Shawn Warren Jewelry
As a long time fan of Shawn Warren jewelry, I was very excited to receive an e-mail saying selected items have gone on sale! The sale items include the Raindrop Single Oval earrings featured above. They usually retail for $950, and are on sale for $450. They come in many combinations of gems and gold, and are a fantastic way to add a little color to your wedding day ensemble. They can even be your something blue!
To take advantage of the sale, call 917-940-1842 to place an order. You can also view their other lovely designs on the website: www.shawnwarren.net
Best,
Julie
Fabulous Find: Jennifer Behr Hair Accessories
For all the brides out there who are looking for something just a little bit different for your wedding day hair accessory, you MUST check out Jennifer Behr. This three year old company hand makes all of their pieces including gorgeous flowers in materials such as duchess satin and chiffon. They are a perfect compliment to a romantic dress!!!
For something really different I absolutely love the metallic headbands like the one featured above ($55). They are great for a bride who doesn’t want the traditional tiara or sparkly comb. The look is fresh and pretty, and you could even wear it again!
And if you want a look that is completely unique, Jennifer will even custom design a piece for you. The process requires 4 to 8 weeks, and prices start at $500.
Jennifer Behr’s bridal collection can be purchased at Bergdorf Goodman and on her website: www.jenniferbehr.com.
Best,
Julie
Tip of the Week: Hollywood Wedding Apparel Tape
As a fashion stylist and dresser of brides I’ve seen my share of wardrobe mount functions. One thing I always carry with me is double stick garment tape…you would be surprised how many fashion emergency’s can be solved with it!
Hollywood Fashion Tape has made this easier than ever for the bride with their Glamorous Gown Assortment. It contains five different shapes of double-sick strips offering solutions for everything from keeping the sides of your strapless dress in place to making sure the bodice doesn’t gap at the bust line. The tape can even be used to fix a hem that’s come undone!!!
On your wedding day, stash it in your emergency kit. You know the saying, it’s better to be safe than sorry!
For more information on where to buy in your area, check out their website www.hollywoodfashiontape.com
Best,
Julie
Customize Your Bridal Handbag
Ladies, you have to check out these fabulous clutches by Lauren Merkin. I recently pulled a bunch of them for a photo shoot I was styling, and I fell in love!
Lauren’s ready made collection features many bags that would be suitable for the bride including subtle metallics, luxurious skins, and even the adorable ivory “Louise” crochet bag featured above. Isn’t it the perfect accessory for an outdoor wedding?!?!
For something a little more personal (for your or your bridesmaids), you can customize an evening bag on their website. Choose from four different shapes, and many different colors of metallic lambskin or silk satin. And you can even include a monogram!!! They range in price from $165 to $225 and need 8 to 10 weeks to order.
For store locations and more information, please check out her website: www.laurenmerkin.com
Best,
Julie
Beautiful Carolina Herrera Gown with Detachable Skirt
Ladies, this Carolina Herrera dress from the Spring 2008 collection is absolutely brilliant as it features a detachable skirt! What a fabulous concept…a beautiful and traditional bridal gown that changes into a fun party dress! Perfect for the bride who wants to be able to dance all night at her reception! And it’s great for warmer climates. I love it!!!
The detachable train isn’t the only thing that stands out about this Alençon lace dress. It is beautifully done with a gathered bodice that fans out into a lovely scalloped edge. On the bottom, an added layer of lace is gathered and tied with a bow that adds a sweet and romantic feeling.
You can even wear the short version again! Now that is an ingenious creation!
Enjoy!
Julie
Photo by Meagan Camp
Tip of the week: What to know before buying your veil
There are many things to decide upon when purchasing a veil: how much gathering do you want, what shape do you like, blusher or no blusher, what is best for your setting, and of course how long it should be. The fist step is to try on a bunch of samples with your dress to give you a general idea of what looks best with the shape of your face and the style of your gown. Some salons will require a separate appointment for this, so ask before stopping in.
