The new Purely Collection by Alfred Angelo is pure perfection.

Their 2010 catalogue showcases fun, flirty and fabulous wear-again bridesmaid dresses in luscious eco-friendly fabrics.

Loving the adorable Silk Dupioni Plaid dresses. Who knew plaid could be so pretty. These dazzling designs have inspired me to create a “Pretty in Plaid” wedding inspiration board. Watch for it over the next couple of days.

Part of the PURE Collection, this gorgeous gown is perfect for the bride looking for a simple, fun, flowing yet elegant dress that is sure to take their breath away as you walk down the aisle.

The PURE Collection combines rich organic fabrics with beautiful natural accents.

I highly recommend taking the time to explore this exquisite collection; you will not be disappointed.

Style: OJ16
Size: US 4-20

www.justinalexanderbridal.com

Handmade by female artisans in India, this organic cotton dress features soft, feminine embroidered details, knit bust and mini-balloon bottom.

Retails for $189 from Jute and Jackfruit

We’ve found the perfect alternative which will not only reduce your dress budget but also reduce the waste. The Eco Chameleon gown from Etsy designer and seller Isadora Clothing is true to it’s name. Made of organic cotton, bamboo and spandex jersey, this versatile piece allows you to achieve several different styles simply by changing the way you twist and tie the dress.

For your ceremony, try the strapless Grecian Goddess twist for romantic elegance. And how about the Marilyn Monroe style cross-over halter for a fun yet classic reception cocktail dress.

After your wedding you can incorporate this fun and stylish dress into your everyday wardrobe by getting it hemmed and professionally dyed.

The Eco Chameleon dress sells for the oh-so affordable price of $360.

Also available in a shorter length and a wide variety of colors, the Chameleon dress would be perfect for your bridesmaids. The shorter version sells for $116.

If you’re looking for a dress that can be enjoyed after the wedding, look no further. This timeless 100% organic cotton and silk lined sundress will have you looking eco-fabulous for years to come.

The Orchard dress comes in sizes:
2, 4, 6, 8, 10,12

grace & cello apparel.

The V-shaped neckline dress, produced in Hollywood, CA in a solar-powered factory, fashions an elastic band under the bustline and a loose fit around waist and hips making this the ideal dress to complement almost any figure.

This is a dress you will want to wear again and again and at $99 — it’s a steal!

www.blacklabelboutique.com

Every dress from the “Angel Gowns” collection is custom made to your specifications and budget.

The elegant and timeless design of these bias cut dresses can easily be incorporated into your evening and special event wear after the wedding.

www.sanni.com

Are you considering an eco-friendly wedding but all the natural and recycled fabrics and items aren’t your thing? Are you looking for glamour, romance and elegance but still aching to be green?

You can be glamorously green and eco-elegant while going vintage.

Vintage gowns have become very popular in recent years because of a renewed interest in the beauty and style of the past and the growing green movement. Many celebrities have donned vintage gowns for red carpet events and even for their own weddings. Vintage gowns, accessories and décor are fabulously green because no new resources are needed to make them.

Surprisingly there are many vintage styles and options to choose from. You might be surprised at what is available (they used to make things to last you know):

• The flapper styles of the 20′s
• The understated beauty of the 30′s
• The glamour of the 50′s
• The psychedelic fun of the 60′s
• The disco inspired attire of the 70′s
• Even the awesome 80′s if that’s your thing.

 Perhaps you wish to go back even farther in time to romantic Edwardian or Victorian fashions.

One of the greatest things about going vintage is that you can center your whole wedding theme around the era of your gown.

Pair a 20′s flapper gown with old fashioned Speakeasy, bootleg, and mobster accessories (Al Capone anyone?).

Match up a 50′s dress with Elvis, Marilyn Monroe, rock n roll records, juke boxes and poodle skirt flair.

Go 60′s hippie style or become a 70′s disco diva.

Research what was popular in a certain era and center your wedding attire and décor around that. Have fun scouring antique shops, thrift stores and online sites dedicated to vintage items (like Tias.com).

So where should you start?

There are many web sites that have information about vintage wedding gowns, traditions and accessories but I found a couple books to be most helpful:

Vintage Wedding – Simple Ideas for Creating a Romantic Vintage Wedding
by Daniela Turudich

Accessorizing the Bride -Vintage Wedding Finery through the Decades
by Norma Shephard.

