Join us on June 3rd for the debut fashion show as we celebrate and launch Erin Grey Couture.  We will also be giving away a free, yes I said FREE, dress at the conclusion of the evening.  Space is limited, so head on over to {Erin Grey Couture} to RSVP today.

Event Details:

Lea-Ann Belter Trunk Show
April 20-21, 2012
**Brides will receive 10% off their purchase of a Lea-Ann Belter gown during the trunk show.**
**Special pricing also on all accessories with the purchase of a Lea-Ann Belter gown**

Space is limited.
Appointments Strongly Encouraged.

J. Major’s Bridal Boutique
704.372.0082
www.jmajors.com

It is with great excitement (but much sadness too) that I’m announcing my departure from J.Major’s. After almost five years here, I’ve decided it’s time for a change and will be returning to a more corporate environment.

I have had more fun here in the past years than I could even recount. I’ve worked with hundreds of brides, debs, moms, bridesmaids, flower girls, dads, and even fiancés. I have given myself 100% to my customers (many of whom I am honored to now call friends). I have been rewarded richly for my passion, by being included in the most important day of many people’s lives. It is such an honor and a blessing to have helped so many people on the path to marriage.

While it’s true that my new path is not of a bridal nature, rest assured that I won’t be leaving the fashion world completely. Be sure to check out www.scoopcharlotte.com for the scoop on what’s on sale and what’s happening in Charlotte’s shopping scene (including bridal!). I’ve been blogging with Scoop for a few months and it’s something I really love! I’ll also be moonlighting on some event planning – remember that J.Major’s has an in-house planning arm called Erin Grey Events. We’d love to assist with your planning needs (anything from full-service to day-of planning is available).

I’d like to thank all of my friends and customers over the years, my fabulous coworkers at J.Major’s, and especially CJ – boss, friend, and unstoppable creative force.

Okay, so before I start crying – farewell! The girls at the shop will always have my contact info, so feel free to keep in touch. I NEVER get tired of looking at wedding pictures!!!

All my best,
Anna Kelly
Senior Consultant

I also recognize that not everyone has the same appreciation for fabrics, or even gives a hoot about the difference between satin and crepe de chine.  That’s cool!  It’s my job as a bridal consultant to know this stuff, not yours.  So I thought I’d share a little material knowledge and get you on the path to identifying your favorites.

Let’s start with the most basic concept when it comes to fabrication (and this is something almost no one  knows, so don’t feel bad if this is a revelation for you).  A fabric is first made of a textile or fiber – there are natural fibers like silk, cotton, and wool, or synthetic fibers like polyester, nylon, and acetate.  (If you want to get really tricky, there are also fibers like rayon, which is considered semi-synthetic since it is made of naturally occurring cellulose.  My brain hurts thinking about that, so let’s not dwell).  That fiber, whether natural or synthetic, is then used to construct a particular weave, such as satin, organza, or chiffon.  So if someone says that something is 100% satin, that doesn’t really make sense as satin can be made of silk, polyester, or a mix of these and other fibers.

So if you really want to accurately identify a fabric, you need to know both the fiber and the weave.  You can have silk satin or poly satin, or you can have a satin that is a blend of silk, nylon, and polyester.  This is where the labels in clothing come in handy if you really want to know the content of your fabric – manufacturers are required by the FTC to give the breakdown of different fibers in the fabric and include care instructions.

Okay, so with that out of the way, let’s discuss some of the different fabrics most popularly used in the bridal industry these days.  We’ll begin with what is probably the most classic and traditional fabric, satin.

Satin is a very smooth, sometimes shiny weave that can be made of a variety of fibers, most typically silk, polyester, or a blend of the two.  It is relatively heavy and is a good base for heavily embellished gowns since it can support embroidery or beadwork with tearing or sagging.  Here are a few gowns made of satin:

Some designers will refer to satin with different qualifiers such as duchess or matte.  These adjectives typically do not refer to the fiber content but more to the finish of the fabric.  A duchess satin might be particularly smooth and sumptuous, while a matte satin would have a less shiny appearance.

Next up is taffeta, another classic bridal fabrication.  Taffeta is usually very lightweight, making it an excellent choice for outdoor weddings or brides who tend to overheat easily.  A popular variation these days is referred to as tissue taffeta, meaning that the fabric is thin and light – this tends to work very well in gowns with lots of rusching, since a thicker fabric might be bulky.  Taffeta often makes a rustling sound when you move – a characteristic that many people love, but some find annoying.  A close relative of taffeta is peau de soie (pronounced poe-deh-swah).

