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The post Elegant Hints & Hacks for a Beautifully Modest Quinceanera Gown first appeared on Q By DaVinci Blog.
]]>The thing that separates a Quinceanera gown from other clothing—even prom and bridal gowns—is that the skirt is traditionally very full. Therefore, by its very nature, a Quince skirt is modest enough for most everyone’s standards. The tricky part is the bodice. Also, depending on how much you want to cover—and how long you want to stay covered—your options will vary.
One of the very first things you can do is to choose a neckline that’s more modest. Pick a gown with a higher neck, a bodice that’s completely covered in lace or illusion, or if the dress is strapless, choose one with a “straight-across” neckline like this:
This dress is a perfect example of a straight-across bodice that comes up higher than other strapless designs. The back of the bodice also doesn’t dip down as much.
Check this out: All of these dresses have a straight-across bodice! Strapless & Sweet: Modest Quinceanera Gowns with a Straight-Across Bodice
If what you’re looking for is modesty for your ceremony only, then that’s pretty easy. Just wear one or a combination of these accessories:
A shrug or capelet can be worn the entire day, and this is an accessory you can keep and wear with other dressy outfits for years. They go best with strapless gowns and dresses with spaghetti straps. Here are two beautiful options. The first is definitely one to buy ready-made, but the second is easier to make in fabric to match or contrast with your gown:
If you want truly full coverage, then choose a dress with a bodice and sleeves made of lace. Or just go back to the jacket or bolero idea and wear it the entire day.
If everything about the dress is gorgeous and perfect, except the neckline dips too low—add what’s called a “modesty panel.”
For a formal dress like a Quinceanera gown, you’ll want the panel to be made of matching fabric or lace, but the basic idea is to “close the gap” between the deep-cut cleavage. Pretty much every gown on the rack with a V-neckline can be made more modest with a bit of lace. This is one of our wedding dresses that’s constructed using exactly this technique with a bit of lace between the deep V-neck:
And here’s one of our Quinceanera gowns with the same idea, but the V is made of gorgeous pleated fabric to match the dress!
We hope these hints and hacks will help you wear that stunning dress you fell in love with but that just needs a little adjusting. We know strapless Quince gowns really are stunning, so we have an entire blog dedicated just to our dresses with what’s called a “straight-across bodice.”
Check out these dresses, all strapless but with a nice, high, straight-across bodice that just might make everybody happy right from the start!
Strapless & Sweet: Modest Quinceanera Gowns with a Straight-Across Bodice
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]]>The post 6 Meaningful Gifts for Your Quinceañera first appeared on Q By DaVinci Blog.
]]>This can be as simple as a cross or a small crucifix, or a medal of the patron saint of the Quinceanera related to her name. Other appropriate choices include a medal of Our Lady of Guadalupe or Our Lady of Fatima. Often these necklaces are on a simple chain, but they can be combined with semi-precious stones—like the one above that comes in her birthstone—or a color to go with the color of her Quinceanera celebration.
The Bible is considered by many to be a valuable spiritual tool. For a Quinceanera, choose a Bible perhaps in a feminine color such as pink or purple, or light blue or white, and have it personalized with her name or initials.
Tip: You can ask the family which translation they prefer, or buy one of the many Bibles available specifically for teens. Here are some ideas for different translations, all approved by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops:
Rosaries come in all sizes and are made with all manner of stones. It all depends on personal taste and budget, but a rosary is something that will be kept and treasured always.
You can get a simple rosary with beads like the one shown above—which is of particular significance because it comes from Jerusalem. Or if the Quinceanera girl is particularly artistic, she might like something different like an artisan rosary:
Mantillas are a beautiful accessory and are making a comeback. They’re a devotional piece and are worn by women to show their reverence to God during the Mass. They can be white, black, pastel, have metallic lace or edging, and can either be short enough just to cover the head like this French style mantilla:
Or long like this traditional Spanish mantilla shawl:
Both of these stunning mantillas are available from Veils by Lily: https://www.veilsbylily.com/
Rosary bracelets that are very simple—and are meant to be used as a rosary—can be found in most religious stores. However a bracelet like this one—made from a rosary and incorporating ruby and aqua crystals and creamy freshwater pearls—is a stunning investment piece that will be worn for years.
It’s available here: http://www.olacathedralgifts.com/rubycrystalbracelet.aspx
Another beautiful idea is this bracelet that incorporates prompts in order to pray Psalm 23 (“The Lord is my shepherd…”):
We found this particular bracelet available from two different sources:
In order to receive gifts that you really want, it’s important to let people now your tastes and preferences. The easiest way to do that is to set up a gift registry. Here’s a helpful blog with information on how—and why—to have a registry: 7 Important Reasons to Have a Quinceanera Gift Registry
You also might find yourself explaining your Quinceanera to those who aren’t familiar with the customs. This is a great article for them to read: https://qbydavinci.com/blog/quinceanera-q-a-a-primer-for-your-non-latino-friends/
The post 6 Meaningful Gifts for Your Quinceañera first appeared on Q By DaVinci Blog.
