Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility Amy Kuschel Archives - Flair Boston | Wedding Dresses in Boston MA | Bridal Gowns, Bridesmaid Dresses, Accessories, Wedding Dress Cleaning Amy Kuschel Archives - Flair Boston | Wedding Dresses in Boston MA | Bridal Gowns, Bridesmaid Dresses, Accessories, Wedding Dress Cleaning

Wedding Gown Add-Ons

How to make your gown truly YOU!

I’ll never forget the day I saw it; the episode of “Say Yes to the Dress” when another bride bought my wedding dress (yes, I bought at Kleinfeld because I got married a million years ago, pre-Flair having its AMAZING bridal collection). How can this be?? That dress is MINE! I looked so fabulous that surely they just retired that dress after me, right?! Once my hysterics died down, I realized that it really wasn’t that big of a deal. Of course other brides are going to wear my dress; if they don’t, that might say more about my fashion sense than anything else. Besides that, the way I styled it was totally different than the TV bride, making our dresses look more like cousins than twins. Crisis averted. If you’re having similar feelings, have no fear, there are tons of bridal embellishments and add-ons that can truly make your dress YOURS! Check them out:

A topper – Bridal tops are a MAJOR trend in the wedding world right now! Pop one on and instantly change your look, making it fresh, modern, and (if you need it) more covered up. They’re perfect for a ceremony that requires more modesty, or just a little pop of extra style all day/night long!

Yes, that's a lace topper! Works perfectly and seamlessly with the dress, right? Amy Kuschel's "Audrey" top totally has us swooning!

Yes, that’s a lace topper! Works perfectly and seamlessly with the dress, right? Amy Kuschel’s “Audrey” top totally has us swooning!

A petticoat – It may sound like a thing of the past that Jane Eyre was forced to wear, but actually petticoats are still totally relevant and current in today’s bridal fashions! They are an affordable, easy way to add some volume to the skirt of your wedding gown, and you’d be surprised how different they can make it look!
Detachable straps – We know, we know; the bridal world is still predominantly strapless. It’s getting better, we swear, but in the meantime, accessories designers are taking notice and adding removable straps to their repertoire! So, no need to avoid strapless styles when you head out on your gown search!

No need for a necklace when you add AB Ellie's STUNNING, sparkly "Josephine" straps to your strapless gown!

No need for a necklace when you add AB Ellie’s STUNNING, sparkly “Josephine” straps to your strapless gown!

Buttons – Almost all of our bridal gown designers have the option of adding buttons down the back of their gowns. Don’t worry, though, most don’t actually require you to button them up. Slide up your zipper and the buttons hug over the seam, creating an elegant, photo-worthy look!

Of course, these options are in addition to the always fabulous and classic options of jewelry, belts/sashes, and veils! Flair is happy to help you explore any of these add-ons; let us know if there’s one that speaks to you!

Bridal Separates

Look tops with a topper!

Over the years we’ve come to find that a bride falling in love with two different wedding dresses is a fairly common occurrence. Generally speaking, brides aren’t often sold on one particular look so she may covet a romantic, timeless gown, for example, just as much as a modern, trendy one. Unless you have a Kardashian budget, you probably won’t opt for actually buying both dress styles, so then begins your very own Sophie’s choice. Which gown to choose?? Lucky for today’s brides, though, there’s a fairly easy way to get two looks out of one dress – toppers! Slip one of these on and totally transform the look of your dress! Whether you’re looking for a little more coverage for the ceremony, or you just want to change up your look mid-day, a topper is an easy and economical way to get the best of both worlds. Did we peak your interest? Here are some terrific toppers by Flair’s fabulous designers!

Amy Kuschel's Audrey topper is perfect for the bride looking for a little more coverage!

Amy Kuschel’s Audrey topper is perfect for the bride looking for a little more coverage!

Looking to add some whimsy and romance to your look? Jenny Yoo's Ophelia capelet will do just the trick - and make for some stunning photo ops!

