Evening star., 1936-03-26
BY MARGARET WARNER.

prospective brides are all
X a-flutter with plans for the
i \ approaching wedding day.
The more they think it over the more
they change their minds about that
most important gown of all. Shall it
be lace or shall it be satin? Shall it
be white as sparkling snow or mellow
as old ivory; or blush pink like the
rose petals strewn in her path by the
little flower girls, or even pale misty
gray? 1t seems so difficult to decide,
and yet the bride is always lovely in
whatever she chooses to wear. She
is radiant from within. and it makes
a halo of beauty around her that she
herself can never see.
But just to try to help her little
bit, we have been around to lots of
shops, asked a lot of questions and
seen many beautiful gowns, which we
will tell you about, along with some
other news of interest to brides.
= X x
WE WOULD like to tell you first
of all. just in case you do not
know about it, that all of Washing
tons larger stores are more than will
ing to help brides in planning. not
only for their own wedding gowns, but
for the entire wedding party. They
will gladly make suggestions. work
out color schemes, taking into con-
sideration the flowers that will be
seasonable at the wedding date. take
care of the engraving of invitations
selection of trousseau and everything
that goes to make bride happy with
out spending too much time on un-
necessary and eXhausting shopping
trips. Usually one or two persons in
the better dress department of the
shop take special charge of these
matters.
Some shops, we find, do give more
time and attention to brides than
others and are in a position to go into
the matter more deeply. I believe
that most shops, however, will gladly
cooperate with out-of-town patron;
and furnish them with a variety Of
ideas, including swatches of materials
and colors for planning a wedding
by mail. They will even have theil
artists make up small sketches to give
a clearer idea of everything. Severa
shops have little booklets from which
bridal gowns may be chosen and or.
dered to measure.
One shop tells us that the approach
to the subject is this First they ash
the prospective bride what kind of &
wedding dress she had in mind anc
just about how much she wishes tc
spend for it. Around these two foca
points is then built up the whole brida
scheme. Dresses are shown that ap-
proximate the price mentioned unit
she has made her choice.
1t is we'll to have all the brides
maids come in at one time so as tc
get the group idea and select the kind
of frock that will be becoming tc
the majority of the girls and har-
monize in texture with the brides
gown. Then a person from the mil
linery department is called to help in
the selection of wedding veil and hats
for the bridesmaids. The mothers OF
the bride and the bridegroom may
also be taken care of in the same
shop, or at least suggestions offered
as to suitable colors and materials
to make perfect ensemble with the
rest of the bridal party.
X
IT IS all quite simple matter when
you let these trained persons help
you to follow out your particular ideas
and desires. And let us say here that
this applies both to the budget bride
and the bride who does not have to
count the COST Young brides on very
limited allowances will be surprised at
the minimum budget costs that can
be worked out for them. One shop
tells us that it can completely dress
the bride from lingerie to veil for $50.
This includes $29.75 for the dress
Another shop names S100 to cover the
bride and four bridesmaids. Prices
for bridal gowns start from a possible
$1295, with better low prices at $16.95
and $25 on up through three figures.
Wells are from $685. and $40 to s22 so
If your dress has long sleeves it is
not neceSsarv To wear gloves IF the