Comments on: LOVE/HATE: the barely there edition http://manolobrides.com/2008/02/22/lovehate-the-barely-there-edition/ Manolo Loves the Brides! Tue, 22 May 2012 18:25:53 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Virginia http://manolobrides.com/2008/02/22/lovehate-the-barely-there-edition/comment-page-1/#comment-163429 Virginia Mon, 07 Apr 2008 19:34:54 +0000 http://manolobrides.com/2008/02/22/lovehate-the-barely-there-edition/#comment-163429 The problem with these dresses is that 10 years and two kids down the line the bride is going look at the pictures and be just as embarrassed as her family was at the time. Maybe it's my southern upbringing but I just find these dresses really tacky. And there's no way you'd be able to get married in a church wearing something like that. There's also no way my father would ever walk me down the aisle looking like that. I don't care how great my body is, I'll be showing it off on my wedding night and honeymoon; not in front of my great-grandparents. The problem with these dresses is that 10 years and two kids down the line the bride is going look at the pictures and be just as embarrassed as her family was at the time. Maybe it’s my southern upbringing but I just find these dresses really tacky. And there’s no way you’d be able to get married in a church wearing something like that. There’s also no way my father would ever walk me down the aisle looking like that. I don’t care how great my body is, I’ll be showing it off on my wedding night and honeymoon; not in front of my great-grandparents.

]]> By: Ninjarina http://manolobrides.com/2008/02/22/lovehate-the-barely-there-edition/comment-page-1/#comment-158665 Ninjarina Wed, 27 Feb 2008 20:53:55 +0000 http://manolobrides.com/2008/02/22/lovehate-the-barely-there-edition/#comment-158665 It's a matter of taste but some women push it. For example, I think that if someone is going for the drama of a plunging back, it's probably not the best idea to have it low cut in the front, halter style, and sans sleeves. The sexy-elegant way to do a plunge-back is to do what Hilary Swank did with her blue Oscar gown - long sleeves, high neck in front so there is a clear focus on the exposed back. It’s a matter of taste but some women push it. For example, I think that if someone is going for the drama of a plunging back, it’s probably not the best idea to have it low cut in the front, halter style, and sans sleeves. The sexy-elegant way to do a plunge-back is to do what Hilary Swank did with her blue Oscar gown – long sleeves, high neck in front so there is a clear focus on the exposed back.

]]> By: Jennie http://manolobrides.com/2008/02/22/lovehate-the-barely-there-edition/comment-page-1/#comment-158503 Jennie Tue, 26 Feb 2008 03:29:39 +0000 http://manolobrides.com/2008/02/22/lovehate-the-barely-there-edition/#comment-158503 Wear what makes you feel beautiful, won't embarrass you when you show the pictures in 20 years, and for goodness sake, something that you can afford! Going into a marriage thousands and thousands of dollars in debt just to show off for 15 minutes is obscene.... Wear what makes you feel beautiful, won’t embarrass you when you show the pictures in 20 years, and for goodness sake, something that you can afford! Going into a marriage thousands and thousands of dollars in debt just to show off for 15 minutes is obscene….

]]> By: Nastia http://manolobrides.com/2008/02/22/lovehate-the-barely-there-edition/comment-page-1/#comment-158401 Nastia Sun, 24 Feb 2008 18:06:39 +0000 http://manolobrides.com/2008/02/22/lovehate-the-barely-there-edition/#comment-158401 behold, sleeves: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=9797966 behold, sleeves: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=9797966