Looking to add some whimsy and romance to your look? Jenny Yoo’s Ophelia capelet will do just the trick – and make for some stunning photo ops!

Love lace but don't want a full lace gown? Just pop on Jenny Yoo's Mika topper for just the right amount of lovely lace :)

Love lace but don’t want a full lace gown? Just pop on Jenny Yoo’s Mika topper for just the right amount of lovely lace 🙂

Want to really make a statement? Willowby's Merapi vest is sure to wow!

Want to really make a statement? Willowby’s Merapi vest is sure to wow!

Tell us – which topper is your fave??

Short Wedding Dresses

Short on length, long on style!

I don’t know about you, but this week’s rising temperatures have us stocking up on self tanner and pulling our Spring/Summer clothes out of hibernation. As much as we love them, we’re ready to say au revior to sweaters and scarves and bonjour to sundresses and shorter skirts! Not only does it bring sun and fun, but the warmer weather also signals the beginning of the busy wedding season here in New England. Seeing as how the vast majority of weddings here happen in the hottest months, it makes sense that shorter bridal gowns are getting more and more popular these days! Designers today are creating tons of gorgeous, totally wedding appropriate shorter looks! If you’re thinking of one for your big day, here are some things to consider:

Consider this; Flair has some short cuties from Amy Kuschel, Jenny Yoo and more!

Consider this; Flair has some short cuties from Amy Kuschel, Jenny Yoo and more!

1) One length does not fit all – Wedding dresses don’t just come in two lengths, short and long; there are plenty of choices in between! Just be aware of what length works best on your body type. Generally speaking, knee-length works best on shorter and curvier girls, while taller brides are more apt to pull off a tea length.
2) Remember your venue/theme – Before plunging headfirst into the short dress trend, make sure it fits with your wedding venue and overall theme. As stunning as shorter dresses are these days, they are always going to be a little more casual than their longer counterparts. So, if you’re going for a super formal feel, you might want to think twice about a shorter style (or, get the best of both worlds and opt to just change into one later in the night for dancing!).
3) Understand that your choices will be more limited – Even though more and more designers are creating shorter wedding dresses, they are still in the minority. So, be prepared to have most stores tell you that they only have a few styles to try on. For the less decisive among us, this can be a huge advantage. Less choices means less options to keep you up at night considering!

Once you’ve thought through these points, remember that there are a million great reasons to choose a shorter dress. Most of the time, they are less expensive, they’re often super comfortable, and you can go to the bathroom on your own, just to name a few 🙂

Gowns that Give

Amy Kuschel’s Philanthropic Program

Speaking from experience, I know how easy it can be to forget about the rest of the world when planning your wedding. It takes up all of your free time, and dominates most of your conversations. I, for example, totally forgot about my parent’s anniversary in the midst of my own planning haze. Face palm. I could have used a little reminder that while my wedding was certainly important, it was not the only important thing. Amy Kuschel has always done a great job of reminding brides of just that, with her “Gowns that Give” campaign. Talk about the best of both worlds! You get the gown of your dreams for your important day, while an equally important charity gets a portion of said gown’s profits. Look good, and do good; it’s a no-brainer! Here are some of the stunning styles that are a part of the program:

The Boston gown (a fave of ours, duh) benefits The Trevor Project

The Boston gown (a fave of ours, duh) benefits The Trevor Project

Chic Charleston benefits The Breast Cancer Fund

Chic Charleston benefits The Breast Cancer Fund

A portion of hottie Harlow's funds goes towards The Sierra Club

A portion of hottie Harlow’s funds goes towards The Sierra Club

Pretty Roxy (the dress, though the dog is cute too!) benefits The San Francisco SPCA

Pretty Roxy (the dress, though the dog is cute too!) benefits The San Francisco SPCA

Can’t wait to see these charitable cuties on our brides at our Amy Kuschel designer event this weekend!!