If you love a more sheer fabric, then organza or chiffon might be for you.  Organza is currently very popular in textured skirts such as the ones used in the newest Lazaro and Vera Wang collections.  Raw edged strips can be made to resemble feathers, or swirling rows of fabric create volume and dramatic texture.  Since organza can vary greatly in its weight and opacity, some gowns even use different grades of organza that add great depth.

Besides the depth and texture created when organza is used, it is typically a very lightweight fabric.  The gowns shown above would be much heavier if the same amount of a different fabric (such as satin) were used to create the volume in the skirts.  Of course, organza can be used to beautiful effect in clean, untextured sheets, like the gowns shown below.  The sheer overlay of these skirts lend a softness and ethereal quality.

A close cousin of organza is chiffon.  Alike in that they are both sheer, but different in the way they drape, chiffon is a classic fabrication for beach weddings.  While organza is crisp and has a stiffer hand, chiffon has a beautiful drape and flow.  In my opinion, chiffon is one of the most easily “faked” fabrics – even professionals are sometimes hard-pressed to know whether a chiffon is silk or synthetic.

If you love the drape of chiffon but want something with a bit more sheen, charmeuse might be for you.  Most people are familiar with charmeuse because of its use in lingerie and evening wear – it’s thin, shiny, and has a beautiful drape.

Rounding out the most commonly used bridal fabrics is raw silk, usually referred to as either dupioni (doo-pee-oh-knee) or shantung (just like it looks).  Raw silks are lightweight and characterized by their unusual texture, known as slubbing.  The slubs in raw silks can be very pronounced (usually dupioni), or barely noticeable (usually shantung).   There are also synthetic versions of these fabrics, which are woven to replicate the nubby texture of the silks.

Making a comeback in a big way is tulle, or English net.  Net used on the outside of a gown is the same idea as the stiff crinolines underneath, but is generally softer and has a finer gauge.

Tulle or net is most often made of a synthetic such as nylon.  Silk tulle most certainly exists, but it is generally very expensive and almost too delicate.  Any net can snag easily, but silk net is incredibly fragile.  Add to that the fact that most gowns utilizing net use lots and lots of it, and the price can get prohibitive quite quickly.

Although I can’t say this with any authority, I would be willing to bet that Kate Middleton’s veil was fabricated of a silk tulle.  The way that the fabric draped and clung to her head was a clue to me that the net was softer, finer, and (unsurprisingly!) quite expensive.

Here are a few other fabrics you might run into at your next visit to the bridal boutique:

Crepe, or crepe de chine:
A smooth, midweight fabric, crepe de chine (pronounced crape-deh-sheen) can often have a very subtle wavy texture.  In silk crepe, this is the result of a unique twisting of the yarns used to create the weave.  Crepe is often cut on the bias when used in gowns – this means that the fabric is turned diagonally, producing a lovely clinging drape.  Bias cut gowns are not the most forgiving in the world, but their elegance is unmistakable.

Georgette:
Very much like chiffon but a bit heavier, georgette is slightly sheer and very drapey.

Mikado and Faille:
Both mikado (pronounced mih-KAH-doh) and faille (pronounced like “file”) are midweight to heavier fabrics.  They each can be made of natural or synthetic fabrics, and have a subtle ribbed texture (like baby wale corduroy without the fuzz).

These are just the most common fabrics you’ll see in bridal boutiques these days.  Of course there are other materials used to ornament gowns, such as lace and ribbon.  That would be an entirely different post, so I’ll save that for another time!

Remember, trunk shows always mean that any new order from the trunk show designer is 10% off, and you would also get 10% off of any accessories if you purchase a trunk show gown.  It’s a great time to buy, whether you’ll be saying “I do!” this year or next.

Watters Brides, March 23 – 24

Watters has been around forever, but they manage to keep every collection fresh and with a little something for everyone.  They are great at re-imagining classic styles and silhouettes, but they also have their finger on the pulse of what it hot right now and always have some fashion-forward choices available.  Here are a few of our favorites from Watters:

Above is “Norma”, a beautiful washed silk organza ballgown.  The fabric detail on this gown is just gorgeous, it’s such a shame you can’t see it in these pictures!

We are so excited for this gown to come in!  “Elizabeth” is sophisticated and pretty – just check out that lace!

The above gown is one that we’ve had in the store for a little while, and it’s so much prettier in person.  “Greta” features a slim silhouette and a lovely keyhole back.

Augusta Jones, March 30 – 31

Beautiful, classic styles and great prices make Augusta Jones a favorite world-wide.  We just recently picked up this line and we can’t wait to see all of the gorgeous things they send us for our show!  Some lovely examples:

This is the “Ali” gown, featuring a demure lace bateau neck and lovely lace overlay.