]]>The post 10 Utterly Original Winter Quinceanera Bouquets first appeared on Q By DaVinci Blog.
]]>There are some gorgeous seasonal blooms and non-floral items that only work in the winter. Pine cones, evergreens, poinsettias—all of these will give your bouquet a distinctive look. And we have 3 ideas for you that don’t require expensive roses or other flowers!
2. DIY Ribbon Flowers
There are few things softer and more feminine than flowers, and those made of ribbon won’t wilt and fall apart. It’s even more fun to make them yourself. We’ve rounded up 3 different tutorials, each one a little different, so you can play around and see which one—or ones—you like best.
The best thing about a crystal bouquet is that you can keep it super simple with dazzling clear crystals:
Or add a touch of color:
This is a stunning bouquet and easy to make, too! Here’s the super-simple tutorial: http://www.nbeads.com/article-diy-pearl-bouquet-722.html
Skip the traditional flowers and choose feathers, maybe with a few crystals thrown in. And again, you can go all dazzling white, or use a stunning color that goes with your theme.
Bouquets made of vintage pins are all the rage. You can raid thrift shops, flea markets, and even the cheap jewelry bin at your favorite dollar store. Make the bouquet as colorful or focused as you like.
Here is just about the easiest brooch bouquet tutorial we’ve seen—that uses a styrofoam ball to hold everything together! http://www.thestonybrookhouse.com/2015/10/how-to-make-beautiful-brooch-bouquet.html
If you still want fresh flowers—or simple silk flowers—but also want a little sparkle, ask your florist to put crystals in the throats of the blooms and maybe a few sprays of crystals in the bouquet itself.
These three sweet bouquets have it all! One incorporates satin flowers, crystals, pearls and delicate satin bows. What could be more feminine?! The second combines the textures of pine cones and berries plus the bling of brooches. And the third is the ultimate eco-friendly recycled wonder and includes everything from book pages to—believe it or not—toilet paper rolls!
This site (which is where we found the above bouquet!) has dozens of eco-friendly and affordable designs: https://www.ecoflower.com/
If you’d like a little touch of fresh florals but are looking for something more creative, check out these two bouquets.
Care to try your hand at paper skills? Origami isn’t as complicated as it looks once you learn the patterns. And you can make a bouquet using just about any kind of paper you want—solid color, sheet music, wallpaper border—you name it!
Here’s a tutorial with 40 different origami flowers of all different difficulty levels: http://www.cuded.com/2015/04/40-origami-flowers-you-can-do/
No matter which bouquet you choose, these striking creations will for sure give you some ideas for the most personal and creative winter Quinceanera bouquet ever!
For ideas for gorgeous dresses to go with these knockout bouquets, check out our holiday Quinceanera dress blog:
7 Scrumptious Holiday Theme Quinceanera Gowns
We’ve also got a blog on how to use classic traditions and decorations for your holiday Quince. Check it out here:
15 Ways to Use Traditions & Decor for Your Holiday Quince
The post 10 Utterly Original Winter Quinceanera Bouquets first appeared on Q By DaVinci Blog.
]]>The post Dare to be Different: 15 Quinceanera Investment Accessories! first appeared on Q By DaVinci Blog.
]]>When it comes to your Quinceanera hair accessories, think “simple” and “understated.” Holiday parties, fancy dates, prom, weddings—any chance you have to really dress up, these quality accessories will make look beautiful and will last for years.
We know bling’s the thing when it comes to dressing for your Quince, but why not ask for gifts that will last more than one night or one season? Especially with stackable rings and small earrings, you can wear more than one at a time if you have double-pieced ears.
When you’re choosing Quince clothing accessories, think warm—think classic—think “These will last a l-o-n-g time!” Especially when it comes to your Quince dress, buy a two-piece convertible gown and make sure the skirt either has no hoop, the hoop can be removed, or the skirt can be switched out. Then you can wear it for prom, homecoming, holliday parties, even an ultra-dressy wedding.
For a truly versatile collection of 2-piece and convertible dresses, check out our Mix & Match line:
The post Dare to be Different: 15 Quinceanera Investment Accessories! first appeared on Q By DaVinci Blog.
]]>The post Your 2016 Quinceanera Guide: 5 Ways to Accessorize Your Dress first appeared on Q By DaVinci Blog.
]]>You’ll also want to add a healthy dose of your own personality to your look and creative accessories are the perfect way to show your guests who you are. So here are some tips to keep in mind as you plan your perfect Quinceanera accessories.
