Choosing a bridesmaids dress

This season's bridesmaids dresses are elegant and sophisticated, and break away from past trends of bright colors and poofy sleeves. Since you’re bridesmaids are often your closest friends, you might consider inviting them to peruse the latest fashions from these couture houses and others.

According to experts, there are four basic trends: Lots of strapless dresses for a barer look, color, three-quarter length sleeves, and layering of sheer fabric.

Designer Donna Morgan’s collection features a tea length, strapless dress that is very bare, and very graceful. But if you want to cover up when you're in the house of worship, it has a net stole, which is also very pretty. Brides might select this gown for an afternoon wedding, or an evening wedding.

Watters & Watters, a design company based in Dallas, is committed to creating more dresses that aren’t so cutesy. "There really are two directions for bridesmaids' dresses, according to the company’s owner, Maria Price. 'They are either slim and sleek and kind of Audrey Hepburn-like or they are fuller tulle looks reminiscent of Grace Kelly.''

There are so many options available to brides and their attendants today, whether you want your entire party to look alike, the traditional approach, or whether you prefer their attire simply complement each other as well as the bridal gown.

When it comes to color, ''spring is lighter,'' according to Prince. ''We're seeing more pale colors,'' she says, ''more like ready-to-wear.'' Honeydew, sage green and moonlight are just a few of the latest hues from Watters & Watters.

At Dessy Creations, silvery platinum satin dresses with matching stoles are shimmering for the bridal party. Gray and all its lighter, shimmering shades are as popular for the bridal party as they are in ready-to-wear. And if you don't like silver, Dessy's interactive ''color-finder'' will allow you to see any dress in any color with a click of the mouse on www.dessy.com.

The shape of bridesmaids' dresses echo that of bridal gowns, says Prince. ''They're mostly strapless,'' she says, ''or they have a soft, modified V-neckline. Square necklines usually aren't as flattering.''

Watters & Watters' spring collection features elegant simplicity: a pink iridescent sleeveless chiffon dress has a matching chiffon scarf; a honeydew-colored strapless dress with shirring bodice falls into a full-length tulle skirt, also with matching scarf. Other not-so-typical bridesmaids' dresses from Watters & Watters include a white rayon matka two-piece sleeveless top with buttons and loops down the front with a fabric flower pin at the back waist and a slim floor-length skirt.

Soft pink is another favorite hue this spring for the bridal party. Softened up with chiffon, Jim Hjelm's Occasions pink bridesmaid's satin princess dress features a cowl drape neckline another popular detail on dresses this spring.

While most brides still want their wedding party to wear matching dresses, there is room for change. Don't be afraid to set your best friend apart. ''Many brides will want their maid of honor to wear a different dress that coordinates with the other maids,'' says Prince.

Bianchi's Tiamo collection features ''Mix & Match Maids,'' an interchangeable array of dresses for the bridal party that color coordinate, but feature different silhouettes and shapes, ''because no two bridesmaids are exactly alike.''

At Vera Wang Maids, the bridal party can choose from dresses in a variety of silhouettes from halters to strapless to off-the-shoulder shapes all in the same color tones. Buttery mellow-yellow golds are one of the most popular color combinations for bridesmaids.

The rest of the bridal party junior bridesmaids and flower girls follow suit with the bridesmaids, coordinating colors and flowers. But let's face it, the ring bearer and the flowers girls can wear almost anything and upstage the bride.

While the junior bridesmaids often wear dresses that are miniature replicas of the other bridal attendants, the flower girls usually wear more traditional full-skirted dresses that fall to midcalf. In creamy white organza or taffeta, perhaps smocked and trimmed with ribboned sashes and flowers, these dresses are appropriate any time of year, complete with ballet slippers or Mary Janes, white tights and anklets.

When it comes to Mom's wedding attire, there is an incredible selection of evening clothes available in specialty stores or bridal boutiques. However, the mother of the bride or groom does not have to vanish into the background of the bridal party. Instead, an elegant evening dress or cocktail suit, that can be worn again, can express individual personality, as well as complement the fashions of the rest of the wedding party.