]]> By: Sarah in Israel http://manolobrides.com/2008/02/22/lovehate-the-barely-there-edition/comment-page-1/#comment-158374 Sarah in Israel Sun, 24 Feb 2008 11:06:23 +0000 http://manolobrides.com/2008/02/22/lovehate-the-barely-there-edition/#comment-158374 As an American journalist living in Israel, I've written a couple of articles for American Jewish publications to the effect that "secular Israeli brides like to dress like whores at their weddings." Not in those words, exactly, but as an American with an American aesthetic, I cop to being a bit condescending about it. The American and British wedding planners from Jerusalem and Tel Aviv whom I interviewed described themselves as being "gobsmacked" at how absolutely little the women here were interested in wearing when they got married (and how much glitter they managed to paste on to so little material). The multi-cultural, diversity-loving part of me says "It's an Oriental aesthetic, and in Israel, looking sexy and looking glamorous are the same thing. Who cares?" But still, even the most non-religious Jewish bride in America will put a shawl on over her sleeveless dress for the ceremony. And NO ONE has a sheer midriff. I was happy to see that after one of my articles came out, a bridal store in a mostly American neighborhood, which previously had featured dresses in their windows that looked like bikinies with a little mesh holding it all together in the middle, replaced them with wares that cater more to their American-immigrant and American-visitor clientele: Dresses with sleeves and shawls (which to Israeli secular brides scream "too religious" for them to pick) Remember that Americans are Puritans at heart. That's why, even when America exports sexiness and body-consciousness, they are ambivalent about it. Anyhow, given how happy I was that some Israeli stores and designers were starting to veer toward a more "classy" approach, imagine my dismay when the NY Times features one of the proto-typical Israeli wedding-dress designers: Pnina Tornai. No! No! The cultural influence is supposed to go the OTHER way! Nooooooo! As an American journalist living in Israel, I’ve written a couple of articles for American Jewish publications to the effect that “secular Israeli brides like to dress like whores at their weddings.” Not in those words, exactly, but as an American with an American aesthetic, I cop to being a bit condescending about it. The American and British wedding planners from Jerusalem and Tel Aviv whom I interviewed described themselves as being “gobsmacked” at how absolutely little the women here were interested in wearing when they got married (and how much glitter they managed to paste on to so little material). The multi-cultural, diversity-loving part of me says “It’s an Oriental aesthetic, and in Israel, looking sexy and looking glamorous are the same thing. Who cares?” But still, even the most non-religious Jewish bride in America will put a shawl on over her sleeveless dress for the ceremony. And NO ONE has a sheer midriff.

I was happy to see that after one of my articles came out, a bridal store in a mostly American neighborhood, which previously had featured dresses in their windows that looked like bikinies with a little mesh holding it all together in the middle, replaced them with wares that cater more to their American-immigrant and American-visitor clientele: Dresses with sleeves and shawls (which to Israeli secular brides scream “too religious” for them to pick) Remember that Americans are Puritans at heart. That’s why, even when America exports sexiness and body-consciousness, they are ambivalent about it.

Anyhow, given how happy I was that some Israeli stores and designers were starting to veer toward a more “classy” approach, imagine my dismay when the NY Times features one of the proto-typical Israeli wedding-dress designers: Pnina Tornai. No! No! The cultural influence is supposed to go the OTHER way! Nooooooo!

]]> By: kate http://manolobrides.com/2008/02/22/lovehate-the-barely-there-edition/comment-page-1/#comment-158306 kate Sat, 23 Feb 2008 15:39:46 +0000 http://manolobrides.com/2008/02/22/lovehate-the-barely-there-edition/#comment-158306 wait, what? from the second page: "She dispensed with the customary long, fitted sleeves and train in favor of a halter style that dipped to the small of her back." CUSTOMARY LONG SLEEVES? oh, if ONLY! clearly the writer is on crack. wait, what? from the second page: “She dispensed with the customary long, fitted sleeves and train in favor of a halter style that dipped to the small of her back.”

CUSTOMARY LONG SLEEVES? oh, if ONLY! clearly the writer is on crack.

]]> By: Cassie http://manolobrides.com/2008/02/22/lovehate-the-barely-there-edition/comment-page-1/#comment-158275 Cassie Sat, 23 Feb 2008 03:49:51 +0000 http://manolobrides.com/2008/02/22/lovehate-the-barely-there-edition/#comment-158275 You know, I think that the NYT is more concerned with how "hot" the average bride wants to look than most of the brides out there. I know lots of brides-to-be (and even though I'm not, I'm thinking about myself here as well) who are going to have older family members at their weddings who would be scandalized of any of the three dresses pictured. And if your family is religious? Please. Try wearing those in church/temple/mosque, you know? My own personal feelings on the three above? Left one looks like lingerie, but pretty. The middle is . . . no. But I may be more distracted by how gaunt the model looks. Give that girl some pasta! The one on the right would be good without the head. . . thing. It's the one I'd wear, if I wouldn't look like a ruffle monster from the great beyond. You know, I think that the NYT is more concerned with how “hot” the average bride wants to look than most of the brides out there. I know lots of brides-to-be (and even though I’m not, I’m thinking about myself here as well) who are going to have older family members at their weddings who would be scandalized of any of the three dresses pictured. And if your family is religious? Please. Try wearing those in church/temple/mosque, you know?

