Another favorite designer of mine…love almost everything they do and this season is no exception.  Top left…I DIE!!  Seriously, that dress is about perfect if you ask me.  I adore the feminine sweetheart necklines and delicate touches throughout all the dresses.  So perfect for a Carolina bride.  Yay Callie!  Do you love them as much as I do or am I nuts here?

{Photo credit:  Martha Stewart}

Let me start by saying I am a HUGE Melissa Sweet fan.  Yes, I know they’re owned by the evil dress Goliath that is David’s Bridal, but the line consistently puts out great dresses in my opinion.  Seriously, top #3 favorite designers for chic, eminently wearable, timeless yet modern gowns.  The fall collection last year…not one dress I didn’t love.  Not one!  So as you can imagine, I get pretty excited for the new collection.

Don’t get me wrong…there are some winners.  Big, big winners that I rank right up there with some of my Melissa Sweet perennial favorites (like this one, this one and this one). These make me happy.

{Photo credits:  Martha Stewart}

But these…what happened?  I know they can’t all be home runs and perhaps my expectations are unrealistic.  But really?  Someone please tell me that crazy fabric lei thing is detachable…please!  I don’t know, am I being too harsh? Someone disagree with me, please.

p.s.  For what it’s worth, I do love the hot, retro pin-up vibe with the red lips and curled bangs though.

{Photo credits:  Martha Stewart}

Lela Rose’s collections are always so fabulous. I’m a long time fan of her ready to wear designs and when she announced a foray into bridal last year, she was greeted with much excitement. Her designs didn’t disappoint, but sadly it seems the price point has suffered a lot with the downturn of the economy. Everyone wants something “different” but different + $7,000…eeek! (not all the dresses are that much but they are definitely up there in price). No matter, I still love what she’s doing, totally being true to her design sensibility.  Hope she can carve out a niche for herself in bridal and stick around!

{Photo credits:  Martha Stewart}

What can you say about Monique Lhuillier other than her dresses are FABULOUS?  Gracing both red carpets and wedding aisles from coast to coast, she can be credited for the popularity of everything from ribbon sashes to skirts with pick-ups.  Her signature sexy, ultra-fitted bodices and voluminous skirts were back this season.

{Photo credits:  Martha Stewart Weddings}

And while I do love Monique, I suppose no one can have ALL hits.   These two are misses in my book. I can appreciate the creativity though and the desire to show something different.  Perhaps the gown on the left is gorgeous and I’m just being distracted by the lace coat?  And the one on the right….well, the skirt is just not my thing (though the bodice is perfection).  Can’t win ‘em all Monique!

Badgley Mischka’s shows are always amazing, but I feel they really brought it in a big way this season.  Lots of slim, close to the body styles are their hallmark.  Yet in a departure they showed one fuller skirt gown that is without a doubt in my top 5 of everything that was shown this season (top row, right).  It embodies every trend without looking trendy…to me it just looks modern and elegant and so, SO pretty.

{Photo credits:  In Style Weddings}