Looking for a wedding gown that is both hot off the runway and also very elegant? One of the most beautiful trends in gowns for 2009 is the two tone effect. These gowns have a subtle contrast that makes them look special and unique.
Two tone gowns are a lovely way to take your dress beyond basic, without necessarily doing anything too avant garde. The contrasting tones are usually subtle, such as white and ivory, ivory and champagne, or cream with blush. There are a variety of different ways in which the two colors can be juxtaposed.
One of the simplest two tone concepts is to have a contrasting sash on the wedding gown. This is a very easy way to add a bit of interest to a clean silhouette. A very pretty look is to pull out the color from the sash into your accessories. For instance, if you have chosen a gown that is ivory with a blush colored sash, then look for pearl bridal jewelry in gentle shades of blush or rose. The soft colors of the pearl bridal jewelry will both accent the special feature on your gown and bring attention back up to the bride's face, where it belongs.
Peek-a-boo layers are another type of two tone gown design. The skirt of the gown will feature tiers in the main color of the dress, and then they will split to show a contrasting color underneath. The layers can be split wide open so that the second color is always showing, or they can float open as the bride moves, revealing the secret underneath.
A very pretty two tone wedding gown style is the double layered dress. In this style, there is one solid piece of fabric, either a sheer or a lace, layered on top of the second color. This is a great option for the bride who is afraid of cutting up her silhouette with bands of contrasting colors (particularly true for petite brides). It allows you to have the depth and interest of two tones without any distracting breaks in the dress. For an autumn wedding, consider choosing a color like a rich mocha, layered under an all-over cream lace. The deeper shade underneath will help the design of the lace to really pop.
Another place to create a two tone effect is on the bodice of the gown. To give the illusion of a smaller waist, some gowns have wide panels in one shade deeper than the rest of the gown. For another point of interest, you can even layer a ribbon in a third shade as a tie around the waist.
Sometimes the center panel will also feature design elements such as a wide piece of lace, or a special embroidered accent.
When choosing your veil, what usually works the best is to match the color of the tulle to the main color of the dress, and any trim to the deeper shade on your gown. So if you are wearing a silk white wedding dress with a contrasting blush sash, choose a veil that is also diamond white, perhaps with a blush satin bias trim around the edge. If you match the tulle to the darker shade from the dress, you run the risk of making the white part of the gown look dingy by comparison.
A two tone gown is a great way to indulge in a current bridal trend without looking trendy. It is a subtle enough effect that it will stand the test of time. This allows brides the wonderful feeling that their wedding day look is both current and classic.
