FINALLY LAUNCHED!

FINALLY LAUNCHED!

As editor of Bride Chic I can't tell you how excited I am that the online zine has finally launched! For those of you out there following Bride Chic, The Blog, The Zine is a hand-picked assortment of features focusing on all the best of the blog and Amy-Jo Tatum Bridal Couture combined. So if you love those fashion editorials you can catch three at a time on the Zine. In addition will be a few postings from some of my favorite sites out there. And for those of you just stumbling upon Bride Chic for the first time, we're all about wedding fashion starting with the gown and moving on to Mom dresses, bridesmaids, guests, kids, as well as rehearsal and shower options. An entirely new feature for the blog as well as Zine will be 'Access', a spotlight on all accessories bridal from tiara to shoes. And if you love top notch photography stick around. All the newest, off-the-charts fashion and wedding artists gather on Bride Chic, The Zine . . . .



Cover shot by Stephanie Williams Photography/Above: Ron Greystar Photography

As editor of Bride Chic I can't tell you how excited I am that the online zine has finally launched! For those of you out there following Bride Chic, The Blog, The Zine is a hand-picked assortment of features focusing on all the best of the blog and Amy-Jo Tatum Bridal Couture combined. So if you love those fashion editorials you can catch three at a time on the Zine. In addition will be a few postings from some of my favorite sites out there. And for those of you just stumbling upon Bride Chic for the first time, we're all about wedding fashion starting with the gown and moving on to Mom dresses, bridesmaids, guests, kids, as well as rehearsal and shower options. An entirely new feature for the blog as well as Zine will be 'Access', a spotlight on all accessories bridal from tiara to shoes. And if you love top notch photography stick around. All the newest, off-the-charts fashion and wedding artists gather on Bride Chic, The Zine . . . .



Cover shot by Stephanie Williams Photography/Above: Ron Greystar Photography

CUSTOMIZE

CUSTOMIZE

Always dreamed of a one-of-a-kind confection on your wedding day but can't afford couture? Customize then. I'm so in love with Kacey Higley's work over at Twisted Crystals on Etsy, These hand-rolled florals and belt combos are so beautiful in their detail and just the right accessories for customizing a plain and unadorned gown into a design of your own that looks like a work of art . . .

Always dreamed of a one-of-a-kind confection on your wedding day but can't afford couture? Customize then. I'm so in love with Kacey Higley's work over at Twisted Crystals on Etsy, These hand-rolled florals and belt combos are so beautiful in their detail and just the right accessories for customizing a plain and unadorned gown into a design of your own that looks like a work of art . . .

INDOOR/OUTDOOR CHIC

INDOOR/OUTDOOR CHIC

Explore the best of both worlds here. Elegant interiors mixed with scenic and pastoral outdoors make up a wedding with the beauty and functionality of both aspects.

Explore the best of both worlds here. Elegant interiors mixed with scenic and pastoral outdoors make up a wedding with the beauty and functionality of both aspects.

STALKING THE LOOK BOOKS: REEM ACRA

STALKING THE LOOK BOOKS: REEM ACRA

When you think big, grand gowns in elegant fabrics who do you conjure up? Reem Acra, of course. She uses the most opulent and traditional fabrics and embroidery techniques that spell out bride gone formal with all the trimmings. Reem is most noted for intricate bead work of tiny swarovski crystals and seed pearls. She also is apt at the gold needlework and embroidery on those rich fabrics. These pieces are from her Spring/Summer 2010 collection.

Photos courtesy Brides UK

When you think big, grand gowns in elegant fabrics who do you conjure up? Reem Acra, of course. She uses the most opulent and traditional fabrics and embroidery techniques that spell out bride gone formal with all the trimmings. Reem is most noted for intricate bead work of tiny swarovski crystals and seed pearls. She also is apt at the gold needlework and embroidery on those rich fabrics. These pieces are from her Spring/Summer 2010 collection.

Photos courtesy Brides UK

MUTED PASTELS

MUTED PASTELS

Credits: Lyndsey Hamilton Events, Jose Villa, Jose Villa Photography

Credits: Lyndsey Hamilton Events, Jose Villa, Jose Villa Photography

CALLING ALL SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA BRIDES

CALLING ALL SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA BRIDES

If you're lucky enough to be a Bay Area bride, Gumps is presenting a very special San Francisco Bridal Event, Sunday Feb. 7, 11AM-1PM. Each year Gumps gathers the Bay Area's finest wedding vendors and presents a magnificent tabletop display for brides in the area. Sip sparkling wine and enjoy a continental brunch by Taste Catering as you stroll among the gorgeous tables. Tickets are $30.00. Click here for more information

If you're lucky enough to be a Bay Area bride, Gumps is presenting a very special San Francisco Bridal Event, Sunday Feb. 7, 11AM-1PM. Each year Gumps gathers the Bay Area's finest wedding vendors and presents a magnificent tabletop display for brides in the area. Sip sparkling wine and enjoy a continental brunch by Taste Catering as you stroll among the gorgeous tables. Tickets are $30.00. Click here for more information

THE GARDEN PARTY BRIDE

THE GARDEN PARTY BRIDE

More from the "Every Which Way Romantic" series, this week we're concentrating on the Garden Party Bride. So what makes up this feminine style? It has alot to do with the outdoors, gardens, flowers, gazebos and great weather. Imagine a party a J. Gatsby's. Doesn't it conjure up images of croquet parties on acres of lawn? You'd see some wide-brimmed straw or horsehair hats wrapped in tulle and hand-rolled florals, silk and organdy dresses, parasols, maybe a touch of Chantilly lace over gloved hands. Garden parties revolve around Spring and Summer festivities. It could be a tea, a dance or luncheon wedding. You can incorporate this sort of style in putting yourself and groom together or design a whole wedding theme around it.

