Sunday, October 31, 2010

SUNDAY INSPIRATION

Sunday Inspiration
Happy Halloween and may you draw inspiration from this lovely board by Brancorprata over at SMP STyle Circle that is not only apropos for this holiday but source of ideas for the rest of autumn.  Check out Brancorprata's blog as well.  Lots of great stuff . . .

Saturday, October 30, 2010

FALL WEDDING

fall wedding
How apropos for this weekend. Autumn has arrived with all the rustic beauty that goes with it. From the deep reds and burgundies of the floral arrangement to a Japanese Maple turning that November shade of orange, this medley of images reminds us we are indeed here once more. Thanks to Sarah over at SMP Style Circle for inspiring us with this board.  Check out her blog, The Green Dandelion, for a real bit of awesome in the sphere of floral design . . .

Friday, October 29, 2010

Gown Friday



i am simply awe struck by Vera Wang's newest bridal collection.  absolutely stunning and beyond all expectations for her this year.  the dress above is by far my favorite--it resides in it's own class as i have yet to see anything like it anywhere else--gorgeous!  and don't forget Vera is coming out with her new line available exclusively at David's Bridal next spring.  yeah, that's right, David's Bridal. pretty sweet.










{images: brides.com}

ODE TO THE TUTU

More brides are opting for something borrowed from the romance of the ballet---head wreath, swan cap, full ballgown skirt in tulle . . .Tutus offer the versatility of being worn after the wedding. These by Lunitique Boutique show off tulle in two lengths, short and to-the-knee.

Lunatique Boutique also features stunning handmade designer hair accessories, hats, and beautiful decor  items like this stunning flower necklace.

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Hmmm...


i don't know about you but this seems to be a little much for me even with Halloween around the corner...oh dear!


{image: New York Wedding Magazine)

THE LOWDOWN ON OPEN NECKLINES

Love showing off some decolletage?  Low necklines can be so flattering and in my opinion look good on most women, no matter how large or scarcely defined the bosom is.  Fit is key here so finding the right alterations specialist is important.  If you have your gown custom made the fit is built into the gown; gowns ordered through a salon go through alterations once delivered . . .
The Square Neckline-One of my personal favorites, conveying a real open look, square necks look great on ballgown and A-line silhouettes.
The Round Neckline- Curved neckline showing some decolletage but not quite as low as a scoop. 

The Scoop Neckline-Lower and more open than the round neckline
  The V Neckline-Though wider cut and more open than most, this V points down and up like the letter it is named after.
 
The Off-the-Shoulder and Portrait Neckline-
Both necklines are similar and extend horizontally across the collar area and either sit slightly above or below the shoulders.

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Loving...




rustic doesn't have to mean dingy, it can be understated elegance at it's finest.

{image: la belle vie}

VINTAGE MODERN

Vintage is so popular now it’s evolved into it’s very own niche of fashion. There’s real retro as in the authentic Dior A-line from 1957 in cherry condition; there’s museum quality stuff from the last century that probably requires restoration experts, and there’s everything you see here that I’d call vintage inspired gowns by top designers. Most designers have retro inspired pieces in their collections now. Monique Lhuillier and Claire Pettibone’s gowns are reminiscent of 1930s-40s chic. Candy Anthony and Stephanie James are turning out dresses you’d swear your grandmother wore in the 1950s. A few designers are going way back in time recreating anything from Marie Antoinette to Greek chic. Younger designers seem intrigued with recent fashion history reinventing their own 60s-70s looks.

The hat above echoes Jackie Kennedy's look while the dress below looks like a granny gown from the hip 1970s.
Whether this gown was inspired by Napoleon’s Regency Period or Mary Quant, one thing all these designers and their gowns have in common is the cutting edge factor. You see, retro inspired means just that: something about the gown evokes yesteryear only there’s that unmistakable twist of contemporary thrown in for the here and now bride.

