Yes, it's been more than a minute, but we're back with some exciting new text-webisodes, produced as always from our lively virtual cafe, iCafe Woman Moderne. We're still housed in our fictional Art Moderne home, and enjoying our summer fun.
(Sandy Beach on Oahu, Hawaii)
Summertime weddings are in full swing, can't you hear the champagne corks popping? Have you ever wondered what inspired the design of a popular wedding gown?
You know I have... and of course, I had to do some digging. I found some very interesting tidbits, you'll enjoy. So sit back with your delicious sweet tea lemonade as Sasha Rae--an innovative bridal designer in her own right--go through our eye-opening list. Enjoy and Mahalo! (Thank you in Hawaiian)
Sasha here... I'm so excited Kiki asked me to host our returning text-webisode. Above is a sneak peek into Marchesa Spring 2017 Bridal Gown Collection, compliments of Brides.com .
Déjà Vu?
What goes around comes around. Sounds familiar? We’ve all said it in a fit of anger after somebody emotionally sucker-punched us where it hurts. But we’ve also said it about design—fashion, architectural, game, home décor, household products, etc.
It only takes one glance to get that déjà vu (a French term meaning, “already seen”) feeling—reported to happen in 60-80% of people.
How it Works Science defines it as that overwhelming sense of familiarity with something that shouldn't be familiar.
Here’s the Scenario:
You’re shopping for bathroom tiles at your favorite home and garden store, when a beautiful display of white subway tiles in a basket weave pattern catches your eye.
Six months later, you attend your cousin’s wedding. She walks down the aisle in a lovely white Galina trumpet gown with a basket weave bodice and full tulle skirt. Right there it happens—that déjà vu feeling hits you hard.
The Conversation
You’re shopping for bathroom tiles at your favorite home and garden store, when a beautiful display of white subway tiles in a basket weave pattern catches your eye. Six months later, you attend your cousin’s wedding. She walks down the aisle in a lovely white Galina trumpet gown with a basket weave bodice and full tulle skirt. Right there it happens—that déjà vu feeling hits you hard.
The Conversation
Most of us have been there, where we can’t place why something feels familiar. There’s no way we would connect a Galina trumpet wedding gown with ceramic tiles; or a toilet brush to a Vera Wang Georgian mermaid, one of three, worn by Kim Kardashian at her 2011 wedding to Kris Humphries.
No way would these elegant wedding designs be inspired by such menial things, right? Think again.
No way would these elegant wedding designs be inspired by such menial things, right? Think again.
Wedding designers don’t live in tents. They clean their bathrooms—they shop for tiles. Scratch that, they probably hire someone else to do these delightful chores. Nevertheless, they know what household products look like and are very familiar with home décor.
With these similarities staring us in the face, it’s easy to understand how a toilet brush or ceramic tile could inspire a popular wedding gown design.
1. Wedding Gown - Galina Harlequin Basket Weave Bodice, Trumpet Style, Full Tulle Skirt - http://weheartit.com/entry/group/50147500
Household Product – Delphi Glass Co. Harlequin Ceramic Texture Tile Mold - $19.95
2. Wedding Gown – Kim Kardashian Vera Wang Georgian Mermaid Wedding Gown
2. Wedding Gown – Kim Kardashian Vera Wang Georgian Mermaid Wedding Gown
Household Product – Toilet Brush
For the first dance at Kim Kardashian’s 2011 wedding to Kris Humphries, bridal gown #2 was a sexier Vera Wang Georgette mermaid with hand-pieced Chantilly lace appliqué on the bodice. Hand-cut organza petals were intermixed with Chantilly lace motifs and organza sprig embroidery.
But it’s the shape of the gown’s skirt, made out of organza petals, that brings this toilet brush style to mind. Organza, a first cousin to tulle, can be shaped into flowers, leaves, waves, feathers… and the list just continues.
3. Wedding Gown – Gillian Higgans (Found on Tulle and Chantilly.com)
Household Product – Feather Duster
Many of today’s brides march down church, hotel, museum and yes… beach aisles, flowing in feather appliquéd skirts by today’s top designers with ostrich feathers being the prime feather of choice. It’s not surprising that this Gillian Higaans wedding gown would resemble an important household product used in homes for generations.
4. Wedding Gown – Christian Siriano – Kleinfeld Bridal Exclusive, ruche taffeta bodice and tulle skirt
Household Product – Shag Rug - Taupe – Affinity – Wayfair.com, Taupe – Overstock.com
An elegant ruche top drapes to the unique textured tulle skirt, where the draping continues as big, graceful folds. The texture can’t help but have a shag rug appearance. It’s amazing how many ways tulle can be recreated for maximum effect.
Painter Benjamin Shine demonstrates tulle's impressive design capabilities in his portraits made completely from tulle. In his YouTube video, he shows what this simple netted fabric can do when given the opportunity.
Painter Benjamin Shine demonstrates tulle's impressive design capabilities in his portraits made completely from tulle. In his YouTube video, he shows what this simple netted fabric can do when given the opportunity.
