THE LONG VEIL PRIMER

 Long veils convey a romantic mood via all that added gossamer sheer.  . . . . .Women who  go traditional sporting the full regalia of a classic bride typically love those long, flowing veils. So what you ask is considered a long veil? Let's start at the ‘finger tip’ length and work all the way down to the twenty-five foot cathedral.veil.

Long Veil Lengths

Fingertip-Most popular length; can be worn by nearly every figure type with most silhouettes.

           Waltz-Falls anywhere between knee and ankle.
          Chapel-Considered formal. Extends about a two feet beyond the hemline.
          Cathedral-Most formal. Extends three feet or more beyond the hem.
          Double Tier-Two layers, typically the shorter one a blusher but not always.  

 

Long Veil Styles

Pouf-Pictured directly below, width of veil is gathered at the crown and can be attached to a headpiece. Generally made out of tulle or English netting.
Dropped-Second picture below. This veil is actually dropped onto the head in a single layer of tulle or lace; often bordered with lace or ribbon. The Mantilla is a type of dropped veil.

Fingertip

Waltz Length

Mantilla

Cathedral Length

All veils and gowns by Amy-Jo Tatum Bride

Top  photo by S1 Studio.  White Chantilly lace mantilla

                                3rd photos by Stellar Q Danielo: Ivory tulle cathedral length veil

                        Last four photos by Piximage: Ivory fingertip veil//White two layered waltz veil outlined in ribbon// ivory  Chantilly lace mantilla//Single layer cathedral legnth veil dappled in Chantilly lace appliques

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VEILS-SHORT TO LONG

    I wanted to talk some about veils today.  This time of year my email box is full of so many questions about head wear in general but you guessed it--it's mostly about veils and topping off your look.  Most questions I get are about length and proportion so I'm going to start at the inception of veils.  Did you know wearing one dates back to ancient times?  The bridal veil has been a symbol of purity and mystery in many traditions.  From Biblical times onwards every era has put it’s own spin on “the veil” and how its worn.   Fourteenth century brides wore hoods of silk netting.  Victorians sported yards of delicate laces passed on to daughters and granddaughters. Brides of the 1960s popularized the pouf veil still stylish today.

   The good news is, there are no more rules about what length veil  goes with a particular style gown.  Whatever guidelines exist have more to do with following your proportions and sense of style.  So, veil lengths do vary from jazzy little net poufs to yards of tulle trailing the hemline. 

Short Veils

The shorter ‘fashionista' veil has gone uber-trendy the past few years. Why? When short veils returned to the bridal scene thanks to a few designers inspired by vintage they seemed out of the ordinary –very outside the traditional bridal box. Though we're seeing them all over the place now there's still  something chic, even edgy about a bride sporting one. As early as the 1990s, Vera Wang paired up short, pouf veils with very formal gowns. Whether she wanted to show off the extraordinary back details of her gowns or usher in a new look, I don’t know; I only know the juxtaposition this duo created worked.

Brides say the best thing about wearing a shorter veil is, not having to do any adjusting in that switch from the solemnity of ceremony to big time partying hearty. Short veils are easy to maneuver around in and stay put whether you’re exchanging vowels, cutting cake or dancing.

Bird Cage or Net Pouf- Above left and center: These have gone trendy the past few years thanks to vintage designers. Made of either netting or tulle, this veil falls above the shoulder line.  Since it’s a shorter style, it tends to look structured, more hybrid of headpiece and veil.  Great for fashionistas.   

                     Blusher or Flyaway-Pictured above at the far right: A fly away is typically attached to the back while the blusher is a short veil worn over the face during the ceremony.  Can also be worn shoulder length in layers.  Although once considered informal, this is the choice of some chic, formal-gowned brides.

Long Veils

If I were to define the quintessential  bride, she'd definitely be donning a long veil on her wedding day.  To explain what’s considered long in veil chic, I’d start at the elbow and work all the way down to the twenty-five foot cathedral trail. Long veils convey a romantic mood by way of all that added gossamer sheer.

