Something you may not know about me – before starting White Thread I was heading full steam down the path of opening a bridal boutique here in the Chapel Hill area.  Foiled by self doubt (will women actually like what I like?  Or do I have some freakish taste?) and worries of whether the local market could support another bridal boutique (oh, yea…and the bottom had just fallen out of the economy), I put my little dream on hold but have never gotten over my love of bridal fashion.

So in honor of the impending craziness that is bridal market in New York City this weekend, I thought I’d do a series of posts sharing my Top Ten favorite wedding dresses from the recent (2008 or later) collections of my most favorite designers.

A bit of context – my style tends to veer more toward the timeless than haute couture.  I’m of the opinion that brides want to look chic and current but never overly trendy.  I’m not a big fan of beading, embroidery or skirts that you can hide small families under  (though I have seen a ballgown or two that stole my heart).  I love a touch of bling, lace and the simple beauty of incredible fabric that drapes just so.  And such would be the stock in my bridal boutique that will (hopefully) one day come to be.

SPOILER ALERT:  There will be no sightings of Monique or Vera on my list.  That doesn’t mean I don’t recognize their genius or love their work (affirmative on both counts) but there are just SO many other incredibly talented designers out there with perhaps smaller ad budgets but equally amazing skills. 

Of course this is all my opinion but then again, it’s my blog!  Have a different view or feel I’ve made a gross oversight on my list?  I welcome any and all comments! 

Maybe you can even help me confirm that I’m not crazy and brides would buy my collection of dresses?