The White Dress by the Shore Sample Sale!
The Saturday from 10AM-4PM The White Dress by the Shore is having an amazing sample sale on bridal gowns from designers Anne Barge, Judd Waddell, Melissa Sweet, Modern Trousseau and Priscilla of Boston! Check out their website for more details!
Sample Sale! Saja Wedding Gowns
Calling all fashionable brides — our absolute favorite designer in NYC is having an amazing sample sale on July 22nd-25th at their Elizabeth Street boutique. Visit Saja’s website for more information on their collection and sample sales. Happy shopping!
xo
Bridal Market: Ruffles & Feathers!
from left to right: Simone Carvalli via @carleyroney; Atelier Aimee via @carleyroney; Modern Trousseau via Martha Stewart; Jenny Packham via Martha Stewart; Monique Lhuillier via @brides; Ines di Santo via @brides; Jenny Packham via Martha Stewart
There are so many styles emerging at bridal market this week — and thanks to wonderful technology — we’re able to get a glimpse into each show as they unveil their new masterpieces! Here are a few of my favorites that came through my twitter and rss feed. So much more to come!
Introducing… Saja, Wedding Gowns by Yoo Lee
New York based designer Yoo Lee emailed me to introduce her amazing bridal line, Saja. I absolutely feel IN LOVE with these gorgeous, ethereal and and flowy gowns. LOVE the bead work on some and the simplicity of them all. All the bridal gowns in Lee’s line are also affordable and attainable — at or under $1,000 a piece. Incredible!!!
Couldn’t you see these gowns on a remote island wedding — or at a ceremony nestled into the forest? They’re so versatile and just gorgeous! To purchase or see Saja gown in person, make an appointment to visit their flagship store at on Elizabeth Street in New York.
Designer Spotlight: Elizabeth Fillmore
I came across the designer Elizabeth Fillmore’s work while looking for some inspiration for a client. I love her modern take in vintage style. Her collection is full and versatile… with so many romantic, whimsical, and vintage inspired pieces.
From top left to right: Cora, Cecila, Sophia and Thea
I love the vintage, Hollywood Glamour inspired look to these gorgeous gowns.
From top left to right: Ophelia, Eden, Winter Garden and Willow
Can’t you see these gorgeous lace and ruffle gowns at a garden inspired ceremony or rustic reception? I absolutely love them! All the appliques and detailing are just fantastic. Elizabeth is known for her beading, attention to detail, and the way fabric sits against the body. It makes me want to crawl into one of her gowns and get married all over again!
Elizabeth’s gowns are not available in any boutiques in Connecticut. You can find them at Saks Fifth Ave, Bergdorf Goodman and Mark Ingram in the city. Her collection is also available at l’elite in Boston.
Happy Sunday!
xoxo
Vintage French Inspired Photoshoot with Carla Ten Eyck, Part II
To recap from my previous post, a few weeks ago I had the pleasure of working with Carla Ten Eyck for her September Ten Eyck Tuesday. To view the first portion of this shoot check out my previous post, here! I collaborated with Elisabeth of BLUSH floral design and Beth Chapman of White Dress by the Shore on the color story of teal and pink. All the hair and makeup was done by the talented and super amazing Dana Bartone & Co., who are responsible for making almost ALL of my brides gorgeous on their wedding day (me included)!! My studio roomie Thomas Morlock of Vantage Point Films also shot the entire event from his viewfinder. He ate all the cake AND drank all the champagne!!!
Soo… is Signature Event Rentals not awesome? Their furniture totally made our tablescape go from cool to incredible. I loved their white dining table and we decided to use their Alice Pop hot pink chairs, mixed in with the white padded, clear backed. Elisabeth created a series of beautiful and simple pink arrangements down the center of the table in vintage milk glass containers… gorgeous!!
