We are pleased to introduce to you our new line of petticoats!

Petticoats have been worn now for centuries. By 1585 the petticoat or skirt-like undergarments was well established and are now they are making a comeback; not only for the bride but for young girls as well. Petticoats are a wonderful way to enhance that perfect dress and give it that extra bit of fullness to show off a beautiful skirt and to help define that girlish form. We have so many styles for you to choose from young girls to women, you are sure to find the perfect petticoat for that perfect dress. Please Click Here to view our petticoat collection

Here are a few dresses that we recommend being worn with a petticoat….

Image via Wikipedia

2009 is challenging for everybody!  With the economy, job loss, financial trouble and so much more.

Here - we’ve been limping along.  Literally!

I’ve been on crutches for the past four months.  Our Assistant Writer was out sick for weeks.  Then, my Assistant was down for quite a while too.

Eegads!  [As they would say in “The Music Man” musical]

But we’re here - and going strong.  So much is happening behind the scenes that it’s enough to make anybody dizzy!

So stay tuned . . . much to come.

Times are tough - we understand so well!

Because of this and in appreciation to you - we’ve added a new resource - special and FREE offers in our new Customer Appreciation section.

Check often - we’ll be adding things that you may be looking for or helpful freebies that you’ll really appreciate in these difficult economic times.

Enjoy them - on us!

See:  Customer Appreciation

We have just published a very special page filled with Special Offers & Free Gifts for our customers!

Check this page out often - they will be changing - and you are welcome to all of them!

Where have we been?  Why so few posts?

Well, it’s because our writer (me) fell and broke her ankle last weekend.

Yes, the weather here has been treacherous. Yes, I was out in it. No, that’s now how I got hurt!  Nope - I was out in that most of the day and got home safe and sound just to fall down a step once I was home.  Sure do feel stupid.

I’m back here part of the day now hobbling around on crutches.  I have to - because so much here is happening!

More to come, so stay tuned . . . .

The subject of white dresses confuses many. 

It’s simple but relatively unknown that “whites” are not all the same!

We just had a call asking if a “white” flower girl dress will match the bride’s diamond white dress.  The answer?  It all depends.  What does it depend on?  The shade of the bride’s diamond white AND the shade of white of the flower girl dress she’s considering.  Is it bright white - or is it silk white, for instance?

We’ve discussed the subject of matching garments extensively here and throughout our websites.   You can find these discussions in the categories at right - they’re always here for your use.  It applies to white like any other color.

In short, to ‘match’ all garments must be ordered from the same manufacturer at the same time from the same dye lot. 

To coordinate, though, there’s a little more room for variation.

What shades of white are there?  We’ll name several but likely will miss something.  Why?  Because every company likes to come up with their own names for things.

• White a/k/a/ Bright/Brilliant White a/k/a Stark White
• Diamond White
• Candlelight
• Silk White  (or just silk fabric in white)
• Off-White
• Winter White
• Ivory
• Cream

These are all shades of “white” and tend to get deeper in shade as you decend the list.

The closer they are together on this list - the less likely they will look good together. 

When mixing bright whites and off-shades of white, the non-bright color will look dingy or even dirty against the bright white.  Very often it is the bride in the off-white shade; if a member of the wedding party is in bright white, that person is going to make the bride’s gown look dingy.

We recommend NEVER mixing bright whites with slight shades of off-white.  That includes candle light, silk white (silk is NEVER brilliant white and always looks dull against bright whites of other fibers), off-white, winter-white, etc.

Why?  Because the off-white shades are going to look dingy against the bright white.

Now, there may be some brides who WANT their maids to look dingy . . . but we won’t go there! 

The father away from each other, the better they can look together.  Combining very different shades looks “deliberate” and makes a fashion statement.  For instance?  Cream against bright white.  This can have a stunning effect just like chocolate on champagne (same color family but different shades).

Off-white shades look fabulous with the skin tones of many.  In fact, bright white can’t be worn well by a lot of people.

Coordinating which whites are best to use for your situation really does take a little effort and deliberation.  We recommend in a Wedding that it be the Bride who decides what shade is best on her — then everyone else’s garments are selected to compliment.  If she chooses bright white, then the wedding party should be in either bright white or color.  If the bride is in any shade of off-white, then the wedding party should be in off-whites - or color.