By Libby Dowd

Today more brides opt out of the traditional garter toss. But that does not mean the demand for this dainty underpinning is waning. In fact, the garter selections available to brides are expanding and styles are becoming more decadent and luxurious. La Gartier owner and designer, Sarah Dobson says garters are trending—big time. It’s not the traditional toss that is drawing in customers. “Brides are buying garters just to have them,” says Dobson. “It’s a keepsake. A garter is one wedding day accessory that is easy to keep and that a mother can pass down to her daughter.”

Laura Hardiman, owner of The Ivory Corset in Andover, MA, caters to brides and special occasion customers. She mirrors Dobson’s comments, saying not many of her customers are planning a garter toss, but for many, the tradition of wearing a garter is still strong. “It’s definitely a keepsake item,” she says. “A lot of times the mother of the bride urges her daughter to purchase one.”

With more brides holding onto their garters, the demand for higher-end materials and design is increasing. Florrie Mitton, a UK-based luxury line of garters has been picked up by mega wedding retailer, BHLDN. Designer Claire Quigley started the line after planning her own wedding in 2009. “Everything is handmade in the UK with an emphasis on luxury and quality,” she says. “Only exquisite silks, laces and trimmings are used for my range.”

The same holds true for Dobson’s custom line. She fields all kinds of requests from brides, but her biggest demand is for garters that incorporate “something old” or “something blue.” “A bride recently sent me a vintage cameo that belonged to her grandmother,” Dobson says. “She wanted to have her grandmother close to her on her wedding day.”

Regardless of the request, Dobson aims to capture understated femininity in every design. “I like to keep things simple and elegant,” she says, “You won’t see me go overboard with sparkle.”

What can you expect from La Gartier? “Fine materials, like English netting, satin and dupioni silk,” says Dobson. “I also use a lot of embroidered nettings and trims. They are very luxurious and create an ethereal look.”

The garter is getting so much attention these days, it’s almost a shame the ceremonial toss is falling out of tradition. The handcrafted designs are just too pretty to keep hidden.

by Libby Dowd

Wedding gowns are traditionally white, but lately color has been making its way down the runway—and the aisle. From the neutral blush colors that are appearing in virtually every designer’s collection to Vera Wang’s shocking black gown, color is coming on strong. So why should bridal lingerie stay all white?
In Bloom by Jonquil is introducing its new line of intimates for summer deliveries. These styles mix bold black trims and flirty polka dots—making them perfect for the bride who wants to maintain some tradition but still have a little bit of fun with color and pattern. “I was inspired by ivory and black high drama impact paired with fluffy, frilly laces,” says designer Diane Samandi.

“Some trends reflected in this line are polka dots, lace, menswear inspired prints, mixing masculine and feminine and color blocking.”

“Brides seem to gravitate towards short items—chemises, babydolls and short jacket sets,” adds Samandi. And stretch lace is a large part of the collection, too. “It is an important fabric for us—especially bridal gifts—because the fit is so forgiving.”

By Libby Dowd

Toad Lillie introduced a new line of bridal lingerie inspired by French sweets at February’s Designer Showcase. The line includes four decadent sets all hand made in luxurious silk fabrics.

Bombé, a silk chiffon babydoll with “something blue” charmeuse bows and a matching charmeuse panty features French seaming and narrow rolled hems that create a romantic ripple effect.

Chantilly, a silk charmeuse and lace shelf bra, panty and garter belt, is a more traditional bridal set. The quarter cup bra is fully lined and features a demure lace applique detail on the front. The matching knickers have a peephole and bow detail in the back for a look that is glamorous, but not overt.

Choquette, which is French for cream puff, is a … Read more

By Rhea Cortado (contributing)

When it comes to a wedding, women have carte blanche to be spoiled brats. They want exactly what they want and how they want it. So at the Something Blue wedding showcase event at the Peterson Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, it was all about customization and personalization. Shoes can be bedazzled or dyed to the bride’s precise Pantone number fancy and cupcake sprinkles can be styled to match whatever the decided theme.

The event covered all the details of the big day from announcement to consummation. (To see the full listing of vendors that participated and more tips, see the Something Blue facebook page: )

For the invitations before the wedding, Karla Rudolph (who was also host of the event) … Read more

by Libby Dowd

Any bride-to-be is likely to find herself knee deep in brand new lingerie by the time her honeymoon arrives. In fact, she may end up with more intimate apparel than regular clothes in her suitcase. Since it’s wise to travel with a little extra room in your suitcase, I’ve compiled this list of Honeymoon must-haves:

Something Sweet: Chemises and camisoles are a popular bridal gift item since the shopper does not need to know the bride’s bra size in order to get a perfect fit. Mesh or cotton styles can be sexy, but at the same time comfortable enough to sleep in.

Something Sexy: A striking piece of lingerie that she might not wear any other time should certainly find its … Read more

by Libby Dowd

If you’ve ever been to a wedding, been in a wedding or flipped to one of the many wedding programs on TV, you’ve heard the phrase, “It’s all about the details.” I was married last spring and as I planned the event, I spent the majority of my time focusing on the details. From the 40 or so vintage glass cake stands my mother and I hunted for at local antique stores to the monogrammed suspenders my groom and his men donned, I had them all figured out. It’s safe to say I lost sleep over many. There was just one detail I ignored—my bridal lingerie. As a contributing editor for The Lingerie Journal, I’m embarrassed to admit that I overlooked … Read more