Jan 3, 2002/ FWD/ --- It's hard enough to find the perfect gloves to match your winter coat, or a wrap that matches it just right.

But try finding gloves and a veil to match your wedding dress and you're dealing with stress of an entirely other order.

That's where Carolina Amato comes in. Having designed gloves for a living for over 20 years, Amato turned her attention to brides some six years ago after realizing a need for "12 months a year, 100-percent commitment" to the bridal sector.

Amato, who is placed in stores throughout the country and also has a user-friendly website, www.carolinaamato.com, offers not only gloves but also headpieces and veils, and will soon offer handbags and shawls as well.

The idea is to provide an integrated look - all of Amato's accessories are made to match - with a one-stop shopping approach.

But Amato is about more than convenience. Her styles, which she classifies as "classic and timeless," fit the many moods of today's brides. And as more brides now are opting for subtle looks, as opposed to the fairytale princesses who ruled the aisles in years past, Amato has designed her pieces accordingly.

"If a girl is buying a simple dress, she's looking for accessories to make it her own," she notes. To that end, Amato likes to offer a mix of interesting textures to compliment the dresses.

And while she says that her silk glove with a small wrist details is a best seller, Amato caters to brides of all tastes, sizes and price ranges. Her company has recently been given the license to do gloves for the Alfred Angelo line at a more moderate price point (Amato's own designs range from very expensive - about $300 - to moderate themselves).

It seems that the real secret to Amato's success - or at least its hidden perk - is that the designer and her team keep in close contact with brides-to-be.

Amato and her sales manager make a point of reading and responding to emails on a daily basis - that's how they find out what brides want, what questions they have, and what weddings are really all about these days.

Her company is growing and meeting the needs of more and more brides everyday, but that morning ritual, says Amato, "is the highlight of our day."