bridesmaids' dress shopping today

Two of my bridesmaids are venturing up to New York today, taking time out of their busy schedules to humor me with a scouting/shopping trip for their dresses.

I thought I'd start the day off with some inspiration action. It is very much needed because I feel like I've lost all direction in the bridesmaids dress department- I used to be very firm about wanting the dresses to be short to the knee, detaily {Love pleats or bows or an interesting ruffle or neckline}, texturey fabric:

{I made this here}

But.. I feel like I'm being pushed pulled and prodded in a more formal direction... especially after scouting out some tuxes last weekend for the guys. So... does that have to mean long dresses for the girls? And would that be so terrible?

{I love this chiffon Jim Hjelm choice from KellyV's wedding posted on the Weddingbee boards}

Of course, if I'm going long, I'm going to want some drama:

{a silky long almost ballgowny Watters and Watters number in a chic ambiguous neutral}

{or this PERFECTION of a chiffon dream by Vera Wang... too costy for my party- also posted with more photographic delish detail on iloveyoumuch}

I'm sure we'll come up with some great options today- I can't wait to get started, but I'm surprised how frightened I am... maybe because I'm finally letting these girls in my crazy bride head and dragging them along for the ride... please be patient with me today! hehe...

Also, a question for the world: does short dress mean no classic tux, just a dapper suit? Does classic tux mean gotta-have-a-long dress? Can we request "formal attire" and show off girlies in short dresses down the aisle or does that mean "cocktail attire?" I was loving this modern anything goes motto for a long while, but now it's making my head spin as my brain hits up against the walls of traditional etiquette rules. {I secretly love traditional etiquette rules.}