In Honor of Mother’s Day May 12, 2008

Sadly, most manufactured “Mother of the Bride” dresses are sack-like and unflattering, which is a disservice to the woman wearing it more than anything else, because a wedding day is almost if not more emotional for a mom as her daughter. I understand the urge not to overshadow the bride, but I think my Mom deserves to look fabulous too. I completely accept that we have different styles and that ultimately I want her to pick what makes her happy, but I plan to have her try on more than just floor length pastel chiffon sheaths with matching beaded boleros. I have no idea what we’ll end up with, but here are a few ideas I love...

Badgley Mischka, Diane von Furstenburg, Donna Karan, J Crew, JS Collections

Another Ode to the Nordstrom Catalog May 10, 2008

Every time the Nordstrom catalog shows up I find myself brainstorming different reasons why I might need whatever fabulous things are featured on the shiny pages. It isn’t the most productive occupation in the world, but this time I did manage to scout a few (somewhat) wedding related items.

I think this necklace would make an adorable bridesmaid gift, and at $58 you wouldn’t break the bank either. There are several varieties with messages like “peace”, “love”, “cherish”, and “accomplish great things” if you want to personalize the gift for each girl, although my favorite is wish with the less kitchsy shape.

We’re planning to honeymoon in Greece, and I’m already bursting with excitement although we have plenty of time to wait. At least a year will give me lots of time to conjure up images of sightseeing in Athens, late night dinners in Santorini, and lounging by the pool. A cute cover-up is definitely on my shopping list as well as the perfect bikini which is another of those elusive shopping items.

I have a deep love for Stella McCartney but am far from being able to splurge on her designs, so I was thrilled to see that she is collaborating with Le Sportsac for a line of handbags and luggage. I think the Small Camera Bag would be perfect for toting my new laptop around town, although that would bring the number of bags I own with chains on them to three…this may be a little overboard but I love how they balance an otherwise feminine look. And the purple-gray color is so pretty. Even though this isn’t wedding related I thought it was well worth sharing!

Monique and I meet again May 5, 2008

Somehow in my frenetic weekend schedule I managed to squeeze in a Monique Lhuillier trunk show to try on a few more dresses. Even though I’m mostly decided on my final two contenders it never hurts to exhaust all your options…and I’ve made it a point to do just that. Who doesn’t love trying on dresses?

Since I can never get away from my English major tendencies, let me sum up my experience with an analogy: Monique Lhuillier is to Wedding Dresses as Apple is to Technology. I adore Apple products. They always look adorable and more streamlined than anything else on the market, have relevant advertising with sweet music, and I will put it out there that I’m pretty much addicted to my I-Pod. The issue with Apple is that once you start, it’s hard to go back especially if you’re a sucker for packaging like I am. Of course as Drew very reasonably points out to me, their products cost much more than an equivalent, though less adorable, options do.

The Monique Lhuillier dresses felt the same way to me. Judging on advertising and reputation alone, Monique Lhuillier dresses are top of the line. Her fabric is gorgeous, the details exquisite…I can attest to all of this. However, they do come with an enormous price tag, starting just under $4,000 but most of the dresses running from $5,000 to $8,000.

So really it comes down to priorities. Especially with the style of dress I’m attracted to, there wasn’t anything stellar enough for me to justify the price tag. But at the same time, I’m 99% sure I want to buy a Mac Air so if there had been a dress that felt like the one, I may have been powerless to resist…

This dress is stunning in the picture and on the rack, just not on me. Maybe the sizing of the dress was just too off, or maybe it wasn’t fitting right after so many people trying it on, but the pleating on the bust stuck straight out. I mean, really straight out. I looked like one of those lizards with a neck ruff. Whatever it was, it was more funny than flattering.

There weren’t any parts of this dress I didn’t like. The billowy effect was Grecian and pretty (although I know I would snag the side panels on something almost immediately). It just wasn’t love…

This isn’t the exact dress I tried on, but it’s very close. The bodice on the one I tried on didn’t have beading, and had a slight frayed edge right around my waist, which was a subtle unexpected detail I loved. But again, it didn’t have that little something extra I’m looking for.

Simple Silhouettes April 29, 2008

Like many other wedding bloggers I enjoy checking the search terms people use to bring them to my site. Some of them are fairly hilarious: for example “Dita Von Teese eyebrows,” “what did Mayans eat” and straight up “nude” (I’m pretty sure that person was sorely disappointed). However, one of the more popular hits that actually makes sense are people looking for simple or non traditional wedding dresses. With that in mind, I wanted to share my newest find, Simple Silhouettes. If you’re looking for a classy, no frills dress on a budget Christina Dalle Pezze might be your girl. Like most of the sites I promote, all her gowns are custom made and you can pick from a variety of fabrics and styles, or mix and match. She will also custom make your veil, accessories, and purse. As an added bonus, her bridesmaid dresses are simple and sweet, and could easily be worn again if you’re looking in that department. Happy browsing!

