Ghada Abdel-Kader finds out the latest about wedding gowns White is no longer a must, says Amany El-Sherif, fashion designer and owner of one of the prominent fashion houses in Egypt -- even if it remains the dream colour of the vast majority of brides. Colour, period and style depend not only on personal taste but on the season: as a rule of thumb spring and summer call for silk, chiffon, cotton or lace; autumn and winter for warmer, heavier fabric. Matching body shape to wedding gown is crucial: "it helps if the bride has an idea of the style she likes -- shiny, traditional, classic or simple." White, white and white, all things considered: this winter, says Barbe Swedan, the only Egyptian designer with a "maestro certificate" from Germany, off-white embroidered with gold or silver and much decoration -- crystal and diamond motifs -- is in. For fabric this winter El-Sherif suggests, as well as chiffon, taffeta, dantelle, organza, lace and satin, "using more than one fabric with embroidery adds beauty -- but keep the decorations small as larger motifs are out of fashion..." Fashionable cuts include cloche, corset -- and others. As for the length and style of the wedding veil, Swedan says it "depends on the height of the bride", not to mention the length and style of dress -- of course: of the different kinds -- long, short; embroidered, plain: specific types include brush, chapel and court -- El-Sherif places the average train at 2-2.5 m. A train is a must for processions, especially where the bride comes down stairs. Tiaras remain the prettier accessory, however: crystal, rhinestone or pearl. As for make- up, according to Lebanese make-up artist Roba, shiny yellow and green shades are in fashion, so with lipstick in the darker range: deep red, deep green, brown, black, fuchsia. Nor can mascara be forgotten: curl for long lashes, volume to emphasise the eye, natural for thickness. Brown and black go with blondes and brunettes, respectively. And never forget that loose foundation is only good for flawless skin: to conceal blemishes, use pan-stick and concealer. Eyebrow pencils are good for daily use, while velvet colours like sienna, beige and chocolate are in fashion for blusher. Pink is out, shades of brown for all skin shades. WEDDING GOWN CUT TYPES: - Pear shaped: Hips are wider than shoulders and waist well defined; diagonal draping on the bodice is very flattering; avoid any bulk around the hips. - Rectangular: Hips and shoulders are about the same width with little waist definition; a waistline V-shape at the front creates the illusion of a smaller waist; empire line styles bias cuts are particularly suitable for tall women; keep necklines wide and use detailing above or below the waist, not both; avoid draping in the waist area; straight cuts can give a boxy look. - Triangular: An inverted triangle with shoulders wider than hips; straight cuts can look very sophisticated; higher cut necks balance shoulders and hips and flatter a smaller chest; bows in the hip area can add shapeliness. - Hourglass shaped: Hips and shoulders have the same width with a well-defined waist; keep the neckline low; A-line is a good shape; a shapely mermaid style works well for slimmer hourglasses; use draping to disguise imperfect bits. NECKLINE: - One shoulder: Shows off shoulders and arms, flatters a smaller bust, not so good for the well endowed. - Off shoulder: Neckline accentuates good collarbones and shoulders; good to balance wider hips but not with broad shoulders or heavy upper arms. - Sleeveless: Enhances the chest area and shows off shoulders and upper arms; not good for smaller-chested brides. - Wide square neck: Shows off a little more shoulder and works well with either long or short sleeves; a popular style suits all body types. - Scoop neck: Very popular as it flatters almost everyone, works equally well with straps, short sleeves and long sleeves. - Round neck: Good for wide shoulders and where you don't want to show too much shoulder but still want to flatter your chest line; works well for those with larger chests. - V-neck: Flattering on those with a medium-sized chest; works well with long transparent sleeves; not so good for the better endowed. ROBA'S TIPS: - A daily routine, including cleansing skin care, facial toning, moisturising, exfoliation and body cleansing helps keep your skin healthy-looking. - Drink three litres of water daily to keep your skin hydrated. Start treatment one month before the wedding. - Use potato slices for ten minutes daily to remove dark rings under the eyes. - To improve oily skin, eat plenty of protein, leafy vegetables and fresh fruit. Vitamin B2 can improve oily skin, so include wheat germs, wholegrain, beans and nuts. - To reduce the effects of make-up on oily skin, lemon juice should be applied, left to dry and make-up can be reapplied directly on top of it. Clay masks are particularly effective. - Cut down on sugar and fat in your diet, avoid soft drinks, alcoholic beverages, chocolate and fried food. FOUNDATION: - First, choose a shade that is one to two tones darker than your natural skin tone. Using the darker shade, apply and blend smoothly starting from the chin, across the upper jaw line towards the ear and likewise on the other side of the face as well as the upper half of the forehead, across the hairline. If you have a full fringe covering your forehead, then this is not necessary. - Secondly, choose a shade that is closest to your natural skin tone. Apply and blend smoothly on the middle part of your face (cheeks, nose, lower half of forehead and upper part of the jaw line). Make sure you blend well, especially on areas where the two shades meet. The idea of a good blending is not to have a "line" separating the two shades, which can be achieved with practice.