My own personal feelings on the three above? Left one looks like lingerie, but pretty. The middle is . . . no. But I may be more distracted by how gaunt the model looks. Give that girl some pasta! The one on the right would be good without the head. . . thing. It’s the one I’d wear, if I wouldn’t look like a ruffle monster from the great beyond.

]]> By: Twistie http://manolobrides.com/2008/02/22/lovehate-the-barely-there-edition/comment-page-1/#comment-158258 Twistie Sat, 23 Feb 2008 01:26:38 +0000 http://manolobrides.com/2008/02/22/lovehate-the-barely-there-edition/#comment-158258 // but if I wore that one in the middle I would look like a circa ’70s Star Trek babe who got knocked up by an albino chinchilla.// Actually, Blake, I think it looks more like the Star Trek babe got knocked up by an albino tribble. ; ) (is a massive, massive geek) // but if I wore that one in the middle I would look like a circa ’70s Star Trek babe who got knocked up by an albino chinchilla.//

Actually, Blake, I think it looks more like the Star Trek babe got knocked up by an albino tribble. ; )

(is a massive, massive geek)

]]> By: Blake http://manolobrides.com/2008/02/22/lovehate-the-barely-there-edition/comment-page-1/#comment-158257 Blake Sat, 23 Feb 2008 01:22:01 +0000 http://manolobrides.com/2008/02/22/lovehate-the-barely-there-edition/#comment-158257 Wow, I feel ambivalent here. None of those gowns look awful to me, but if I wore that one in the middle I would look like a circa '70s Star Trek babe who got knocked up by an albino chinchilla. I think the NYT article (haven't read, will) could well be on to something. Mainly because proms have been seeing this phenomenon for years, the increasing slinky/sultry/send-'em-home-to-change-ification of what the girls wear, thanks to red carpet trends. If you scan the big prom dress sites, in certain sections you see something akin to bare-everything fifteen year olds getting out of pimpmobiles with a trace of powder around their nostrils. I also know from a past life that "sexy prom dress" is a very popular search term. Wow, I feel ambivalent here. None of those gowns look awful to me, but if I wore that one in the middle I would look like a circa ’70s Star Trek babe who got knocked up by an albino chinchilla.

I think the NYT article (haven’t read, will) could well be on to something. Mainly because proms have been seeing this phenomenon for years, the increasing slinky/sultry/send-’em-home-to-change-ification of what the girls wear, thanks to red carpet trends.

If you scan the big prom dress sites, in certain sections you see something akin to bare-everything fifteen year olds getting out of pimpmobiles with a trace of powder around their nostrils. I also know from a past life that “sexy prom dress” is a very popular search term.

]]> By: Kate http://manolobrides.com/2008/02/22/lovehate-the-barely-there-edition/comment-page-1/#comment-158242 Kate Fri, 22 Feb 2008 23:17:18 +0000 http://manolobrides.com/2008/02/22/lovehate-the-barely-there-edition/#comment-158242 I'll admit the gown I've picked for my wedding is a bit on the slinky side...it actually looks a bit like the first gown, but without the tacky see-through panel, and a slightly higher square neckline. Still, it's a gown that I feel totally comfortable wearing in front of the pastor, my parents, and my fiancee's Pentecostal Christian family. Maybe these "hot brides" have parents who are swingers, or are free lovin' ex-hippies, and aren't fazed by butt cheek, prodigious cleavage, or even seeing the bride's ladyparts. I’ll admit the gown I’ve picked for my wedding is a bit on the slinky side…it actually looks a bit like the first gown, but without the tacky see-through panel, and a slightly higher square neckline. Still, it’s a gown that I feel totally comfortable wearing in front of the pastor, my parents, and my fiancee’s Pentecostal Christian family.

Maybe these “hot brides” have parents who are swingers, or are free lovin’ ex-hippies, and aren’t fazed by butt cheek, prodigious cleavage, or even seeing the bride’s ladyparts.

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