Vintage attire adds panache

An Yves St. Laurent white jersey gown from the 1970s. A beaded tunic dress right off the Titanic. A mid-century wedding gown that would make Audrey Hepburn swoon.

For the bride who wants a wedding unlike any other, the vintage world is a unique place to shop. Whether you're looking for a fanciful gown right out of Victorian England or you'd rather swing with a Deco flapper dress, vintage retailers are brimming with ideas.

Vintage boutiques and Internet sites provide a plethora of inspiration to the bride and groom. And many contemporary designers offer vintage-inspired gowns that reflect the spirit of a romantic past.

Of course, there are a few precautions to be taken when buying a gently worn gown or tuxedo. Sizing is one of the most important as most Victorians were not quite as tall nor as weighty as contemporary men and women.

"Many turn-of-the century cotton lace and Irish crochet lawn dresses survive and are surprisingly sturdy," says Maria McBride-Mellinger, author of "The Perfect Wedding" (Harper Collins, $42.50). "Silk and tulle dresses are by nature more fragile and may have become brittle with age. Most heirloom dresses need to be reworked to fit contemporary figures, often adding fabric through the back of the dress and refitting the sleeves."

Mellinger, who touts the use of an experienced seamstress when reconfiguring an older gown, suggests reusing part of a gown, if your heart is set on wearing your grandmother's dress that is just a wee bit too small.

Here are some other ways to incorporate a piece of history into your wedding attire:

• Search out different eras of wedding apparel at local vintage stores or

on reliable Internet sites like

www.thefrock.com, www.antiquedress.com,

www.vintagewedding.com and

www.isadoras.com.

• For informal garden weddings or beachfront nuptials, check out Victorian cotton lawn dresses and white satin slips from the 1940s. Vintage lingerie is a great place to browse, too.

• Don't forget the groom. There are plenty of ways to add a little vintage variety in his wedding attire: a dapper double-breasted tuxedo, dinner jacket and vest, even antique cuff links.

• Long after the wedding is over, jewels from the past can add sparkle to your evening wardrobe: beaded purses, feather hats, rhinestone necklaces and earrings, estate pearls, and other accessories.