Bridesmaids come in all colours, shapes and sizes, just like dresses. However, not all colours suit everyone and some shapes look better in specific styles of dress.
This doesn’t mean having lots of different bridesmaids’ dresses, because there are ways of making it all work while keeping everyone happy.
Colours for Bridesmaid Dresses
When the colour theme for the wedding has been decided, it does not have to spell disaster for the bridesmaids. Everyone can wear a shade or tone of most colours, and
the dresses do not have to be identical as long as they remain within the colour palette. Look for jewel or pastel shades which complement the bridesmaid’s natural
skin and hair colour. Tie it all together with matching shoes and wedding flowers and the theme will look elegantly natural.
Red and Pink Bridesmaid Dresses
Blonde and fair skinned beauties look good in pastel pink shades.
Brunettes could go for a deeper red, cerise or magenta dress.
Redheads look best in very pale pink.
Dark skinned women look wonderful in strong pinks and reds
Blue Bridesmaid Dresses
Blondes and brunettes can wear most shades of blue.
Redheads look best in deeper shades with a hint of green.
Dark skinned bridesmaids could go for the more purple blue shade but not too dark.
Lavender and Purple Bridesmaid Dresses
Almost everyone looks good in lavender or deep purple.
Redheads and dark skinned bridesmaids should go for the stronger shades for purple.
Orange and Yellow Bridesmaid Dresses
Yellow is a really difficult colour for bridesmaids. If it is the chosen theme, look for very pale golden yellow or deep gold.
In the same way, orange can make all skin tones look washed out or sallow. Go for the richer bronze end of the orange spectrum and soften with a cream trim or lace at
the neckline. Alternatively, choose peach shades for brunette bridesmaids.
Green Bridesmaid Dresses
Redheads look gorgeous in most shades of green, especially emerald.
Blondes and brunettes could go for the more aquamarine tints.
Black Bridesmaid Dresses
For evening weddings, bridesmaids can look beautiful in black. The dresses should be short, simple and with thin straps. Dark skinned bridesmaids should have a white
or silver trim at the neckline to soften the effect.
Tips About Bridesmaid Shapes
Darker colours tend to make people look slimmer. Pale colours including white can make women look large. In general, if the bridesmaids are going to be wearing a pale
colour, keep the shape very simple, preferably straight.
Although flower-girl children look adorable in long princess dresses, short adults can be swamped by long full skirts. Short girls are best in shorter dresses without
too much detail or fussy design.
Taller bridesmaids can wear short or long dresses. For very slender women, a fuller skirt or sleeve detail will create a better balance.
Choose soft flowing fabric rather than the stiffer satins or traditional taffetas.
The chorus line of perfectly matched bridesmaids is so old fashioned. For a contemporary wedding, it looks much fresher when the bridesmaids coordinate without wearing
the exact same dress. Learn how to mix and match bridesmaid dresses in a way that will look modern and cohesive at the same time.
The key to successfully mixing and matching bridesmaid dresses and accessories is to choose a few main elements that will be the same throughout. That will ensure that
the bridal party looks like a group, even as each woman is able to express her individual taste. Without any sort of unifying elements, the bridesmaids will not look
like a group at all, more like wedding guests. Good choices for an element to carry throughout the entire bridal party include color, shape of dress, style of dress
(cocktail, preppy, beachy, etc.), or fabric. The same idea works well for the accessories – choose unique bridesmaid jewelry with a something in common, such as the
type of gems.
One very popular trend these days is to mix and match convertible bridesmaid dresses. These are also called twist wrap dresses, because the tops are designed so that
they can be styled into a wide variety of necklines. Simply choose one color and skirt length, and let your bridesmaids make their own decision about how to wrap the
dress into their favorite design. It is a very easy way to create a unified look for the entire bridal party while allowing each woman to wear a style in which she
feels comfortable. This is also a great solution when the bridesmaids have very different figures; the bridesmaid with the supermodel figure can twist her dress into a
halter with an open back, while the ladies who prefer more coverage can arrange their dresses to have wider straps and higher backs.
bridesmaid dresses
Patterned bridesmaid dresses have become more popular in recent years. Allowing each bridesmaid to mix it up and choose her own dress is great, because a large group
of women wearing the same pattern can be overwhelming. There will naturally be an eclectic vibe to an assorted collection of patterned dresses, so this option is best
for less formal weddings. Consider it for garden weddings, those with a homespun flair, shabby chic weddings and so on. Select a general guideline, s
uch as prints
which are predominantly green, or a design idea such as Liberty prints to give the group some sort of unity. Unique bridesmaid jewelry will be the perfect finishing
touch.
Another variation on the mix and match bridesmaid dress theme is to choose one color family from which each woman may choose. Colors such as pink and blue tend to work
very well for this, because all shades of pink look good together, and the same is generally true of blue. Request that your bridesmaids select dresses with a general
skirt length, such as knee length or floor length so that they all have a similar degree of formality. This concept can be used for formal weddings, as well as more
casual celebrations. Create bouquets for your attendants which incorporate several shades of your color family as a lovely way to further unify the group. The effect
will be absolutely lovely.
Mix and match bridesmaid dresses is a trend that definitely has staying power. Bridesmaids are less and less willing to dress up like a row of Rockettes, and
ultimately they will look their best when allowed to choose a dress that suits their own taste and figure. Perhaps best of all, the mix and match approach frees brides
from the age-old dilemma of trying to find a single bridesmaid dress that will look beautiful on a diverse group of women.