The highly embellished bride

June 20, 2006 in Brides,Dresses,Wedding Dresses with 14 Comments

With the exception of the fact that every gown offered is either strapless or cut down to here, Eve of Milady is alright in my book. But that’s the Eve of Milady of today. I like to look on consignment sites to see what sort of gowns former brides have put on the market. May I present, the Eve of Milady of yesteryear:

Should he marry her or roast her over a campfire?

Have a closer look:

Now that\'s embellishment!

Eve of Milady gowns tend to be highly embellished, but I see that they have actually toned their style down in the past few (say, tennish?) years. I’m pretty glad that the huge lace roses and oodles of distracting sparkles that once graced the most fashionable nuptial garments have fallen out of favor. I can remember stuffing myself into dresses like that for school dances and feeling like a pig on a platter. I.e. As spruced up as all-get-out but tremendously unhappy about it.

For those with tastes that differ from my own, this gown can be had for a mere $100.

About Christa Terry: Christa Terry is a writer and wedding and lifestyle expert whose book iDo: Planning Your Wedding with Nothing But ‘Net is a one-stop planning resource for modern, free-thinking brides and grooms. With one husband, one toddler, and more on the way – kids, not husbands – Christa somehow manages to stay on top of the tricks and trends that make getting married and living life stylish and fun.

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14 Responses to “The highly embellished bride”

  1. Twistie June 20, 2006 at 2:48 pm #

    I have to admit, when I started reading this entry, I was a little nervous. I couldn’t believe someone as tasteful as NtB would love Eve of Milady…but the last time I looked at one of their ads was quite a few years ago now. I guess I’ll have to take another look! LOL!

    This gown, however, is precisely the sort of thing I remember from my wedding planning days. Hugely overembellished, yet oddly inclined to make any bride look dumpy and somehow dowdy.

  2. Chaeriste June 20, 2006 at 3:01 pm #

    Glossing over the dress itself, let’s look at the build of the model… not a collarbone in sight, and bosoms! Real woman curves!

  3. Never teh Bride June 20, 2006 at 3:48 pm #

    I am right there with you, Chaeriste, when it comes to the fabulousness of REAL WOMEN.

  4. jenny June 20, 2006 at 4:27 pm #

    I thought the same thing. And look at that waist! Talk about an hourglass figure.

    This dress would have been my dream dress as a child, when “the most, the better” was my mantra. Every “wedding dress” or ballgown I drew looked like it came out of one of the more fussy quinceanera catalogs…

  5. Never teh Bride June 20, 2006 at 5:15 pm #

    While I would never wear a quinceanera gown, I am transported back to my childhood when looking at some of the more off-the-wall specimins. The 9-year-old me LOVED huge ballgowns. And I still like to browse those quinceanera catalogs – the more understated quinceanera gowns make great budget wedding dresses.

  6. patient one June 21, 2006 at 6:19 am #

    Does anybody here remember that old David Bowie movie “The Labyrinth”? This reminds me so much of the gown in that movie. I’m a jeans and t-shirt kind of girl, and always have been. But when I was young I remember watching this and secretly wishing I could have a great, jewel encrusted gown, if only for a little while.

  7. Never teh Bride June 21, 2006 at 9:41 am #

    That was, indeed, one heck of a gown!

  8. Style Graduate June 21, 2006 at 9:43 am #

    patient one, I agree there is a similarity, but the “Labyrinth” dress is much better, I think!

    http://das-mondlicht.de/Movies/Labyrinth/Gallery/bw_sarah04a.jpg

  9. Twistie June 21, 2006 at 10:02 am #

    As a long-time fan of Labyrinth, I agree there’s a strong stylistic resemblance, but think (along with Style Graduate) that the Labyrinth gown is much better done.

    Oh, and yes, it’s nice to see actual curves on the woman wearing that gown!

  10. patient one June 21, 2006 at 4:22 pm #

    Wow, it’s been so long since I’ve seen that movie, I guess I’d forgotten some things. (Like how puffy the sleeves are.) I agree the movie one is much cooler.

    I am happy to see real curves, but I wish I could see her face. There is something a little unsettling about a headless bride.

  11. Phyllis June 21, 2006 at 9:37 pm #

    Very impressive sewing on that gown..

  12. Koo July 13, 2006 at 5:28 pm #

    Cinderella has the same dress! In cartoon:))

  13. luciole August 21, 2006 at 5:40 am #

    Bonjour,
    Je suis français, et votre robe est splendide, où l’avais-vous acheté ?

  14. Never teh Bride August 21, 2006 at 1:03 pm #

    Il a été fait près Eve of Milady mais c’est un vieux modèle. Désolé pour le mauvais Français!