The WeddingChannel Couture Show held in April in New York City revealed what fall 2010 will hold for wedding gowns as designers continued to waltz down an unabashedly romantic and glamorous aisle with modern brides as their inspiration.

Gowns on display were suffused with striking colors and intricate detailing and many featured eco-friendly materials that exuded elegance. Also for fall, designers are paying homage to Hollywood allure and the unforgettable style of such fashion icons as Grace Kelly and Audrey Hepburn.

Bursts of color — think cocoa, gray, deep rose, petal pink or steely blue — lend a captivating freshness to the traditional white gown, said Jane Heflin, who as director of the WeddingChannel Couture Show has a bird’s-eye view of bridal fashion trends as shown by these up-and-coming designers.

Belts or sashes — thin or wide — are one way to add color to the gown, said designer Charlotte Leung of Augusta Jones, a line known for putting a modern spin on the classic bridal silhouettes worn by such style icons as Hepburn, Kelly, Princess Diana and Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy. “Belts are a key accessory with richly decorated and, in some cases, rather bold beading,” Leung said.

Ecru, lemon and lavender were seen in the flowers and ribbon tails on Toronto-based Adele Wechsler’s gowns. The designer, who is known for her chic and streamlined yet romantic gowns, noted that the colors were not “pastel-y” but true and pretty shades “that have more depth and are complementary to that earthy sort of feel.”

Wechsler, who is committed to environmental awareness and uses fabrics dyed through eco-friendly dyeing processes, recyclable materials and fair-trade manufacturing, introduced gowns in bamboo fabric at the show. “[Bamboo is] very fine,” she said, “and very similar to a rayon or a cotton voile but softer. It has a soft sheen to it.” She also used organic silk and hemp in her collection.

“Our inspiration was old-Hollywood glamour with classic shapes,” said Mindy Chung, VP and national sales manager of Anaheim-based Casablanca Bridal, which features two lines: Casablanca Couture and the lower-priced Casablanca Classic. “These are gowns that you could see Grace Kelly or Audrey Hepburn wearing.”

“Fall 2010 for us is a great collection of classic silhouettes and an emphasis on texture,” said Elizabeth Blankenship of the Nashville-based Ann Frances line. For their fall line, she said she and her twin sister, Mary Blankenship, used such fabrics as duchesse satin, silk organza and tulle to create not only texture but also movement.

Exquisite details — added with a light hand — are prominent in the fall 2010 bridal collections. Ruching, pleating, lace, embroidery and beading create sumptuous texture that is sure to turn heads. French lace, Swarovski crystals and water-seed pearls figure prominently in Casablanca’s gowns.

The Blankenships adorned their fall gowns with intricate fabric peonies, ranunculus and stephanotis. And many designers added feathers to the fabric flowers.

Leung mentioned she was attuned to red-carpet looks. “We look at the range of shapes and styles being shown and get a feel for what happening, and this filters down indirectly into our designs.”

She added that today’s bride is more fashion savvy than ever, partly because of the Internet and its constant coverage of celebrity style.

“She has instant access at her fingertips websites and blogs to do her homework before trying on a single gown,” Leung said.

So, she said, brides today are “incredibly well-informed and probably more fashionable a result. In many ways, their wedding dress has become their ‘red-carpet’ moment.”

— Robin McMacken Special Advertising Sections

Photos from top:

- Old-Hollywood glamour and classic shapes is the thinking behind Casablanca Bridal’s gowns. This gown in a mermaid silhouette features a beaded lace overlay with beaded lace appliqués.

- The WeddingChannel Couture Show’s interest in refinement reflected in this Casablanca Bridal silk shantung gown with its bodice appliqué embellished with crystals and pearls.

- The Georgia ball gown by Ann Frances exemplifies the level of detailing shown on the runway: It is blanketed in hand-formed flowers of tulle and chiffon.

CUSTOM PUBLISHING

This story was edited and designed by the Custom Publications staff of the Los Angeles Times Advertising Department. Questions or comments? Contact Darlene Gunther at 213.237.3133 or e-mail her at darlene.gunther@latimes.com.