MORE SAMPLES

'Tis the season so there's even more happening on the sample sale front--this week Gigi, Madelyn and Mira.  These are the original dresses we used for photo shoots and trying on in the design studio. All have couture techniques like hand-rolled hems, hand picked zips and a row of silk covered buttons down the back (yes they all really and truly button individually). Also, yards of scrumptious fabric!  Check out more details, images and ordering info below.

Header photo: The MADELYN Dress: Tea-dyed tulle and Chantilly lace hourglass dress with a square neckline. Bodice is shirred and pleated with motifs of Chantilly lace underneath. skirt is five layers of tulle with China silk rose-beige skirt lining./Photo by Dominic Colacchio Photography
Photo 2: The GIGI Dress:A-line out of an ivory embroidered organza with a shot of ruffled lace underneath. Separate crinoline under slip. A long row of buttons graces the back of this dress.
More images and fabric samples available on request.

Photo 3: The MIRA Dress: Silk chiffon and Chantilly lace halter dress with full crinoline petticoat. The fitted, boned bodice is Chantilly lace backed underneath with a tea dyed taffeta to make the motifs pop. Lined in silk Habotai. A row of satin buttons line the back. MIRA is a stunning hark back to the 1950s and ultra-fem dressing./Photo by Stephanie Williams Photography

SAMPLE SALE ON ETSY

Well, it's that time of year again.  While my design studio is packed with a few really great samples from seasons past and I love looking at these gems, bottom line is, we gotta part company and make room for the newbies coming off the work table.   For those of you who aren't familiar with how buying a sample works here's the lowdown.  Most of the dresses you see here are photographic samples made up for photo shoots and trying on.  A few are in fabrics close to but not as ready for prime time as the imported silks custom ordered by clients.    Just so you know, a few of them are indeed in yummy 100 percent silks but a couple seasons old, hence the lower price.  In any case your sample will be one-of-a-kind and handmade, have couture technique likes hand-picked zipper and hand-tacked linings no machine can emulate.  Before I sell these babies rest assured they do go through proper refurbishing and cleaning. 

Top Photo: The Beatrix Dress/Photo by Diana Maire

Second Photo: The Valerie Dress/Photo by Diana Maire

Bottom Photo: The April Dress/Photo by Stephanie Williams

NEW CONCEPTS IN BRIDAL WEAR: THE PETTICOAT

Stephanie Allin

Petticoats though hardly a new phenomenon on the fashion scene are showing up more and more in bridal wear as both understructure and showpieces--that is, peeking out from underneath skirts sometimes sporting different colors and textures.  A little or a lot of crin peek-a-booing beyond the hemline is sexy and has the element of the unexpected once you make your entrance.  Above is a taffeta Aline flounced below in ivory and black.  Below: An organza lace dress is accented with a Chantilly lace under slip . . . .

Amy-Jo Tatum

SUZIE AND IAN'S YOSEMITE WEDDING

My favorite weddings are those where a bride gets married in a dress I designed.  Suzie's version of my MARISOL dress is one I'll never forget.  The details are so simple: A silk chiffon and Georgette dress.  Add navy shoes and sash rating the overall look magnificent.  She replaced the self belt with the navy blue silk ribbon to pick up the blues in her bouquet composed mostly of wildflowers.  With this easy change she made the dress truly her own.  Naturally I was wowed once these pictures of Suzie and Ian started coming in a few weeks back.  Shot by photographer Patrick Pike against the backdrop of Yosemite National Park, this sweet and private ceremony couldn't have been more intimate.  Just a few friends and family . . . .

CREDITS

Photographer: Patrick Pike Studios

Dress: Amy-Jo Tatum Bride

Hair and Makeup:Bellissimo

Officiant: Rev. Carol Dewey

MORE FROM THE VINEYARD

 Back on December 13, we featured some awesome images from The Vineyard Bride, a stylized shoot at the beautiful Annadel Estate Winery  in Sonoma.  Over the New Years holiday, photographer Shannon Stellmacher came up with some more 'How Gorgeous Are These?' pics from that fabulous shoot.  I'm a true lover of black and white photography and the first two remind me of a Howard Hawks film from the 1930s--stunning beyond belief.  Our wonderful model is Lori Dorfman and makeup and hair done by Julie Morgan whose work continues to enhance and beautify everyone she touches . . .

Special thanks to Be-Jeweled for showcasing the gorg jewelry of designer Anne Koplick and Nancy Ann Flowers.

BEDAZZLED!

 

I think you'll agree, one of the chicest ways of pulling yourself together on your wedding day is through exquisite jewelry.  Once restricted to pearl necklaces and earrings, brides have so many more options these days I can't count them (although a great set of pearls is always in vogue).  These two collections by Denise Hazelton and Miriam Haskell highlight vintage jewelry at it's finest.  The biggee plus here is all of it goes great with wedding fashion.  I adored these pieces and was tickled when Studiolo joined in on this project to have them photographed with my gowns for the Art Meets Fashion shoot.  Which is your fave here . . .?

 CREDITS

Photography by JohnT Photography

                         Lirette Photography

Jewelry by Studiolo

Gowns and Headpieces by Amy-Jo Tatum

Makeup by Julianne Chai

Hair by Justina Downs

Models: Lauren Purcell and Brandi Howell