Elbow-Extends to the elbow or a couple inches below.

Fingertip-Most popular length; can be worn by nearly every figure type with most silhouettes.

Waltz-Falls anywhere between knee and ankle.

Chapel-Considered formal.  Extends about  two feet beyond the hemline.

Cathedral-Most formal.  Extends three feet or more beyond the hem.

Double Tier-Two layers, typically the shorter one a blusher but not always.

Clockwise: Top photos-Finger tip veil/Bottom photos-Left Waltz length veil/Right Cathedral veil

STYLES

Pouf-Pictured Above:Width of veil is gathered at the crown and can be attached to a headpiece.  Generally made out of tulle or English netting.

Dropped- Pictured Above Yes, actually dropped onto the head in a single layer of tulle or lace; often bordered with lace or ribbon.  A Mantilla like the one above is a type of dropped veil.

FABRICS

    Typically tulle is the most common fabric used though chiffon, silk gauze and different types of nettings are sometimes worn.  Remember Julie Andrew’s wedding in The Sound of Music?  Her veil was silk organza . . . a stunning choice.  Another stunning choice—my favorite—is silk gauze.  Though it’s not as transparent or springy as tulle, it has all the opposite characteristics: an opaqueness; it floats whenever you walk or the breeze blows.

 Veils by Amy-Jo Tatum Bride

   Photo Credits

Header photo by S1 Studio/Second Photo by Pixamage

Top three photos: clockwise-/Pouf veil photo by Dominic Colacchio Photography/Cage veil photo by Bill Smoot

Long veil photos by Pixamage

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JUST LISTED ON ETSY

Piximage

 Defining looks for 2011 include long veils paired up with large, voluminous gowns as well as the slimmer silhouettes seen here.  These were just listed on Etsy.  Above and below are both cathedral veils.  The above veil is a double layer ivory tulle edged in satin ribbon.  Below, a white single layer tulle dappled in Chantilly lace.  You can see more images of both on Amy-Jo Tatum Bridal on Etsy . . .

                                                                                                          Piximage

White tulle double layer waltz-style veil edged both layers in satin ribbon. See more images . . .

Makeup by Necia Whitmore

                                                              Hair by Kao Vey Saephanh

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VEILED

CREDITS

Photography . . . . . . Pixaimage Photography

Veils and gowns . . . . .Amy-Jo Tatum

Makeup . . . . . . . . . Necia Whitmore

Hair. . . . . . . . . Kao Vey Saephanh

Models . . . .. .. . . .Janelle Mills and Libby Gale

Venue . . . . . . . . .San Domenico, San Anselmo, California

 Since Chelsea Clinton's wedding last July, classic veils are suddenly taking the spotlight once again. We wanted to  capture the essence of the traditional bride in all her romantic and time-honored splendor.   From the ethereal beauty of the drop veil to the small tulle head pouf, here is the 2011 veil collection . . . .

 Above: Waltz length double layered white tulle edged in satin ribbon

Going retro doesn't necessarily mean sticking to a particular era. Above, a 30s gown is paired up with an authentic vintage 60s veil. Layers of tulle attached to a lace and jewel embellished Juliet cap give this bride a timeless look.
      

 A gown with exquisite back details like the one above calls for a shorter veil like the petal or fly away in gathered tulle tacked to the back of a chignon.

 Directly above and below: The most dramatic of all veils, the Cathedral veil.  Above is a double layered ivory tulle edged in satin ribbon.  Below: White tulle with Chantilly lace motifs dappled all over . . .

The fingertip style veil above has long been the most popular length for brides as it goes with just about any style dress. Here we've matched it up with traditional ivory lace and taffeta.

 

Contemporary brides love the new tulle poufs.  Easy to wear, they go from ceremony to reception. with no adjustments and are tres chic . . . 

Above: Silk gauze drop veil floor length drop veil can be wrapped as a shawl; Below: A 3-yard galloon of Chantilly lace makes the perfect 20s style cloche-cap style veil to pair up with a vintage lace gown. 

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