Thursday Throwback: Valentine's Dresses

As women well know, Valentine's Day is a day for being pretty. We love to get all dolled up for our men (or maybe just ourselves). It's a day to show how much you love someone and to let them adorn you will the same love. Now, you don't have to put on a dress, a bunch of jewelry or get your hair professionally styled but..... Why Not!? It's the one day of the year you get to go out and pick up the most perfect dress you've ever seen. If vintage fashions make you excited, then these little beauties just may do the trick.

The little girl print on this Vivien of Holloway 1940's dress is only a mask dear ladies. Do not let her guise fool you, she is a foxy bombshell and she can't help but reveal it. This style is so fantastically vintage that it may be too much for some us to pull off on a random Valentine's dinner. But I'm sure that those of you who drape yourselves in this sort of attire regularly could easily get away with it. Plus, who - when you're wearing this dress - will care what century it is from?

Now this sweet petunia from ModCloth has that modest 1950's look that is simply to-die-for. It is perfect for those of you who love a vintage hint while still maintaining your classic charm. If you love the style but find it a bit to plain for you, why not add some fantastic jewelry, a simple hat or floral headband to give your look some umph! The soft pink reminds one of flushed cheeks and kissable lips. Don't think the 1950's were a time for prudes now.

The 1950's and 60's fashions were very similar in their tight waists and pleated skirts. And this floral ModCloth dress is no exception. The print is so feminine and soft that I would love to toss this on any day I just want to feel super pretty. But when wearing this for Valentine's, you just may find yourself on a day date at the park, a stroll through an arboretum, a lunch with your single gals or a night out dancing your vintage heels away.

I have never been a huge fan of many 1970's fashions, but this flowing bit of floral beauty from PinTuckStyle has my name written all over it. The 1970's were a time for pleats, long sleeves and high neck-lines (not me), but isn't there something a bit seductive about the sheer fabric just barely covering what lies beneath? It reminds me that we don't have to show it all off. Men like when we hide those private areas, while still hinting at them (it gives them something to imagine). Plus as a breeze drifts by, the fabrics softness will flutter over your skin and remind that man of just how smooth you are. The belt adds a nice touch too. Cinching in your waistline gives non-curvy women something to elude. Whoever thought at first glance this dress was seductive?

Now this dress certainly packs a punch. So I like to call the Pink "POW! ZAM! PUNCH!" Dress. Obviously, this is an 80's throwback and some of you may be thinking, "Yes, throw it back there!" But despite the florescent pink and cutesy leather bow this dress is just a strapless piece of tightness. Which will most definitely look best on those of you who have the slenderest of waists as well as a booty for days. The rest of us can just throw on some spanks and killer heels to offset our lack of a Barbie body. I may not be able to wear it, but I love it just the same!

Pick Your Party Outfit

Parties seem to be synonymous with the holidays. Whether it's an office party, a church party, a family gathering, a simple holiday cocktail party or one wild and crazy New Years Eve filled with mistletoe and drinks, you will surely want to look your prettiest. Right? Right! Here are a few ensembles that will have other party goers "ooo"ing and "aaww"ing.

If you are in need of a dress that says "I'm feminine and soft while still giving some holiday flare? Try either one of these dress styles. Though the sleeveless ruffle dress by Carven is $679 and the sheer layered drape dress by Zimmerman is $375, they are worth their exquisite appearance. Earrings are a necessity to the perfect holiday party outfit and what's better than glittery, glitzy chandeliers? This pair is by Simon Tu goes for $330, but you can find anything similar at your local accessory or department store. And lastly, A black ensemble with a pair of striking red heels makes a statement. These Labrie heels are $90 at Aldo.

There are many women out there who desire a much more conservative dressing with a simple pant, blouse and jacket. If you fall under this category, these pieces would be entirely perfect. The red cropped jacket by Tsumori Chusato is $549, Jaloux holiday blouse for $130, and tux-style chiffon insert pants by ASOS are $62. For a touch of holiday glam without overwhelming others, these gold glitter pumps by Michael Antonio for $35 will surely please.

Now when New Years rolls around and you want to go sequin and sparkle glam, this creation will give you just that without blinding your friends or looking over-the-top. It's really the subtle color combined with soft gems that makes it work. Plus this outfit is completely affordable: The sequin Animal Print Party Dress is a steal at Arden B for $64, Jessica Simpson's 'Minas' bootie for $55 at Nordstrom's, the Tinley Road Double Row Jewel Necklace from Piperlime for $24 and don't forget to add this Beaded Clutch at Forever21 for $23.

Now this dress may be a bit too much for your budget, but I couldn't resist putting it in here. Why you may ask would I show you this purple Lanvin dress that retails for $3, 458? Because it is simply gorgeous. And after all, we here are Inspiring Pretty want to show you pretty things, right? Right.

Wedding Trends: Bridesmaids Dresses

Moving back to the subject of wedding attire, we’re moving onto bridesmaids’ dresses. Sometimes being a bridesmaid is equated with being drafted. You have to do what you’re told from your commander (the bride) and are given tons of duties that don’t involve your agreement. Now as bridesmaid, you usually don’t mind this because it’s your friend. The situation gets sticky though when it’s time to walk down the aisle in a hideous garb that some people would call a dress. Luckily, the trend seems to be shying away from ugly dresses on the bridesmaid to make the bride look prettier. So that’s good news for those on bridesmaid duty. A major trend for bridesmaids in wedding ceremonies (and in all of the wedding itself) is making the bridesmaid comfortable. This means allowing them to wear what they like (usually within the brides’ taste). The major fad is small variations among the dresses or different dresses altogether among bridesmaids. So if you’re about to be a bridesmaid, don’t sweat just yet, you might get to choose what you wear.

Traditional bridesmaid dresses are very uniform. It’s one dress, meaning one style and one color on each woman. It’s as if it’s done so you can be spotted among the other guests at the wedding. In the most recent years, this very steady fixed fad has had some twists put on it. Some that aren’t wanting to stray from tradition completely are using the same dress buy varying small details of it on each bridesmaid. For instance, the dresses will be the same length and shape, differing only in the straps. One may be strapless, another halter, and another tank top. Another fad is to have the same dress but in a few different colors. Or lastly, a fun light-hearted trend that is still obeying tradition is to have two or three colors of a dress with two or three different types of straps. It’s definitely more comfortable for each woman than the traditional one-dress-for-all model, but still shows that thought and care for matching attire were taken into account.

For complete rejection of tradition, some brides are opting to allow their bridesmaids to wear a dress of their choosing. This is usually done at very casual weddings, though. There are usually still some restraints on the bridesmaids, because weddings are meant to be classy, no matter what the motif. Dress of course match the overall wedding design, but bridesmaid are left to themselves to find a dress. This is done because the dresses don’t need to be the same length, shape, color or design. They just can’t be completely conflicting with each other, but if bridesmaids stay within the wedding design, this shouldn’t be a problem. This is the newest trend for bridesmaid dresses, but that doesn’t mean it’s the most popular. It is truly only for very casual and often modern weddings. It’s not a returning old-fashion, but actually an emerging one. So in a way, it is one of the only aspects of the wedding which conflicts with the overall trend of returning to simple elegance and old-fashionedness. It’s more of a ‘get together and wear what you want’ feel, hence exceptionally casual.

No matter what trend of bridesmaid dresses you choose to have, be certain that you are happy with it. Your style and wedding design will greatly factor into what you choose to do along with the comfort and style of the bridesmaids. After all, they’re your closest friends and family, so put them at ease, so they can enjoy your big day as much as possible.