Party Rentals Ltd in Greenwich and New Preston supplied the hot pink glass chargers and some of the dinner plates. We also used their gold rimmed wine / champagne glasses and gold flatware. All the other pieces are vintage china (lots of limoges), including the tea cups and saucers, white/gold dinner plates and the aqua soup bowls are all courtesy of my friend and etsy shop owner, Jen. Check out her store, Jen’s Closet!
I added little bottles of Moet at each place setting and floated white raspberries in each champagne glass (they were yum!). The beautiful art deco napkins came from this fabulous antique store in Seymour, Connecticut called Yesterday’s Luxuries. They are made of linen and are so delicate and beautiful! Definitely a set of keepers.
Thanks to all the awesome vendors who contributed to the shoot! You can see more of it here on Carla’s blog!
xoxox
Vintage French Inspired Photoshoot with Carla Ten Eyck, Part I
A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of working with a lot of my absolute favorite people on a photoshoot with Carla Ten Eyck for her September Ten Eyck Tuesday. I collaborated with Elisabeth of BLUSH floral design and Beth Chapman of White Dress by the Shore to come up with a unique and fun color story in teals and pinks. All the hair and makeup was done by the talented and super amazing Dana Bartone & Co., who are responsible for making almost ALL of my brides gorgeous on their wedding day (me included)!! My studio roomie Thomas Morlock of Vantage Point Films also shot the entire event from his viewfinder. Plus, he drank all the champagne.
For those of you who don’t know, Carla runs an amazing workshop for photographers once a month where she spends an entire day shooting, educating, and discussing her artform. I’ve attended two Ten Eyck Tuesdays and Carla is amazing!! If you are a photographer in the area (you should travel here if your not!) I highly recommend Carla’s workshop. They are so thorough and detailed. Plus, Carla puts the sass in sass-a-frass.
The location for the shoot was really awesome. The building is an interior designer’s dream, full of lots of shops from furniture to lighting. We took over a blank industrial space with nothing except a few sheets of unused drywall laid up against the wall.
This gorgeousness is all courtesy of Carla and Beth Chapman of White Dress by the Shore who dressed and styled our gorgeous models. Don’t you just LOVE this short wedding gown and feather hair fascinator? It was so delicate and pretty in person! I could have played dress up for hours with all the amazing accessories Beth brought.
That gorgeous, vintage pink bouquet is by the equally talented Elisabeth of BLUSH floral design. I love Dan’s peacock feathered boutonniere. Can you see the peacock feathers tucked into Mandie’s bouquet? Check the neck collage of images!
Pretty gorgeous, right? The furniture is from my FAVORITE rental company, Signature Event Rentals, who are responsible for most of the awesomeness you see. That gorgeous white couch? The clear-backed and hot pink dining chairs?! The leather tufted wall panels?!?! The WHITE dinning table?!?!?! Yeah, they pretty much rule. They’re the best, hands down, and we LOVED having their furniture at the shoot!
Elisabeth created a bed of tightly arranged hot pink carnations for our escort cards, which were pennant flags that I made and hand wrote in gold ink. Antonia from Flower upon Flour blew us away with her tasty little gold petit fours with the hot pink fleur de lis… but the pièce de résistance was definitely her INSANE cake!!
Antonia and I had discussed the color story and inspiration behind the shoot… and when she showed up with this…. we were like… seriously?! A teal cake with a gold birdcage on top and hot pink feathers?!
…. up next, our table and some other fun stuff!
xoxo
New fall lovelies at jcrew
Today I discovered some new beautiful pieces at jcrew while looking for a new dress to wear to an upcoming wedding that I am a guest at.
Silk gazar Channing gown… I love the black ribbon! Although I think it could be accentuated even better with something by Emerson made.