Amy Kuschel Bridal

Girls, get ready for some Disco and Deco deliciousness!

As any “Project Runway” addict like myself knows, every fashion collection needs to have a cohesive theme. It’s not enough to just make pretty pieces (although that’s a great start); for a collection to really be, well, a collection, all of the items need to make sense together. The designers we have at Flair do an amazing job at that, and we’re constantly amazed at their creativity and strong sense of personal style. While no two collections are alike, at the same time they always possess that signature look that each designer has become known for. One collection that we really love this year is “Deco to Disco” by Amy Kuschel. Let’s face it, since “The Great Gatsby” all of us girls have had a bit of an obsession with fashion from the past, and Amy has tapped right into that! The great thing, though, is that she has also managed to make this collection look totally fresh and modern. With chic, minimal shapes, lush fabrics, and perfectly proportioned embellishments, all of the dresses in this collection are fun, flirty, and full of style! Check out a few of our faves below and then give us a ring to see them in person at our “Deco to Disco” designer event next weekend!

Oh hello, hottie Harlow!

Oh hello, hottie Harlow!

Hey Boston dress, we love you because of a) your name, duh b) your good looks and c) your charity! A portion of the proceeds of this gown goes towards an LGBT charity!

Hey Boston dress, we love you because of a) your name, duh b) your good looks and c) your charity! A portion of the proceeds of this gown goes towards an LGBT charity!

Garbo, you're gorgeous!!

Garbo, you’re gorgeous!!

Say hello to Harlem! Isn't she chic and sleek!

Say hello to Harlem! Isn’t she chic and sleek!

We think Daisy Buchanan would approve of and love the Charleston gown!

We think Daisy Buchanan would approve of and love the Charleston gown!

New York Bridal Market

A Trend Report

Let’s face it, all of us girls love shopping. Some of us prefer clothes shopping, while others get a thrill out of home decor. Hey, I’m such a shopping addict that I even enjoy the grocery store! Wherever you shop, I think we can all agree that it’s just nice to treat yourself and discover new things. That’s one of the many reasons that we love New York Bridal Market; we get to shop all of the new bridal collections and bring the gorgeous goodies back to our equally gorgeous Boston brides! Not to mention that we’ll take any excuse to stroll around Manhattan doing our best Carrie Bradshaw walk/run in heels. And getting face time with our kind, talented designers? Always amazing! Having just returned from this year’s Bridal Market, we wanted to pass along a few of the hot, new trends that we spotted. We can’t wait to see them on all of you as the 2016 dresses arrive later this winter!

1) Toppers – Every girl who has been to a bridal shop knows how much a belt/sash can change the look of a gown. It’s amazing how much one accessory can really elevate the look! While belts are here to stay (yay!), there’s a new accessory on the block that is changing the bridal/bridesmaids world – toppers! Slipping one of these tops of over your dress is an easy way to create a unique, modern look and add some coverage at the same time.

Left three dresses are Jenny Yoo (photos courtesy of The Knot), who featured toppers in her bridal and bridesmaids' collection. Right dress is a stunning Amy Kuschel design - photo courtesy of our owner Stacey Kraft :)

Left three dresses are Jenny Yoo (photos courtesy of The Knot), who featured toppers in her bridal and bridesmaids’ collection. Right dress is a stunning Amy Kuschel design – photo courtesy of our owner Stacey Kraft 🙂

2) Crepe – Sure, lace will always be the quintessential bridal fabric, but there’s a new kid in town that’s getting a ton of buzz – crepe. This lightweight material has the structure of a silk with the ease and feel of a comfortable chiffon; a match made in heaven! Tara Keely showed off some chic, clean crepe styles in her new collection; take a peek below!

Tara Keely was the crepe queen! Left two dress photos courtesy of their Facebook page; right photo courtesy of Brides.com

Tara Keely was the crepe queen! Left photo courtesy of Brides.com; Right two dress photos courtesy of Tara Keely’s Facebook page.

