Vera Wang's Fall 2012 line

I am not normally one to write about main stream fashion - wedding related or not. I do my own thing and dress pretty conservative, but my taste tends to lean towards the funky and edgy. This week, I was pretty excited to hear the buzz about Vera Wang's new Fall 2012 line of wedding gowns. They are not your typical white and ivory gowns that have become industry standard. Finally, we are seeing something a little more dramatic.

You can check the line out on the Brides blog here. The inspiration was Witchcraft, with a little Gothic twist. I pretty much love them all.

Though the dresses are amazingly Vera, I'm not particularly fond of the look of death they gave the models. I'd like to think that brides are smiling and happy on their wedding day. But, who am I to judge her vision? To each their own, and I say if you want to wear a black wedding dress with 'death' make-up, you just need to own it!

I love that there is an, albeit tiny, switch in the wedding industry; that there are mainstream designers recognizing that not everyone wants to wear white to get married. Not everyone wants to do the traditional thing. Some of us want to have a little more fun on our wedding day, because it's the marriage that matters; and sometimes your personality just needs to shine through.

* Photo by John Aquino via brides.com

My sister's closet

One of the local high schools has started a program collecting gently used formal dresses to donate to girls who wouldn't otherwise be able to afford them for their formal dances.

"We will be accepting dresses all year long for My Sister’s Closet. If you have a dress that your daughter no longer needs/wants and it has been cleaned and gently worn, we would love to repurpose it and let another girl wear it. We could use more dresses, both long and short. This program was very successful for Prom last year and for Homecoming this past week."

I love this idea. I really, really do. And I know there are a few of you out there with a bridesmaid dress or two in your closet.

publicity still for 27 dresses

So tell me, are you really going to wear that dress again? Wouldn't it feel good to donate it to a teenager in need; to help give some beautiful teenage girl a chance to go to her high school homecoming or prom? 

Last year, just posting a plea on my personal facebook, I collected nine dresses. It was pretty awesome turning them in; the staff was all smiles and so excited. 

This school plans to run the program twice a year, for homecoming (late October) and prom (late spring) and it is open to anyone in need. If you have a dress you are willing to donate, please contact me (you can leave a comment here, or email me at rebecca (at) blushcelebrations (dot) com) and I will happily pick it up and deliver it to the school.

happy girls going to prom. used with permission, please do not copy.