Bridal dress designers wedded to the details

This fall, formal dresses will be all about the details. From color and sheer skirts to illusion bodices and floral details, brides will be wearing intricate works of art.

But even amid such finery, emphasizing femininity will continue to be key for designers and brides, said Mia Antalics, owner of Garnish, a bridal boutique in Ruxton Station in Towson, Md.

"Sex appeal is part of bridal," said Antalics. "A woman doesn't get to wear gowns like this every day. She can show curves that she wouldn't regularly wear. I'm open to all of it ... from the plunging fronts or backs to the close silhouettes of the crepe fabric and colors, I love it."

Betsy Robinson, owner of Betsy Robinson's Bridal Collection in Pikesville, Md., described the coming fall offerings as beautiful and feminine.

"The dresses were very pretty this season," said Robinson, who, like Antalics, recently visited New York City for International Bridal Fashion Week, where they purchased dresses that they will sell this fall.

Look for these trends in bridal fashion:

Color

White remains quite popular but color is making a breakthrough. Antalics loved all the color that designers used throughout their collections, especially traditional silhouettes reimagined in modern hues.

"Seeing designers bring in color is a great way to complete their collection," she said. "You see an assortment of lace, beaded details and texture. When they incorporate color, it is a happy medium of all those things. It is a nice way to balance everything out."

Pearls

The trend first popularized by actress Lupita Nyong'o in her Calvin Klein pearl-encrusted dress at the Oscars has crept into the bridal market.

"It does seem that pearls are having a comeback," Ripple said. "I'm very much in favor of that. I think that if pearls are done tastefully and in the right size, that will stay."

Plunging bodices

Antalics said she was happy to see an emphasis on plunging necklines and illusion bodices. She also liked the concept of placing appliques and embellishments along the front of the dress.

"It's allowing the brides' details to be front and center as opposed to the back," she said. "The detailing is amazing. They're using encrusted stone, lace and floral appliques along the necklines. I think it's beautiful."

Sheer skirts

Sheer is not only featured along the bodice and neckline. Designers are adorning their skirts with see-through fabrics. Rivini, Herrera, Oscar de la Renta and Lhuillier all have dresses with barely-there material.

Robinson was also impressed by the use of soft English/French tulle — a look that many designers showcase. But she warned about it looking too sexy. "There's a fine line between a pretty wedding dress and it looking too lingerie," she said.

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