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So many brides are on a tight budget in these tough economic times. However, buying a quality wedding gown without breaking the bank is easier than ever with a plethora of designers geared toward the budget bride. Maggie Sottero wedding dress designs tops this list with her vast array of stunning wedding gowns at super affordable prices. Dresses start at $500 and can go up to $1700. When you see the intricate detailing and signature fit of these gowns, it is quite the bargain!

According to the Maggie website; “Maggie Sottero’s mission is to make dreams a reality for every bride by delivering innovative designs, superior quality and best-in-class service.” Maggie Sottero has won numerous awards and is consider a leader in the bridal industry.

Maggie Sottero trends

The original Maggie Sottero line can be identified by its gorgeous embellishments, fabulous detailing, and sumptuous fabrics. There are so many to choose from, and the line just keeps growing. While shopping look for trends such as handmade scattered flowers, dramatic draping, Swarovski crystals, beaded belt waistlines, raw edges, structured folds, and so much more.

The silhouettes are plentiful, with an emphasis on fitted gowns. There are many mermaid styes, A-lines, sheath, empire and ballgowns. The variety of necklines and bodices is endless. No matter what style you want, Maggie will have it, including, strapless, sweetheart, halter, one-shoulder, sleeved, cap sleeved, and crumb-catcher tops, to name just a few.

Destinations by Maggie Sottero

Maggie is also very well known for her Destinations wedding gown collection. It is among the most popular of its kind, including lines from top designers that are typically much more expensive. Currently, there are 31 Destinations gowns from which to choose. They come in an array of styles, silhouettes and fabrics. Trends you will find include strapless slim lines, lots of one-shoulder looks, ankle-length ball gowns, sheer short sleeves, strapless dresses and more.

The big difference between Maggie’s signature line and the Destinations line is the beading and embellishment. The Destinations line offers a cleaner look with less bling. Instead, embellishments are in the form of floral bouquet touches, draping, ruching, flutter necklines and more. Don’t worry if you do want some bling for your destination gown—some of the styles have beading, just not heavily done. Look for pearls, rhinestones and Swarovski crystals as accents.

The Destinations collection is also perfect for the Greek Goddess bride and Romantic bride. The wedding dresses would also work for many casual venues, such as garden weddings or small weddings. Thanks to Maggie’s style and expertise, these dresses are truly versatile.

If you’re lucky enough to own silk shirts or a pair of silk gloves, then you know how wonderful the fabric feels. You probably also know how fragile and easily-damaged it can be. If you want to protect your silk garments so that they last a lifetime, then follow these simple tips.

1. Don’t hang up silk shirts – especially not if you’re storing them for a long time. Silk loses its shape easily, and the last thing you want is hanger indents on the shoulders.
2. Save your silk gloves for special occasions. Carrying bags or spending time out in the rain while wearing silk gloves is a quick way to ruin them.
3. Fold silk garments gently, and keep them in a roomy drawer that is lined with tissue paper. There’s nothing worse than pulling your silk scarf out of the sock drawer to find it wrinkled, or worse, to hear it tear as it snags on a rough part of the drawer.
4. Take the time to get perspiration pads sewn into all your silk shirts. The cost is minimal, and it will add years to your shirt’s life.
5. Read the care instructions on your silk gloves. They may have been treated with something to keep the dye in. If that’s the case, hand washing them could be out of the question.
6. If you do decide to hand wash your silk shirts or silk gloves, then do not soak them. As with most natural fibres, silk loses its colour quite quickly.
7. Do not ever tumble dry silk garments. If you want to make them dry more quickly, pat them dry with a towel, and then iron them for a couple of seconds on the absolute lowest setting.
8. Take care to choose mild soaps when washing silk garments. If a soap does not specify that it can be used to wash silk, then it probably isn’t suitable for that use.
9. Never wring silk. Also, don’t hang it up to dry. Lay it between towels, blot it dry, then leave it out flat for a few hours to finish drying.
10. If all else fails, pay for your silk shirts and silk gloves to get cleaned by a professional. Some hardwearing fabrics can survive multiple home-cleaning attempts with various chemicals and home remedies, but silk isn’t one of those materials.

Your silk shirts and silk gloves were a big investment, and they’re worth looking after. It may sound like silk is a big hassle to take care of, but once you get into the routine of gently folding your silk shirts and making sure that your silk gloves don’t get scrunched up in your bag, you’ll find that you learn to love the way silk feels on your skin.

Silk garments have a timeless appeal that makes them suitable for almost any occasion. If you take good care of your silk shirts and your silk gloves, you’ll find they last a lifetime.