Fashion Fever: Gorgeously Gatsby

Fashion Fever by Corine Brosseau

With the latest film adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby” right around the corner, the idea of showing up to your wedding looking like a 1920s film star is surely a popular one. Today, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite fashion details taken right from the grand Gatsby tradition.

Clockwise, from top left: Glamour and Grace, Style Me Pretty, YolanCris, Style Me Pretty, Johanna Johnson, Michael Segal

1. Feathers – Opulent and dreamy, some stunning plumage really brings that vintage elegance to a wedding day ensemble. Whether at the bottom of a snug mermaid gown or as a beautiful element for a headpiece, they are a great way to incorporate a 1920s theme.

2. Headpieces – The more intricate, the better as far as headpieces go. A lace cap really brings to mind that quintessential Flapper style while an intricate headband is a bit more Daisy Buchanan.

3. Beading – A dress that skims close to the sides while simply dripping in elegant beading transports you back to the lavish parties at Gatsby’s home.

4. Dropped Waists – A dropped waist is the perfect silhouette for a 20’s look.

5. Bold Makeup – Dark, smoky eyes, wispy lashes, and a bold crimson lip add to the sultry intrigue of the 1920s woman.

These are just a few of the 1920s details we adore! Stay tuned for our latest project, a beautiful 1920s, Gatsby-esque inspiration shoot. Here is a sneak peek from the shoot, featuring our beautiful model, Alexis Monnie:

While you wait for the photos to drop, be sure to check out the amazing vendors we partnered up with for the shoot: Violet and Verde for florals, SB Beauty for hair and makeup, Hushed Commotion for the amazing headpieces, Saucy by Nature for catering, Cake Alchemy for the cake, Cloth Connection for linens, Little Vintage Rentals for amazing props and tableware, Angelique Bridal and Nearly Newlywed for the fabulous fashion, The Green Building for our lovely venue, and the amazing Moss & Isaac, whose photography brought it all together!!

Fashion Fever: 3D Flowers

Fashion Fever: By Alyssa Aiola

Flowers on your wedding day are a given. It’s a tradition that even dates back to ancient times. In ancient Greece and Rome, the bride and groom wore a garland around their necks, symbolizing new life, hope and fertility. Traditional Celtic bouquets included ivy, thistle and heather. The garland was not made of flowers but of strong-smelling herbs and spices. The strong-smells were thought to have mystical powers and meant to keep away evil spirits. In ancient China, orange blossoms were used to represent purity, chastity and innocence, while Sarcasen brides carried them as symbol of eternal love and fidelity.

         Now lets fast forward to the most recent bridal shows we saw this year in 2013. All over the runway designers are showcasing styles that reveal a new take on this time less idea: the 3D Flower.  These exaggerated floral details that appear to be in full bloom are popping up everywhere on trims, bodices, and even entire skirts.  You can find this trend all over the runway  in all different styles from slim modern looks to full blown over the top gowns.

 (Left To Right) Liancarlo, Kenneth Pool,  Kevin Hall,  Judd Waddell, Claire Pettibone 

Liancarlos dress looks like a piece of artwork and with a blush shade keeps things feminine and glamourous. This elaborate Kenneth Pool gown takes the trend to a whole new level with a full skirt of flowers, and the fitted, beaded bodice keeps it from coming overwhelming. This dreamy halter gown by Kevin Hall is light and airy and would be the perfect fit for the demure, romantic bride while Judd Waddell takes more of a modern approach to the 3D flower.Claire Pettibone’s whimsical dress looks like it can be worn by the Queen of the Fairies in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Let us know what you think of the 3D trend and if you would ever be bold enough to try it!

Fashion Fever: Vera’s Valentines Day Red

Fashion Fever: By Alyssa Aiola

She has done it again ladies and gentlemen, left us utterly speechless by creating a collection inspired by the traditional Chinese color palette and love. Not only has Vera Wang created another line of breath taking dresses, she has reinvented the various hues of red and made them define bridal more then ever.  With today being Valentines Day we think it is more then suiting to show off these gowns as they speak love from head to toe.  In her Spring 2013 collection you can see all of your favorite Vera elements from rose-tulled skirts, overlays, and details galore. Although the red hue is absolutely for the edgier and more darning bride, it is important to keep in mind that each and everyone one of these styles are available in a traditional white or ivory. Here are a few of our favorites from the collection.

