Text by Jo Ross
Photo's From Spring 2003 Taiza Collection

As in every facet of the fashion market, there is a driving force as to what the next big trends inbridal attire will be. When it comes to the actual fabrics, shapes, and trimmings of the bridal gowns, this holds true as well. The trends shown in the International shows that take place in Paris, Milan, New York, and London determine what we then get in all of the stores across the country. This ensures that the same magical qualities of these couture creations are made in affordable designs available to Louisville brides.

For the past twenty years I have attended many fashion designer shows in New York and Paris. I have the pleasure of seeing thirty or more shows, at least twice a year. The February shows feature the styles for the following fall, and the September shows feature the styles for the following spring. Haute couture designers such as Oscar de la Renta, Karl Lagerfeld, Carolina Herrara, John Galianos, Calvin Klein, Tom Ford, and Donna Karan design wedding gowns in addition to their other lines, and sometimes they even end their shows with a bridal gown as their pièce de résistance. Vera Wang and Jessica McClintock even feature an entire bridal collection.

More importantly, though, are the overall trends that the designers contribute to all markets for that season. When designers decide to trim their creations in feathers, feathers become more prevalent in the bridal arena as well. If organza or iridescence is the season's popular look, we see it not only in cocktail and evening looks, but also in bridal fashions.

The September fashion shows are over, and it looks like fantasy and femininity are the theme for the Spring 2003 bridal lines. The designers have created light, easy, beautiful images for women, fanciful looks that are pure fantasy. And isn't that exactly how you want to look on your wedding day?

The colors for spring will be whites, nude, flesh, navy, and black, sparked with hot corals, lime greens, and dark turquoise. Interesting new shapes include bermuda short suits; jagged hems and necklines; minis; slits up the leg, across the bodice, and down the sleeve; corselet bodices; large puffed sleeves; and diaphanous skirts. Special trimmings, such as Swarovski crystals, feathers, glass beads, silk flowers, fringed edges, multiple layers of different textures, bold jewelry, and belts.

DESIGNER HIGHLIGHTS FROM FASHION WEEK
A newcomer to the New York scene, Haneza, opened her first New York store in 1999. She has stores throughout Europe and Asia. Her collection for Spring 2003 include airy chiffons layered in intriguing ways and combined with silk, satin, even soft, pearlized leathers and suedes. Also among Haneza's collection are crinkled, puckered, and embroidered chiffons that make up "collage" confections. Almost all hemlines are jagged, artful shapes that are anything but conventional. These unusual fabrics and shapes are her signature.
The Bill Blass collection, designed by Lars Nelson, included some really fun new ideas: navy and white bermuda shorts suits, flamingo and banner red silk chiffon seersucker with lame halter dresses, polka dot silk twill dresses, embroidered gazar gowns with pleated taffeta ruffles, and relaxed draping and wrapping in ultra-feminine evening looks.

One of my favorite shows was the collection Taiza, by Osmany Laffita. This Czech Republic designer rivals America's Bob Mackie in amazing, strong ideas. Some of the strongest looks were a blazing coral chiffon gown with red Swarovski crystals and a full dancing skirt with hundreds of silk flowers to the floor, an orange dress with flower buds made out of feathers, "rain drop" Swarovski crystals on a stunning black gown, and a multitude of vibrant other gowns adorned with rose buds, mother of pearl ornaments, pailletes, ruffles, and ostrich feathers. Osmany Laffita's grand finale was a transparent, white feathered wedding gown with a mini lengthbell skirt that reached the floor in the back, shown with white thigh-high hosiery in full view from the front.