More Pretty Things April 23, 2008

Given my love affair with unusual engagement rings (or just pretty jewelry in general) I was immediately smitten with Ylang23. Their collection is eccentric and beautiful and their prices seem very reasonable for the quality of designers they carry. Definitely one of the better online sources I’ve found for chic gemstone and diamond jewelry, especially of the more offbeat variety. I don’t really know what “blackened ruby” entails but it sounds intriguing and looks fabulous!

Melissa Sweet Trunk Show April 21, 2008

I went to a Melissa Sweet trunk show this weekend to check out the new line and continue my dress quest. There were definitely some gorgeous options, although nothing that I had to have. Honestly the highlight of the visit was the sweet and bubbly representative from the company who talked about all the dresses as if they were real people. Granted, they are named after girls but I couldn’t quite get used to her chirping to the other saleslady “oh, her bottom is just beautiful!” or “I just love her, she’s so dreamy!” Was she talking about me or the dress?

Had this dress come with a different bottom, I might have been seriously tempted. The bodice (which I couldn’t find a decent picture of) is incredibly gorgeous with a draped sweetheart neckline and tucking around the waist. The pleated bustle was also surprisingly flattering. What I couldn’t get used to though, was the seam right around my knees where the dress suddenly exploded with tulle, mermaid style. The top was so structured, I felt it visually chopped you off at the knees…I think I can count mermaid dresses out for sure.

This was one of the dresses I fell in love with in my very first stack of post-engaged bridal magazines. I love the fringed sweetheard neckline and the lace is so pretty and delicate looking. While I did like it in person, the skirt was a little full and fluffy for my taste. However, the rep said she knew a bride that hemmed the dress to make it tea-length and wore it with ballet flats to a garden wedding. How adorable is that?

This dress is fairly stunning, I will admit. The silhouette is simple but the lace itself is layered in a way that creates depth and movement as do the inset panels of more lace at the bottom. It is also apparently, the Cadillac of an army of similar looking gowns you can buy, priced at approximately $7,000. I would have had to like it a lot more to not flinch at that price tag.

Reinventing the Rose II April 20, 2008

As promised, here is a follow-up on less conventional ways to use the most conventional wedding flower.  I love  the idea of incorporating roses in prints, whether on your invitations or your bridesmaid dresses. I’m also a fan of centerpieces that put a different emphasis on roses, such as the stems or just the bloom in an unusual container. And while the the concept of a rose bouquet is very typical, the color and texture of this one are so lovely I had to include it!

red rose centerpiece, lemon lime rose centerpiece, silver tub rose centerpiece, shredded tulle rose bouquet, beaded rose pin, rose pillow, rose print dress, curly pink rose centerpiece, wedding cake, blue rose dress

Reinventing the Rose April 15, 2008

Although I think roses are beautiful they tend to be a little overused in the wedding world, so I love seeing them used in fresh and imaginative ways. This centerpiece by Mocha Rose in Pittsburgh is stunning: it manages to be simple, architectural, and glamorous all at the same time. Depending on the style of your wedding I might lost the dangling crystals, but they also do add a certain antique flair. Overall I think the tall vase really makes the look, and has the advantage of being conversation friendly since it keeps the flowers above the heads of your guests. Function and fashion all at once! Take a peek at the Mocha Rose website and blog for more floral eye candy.

Also keep an eye out for a sequel to this post as I continue to look for innovative ways to use roses in my spare time (which coincidentally is becoming increasingly rare, but fortunately I’m one of those people who loves being busy). Share the love if you’ve seen any good examples!

Glamour of Brides Gone By April 13, 2008

There is something so romantic about Old Hollywood, and the brides are no exception. Three of the my favorite classic looks are Audrey Hepburn, Priscilla Presley, and of course Grace Kelly. Of course I’m far from alone in this opinion, so the good news is that if you fall in love with any of these styles, they are quite easy to replicate without much searching.

The Audrey

Audrey’s style is such a fashion staple by now that you can find it everywhere. Amy Kuschel has a wedding gown named after her and Hollywould has a whole line of flats inspired by her. There are lots of variations you can do on this look, but a tea length dress and dainty shoes are a must.

The Priscilla

This look is all about the mod 1960s makeup: the dark eyes, pale skin, and nude lips. The best makeup resource I’ve ever found is a book called Making Faces, by Kevyn Aucoin. The instructions are organized by look (The Starlet, The Ingenue, The Vamp etc.) and the pictures are to die for. It’s an amazing resource if you’re looking to recreate a specific look for your wedding.

The Grace

If I were to wear a veil, I would either go with a short net birdcage or go all out with a lace edged veil like Grace. There is something so demure and pretty about it even though it’s completely opposite of what my usual style. Sassy Chic Boutique has a great selection of vintage inspired veils with a few edgy options thrown in for the more daring brides.

Pretty in Pumps April 12, 2008

Last night I came home to a shiny new Nordstrom catalog, just waiting to seduce me with pretty things. Not surprisingly I was most tempted by their Spring shoe selection…lots of candy colored or chintzy patterned heels that would convince me to buy a tea-length wedding dress just to show them off.