The Look

Picture a bride-to-be as she climbs onto a little step to get a sense for her dress. She fluffs it, turns around, and then tucks into her impromptu topknot a delicate swath of tulle. It's this wisp-thin addition that begins to take her from bride-to-be to simply: a bride. While trends have come and gone and come back again over the years, there are a few styles we believe to be quite timeless in their own way, and when paired with the right dress are, well, heartbreakingly beautiful.

Since a bridal look should be the most aspirational and perhaps formal version of a girl’s everyday style, for some this inevitably means bending the rules a bit. And why not? That’s when things get delightful. So, minding the old adage ‘know the rules before you break them’, we’ll take a moment to identify some of the dusty codes surrounding the wedding dress while providing the styling knowhow to break make them your own.

Putting together a successful event look is all about balance. Since spring is calling for a plentitude of breezy, twirl-inducing dresses, we’ve curated a complementary assortment of structured pieces sure to infuse a bit of backbone into your ensemble. Statement-making patent heels, densely beaded mod-ish bangles, oversized pearls, and pill box hats (to highlight a few) create what we’ve lovingly come to refer to as: the ultimate grown-up girl’s dress up guide. It’s all about choosing high-impact, playful accessories for your finishing touches.

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Crocuses give way to poppies, next anemones, and finally, the summer daisy. As spring’s first buds break through the soil, we’re reminded twice of their presence when a breeze brings their scent our way again.

With the airiness and zealous growth of the season informing its matching collection, heavier, structured silhouettes give way to lighter, more ethereal ones. Body-conscious columns and fitted bodices with gently billowing skirts make up the majority. Dimension is recreated through meticulous layering of diaphanous fabrics and soft, trailing embellishments.

Influences from elegance past—everything from 40s glamour to 60s cheerful-chic to the bohemian 70s— are easy to spot, as is the modern take on them. Burnout flowers bloom delicately across a Parisian-inspired halter gown. Laser-cut and crocheted blossoms sprout from shoulder to hem on a mid century-favored tank silhouette. And embroidered florets edge each of the tiers of a shoulder-baring boho pull-on.

Bringing the sense of occasion to these anything-but-ballgown gowns is this exploration of dimension and embellishment by way of fabric manipulation. The result is an assortment that can be as easily worn on a beach as it could in a church or in a garden; the key word is ‘ease’. Spring 2012 ushers a less-fussy, effortless sophistication, with a characteristic helping of whimsy.

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We particularly love (and have a hunch you might, too) experimenting with different hues, mixing in prints, and varying silhouettes and textures. Picking a palette is a great starting point from which to vary. What colors are you generally drawn to? Bolds, neutrals, pastels?

With an eye towards maids, we’ve grouped some of our freshest dresses for spring as well as the accessories to match, or mismatch. Above are our three favorite examples. If one speaks to you, suggest it to your maids and let them do the choosing. Browse dresses, shoes, jewelry, and bouquet recommends from Brooklyn-based stylist Amy Merrick in perfectly coordinating collections!