BY Joe Dziemianowicz , Jeanette Settembre , Nicole Lyn Pesce
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Sunday, April 5, 2015, 2:00 AM
Peter Gallagher and Kristin Chenoweth (in wedding gown at end of show) in “On the Twentieth Century.”
Here come the brides — on Broadway, prime time and the big screen.
And as for the looks: We do!
Five fabulous women in white — from Lily James’ Cinderella to Kristin Chenoweth’s Lily Garland — are taking the plunge in a range of bridal styles as diverse as their onstage and onscreen personas.
Just in time for wedding season, real-life brides-to-be can borrow some ideas for the big day from the stars and the design gurus behind the gowns.
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CLASSIC BRIDE
Kristin Chenoweth as Lily Garland in “On the Twentieth Century” (running now at the American Airlines Theatre)
Designer: William Ivey Long
The look: Vintage glamour in curve-kissing crepe-backed satin in arctic white with a dramatic plunging neckline, thin straps and a train.
Dress drama: “Kristin wears 4 1/2-inch heels for the wedding, her highest of the show,” says Long. Her art-deco tiara is studded with tiny diamonds and pearls.
The bride says: “I love the dress that William Ivey Long designed for the end of the show, which gets all of about 3 minutes of stage time,” says Chenoweth, “which is a shame, because it is truly a couture gown. I could wear this dress in any color on the red carpet.
“It skims the body perfectly, it has a deep back and it’s a 1930’s feel,” she adds. “The white sheer gloves that go all the way up past my elbow were made by the same place that makes all of the Queen’s gloves. And there is the traditional, humongous veil which is about as big as me.
“Jennifer Garner was at the show the other night, and she was like ‘I want that dress’ — for me, that says it all.”
Stylist says: “Nothing is more timeless — and yes, sexy — like a white silk sheath,” says Amanda Elser, fashion and beauty editor at The Knot wedding website. “And ever since Amal (Clooney) wore white gloves on the red carpet, we have a hunch they’ll be making a bridal comeback.”
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PRINCESS BRIDE
Lily James as “Cinderella” (now in movie theaters)
Designer: Sandy Powell
The look: A warm white, almost cream-colored silk organza gown featuring a fitted bodice, full skirt, and long, dramatic train. A high, illusion neckline and long sleeves only hint at the happily-ever-after to come. “It’s sophisticated. A wedding dress should be demure,” says Powell. “It lends an air of mystery, so the groom doesn’t know what he’s getting until he gets it that night!” Well, “Cinderella” is rated PG, after all.
Jonathan Olley/DISNEY
Lily James in her bridal gown for “Cinderella”
Dress drama: It took 16 people 550 hours to complete the fairy tale gown, with an entire week spent just hand-painting the pink and yellow roses that were embellished with crystals. And Powell put the tiara and earrings together using vintage floral enamel pins that she found in a flea market. “The dress and the jewelry are one-of-a-kind,” she says.
The bride says: “I felt like a queen! It’s the perfect dress because it’s the most magical wedding gown I have ever seen,” raves James. “I loved the elegance with the crown and the long sleeves, and the high neck with the corset. Simple classic beauty. I also loved the train; it was so thin and sheer, it floated in the wind as I walked. There was a connection to nature, too, which felt important for Cinderella.” But to make a dress like this work, Cinderelly is a stickler for posture. “Stand tall and proud!” she says.
Stylist says: “An off-white or ivory ball gown is perfect for a romantic garden setting,” says Elser. “A silk tulle skirt keeps your look airy and lightweight, while floral embellishments add an unexpected touch of glam.”
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MODERN BRIDE
Demetria Lucas, from Bravo’s reality show “Blood, Sweat and Heels” (airs Sundays at 9 p.m.)
