THE WORLD OF COTTON

Amy-Jo Tatum Bridal Couture/Photo by Stephanie Williams

Thinking of spring perchance?  Since cotton is the ultimate in laid-back casual, we rarely think of it in terms of bridal wear. Think again. Especially about organdy and swiss cotton. These are some of the finest fabrics in the world and not just for kids dresses anymore. First-rate cottons like these have always been a stylish option for summer brides and garden weddings. One of the most beautiful gowns I ever designed was a dotted swiss ball gown with an asymmetrical neckline. Savvy and confident, my client amped her ‘look good’ factor by adding a dimity sash. Since not every bride wants the formality of silk on her wedding day, some designers are getting this message, offering at least one cotton option in their spring/summer collection. Bravo! Finally!

White cotton eyelet gown with satin ribbon sash, $1,975, by The Cotton Bride by Chris Kole who offers an entire collection of cotton dresses in various weaves thecottonbride.com.

COTTON WEAVES

Source

Eyelet-light to medium weight cotton with cutout patterns of embroidery along the border. Pictured above, it is a classic summer time favorite for informal brides. Makes up into pretty long or short hourglasses, sundresses, chemises, shifts, shells, A-lines. Perfect in colors for attendants.

Dotted Swiss-Lightweight to sheer cotton. Made up of a lappet or swivel weave with woven dots. Used for shirtwaists, A-lines, shifts, chemises and hourglasses. Great in colors for outfitting the wedding party.  The image below is actually from the Michelle Roth collection and is silk organza.  Though dotted swiss is not difficult to find as yardage, bridal gowns and dresses in this particular weave are right now.

Michelle Roth

source

Organdy-Pictured above, organdy is a light, plain weave of cotton or poly that is transparent and permanently stiffened. Sometimes used for jacket interfacing and making lightweight hats. Lends itself well to the once popular daytime formal concept of afternoon garden receptions —the kind a Katherine Hepburn character would have attended. Crisp and pure, it makes up into lovely structured hourglass silhouettes and A-lines.

Salvage Life

Voile-The above dress is voile which means ‘veil’ in French so you get the idea of how light it is. Sheer, plain weave of cotton or polyester. Dubbed ‘poor man’s chiffon’ because of its less formal appearance than its counterpart, silk chiffon. It is however, in some cases, more expensive than silk chiffon for the reason it’s not as redily available as silk chiffon that you find everywhere.

THE WORLD OF COTTON

Amy-Jo Tatum Bridal Couture/Photo by Stephanie Williams

Thinking of spring perchance?  Since cotton is the ultimate in laid-back casual, we rarely think of it in terms of bridal wear. Think again. Especially about organdy and swiss cotton. These are some of the finest fabrics in the world and not just for kids dresses anymore. First-rate cottons like these have always been a stylish option for summer brides and garden weddings. One of the most beautiful gowns I ever designed was a dotted swiss ball gown with an asymmetrical neckline. Savvy and confident, my client amped her ‘look good’ factor by adding a dimity sash. Since not every bride wants the formality of silk on her wedding day, some designers are getting this message, offering at least one cotton option in their spring/summer collection. Bravo! Finally!

White cotton eyelet gown with satin ribbon sash, $1,975, by The Cotton Bride by Chris Kole who offers an entire collection of cotton dresses in various weaves thecottonbride.com.

COTTON WEAVES

Source

Eyelet-light to medium weight cotton with cutout patterns of embroidery along the border. Pictured above, it is a classic summer time favorite for informal brides. Makes up into pretty long or short hourglasses, sundresses, chemises, shifts, shells, A-lines. Perfect in colors for attendants.

Dotted Swiss-Lightweight to sheer cotton. Made up of a lappet or swivel weave with woven dots. Used for shirtwaists, A-lines, shifts, chemises and hourglasses. Great in colors for outfitting the wedding party.  The image below is actually from the Michelle Roth collection and is silk organza.  Though dotted swiss is not difficult to find as yardage, bridal gowns and dresses in this particular weave are right now.

Michelle Roth

source

Organdy-Pictured above, organdy is a light, plain weave of cotton or poly that is transparent and permanently stiffened. Sometimes used for jacket interfacing and making lightweight hats. Lends itself well to the once popular daytime formal concept of afternoon garden receptions —the kind a Katherine Hepburn character would have attended. Crisp and pure, it makes up into lovely structured hourglass silhouettes and A-lines.

Salvage Life

Voile-The above dress is voile which means ‘veil’ in French so you get the idea of how light it is. Sheer, plain weave of cotton or polyester. Dubbed ‘poor man’s chiffon’ because of its less formal appearance than its counterpart, silk chiffon. It is however, in some cases, more expensive than silk chiffon for the reason it’s not as redily available as silk chiffon that you find everywhere.

THE COTTON WEDDING DRESS

Dresses by Amy-Jo Tatum Bridal Couture

Photos by Smoot Photo

Hair by Gayle Parker

The cotton wedding dress. Easy and comfortable to wear, these dresses are surprisingly affordable.