Hat by Amy-Jo Tatum/Photo: Stephanie Williams Photography

SMP Gallery

Here are a few inspiring ideas to get you going . . .

Flappers

Silent Movies

Jazz

The Charleston

George Gershwin

The Great Gatsby

Chanel, Poiret and Erte

The House of Eliot

Mia Farrow and Robert Redford in The Great Gatsby

More from the "Every Which Way Romantic" series, this week we're concentrating on the Garden Party Bride. So what makes up this feminine style? It has alot to do with the outdoors, gardens, flowers, gazebos and great weather. Imagine a party a J. Gatsby's. Doesn't it conjure up images of croquet parties on acres of lawn? You'd see some wide-brimmed straw or horsehair hats wrapped in tulle and hand-rolled florals, silk and organdy dresses, parasols, maybe a touch of Chantilly lace over gloved hands. Garden parties revolve around Spring and Summer festivities. It could be a tea, a dance or luncheon wedding. You can incorporate this sort of style in putting yourself and groom together or design a whole wedding theme around it.

Hat by Amy-Jo Tatum/Photo: Stephanie Williams Photography

SMP Gallery

Here are a few inspiring ideas to get you going . . .

Flappers

Silent Movies

Jazz

The Charleston

George Gershwin

The Great Gatsby

Chanel, Poiret and Erte

The House of Eliot

Mia Farrow and Robert Redford in The Great Gatsby

CUSTOM DESIGNED PART III: THE FINAL FITTING

CUSTOM DESIGNED PART III: THE FINAL FITTING

Putting the gown together is the first step to getting a perfect fit on your wedding day. Whether you're going contemporary or traditional, in a ball gown or a sheath, in the end every bride should demand a perfect fit.
Generally, a bride has about three dress fittings after all the fine tuning is done on the muslin. There are always more nips and tucks and all those small details. Whenever there's a final fitting, that's when we--the bride and myself-- do the real minute work, making sure every button lines up, every hook and eye are in the right closing points and so on. In addition, a final fitting is the perfect time to really stand back and appraise the dress as a whole. Here's what I look for in the end product: I like to see fabrics drape well and mold to the skin like sculpture. A wedding gown should be comfortable and beautifully lined so the client wears it like a second skin . . . the whole component moving with her as if it is part of her body. She's going to be hugging people, dancing and toasting to name a few things. Before I let any gown leave the studio, I have brides dance with utter abandon, twirl, lean over, bend and stretch in all directions to make sure the gown looks and feels like it is her own.

I will say the last and most critical detail has to be the hemline. Typically most are at least an inch shorter in the front than the back, graduating in length along the sides. The tips of your shoes should be seen under the gown so once you start walking, you'll glide smooth as silk down the aisle.

Putting the gown together is the first step to getting a perfect fit on your wedding day. Whether you're going contemporary or traditional, in a ball gown or a sheath, in the end every bride should demand a perfect fit.
Generally, a bride has about three dress fittings after all the fine tuning is done on the muslin. There are always more nips and tucks and all those small details. Whenever there's a final fitting, that's when we--the bride and myself-- do the real minute work, making sure every button lines up, every hook and eye are in the right closing points and so on. In addition, a final fitting is the perfect time to really stand back and appraise the dress as a whole. Here's what I look for in the end product: I like to see fabrics drape well and mold to the skin like sculpture. A wedding gown should be comfortable and beautifully lined so the client wears it like a second skin . . . the whole component moving with her as if it is part of her body. She's going to be hugging people, dancing and toasting to name a few things. Before I let any gown leave the studio, I have brides dance with utter abandon, twirl, lean over, bend and stretch in all directions to make sure the gown looks and feels like it is her own.

I will say the last and most critical detail has to be the hemline. Typically most are at least an inch shorter in the front than the back, graduating in length along the sides. The tips of your shoes should be seen under the gown so once you start walking, you'll glide smooth as silk down the aisle.

A COOL HEAD

A COOL HEAD

source

The above hat is a total throwback to 1960s head chic--something Jean Shrimpton would have worn. The sprig of Baby's Breath below says, 'Are you ready for Spring . . .?'

source

source

The above hat is a total throwback to 1960s head chic--something Jean Shrimpton would have worn. The sprig of Baby's Breath below says, 'Are you ready for Spring . . .?'

source

SHOOT CHIC

SHOOT CHIC

Ever wonder what goes on behind the scenes of a gown shoot? Here are a few of my new creations shot Friday by the incredibly talented Saira Rizwan of S1 Studio here in the SF Bay Area. We took seven gowns, two great stylists with hair and makeup and one inventive florist to make all this magic happen.

Hairstylist, Dana Faulkner working on Shauna's hair between gown shots

My favorite, the 'Ciara' gown. Handrolled dupioni roses on a fitted sheath offers a real 1940s look we played to the hilt. Can't wait to see all the images on this shoot. Stay with me a couple more weeks when I'll be posting images.

Ever wonder what goes on behind the scenes of a gown shoot? Here are a few of my new creations shot Friday by the incredibly talented Saira Rizwan of S1 Studio here in the SF Bay Area. We took seven gowns, two great stylists with hair and makeup and one inventive florist to make all this magic happen.

Hairstylist, Dana Faulkner working on Shauna's hair between gown shots

My favorite, the 'Ciara' gown. Handrolled dupioni roses on a fitted sheath offers a real 1940s look we played to the hilt. Can't wait to see all the images on this shoot. Stay with me a couple more weeks when I'll be posting images.