The Strapless Wedding Gown—Are You Over It?

Jenn27549
wrote on October 29 2009 @ 03:18 pm: [report]

I actually wanted a dress with straps or sleeves.  At least little cap sleeves.  But I ended up finding the perfect dress otherwise, and so I just went with that one even though it was strapless.  I don’t really have a favorite, it would depend on the rest of the dress.  But it is nice to have something different, and more seasonally appropriate for fall/winter weddings.

belindajulie
wrote on October 29 2009 @ 03:25 pm: [report]

I am completely over the strapless look. This April will mark my third time as a bridesmaid and all three brides had/will have strapless dresses. It’s not that strapless is ugly or boring (in fact, it is flattering on a lot of people), but it’s ridiculous that 90% of dresses are all strapless! Everyone ends up looking too similar on their wedding days and a girl’s “unique” day ends up looking like everyone else’s.

I thought Ivanka’s dress was beautiful and incredibly elegant while being super sexy. I didn’t know there may have been another reason for her to have sleeves (i.e. Jewish wedding) but either way you never would’ve thought she was *trying* to be modest since the dress itself is so pretty.

Overall, designers should recognize that there is a serious lack of creativity going on in the wedding dress department. They need to come up with new, fresh looks!

Steph Pro
wrote on October 29 2009 @ 03:26 pm: [report]

I personally love straps/sleeves on a wedding dress.  I think it adds a layer of sophistication to the dress.  My friend wore a strapless gown to her wedding, and her top fell down a little too far during a dance.  I have never been comfortable in a strapless anything, so if/when I ever walk down the isle; you better believe it will have sleeves. I think it is more timeless and elegant.

lea322
wrote on October 29 2009 @ 03:28 pm: [report]

I think you should wear what you’re most comfortable in! If that means sleeves, then I hope there will be more options out there for ladies in the future. I know all women of the Mormon persuasion wear dresses with sleeves, so they’re out there!

spatula
wrote on October 29 2009 @ 03:29 pm: [report]

I don’t really have like, a rule about it. It depends on the dress, like someone said. And like Vera said, for the past couple decades, strapless numbers have made up the vast majority of wedding dresses we see. I sort of forgot sleeves were an option, but Ivanka’s dress is gorgeous.

Ginacakes
wrote on October 29 2009 @ 03:38 pm: [report]

I, for the most part, do not like sleeves on wedding gowns. But she looks stunning in that dress.

kjbuzz
wrote on October 29 2009 @ 03:41 pm: [report]

I’ve always thought that strapless dresses were a little tacky for weddings-I just think that a wedding should have something more traditional and I see strapless dresses as being too “sexy” for weddings.

bumbler
wrote on October 29 2009 @ 03:47 pm: [report]

Depends on the dress and the bride.  Like Jenn I originally planned on buying one with straps but fell in love with a strapless gown when I tried it on.  I do love some of the little jackets you can get for cooler reception locations.

I Go To 11
wrote on October 29 2009 @ 03:49 pm: [report]

I knew going into dress shopping that I did NOT want a strapless gown. They’re pretty overdone, IMO. I decided to go the vintage route and pick a halter gown instead, which garnered a lot of compliments at my wedding.

QTKT
wrote on October 29 2009 @ 03:53 pm: [report]

I recently went shopping for my dress and I said “No!” to strapless. Not for religious reasons, but because walking around with 34Fs in a strapless bra just isn’t going to happen. I want to have a blast without the worry of a Jackson-esque malfunction! I found the most beautiful dress with a very flattering deep v-neck. Plus, it narrowed down my choices so it was that much easier to make a decision! (I ‘knew’ immediately it was my dress before the salesperson was even done zipping it up )

Lexington
wrote on October 29 2009 @ 03:53 pm: [report]

I want to show off my shoulders at my wedding (you know, the non-existent one to someone I’ve never met), but I definitely don’t want a strapless gown, unless it’s over the top insanely gorgeous.

Jill
wrote on October 29 2009 @ 04:18 pm: [report]

I think that dress is gorgeous.  Personally I dont have a preference, it depends on the dress.

But I know my family would be very happy if I got a dress with sleeves to hide the half sleeve of tattoos on my left arm, lol.

*sam*
wrote on October 29 2009 @ 04:25 pm: [report]

I’m all about strapless gowns. I just personally don’t like the look of straps or sleeves on a wedding gown—they’re too traditional IMO. Then again, I also don’t like plain white dresses. Which is why I’m opting for a strapless gown with a colorful train to match my bridal party. (at least, that’s what I *want*—I still have yet to try it on and convince my parents that it’s worth the $700+)

develange
wrote on October 29 2009 @ 04:37 pm: [report]

I don’t think strapless is that flattering on anyone, unless it’s a corset type. But for most women it makes their boobs look flat/saggy.