Gwen dress… has jcrew heeded my call for a short wedding dress? Kind of, but not really. This will have to do! I love this. It’s very winter to me with the layers of chiffon, organza and soft French tulle, and a hand-stitched collage of glass beads, sequins and feathers. But for $2,000 you’d have to bury me in it.
strapless silk taffeta Gracen dress, slub silk Betty dress, and confetti flapper dress…. I love these options for your maids!
and last but not least, my favorite accessories! Love the shoes, but love the jewels more. I don’t really like a heavy shoe with a bridal gown so there wasn’t much to choose from with fall on the horizon.
Happy shopping!
Fitting at White Dress by the Shore
I was so excited to work with the wonderful girls over at The White Dress by the Shore on my wedding gown and accessories (I did a feature on the blog about them last September). For my first dress fitting I brought along my friend Robin Dini to check out my dress. She surprised me with her camera and took some beautiful shots of Beth, Josie and I talking about different looks and the couture element of ruffled tulle I added to my Modern Trousseau gown. Am I super lucky or what?
Josie did all the alterations to my gown and has come out with her own line of fine European lingerie, sold exclusively at White Dress. Its called Beneath the Gown, and her creations are magnificent!!
The Little Short Dress
There is something about a short wedding dress that is so appealing to me. I love the idea of two wedding dresses because it is an opportunity to introduce another outfit into the day (fashion is such a love of mine). A short dress seems like such an obvious choice for the last hour of dancing and drinking; afterall, you really can’t move in most wedding dresses like you want (and no one can see what your mama gave you in a big ballgown). I’ve been doing some searching for a short dress but haven’t had any luck finding something I feel comfortable spending the money on. I’d love to be able to walk into Nordstrom’s and find her hanging there on the rack! Not going to happen I’m afraid. Here are some of my absolute favorite little white dresses.
Do you think I should change into a little white dress?
First off, I’m really in love with these gowns from Dolly Couture… they are so in my budget, too! Are they not gorgeous? Might be too late to order a custom gown at this point in time.
My favorite bridal boutique, which also just so happens to be where I bought my gown, launched The Little White Dress by the Shore, a collection of short wedding dresses. Love it! The first applique dress by Melissa Sweet I run to every time I go in. I am in love with it!
Modern Trousseau 2010 Collection: Sneak Peek!
A bunch of awesome landed in my inbox yesterday when Modern Trousseau emailed a glimpse of their new 2010 bridal collection. Yep, it is gorgeous.
left: Laura; right: Liza
left: Macey; right: Sasha
left: Scarlett; right: Stephanie
left: Summer; right: Taylor
left: Willow; right: Zoe
I also just read on The White Dress By the Shore’s new blog that they are exclusively hosting the new collection this weekend.
A J Crew Wedding
I’m sure no one is surprised that I have a long love affair with the Crew. The fact that I couldn’t even do this post without tossing some items into my shopping cart is pretty bad! Their bridal line is one of my absolute favorites — everything from the gowns to the party dresses — I love them all! I was really excited to hear that the company is tossing around the idea of opening up their first bridal boutique in Manhattan. Dreamy!
Here are some of my favorite J. Crew bridal gowns. Even if you are going for a more traditional gown, these would make fabulous after party dresses (but I happen to think they should be center stage)
Romantic & Whimsical: Bridal Gowns
A gown post is long overdue here on the blog and I thought I’d lead with some romantic and whimsical gowns. We are definitely seeing a prominent nod to romantic weddings this year in color, style, and fabric. Are you planning a romantic / whimsically inspired wedding? My interpretation of a romantic / whimsical dress is a bit of blush color to the fabric, ruffles, chiffon, organza, lace, flowers and bows.
