Friday, August 31, 2012

THE COLOR FACTOR


Today I'm over on One Wed Blog asking the question:  If you could sport any color on your wedding day by ditching the white, what would it be?  Spanish designer Maria Llusia Rabell gives you a few options for breaking the bridal code and setting the stage for a real blast of color once you make your grand entrance.  READ MORE . . . 

Thursday, August 30, 2012

VINTAGE BRIDAL MAGAZINES

Once upon a time in the 1950s, this is what the cover of  Bride's looked like.  Okay so not all Eisenhower-era brides looked like cake toppers. True, we may not have ODed on so many bridal magazines back then but there's no lack of originality here as this bride has shucked her veil for a pleated organza hat echoing the pleating on her magnificent dress. . . . . 

In the 50's you still went to the department store to get your gown (and everything else).  Salons were inside department stores and every big one like Lord and Taylor or Macy's had one.  BTW: There were no real  'big name' designers in bridal back then save Priscilla Kidder in Boston and a few other manufacturers, only store labels.  If you were a designer, the store hired you to do custom work or you manufactured for the store or store(s).  How times have changed.

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

TURBANESQUE

Here's an elegant way to top off your wedding look.  Go Garboesque in a turban.  Fall and winter months are ideal for these ultra elegant head wraps. Adapted from Eastern headdress, the turban is a piece of fabric that wraps around the head.  Hitting its zenith in the late 30s, the 40s ushered in some more variations on the turban mixing functionality with chic.  They went popular during WWII with Rosie the Riveters who kept their hair safely out of machinery with scarves tied turban style.  Borrowing off street-chic, designers hyped up the glam, reinventing the turban in satin and velvet to compliment suits and evening wear.  Tulle and netted turban head wraps topped off with bows or florals were the quickly assembled head adornments of war brides.
Fast forward sixty odd years and you can add a turban to just about any gown and it will rock vintage, definitely setting the stage for an original you as bride.

Turbans and veil by Amy-Jo Tatum Bride

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

A TEATIME BRIDAL SHOWER


Teatime with all it's lace, silver, and fine-bone china has to be one of my favorite themes for just about any occasion.  Imagine this: Gloved ladies in wide-brimmed picture hats helping themselves to tiny tea sandwiches.  Molly's bridal shower/tea hosted at the home of a family friend in San Diego was just that.  Guests showed up in `hats and were handed a Mollytini once they arrived.  The theme was decidedly shabby-chic with five different tablescapes.  Take a look at the assortment of goodies both sweet and savory:  tea-style sandwiches, desserts and pastries to die for.  Molly had her mom's wedding dress on display alongside a dress her mother wore to her friend's wedding.  What a lovely way to keep tradition going . . .















CREDITS

Event Design: Diane Vranges |Photography: 410 Studio Photography |Floral Design: Wanda Brent

Submitted via Two Bright Lights


Monday, August 27, 2012

REAL WEDDING: SILWIA AND PIOTR


There's something so intimate and very personal about the love these two share that comes through each photo. Meet Silwia and Piotr,  whose wedding was shot a couple weeks back in Vestfold, Norway by the husband and wife duo at Chalmers Photgraphy. The backdrop of green and foliage plays up the drama and color of this remarkably romantic weddingscape.  For me Silwia's dress and bouquet pair up so well to her naturally Boho/waif looks--absolutely adore this from every angle . . . .













Friday, August 24, 2012

LIVING THE DREAM


----- Visions of last night's dreams come to light with the morning sun;

Soon the order of these days and nights will be simple; a pure sensuality arrives enhanced by the rose-sweet fragrances of noon.
Mind and body become one as you envision the days ahead: A wedding picnic, a night under Orion with your beloved;
Once nature’s carnival beckons in the form of flowers, trees and newborn animals, You go willingly . . .

--A Welty--
 2008


Thursday, August 23, 2012

THE BLOUSON (and a few other great things . . . .)