Once you’ve found the right one, the veil should be custom ordered for you to make sure all the proportions are correct. You will need to know where you are going to place the veil on your head, as this will make a difference in the length of the veil. Measurements will be taken so that it fits you and your dress perfectly.
It is also important that you take into account the length of the train, as a long veil should extend 6” to 12” past the hem. If you are purchasing your veil at a store that is different than where you bought your dress, you should have this measurement with you so they know how long to make the veil.
It’s not necessary to select the veil when you purchase your dress. A veil usually takes about six weeks to order, so many of my clients wait until the first fitting to decide. If you think you might need to shop around a bit, then it’s a good idea to get started two and a half to three months before your wedding.
Let me know if you have any questions!!!
Best,
Julie
Priscilla of Boston Group Launches Moderately Priced Line
At New York Bridal market in April, the Priscilla of Boston Group (whose current brands include Priscilla of Boston, Platinum for Priscilla of Boston and Melissa Sweet) launched its newest bridal collection, Vineyard. The collection is fabulous because it will feature moderately priced gowns ranging from $1200 to $2800, making the Priscilla of Boston style accessible to more brides.
The inspiration was youthful, fun and sexy for Mark Brower the designer…giving a modern twist on the traditional bridal gown. And just because the price is moderate doesn’t mean there is a lack of detailing. With a background in beading and embellishment, Mark utilized many of those techniques in his collection while also keeping some dresses simple and clean.
The first dress above is called “Piper” and is a taffeta ball gown with a draped bodice. I love this dress because of its classic style but the draping gives it a modern feel. And also it’s easy to wear for many body types.
The second gown is called “Rebecca” and is made of a Silk-cotton Faille which is great for a bride getting married in a warmer climate as it is a light and cool fabric. It also has a lovely embroidered bodice and a princess cut which is flattering to just about every body type.
The dresses will be in Priscilla of Boston boutiques and bridal salons across the country in late summer/early fall. For more information on where to buy go to the website.
Best,
Julie
Photos by Meagan Camp
Runway Report Part 3: The Floral Influence
On the runway, flowers were everywhere this season. But many designers came up with new and interesting ways to use them that we haven’t seen before.
The fist dress, a Monique Lhuillier called “Bouquet” has a beautiful floral tulle and organza corset bodice. I love this dress because the textured floral pattern is fresh and modern while the overall style of the dress is classically beautiful. Monique’s collection was inspired by the Tuilleries Gardens in Paris and lead her to create gowns that were “soft, feather weight and luminous.”
The second dress, “Angelic” by Reem Acra is a silk taffeta ball gown with woven hand detail. One of the stand out features of Reem’s collection, which she describes as “the very picture of romance and mysticism,” were the hand made floral belts. The belt featured on this dress is a stunning combination of the most beautiful shades of red and magenta, beaded accents and velvet ribbon. There were other belts in the collection that were shades of deep blue and green. They gave the dresses a very unique romantic and vintage feeling. And while these belts don’t come as part of the dresses, they can be requested on special order. Or, if you’re a crafty type of person, and want to try and make one yourself, check out the beautiful vintage flowers, trims and appliqués at the Tinsel Trading Company online or at their store in New York City.
Best,
Julie
Photos by Meagan Camp
Tip of the week: How to Prevent a Bustle Disaster
Question: What can I do to prevent my bustle from coming out during my reception?
Answer: A common problem that brides face on their wedding day is the bustle of their dress coming out. Usually it’s the result of someone accidentally stepping on the train. There are many different ways to bustle, but one of the most popular (and prettiest) is the French bustle where the fabric of the train is fastened underneath the top layer of the dress.
The problem occurs when the hem of the dress isn’t all the way off the floor, and it can be stepped on. The best way to avoid this is raising the bustle so that it falls about a quarter to half inch above the floor. If it’s touching the ground at all I assure you that it and it will come out.
In your dress fittings, your fitter will do a mock up of the bustle with pins so you can get it to the perfect spot. At this time walk around and make sure that it’s not dragging at all.