Lela Rose Wedding Collection
Style: The Rose Garden
Claire Pettibone
Style: Kaelyn
Claire Pettibone
Style: Alexandra
La Fleur by Anne Barge
Style: LF 183
Melissa Sweet
Style: Katya
Melissa Sweet
Style: Dora
Claire Pettibone Exclusively for Kleinfeld
Style: Contact Designer
Modern Trousseau Trunk Show: March 12th-15th
Our favorite bridal boutique, The White Dress by the Shore is hosting a Modern Trousseau trunk show on March 12th — 15th. Modern Trousseau is an amazing designer based right here in Connecticut. I love them so much I decided to wear one myself! Here is the pertinent information:
Experience the classic elegance of Connecticut based designer Modern Trousseau
March 12th -15th by appointmentTrunk Show hours:
Thursday 12-8
Friday 11-7
Saturday 10-4
*Sunday 11-3:30
by appointment. 860.669.4596*Sunday’s focus will be on the mother of the occasion collection- brides, bring your Moms for a fun day of shopping for both of you!
A 10% discount will be granted off any Modern Trousseau purchase made during this exclusive event.
The White Dress by the Shore: Anne Barge & Couture Bridal Trunk Shows
The White Dress by the Shore, my favorite bridal boutique in Connecticut, is having some fabulous trunk shows this month. If you haven’t purchased your gown yet, then look no further than White Dress. They are the best!
Anne Barge Trunk Show
January 22nd – 24th by appointment
From lace, to ball skirts, to beading~ A collection of couture elegance
A 10% discount will be granted off of any Anne Barge gown purchased during the event.
**As a special gift, receive 15% off any Anne Barge gown purchased with an original retail value over $4500.
Couture Bridal Event
January 20th -30th
A 10% discount will be granted off of any bridal gown in our boutique priced over $3500 during this exclusive event
Designers include~ Priscilla of Boston, Melissa Sweet, Anne Barge, Judd Waddell & Modern Trousseau
Q&A Session with… heidi elnora
A few months back I stumbled upon a fabulous wedding gown in Wedding Gowns Magazine. It was form fitting, draped with amazing lace and super romantic — my kinda gown! I went to the designers website and was then introduced to the incredibly talented Heidi Elnora Standridge, a true Southern lady with a rich, gorgeous style and a load of talent. She is based out of her home state of Alabama in Birmingham, creating amazing couture gowns for brides all over the country. I didn’t know it at the time, but she was on a little show called Project Runway (season two), which must have provided her with a ton of opportunities. She took those opportunities and really followed her dream, which leads us to where we are today! Not only are her gowns amazing, but her story is too, which really inspires me as a young female entrepreneur.
I had to find out where a bride in Connecticut could try on a heidi elnora dress, so I decided to email the designer. Much to my delight she and I struck up a great conversation and I invited her to do a Q&A session for the Connecticut Wedding Blog. She also just recently launched a beautiful new website which features her new 2009 line. It is simply amazing and I have a few highlights after the Q&A. If I hadn’t already fallen in love with my own gown, I would have easily flown down to her studio to meet with her about one of these. They are exquisite. I feel like a Connecticut boutique simply must carry her gowns! In addition to the new website, she is also opening a new bridal gallery in Atlanta, scheduled to debut in the Spring of 2009.
As a fashion designer, what led you to designing bridal gowns?
Love.
Prior to Project Runway, I designed children’s clothing for Carter’s in Atlanta. As I was driving back to Carter’s one afternoon, I was struck by a drunk driver. My mom, a nurse, came to my rescue and brought me home to Alabama to take care of me. While I was recovering, I met a young man. Eight months later, I put in my 2 weeks’ notice and moved back to Alabama. This is where heidi elnora was conceived. I wanted to be a bride. I wanted to design something a client would never forget– something that would be cherished, something that could be passed down from generation to generation, something that would always be special. What is more special than a wedding gown?
Where do you draw inspiration for your designs?
Inspiration comes from everything and anything. My family and friends inspire me. Noticeably each dress has a first and middle name. Each dress is named after a special woman in my life. When designing, I will take certain aspects from my inspiration’s life, her story, and use that to create her gown.
What is the process of creating a heidi elnora gown, whether couture or a ready-made design?