Lilypie
wrote on October 29 2009 @ 04:58 pm: [report]

She looks beautiful.  As someone who doesn’t have the arms for strapless, IMO this is a good thing!

LilMissSunshine
wrote on October 29 2009 @ 05:01 pm: [report]

I would love it if the made more wedding gowns with sleeves. Also more formal dresses that aren’t strapless. I have a large enough bust that I can not feel comfortable in a strapless gown at all. And teeny tiny spaghetti straps don’t count as sleeves.

tigerstripe
wrote on October 29 2009 @ 05:42 pm: [report]

I’m really into cap-sleeve dresses at the moment.

BlueGarnet
wrote on October 29 2009 @ 05:42 pm: [report]

Oh, very much over the strapless wedding dress.

I looked so very hard for a non-strapless, non-full-length wedding dress. I’m not that confident about my arms, and I don’t want #&@$% dragging behind me.

I heard “Sorry, we don’t have anything like that”(usually for either-nothing with anything resembling sleeves, and nothing that wasn’t full length with a train).
I ended up going to an independent local party-dress designer’s store and finding a tea-length dress, and they made me a little jacket to go over it.

Of course the strapless is not actually “classic”, it’s a recent trend.

Kate2009
wrote on October 29 2009 @ 07:07 pm: [report]

I think strapless gowns are to blame for the intense pre-wedding personal training every bride seems obligated to have these days.  I’m for any type of dress that makes you feel beautiful without having to eat chicken and steamed veggies for 4 months, and then eat so much cake at your wedding that you get sugar coma. 

Personally I love the look of sleeves, especially full length sleeves with a low back/backless.

Arsenic
wrote on October 29 2009 @ 07:49 pm: [report]

yes Yes YES!! For the love of god yes!
Down with squished boobs!

aminata
wrote on October 29 2009 @ 07:49 pm: [report]

cap sleeves please.  they are perfect for ladies on the itty bitty committee, like me.

Check out Pronovias’ Valentino Esposa Line, they have the best dresses with sleeves.  Not that I’ve been looking or anything. Cough!

Pronovias

Jenn27549
wrote on October 29 2009 @ 08:00 pm: [report]

Well, I ate so much cake I went into a sugar coma, but that’s just because I LOVE cake.  It had nothing to do with any pre-wedding diet/starvation ritual.

As for the squished boobs, I have smaller ones so it wasn’t really a problem.  It was a corset top dress with boning so it had all the support necessary for my equipment.  It was also nice to have the option to lace it up tighter for the ceremony to squeeze in my waist and keep me in good posture, then let it out a little for the aforementioned cake gorging.

Coral
wrote on October 29 2009 @ 08:59 pm: [report]

I hate strapless wedding gowns so much! I think often times, it just makes the dress look downright boring. But women with smaller breasts—I don’t think strapless gowns are flattering on them for their wedding, and women with very large breasts end up showing too much cleavage in my opinion. I like almost any other style of straps, or sleeves for wedding gowns. But the strapless gown trend should be over by now, in my opinion.

Hruso25
wrote on October 29 2009 @ 09:25 pm: [report]

To each her own. I think strapless can be done in a very elegant, unique way, but the look often makes the bride look like she is a girl in a prom dress (not in all cases, of course). I love Ivanka’s dress. I think it is actually sexier than showing a little more skin in a strapless dress because she is covered up, but it is sheer material, so she is not completely covered.

I think we will see trends in bridal gowns shifting away from strapless to unique necklines, not necessarily with sleeves. I also think we’ll see dresses with “conversation” pieces (think Carrie’s bird on her head in the Sex and the City movie).

CassieJo
wrote on October 29 2009 @ 10:03 pm: [report]

When I was shopping for my wedding dress, I didn’t want to eliminate any dress without trying it on first.  After the first few halters, my neck hurt SO bad.  Wedding dresses weigh a ton!  So, I opted for a a strapless.

VsegdaOdna
wrote on October 29 2009 @ 10:21 pm: [report]

If I didnt have tattoos all over my shoulders, upper chest, and upper back, I’d opt for a dress with cap sleeves as I love the way they look. However I love my tattoos so much I couldn’t bear the thought of covering them up. Especially since most of the tattoos are a memorial to the best friend Ive ever had who passed way. Covering the tattoos would feel like I was trying to hide him. I just couldnt do that. Whomever I marry will have to be ok with my tattoos, and since it will be our day, to hell what anyone else thinks as Im walking down the aisle

november82
wrote on October 29 2009 @ 10:22 pm: [report]

I think it depends on the person, my sister is smaller uptop and her strapless dress was beutiful. I’m bigger up there so strapless dresses make me nervouse. I just like that maybe the trend is swinging back in my favor and I will have more options.

casablancas
wrote on October 29 2009 @ 10:52 pm: [report]

@kate2009 Chicken and steamed veggies isn’t really the best example for a “pre-wedding starvation diet.” Those are just normal, nutritious foods that you should eat anyways.

