Every bride might be beautiful, but some make major mistakes when it comes to their wedding dress.
Wedding planners advise shopping for the gown at least six months in advance. Of course this depends on whether you’re buying off the rack or custom made. Whatever route you take, New York fashion consultant/celebrity stylist Danna Weiss suggests you take a good look at your shape.
Weiss who’s dressed Molly Sims, Willa Ford, Lenny Kravitz, Kim Bassinger, Academy Awards presenters and scads of other famous folk, designed a formula for dressing the bride that she calls the Fashion Illusion—which matches the perfect style with your body type.
For instance:
Pear Shapes: should wear an empire waist dress that glides over the lower body—with more fabric coverage on top, puff sleeves or long sleeves to even out top and bottom, and a little A-line on bottom.
Very petite—wear a very fitted dress. If too loose you’ll look wider than you are tall. A little strapless number fitted with tiny buttons down the back.
Full figure or apple shapes— this is a tough one, best is an empire waist dress, a little seam just beneath the bust, dress glide down in an A-line to cover tummy.
Top heavy—this is a reverse pear shape—the perfect figure that can wear just about anything, but must be careful to show the waist because if you don’t you’ll look tent-like, fitted beneath bust to wait.
Tall and thin, way too thin—okay so maybe you can never to be thin or too rich, but some string beans don’t feel that way. So to mask that Twiggy look go with a full skirt with lots of gathers.
- Gifts for the Gals
Two-Three Months Before
Get a jump on your bridesmaid gifts. Buy gift certificates to a day spa (refer to #5); lingerie purses from Bellaluna; - Rings on Your Fingers and Bells on Your Toes
One Week Before
Have a manicure and pedicure at least a few days before the big event.
Recommendation: Genia Gregorian’s Foot Spa at the Four Seasons Hotel. This talented celebrity nail care expert can turn your nails into a work of art. Hotel. 300 S. Doheny Dr., LA 310- 786-2229.
Have your eyebrows shaped.
Recommendation: Valerie Beverly Hills where celebrity makeup artist Valerie creates the best looking brows in town on luminaries like Nicole Kidman, Sarah Jessica Parker, Halle Berry, Goldie Hawn and other famous faces. 460. Canon, 310-274-7348
- Hair Comb The Bride
Two Weeks Before the Wedding
Need a tress boost? Nelson Chan’s ionic hair conditioning treatment might just you’re your hairdresser ordered. The 20-minute session costs between $40-$60 and is guaranteed to leave your hair looking healthy and shiny. Super colorist/hair care expert, Chan boasts a celebrated clientele such as Buffy the vampire, the cast of King of Queens, That 70s Show and Sarah Michelle Gellar. Gavert Salon: 9666 Brighton Way, Beverly Hills, (call Chan on his cell phone: 626-274-4725
Want a new fabulous style or color; go see Tammy at the C.E.N.T.R.E Salon. The former head colorist for Sebastian International, Tammy has a knack for matching your bringing out the best of your tresses and matching the style to fit your personality. Located at 21132 Costanso, Woodland Hills. 818-347-1900.
On the other side of the mountain in West Hollywood, master stylist Laurent D’
- Get a Facial
One to Two Weeks Before
Recommendations: a Power Peal at OleHenriksen 8622 A Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, 310-854.7700; Ona’s Rejuvenation Facial, 7373 Beverly Blvd. 323-931-9992 - Magnificent Makeup
The Big Day
To avoid makeup disasters hire a professional. Which is relatively easy task in a town filled with top-notch make up artists who specialize in bridal parties and even make house or hotel calls.
Recommendations: The Bobbe Joy Makeup Studio in Beverly Hills where celebrity makeup artist Bobbe Joy offers pre-wedding consults for $65, in shop application on the big day for $125 or on site services for $200 an hour based on a four-hour minimum. Bobbe’s adept techniques are designed to make you look as great in person as you do in your photos. “It’s important to have makeup that photographs well without looking too theatrical,” says the makeup artist to stars like Lucy Liu, Helen Hunt, Rene Russo, Shari Belafonte and Drew Barrymore. Bobbe suggests a healthy, clean and polished look with plenty of accent on the eyes. Bobbe Joy 336 ½ Beverly Dr., Beverly Hills, 310-275-3505.
