Ask Style: What's Up with Bridesmaids in White?

What's the deal with brides like Kim Kardashian and Kate Middleton having their bridesmaids wear white? I thought only the bride was supposed to wear white, won't that just make her blend in on her big day?
—Tiffany, via the Ask Style inbox

When it comes to fashion rules it's a biggie. Unless you want to risk your life at the hands of a very angry Bridezilla, you know not to wear white to a wedding under any circumstance. So what's up with the famous K's—one who reigns over England and another over reality TV—outfitting their bridal party in white? It's kind of a funny story, and to get to the bottom of it we chatted up wedding planner extraordinaire, Cassandra Santor.

It turns out the monochromatic trend is a very old tradition. Santor explains, "The historic reason behind the bridal party wearing the same color is to shield the bride-to-be from any evil spirits. If the spirits could not decipher who the bride was, no ill fate would befall her." Of course! An old game of confuse the spirits!

 But really? We're not quite convinced Kim Kardashian was literally concerned with spirits and ghosts. That is unless it's the spirit of sex tapes past!

Bad jokes aside, we want to know what's really going on here. Why would Kate Middleton allow herself to be almost trumped by gorgeous sis Pippa in a white gown?

Santor has an explanation, "Royalty is royalty, and the queen often dictates what can be worn to events that she attends," not to mention that, "Most royal bridal parties include young girls and they are dressed in similar material as the bride. Pippa wore white to keep with the royal bridal party." Now that makes sense.

As for the new Mrs. Humphries, "she may have taken a nod from Kate & Will and adopted the trend." And if she wasn't being a copy-Kate, we suspect it had something to do with the newlywed's desire to have all the guests (bridal party or not) match the black and white theme of the evening. Hey, if we were dropping $20 million on a party, we might want everyone to look color coordinated too.

As for your own wedding guest wardrobe, it's best to, "Steer clear of white unless the couple specifically asked you to, out of courtesy," advises the wedding expert. Until the white wedding attire trend sweeps the country, it's best to just toe the line. Case closed!

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