches. Casual dresses: Try trimming just below the knee. Formal frocks: Go for a high-low hem that's slightly longer in the back. Pair with some great heels.
- Vintage dresses have wacky sizing (ladies were teeny back when). If you're buying online, be sure to ask for all of the exact measurements, including shoulders. Err on the larger side so you can tailor it to fit if needed.
- Know your budget before you shop. A great vintage dress can cost the same, if not more, than a new one. Leave spending room for a pro tailor ($75-$400) and pro cleaning ($100+).
- Before you hand over your hard earned Benjamins, inspect every part of the gown. Look for fabric deterioration, mold, torn lace, and stains, all of which can be extremely hard to repair or hide.
- Once you've committed to the vintage look, accessorize it in an equally eco way. Borrow Grammy's jewelry, match it with a secondhand veil, or pull a bouquet together with vintage ribbon and roses from your neighbor's yard.