Most of us associate cotton with everyday wear. Since cotton is the ultimate in laid-back casual, we rarely think of it in terms of bridal wear. Think again. Especially about the imported Swiss eyelets in the photos above and below.




Imported swiss eyelet with scalloped neck and hem.

Cottons are not just for kids dresses anymore. High quality cottons like these have always been a stylish option for summer brides and garden weddings.



All over eyelet A-line with Sabrina neckline

Not every bride wants the formality of silk on her wedding day so some designers are getting this message, offering at least one cotton option in their spring/summer collection.

Close up of 'Gretel', a sweetheat neck trimmed in cotton lace


Want to see more of what's going on with the cotton collection? Visit Amy-Jo Tatum Bridal Couture.

GOING GREEN AFTER YOUR WEDDING: THE ART OF DONATING YOUR DRESS

There’s plenty out there about going green for your wedding but what about after? Whether you’ve had your gown custom designed out of green fibers or special ordered it through a salon, now what? Some brides are going to be sentimental and preserve the gown for generations. That’s okay. This posting though is for all those wanting to pass on what they wore to someone else and help make our world a better place through recycling. I found the following blurb on the I Do Foundation’s website and couldn’t agree more, “If storing your dress in a box under your bed, or in a hanging bag in your closet is not your idea of a good cause, then keep the pictures, but put the dress to good use and help support the I Do Foundation.”
Your gown is a very special and powerful piece of clothing. With it comes (or goes) a certain psychic energy that carries your joy and promise to the next wearer.

PLACES TO DONATE YOUR DRESS AFTER THE WEDDING

BRIDAL CONSIGNMENT- More of these places are cropping up for two reasons: Brides-to-be who won’t spend over 2000k on a designer gown, and former brides who don’t mind parting with their gown. As I’ve mentioned before, there’s little difference between second-time-around bridal consignment and the higher end salons. Owners are persnickety about what they take in and nothing goes on display unless it’s in top condition, cleaned and pressed like new. These shops have standards they follow too. They won’t take any Four Weddings and a Funeral style cast-offs, over altered or trashed gowns.
DONATE TO YOUR FAVORITE CHARITY SHOP-Donating to a bridal consignment will earn you a share of your gown’s percentage. Donate to a shop like The Bridal Garden in New York City and fees will benefit NYC school children. Now wouldn't that make you feel great? Few charities have a whole store exclusively devoted to bridal like the Bridal Garden though. Most will have a section for gowns and formal wear.

DONATE TO A FOUNDATION-Believe it or not there are several foundations set up just for donating bridal wear (including bridesmaids gowns). Great! Gowns are such a big biz that whole organizations distribute them to others. Here are a few to check out:

Brides Against Breast Cancer: Donate your gown here and you’ll be giving a bride-to-be a great chance to get a discounted gown while helping grant the wish of someone with breast cancer. http://www.makingmemories.org/

I Do Foundation-Through I Do you can donate to the charity of your choice. http://www.idofoundation.org/

Heavenly Angels in Need-This one makes me well up with tears. Once your gown is donated, seamstresses use the fabric to make children’s burial garments. Having a SIDs baby in our family I understand the needs of grieving families and just how much a little satin and lace can make. http://www.heavenlyangelsinneed.com/

Wedding Dress Ministry-Christian women leaders rent wedding gowns to women in Kenya who are not able to afford gowns to marry in. Profits collected from rents are used in the women’s ministry outreach. www.icmusa.org/donate.php


Don’t forget your bridesmaids. There are foundations like the Princess Project that have a selection of prom and bridesmaid dresses that help young women get out to that big night in style.

http://www.donatemydress.org/
http://www.princessproject.org/
http://www.glassslipperproject.org/

GOING GREEN

Above: Swiss cotton eyelet bouffant dress reminiscent of the daytime formal look. Below: Tea-dyed hemp and silk gauze gown specially commissioned for a client.

Green brides are just going to have to spend a little more time and care choosing the dress. Since more are going custom or buying wedding wear in green-alternative boutiques, there's not only a need to know what materials go into the making of a dress but also who is making the piece and where. As one bride put it, "I couldn't stand up and make such an important commitment, knowing any part of what I had on my body might have been put together by prison labor or in a sweat mill. It just goes against everything I believe in." Going Green can mean wearing a dress in natural fibers: organic cotton, wool, linen, silk, and of course, hemp. It helps to have a knowledge of the natural dying process and thinking through what impact toxic dyes might have on the environment. Here are some questions to ask: Is that silk I love really its natural color? If it is tinted, was it done with non-toxic dye? Is that snow white silk taffeta chlorined? And was that cotton grown free of pesticides? If you find answers to these questions through the help of a green-savvy designer or seamstress, you could make this a real project planet-style endeavor.

Going Green can also mean saving resources by wearing a previously owned gown. So where do you find one? Here are some options.

*Second Time Around Bridal Shops

*Vintage Shops

*Thrift Shops and Flea Markets

*Family


Green Friendly Sites for Brides

*Great Green Wedding

*Green Weddings
*Vibrant Events

*Amy-Jo Tatum Bridal Couture

*Rawganique

Gowns by Amy-Jo Tatum