Handbag by Sondra Roberts - one of many you can enter to win in the Little White Dress May Sweepstakes!

Calling All Denver and Colorado Brides: You won’t want to miss the fun throughout May at Little White Dress. We are giving away a free wedding-day handbag in our “Let’s Accessorize Bridal Giveaway” sweepstakes.   Don’t miss this opportunity to win a free wedding-day handbag to complement your perfect wedding-day look!

To enter:

1. View all the handbags up for grabs in our Facebook album titled, “Wedding Handbags at Little White Dress.”
2. Note on a piece of paper your favorite handbag’s name and model ID #.
3. Visit our sweepstakes application and fill in your name, phone, address and email – plus, make sure you note your favorite handbag.
4. One winner will be randomly selected on June 1 to win their favorite fabulous handbag.

See our Official Rules for details and eligibility. Good luck and may the luckiest bride win!

This video details Jenny Packham’s “Willow” dress, which features a plunge neckline, sheer beaded cap-sleeve and stunning beading throughout. It also has a gorgeous sheer back with silk bow accent that you’ll see in this video.

Click on this image to see our bridal consultant talk about Jenny Packham's Willow bridal gown. You'll want to see the gorgeous back of this gown too - wow!

This next video is Jenny Packham’s Luna wedding dress that features a plunge neckline, a halter top and gold and silver beading throughout.

Click on this image to watch our bridal consultant talk about the Jenny Packham Luna gown, only available in Denver at Little White Dress

Only four Claire Pettibone Toile Francais gowns can ever be made. Photo: Inside Weddings, Winter 2012

Claire Pettibone shared a little secret with us. Her Toile Francais dress, yes, the grand finale gown at Claire’s runway presentaion of her 2012 Beau Monde bridal collection in New York last October, and recently featured on the cover of Inside Weddings magazine, Winter 2012 issue, has suddenly become a Limited Edition dress. Very limited.  Only four gowns can ever be made. 

Claire just recently learned from her toile fabric suppliers in France that this particular French blue and ivory cotton toile can no longer be made.  Claire quickly purchased all remaining yardage, and it’s just enough to make four gowns.  No more, no less.  An Orange County, CA bride (with a touch of her hair dyed blue!) has already selected this gown for her wedding dress, so there are three left.

The original sample of Toile Francais is on display at Little White Dress Bridal Shop today through Monday, April 23rd.  Perhaps a Colorado bride or two will be the next fortunate owners of this spectacular gown?  The story of the gown, and the stories of the four different brides who will ultimately wear it on their wedding day will surely become bridal fashion history.  I can only imagine the value of a limited edition Claire Pettibone bridal gown in 10 years, 20 years, 50 years . . . and a grand-daughter inheriting this gown and knowing these stories .  . .

Stop in to experience the spectacular Toile Francais by Claire Pettibone gown anytime today 10-6, Saturday, 4/21 9-6, Sunday, 4/22 11-5 or Monday, 4/23 10-4 (we have to ship the original sample back to Claire late Monday afternoon.)  The complete stories of the brides fortunate enough to wear Limited Edition, Toile Francais by Claire Pettibone on their wedding day have yet to be told, and we look forward to hearing them some day!

Dress Description: Gown of French cotton toile in blue and ivory with inserts of Chantilly lace, long illusion sleeves and an oval lace inset in back. 

The first dress is called “Sandrine”. It has French Chantilly Lace with a ¾ length sleeve over a Bias Charmeuse slip. You can get this dress made with or without sleeves.

Click on this image to learn more about Elizabeth Fillmore's Sandrine wedding gown

Also from Elizabeth Fillmore’s 2012 bridal gown collection is this wedding dress called the “Cora.” Cora is a satin back crepe halter gown with a draped crepe wrap and satin halter strap. It has really flattering draping around the mid-section and a deep low back.

Click on this image to see this sexy Cora wedding dress from Elizabeth Fillmore

New Designer(s): I had meetings with three potential new designers today, and saw so many beautiful gowns. Am looking forward to more research, and discussing these designers, and the potential designer from DAY TWO with my daughter and my staff. In the midst of seeing all these gowns, I did get the “quote of the day” – “This dress has a really nice ‘take me away’ feeling.” God, I love what I hear sometimes.

Jenny Packham: Jenny Packham’s new showroom, her first in the US and in the super cool meat-packing district of NYC, is like being inside a treasure chest of jewels and gems – gowns and hair ornaments rich in detail, and conceived from an electic influence of past and present. One wall boasts dozens of photos of celebrities wearing Jenny Packham evening wear styles. The new collection of wedding gowns hangs against another wall, just as enchanting on the hanger as they are on the models. Flowers inspired the creation of Jenny’s fall 2012 collection (and each new gown is named after a flower), and it’s so easy to envision Colorado brides loving these gowns for their old Hollywood retro glamour, romance, and alternative styling.

