My Search for the Perfect Color (and Dress!), Part 1

My Search for the Perfect Color (and Dress!), Part 1

September 19th, 2008 @ 8:31 am by Mrs. Taffy

Blue is my faaavorite color (Mr. Taffy loves it as well!). I love many different shades of blue, but when it came to our wedding color I was hoping for a steel blue (a little on the blue-green side) of some sort, paired with black accents. My main color inspiration was the dress that I made for Miss K’s wedding last September. I loved how the blue looked with my black hair!

My first attempt at finding the “perfect” blue was during the hunt for bridesmaid dresses. After many trips to boutiques and exhaustive online research (which isn’t completely accurate without actual swatches), I realized that I just wasn’t going to find the color that I was looking for. A few designers did have colors in the steel blue range, but I either didn’t like the styles or they were from the mother of the bride palette. I was feeling completely overwhelmed trying to find the perfect dress, while making sure the ladies loved the style and fit,and finding the perfect color. I would like to add that my job as a color designer has made me ridiculously aware (and picky) about color, which sometimes feels like a curse!

I was extremely frustrated that I couldn’t find the exact color that I was looking for, and couldn’t really figure out the reason. After a summer of searching, I have concluded that the blue I am looking for is just not a popular apparel color, but is everywhere in home fashion. If you recall, I made the steel blue dress for Miss K’s wedding from a bed sheet! I figured that I had these options:

1. Make the bridesmaid dresses out of curtains, a la The Sound of Music.
2. Outfit the girls in Mother of the Bride dresses without telling them. (Why, Miss Taffy, the dresses you chose are so… sophisticated!)
3. Drape the bridesmaids in bed sheets.
4. Give up on the delicious, complex steel blue. Find the perfect bridesmaid dress, and then choose an available shade of blue from that designer.

I knew that there was no way that I would find the time to sew six bridesmaid dresses, and curtains wouldn’t be comfortable to dance in anyway. As stubborn as I was, option four was the way to go.

I sucked it up and started a new dress search with my fabulous maid of honor. Stay tuned for the results!

Did you have a hard time finding the “perfect” color for your wedding?

Tags: ann arbor, bridesmaid-dress |

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15 Responses to “My Search for the Perfect Color (and Dress!), Part 1”

Member

kristenrn (message) 53 posts, Worker bee

I wanted steel blue as well! Well, I shouldn’t say that in the past tense because I am still working on that….but I”m not having my girls do “bridesmaid” dresses. I’m giving them paint swatches of the “steel blue” range and telling them that if it is close to that, it’s a go. I’m hoping everyone’s will be a little different (otherwise I think I”ll just have to go with plain old grey!).

9/19/08 @ 8:45 am (reply)

Guest

Jessie516

Good luck with your dress search. I thought about using blue for our BM dresses, but didn’t find a shade I was happy with. I ended up changing my mind entirely and having the gals wear black. I’m still trying to work in a way to use blue as an accent color.

9/19/08 @ 9:10 am (reply)

Member

pinklau325 (message) 152 posts, Blushing bee

I wanted a magenta color since I am getting married in the fall. Everything was fuchsia though and in summery fabrics. I was really upset and frustrated so I ended up with a pinky red color and now that we have them in hand I really love them! In the flowers we did magenta, red and burgundy to tie in the look I was really going for.

9/19/08 @ 9:12 am (reply)

Bee

Miss Hot Cocoa (message) 1,715 posts, Bumble bee

Yes, I’m looking for a dusty purple — purple verging on silver/gray. Everywhere in BCBG’s palette last fall, but I acted too slowly and now most of those dresses are gone, even from ebay. Arg.

9/19/08 @ 10:50 am (reply)

Bee

Miss Taffy (message) 2,598 posts, Sugar bee

@Miss Hot Cocoa: Ah, that is a beautiful color. I loved bcbg’s palette and ad campaign from fall and spring. I’ll keep me eyes peeled for any dresses in that color. Victoria’s secret has all their new fall colors in, and that is a main part of their palette, if you need any undies to match!;) I am actually really impressed with their colors this season, I have to restrain myself in there!!

9/19/08 @ 11:20 am (reply)

Member

Grey56 (message) 535 posts, Busy bee

I originally wanted green dresses, but the greens were either too yellow, too sage, too teal, too dark, etc.

Then, we booked our venue, and green doesn’t really go at all. Complete 180 - I decided grey dresses would be easier. After all, Aria had the PERFECT color. And guess which company discontinued grey, due to its unpopularity? Aria. I feel like I am always back at square 1. Good thing I like planning! (So far….)

I’ll be interesed to see what you end up with!

9/19/08 @ 12:43 pm (reply)

Member

marianneinvan (message) 198 posts, Blushing bee

We’re thinking of a steel blue, grey and deep purple colour palette, and you’re totally right - finding steel blue dresses is so hard!

9/19/08 @ 1:09 pm (reply)

Bee

Miss Sweet Tea (message) 461 posts, Helper bee

yes! Trying to coordinate the deep red shade I want has been a bit tough. Don’t want a dark red with blue undertones, no orange-y or burnt red, but nothing Crayola red bright either. Poppy has been the magic word but I should really have some paint card samples or Pantone swatches around to make my life easier.

9/19/08 @ 1:21 pm (reply)

Guest

Ms Popcorn

I love love blue, to, especially with a little green in it.

9/19/08 @ 6:44 pm (reply)

10.

Guest

kayro

Have you tried The Dessy Group?
After Six Bridesmaid Style 6530
Lots of blues!!

9/19/08 @ 11:58 pm (reply)

11.

Guest

shaver2b

Siri (siriinc.com) has a lot of dress styles and LOADS of fabrics available. I saw a few in the steel blue family. I don’t know if any of them are dead on, but they looked pretty close.
Good luck!

(I’m thinking of going with grey dresses with yellow cardigans so I can’t really sympathize… those colors are everywhere!)

9/20/08 @ 1:09 am (reply)

12.

Member

bridecat (message) 90 posts, Worker bee

This is a little more on the teal side, but a really rich deep color…this is what my girls will be in. I had the hardest time finding the shade I wanted too! I am so glad Ann Taylor came through for me and it was easy for everyone to purchase them.

http://www.anntaylor.com/catalog/outfit.jsp?ensembleId=4542&N=1200198&pCategoryId=193&categoryId=1739&Ns=CATEGORY_SEQ_1739&currentPageNo=2

9/20/08 @ 8:48 am (reply)

13.

Guest

Janet

I love that color. Just this April, one of my brides used a similar steel blue in her wedding. It was a couple shades darker than the dress you made. The bridesmaids were stunning at the wedding. Unfortunately, the color didn’t show up on film very well. Maybe it was the sheen of the fabric, but the dresses looked teal in all of the photos!

9/21/08 @ 1:12 am (reply)

14.

Bee

Miss Taffy (message) 2,598 posts, Sugar bee

@kayro: @shaver2b: @bridecat: Thanks for the suggestions! I love the Ann Taylor dresses! I did eventually find a color, I will be updating soon.

@Janet: I did wonder about how the steel blue would show up or look washed out- my dress isn’t as blue-green in real life as it looks in the photo above!

9/21/08 @ 11:51 am (reply)

15.

Guest

Doreen Smith

Dear Ms. Taffy,

My compnay offers custom made handbags. If we could be of service to you and your bridesmaids please let us know. http://www.eventatwestegg.com/swatches/index.html. Congratulations and may your wedding be everything you and your groom are dreaming of.

9/21/08 @ 2:42 pm (reply)