Vera Wang 'Odette'

Ivory deep V-neck silk charmeuse halter ball gown with ruched tulle skirt and Chantilly lace appliqué accents. Odette begins with a classic ball gown silhouette as its point of reference. Then I had some fun with that spectacular full skirt. It’s easy to see who this bride is, deep in her heart — she’s a ballerina! The great Tchaikovsky ballet Swan Lake has always given me inspiration, and this season I’m finally naming a gown for its heroine, the Swan Princess herself. The bodice is charmeuse, a deliciously soft, decadent material that already says prima ballerina, and you can see in the neckline how that theme is carried through. The bodice comes to the natural waist, and is accentuated with a dramatic plunging neckline that keeps our bride front and center on the stage of her occasion. The back of the bodice swoops low as well — a key part of this season, that seductive view from behind. The charmeuse is lined, so it molds and holds you in, softly clinging. And then the fabric itself has a very theatrical sheen to it. This glossy bodice really sets off and complements the show-stopping skirt. The Odette skirt takes off on a tour de force of hexagon tulle. There are all these pieces of tulle shirring, in various lengths, arranged so that they almost overflow across one another, building to a crescendo of lace, and then worked over again in chantilly and poinsettia laces. Looking all around, and especially on the back, you’ll notice the tacking, where the pieces of lace have been lifted and fixed at different heights. It’s almost as if she’s holding up her dress, a belle on the run, or en pointe. This effect adds so much airiness, and just creates such a sensual, musical spotlight for our princess — you don’t need to be a technically flawless dancer to make your mark. It’s so swooning and sweet and fun, and when you see it in action, in motion, you’ll know just what I mean.