Top Spring/Summer Wedding Dress Fashions

by Nicole Weston (RSS feed)
Apr 21st 2006 at 10:01AM

Wedding dresss fashions change just like everything else does, though they are far more likely to keep to tradition - something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue - than other types of dress. The waists move up and down and skirts getl alternately fuller and slimmer, but the elegance is something that is never overlooked. Here are the top wedding dress fashions for this year's spring/summer season. All the dresses shown here are from runway shows.

Anything by Caroline Herrera, because not only are the dresses gorgeous, but when women who have worn them actually want to alter them for daily wear, they must be something special. Dress by Caroline Herrera.

Drop waisted dresses are sleek and flattering to curvy figures. The tailored style can make a bridle look slim and sexy. Dress by Vera Wang.

Empire waists are flattering to just about any body type and give a much softer look than more structured desses with boned bodices. Dress by Claire Pettibone.

Colored accents are a great way to add a touch of flair and personalization to a dress. Try a colored belt or sash, or choose a dress with colored beading or embroidery. Dress by Amy Michelson.

Strapless dresses are very popular right now, seeming more flirty and fun than a dress with a higher neckline. It also presents an excellent opportunity to showcase a favorite necklace. Dress by Reem Acra.

Victorian dresses are the epitome of romance, with soft and frilly layers of lace and piles of ruffles on top of full skirts. These dresses are always very feminine. Dress by Justina McCaffrey.

A colored dress is a bit of an untraditional one. Dresses with soft, pastel colors look wonderful at outdoor weddings, but if you choose a darker dress, it is probably best saved for evening weddings, though they can be showstoppers. Dress by Alfred Angelo.

Metallic fabrics mean that there is no need for a bride to accessorize her outfit with jewels. The added sparkle allows the bride to be as traditional as she likes in the cut of the dress, while still updating her look. Dress by Romona Keveza.

Dresses that bring up the length a little are great for daytime and outdoor weddings, especially if the bride likes to dance and doesn't want to be weighted down with a train. Besides, they're a great way to show off cute choes. Dress by Carmela Sutera.

Cinderella never goes out of style, so dresses with mushrooming clouds of chiffon and mile-long trains will always appear on the runways at shows and at the alter. Dress by Anne Barge.

As a bonus, here are two looks that we don’t love that were spotted on the runway this year.

This dress, by Yumi Katsura, has far too much color, in addition to being a little too short and a little too hard to look at. It even looks like it would be uncomfortable to wear. Did we mention that it seems to have fins in the back, too? If you want color, try a muted shade, not a neon one.

Not having enough dress is another fashion faux pas. It's not that good of an idea at a party or a restaurant, so why would this Galit Levi dress, or what's left of it, be something you would want to wear at your wedding?

Tags: color, designers, dress, dresses, fashion, modern, spring, summer, tradition, wedding, wedding dresses, white