If/when I get married, I am definitely going to look into dresses with straps or sleeves. Strapless bras do NOTHING in the support area. One thing I really love about Ivanka’s dress is the lace sleeve detail - it’s lovely and classic without being matronly.

qnzmami718
wrote on October 30 2009 @ 07:14 am: [report]

no way ive always pictured my wedding dress strapless.. it just looks better!

bogart4017
wrote on October 30 2009 @ 10:26 am: [report]

Only because certain women shouldnt wear strapless anything, ok?

DancerNinja
wrote on October 30 2009 @ 11:35 am: [report]

So. Over. Strapless.

My good friend had this GORGEOUS dress that had a lace covered tank/v-neck upper. Low v-cut in the back too. The lace against her tanned skin was stunning and it showed off her great arms and back (she’s very active/athletic). It was so refreshing to see something different.

katsie
wrote on October 30 2009 @ 03:45 pm: [report]

Loved her dress, its beautiful !! Im so over strapless. I am only 5’3 and 110 and feel that I would look like a little kid playing dress up in a strapless dress.

Knitter79
wrote on October 30 2009 @ 04:02 pm: [report]

@katsie I agree completely.  I’m also 5’3, 110 lbs, and have been trying to make my chest look bigger since puberty.  Strapless eliminates what little I do have.  Not worth it.  What’s so horrible about sleeves?  Odd that push up bras have become so commonplace, but dresses now seem to only be strapless.

bellarose
wrote on October 30 2009 @ 04:42 pm: [report]

Strapless gowns are too overdone for my tastes, although many of my girlfriends have gotten married in them and they look beautiful. I’m a bit too eccentric to follow the trend, when I get married my wedding dress is going to have straps and be very unique. Obviously I have no idea how… not getting married any time soon! lol

evelwood
wrote on October 30 2009 @ 05:00 pm: [report]

I personally didn’t want strapless for my wedding. Unfortunately, thats all I could find! I ended up buying a strapless dress (which I adored otherwise) and adding sleeves with the extra fabric.
But I love her dress so much!

muzician
wrote on October 30 2009 @ 06:51 pm: [report]

If you’re an Orthodox woman you have to wear sleeves that cover the elbows, not just shoulders… Her dress is so pretty, I love the sleeves!

Ms. Magnificent
wrote on November 1 2009 @ 01:27 pm: [report]

I went strapless when I married 5 years ago - my dress was completely on-trend at the moment (wrap waist, lace-up back, train, strapless) but seems sososodated ro me now.  I got married on a very very hot day, and was glad I didn’t have sleeves to sweat through.

sadie
wrote on November 1 2009 @ 08:15 pm: [report]

I wanted straps/sleeves when I got married. There were almost no dresses like that to be had and the few that had them were atrocious. I finally settled on the most tolerable dress I could find because I was running out of time. I totally loathed my dress. I spent 3 months torturing myself with 2 hour daily work outs and a strict miserable diet. I still hate all my wedding pics because I didn’t like my arms, even after all that suffering and I totally hated that dress and felt self conscious all day. I couldn’t wait to take it off and about half-way through my reception I changed into a more casual dress that I actually liked.

persephone41
wrote on November 2 2009 @ 10:21 am: [report]

as i set out to buy my wedding dress, i made a mental list of what i wanted and what i did not want in my ideal dress - the biggest of which was ‘not strapless.’ one, strapless doesn’t look great on me, and two, i wanted to avoid looking like every other bride out there. like a lot of others have commented, for as much as i wanted to buck this trend, it seemed for every 5 million strapless dresses, there was 1 non-strapless.  there just weren’t a lot of options out there! i ended up with a strapless dress that i adore, but will most likely end up having the seamstress create straps! if only i were an heiress and could have vera, monique, or carolina custom design a non strapless dress…

freepeople1986
wrote on November 3 2009 @ 01:10 pm: [report]

Everyone has their own tastes.  I’m not “over” or “all about” anything in particular, just what would look good.  Everyone and their “uniqueness”: well you know what, maybe you should just get a dress in hot pink.  I’m pretty sure you’re the only bride on that day.

Just stick to something that doesn’t make you look like a whale.