MORE ON YOUR GOWN'S AFTER LIFE

MORE ON YOUR GOWN'S AFTER LIFE

DePloy Workshop

Lately my clients are looking for more options on recycling their gowns post wedding. Donating or incorporating it into everyday wear is becoming more the eco-conscious thing than storing it in a box. Working your gown into your wardrobe can mean planning separates, elements that can be customized and transformed as double duty pieces.

DePloy Workshop of London specializes in 'A place to create, not just consume' as Eco-Fashion World, put it. Reading DePloy Workshop's philosophy gave me inspiration to keep working on eco-friendly alternatives and developing future lines around this principal. Knowing this is a global thing makes me feel good too.

DePloy Workshop

Lately my clients are looking for more options on recycling their gowns post wedding. Donating or incorporating it into everyday wear is becoming more the eco-conscious thing than storing it in a box. Working your gown into your wardrobe can mean planning separates, elements that can be customized and transformed as double duty pieces.

DePloy Workshop of London specializes in 'A place to create, not just consume' as Eco-Fashion World, put it. Reading DePloy Workshop's philosophy gave me inspiration to keep working on eco-friendly alternatives and developing future lines around this principal. Knowing this is a global thing makes me feel good too.

LACE AND SATIN

LACE AND SATIN

When I first saw Portland designer, Holly Stalder's work on ETSY I knew I had to share these images with you all. If you're a bride open to re-wearing your dress these are superb candidates for a beautiful afterlife.

Mixing vintage with contemporary technique, Holly then works her own unique fabrication into each piece.

Explore more of Holly's creations in her ETSY store and http://www.hollystalder.com/

When I first saw Portland designer, Holly Stalder's work on ETSY I knew I had to share these images with you all. If you're a bride open to re-wearing your dress these are superb candidates for a beautiful afterlife.

Mixing vintage with contemporary technique, Holly then works her own unique fabrication into each piece.

Explore more of Holly's creations in her ETSY store and http://www.hollystalder.com/

THE WINTER BRIDE

THE WINTER BRIDE

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Winter is almost here. Holiday and post New Year weddings can be incredibly festive and magical. Yes, the back drop of snow and raw climate can be challenging; working it you can create a haute chic look all your own.

Sassi Holford

A few weeks back I caught an episode of Bridezilla where the featured bride, marrying in the dead of winter, wore a baseball jacket over her gown to get to the ceremony. I thought about all those brides in sub zero climates like upstate New York and Minnesota. If you're one of these ladies you’re going to have to cover your arms, and, I hope not with a baseball jacket. The point is to stay warm and cozy as well as ultra-chic getting to and from the ceremony. And God knows, you might be caught having to stand around in the cold. Be prepared.

Carolina Herrera/Brides.com

Ritva Westenius
Fabrics

There’s a reason for structured, heavy fabrics like brocade, velvet and heavier peau de soie: warmth and insulation from the cold. If expertly lined, thicker fabrics will keep the chill off especially if you’re going sleeveless. Sleeveless brides in winter climates can add a shrug or bolero in the same fiber. A matching cape is ideal—they’re roomy and unlike close fitting coats they won’t squish your dress. Don’t want to match the dress exactly? Velvet, cashmere, wool, heavy brocades all make lovely capes. If your gown is heavyweight fabric or has lots of volume (volume translates into warmth) you can even go for a shorter caplet.

Stewart Parvin
Wraps and stoles are great for bare-armed brides. They may look skimpy and I thought so myself till my mother made me one to go out one New Year’s Eve. It was white velvet, lined inside with batting (stuff you put in quilts). I was incredibly warm all night.
Add opera length gloves if you’re going sleeveless with a wrap. Long gloves can be great substitutes for sleeves due to the insulation factor they provide. As for fur, for stoles, jackets and capes, faux is chic now. It’s also surprisingly warm too. Add a muff (maybe instead of a bouquet) and your hands stay toasty.

Henry Kaye

Shoes or Boots?

Forget sandals. I won’t even get into why. If you can manage trudging through the snow in shoes, I’d recommend closed toe pumps with white or ivory tights or lace stockings. Boots are best but you want something chic. Check out Henry Kaye’s boots above. The website has a few more selections in the spirit of these boots.

Your Headpiece


Consider something with a touch of marabou or feathers or an actual hat like the one in the header photo. Remember, it’s important to keep your head and ears warm.

The Gown

How about finding a gown with a matching coat or long sleeves? Even fur on it? Haven’t seen any lately, you say? Well check these out.

Ritva Westenius



























Alan Hannah





Amanda Wakeley

Amanda Wakeley


If you still can’t find that special winter gown anywhere, consider custom design. A dressmaker or tailor can fabricate something exactly to your specifications for about the same price you’d pay for one in a finer salon.


Note: The bustled mauve gown is Vivienne Westwood. Link problems . . .

Source

Winter is almost here. Holiday and post New Year weddings can be incredibly festive and magical. Yes, the back drop of snow and raw climate can be challenging; working it you can create a haute chic look all your own.

