Gown

The bride-to-be who wants to look like a movie star on her wedding day can order the very same dress that appears in the new version of "Father of the Bride" for $4,500.Designed by the film's costume designer, Susan Becker, the gown plays a leading role in the Touchstone Pictures film."It's a sweetly demure dress, perfect for the all-American girl," says L.A. bridal shop owner Renee Strauss, who worked with Becker on creating the gown. Becker says it was Grace Kelly's own classic gown that inspired the film's gown, rather than the one worn by Elizabeth Taylor in the original movie.

“Let's try that one first,” I said, pointing to the craziest wedding gown the saleswoman had selected for me. It was tight through the hips, with geometric ribbon designs that started on the bodice and trailed down through the choppy tulle skirt. It was an avant-garde kind of wedding dress you might wear if your reception was at Sidebar in Downtown Baltimore or the Renaissance Festival - a little punk, a little medieval. It wasn't remotely my style, but I wanted the first dress I tried on to be memorable and this certainly fit the bill.

A Westminster woman, preparing for her wedding at the end of the month, returned to her car on the Cranberry Mall parking lot Sunday to find that someone had stolen her wedding gown.City police said Sherry. E. Janocha, who lives on Liberty Street, left the gown in the locked vehicle on her way to a fitting.She found that the door was unlocked when she returned from the mall and that the gown was gone.The gown was in a J. C. Penney garment bag and was valued at $300, police said.Ms. Janocha said she is hoping someone returns the gown because it is of little use to anyone but her.POLICE* Westminster: An employee of the Exxon gasoline station on Route 140 reported someone drove off without paying for gas Monday.

They may have strutted on a stage instead of a runway, but members of the Supremes were well known for their fashionable style. Over two decades of climbing the charts, the singing group performed in a variety of venues - including a performance in England where they met the Queen Mother - all while decked out in the most fabulous costumes. "Come See About Me: The Mary Wilson Supremes Collection," an exhibit featuring more than 30 of the group's glamorous and glittering gowns, is on display at the African American Museum in Philadelphia.

ACTRESSES GET ALL THE BREAKS. If they follow the winds of fashion when getting dressed in the morning, they're congratulated for being so on-trend. If they break away from the trendy and do something different, they're avant-garde. Nowhere was that more obvious than at last week's Academy Awards. Gown after gorgeous gown on the red carpet either exemplified a trend or went against the grain -- and, for the most part, it all looked fabulous. "I thought it was in very good taste, fashion-wise, this Oscar season," says Avril Graham, executive fashion and beauty editor for Harper's Bazaar.

Stacy Keibler's appearance Sunday evening on the arm of George Clooney confirmed two things: 1. They're still an item; 2. She still adheres to a serious fitness routine. Keibler wore a beaded Naeem Khan gown and, according to Us Weekly, Giuseppe Zanotti shoes, Lorraine Schwartz jewels and a Tiffany & Co bag. The sophisticated, silver-and-black dress and her short, softly waved hair evoked a '20s flapper mood, far removed from the metallic gold, strapless gown she wore last year.

Shades of Grace Kelly, Marilyn Monroe and Veronica Lake. What this year's Academy Award fashions lacked in hip edginess they made up for in retro glamour. The Academy Awards' red-carpet styles paid homage to just about every fabulous leading lady who ever graced the silver screen. Best Actress winner Charlize Theron, with a wavy bob and a pale, glittery slip gown by Tom Ford for Gucci, was only the most obvious example of siren appeal. THE TRENDS Why do we care? (Other than pure voyeuristic delight, of course.

The phone's been ringing off the hook at Betsy Robinson's Bridal Collection in Pikesville. Since word got out that the upscale wedding boutique gave away free dresses to military brides Sunday, those who missed their chance have called to inquire if, by any chance, Robinson would repeat the event. The answer, she said yesterday, is yes. This Sunday, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Robinson and her staff will again open their doors to members of the military - or their fiancees - who have served abroad in recent wars.

It was her first time on a boat. Last Friday, 17-year-old Latoya Gough stood on the deck of the Bay Lady, cruising at a nearly imperceptible pace through the Inner Harbor. She and 280 of her classmates at Carver Vocational-Technical High School were bound for the Key Bridge. Three levels of the boat were rocking with the sounds of the long-awaited junior prom. The clear spring night marked an evening of firsts - memories Latoya would forever share with her best friend, Kenika Walker. Not only was it her first prom, but also her first fancy event.

Last fall, when the "World Famous Pearl Gown" first came to the International Gem & Jewelry Show in Baltimore, it was displayed near the front entrance, a glamorous and poignant lure for visitors anxious to feel the sympathetic magic of the dress' former owner, Princess Diana, who had died three months earlier.Yesterday, the show returned, as did the pleated, beaded winter-white gown, purchased last summer at a Christie's charity auction in New York. This time, it was relegated to the convention center's most remote corner.

