Spring is supposedly just around the corner, but judging by the big freeze in Paris (not to mention the incredible snow storm that dropped on the South of France this week), it still seems a long way off. But rather than moan and groan about the arctic chill that’s spread across France, why don’t we instead imagine ourselves chic and toasty, wrapped in layers of silk, satin and snugly (faux, s’il vous plait) fur- all ready for a late-winter wedding in Paris?
tulle and french lace top, tulle scarf skirt, high-collared taffeta jacket, by cymbeline. gloves and scarf, georges morand.
silk and lace dress with tulle mini-cape, manon pascual. leather and fur muff, georges morand.
mikado de soie and lace tulle dress, by stéphane saunier. white jacket, milady. gloves, georges morand.
pleated organza silk hooded blouse and moroccan crepe de soie pants, c.a. docquin. jacquard de soie corset, estelle cloann for c.a. docquin
all photos © olivia frémineau for oui magazine
One interesting thing that I’ve noticed in the past 5 years of working in the wedding industry in Paris, is that French brides tend to go for a much sexier look than the average American bride. Sure, the au courant American bridal silhouette is slim and sophisticated, but I think there are still a great number of American brides who want to look like young, virginal princesses on their wedding day. French brides, on the other hand, seem to want to be provocative, desirable WOMEN on theirs. Take the current Parisian wedding fashion trend that’s getting a bit of attention: The Lolita look. Short wedding dresses have been the rage for the past few years here in Paris, but the Lolita bridal look is more about HOW you wear the short dress: with killer pumps, a smoky eye, pouty, cherry-stained lips and beaucoup d’attitude.
Frankly, I’m still on the fence about this trend- my tax return might say I’m Parisian, but I’m still an American girl at heart- and quite possibly an old fogey one at that! While personally, I prefer a more sophisticated wedding look over a big frou-frou princess gown, I sort of feel that sensuality should be left until after the ceremony. What do you think? Has Le Look Lolita crossed a line from sophistication into something… more? Do you think this trend would go down well in Anytown, USA?
max chaoul
david purves
manon pascual
suzanne ermann
nelly rosso
all photos ©fabrice mabillot for mariages magazine
For 2010, Paris wedding dress designers are looking back to the feminine, sleek and elegant 1930s. Les Annees Folles, “the Crazy Years” in Paris following World War I, had a groundbreaking impact on women’s fashion. Hemlines were raised, hair was bobbed (”à l’allure garçonnière“), and women embraced an all-round boyish sportiness that had never been experienced before. By the 1930’s, though, soft femininity had returned to Parisian fashion. Curves were emphasized with bias cuts and dropped cowl necklines, and slender, backless silk gowns swept the ground. Today’s Parisian wedding dress designers are paying homage to both of these eras in silhouette, texture and detailing, while remaining decidedly moderne at the same time:
reinaldo alvarez, paris
rose clara, paris
david fielden, paris
olivier portais, paris
delphine manivet, paris
nathalie bourgey-biron, paris
all photos © photos elias for mariages magazine