Would you ever wear the red shade symbolic of nothing more then love on your wedding day?  Do share with us what you think!

Fashion Fever: Blushing Brides

Fashion Fever: Blushing Brides by Alyssa Aiola

Who ever said your wedding dress had to be white certainly was not present during this years spring/fall bridal fashion shows. One of the major key trends that surfaced from both Fall 2013 and Spring 2013 designer collections was the romantic shade of blush used throughout the silhouettes.  Whether the dress leaned more toward the peach-hue or was out right pink, the color certainly made a splash and made its presence known. The great thing about this shade is how well it works on various skin tones and really allows the bride to have a soft yet feminine option when trying on dresses.  Two celebrities who took this trend by storm and gave it a stamp of approval were both Reese Witherspoon and Jessica Biel. Reese approached the alter in a georgeous blush-colored Monique Lhuillier gown in March while Jessica wore a pink and white Giambattista Valli dress in October. With major designers like Oscar De La Renta and Vera Wang picking up on this trend as well, it safe to say we should all start thinking pink when it comes to wedding dresses. With plenty of dresses to choose from here are our top favorite blush colored gowns!

From top left to right : Vera Wang WHITE pink wedding gown Spring 2013, Isaac Mizrahi For Kleinfeld, Isaac Mizrahi for Kleinfeld, Maggie Sottero Spring 2012, Lazaro  Fall 2012, Elie Saab Spring 2012 , Oscar de la Renta Spring 2012

Would you be willing to go against tradition and strut down the aisle in a pink gown?! Let us know!

Say “Yes” Again!

Diary of a Bride to be by Lauren Cooper

This weekend was a busy wedding weekend!  I had my hair and makeup trial and my first dress fitting!  Prior to my makeup trial I decided to go for a spray tan to give myself a bit of a glow.  Unfortunately, that glow was more of a “I-just-spent-two-weeks-at-the-beach” tan; and made the future husband burst out laughing when I walked in the door.  Real encouraging.  Despite my beach-y look, the makeup trial went very well and I’m so glad I chose Dylan Michael Cosmetics.  My hair trial was equally successful, Jill from Up Your Do gave me an awesome look that wasn’t too over the top.  Both women made the wedding feel so much more real and were so great to work with.  I can’t believe how close we’re getting to the wedding day!

Then came the dress fitting.  My sister, mother and grandmother were all present and (due to my previous insanity of looking for other dresses) I was so nervous.  I wouldn’t even look at myself in the dress until I was in front of the big mirror.  Then, a HUGE sigh of relief.  It’s perfect, and gorgeous and I LOVE it!  The sample dress I had tried on doesn’t even do it justice!  I was all smiles. 

After choosing a (gorgeous, cathedral) veil we headed back to the seamstress.  She pinned me in, since the dress was still big, and we discussed how we were going to add sleeves.  She also had plenty of corsets and bra cups in her workshop and she chose one that would amplify my not-so-ample decolletage.  🙂  Bonus: I don’t have to shop for a wedding day corset since she already had one! 🙂  We took tons of pictures and I can’t stop looking at all of them!  I feel so excited, and relieved now that I said “Yes to the Dress”, again.  Insert happy dance here.

The Bride Wore Black

Fashion Fridays by Aly Dailey

Gothic. Severe. Witchy?? Usually these aren’t words you associate with wedding dresses, but Vera Wang says otherwise.

“For the most daring of brides, the true siren, a black wedding dress signals the energy and passion, and madness, of a bride.”~ Vera Wang

Before Queen Victoria popularized the white gown worn for her wedding in 1840 to Prince Albert, most brides wore gowns in a variety of colors including red and black.

By the end of the 19^th century the white dress was the fashion of choice for brides everywhere.  The gowns became a status symbol for elite families because of how delicate and expensive they were.

Could we soon be seeing more black gowns come down the runway AND the aisle?

Would YOU go back to black for your big day?