3) Mixed Materials – Us girls, we always want the best of both worlds. So, when it comes time to purchase our bridal gown, it can be hard to choose. How is one supposed to decide between the timelessness of lace and the comfort of chiffon? Luckily, the new collections have showed us that we don’t have to choose – we really can have it all! Designer Hayley Paige definitely believes in that mentality. Many of her gowns feature multiple fabrics, and the result is truly modern, unique and stunning!

These Hayley Paige stunners all feature totally different fabrics on their tops and skirts. So chic and elegant! Photos courtesy of marthastewartweddings.com

These Hayley Paige stunners all feature totally different fabrics on their tops and skirts. So chic and elegant! Photos courtesy of marthastewartweddings.com

4) Nude – We’re not talking about showing a ton of skin here, but rather changing up the color of your gown. Darker tones were all the rage on the bridal market runways, and for good reason. White can be a tricky color to wear, so switching to a nude or any other darker shade is a good idea for the many of us that can’t quite pull it off.

Left two dresses are by Hayley Paige (courtesy of The Knot) and the right is Willowby by Watters (courtesy of their Facebook page)

Left two dresses are by Hayley Paige (courtesy of The Knot) and the right is Willowby by Watters (courtesy of their Facebook page)

Give us a ring to come see the new beauties in person as they start to arrive in the winter of 2016; we can’t wait to see them on you!

Amy Kuschel Wedding Dresses

Get to know this dynamic designer!

Ahead of our exciting designer event this weekend, we wanted to take some time to help you get to know amazing Flair friend and designer, Amy Kuschel, a little bit better. Amy will always have a special place in our heart. When Flair decided to expand our bridal gown selection about 4 years ago, she was the first new designer we added to our collection. It was a little scary; at that time we were known mostly for our bridesmaids’ collection, so we weren’t sure how our customers would respond to us dipping our toe further into the bridal pond. We just couldn’t resist Amy’s stunning, modern and romantic gowns though, and we knew you would love them just as much as we did (and still do)! Cut to a few years later and our bridal gown business is booming and Amy’s gowns are thriving at Flair, and with good reason! They are thoughtfully designed, artfully created and beautifully finished. Amy’s extensive fashion background helps to ensure that. With a degree from FIT, years of experience in ready to wear design (prior to the start of her bridal label) and a keen eye for fit and trends, every dress that Amy creates is sure to fit, flatter and wow! On top of that, Amy is committed to using only the finest fabrics, trims, beads and baubles on her dresses. She manages to do all that while maintaining an affordable price point and keeping her production facilities in the USA. Pretty amazing, right? We’re telling you, this collection (and its designer) has it all! Need proof? Prepare to drool over the Amy Kuschel gowns below and give us a call if you want to experience her beauties in person 🙂

Amy Kuschel shows us that sleeves can be modern and sexy, as seen on stunning Jules!

Amy Kuschel shows us that sleeves can be modern and sexy, as seen on stunning Jules!

Looking for a short dress, or a dress to change into for your reception? Amy has you covered with her adorable Jackie Lady Stardust dress!

Looking for a short dress, or a dress to change into for your reception? Amy has you covered with her adorable Jackie Lady Stardust dress!

Looking for something timeless, yet unique? Look no further than Lennon! A classic silhouette in that subtle shade of pink; a homerun!

Looking for something timeless, yet unique? Look no further than Lennon! A classic silhouette in that subtle shade of pink; a homerun!

Looking for a little more coverage? Tulip is a Flair all star - it was one of the first styles we bought and it is still going strong. So flattering!

Looking for a little more coverage? Tulip is a Flair all star – it was one of the first styles we bought and it is still going strong. So flattering!

See what we mean? There’s a little something for everyone at Amy Kuschel! We can’t sing her praises enough and can’t wait to see her gorgeous gowns on all of YOU 🙂