By JOSELYN KING

Staff Writer

Blushing brides have a multitude of wedding dresses available to them these days — and for a modern wedding they can even buy one in a trendy color of the season known as “blush.”

The options for the perfect bridal gown are endless this season, and a bride can find the perfect dress.

Fit, color, style and material are all items to consider for a bridal gown or any important dress purchase.

“The number one rule is to find a bride a dress that makes her feel beautiful. If she feels confident, she will look confident on her day,” said Jeanie Lambert, owner of the Sorelle Bridal Salon in Washington, Pa.

She said there are no hard and fast rules for picking the correct dress.

“Each bride is as unique as each dress, and you have to take one at a time,” Lambert said.

“What works for one, might not for every bride. While are general rules, we want to capture each bride’s personality.”

Those standing just 5 feet tall might be wary of buying a dress with a long train, but Lambert said the train can be adjusted on the dress. Typically, it is bustled up following the wedding as the bride attends the reception.

“Those who are petite should avoid any sort of dress that breaks the body,” she said. “Instead of having a distinct top, middle and bottom on the dress, it should have one continuous line. A solid lace or satin dress gives an illusion that one is taller.”

She suggests avoiding overwhelming accents or too much volume.

“The wider the gown, the closer to the ground you will seem,” she said.

And the bride’s build is an even more important factor in finding a dress than is height, according to Lambert.

“A tiny woman wouldn’t want to wear a ball gown — it would swallow them up,” she said. “An hourglass figure, though, looks good in a fit and flair or trumpet style, or a mermaid dress.”

Those with pear-shapes, meanwhile, should look toward an A-line or ballgown style. They should avoid the straight column dresses, she said.

Women who have broad shoulders and narrow hips — often referred to as the apple shape — should look to shoulder straps or shoulder treatments to break up the shoulder line.

And the bride shouldn’t be discouraged if they find a dress that fits right but doesn’t have some characteristics they like.

Sorelle’s has seamstresses on staff to not just alter dresses, but to often rework them, Lambert said.

“Because we are all built so differently, it is essential to have a seamstress who can alter a dress to fit like a second skin,” she said.

“We can do a lot of custom alterations. If a dress has a strap and the bride needs a sleeve, that can be done in house. If a bride can imagine it, chances are we can make it happen.”

Lambert said the least commonly selected color for bridal dresses these days is the traditional white. Brides are more often choosing ivory or champagne colors with undertones more complimentary to their own skin tones.

“Off-white and the other colors pull out warmer tones in the skin and make a bride look more radiant,” she said. “White can be harsh, but dark complexions look best in stark white.”

Brides planning an outdoor wedding at the beach or another warm location might want to consider the material of their dress, according to Lambert. A light-weight, breathable cloth for the dress will be more comfortable for the bride. She suggests avoiding satins, taffetas and dresses with tons of layers if they are going to be worn in higher temperatures.

“Find the dress you feel the most beautiful in,” she said. “You’re presenting yourself to your future husband. Pick the style that celebrates you as a new wife.”