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Bridal Nightmares

Diary of a Bride to Be by Lauren Cooper

I’ve heard about brides having nightmares about their wedding and I’ve even written about how to avoid them, so I was not prepared when I had my first truly vivid bridal nightmare last week. 

I’m blaming it on the Say Yes to the Dress marathon I was watching while my fiance was out of town.  I went to bed feeling calm, relaxed and secure in my dress selection but this dream shook that up.  It started out with my Mom and I going to the final fitting for my dress.  Final.  Dress. Fitting.  They showed me the dress and my heart started to sink.  Not saying anything to my mother or the bridal consultant, I proceeded to try the dress on.  Standing in front of the mirror,  I realized that I was in the WRONG DRESS.  Not wrong as in: the store made a mistake, here’s your real dress.  Wrong as in, I picked and ordered a dress that I now hated.  (Sob!)  So I was standing there, trying to be brave and offer suggestions to the tailor to make it the way I wanted it to be and it just wasn’t working.  I burst into tears and sobbed to my mother that I couldn’t wear that dress.  And then I woke up. 

Annnd now I’m paranoid that this nightmare will become real and my dress hasn’t even come in yet!  Note to brides that have found your wedding dress:  Stop watching  Say Yes to the Dress before bed.  Immediately.

Say Yes To The Dress

Diary of a Bride to Be by Lauren Cooper

It’s official!  I said yes to the dress I found in Maryland this weekend!  Measurements were taken and the dress is ordered!  Now I just have to wait 2-4 months to put it on again…

Dress Dilemma

Diary of a Bride to Be by Lauren Cooper

This past Saturday I went dress shopping with my Mom in Maryland.  Mom had made appointments at three different stores so we had really had a variety of experiences.  I had also looked at dresses with my step-mom a few weeks ago and found a dress that I thought might be the one in Delaware. But my mind was still open to possibilities for my shopping excursion with Mom.

Our first store was really nice. I showed the sales person pictures I had and she brought some of the exact dresses out.  We left the store an hour later with another dress possibility but the dress in DE was still in the back of my mind.

The second store was a complete wash.  I was told to pick out dresses from their particular catelogue instead of showing them my pictures.  Then they fitted me for a slip, which was just weird since I expressed that I was really in to slim fit and flare gowns. THEN she said she could only bring out dresses two at a time. Zzzz. Please, its either a yes or a no.  Let’s move things along. Ok, thanks.

The third store was the place where my sister found her gown so I was excited to see what they had. While we waited for our saleswoman, we got to pick out some things we liked. Then once I showed her my pictures she pulled more that she thought would work.  Four dresses in and I still wasn’t blown away. Then she put me in a gown that I had pulled on a complete whim.  Oh. My. Gosh. I came out and all my mom could say was, “WOW”.  I stayed in that one for a while until the woman brought back a dress she said was the only one that could top it. Well that one was pretty awesome too, but a little too modern for our venue and theme. I put the other one back on and oohed and ahhed some more. I asked if they had the DE dress in stock so I could see them back to back but no luck.

So now I have a dilemma. Both dresses are completely diferent. They’re both fitted which is what I was going for. And while they’re both glamorous and elegant, one is understated while the other is…well its not. But its not outrageous, its amazing.  So now I don’t know which I should choose. Sigh.

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For the Fashionable, Non-Traditional Bride

Fashion Fever by Mallory Mayer

Are you a bride looking to really turn some heads on your wedding day? Are you willing to take the plunge into a colored wedding gown? It’s pretty daring for some, but just the perfect amount of bold for others. While white wedding dresses remain the most popular choice for many brides, believe it or not, colored wedding dresses seem to be on the rise!

Now let’s not get too carried away. We’re not talking about every color under the sun, but colors in variations of beige, pink, red and even black. There are certainly many outstanding options for women who want a stunning, different wedding style.

There’s also the option for those who want just a touch of color with their white, off white or ivory wedding gown. Simply add a colorful sash, belt, ribbon, embroidery or beads!

It’s easy to get lost in the madness of choosing colors for your big day, but don’t be intimidated by them. There are plenty of ways to incorporate the colors you want with the look you want. Take a look at these edgy and daring colored wedding gowns we love!