There are a few fashion rules to follow when it comes to mixing and matching colors in an outfit. First of all, there’s color. The last thing you want to do is have any of your accessories clash with your dress, so here are three general guidelines:
First decide whether you want to match all your outfit colors, or if you want some contrast. If you want your accessories to match, then the simplest thing to do is to buy dyeable items. Then you’re all set, not just with color, but with the design. Why? Shoes and handbags that are meant to be dyed are already fairly streamlined to make the coloring process easier. Also, if your dress is a solid color in a classic hue—red, blue, yellow, purple, and certain greens—you’ll probably find some ready-made accessories to match.
If your Quinceanera gown is two-toned, either because your gown is made of two different solid colors (like the dress in the middle photo above) or the fabrics are mixed (like the purple and red skirt on the right) or then choose one of those colors for your shoes and bag.
A two-toned solid color dress is relatively simple to accessorize. You just choose which color you want to match. For instance, for the dress shown above, you could choose either dark red shoes and bag, or you could go with dyed pieces in the deep gold of the skirt, or a gold metallic. For the dress on the right, you can either match the most prominent color—in this case, purple—or bring out the secondary color by choosing a soft red.
Just about any Quinceanera dress will look beautiful with metallic tone accessories, and they’re relatively easy to find these days. Gold and silver are classic, but you can also highlight with bronze, copper, and iridescent or pearly white.
If you want your accessories to contrast with your solid color gown, take a cue from the color wheel and choose pieces either in the complementary color—the one directly across—or the nearest color to the left or the right. This handy chart will help you choose without clashing:
Here are two examples:
Now, if you want to be really edgy, especially if you plan to wear a more dramatic gown, go with black. Keep in mind, though…
You’re no longer a little girl, but you’re still a young lady, so make sure everything has a youthful touch. If you want to rock black accessories, then make sure your handbag has a playful edge, like lace or ribbons, and choose shoes in a slightly younger style, perhaps strappy little Mary Janes or pumps that have tiny feminine bows for accent.
When it comes to hair accessories, your options are just about endless. Do keep one thing in mind, though: If you’re planning to have a tiara ceremony, make sure your hair decorations either are compatible and can be worn with the tiara or can be easily removed to make room for your tiara. So let’s talk about that first.
When it comes to removable hair accents, the only hard and fast rule is that it doesn’t totally undo your hairdo when you take it out. You want it to stay in place with only a couple of bobby pins or clips. A headband with only short teeth and with no little combs will work fine, and so will a wreath.
When you go shopping for this kind of hairpiece, put your hair up in a casual style so you can try slipping the piece on and off to make sure it stays in place with no more than two pins or clips and doesn’t pull or tug at your hair when you take it off.
The style, though, is all up to you and your dress. A headband will work with almost any dress. A wreath is lovely for a fairytale ball gown with lots of tulle or lace.
The headpiece shown on the right is a dramatic tocado. It’s a new twist on the traditional beauty queen tiara. There are different styles of tocados that you can either wear instead of a tiara or trade out for a traditional tiara.
This particular tocado tiara is available here: http://www.quinceaneramall.com/products/head-tocado-tiara-t27.html
Hair combs and clips can serve several purposes. They can provide a simple accent to a lovely hairdo, make a grand statement, or set a mood. There are a lot of options these days such as hair charms, rhinestone hair bows, and feathered combs. If you love a vintage look—or you plan to be more daring and wear either a black dress or go for black accessories—look for classic pearls or geometric art deco combs and clips.
Just as the only rule for a removable hairpiece is that it doesn’t pull the hairdo apart, the only rule for a hair decoration that you want to leave in is that it doesn’t compete with your tiara. So if you can, either take your actual tiara with you when you go shopping or pick up an inexpensive one at a party supply store just to get a feel for the final look.
Choosing just the right jewelry for your Quinceanera look can be daunting, so here are a few suggestions to help you get started:
While some of your jewelry—earrings and perhaps a Quinceanera ring—will be given to you as gifts, there’s other jewelry to consider as well. Necklaces and bracelets can make a statement, that you’re bold, for instance, or classic, or artistic. You also want your jewelry to fit with the theme of your party. A fairytale Quinceanera calls for delicate jewelry while a masquerade ball or a bold Mexican theme calls for more dramatic pieces.
Unless your family specifically wants to choose the style of your ceremonial earrings, you have the option of selecting a jewelry set. You can go with traditional designs from a Quinceanera site, or do your own mix ‘n match with either costume jewelry or jewelry store accessories perhaps with gemstones in a color that goes with your theme.
The most important thing to keep in mind when choosing jewelry—especially when it comes to bold statement pieces—is not to go overboard. You want to set off your dress, not compete with it. You also want to flatter your face and hairstyle, not overwhelm.