 These books will help you see what types of fabrics and styles of dresses were popular during different decades.
So where can you find vintage gowns?

You never know when you may find a gem at a local thrift store, consignment shop or antique store. You might even be lucky enough to have a vintage clothing retailer in your town. If not, there’s always eBay and a host of online retailers that specialize in vintage gowns. Two well known online retailers are VintageWedding.com and VintageVixen.com. If you are in the UK check out VintageDress.co.uk.

Buyer Beware

Be careful when shopping for vintage gowns especially if your purchase from an online retailer.
First of all make sure the gown is not a reproduction but an actual vintage gown. If you really want to go green buying a new “vintage” replica doesn’t fit the bill, unless it’s made out of natural, sustainable materials like hemp or bamboo.

Several popular stores offer vintage “style” dresses. They are not real vintage gowns which means they are not green. New materials and resources were used to create them.

Also be sure that you get a gown that is wearable. Some real vintage gowns are so old and fragile they cannot be worn, at least not without a lot of expensive and time consuming restoration which only a very qualified seamstress could accomplish.

• Always ask for full disclosure of the gown’s condition.
• Any stains, rips, or tears?
• Do the zippers, buttons, snaps, etc all work properly?
• Is anything missing?
• Is the elastic in good condition?
• Ask for good quality photos so you can examine the gown you are considering.
• Ask about the store’s return policy. If a retailer doesn’t offer to stand behind their merchandise you may want to shop somewhere else.

 Another big issue with vintage gowns is sizing. Sizes have changed over the years. You’ll want to ask for measurements of any gowns you are considering. Get accurate measurements of yourself and an item of clothing that fits you well and compare them. Make sure you get insurance on anything shipped to you. The last thing to consider when purchasing a vintage wedding dress is undergarments. You’ll want to know what kinds of undergarments were worn with that specific style of dress. Some styles may require a corset or a hoop skirt. Many vintage styles cannot comfortably be worn with today’s modern undergarments.

Treat searching for items for your vintage wedding like treasure hunting. Grab your maid of honor, bridesmaids or your mom and take a day or two to hit all the local thrift shops, antique stores, yard sales, estate sales and whatever other second hand retailers you can find. Maybe you have a large flea market in the area. Make sure to stop there. You never know what you may come across nestled in the bottom of a thrift store bin or buried in someone’s garage. Second hand shopping can unearth many treasures, along with a lot of junk, but stick with it, perseverance is usually rewarded.

Having a vintage wedding can be rewarding, fun and ultimately green.

 ~Wenona Napolitano is the author of The Everything Green Wedding Book which will be out in December 2008. You can learn more about her and the book at www.everythinggreenweddings.blogspot.com

Think back to the last few weddings you attended. Can you describe the brides dresses?

Drawing a blank? Well it happens to all of us. We think back to all those beautiful weddings we’ve attended but for some reason we just can’t seem to remember what the bride’s dress looked like.

Well that won’t be the case if you stroll down the aisle wearing this truly one-of-a-kind vintage dress from thefrock.com.

This sleeveless silk gown with rhinestone straps and amazingly beautiful flower wrap is sure to take their breath away.The wrap which is made up of silk and velvet flowers sprinkled with rhinestones elegantly waterfalls to the floor with silk chiffon panels.

Your guests will be convinced you had this amazing work of art custom made. They’ll never know you only paid $775. This dress can be found on page 7 of The Frock’s bridal section.

Price: $775

www.thefrock.com

This absolutely gorgeous Feather Halter dress from Indigo Handloom will add a bit of stylish whimsy to your wedding.

Crafted from pure silk satin, this empire waist dress sports feathers woven right into the fabric making it a true one-of-a-kind.

With its light hearted elegance and flattering cut this dress is sure to become a staple in your bridesmaids’ closets. After the wedding it would make the perfect black cocktail dress for an evening of martinis on the town.

About the company:

Indigo Handloom purchases it handmade fabrics from weavers practicing their traditional craft in villages across South Asia.

Through their purchasing practices, Indigo Handloom helps these highly skilled artisans sustain their environment and family-oriented way of life while achieving a fair wage.

Weavers operate as independent business owners using ancient looms powered only by the energy of the weaver. Best of all, there is no child labor involved with the production of Indigo Handloom products.

Many of the fabrics are made from organic and vegan silks dyed with vegetable based dyes.

www.indigohandloom.com