50 April 7 – 20, 2012
Neighbors Neighbors
Dynamic duo debuts at CCA AZ Arts PAGE 65
Princess perfect shopping for special events
BY MIRIAM VAN SCOTT Formal season is in full bloom throughout
the SanTan Sun area, as thousands prepare for proms, weddings, Easter Sunday and other springtime events. Finding the perfect attire and accessories for the big day is an exciting part of the celebration and local retailers are ready to help shoppers find just the right fit for the occasion. “We’re in peak wedding season right now,”
says Nicole Gould, co-owner of Uptown Bridal & Boutique on West Boston Street in downtown Chandler. “March and April weddings are very popular in Arizona, as are October ceremonies, when couples can take advantage of cooler weather. We’re seeing brides who are getting married in the next few weeks, as well as brides shopping for next year and beyond.” For these brides-to-be, the nuptial experience includes personalized service and attention to detail that caters to each bride’s vision of the perfect wedding. “Every bride is a unique individual, and
we offer an interactive, hands-on approach to assisting our brides,” notes Gould. “Each will have a personal bridal assistant who will guide the process in finding the perfect style, fit and color for the bridal gown and the bridesmaids’ dresses. We never have more than two brides in the store at any time so we can really concentrate on each woman and her particular needs.” This focus on accommodating personal style and offering unique options also extends to the store’s inventory, which features fashions not available elsewhere. “We carry exclusive designs by big-name designers in the bridal industry,” Gould explains. “They agree to offer dresses through our shop that are not sold at any other store in Arizona.”
Lace, tangerine tango hot Professionals are also able to keep brides
posted on the latest trends in wedding fabrics, colors and patterns. “Styles go in and out like waves,” Gould explains. “One season we might see a lot of taffeta, then it’s gone, then it will come back again. The same goes for styles, lengths and colors. Every season there’s something that’s hot and seems to attract lots of attention.” Right now, lace is very popular for
wedding dresses and the formal ball gown style is making a comeback. As for the trendy tone, tangerine tango, a spicy shade of coral, tops the list of color choices for bridesmaids’ dresses. “That whole peach and orange palette is
huge right now,” says Gould. “It’s very warm and has a definite West Coast look and feel. We get calls every day from brides asking about dresses in those shades.”
Primping for prom When it comes to prom dresses, designer
gowns that offer distinctive flair and dazzling sparkle are all the rage this year. “Sherri Hill is No. 1 this prom season with juniors and seniors, and I special order from that line almost daily,” says Clara McMillan, owner of Hollywood Bling at the intersection of Pecos and McQueen roads. “Hill has unique styles with a lot of bling and beautiful modern cuts, and that’s what these girls want, whether its short styles or long. Chiffon is really big this season for prom and all colors are popular.” The challenge with prom shoppers is often
convincing them to look beyond their initial vision and experiment with other fashion options to find that perfect fit. “I find most girls come in knowing exactly what they’re looking for, and I do my best
COLORFUL CHOICES: Gowns, whether for a wedding, prom or other special event, come in a wide variety of colors this year, as seen at Uptown Bridal & Boutique. Carlene Campo of Fruitland, ID, was in Chandler to find a bridesmaid dress for her sister’s wedding next year. STSN photo
to make sure they get it,” McMillan says. “Whether it’s for a wedding dress or for prom, I try to help my customer find exactly what she loves in a dress. It’s important to try on different styles and cuts because I find that so many women are surprised to find out how good they look in a dress they may never have tried on. When they love how it looks then I feel good, like mission accomplished.”
Special services Both Hollywood Bling and Uptown Bridal
& Boutique know it’s not enough to find the right dress and accessories. Shoppers also enjoy specialized follow-up services. This includes arranging for alterations and accommodating busy schedules to make sure
the work is completed in time for the big day. “I use Rita’s Alterations, which is
conveniently located just a few doors down,” McMillan says. “She is well known for being a perfectionist and has customers who drive all the way from Prescott to have her do their alterations.” Uptown, which also carries an extensive line of prom dresses, offers another great feature to shoppers – school exclusivity. “We track all our prom gown sales and
don’t sell the same dress to students at the same high school,” Gould reports. “That way she’ll be the only girl at the prom wearing a particular dress.” Miriam Van Scott is a former Kerby
Estates resident who can be reached at
Miriam@SanTanSun.com.
Recent brides best advertising
Enjoy ‘rescued’ produce Spirituality PAGE 59
Where to eat PAGE 79-82
www.SanTanSun.com
“THE” GOWN: Amy Jensen of Chandler, who got married last month, shows her wedding gown to her friend, Carly Campo of Tempe, at Uptown Bridal & Boutique in downtown Chandler. Campo, who is getting married next year, tried on wedding dresses at the shop. STSN photo
Happy brides who recommend their favorite shop is often the best promotion a
retailer can receive. That’s the case of Chandler’s Amy Jensen, who got married this past St. Patrick’s Day
and got her gown at Uptown Bridal. “I dreamed about this dress,” she says, adding she went to other shops, but came
back to Uptown Bridal because of the customer service and the beaded and lace wedding gown. “I was treated the best here,” she adds. Then when her friend, Carly Campo of Tempe, was planning her June 2013 wedding,
FIT FOR A PRINCESS: Hollywood Bling offers prom and wedding dresses from a variety of popular designers. Submitted photo
Jensen brought her in to select a gown, and Campo brought her sister, Carlene, to try on bridesmaid dresses. Carlene, who lives in Fruitland, ID, also tried on dresses for an Idaho pageant competition.
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