Our inspiration—a hand-woven Safavieh shag taupe area rug by Affinity Home Collection (Wayfair) smartly combines polyester, cotton and viscose for a soft, durable material that boasts a retro and New Millennium chic look.
5. Plaid Wedding Gown – Luisa Beccaria
Household Product – Striped Drapes, energy efficient block-out polyester drapes by
We can see how the bold lines of Lush Décor’s striped block-out drapes carry the same in-your-face appeal as the Luisa Beccaria gown. Plaid’s strong historical roots were bound to pop up again in our fast-paced digital age.
They attract today’s daring brides who love creating the box, not just stepping out of it.
The Ultimate History Project – Before the late nineteenth century, bridal dresses came in a variety of colors—and even patterns: stripes, plaids, checks, or paisleys. Since wedding dresses were used for many years, brides planned for the dress way in advance, collecting swatches and scrutinizing materials.
Blue was one of the more popular colors for British and American brides in the 18th century. Brides also wore red, green, and other colors.
6. Wedding Gown – Wendy Makin
Household Products - Floral Table Cloth and Wallpaper
For decades, floral patterns have cropped into bridesmaid designs, and still remain popular for spring, summer and destination weddings.
Forward-thinking brides, decked out in a floral gown, could wear the dress again just like our 18th century brides -- if it's an a-line design or with help from a pair of scissors.
Forward-thinking brides, decked out in a floral gown, could wear the dress again just like our 18th century brides -- if it's an a-line design or with help from a pair of scissors.
Wallpaper Inspiration
Today's bridal designers have already ventured into home goods and home design, so inspiration from tablecloths, wallpaper and even upholstery is not a big leap.
Upholstery Inspiration
7. Wedding Gown – St. Pucchi Couture via The Knot
Home Décor—Shoji Screen – Anders Blinds
A hint of the shoji screen in this St. Pucchi Dupioni silk gown gives this unique gown generational endurance.
Originating in Japan with influence from Chinese room dividers, shoji screens date back to the 4th century B.C.E. They were used as decoration for tea ceremonies, concerts, dances, outdoor processions and celebrations. It was also common for the shoji screens of these doors to be painted with patterns and scenery, turning them into unique works of art.
Originating in Japan with influence from Chinese room dividers, shoji screens date back to the 4th century B.C.E. They were used as decoration for tea ceremonies, concerts, dances, outdoor processions and celebrations. It was also common for the shoji screens of these doors to be painted with patterns and scenery, turning them into unique works of art.
8. Wedding Gown - Marchesa
Home Decor – Abstract Painting – Winter Garden
Art imitating life has a fitting tone for this Marchesa wedding gown and art abstract inspiration. Impressionist flowers, a watery haze and blurred hues jump off the canvas onto the satin sheath, charmeuse and organza and onto brides who know how to enter a room.
Abstract art enlivens a home, adding creativity and luxury that has no boundaries.
9. Wedding Dress - Cocktail Wedding Dress
Household Product – Doilies
Back in the day, doilies were permanent décor on end tables, in china closets and on trays serving company afternoon tea. Named after Doiley, a 17th-century London draper—doilies, are ornamental mats made from paper or fabric.
They’re mostly crocheted and sometimes knitted out of cotton or linen thread. No wonder the beauty and versatility of the doilie has inspired many formal lace wedding gowns, and the cocktail wedding dress is no exception.
Professional bridal designers are not the only ones inspired by everyday products. Jillian, a DIY enthusiast made her own wedding gown, including the pattern for it. She deconstructed a vintage dress to make the pattern for the bodice, sewed it, and then crocheted the doilies. It took three weeks and over two miles of crochet yarn to complete.
Simone Carvalli’s a-line, strapless, Italian silk satin, shows off a dropped empire waist and chapel train. It doesn’t take a second look to see that the dropped bodice mimics the shape of the vintage style, Gallery Bell Fringe Victorian Shade on Italian Capodimonte. The handmade shantung silk lamp has a sewn-in white fabric lining.
The gown’s crystal accents are reminiscent of the crystals on the ornate chandelier in the tradition and class of Crystorama’s Majestic Collection from Build.com and sells for $3,000.
Lamp shades began in the 17th century on the streets of Paris that were lit with oil lamps, fit with reflectors above and alongside the flame, projecting the light downward and from side to side. Followed by gas light, this was filtered by opal glass or shades with fabric stretched over a wire frame.
Theater audiences suffered from headaches due to the sulphur and ammonia formed during combustion of the gas ruined furniture. Lamp shades helped solve this problem. It wasn't until the 19th century that the incandescent filament light bulb and lamp shades were used to temper the intense electric light, and became a decorative element in every Victorian household.
Sasha
Well, I just gave you a nice helping of glam with a sprinkle of fun. I hope this text-webisode made you smile or at least made you go...hum.
This will keep you until our next airing. I'll leave you with one of my favorites from Therez Fleetwood. Toodles!
Sasha
Well, I just gave you a nice helping of glam with a sprinkle of fun. I hope this text-webisode made you smile or at least made you go...hum.
This will keep you until our next airing. I'll leave you with one of my favorites from Therez Fleetwood. Toodles!