When I found French bridal designer, Laure de Sagazan I had to shout out Eureka!  Finally there's someone out there creating soft and flowing pieces for brides who want a more laid-back but chic look.  She definitely has the non-traditional thing going on while still incorporating the finest fabrics and laces in her designs.  Waistlines tend to be loose and blouson and her accessories have that touch of boho. My comment on these creations would be, they rock on younger as well as mature brides .  . . .





Photo credits: Laurent Nivale

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

THE FINE ART OF WEARING A LONG VEIL



Thinking of topping it all off with yards of flowing tulle? If I were to define the quintessential look of a bride, she'd definitely be donning a long veil on her wedding day.  Defined what is considered long in veil chic, I’d start at the ‘finger tip’ and work all the way down to the twenty-five foot cathedral trail. Long veils convey a romantic mood by way of all that added gossamer sheer. Did you know wearing a veil dates back to ancient times and most cultures? The bridal veil in particular has been a symbol of purity as well as mystery in many traditions. Since Biblical times every era it seems has innovated the veil and how it’s worn. Victorians donned yards of handmade laces they passed on to daughters and granddaughters; 1960s brides popularized the pouf veil still stylish today.

Below: Fingertip drop veil tacked to the back of an updo

LEGNTHS

Fingertip-Most popular length; can be worn by nearly every figure type with most silhouettes.
Waltz-Falls anywhere between knee and ankle.
Chapel-Considered formal. Extends about a two feet beyond the hemline.
Cathedral-Most formal. Extends three feet or more beyond the hem.
Double Tier-Two layers, typically the shorter one a blusher but not always.

Below: Chapel length drop veil

STYLES
Pouf-
width of veil is gathered at the crown and can be attached to a headpiece. Generally made out of tulle or English netting.
Dropped-Yes, actually dropped onto the head in a single layer of tulle or lace; often bordered with lace or ribbon. A Mantilla is a type of dropped veil.

Below: Cathedral length veil
 Valentino
CHOOSING YOUR VEIL Most brides wait till the gown is ordered before making a decision. In addition to complimenting your dress, you’ll need to consider your body type. Petite brides want to create the impression of height. They can wear pouf veils as long as the volume up top doesn’t imitate an Indian-headdress, dwarfing rather than extending height. Also if you’re short, a cathedral length veil isn’t the best choice—even a dropped version with zero density. You can get the drama and extension you need by scaling down to a waltz or chapel length to fit your proportion. Heavier and/or thick-waisted brides look best in a one layer dropped veil tacked onto a bun, falling in a swirl down the back. Go long here if you can. Try keeping your lines back and delicate, avoiding elbow length veils with lots of volume. Ditto veils edged in ribbon; they can form lines across the waist, creating width. If you’re tall you’ll want to keep the poise of your height intact without going over the edge. Go ahead and wear that cathedral veil with your long-trained ball gown. But realize even tall, sylph-like women have limitations. 
Generally, more ornamental gowns look best with simple veils, like one layer of tulle with narrow edging or no edging at all; whereas all over lace veils or ones edged with wide borders require a simple gown with little adornment. Your dress might have some exquisite back details you want to show off. If this is the case select a shorter veil like a fly away or net pouf. Want a more romantic look? Try a layer of tulle— preferably in a dropped style that doesn’t fall in creases and folds across your back. Tulle is the best fabric for this; it’s transparent enough without being so opaque to fog detail. If your gown has no train, wearing a chapel or cathedral length veil can create one—especially elegant when bordered in wide-edged lace or there’s a concentration of lacework on the train portion.
AFTER THE CEREMONY If you’re in a long veil and want to remove part of it for the reception, have your salon work out the fastening system with you and whomever is helping you. Taking off the entire veil? Exactly when during the reception is up to you; it depends on whether you want to be veiled in photos cutting cake, toasting, dancing, etc. Some brides wear their veil the entire day. And I suppose this is because there is nothing quite like a white veil that says . . ." Today is the only day I will ever be a Bride . . ."

Below: Two different versions of the chapel veil