STEPPING DOWN THE AISLE

Wedding dress reflects
the bride’s personality

TODAY'S BRIDE is not the woman she was 50 years ago,
and the dress in which she chooses to walk down the aisle
reflects her new independence and individuality.

“Each bride is very individu-
alistic,” says Caroline Walker of
Heirloom Designs, an agency that
custom-designs wedding fashions.
“It’s a wonderful business to be
in right now.... | had a bride a few
months ago wearing black lace.
But that is very unusual.”

While black lace may be an ex-
treme example, there is a definite
swing away from the white, tradi-
tional gown of our fairy tales.
Walker estimates that between 50
and 60 per cent of her brides wear
white, about 40 per cent wear
cream and about five per cent
wear soft pastel shades. In some
cases, the bridesmaids wear
dresses even paler than the brides.

Suits are popular among brides
being married for a second time,
as are other gowns that can be
altered and worn again after the
ceremony.

Bridesmaids, too, are asserting
their individuality. ‘They are

Events
help
with
wedding
plans

A NUMBER of upcoming events
and Jectures may be of interest for
a couple planning their marriage.
Here ts a selection of courses that
may be helpful when a wedding is
in the picture:

WEDDINGS, WEDDINGS, and
more weddings will be the topic of
interest at tomorrow evening's free
Welcome Wagon Bridal Party.

The night of fashion, wedding
tips, information and door prizes
will be held at the Seven Seas
Seafood Restaurant at the foot of
Lonsdale Avenue, beginning at
6:30 p.m.

For further information on the
event, call Norma at 988-4793.

COMMON-LAW and _ legal mar-
tiages are the topic of discussion at
the Public Legal Education Socie-
ty’s free class being held on
Thursday, March 8 from 7 to 9
p.m. at the Kerrisdale Community
Centre at 5851 W. Boulevard.
Discover your legal rights and
responsibilities within your reta-
tionship. Call 266-8331 to register.

one

WILL YOU and your new spouse
be buying a new home together? If
so, get some advice at Capilano
College’s Home Buying Werkshop
on Saturday, March 3. The
workshop ($30) will be held in
Room AOIO from 9 a.m. to 12
noon.

very far away from the typical
bridesmaids these days,’ com-
ments Walker. “There is the
widest selection of colors I've ever
seen.”

Colors chosen for the brides-
maids’ dresses range from pale
cream to black, and Walker says
she sees a lot of black and white
being used together. Prints, too,
are sometimes chosen. However,
more traditional colors such as
royal blue, soft pinks and emerald

green are still popular among
many bridesmaids.
Understandably, bridal atten-

dants are anxious to buy a gown
that they will be able to wear
again. Very few to-the-floor
dresses are worn these days, notes
Walker; most are cocktail-style,
ankle-length gowns that can be
shortened after the ceremony.
Strapless dresses, too, are popular,
and often incorporate false sleeves
or long gloves to make them more

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ing)

appropriate attire for the ceremo-
ny.

When designing a gown for a
bride, Walker works to  incor-
porate the bride’s childhood im-
age of the perfect bridal gown into
a dress that is perhaps more suited
to the bride’s individual figure.

“We look at whatever her best
point is and design the dress
around that,”” says Walker, Instead
of adding design detail to an area
that might be considered a ‘‘fig-
ure flaw,’’ she works to bring at-
tention to the woman’‘s most at-
tractive features.

A beautiful face might be framed
with a stand-up collar, or delicate,
tiny wrists might be emphasized
with added lace or beadwork. For
women with heavier features,
Walker often recommends the
1920s sheath dress, a loose,
drop-waist style that is proving
popular today.

Whether you're buying a gown
ready-made, or made-to-order, it’s
best to start making the arrange-
ments early at least three
months before the big day.

wuy you want to look.
Thenshe'llshuaw  &
you how easy itis to
make the changes you
have in mind. Just a dab
of color, ashadew ora

Lesson.

Be part of the beauti-
ful tradition of going to
Merle Norman fora free
makeover lesson before

pe .*

ina brand new way,
you'll low having a whole
| store full of shadows and
blushers, lipsticks, foun-
dations and even skin care
products tu chouse from.
Come to Merle Norman,
The most beautiful begin-
nings stant here.

d form
ccess

After
shade can be the stroke
of genius that does it
And because this is
your time ta look speciat

your wedding.

Your Beauty Advisor
will take the time to listen
to your ideas about the

MERLE NORMAN

COSMETIC STUDIOS

LYNN VALLEY CENTRE
1199 Lynn Valley Road
North Vancouver

984-8408

PARK ROYAL SHOPPING CENTRE
846 Park Royal North Mall
West Vancouver

925-4290

922-9612