“Will you be my bridesmaid?” Bride

The Western bridesmaid tradition is thought to have originated from Roman Law, which required ten
witnesses at a wedding in order to outsmart evil spirits (believed to attend marriage ceremonies) by
dressing in identical clothing to the bride and groom, so that the evil spirits would not know who was
getting married. Today, bridesmaid dresses are still commonly chosen in harmony with the look and feel of the

wedding. bridesmaids continue to serve a vital role in the wedding process, not by fending off hexes and robbers,
but by providing key support staff for the bride. No wonder we rely on our dearest friends and family members! The
payoff is that walk down the aisle, looking absolutely beautiful in a gown that is stylish, sophisticated, colorful and
absolutely wearable.

In general, brides start shopping for bridesmaid dresses shortly after they order their own gown - about six to
seven months before the wedding. The reason for the early preparation is that complex orders can take awhile
to be delivered: You want to leave plenty of time to deal with fittings, alterations and, of course, Murphy's Law
(whatever can go wrong will go wrong).The bride usually brings at least one of her bridemaids along. She wants
the bridesmaids to have a voice in choosing the dress so that they will feel confident wearing it, even if that means
different styles for each bridesmaid. When deciding where to purchase, A full service bridal shop is the most
comprehensive choice, providing information and advice on measurements, sizing, undergarments, shoes and order
time. They provide fabric swatches and usually have seamstresses on staff to perform all necessary alterations. They
are professionals, and usually charge slightly higher prices than discount retailers. However, it is their business to
make sure the wedding day goes perfectly. Brides often find it convenient to choose one shop they like and purchase
everything there, including the bridesmaid dresses, shoes and accessories. With so much to do convenience is
paramount.

When all is said and done, the payoff for being a bridesmaid is that walk down the aisle, looking absolutely beautiful
in a gown that is stylish, sophisticated, colorful and absolutely wearable. (And the reception, of course!)

“A Joy Shared Is A Joy Doubled”.

Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

There is some historical discrepancy as to the origin of the tuxedo. Some accounts attribute the tux to Edward Albert, Prince of Wales, who commissioned a short smoking jacket from Savile Row founder Henry Poole & Co. in 1860.

Other histories pinpoint the tux's introduction to a natty gent who, frustrated by tails that interfered with his dancing, wore a tailless dress coat to New York's Tuxedo Park resort's Autumn Ball in 1886.

If you favor the latter account - let's go ahead and go with the American version - the tuxedo would mark its 125th anniversary this fall. A fine moment in sartorial history, indeed. Let's mark the occasion by tipping our hat to the tux - by far the most dashing apparel in a man's wardrobe.

When choosing a tux, look for trousers (never cuffed) that are slimmer and sport a higher waist than normal suit pants, which offers a proportion better suited for a tux jacket, formal shirt and cummerbund.

Stay away from synthetic materials - go with Super 100 wools.

Tux details can include stripes and braids on trousers and satin on lapels. Satin, with its subtle sheen, is a traditional choice for an accent fabric. Grosgrain pants stripes are quite natty.

Wing-collar shirts are best with a bow tie; lie-down collars are best with a solid silk necktie.

Don't forget: Cummerbund pleats face up; cuff links for French-cuffed sleeves; studs for exposed shirt placket.

If you're investing in a grown-up tux, you might as well spring for good shoes, too. And throw in evening hosiery.

Short, stocky guys.
Jackets with slim shawl collars are a good bet. You don’t need any of those broad-shoulder euro-style tuxes; that would be overkill. Instead jackets with natural shoulder lines are best. For pants, avoid styles that have too much break on the foot (can look sloppy); instead, try reverse double-pleated trousers.

Short, slender guys.
Skip the double-breasted styles and look at single-breasted jackets with a low button and wide lapels.

Tall, slender guys.
These folks have it easy—just about everything works. Double-breasted tuxes with those euro-style broad shoulders are fine, as are those hip three-button styles that close high on the chest. Trousers can have more break at the foot.

Tall, stocky guys.
Jacket length is a tough one here; try styles with shawl collars. Consider a jacket with a bit of room to allow for movement.