Stacy Keibler's appearance Sunday evening on the arm of George Clooney confirmed two things: 1. They're still an item; 2. She still adheres to a serious fitness routine. Keibler wore a beaded Naeem Khan gown and, according to Us Weekly, Giuseppe Zanotti shoes, Lorraine Schwartz jewels and a Tiffany & Co bag. The sophisticated, silver-and-black dress and her short, softly waved hair evoked a '20s flapper mood, far removed from the metallic gold, strapless gown she wore last year.

A winter storm left piles of snow and Super Bowl MVP Joe Flacco stopped by Tommy Hilfiger's show, but the most dramatic thing about New York City this past week were Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week's first looks at fall 2013. Inside the walls of Lincoln Center, designers treated the crowds to collections that mirrored the futuristic feel of science fiction, the darkness of noir fiction and the theatrical elements of a good soap opera. With so many ideas to chose from, these trends were the best of the best: Russian influences Christian Siriano said that his collection was heavily inspired by St. Petersburg's Mariinsky Theatre.

Not very long ago, in a reception hall not very far away, brides had to wear white, serve tiered cake for dessert and give their guests matchbooks as favors. Thank heavens that's all behind us. The wedding season is not that far off - bridal expos abound this month - and brides and grooms have lots of options when it comes to their Big Day. Besides the year's most obvious wedding trend - same-sex nuptials - planners and retailers see interest in colorful bridal gowns, lounge areas and vintage styles this year.

Wedding date: Dec. 31, 2012 Her story: Tiffany Trask, 26, grew up in Columbia and is a nurse in the Navy. Her mother, Karen, is a financial analyst and her father, Tim, is a building supervisor. His story: Jason Harriman, 30, grew up in Laurel. He is a sales representative for an Anheuser-Busch distributor. His father, Guy, is retired, and his mother, Sandra, is the vice president of development at Howard County General Hospital. Their story: Tiffany and Jason met at a happy hour in Ellicott City through mutual friends.

Wedding day: Oct. 6, 2012 Her story: Cara Lewis, 26, grew up in Hampstead. She is an assistant state's attorney for Baltimore City. Her mom, Cheryl Lewis, is senior vice president of lending at Farmers & Merchants Bank in Upperco. His story: Peter Nothstein, 34, grew up in Rodgers Forge. He is an assistant U.S. attorney for Maryland. His mother, Patricia Nothstein, is the director of the lower school at the Bryn Mawr School in Baltimore. His father is deceased. Their story: Cara and Peter met on April 9, 2010, at Pickles Pub across from Camden Yards during the home opener for the Baltimore Orioles through a mutual attorney friend.

It was a huge night at the Emmys for those with a Maryland connection. From actresses to designers, Marylanders made quite a showing. Christian Siriano continued his red carpet winning streak with a number of fantastic frocks at last night's Emmy Awards. The anticipation started early for Siriano who was already sharing his excitement with fans through social media. "Getting ready for the Emmys red carpet. I can't wait to see some of my favorite ladies in Siriano tonight," he wrote hours before the festivities began.

A mall is as good a place as any to see a relic. You can venerate what is left of the dead, grab a sandwich, check out Crate & Barrel and pick up that watch that was in for repair, without ever moving the car.And so they came yesterday to the Grand Court on Level 1 of Towson Town Center, to behold a gown that once belonged to the late Princess Diana and to pay tribute to her as part of the "Legacy of Love National Mall Tour," sponsored by Romance Classics, a...

Helen Hunt, Renee Zellweger and Marisa Tomei led the posse of A-list actresses who showed up in simple black gowns. The evening's stunners tended to be feminine and flattering instead of revealing and risque. And obscure fashion statements like Bjork's swan frock from last year were noticeably absent. As Hollywood's glitterati sashayed down the red carpet at the 74th Academy Awards last night, the plethora of gorgeous ballgowns and ooh-la-la slinky dresses gave some hint that things have crept back to normal in post-Sept.

I am getting married in two and a half weeks, and still don't have my wedding gown.  I ordered it in the beginning of March, and was told I would have it in mid-August. Back in March, that seemed like a lot of time to wait for one dress, but I figured it would still give me a month and a half to try it on, get it hemmed, and figure out which shoes and undergarments to wear. Now that we're half-way through September, I'm starting to panic a little.  The local shop (who shall remain nameless because I'm a worried bride and not a mean one)

When Renee Fleming appears Sept. 15 with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra for the BSO's Gala Celebration, the appeal will be both sound and sight. The world-renowned soprano is famous not just for her voice, but for her gowns, designed for her by the likes of Gianfranco Ferre, John Galliano for Dior, Karl Lagerfeld, Christian Lacroix, Oscar de la Renta, Douglas Hannant and Angel Sanchez. We chatted with her about some of her favorites. Is it fun to play dress-up in a way most of us just dream about?