The “Janice” gown, shown above, is whimsical and fun!  The sweetheart neckline would flatter almost any figure and the natural waist cinches just in the right spot.

If you’re looking for a classic lace a-line, look no farther!  The “Jessie” gown has a lovely shape and beautiful lace, as well as an optional sash.

Lea-Ann Belter, April 20 – 21

We just love Lea-Ann’s collection and hope you will too.  Lea-Ann understands the needs and wants of today’s brides, and delivers a line of flattering yet comfortable gowns that are so lightweight you won’t believe it!  She’s also a whiz with lace, and many of her styles showcase this beautifully.  Check out some of our favorites:

The “Avia” gown is shown above – it features a fitted bodice accented with chantilly lace and a tiered organza skirt.

Above is “Blake”, a silk satin a-line with glamorous hand-beaded belt.

One of our perpetual favorites is “Carmen”, shown above.  Done completely in super lightweight silk dupioni, you can dance the night away and never break a sweat!

Claire Pettibone, May 4  – 5

There is nothing else in the world like a Claire Pettibone gown – they are so unique and beautiful!  Claire started out in luxury lingerie design, and you can definitely see some of that influence in her bridal line.  From the luxurious fabrics to the one-of-a-kind laces and embroidery, Claire gowns have “WOW” factor from every angle.  Pictures definitely don’t do these justice, so please join us for her trunk show to see these lovelies in person!

“Kristene” is shown above, and she is amazing!  Tiers of guipure lace make up the sheath silhouette, with a small triangular train.

For those who want to inject a little color into their bridal look, “Luna” may be for you.  The intricate embroidery is the star of this comfy, elegant dress.

And finally, our all-time favorite Claire creation:

There are just no words for this breathtaking gown, called “Orange Blossom”.  Simply a stunner!

This gorgeous organza gown features a tiered skirt and a flattering rusched bodice topped by a sweetheart neckline.  It’s so lightweight yet still has great structure.

Also available is this STUNNING beaded cape, either to top the gown shown above or available to purchase separately:

Here’s another beautiful gown from the Spring 2012 collection:

No bride could go wrong with this classic ballgown silhouette. The floral sash shown with the dress is lovely, but this could also look amazing with something sparkly at the waist!

Next up is another new style from Alvina, and we’re just in love with it:

This gown has a little bit of everything.  The sheer one-shoulder brings some modernity to the look, but the lace bodice, silk flowers, and full skirt make sure that this is a classic.  Horsehair-edged tiers bring great depth and texture to the net skirt.

Remember that the trunk show discount (10% off of any new Alvina order!) doesn’t just apply to the gowns sent in for the show, or to the newest collection.  If you have a favorite from Alvina from any season, now is the time to buy!  Speaking of favorites, here’s one of ours:

We’ve had this lovely gown in the store for a while now, but it is definitely a perennial favorite.  It has great structure, a gorgeous neckline, and beautiful lace detail – and it looks good with almost any sash you’d want to pair with it!  It’s hard to tell in the picture above, but it also features a “creme” colored underlay, which makes the ivory lace really pop!

We still have some Friday appointments left for the trunk show this weekend, so give us a ring if you’d like to join us!

The wedding took place in Greenville, South Carolina – what a beautiful backdrop for a lovely wedding.

Congrats, Kate and William!

For more information on Queen City Catering or to book your event, head over to www.qccatering.com (or give them a call at 704-305-7778.  Thanks again, QC!

Above are some of the combs from Bride’s Head.  Most of them are available in silver or gold finish.

Bride’s Head’s veils are just beautiful.  They are all made by hand and the quality really shows!  They have plenty of signature styles, such as the ones above – clockwise from top left are the Robin, the Norah, the Heather, and the Leila.  You can also always build your own custom veil, with any edging, shape, color, and length.

Flowers, flowers, and more FLOWERS!  Most are available in white or ivory, and are attached to high-quality metal combs or alligator clips for a secure hold in your hair.

We’ll actually have this trunk show in the store from February 24 all the way through March 3.  This means that you don’t have to battle the Saturday crowds if you want an appointment to view these pieces – we have plenty of spots available during the week of February 27 – March 2.  It’s much more quiet on the weekdays and you’ll have plenty of time to peruse the selection!

Please give us a call if you’d like to set up a time.  We look forward to seeing you!

Holy cow.  I’m starving now just looking at these pictures!  If you have any questions, give us a call – and be sure to check out Queen City’s website for more info and menus!