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The idea of textile patterns of the Renaissance may not get your blood boiling, but there’s no denying that the current exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, “Fashion and Virtue: Textile Patterns and the Print Revolution, 1520–1620,” is a visual feast. Staged throughout the museum’s circular Robert Lehman wing, the show starts off with 16th-century prints and fabrics and ends triumphantly on sparkling Yves Saint Laurent, Giorgio di Sant’Angelo, and Todd Oldham pieces from the 20th century, proving that pattern has been a great unifier across places, genres, and centuries of fashion.

On Friday evening, Oldham was on hand to discuss his own love affair with archival patterns and fabrics with curator Femke Speelberg and a group of guests. “The DNA between them all is so obvious, even in the dress that I made, in proximity to this exquisite Russian apron from the 1800s,” he said, motioning to a glittering minidress of his design from the ’90s paired with traditional Russian garb from a century earlier. “When you look at those two pieces together, the Russian dress from the 1800s looks like it could be the contemporary dress, and my dress looks much, much older, but they do look very closely in the way we bifurcated the upper parts of the dress and where we set motifs or volumes. They’re practically identical.” The same could be said for a traditional Nordic Fair Isle sweater, which was paired with a ’70s iteration from Yves Saint Laurent, but could also stand against the cropped versions shown in Raf Simons’s final Dior collection this October.

The proliferation of cross-cultural borrowing of pattern and print is nothing too new, Speelberg’s exhibition points out. Thanks to the discovery of the printing press in the 15th century, textile pattern books became popular fodder by the 1530s, allowing ideas to be carried from Italy to France to the Germanic Northern states throughout the Renaissance. The Renaissance printing boom was essentially the Instagram of its day, bringing new imagery into homes far and wide and inspiring a new generation of textile designers. The only thing to remember at the Met exhibit: Don’t double-tap the art.Read more at:prom dresses | evening dresses

THERE were tears amid the smiles when cancer sufferer Annalise Scott held her wedding day at James Cook University Hospital.

The bride is a cancer patient at the Middlesbrough hospital's ward 14 and her wedding, the first ever held at the Trinity Holistic Centre, a support centre in the hospital grounds, was organised in just 24 hours and held last week.

She married Kev Wilson on his 52nd birthday wearing an ivory gown donated by Laura Day bridal and other help came from the children at Playdays nursery who made paper hearts for decoration.

Annalise, 45, of Redcar, thanked staff and volunteers across the hospital and support centres who donated items such as fairy lights, silver bells, flowers, plants and food. Both the centre and the cancer ward were decorated for the special day.

“It has been an amazing day and I cannot thank the staff from ward 14 enough, for everything they have done for us and for looking after me,” she said. "Also thanks to the Trinity Holistic Centre staff and everyone who has helped make our wedding day so special. All of the staff were so welcoming and helpful throughout the whole day. We really can’t thank them enough."

Heather McLean, business manager at the centre, which requires about £330,000 in charitable donations every year to keep it going, said it was the first time the centre had been asked to perform a wedding, which was conducted by the hospital chaplain.

She added it was “heart-warming” to see the way people rallied round to make the bride’s day so special.

“It was a privilege to be part of this lovely couple’s special day and to see the way so many volunteers just pulled together and went out of their way to help,” she said.

“This included people who had never even met Annalise or Kevin.

“We had 22 hours’ notice, but in that time, Annalise could have had three wedding dresses as people brought different ones in.

“People were donating random bits and pieces to decorate the centre, and we thought it might look a bit eclectic – but it looked beautiful.”

Kind volunteers turned hairstylists and beauticians for the day, giving Annalise and other patients on Ward 14 a makeover especially for the ceremony.

Staff at the Holistic Centre, which provides complementary therapies for cancer sufferers, turned the centre into a bespoke wedding venue, complete with a ceremony arch, flowers, balloons, lights and wedding buffet.

Allsorts cake makers and decorators donated a wedding cake, Flower Pot florists provided the flowers and 1st Stop Party Shop sent balloons.Read more at:http://www.marieprom.co.uk/backless-prom-dresses

When choosing your ensemble, it is important to keep your location and the climate in mind. A tropical locale or beach wedding is the desired destination for many contemporary brides. If this is your calling then you should opt for lightweight fabrics that pack well and won't easily wrinkle. Avoid excessive embroidery that is often done with metallic threads and beads, and heavyweight fabrics like banarasi and dupion. Instead, go for breezy wrinkle-resisters such as silk tulle, organza, chiffon, Charmeuse, georgette or light laces.