One last tip: It’s a good idea to have a bridesmaid or relative attend the last fitting with you so they can learn how to do the bustle. It’s important that she knows ahead of time so there is no confusion on the day of your wedding. And just to be on the safe side, ask her to have a bunch of large safety pins in her purse on the big day!!!
Let me know if you have any questions!!!
Best,
Julie
Cute Oka b. Flip Flops for the Comfort Loving Bride
A few weekends ago I was on vacation in Napa Valley, CA and came across the greatest little boutique called Spa Elements in the town of Sonoma. Actually, what drew me into the store were adorable sandals by Oka b. that had a dogwood flower on them. Always in search of the perfect pair of flip flops, I was intrigued. One of the owners of the store, Leah, told me she has a pair that she walks all day in and her feet never hurt. This sounds like a New York City girl’s dream, so I bought a pair (well, three actually…two for me and a men’s pair for my husband).
Ladies, I can tell you that she wasn’t lying. I’ve worn mine almost every day since getting them, and I LOVE them! Not only are they super comfortable and cute, but they are designed with reflexology in mind, and have massage beads stimulating spots on the foot while you walk. Plus, they are made of Microplast® which is “bacteria-resistant, machine washable, durable, and slip resistant”. The best part…they range from $20 to $30!
Excited about my new find, it occurred to me that they would make an excellent gift for bridesmaids. I’ve been to so many weddings where half way through the reception the bridesmaids kick off their high heels in favor of a pair of flip flops. And let’ face it…they are not always the flip flops that you would have chosen to match their bridesmaid dress. Why not avoid a fashion faux pas (and hating how they look in your pictures) and give them matching Oka b. sandals?!?
The first pair featured above is “Savannah”, and have crystals on them that dress them up. Brides: this pair would be great for you if you are looking for something stylish and chic to change into for dancing. The second pair, “Madison” is also adorable, and you can even change the bows and match them to their dresses (and other outfits afterwards)! Now that is an ingenious creation!
They can be purchased or on the Oka B. website: www.ShoesThatLoveYou.com
Or at the Spa Elements boutique located at 25 East Napa Street, Suite D, Sonoma, CA; 707.939.2SPA; www.SpaElements.us
Best,
Julie
Runway Report Part 2: Fabulous Ruffle Trims
Ruffle trims were another trend that emerged on the runway during April’s bridal market. The reason that I love this trend so much is because it adds detail and texture to dresses without over embellishing them. It gives a classic look but with a new, fresh detail. If you are a bride that is looking for something a little bit different, but still romantic and pretty this could be just the thing for you.
The two dresses above are great examples of this trend. The first one, by Elizabeth Fillmore, is called “Paulette” and is made in silk poulet, which is a couture weight taffeta. This is a great dress for spring/summer weddings as taffeta is light and easy to wear. And the slim trumpet style skirt it won’t be overwhelming and hot.
The second dress, by Melissa Sweet is called “Virginia” and features hand-rolled swirling ruffle detailing on the skirt. This dress, which is made of silk organza, would look great on many body types as it has a full a-line skirt that is very figure flattering.
Best,
Julie
Photos by Meagan Camp
Tip of the Week: Hemlines
Question: Where should the hem of your dress fall?
Answer: I hear this question a lot from my clients…it’s understandable, you’ve probably never had a wedding dress fitting before. So, let me clear up the issue. The dress should come to about one inch off the floor.
Many brides are surprised that it doesn’t touch the ground in front, and feel that it looks a little short when it’s at the proper length. Basically, it boils down to this: if it’s any longer you’ll trip. Think about it…you kick out your foot when you walk. If there’s fabric in front of it, your shoe will catch on the fabric.
For your first fitting you should always bring with you the shoes that you’ll be wearing on your wedding day. When the fitter has pinned the hem in place, walk around and make sure that it feels good. If your shoe catches on it at all, then it needs to be a little higher.
By the way ladies, the old saying that you don’t see the shoe, so it doesn’t matter what it looks like…false! More often than not, the shoe does appear…weather it’s going down steps or while you’re dancing. So make sure that you can not only walk in them all night but that you like them too!!!
Let me know if you have any questions ladies!
Best,
Julie
