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FALL BRIDAL GUIDE Wednesday September Page Beautify your hands for that big day Theres an array of bridal gowns this Fall Some couples begin their wed ding preparations up to a year in advance of the big day They re wise nothing should be left to tile last minute And that includes the bride s hands and nails says award winning man Debbie Krakalovich Although the manicure itself can be done a day before the ceremony the hands should be treated to good care well before that owner of the Nail Sh6ppe in Toronto and winner of an international manicurist competi in New York City offers some advice on beautifying your hands for the special day You should have weekly moistunz treatments she says either a hot glove treatment at a salon or a petro leum jelly treatment at home For the latter simply smear on the jelly be fore retiring and cover the hands in old gloves or socks to keep the bed ding greasefree Never cut or trim the cuticles just them back and massage in a cut remover which dissolves dead skin That cuticle is a protection It like a weather stripping on a door says explaining that wi thout it dirt and bac could get in at the base of the nail and damage nail growth Not only that she adds the more you cut fee thicker the cuticle will grow back in Never file your fingernails after a bath when they will be soft It causes splitting Toenails however which are much thicker should be soaked before cutting To dress up the nails take off any old polish by wiping the nail with pot remover in outward strokes If the Brush up on your bridal trivia Who was the responsi ble for giving the lacy white bridal veil We nave one Nellie Curtis to thank for the lacy look According to legend Curtis granddaughter of America first First Lady Martha Washington chose to wear a long lace scarf to wedding to Ma tor Lawrence Lewis Curtis inspiration came from a flat terms comment made by her fiance one One after be bad glimpsed her through lace curtains at an open win dow handkerchief a symbol It has more to do with the tears she blots up with it Early agriculture cultures saw the bride s wedding day tears as a fortunate sign of coming rains for the crops Later It was that a who cried at her wedding would never shed another tear about her marriage What Is the significance of the quaint custom of carrying a bride over the threshold Its beginnings t exactly quaint The Roman bride demon strating her reluctance over leav ing her fathers house had to be dragged over the threshold to her new residence Seme cultures also believed in evil spirits hover about at the threshold The bride was lifted over it to ensure her safety ADVICE FOR OLDER BRIDES Anyone who believes that all bndes are young and blushing should consider these facts Today one fifth of all women get ling married for the first time are over 25 Of these one third are la their ties forties or older Magazine has tome advice for this group or Many older bndes prefer small cere monies with only family and close friends attending but it perfectly okay to choose any size ceremony you like What about the question of being given away This ritual can easily be omiited if it makes you feel uncomforta ble Whatever size your ceremony your reception may be as large and lavish as you wish Invite friends relatives busi ness associates If certain reception cus toms such as throwing the bouquet or tossing rice seem a little young to you leave them out Feel perfectly free to wear a long lacy white wedding dress if this is what always imagined do nails are dry and brittle or if you re move polish daily you should use a conditioning polish remover or a least one with a low level of acetone File the nails from side to centre us short oneway strokes sawing back and forth causes splitting The emery board should be on a slant un der the nail to peeling at the tip Shorten the nail with the abrasive side of the board and shape with the fine side Don t file the s of the nail just the tip Soak the hands in warm soapy wa ter to cleanse the nails and soften cut Use a pumice stone to remove any nicotine stains or hard skin at the fingertips Push back cuticles with a cotton wrapped blunt eifrj of an orange stick and then cover them with cuticle re mover massaging it in with a circu Jar motion To protect the nails garden ing washing dishes or scrubbing floors wear rubber gloves with cot ton linings Rubber alone makes the hands perspire too much and the body oils can wreck the manicure the cotton lining however absorbs the oils Krakalovich suggests the best way to ensure beautiful nails is to start with a professional manicure where you can watch pro techniques and learn about various products avail able The expert start will make it easier for you to maintain the nails Exchanging vows in a gown de signed by David would stand a bride in some pretty high profile company he dresses the likes of Joan Collins Jane Seymour and Bianca Or perhaps the bride would rather be outfitted by Andrea Wilkin of Br t am whose creations include a gown that was first runner up to the one Sa rah Ferguson chose for her marriage to Prince Andrew Adding these much de signers to an exciting array of bridal gowns on the market this year for fall Valencienne salons in Montreal and Toronto are also showing new collections for the fashionconscious bride by New York s Caro lina Herrera and Canadian designer Cochran Typically Fielden gowns display a highly theatrical contemporary look A particularly striking autumn entry for the more daring bride tures white silk taffeta lulling and black polkadotted embroidery on a fluted miniskirt that ribbed at the hem for standout Wilkin winner of the coveted Top Designer award from mag azine in Britain leans to the kmd of elegant romanticism that character tzes historical love stories Sensual off sleeves gossamer tulle overlays and soft silk roses are combined to that effect on a gown she calls Clarissa One fall gown combines ivory Vonchan satin with pale pink silk and a of Nottingham face He also excels in creating the fairy princess effect with delicate satin ribbons and bows and tiny pearl strands dangling from sleeves and waistlines ready to flow magically with the bride s slightest movement Herrera whose first da collec lies somewhere between En gush country and a more contempo rary look according to Ironmonger of Valencienne salons is showing a strapless gown with reem broidered lace bodice bolero jacket and ankle length stiff taffeta skirt Striking but restrained hand bead ing on fine raw silks is fast becoming Cochran s trademark and her gowns are especially popular with the 25- to 35yearold bnde who wants a sophis look or something not too- fussy for a garden wedding Although some designers continue to bead bodices completely Anna Di of Wedding Attire notes a trend to beading concentrated in smaller areas of the gown also cites several different kinds of detail having an impact this fall notably shirring or gathered trimming soutache braided cord ing ana bodice treat meats For the past couple of years many gowns looked much the same neck Ones were usually high and decorated with lace Now we re seeing pretty crew necklines with just enough beading sequins or pearls to look Idee jewelry at the base of the neck Shirring is showing up on sleeves and at necklines and hips Canadian designer David Rea uses it on a feta gown to set off the scooped neck line dropped elongated waist and el bow length sleeves Except for a touch of piping shirred sections are the only detail and the result is el egantly simple ADVANTAGES OF I BRIDAL If you had the money time and you would have no trouble at all planning your wedding Bui if you are I most br des today you are on a budget are working which really puts a crimp n your free time and you re not loo sure about all the cat details that go into organizing a wedding That where the profess bridal consultant comes into play according to Gerard J Monaghan dent of the Association of Bridal Consultants Working with the and groom the consultant provides the has the time and perhaps most helps keep the with her budget said Consultants can save money through their contacts in the wedding business sa and are not an added ex even though they were once used onlv by the r and famous seek