Designer: Andrea Pitter of Pantora Bridal in Crown Heights
Joshua Dwain Frith
Demetria Lucas (with Gregory) in her wedding dress on “Blood, Sweet and Heels”
The Look: Lucas — the nontraditional 35-year-old multitasking author and “A Belle in Brooklyn” lifestyle blogger — opted for something short, chic and honey-colored. Lucas donned long sleeves in guipure lace, a muted sequined underlay and a removable tulle skirt. Lucas didn’t want a veil to weigh down her look, so she opted for a bedazzled feather — a nod to her 1920s theme. Besides the dress length, she added to her modern look with black-toed polka dot Sophia Webster heels to give her look some playful pizazz.
Dress drama: Before Lucas said yes to her dream dress, she tried on a handful of longer, unflattering frocks. “I’m a very short girl — I’m only 5-foot-2,” she says. “I looked covered in fabric. It wasn’t working for me.”
The bride says: “I picked a Harlem Renaissance theme because it was golden age for black writers,” says Lucas, “and it’s a really beautiful time period for fashion, jazz and creativity.”
Stylist says: The modern cut is a win. “More and more designers have been creating bridal separates, which gives the bride two dresses in one,” says Elser. “A detachable tulle skirt makes a short, lace mini appropriate for a walk down the aisle and an afterparty.”
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TRADITIONAL BRIDE
Sierra Boggess as Rebecca Steinberg in “It Shoulda Been You” (in previews and opening April 14 at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre)
Designer: William Ivey Long
©2015, Joan Marcus
Sierra Boggess in her very traditional dress for “”It Shoulda Been You”
The look: Demure pearl-white duchess satin with Chantilly lace in a strapless ballgown with a long-sleeved lace overlay. It was the bride’s mother’s dress for a conservative Jewish wedding.
Dress drama: A lace and seed pearl applique border along the hem adds to the design. “Sierra moves around a lot in the dress, so there can’t be a train,” Long says. “The border is needed for the design.”
The bride says: “My dress is very conservative, with its long sleeves and high neck, and very beautiful and feminine,” says Boggess. “When I’m in it, I feel like Grace Kelly.” She adds, “In the show, it was my mother’s dress. I wear a strand of pearls that was my grandmother’s.”
The nuptial scene is a case of life imitating art. “I’ve never been a girl who’s dreamed of her wedding day,” Boggess says. “But my older sister, Summer, who’s a cellist in the pit at ‘Les Miserables,’ is getting married in May. So there’s a lot of wedding going on in my life now.”
Stylist says: “Long, lace sleeves have had a serious bridal revival ever since Kate Middleton wore her beautiful Sarah Burton-designed gown on her wedding day,” says Elser. “The long sleeves paired with a subtle deep-V neckline are the perfect mix of sophisticated and modern styles for your church wedding.”
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VINTAGE BRIDE
Lora Lee Gayer as Tonia Gromeko “Doctor Zhivago” (in previews and opening April 21 at the Broadway Theatre)
Designer: Paul Tazewell
The look: Champagne silk satin in a slim silhouette with an overlay of French lace organza embossed with flowers, beads and sequins to add sparkle. The dress is inspired by an actual wedding gown from the period of the show — 1914. “It feels romantic, like what the Cinderella dress of 1914 would be,” says Tazewell.
Lora Lee Gayer as Tonia Gromeko in the wedding scene in “Doctor Zhivago”
Dress drama: The dress tells a story. It is the height of elegance of an Imperial Russian family of Moscow. There’s a six-foot-long train. “It’s a Russian aristocratic wedding,” says Gayer. “Go big or go home.”
The bride says: “Just putting on the muslin form, I felt beautiful,” Gayer says. “I kept squealing, and I sent pictures to my dad saying ‘Surprise! I’m getting married!’… I don’t even have a boyfriend so it wasn’t that great of joke.
“I digress, once we were in the theater for tech, the dress was one of the last costumes to come in, and when I saw it I understood why. It’s like a piece of couture clothing, every bead, flower, drape, lace is flawless.”
Stylist says: “We love a dress that seamlessly blends all of this season’s hottest trends into one vintage-inspired gown,” says Elser. “A cream gown with lace detailing, a ruched bodice and fringe sleeves is the perfect choice for the boho bride.”
Tags:
kristin chenoweth ,
lily james
Music & Arts – NY Daily News