Sassi Holford

A few weeks back I caught an episode of Bridezilla where the featured bride, marrying in the dead of winter, wore a baseball jacket over her gown to get to the ceremony. I thought about all those brides in sub zero climates like upstate New York and Minnesota. If you're one of these ladies you’re going to have to cover your arms, and, I hope not with a baseball jacket. The point is to stay warm and cozy as well as ultra-chic getting to and from the ceremony. And God knows, you might be caught having to stand around in the cold. Be prepared.

Carolina Herrera/Brides.com

Ritva Westenius
Fabrics

There’s a reason for structured, heavy fabrics like brocade, velvet and heavier peau de soie: warmth and insulation from the cold. If expertly lined, thicker fabrics will keep the chill off especially if you’re going sleeveless. Sleeveless brides in winter climates can add a shrug or bolero in the same fiber. A matching cape is ideal—they’re roomy and unlike close fitting coats they won’t squish your dress. Don’t want to match the dress exactly? Velvet, cashmere, wool, heavy brocades all make lovely capes. If your gown is heavyweight fabric or has lots of volume (volume translates into warmth) you can even go for a shorter caplet.

Stewart Parvin
Wraps and stoles are great for bare-armed brides. They may look skimpy and I thought so myself till my mother made me one to go out one New Year’s Eve. It was white velvet, lined inside with batting (stuff you put in quilts). I was incredibly warm all night.
Add opera length gloves if you’re going sleeveless with a wrap. Long gloves can be great substitutes for sleeves due to the insulation factor they provide. As for fur, for stoles, jackets and capes, faux is chic now. It’s also surprisingly warm too. Add a muff (maybe instead of a bouquet) and your hands stay toasty.

Henry Kaye

Shoes or Boots?

Forget sandals. I won’t even get into why. If you can manage trudging through the snow in shoes, I’d recommend closed toe pumps with white or ivory tights or lace stockings. Boots are best but you want something chic. Check out Henry Kaye’s boots above. The website has a few more selections in the spirit of these boots.

Your Headpiece


Consider something with a touch of marabou or feathers or an actual hat like the one in the header photo. Remember, it’s important to keep your head and ears warm.

The Gown

How about finding a gown with a matching coat or long sleeves? Even fur on it? Haven’t seen any lately, you say? Well check these out.

Ritva Westenius



























Alan Hannah





Amanda Wakeley

Amanda Wakeley


If you still can’t find that special winter gown anywhere, consider custom design. A dressmaker or tailor can fabricate something exactly to your specifications for about the same price you’d pay for one in a finer salon.


Note: The bustled mauve gown is Vivienne Westwood. Link problems . . .

CUTTING EDGE BRIDESMAIDS

CUTTING EDGE BRIDESMAIDS

Pronovias
Post wedding, styling is everything!  Check out how these bridesmaid dresses with a just a tuck here and belt there can go just about anywhere after the wedding. If you happen to love rainbow colors and the whimsicality of these dresses, all three gems could easily be worked into a spring wardrobe and strutted out and about. .

 Kelsey Rose

David Fielden

Pronovias
Post wedding, styling is everything!  Check out how these bridesmaid dresses with a just a tuck here and belt there can go just about anywhere after the wedding. If you happen to love rainbow colors and the whimsicality of these dresses, all three gems could easily be worked into a spring wardrobe and strutted out and about. .

 Kelsey Rose

David Fielden

CHAPEAU CHIC

CHAPEAU CHIC

POWDER PUFF

I want to share two great pieces of news with you today.

1.) Check out way down my sidebar. I’m finally adding articles all about bridal fashion. Once they are all listed, you'll find loads of topics. In addition, they'll be more in depth than the day to day posts I usually turn out.
2.) In compiling photos for my, ‘Chapeau Chic’ article, I ran across Suzanne Couture Millinery, a New York City hat designer doing some real chi chi work. If you're going with la chapeau for yourself or bridesmaids, do check out these beauties and visit her website . . . .

Monte Carlo


Fireworks

POWDER PUFF

I want to share two great pieces of news with you today.

1.) Check out way down my sidebar. I’m finally adding articles all about bridal fashion. Once they are all listed, you'll find loads of topics. In addition, they'll be more in depth than the day to day posts I usually turn out.
2.) In compiling photos for my, ‘Chapeau Chic’ article, I ran across Suzanne Couture Millinery, a New York City hat designer doing some real chi chi work. If you're going with la chapeau for yourself or bridesmaids, do check out these beauties and visit her website . . . .

Monte Carlo


Fireworks

RECREATING VINTAGE

RECREATING VINTAGE

Jenny Packham

Going vintage and wearing a real retro gown that’s actually survived the ages can be challenging. Fabric disintegrates, it tears and typically old fabrics are permanently soiled. If you love the vintage look consider recreating that gown from your favorite era. A recreation of an age-old gown can be custom designed to fit your needs, even have those modern touches included wherever you want them. While this Jenny Packham gown creates an early 1930s feeling, the silhouette is definitely cutting-edge-contemporary. And doesn’t the dress below look like something Marilyn Monroe or Kim Novak would have worn?

