Fall has arrived in the northern hemisphere and according to Instyle, the hues dominating runways all over the world right now are cobalt blue, emerald green, camel, gold, bright red, and purple. Often associated with the bad and the ugly, bridesmaid dresses have long been the butt of wedding jokes. Google “bad bridesmaid dresses” and you’ll be cracking up for days! But here are some recommendations from WGA that will be sure to leave your attendants beaming in style:
Blue
(left) BCBG MaxAzria ruffle front strapless dress (center) Amsale (right) Amsale
I remember vividly the very first time I laid eyes on a piece by Amsale, it was on my fave show, Oprah! After just 10 minutes, I was smitten by her line of simple yet sophisticated wedding gowns. Her formal wear has been donned by celebrities such as Halle Berry, Julia Roberts, Salma Hayek and the like. AMSALE (pronounced Ahm-sah’-leh) has evolved tremendously since the company was founded in 1986. They no longer retail only timeless wedding gowns, you can now find the beautiful Ethiopian designer’s exquisite bridesmaids’ dresses and formal wear on the racks of Bergdorf Goodman, Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus.
Green
(left) Ann Taylor silk scoop neck bridesmaid dress (center) Donna Morgan rosette trim strapless chiffon dress (right) Ann Taylor taffeta pintuck dress
One thing your bridesmaids are going to needs lots of, on the big day itself, is comfort. Attending to you is going to be hard work, no doubt, hence their outfits should be snug and effortless to move in. The strapless Donna Morgan is just that – easy and effortless. From the romantic shade of emerald green to the rosette detail, this dress is simply sweet. The two pieces from Ann Taylor are absolute classics and best of all, they really accentuate a woman’s figure.
Purple
(left) Antik Batik Lilo silk-georgette gown (center) Halston Heritage halter dress (right) Coast Kitty frill dress
I particularly like the Kitty frill dress by Coast. Its conservative, yet body-hugging cut makes it almost like a purple lookalike of Audrey’s legendary Givenchy LBD, no? What I love about Coast is the fact that all of their stylish and well-made clothing are under £200. Alright, not exactly cheap, but you have to admit, the price range is way more affordable than splurging on a dress at a designer boutique.
Photo: David’s Bridal
Here are a few things to keep in mind when choosing the perfect bridesmaid dress:
- These girls are your closest friends. Instead of making them all look uniformed and monotonous, be a good friend by letting them pick styles that fit their body shapes and sizes the best. All you have to do on your part is set a colour preference. They will sure to thank you afterward.
- Do go for modern and updated dresses but make sure that they are not too trend-orientated. Flattering dresses can make their way into your bridesmaids’ closets and be sported again in the future.
- Consider the cost. Traditionally, the attendants pay for their outfits but don’t be impossible by requesting for extravagant couture dresses. If you do fall in love with a dress that is slightly over their budgets, you can save them from shelling out a fortune by paying the difference.
Bridesmaids, you can breathe easy now 
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