How to Pick a Beautiful Bridesmaid Gown

The hideous bridesmaid's gown is as much of a wedding tradition as the lecherous uncle who gets too frisky with the ladies at the reception, the ring bearer who goes AWOL and the groom who's almost too hung over from his bachelor party to stand at the altar. It's a legitimate source of consternation for the women who have to spend hundreds of dollars on a dress that never gets worn again and is so ugly it has to be donated to get rid of it. Be kind to your bridesmaids and pick a gown they'll be excited to wear instead of making them cringe when they see it on the hanger.

Instructions

1. Keep in mind that you will be pulling out the pictures of this event for your children, grandchildren and other relatives to see. In as little as 5 years, you'll notice the changes in style. Think hard about whether having your attendants wear pumpkin-colored gowns against a yellow background is going overboard with your autumn-themed wedding.

2. Avoid gowns that chase the latest trend or bear hallmarks of the decade. The '80s spelled "big": big sleeves, big collars, big skirts, big accessories, big hair. The '70s saw lots of floppy hats with flowers. Both looks dated very quickly.

3. Stay away from dresses with too many add-ons or overdone features, like sequin stripes, bustles, feathers that cover more than one part of the dress, over-puffed sleeves, excessive trains or outsized bows.

4. Don't make it worse by adding bad accessories to the outfit. Save bonnets, outrageous headpieces and feathered gloves for the theater.

5. Realize that, the simpler the gown is, the better it usually looks. Go for dresses that have classic cuts, such as A-line or empire-waisted designs. You can always dress it up with accessories like gloves, scarves or jewelry (but not too much) if you think it looks too plain.

6. Consider choosing a cocktail dress instead of a formal gown. No one will be able to tell the difference, since most bridesmaids' gowns look like cocktail attire anyway. And the dress will actually stand another chance of being worn again.

7. When you make your decision, bring along a friend or relative who is not in the bridal party, to render her opinion. Your bridesmaids may not want to risk offending you by saying they hate the gown. Pick someone who isn't afraid to tell you what she thinks, and try not to take it personally.