Lately, with concern for the environment, there are brides using vintage fabrics from lace tablecloths and linens and turning them into some very lovely bridal wear. I guess that’s what it means when you hear, “Everything old is new again . . .”
Not only the length of this dress says 1950s. Candy Anthony's hourglass silhouette has this era's bodice detail right down to to the prim collar and row of buttons down the front.

This Oscar de la Renta above is from no era in particular but the way it's accessorized brings to mind the 20s with the cloche hat, 30s with the gown and gloves. Looks like something that might have been worn to the once popular daytime social.

To me this is another look encompassing a few eras. The gown above definitely looks 1930s, her hair 90s and the tiara 60s.

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

Stunning isn't it?  The stuff of dreams.  Our way of saluting photographers the world over,  a special thank you and recognition to  Ligocki Mateusz from Szczecin,  Poland who produced these awesome inspirations. . . . .

Monday, October 25, 2010

Magical Beauty


i spotted this magical wedding on Eat Drink Chic last week--isn't it just beautiful?  Jonathan Ong was the talent behind these stunning images and Georgeous styled the amazingly lush decor for the wedding.

HALTER-ESQUE

Lirette Photography/Gown by Amy-Jo Tatum

Believe it or not, the halter evolved from early 20th century swimwear. Golden Age Hollywood designers popularized the look for evening, dressing stars like Garbo and Harlow. Actually the look was so radical and daring back then, tongues clucked as the etiquette police of the time declared, 'no nice lady wore such things out at night'. Ladies had different ideas though and wore the back-baring halter anyway. Halters once again made their comeback big time in the 1970s with the return of glamour and disco. During this time Cher's designer Bob Mackie took advantage of this look to bring out her best lines. Thanks to the ages, we have so many variations on this abbreviated neckline. Below are just a few stunning examples.

 Johanna Hehir

Variation of the Bib-halter


 Amy-Jo Tatum
The V-halter

Jenny Packham
The Pointed-halter

The Sweetheart-halter


The V-tied Halter

Sunday, October 24, 2010

SEDONA SUNSET

Desert Bloom or Sedona Sunset
These colors really caught my eye especially for fall.  The Sedona sunset alongside all this pretty fruit and flowers is the work of the talented Naomi Goodman over at SMP Style Circle.  Her blog, Enchanted Dream Weddings and Events is a real inspiration . . .

Saturday, October 23, 2010

BREAST CANCER AWARENESS

Breast Cancer Awareness
Did you know October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month?   A year round issue, let's take a little time out this weekend to visit the National Breast Cancer Foundation site, a real resource for all women, especially victims, survivors and caregivers wanting to connect in with support and counseling networks.  And thanks to Corey Stoner over at SMP Style Circle for mixing it all up with this lovely board of pink, the color now so symbolic with breast cancer.

Friday, October 22, 2010

Gown Friday!

it would seem many designers are finding their inspiration from nature, specifically gardens, and Rivini's fall 2011 collection is no exception.  Monet's famous garden in Giverny gave designer Rita Vinieris the vision for her stunning line of bridal gowns.  there were both literal and abstract interpretations of flowers, including an entire skirt fashioned into over-sized blossom made of voile organza and stunning asymmetrical pleats replicating the intricate designs of a rose itself.  this has to be one of my favorite collections from Rivini!


{images:  brides.com}

FRIDAYS YOU'LL FIND ME . . . .

For those of you wanting to find out more of what I have to say Fridays, try One Wed's Blog, Savvy Scoop.  Every week I post about some such topic in the fashion realm.  Today it's all about junior bridesmaids.  'So, what' you ask 'is a junior bridesmaid?'  Isn't that like . . . a flower girl, maybe?  No.  How about a regular bridesmaid?  Not quite.  Read on . . . .

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Loving...





you guys like mums?  ooh, i do!  they are the perfect flower to create bunches of color for an autumn wedding!

{image: design sponge}