janemabridal blog

Who is Amsale?
This Ethopian designer first begin designing wedding dresses after a frustrated search for her own gown in 1985 left her realizing there was a void in the market for simple yet sophisticated wedding dresses. With a degree from the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), and experience working for Harvé Benard, she knew she could create something better herself. So she placed an ad in the back of bridal magazines for custom made gowns, and soon began getting orders. Her business grew as people recognized her classic yet modern style. In 1997, she added a line of evening dresses and separates which have seen similar success.
Amsale developed her style sense as a child in Addis Ababa, where she and her sister often made their own clothes. She first came to the US in order to attend college in Vermont, but the toppling of the Ethiopian government and subsequent imprisonment of her diplomat father left her without money. She moved to Boston, worked and saved up enough money to graduate from Boston State College with a political science degree, and then attend FIT.
Amsale has a savvy business sense, and in order to provide something for diverse kinds of brides, she acquired the venerable Christos line of wedding dresses, and hired Kenneth Pool to launch a line that emphasizes beading and over-the-top glamour. When that relationship ended, Amsale was savvy again to hire media darling Austin Scarlett of Project Runway to take over the line.
Today, the four lines – Amsale Bridal, Amsale evening, Christos, and Kenneth Pool are produced in her stunning New York showroom. Wedding dresses are made-to-order to a bride’s exact measurements and specifications.What celebrities have worn Amsale?
You might have seen an Amsale wedding dresses on Trista Rehn aka the Bachelorette or, perhaps the one that Alyson Hannigan wore in the movie American Wedding. But all kinds of celebrities have worn Amsale, including Halle Berry, Julia Roberts, Angela Bassett, Lisa Kudrow, and Salma Hayek, to name just a few. What is an Amsale wedding dress like?
Amsale specializes in clean, simple, modern lines in rich fabrics. Even with a full ballgown skirt, her simplicity of form creates a crisp and youthful wedding dress. How much does an Amsale wedding dress cost?
Depending on your area, Amsale wedding dresses cost between $3000 and $12000, with many around $4000.

One of the biggest decisions you will face as the big day approaches is choosing the perfect wedding dress. The process of shopping for a wedding dress can be a fabulous adventure, but it can also be stressful and overwhelming–particularly because a bride-to-be often starts shopping for her gown before many other details are determined.
You might have had a clear mental picture of the perfect wedding dress ever since you were five years old. On the other hand, you may have no idea what you are going to wear or feel strange about the idea of wearing white. The important thing is to relax, and remember that there are as many different kinds of dresses out there as there are different kinds of brides.
When to Start Shopping for Your Wedding Dress Give yourself ample time to plan- generally the rule of thumb is that you need to order your gown at least six months before your wedding. So you should ideally start shopping for your gown nine months or more before your wedding. (If you don’t have this much time, it’s okay, just budget for some rush charges).
Plan Ahead Take a few minutes to think about what you want. It will be helpful when you enter the maze of wedding dresses out there to know what your budget is, any details that are essential (i.e. I must have a full skirt, or my arms must be covered), and an idea of how traditional you want your dress to be. After all, if really a teal pantsuit would work best for you, it’s probably not worth your time to sort through racks of flouncy white gowns.
Be Comfortable! On your wedding day, you’ll want to look great, but you’ll also want to be comfortable- it will be hard to dance and laugh (not to mention posing for all those pictures) if you’re tugging your dress up or have boning jutting into your ribs.
First- consider which wedding dress is most appropriate to your day – for example, consider a shorter tea-length or cocktail length dress for a beach wedding. If you’re the type who likes to dance with her hands in the air, and anticipates doing the limbo, perhaps a strapless dress is not the one for you. Look for wedding dresses with removable sleeves or straps to give you the widest range of options.
A Dress that Fits Your Body Well Think about your body type and what kinds of dresses generally look good on you. Take a look at what you regularly wear that makes you feel confident and beautiful, and then look for a wedding dress with similar lines. If a friend is making your wedding dress, ensure that you have agreed on a fitting schedule and chances to make adjustments. If you’re looking for a bargain at a sample sale, or discount outlet, you should budget money for taking the dress to a good tailor. Many designers will ask for three fittings, and will closely tailor your wedding dress to fit you.
Saving Money on Your Wedding Dress If money is an issue, remember that the most expensive kind of dress is not necessarily the best kind. Many brides find a bridesmaids dress in white or off-white that works perfectly, and is hundreds of dollars cheaper. There are thousands of dresses to be had at sample sales, thrift stores, and ebay. Consider taking pictures from magazines to a friend who sews or seamstress and getting a price quote. If you choose to make your own dress, don’t delay. The sooner you finish it, the sooner you’ll be able to attend to the many other details of your wedding.

Finding the perfect wedding dress is essential to most brides to be. The wedding dress is usually the highlight of the wedding. The bride wants to look her best as all eyes are on her as she comes down the aisle. There is no wonder why finding the wedding dress is often
the part of the wedding planning that takes the longest. Today there are an array of dress styles to choose from that will complement any bride. Here is a list of popular wedding dress styles and the body type that they look best on.

1.A-Line
The dress that complements just about any size or shape is the “a ” line style wedding
dress. This style is fitted down to the waist line and falls free from there. It can be
used to accentuate a nice curvy bodice as well as give you that ballroom gown feeling. This
too can be used to achieve that queen or princess look you may be striving for.

2.Ball Gown
The classic ball gown wedding dress is known for it’s pouf skirt and snug fitted bodice.
This style of wedding dress is flattering to mostly all shapes and sizes. This dress will
easily give any bride that queen for a day or Cinderella look they may be trying to
achieve.

3.Empire
The empire style wedding dress has more of a regal look to it. Reminiscent of the
Shakespearean style dress, It’s high waistline makes you look taller and gives an instant
lift to your breast. This dress is perfect for you if you are short or have a small bust
line.

4.Goddess
If you’re trim and toned then the Goddess style wedding dress is a great option for you.
Inspired by ancient Greece, this gown adds a touch of class to sensuality. It usually has a
twisted and tucked look coupled with revealing arms and shoulders. It is common to see this
wedding dress in a one-strap shoulder style.

5.Mermaid
If you have an hour-glass figure and want to show it off then the mermaid style wedding
dress is a great option for you. It boldy accentuates all your curves and gives you a sleek
and fitted look. It is known for it’s form fitting style all the way down to the calf area
and it’s sudden flare at the bottom. This style is along the lines of a Mae West type
dress.
One thing to remember when choosing a wedding dress is that it should be something the
bride feels and looks beautiful in. If you can achieve those two things then you’ve
probably found the right wedding dress.