http://fashionbride.files.wordpress....tton-mood1.jpg

Jenny Yoo

Does anyone have a suggestion for a bridesmaid's dress that can easily be worn again but that would also be fitting at a white tie? I don't want the bridesmaids to look undressed but I also want them to be able to easily wear the dress again.

I like Grecian draped dresses like this one from Zara, it looks good on most shapes.
http://www.zara.com/webapp/wcs/store...STUDIO%2BDRESS

IMHO the best way to ensure that a bridesmaid can wear a dress again is to allow her to choose the design. I was a bridesmaid and the bride used this designer in Brooklyn: http://www.kimeradesign.com/occdresses/occdresses.html

The bride chose the primary fabric for us to use (a red raw silk), and then let us decide on the shape of our dresses and what fabrics to use in the trim. I have worn that dress to many events in the last several years. I'm grateful to a bride with both good taste and good sense!

The photo album section of the site has lots of gorgeous pictures of wedding parties dressed this way (one or two shared fabrics, each dress is unique in shape and trim) -- they look unified, but not cookie-cutter. I think it's very sophisticated. http://www.kimeradesign.com/album3.html

Maids in Michelle Jank vintage inspired bridal:
http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net...dBjEXZSu_c.jpg

Maids in neutral J. Crew dresses:
http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net...Rf9Wavpr_c.jpg

Rainbow maids:
http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net...8tbbkm7V_c.jpg

Maids in black with different colored shoes:
http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net...pHvMqn0C_c.jpg

I like that maids can wear different colors now. Back in the day I saw a wedding where the first bridesmaid wore dark pink, the second a little lighter pink, and so on through 6 more until the maid of honor was wearing a very pale pink. So many people thought it was really radical! lol

Oh, LOVE the J Crew neutral lineup! To my eye, that's a woman's wedding, not a girl's. The vintage-style stuff is great too.

Black Bridesmaids Dresses for Summer Wedding?
 

I thought I had solved my dilemma of "good dress for black tie optional that can be worn again" by selecting black bridesmaids dresses. (We're doing black, white, and pink for our color scheme). The girls can choose a cut that fits them nicely (within guidelines) and I've selected the fabric.

Fiancee is concerned that black, even at an evening reception, will seem more like a funeral than a wedding. Now, I'm also concerned.

Opinions? Would the following ensemble appear too much like a funeral? The pink sash would tie in back, rather than front.

http://i54.tinypic.com/walr1f.png

I wouldn't say it looks like a funeral. If your wedding is formal, it's perfect, especially if you are having an evening affair. I mean if you are doing a morning or outdoor wedding then I would shy away.

I like how the pink sash pops off the black dress too. Oh and the matching shoes!

We're doing an indoor wedding (because it's Wisconsin and I never trust the weather) in the evening, so I'm hoping it's not too formal.

I think I'm going to buy the shoes for them, so they don't have to spend extra money on shoes. (Even though I would totally wear a pair of hot pink pumps again.)

You are the bride - if you like it, then rock it! I'm too old fashioned for it, but I admit, it looks lovely.

Love it! I think that'll be a classic look. I went to a wedding a few years ago where the maids were all in black with red accents and shoes and it was amazing.

Where are you getting married? We should have Wisconsin wedding talk! :)

Thank you!

Milwaukee! We should have a talk. :)

I love this!

I can count on one hand the number of weddings I've been to where the bridesmaids weren't able to have some sort of say in the dress. Maybe it's a new thing?

I've seen everything from selecting one style from J.Crew (which is good for the wear-it-again option), and allowing the maids to pick their colors, to having everyone wear a black dress they like.