* Seek, and you'll find the perfect fit The Dallas Post Dallas, PA Wednesday, February 23, 2000 7 To Have and To Hold... By CHERYL WALKER Copley News Service It’s the ultimate shopping trip, and one many young women dream about from the time they are little girls - the search for the perfect wedding gown. But the dream bubble can easily burst once inside a department store fitting room. This is the time in a woman's life when not just any dress will do and it must fit perfectly. Unfortunately, there is no such thing as the perfect body. What if the bride is too thin, too heavy, flat chested, too busty or big in the hips for the gown she has her heart set on? Shopping for a wedding gown is supposed to be a joyful experience, but it can quickly turn into a tearful episode when the bride-to-be tries to squeeze a size 14 body into a size 10 or 12 dress. It doesn’t matter if a woman is full-figured or skinny. There are many styles that are flatter- ing, whether you are a slender waif or voluptuous bride. “There's not any one particu- lar hard-and-fast rule for shopping for a wedding gown,” said Pam Venable, manager of special occasions and sales at a West Coast Nordstrom store. “You simply work with the person and what's available.” A woman who is well- rounded should look for shops that carry samples in large sizes. She should also look for styles that avoid big puffy sleeves and yards and yards of fabric, which add pounds. Shop for the medium-weight fabrics. “A bride who is trying to hide the pounds should look for something that fits loosely rather than tight-fitting,” Venable said. “Especially if a woman has large hips, a tight fit will only accentuate it.” Princess-style dresses are a good choice for a full-figured woman. A square neckline can detract from a large bust and hips and sheer tapered sleeves can cover up large arms. For the slender bride with a boyish figure, choose a dress that makes the most of the body. Off-the-shoulder dresses or those with a fitted bodice flatter the slender figure. To add more to the bustline, choose a corset-type top. “Basically, a thin person can go with almost any style,” Venable said. If she’s small on — A beautiful Preserve the wedding day loveliness of your bridal gown for the next generation with our exclusive bridal service. After gentle cleaning, your gown is folded in tissue and placed in a keepsake memory chest for safekeeping.. Steven's memory is worth saving gown cleaning and preservation Town & Country Cleaners Monday - Friday 6:00am - 7pm e Sat. 8am - 4pm The Professional Edge * The Personal Touch \ o We've invited some people to attend your wedding. Here are some of the dedicated people who help make our banquets & events so special. Working behind the scenes, our staff assures that your bridal shower, rehearsal dinner and wedding will unfold just as you planned! 700 Lackawanna Ave. © Scranton, PA 18503 e (570) 342-8300 top she should look for a dress that has some padding in it. Many dresses are made with padded bras just like swimsuits. Some brides may want to take a shot at changing their figure before the wedding by losing weight or working out to enhance a more shapely body. A year before the wedding (if you plan a wedding that far in advance) is a good time to start getting into shape. Take a good look in the mirror and decide what it is that you want. Set a goal of dropping a dress size, improving posture or toning up the body. Make sure the fitness and diet goals are realistic and work with your lifestyle and time frame. If you choose to burn some calories to drop a few pounds before the big day, there are some things that can be added to the daily routine in addition to a regular workout. While working at your desk, pull in your stomach and hold it for 10 seconds and then release. This helps burn extra calories while working and also helps when posing for full-length photos on the wedding day. At lunchtime, take a walk around the mall. This way you can accomplish two things at once: do some shopping for wedding items while working off some calories. Another suggestion is to take the stairs whenever possible. Oftentimes, people are in such a rush they head for the elevator, but before pushing that button think about the extra calories that are burned by taking a little more time to climb the stairs. This also gives the leg muscles a workout. Once at the desired weight and dress size before the wedding, don't forget those last- minute emergencies that always seem to crop up before a special occasion. This is always the time when a woman is sure to have trouble with a broken nail, unmanageable hair, puffy red eyes, dark circles - or heaven forbid - a pimple. Here a few tips in dealing with life’s little setbacks. For puffy eyes, try staying away from salty foods. Cool compresses with ice cubes wrapped in a washcloth or cold cucumbers over the eyes are also helpful. For dark circles, apply a light moisturizer and foundation around the eye area. Apply a green-tinted concealer in the darkened area to offset the bluish color, followed by a regular concealer. Dab the area lightly with translucent powder. Chipped nails can really be a pain. Lightly buff with a nail file to smooth out the rough edges and put a little polish on the tip to strength the nail. Then put on a regular coat of polish - followed by a new topcoat. To get nail polish to last longer, make sure nails are clean, dry and oil-free. The best thing to do to avoid getting acne is to maintain a balanced diet. Ixnay on the fried foods and chocolate. But even giving up junk food doesn’t always work. Stress is also a major factor in causing an acne outbreak. When this happens, apply a cold compress to the area to help reduce swelling and redness. Then use an over-the- counter medication that con- tains a small amount of salicylic acid. Probably the best thing the bride-to-be can do for herself is to not stress out by trying to do everything herself. Stress can affect physical appearance as well as the mental state. So, brides, pamper yourself, relax and enjoy the dream - the one you've had ever since you were a little girl. With so many styles to choose from, there's a wedding gown that is sure to measure up to every bride's expectations for flattering her: figure. | Planning a Unique Wedding or Shower : A hink of the Nalona [doom B.M.B.C. CATERING Catering to Your Every Need On or Off the Premises METH [SEAS EER] A Factory of Food & Fun! Unique Dining in an Interesting, Casual, Atmosphere Serving Lunch, Dinner, featuring the Natona Room or for informal functions try our interesting l THA & Late Nite Snacks = is N&R Party Room Mon.-Sun. 11:30 to 1:00 a.m. fs overlooking 675-7007 Stax & Co. CHINA (GLASSWARE SILVER CRYSTAL KITCHEN ITEMS SHOWER GIFTS BRIDAL REGISTRY KoralL BUILDING ~ 311 MARKET STREET KINGSTON (570) 331-GIFT (4438) A Division of Haden Schwarz Gilts Mon.,Wed., Fri. 10-5:30; Tues. & Thurs. 10-8:00; Sat. 10-5:00 Sunday February 27th at Genetti Manor Main Avenue - Dickson City www.wwdl.com www.wick-am.com Exhibitors CInclude: Kathy’s Bridal and After Five Boutique * Metallo’s Formal Wear Genetti Manor * Frankie Carll Productions * “Primetime” Spotless Cleaners * V.I.P. Express Limousine Service Fotogenica Studio * The Wedding Belle Pocono MountainVacation Bureau Doors Open E016) p-m. Exit 56 off 1-81 Spr By = a TELLS 9 WICK Northeastern Pennsylvania's Oldies Station
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