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A gown, by any other name, orange prom dresses 2012 would look as lovely -- especially if it is layered like the petals of a rose: a soft homecoming cocktail dresses homecoming cocktail dresses swarovski crystal prom dresses swarovski crystal prom dresses, delicate white rose.

When Sophia Reyes custom-designed the dress she wore at her spring 2011 wedding, she envisioned layers of silky satin that wrapped around like an English Garden rose. "I wanted a dreamy texture without beads and lace. Something that moved when I walked," the 26-year-old Chicago designer says.

Reyes designs a line of women's silk dresses and blouses, which she wholesales to boutiques in New York, Michigan, Indiana and Illinois. Like her spring and fall collection, her bridal gown sprang from a freshly tilled creative heart. The one-of-a-kind dress was delicate but strong homecoming dresses sale homecoming dresses sale, with rose-petal layers that cascaded like a Brazilian rainforest waterfall.

To design her dream wedding dress , Reyes first planted a seed. She created a moodboard, which is what clothing designers employ for inspiration, with snippets of fabric, color and photographs. On her palette were ivory and white, costume jewelry in shadow and light. Luscious pink petals. Folds of fabric. Shades of chartreuse. If her gown could blossom from this rich soil, Reyes would glide to the altar in ethereal elegance.

After creating her moodboard, Reyes sketched and sketched until she designed the perfect silhouette, or dress shape: a modern, traditional A-line dress with a strapless top and billowing skirt. "I knew from my body type that I wanted a bodice (form-fitting top). I wanted the hips to have the more structured layers," she says. Bodice pleating was added for texture.

Next, Reyes designed the flats, Shop the sexiest women's dresses for any occasion at Victoria's Secret.gowns for military ball Find formal, casual or even that perfect little black dress which are patterns and outlines a seamstress follows to make a design blossom. "This is the critical thinking point. It's not just creating a pretty picture and then not knowing how to execute it," Reyes says. Flats include sewing and finishing techniques, and measurements. To create the flats, a dress designer needs to be familiar with fabrics and their characteristics.

Reyes wanted her fabric cut on the bias, meaning cut at a diagonal across the weave. This required a jaw-dropping 35 yards of silk satin organza, purchased from her New York supplier. "Silk is a high-end choice," Reyes says. "It would have to be something cheaper, like polyester, if someone bought it off the rack."

Reyes took her body measurements and patterned the basic silhouette. She had a fitting, with base Haroform material for the bodice. She let the design germinate, adding a dip to the back of the bodice, lengthening the train, perfecting the fit. Then she began building the dress.

"Some parts have to be draped, formal dresses prom formal dresses prom others have to be patterned. The fabric is cut and sewn. It's like a sculpture," Reyes says.

Reyes' dressmaker created the layers, making the bottom half first, building on top of it, sale formal dresses arranging and adjusting the dress at fittings. "I had to consider, can I sit and dance in it?" Reyes says.

When complete, the ultra-soft wedding dress wedding dress had the smoothness of silk, and conveyed beauty and romance. The cream-colored roses on Reyes' moodboard had bloomed into a masterpiece. A finishing touch was a floppy ivory-colored sash on the bottom of the bodice. For the reception, Reyes switched it out for a black sash that matched her Badgley Mischka black satin pumps.

Reyes also designed flowing silk dresses for her bridesmaids . Each had a cascade in the front to incorporate the layered rose petal feeling of the bridal gown bridal gown . The bridesmaids' flowers complemented their dresses. "The dress colors were violet and magenta and eggplant and fuchsia and pink berry. It was like a gem color spectrum," Reyes says. The bride's bouquet of pink orchids coordinated with the brightly colored bridesmaid dresses . A floral feather crowned Reyes' updo.

Reyes began designing the bridesmaid dresses bridesmaid dresses about two months after starting on her wedding dress. She trusted the seamstress for her collection to sew her bridal gown, which she did over eight months. Reyes says, "She does beautiful work. It's really important, when you try to create something like this, that the person carry out your vision."