Amber Riley’s Anne Barge SAG Awards Dress

Glee‘s Amber Riley looked drop dead gorgeous in this dramatic black Anne Barge gown she wore to last week’s SAG Awards. The dress was inspired by a wedding dress that Amber simply adored, according to Anne.

“She became interested in the style after having seen a wedding gown very similar of ours,” Anne told Wedding Dresses. “We custom made it per her measurements, and I thought the look was perfect for her petite height. The floral corsage on the one shoulder, the fitted rouched elongated bodice and the full flower covered skirt really emphasized her curves. I thought the proportions were great for her!”

Q&A With Wedding Dress Designer Angel Rivera

Wedding dress designer Angel Rivera knows a thing or two about making gorgeous gowns. After all, the young Peurto Rican native got his start at well-known companies such as Kleinfeld, Amsale and Kirstie Kelly before starting his own line a few years later. His latest collection showcases the womanly style he’s known for. Check out what Angel had to say about his designs, his Puerto Rican heritage and what he hopes to accomplish with today’s modern bride.

Describe your latest collection.

My Fall 2011 D’White collection pays homage to the great women in my life.  Each one of these women have their own attitude and unique look!  In capturing their essence some of the dresses are fashion-forward, while others are romantic.  Each dress has a unique design aesthetic.  With my love for classic bridal, I have designed each gown with a twist to give subtle edge to signature feminine designs.  I used silk satins, organzas, tissue taffetas and chiffons.  I have also used antique laces and crystal beading, giving this collection an affordable luxe quality.

The designs in this collection range from simple to over-the-top, giving an option to every bride.  I believe that a bride should be comfortable on ther wedding day, but also wear a gown that reflects her look and personality.  The women in my life have inspired every one of these gowns.  From my mother to my dearest friend.  Each gown reflects them in personality, style, and how I would see each one of them on their wedding day.

Daniela

Even though you left Puerto Rico when you were 2 years-old; how has your ethnic background influenced your style?

I feel that my Hispanic background has influenced my style enormously. In the Hispanic culture we have brides that love lace and classic styles, as well as brides who want their dresses to be well-beaded and fashion forward. I think that my gowns cater to both of these types of brides. My Hispanic background is such a big part of me that it flows naturally into my designs. All of my dresses – from simple to laced and beaded – come from the inspiration of my culture.

How does the style of brides in the states differ from that of the style of brides in the commonwealth of Puerto Rico?

I find that brides in both the United States and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico have similar tastes in bridal gowns. They are very much the same in the aspect of style and appreciation for beautiful lace and beading. They all just want to be beautiful brides on their special day!

Real Housewives’ Cynthia Bailey’s Wedding Dress

Real Housewives of Atlanta‘s Cynthia Bailey tied the knot to fiance Peter on the season finale that aired Sunday. The supermodel walked down the aisle in a gorgeous silver wedding dress that was anything but conventional. The dress was a custom design by New York designer Rubin Singer. Cynthia told Life & Style that she didn’t want a conventional white wedding gown and opted for the unique platinum one instead.

Photo credit: Life & Style, Bravo

A Glimpse at the White by Vera Wang Collection

The highly anticipated collection finally made its debut at DavidsBridal.com. Gowns from the White by Vera Wang collection will hit 150 David’s Bridal stores nationwide beginning on February 11. Wang’s usual bridal dresses go for tens of thousands of dollars, but dresses from the White collection range from $600 – $1,400, which is perfect for brides on a budget. The 12 styles in the White collection range from size 0-14 and come in a range of gorgeous colors, such as soft white, ivory, blush and champagne.

Anatomy of a Bestselling Bridesmaid Dress

We love this Alfred Sung bridesmaid dress, and so does everyone else, apparently! It’s one of Dessy‘s bestselling bridesmaid dresses. We sat down with Vivian Dessy as she explained to us what made the bestselling dress so special.

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Why do brides love this bridesmaid dress?
There is a certain design from the Alfred Sung bridesmaids collection that we loved and photographed right when it came out. We were happy to learn that this dress had become a bestseller in 2010. Why and how? Vivian Dessy designed style 465 and the updated version, style 468, with a party dress in mind. A dress that would look good as a bridesmaid but could be worn again.

The fit on the dress also happens to work on a lot of body types. The sophisticated ruffle adds volume to flat-chested women and also covers elegantly larger chests. It accentuates the waist-line, and the straight skirt is very slimming. In its newer version with a fuller skirt, it becomes a little bit more romantic and fresh. Darker colors such as black (the bestselling color) and midnight are in demand, but for upcoming spring and summer weddings pinks and purples are going to be very hot. Both dresses are available in Peau de Soie if you like a little shimmer and Dupioni for a more organic look. The price point is less than $180.