As I’m usually apt to feature wedding gowns that are fairly reasonably priced (or at least of average price, insofar as anything proceeded by the word ‘wedding’ can be average), I thought I’d show you something nice and a bit more expensive. I looked at EBAY and some of the designer web sites, but while high-price gowns are easy to find, high-price gowns that are in some way distinctive are apparently in short supply. How many variations on strapless, princessy gowns can there possibly be? Answer: A lot.
So instead, here we have a Carmen Marc Valvo piece valued at $3,480 that looks rather like a nightgown. This ivory accordion-pleated style polyester gown features silver beading and sequins on a (very) sheer V neckline that looks like it is in danger of slipping below the model’s “vital zones.” For this reason, I doubt this empire-waist gown would work on a bustier bride.
Though the gown itself is quite pretty, I am tempted to ask the model if she’s forgotten to put on her overgown.
It really does look like a nightgown, doesn’t it? A very nice nightgown, I grant you, but somehow I can’t see wearing it down the aisle.
Reminds me of one of my mom’s “peignoirs” from the 60’s-70’s. If the model were wearing these Daniel Green slippers then it would be my mom.
This is a lovely gown – but it points out of of the dangers of an empire style unless you have a figure like Gwyneth Paltrow – the bodice from the empire waist to hip needs to skim the body pretty closely or you risk resembling the Maternityville Horror. This dress is just on the borderline of that…
Also…that’s rather crazily expensive. You can find many a lovely dress for less than half the price. Sneesh.
I can’t stop from staring. It’s striking and yet, besides her hair, she lookes like she rolled out of bed and forgot a robe.
I wish we could go back and fix typos.
It is pretty, but … I’d need to see how it fit. Carmen Marc Valvo has lovely stuff, but that’s way too much money for an off-the-peg fit in polyester. I have pretty silk nighties which have cost less, and as for its being a period undergarment … my petticoat corset bodice has 28 bones in the front of it, and four shaped gussets (two each side) to hike my sizeable bosom heavenward; I can turn somersaults in it and not worry about coming out of it (or putting someone’s eye out). This is a pretty confection, but it really does look like a Hammer House of Horror vampire nightie, and not a wedding dress.
Thanks, La BellaDonna! I was trying to think exactly what it reminded me of! Clearly it’s been too long since I watched a Hammer film.
And yikes! Three thousand plus smackers for freaking polyester??? I hadn’t really looked at the stats before. That’s an outrage.
“And yikes! Three thousand plus smackers for freaking polyester??? I hadn’t really looked at the stats before. That’s an outrage.”
Well – actually – permanent knife edge pleats can only be set into polyester fabric. Yes I know – the name escapes me – that early 20th century designer has done it in silk, but no one has ever been able to figure out his process.
Even though the fabric is synthetic it might still be a well made gown with lots of couture detail. Silk is such a commodity, and is widely so available now, it’s often cheaper than custom run synthetic fabric.
Phyllis I also see Empire gown and think Maternity. eek.
Phyllis, you’re thinking of Fortuny and his Delphos gowns. (Mariano Fortuny y De Madrazo, for the obsessive). The orange gown is an example: http://costume.osu.edu/Reforming_Fashion/image_exhibition/fortuny285.htm
And yes, you are absolutely correct, that kind of permanent pleating can (as far as I know) be set only in polyester these days. Mary McFadden made something of a signature in her own designs. Of course, the demented can send their fabric off to a specialist to be knife pleated, just for them; and I have certainly seen pleated fabric available by the yard.
And Dataceptionist, Empire dresses certainly can look like maternity wear if they’re not cut carefully – and sometimes even if they are. OTOH, they can be a good choice for someone who, for whatever reason, is carrying significant weight in the abdomen/midriff area – again, IF they’re carefully cut. I’ve seen bone-thin models look bloated in some of the baby-doll dresses that come down the runway (and the baby-doll dress is, for all intents and purposes, just a truncated Empire dress).
I think the dress is lovely, although I agree that it’s outrageous for polyester… I paid less than that for a silk gown.
However, I do want to ask NtB, why the emphasis on affordably priced gowns? I understand featuring some gowns and accessories that are more reasonably priced. But the Manolo, he does not shy away from recommending the superfantastic shoes just because they cost more than many of us can afford. This Manolo for the Brides, not Discount Weddings.
I think the dress is quite pretty, and quite definitely NOT for everywoman.
Good point, jj. I only wish there was as much fabulousness and variety in the wedding gown world as there is in the shoe world. I think that I have a bias toward the affordable simply because so much associated with weddings is marked up. Whereas wedding gowns are concerned, there is often a distinct lack of seasonal variety – all around, in fact. A style comes round and then sticks – which is why 9 out of 10 gowns seem to be strapless these days. But that said, I have been remiss in my duties as of late. Look for a wider range of everything in the future 🙂
For that much money it had better be a Fortuny-esque silk number. Polyester? Yuck…it doesn’t breathe and it locks in smells better than tupperware.
Pretty dress, but I was thinking “Hammer Vampire Gown”, too.