Honestly, I think matching outfits are a little silly -- I'd much prefer that my friends' individuality shines thru. Besides, it's easier for different women to find things in their own styles and price ranges (and hopefully something they can use again).

Color: Solid black. Tone-on-tone patterns (like jacquards, brocades) are fine, textures (like slubbed silk, sueded microfibers) were fine. The outfit could have lots of black trim like lace, cording, braid, embroidery, beading, etc., or it could be simple and elegantly unadorned. Just as long as it's all in true black. No charcoal or smoke or off-black.

Sleeves should be wrist-length and at least partially fitted. Straight sleeves are fine, leg o' mutton sleeves are fine, just no angel-wing sleeves. Also, no sheer chiffon or lace sleeves -- the sleeve should be made of the same velvet/velveteen as the rest of the jacket.

Body of the jacket should be at least somewhat fitted -- princess seams are great, darts are great, but nothing boxy or like a blazer (that would look too modern). Length can be anywhere between waist and knee.

Could have any type of collar or no collar. Should button up the front, but could have any number of buttons. Or, if it's buttonless, it could be closed in the center with a pretty broach. No zippers or other very modern closures.

If the jacket has a very low neckline, do wear some kind of blouse underneath. The blouse should be in either solid black or solid white. It can be as fancy as a high-necked Victorian reproduction in white cotton or as simple as a silky black camisole with a jewel neckline.

Length should be at least tea-length (about halfway between knee and ankle), up to floor length. Hem can be plain or handkerchief or petal or whatever you like.

Full or at least slightly full skirt -- A-line, gathered, pleated, trumpet, broomstick, circle skirts, or ruffled skirts are all okay. Just no slinky sheath skirts (again, too modern). If you want to wear a petticoat under it, go for it!

Also, the skirt can be a long, full-skirted dress that you just wear the jacket over.

I really didn't want anyone to worry about getting new shoes or jewelry. Everyone probably has simple black dress shoes or granny boots, so they could wear those. And I wanted everyone to wear their favourite jewelry or wear none at all. No stressing about the little things. Besides, I despise the identical shoes and necklace deal that so many brides force upon their friends. No clones here, please!

I put together a list of sewing patterns that fit this design so people could make their own or have it made for them. Elisa (pictured above) was the only brideswoman to sew part of the outfit herself -- she made a lovely jacket out of black upholstery velvet. It had a pretty curved collar and was cinched in the back with a gold clip, and she wore it over an ivory ruffled blouse.

The other two brideswomen just went shopping. Velvet jackets seem to come back into stores in the fall and early winter (even in California). Department stores like Macy's often have quite a selection, and off-price stores like Ross and Marshalls sometimes have great deals. And everywhere seemed to have full and ballgown skirts around the 1999 holiday season.

Irina and I went shopping around Christmas, and she totally lucked out on her wedding outfit. Her mom found a black velvet jacket in the back of her closet that fit Irina perfectly. Then at Casual Corner, we found a really pretty skirt marked down from $50ish to $19.99. It fit and looked great, so we took it up to the register. The salesperson rung it up, and it was marked down further to a whopping $13.01! Irina already had shoes and jewelry that worked with the outfit, so 13 bucks was the total she spent on her clothes for my wedding.