Also, know that wearing a necklace and bracelet is not a requirement. If you have a dramatic dress with either a high neckline, or a strapless dress, or an off the shoulder gown, you can let your earrings be the focal point. A high neckline would be lovely with oversized diamond, pearl or CZ studs while dramatic chandelier earrings are perfect with strapless or off the shoulder.
Your choice of jewelry depends on both your taste and what your family wants to give you, so talk to them to see what they have in mind, and also let them know your wishes.
Check out this link: http://www.hairworldmag.com/match-earrings-hairstyle/
There are a few guidelines for choosing the most flattering earrings, and one of those is face shape. If your face is oval, go for teardrop or dangling oval earrings that will complement the natural shape of your face. If your face is rounder, those same earring styles will elongate your face, which is fine if it suits your taste. Otherwise, choose more angular designs that will balance the softness of your jawline.
If you have a heart-shaped face, also consider elongated lines and curves. Dangle, teardrop, and chandelier styles tend to be most flattering. Lastly, if you have a narrow face, any earrings that don’t dangle—a style perhaps on the order of oversized vintage clip earrings—are ideal.
As for color, again, you just need to choose whether you want an accent color for your jewelry, or a monochrome matched look with colored stones, or if you want to stick to solid metallics like white or yellow gold pieces, perhaps with pearls or clear crystals.
You might think that since you’ll be wearing a long gown, it might not matter so much, but the right pair of shoes can really make all the difference. And more than just the ritual of changing shoes from flats to heels, the right shoes will make you feel both confident and more beautiful.
When it comes to choosing shoes, it’s tempting to focus on your brand new high heels. But the little flats you’ll wear to the Mass and at the beginning of the reception program are just as important, so let’s talk about some different choices.
You can always wear plain flats to match the color of your gown. Tieks ballet flats come in so many solid colors plus metallics and prints, you’ll probably find a pair in the exact color you want and not have to change a thing!
Important Note: Tieks are not inexpensive little flats—they’re an “investment shoe.” However, if you pick the right color, that investment will last for years! If nothing else, browsing the Tieks site will give you some ideas for colors to look for in a less expensive brand.
Here’s a link for Tieks: http://tieks.com/boutiek/
If your dress and theme are a fairytale fantasy, consider ballet flats with jewel or lace embellishments and ankle ribbons. You can either buy dressy ballet type shoes in a bridal department or make your own. Just purchase a ballet flat in the color you want, glue on lace or pearls or whatever embellishment you like, then stitch a ribbon to the back of the heel.
Fun tip: If you want to learn how to tie ribbons like a ballerina, watch this charming video demonstrated by a little girl. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAL1nmvK55A
A third option that’s trending now is to wear Converse or Converse-style sneakers as your flat shoes. You can buy Converse knockoffs in a rainbow of colors and in some glitter shades. But you can also make your own jeweled sneakers, and if you want, you can match them to your heels. (Keep reading!)
When choosing your heels, the number one rule is comfort! You’ll be walking in them literally for hours and dancing in them, too. Other than that, the options are limitless.
One thing you might want to keep in mind, especially if your dad or one of your chambelanes will help you into your shoes, is the style. Shoes with a lot of buckles or buttons are lovely, but they can be difficult for a guy to fasten. Pumps are easy to slip into, but make sure you can dance without slipping out of them! If you want a little strap for security, Mary Janes, t-straps and single ankle strap shoes come in a multitude of dressy styles and only have one buckle to fasten so your gentleman helper won’t struggle too much.
Use the color guidelines in the first section to help you pick the shade that best matches or complements your dress. One very practical option is to choose a neutral color or a classic dress shoe color so that you can wear your Quinceanera shoes again anytime you want. Good choices for wear-again are black, white, nude or taupe, and also any neutral metallic like gold, silver, bronze or pewter. Trendy red soles, made popular by Louboutin, are available in knockoff styles. It’s also fashionable to paint the soles to match your color scheme.
How to bling out high heels with crystals and how to paint the soles: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltclTsu-e-8
How to add crystals to Converse sneakers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXq9NDuvwA8
http://qbydavinci.com/product-details.php?i=80182
There are so many more ideas than we have time to cover here, but we’ll leave you with two last words of advice:
In the end, it’s your day, so go as lavish or as simple as you wish. Just remember to add at least one or two touches of you to your beautiful Quinceanera look!
Tip: For help finding the perfect Quinceanera gown with less stress and hassle, check out our blog: http://qbydavinci.com/blog/8-tips-for-hassle-free-quinceanera-dress-shopping/
The post Your 2016 Quinceanera Guide: 5 Ways to Accessorize Your Dress first appeared on Q By DaVinci Blog.
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