Floral features at the waist - Jenny Packham "Hyacinth" and "Lily Rose" gowns

Want to see more Jenny Packham dresses?  Check out our full album on our Facebook page.

Did you know? I have been admiring the full page Jenny Packham ads in bridal magazines since 2007. So excited to be the first and only bridal shop to bring the Jenny Packham bridal collection to Colorado brides in 2012!

Simply Divine: Our four new Jenny Packham gowns arriving at LWD August/September, 2012.

From left to right, “Hyacinth”, “Lily Rose”, “Hibiscus”, and “Azalea”.

Cate Loves:  The variety of gown styles available to today’s bride, it was so limited just 5-10 years ago!   I also love designers who know their niche, style, and bride, and who do it so well that you know just by looking at the gown who the designer is.

Musn’t Forget: To say thank you and I love you to my most tolerant husband for safely getting me from here, there, and everywhere throughout the city, holding my arm in particularly precarious walking conditions in those dang high heels, giving me his coat in the freezing cafeteria at the Pier during lunch on DAY ONE, and for being really involved throughout DAY ONE and DAY TWO, and for gracefully reaching his limit and not being involved at all by DAY THREE. : )

Summary of fall 2012 and preview 2013 bridal fashion trends:

• Lace, lace, lace
• Sashes, sashes, sashes
• Higher necklines, more front and back coverage
• More gowns with straps, or with sleeves of all lengths-cap, short, 3/4, and full
• 1-2 short tea/knee length dresses by each designer
• High slit in front of skirt on a few dresses (inspired by Angelina Jolie’s Oscar gown)
• Not a lot of bling/crystals/rhinestones on dresses this season, none at all by several designers
• The use of color – blush, nude, and gold in particular
• A few more hi-low skirts (inspired by trendsetter Claire Pettibone as presented in her new collection last October 2011).
• Low, open backs, some with sheer illusion lace, tulle, and/or embroidery and bead work designs (also inspired by Claire Pettibone’s past collections).

Enjoy more wonderful, beautiful, exciting adventures with me at bridal market in NYC in October!

New Designer(s):  Year round my ears and eyes are open for the latest bridal fashion trends, and the newest, or up and coming bridal gown designers. There are certain designers I hope to always continue to work with and carry, and at the same time, there is always interest in new or different designers.

In my efforts to bring the best of the best selection and quality of bridal gowns to Colorado brides, I meet with, and check out a variety of potential new designers at Market in April and in October. Today, most of the morning was spent with one of these potential new designers. Final decisions may not be made until October market, but stay tuned for possible announcements of new designers and collections available at Little White Dress!

Justin Alexander: Two Justin Alexander collections (named Justin Alexander and Justin Alexander Signature) have been available at Little White Dress for more than four years. These dresses are ideal for our more traditional brides, and brides seeking a quality, silk gown at a reasonable price. Justin Alexander skipped ahead this Market, and instead of presenting a Fall 2012 collection, they presented their Spring 2013 collection, normally not available until October 2012 at Market!

With a renewed commitment to creating a cohesive and complete Justin Alexander Signature Collection, and a renewed commitment of Colorado exclusivity to Little White Dress for the Signature Collection, our brides can look forward to six new 2013 Signature Collection Gowns arriving at Little White Dress in August/September.

The gowns feature classic, A-line, modified ballgown, or modified mermaid silhouettes, with ivory, metallic silver or gold linings under lace, lace, lace of all varieties and patterns. Lace is Justin Alexander’s new “Signature,” instead of the silk dupioni fabric of past 2007-2011 collections. 

Justin Alexander Signature Collection - 2013 Preview of Wedding Dresses

Did you know? An aspiring designer once had two young sons, one named Justin, and the other named Alexander. The designer now had a name for his collection of wedding gowns. Justin is all grown up now and running the business his father began.

Elizabeth Fillmore: Delicate details of lace, appliqués, and the ever-so-slight gathering and draping of fine silks create a stunning sophistication in Elizabeth Fillmore’s Fall 2012 Collection. How many times did I say “beautiful” or “gorgeous” in 45 minutes at Elizabeth’s showroom today?

There is a light and ethereal feeling in her gowns, which must be so peaceful for the brides wearing them. I LOVE the care and attention each gown receives as the designer herself is right there during their creation in her studio. These dresses are hand crafted in New York and made in the USA. And did I mention beautiful? And did I mention gorgeous?

Elizabeth Fillmore wedding dresses as seen at April 2012 Market

Did you know? Elizabeth herself will be at Little White Dress on Saturday, April 28th for our first ever Elizabeth Fillmore Trunk Show 4/27, 28, and 29!

Liancarlo: Unbeknownst to both of them, I’m sure, I see Claire Pettibone and Carlos Ramirez, the creator and designer of the Liancarlo Couture Bridal Collection, as kindrid spirits. Their gowns could not be any more different, but they are both gifted artists who are deeply inspired by the world around them – evident in how they live their lives, and in the creation of their masterpieces. They are both very smart, humble and grateful people who work hard and laugh a lot. Each of their wedding gowns is a work of art, created with a strong intent for perfection.

