Bride Chic

   Just how much does the world of ballet influence bridal? A lot. Traditional ballet costume evolved in the era of the Johann Strass ', a young Queen Victoria, and Giselle , an 1840s ballet by Aldophe Adam. Think classic corps de ballet in long white tulle and floral wreath. The 'Willis'--brides to be who had the bad luck to die on the eve of their wedding--wore this exact ensemble in Giselle. Also reflecting the silhouette of the ballet costume as we know it, Queen Victoria clinched the look when she married Prince Albert wearing yards of white lace and dressing her flock of attendants accordingly.  The ball gown is an hourglass silhouette and remains the most dramatic of all bridal styles. It is as romantic a confection as those seen in the corps de ballet, flowing in swirls of white tulle. The skirt and its understructure are both based on volume. Thus, sweeping skirts equal sweeping entrances, especially awesome on brides who know how to work their strut.  ...