Above: Jenny Packham

Below right Justine Mireil




Robinson Valentine

Below: Jenny Packham

Right: Y&Kei

Jenny Packham

Going vintage and wearing a real retro gown that’s actually survived the ages can be challenging. Fabric disintegrates, it tears and typically old fabrics are permanently soiled. If you love the vintage look consider recreating that gown from your favorite era. A recreation of an age-old gown can be custom designed to fit your needs, even have those modern touches included wherever you want them. While this Jenny Packham gown creates an early 1930s feeling, the silhouette is definitely cutting-edge-contemporary. And doesn’t the dress below look like something Marilyn Monroe or Kim Novak would have worn?

Above: Jenny Packham

Below right Justine Mireil




Robinson Valentine

Below: Jenny Packham

Right: Y&Kei

COUTURE REPORT: PARIS FASHION WEEK

COUTURE REPORT: PARIS FASHION WEEK

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These gowns are spring personified. For me Giambattista Valli's Spring/Summer 2009 collection harks back to the later part of the Dior era when haute couture was all about femininity. The festooned gown above is a couture tour de force. Rows and rows of tiny organza ruffles shape the entire piece--just one of many of Valli's finale pieces.

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The perfect hourglass is back. I'm hoping this silhouette will stick around awhile . . .not only for bridal wear but pretty summer dresses.

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These gowns are spring personified. For me Giambattista Valli's Spring/Summer 2009 collection harks back to the later part of the Dior era when haute couture was all about femininity. The festooned gown above is a couture tour de force. Rows and rows of tiny organza ruffles shape the entire piece--just one of many of Valli's finale pieces.

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The perfect hourglass is back. I'm hoping this silhouette will stick around awhile . . .not only for bridal wear but pretty summer dresses.

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RENAISSANCE CHIC ON ETSY

RENAISSANCE CHIC ON ETSY

Check out this noble eye candy! It's by ETSY seller/ designer, Tracy Robertson of Azrael's Accomplice. Featured on the cover of Renaissance Magazine, this is the only piece in her store I’d term bridal (the rest of Tracey's shop has designs in the black lace and Gothic style). But OMG what a gown! For the bride with a sense of history, this dress will make her wedding the drama of her life. It's made of silk dupioni with intricate bead work all over the front bodice. For me the craft work in the sleeves give the dress its character. Do visit Azrael’s Accomplice. There you can check out more details on this spectacular gown close up.

Check out this noble eye candy! It's by ETSY seller/ designer, Tracy Robertson of Azrael's Accomplice. Featured on the cover of Renaissance Magazine, this is the only piece in her store I’d term bridal (the rest of Tracey's shop has designs in the black lace and Gothic style). But OMG what a gown! For the bride with a sense of history, this dress will make her wedding the drama of her life. It's made of silk dupioni with intricate bead work all over the front bodice. For me the craft work in the sleeves give the dress its character. Do visit Azrael’s Accomplice. There you can check out more details on this spectacular gown close up.

FROM MOON LANDINGS TO WEDDINGS

FROM MOON LANDINGS TO WEDDINGS

Remember the 1960s? Well, this photo style is one way magazines and newspapers used to report everything from moon landings to fashion layouts. Add in the sepia tones and you have a sense of timelessness ideal for wedding photos.

All these images are from a recent photo shoot I did with Berkeley photographer Bill Smoot. While we used a few different methods to photograph seven gowns in the collection, I particularly love this documentary style. If you do too consider incorporating a few shots done in this technique into your wedding portfolio. Best results for this kind of work are finding a photographer like Bill who still works with film. I'm finding some still use film as well as digital.

All photos by Bill Smoot Photo

Gown and headpiece by Amy-Jo Tatum Bridal Couture

Remember the 1960s? Well, this photo style is one way magazines and newspapers used to report everything from moon landings to fashion layouts. Add in the sepia tones and you have a sense of timelessness ideal for wedding photos.

All these images are from a recent photo shoot I did with Berkeley photographer Bill Smoot. While we used a few different methods to photograph seven gowns in the collection, I particularly love this documentary style. If you do too consider incorporating a few shots done in this technique into your wedding portfolio. Best results for this kind of work are finding a photographer like Bill who still works with film. I'm finding some still use film as well as digital.

All photos by Bill Smoot Photo

Gown and headpiece by Amy-Jo Tatum Bridal Couture

SHABBY CHIC BRIDES

SHABBY CHIC BRIDES

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I’m getting this kind of client more and more these days. The one who wants a bridal look that’s a cross between punk and Victoriana. The corset is fast becoming an essential in bridal wear collections either as a separate or part of the gown. We’ll borrow a phrase from the world of interior design and call it, 'Shabby Chic'. Here are a couple creations by designer Terry Fox based on corset dressing.

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I’m getting this kind of client more and more these days. The one who wants a bridal look that’s a cross between punk and Victoriana. The corset is fast becoming an essential in bridal wear collections either as a separate or part of the gown. We’ll borrow a phrase from the world of interior design and call it, 'Shabby Chic'. Here are a couple creations by designer Terry Fox based on corset dressing.

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