Carlos’s inspiration for his new collection was his desire to evoke the feeling of heirloom pieces, but with today’s modernity (heirlooms also inspired Claire’s new collection!). His feeling of “gentile opulence” is achieved with the use of luxurious fabrics, hand-cut satin flowers, corded Chantilly lace, and the subtle use of lyrical and jeweled embroideries. I am so happy and honored to have these gowns at Little White Dress!   Hand crafted in Miami, made in the USA.

Liancarlo wedding dress as seen at April 2012 Market. This is an up close view of beading done by hand

Did you know? Carlos takes a break every day for an hour long yoga class near his design studio in Miami. His daughter is the genius/producer behind this video about the making of a Liancarlo gown. For more Liancarlo gowns photo, click here.

Simply Divine:  Elizabeth Fillmore “Deco” gown – satin back crepe bias v-neck sheath with illusion-beaded “deco flower” back.

Cate Loves:  The people and the stories behind the gowns.  And designers like Claire Pettibone, Elizabeth Fillmore and Liancarlo who insist on keeping the production of their gowns here in the USA.

Musn’t Forget:  Flat shoes. In this world of fashion, I enjoy checking out what other women are wearing almost as much as the new bridal fashions.  Maybe not, but others are probably checking out my outfits and ensembles each day as well.  So while in New York, I do my best to teeter around in the most fabulous high heels that I can, but it’s the flat shoes tucked away in my bag and worn between appointments with designers that bring me such joy.

Presentation of Fall 2012 Collections

DAY ONE, Saturday, April 14th

For an outdoorsy born and raised in Colorado and Wyoming kinda gal, being in New York City twice a year for bridal market is similar to being in a different country. The excitement and energy of it all lessens my need for food or sleep, and I happily find myself at dinner at 9:30 p.m., and staying up until midnight or later, both things that could never happen at home in Colorado. It must be so many wonderful things, all combined in three days of sheer delight. Join me as I do my best to share all these wonderful, beautiful things.

Bridal gown designers are some of the most intelligent, creative, inspiring, hard working, interesting, passionate and fascinating people I have ever met. Rani Totman, the impeccably elegant designer of Sposa by St. Pucchi, Avine Perruci, and St. Pucchi Couture, and Claire Pettibone, the creative genius of the Claire Pettibone lingerie and bridal collections, are both women who continue to leave me speechless with the beauty of their creations year after year, market after market.

St. Pucchi: Raised in India and Bangkok, and fluent in four languages, Rani Totman’s personal class and elegance are clearly evident in her new fall 2012 collection. Rich details, combinations of different laces, and attached sashes are some of the details that impressed me the most. In addition to three new floor length gowns for Little White Dress that are absolutely exquisite in their unique composition, for those brides wanting a short wedding dress, or a different reception dress, we’ve got two beautiful options from this new collection.

Did you know? The name St. Pucchi come from Rani’s son – “Saint” is a common nickname in India for young boys, and “Pucchi” means playful.

St. Pucchi Designer Rani Totman at NY Bridal Market April 2012

Claire Pettibone: The magic continues in Claire’s presentation of eight new gowns for her “Windsor Rose China” Fall 2012 Collection. Inspired by her grandmother, apparently who was “quite the 1920′s bohemian,” you can see influences in her scalloped silk wedding dress, her intricate embroidered linens she made by hand, her gold rimmed China with delicate painted roses. . . And a good dose of free spirit as Claire Pettibone’s gowns are simply SO pretty. I was pleasantly surprised to see Claire’s “signature” guipure lace from the very first wedding gown she designed in 2004 “Kristene”, in trims on the sleeves and hem of “Grace” in her new collection. Claire’s use of beautifully muted shades of mauve, gold, blue, and platinum, combined with feminine and romantic silhouettes are the essence of her genius.

Did you know? Claire started drawing wedding gowns and veils when she was only 4 or 5 years old!

Claire Pettibone wedding dress unveiled at NY Bridal Market (April 2012)

Visit a full album of photos from our adventures at NY Bridal Market Week on the Little White Dress Facebook page.

Simply Divine: This Claire Pettibone dress (seen below) is simply divine! It has a sweetheart neckline with lace appliques.

Cate Loves:  Paris by Debra Moreland wins the best display of bridal accessories and jewelry hands down.  Miniature black trunks with glass display shelves filled with absolutely beautiful things.  LOVE.

Paris by Debra Moreland Bridal Accessories

Musn’t Forget: Like a kid in a candy store, I thoroughly enjoyed my visits with Malis Henderson, Paris by Debra Moreland, and J-Picone! I need to get another display case to hold everything at Little White Dress!  More to come on these designers…