Tracey Claborn, a former model and freelance makeup artist who’s painted Sharon Stone’s beautiful face when the then aspiring actress was in her 20s as well as Rita Hayworth, the cast of Family ties and assorted other notables. Today she does mostly brides and their attendants from her Valley Village studio or on site for which she charges $50 for a consultation trial makeup then $125 for the bride on the wedding day, and $65 for each additional member. She’s even touched a few grooms and escorts from time to time to take redness out or tone down sunburn or hide blemishes. For an appointment with Claborn call: 818-761-5716
If you prefer to do it yourself, Claborn offers these tips:
Use a concealer that’s a little lighter than your skin tone with a hint of yellow to cover dark circles around the eyes. Blend with a sponge over lids and dust loose powder over it for a base to make it last. (Author’s tip, get Estee Lauder’s Illusionist Maximum Curling Mascara, it’s fabulous).
Line eyes as close to your lashes as you can and only half way (outer corner inward) under lower lashes.
Always set foundations with loose, translucent powder. Apply rose or peach to your cheeks for a special glow. Use a lip liner that matches your lipstick. Practice, practice, practice to get it perfect.
- Anytime
Angst-relief
The best panacea for pre-wedding angst is a trip to a day spa.
Recommendation: The Spa at the Peninsula Hotel’s Ama Mokshah Toxins Release treatment that begins with a gentle Abhyanga massage. The as you head toward nirvana, the therapist drips hot body oil over your entire body. You begin to nod off as she slathers an herbal paste over the oil then wraps you in warm banana leaves, covers you up like a cocoon and massages your scalp. You can almost feel the toxins and tension escape from your body. The 1-½ hour treatment costs $245 and makes the perfect gift to yourself or for someone in the wedding party. The Peninsula Spa, 9882 S. Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills, 310-551-2888, www.peninsula.com. - Regularly
At Home Remedies
Be sure to keep up a daily beauty routine no matter how hectic things get. Cleanse, tone, and moisturize your face morning and night. Use a body scrub once a week. Keep your nails and hair looking good. Get an Aurora beauty kit that comes with Vivi dietary supplement for the complexion, a Pure Green Healing Clay masque kit that firms the face,, 24 hour face cream that moisturizes and protects, a body lotion that leaves your skin silky soft, and Vivinal, a Myrrh-acle in a bottle for beautiful, healthy nails (it’s laved with commihora myrrha). Call 800-318-3934. - . Whenever
Shaping Up
Every woman wants to look her buffest best on her wedding day. While best accomplished with a regular diet and exercise routine, for a quick fix head to a health spa. Bring along your maids of honor, mother, and/or future mother-in-law.
You can go budget or bust.
Budget Recommendation: the Oaks at Ojai and Palms at Palm Springs. Led by able-bodied fitness guru Sheila Cluff, both facilities offer nutritional guidance, 15 moderate to killer workout options and salubrious treatments. . You can even learn healthy tips for entertaining at home. A four night stay starts at $660 per person. The Oaks at Ojai,
The Palms at Palm Springs,
Spa Blowout: The Golden Door in Escondido. The crème de la crème of luxury spas, the finely tuned weeklong program is guaranteed to whip you into shape, whittle your waistline and make you glow all over. A favorite celebrity getaway, the Japanese honjin-style resort mixes metaphysical with reality. The low fat, gourmet diet is sensational, the fitness program unparallel with early morning mountain hikes combined with a wide variety of cardiovascular, body toning classes, and well at $5,725 a week (all-inclusive mind you) it should be. And if you tell them you’re there to shape up for your wedding, your fitness advisor will create a program just for you. For information call: 800-424-0777.
- Thank You Notes ASAP
I personally subscribe to thanking people right away. If you buy your cards well and start addressing envelopes as soon as gifts arrive it shouldn’t cause a major problem. Be sure to mention the specific gift and say how much you like it.
- Have a Happy Honeymoon and Great Life Together
Always