You'll also want to forego trailing doppattas or sari ends that may blow around in ocean breezes, and choose to wear a light dress instead. Whatever dress style you select should be comfortable and flatter your figure. Sheaths, mermaids, A-lines with layers of sheer ruffles are all appropriate when made with the right fabric. You want to look sharp but also show your curves. You can also invest in a classic full length with high slits or low back which will make you look like a diva. A sari can also be worn, especially ones that are sheer and soft which will accentuate your body nicely, requiring very little accessories, only a killer blouse. For a more modern twist, go for a headpiece with floral designs.

Have fun making a strong style statement with your accessories. A dramatic bead necklace or dangling pearl earrings will glam up a simple yet beautifully tailoured dress. Or choose tropical hues for your jewellery and wear bright turquoise or coral accents. Your headpiece, whether hair combs, a tiara or fresh flowers in your hair, should complement your dress or sari and add to your personal style. Also, make sure your shoes allow you to walk on sand or uneven ground – consider wearing low-heeled wedges, sandals, or even kitten heels if you want a bit of lift. You should never settle for predictable styles or done to death colour schemes. Stick to fresh summery tones and colours that echo the landscape around you.

GARDEN WEDDINGS: FOR THE COUNTRY BRIDE

Today brides like an outdoor wedding, as they are fun and engaging. The brightness of the sun and the fragrance of the environment all work for you and add to the wedding ambience. Garden weddings are done with the concept of rustic charm being the predominant theme. Twigs, wild flowers, creepers and terrains of gardens just make the wedding very nature-friendly. The clothes you wear must also reflect the theme, with floral embroidery and accessories like hair pins of roses and peonies, or brooches of beautiful birds. Avoid wearing anything too shiny or glittery and make your look as close to natural and neutral as possible. You should also go with chiffon, Charmeuse or even fine cotton. Wear flats or low-heeled shoes as gardens are not even. Finally, keep to muted colours as the environment will be quite vibrant with greens and warm floral tones.

CITY WEDDINGS: FOR THE MODERN BRIDE

If you're planning a city wedding you have a myriad of options available to you. This wedding season, shun the opulent big ballroom and instead consider a sassy rooftop venue that will either have the cityscape or a park view. You can look very classy in a trailing mermaid-style layered lehenga ensemble or a shift-style pant suit that is classic yet has a very 'today versus yesterday' look. For the modern bride, always consider the weather when choosing your attire. If you wish to wear a sari and the groom to wear a sherwani or a tuxedo in the heat it can not only be inconvenient but also very uncomfortable, so keep it very simple. Only pick out some bridal accessories.

Finally, remember that you have to be twice as organised if you are planning a destination wedding. If you are that bride who wants to get every little detail done, make one fat to-do list.

Do your research, set up appointments and visualise what you want before you arrive at your destination.

TRADITIONAL WEDDINGS: FOR EVERY BRIDE

You may want a traditional wedding as the rituals are very beautiful and aimed at pampering you. You will wear classic heirloom ornaments and get showered with saris and presents. This theme is very special for the bride-to-be. With days to go, there are rejuvenating activities that are aimed at making you look luminous with a radiant glow for your wedding day. You will work towards flawless skin with turmeric and oil that compliment your jewel-toned saris in pink, fuchsia, maroon or red. Banarasi saris are probably the most traditional and red is the colour that is believed to be the most auspicious for the occasion. White ground with a red border, or maroon ground with a pink border, is a good colour scheme but most brides prefer to wear a red sari with gold zari border with butis on the ground.

The Bengali bride loves to be very decorative, with painted altas on her hands feet or ornamental henna that is applied with very complex patterns. For the traditional bride, gold was compulsory in the past, but silver is becoming increasingly popular now. Shades of red for lipstick are widely liked but consider trying a natural rose pink or a light plum that will make your lips look fuller.

HAIRSTYLES AND MAKE UP

When the time comes for your hair you should stick to a low bun decorated with flowers, and of course a Bengali bride is incomplete without her tiara. It must be a remnant of the British Raj. The intricate design on the forehead using Chondon sandal wood, a special fragrant wood paste, gives a regional identity, a look with divine innocence.Read more at:http://www.marieprom.co.uk/cheap-prom-dresses