The couture process starts with an initial consultation. At the consultation, I ask the bride questions about her wedding, about how she has always envisioned herself, and about her overall theme or feel. From there I begin sketching. I usually sketch out the final gown at the first consultation. After the initial sketch, we take detailed measurements. The detailed measurements are used to create her custom patterns. The custom patterns are then used to create a muslin gown. The muslin gown is used for the basic dress fitting and then the final dress fitting follows.
A ready-made design can be bought off the rack. We will make small changes to the design by request. A ready-made gown can be ordered over the phone and does not require an initial consultation; yet consultations are encouraged to ensure the perfect dress for the bride.
How would you classify the style of a heidi elnora gown and what adjectives would you use to describe them?
The adjective would be timeless. I would classify the style of the gowns as “timeless gowns with classic lines and fine attention to detail.”
Besides the gown, what do you feel is the second most important “piece” to a bride’s look?
The second most important piece to a bride’s look would be a tie between her veil/headpiece and her flowers. They both are needed to finish the look. They are just as important as shoes and handbags are to the perfect little black dress.
What piece of advice do you give to a bride on shopping for her wedding gown?
Take your time and don’t settle. This is the most important gown you will ever wear. It should be PERFECT. It should be everything you imagined it to be and more.
What do you think is one of the biggest mistakes brides make when shopping or choosing a gown?
The biggest mistake a bride can make is choosing “the look” over “the fit.” A model in a magazine is going to look amazing in the ad. That is why the model was chosen. Sometimes brides think they will look the same. Not all styles are good for all brides. The bride should find a gown that flatters her body type and then create the look from there by adding lace or other details that reflect the initial look.
How can Connecticut and New England brides purchase a heidi elnora gown?
Brides from all over the country fly to Alabama to have a custom gown created exclusively for them.
Brides can also visit our site www.heidielnora.com to view the collection. If there is a gown that they are interested in, we can work with a local bridal salon to have the gown shipped to the salon for the bride to try on.
When a bride leaves after her emotional final fitting, taking your creation with her, it must be an incredible feeling knowing that you are such an intimate element in her wedding day. What is that like for you?
It’s AMAZING. By the time the dress is finished, the bride and I have become friends. I usually end up attending the wedding and crying with the Mom. It’s truly a proud moment for all of us.
heidi elnora Spring 2009
Are they not amazing? I am in love with every square inch of each of them. I love all the detailing and the ultra feminine, vintage feeling that they exude. Be sure to visit Heidi’s fabulous new website! She has also started a journal which I will be an avid reader of indefinitely. A thousand thank yous to Heidi for being so generous with her time to answer our questions. We are so inspired by her story!
Emmy Style 2008
Want an inkling into the hot colors and fashion designs that will hit your bridal magazines next year? Look no further than the Emmy awards on Sunday night! I feel as though a lot of the elements of these gowns are emulated in bridal fashion already, but they will be more pronounced for next year. Here are some of my Emmy favorites:
Olivia Wilde in Reem Acra
Many internet fashionistas are already pinning Miss Wilde as the top dressed star, and I tend to agree. This gown is so gorgeous and can immediately translate from the red carpet to the alter. I love the incredible detailing and vintage style. Everything on her is flawless; from the hair to the jewels and the bag.
Teri Hatcher in Monique Lhuillier
I chose to feature this gown because of the color and ruffling, both of which are very hot right now. Yellow, especially in this vibrant color, is so chic. The mermaid fit and ruffling along the back (which you cannot see) and the front are just gorgeous. I think the ruffling trend will carry through into next season, too, which excites me because I love its femininity!
Mariska Hargitay in Carolina Herrera
Again, this yellow is a bit deeper but so popular right now. I chose this gown primarily because of its style. It is so modern yet classic. I love the Roman vibe it gives with the over the shoulder. As a bridal gown I think it would need a bit of detailing in the back and perhaps something sparkly along the waist line to pull together the sash.
Brooke Shields in Badgley Mischka
The color of this gown isn’t my favorite for my own personal taste, but it is really prevalent right now in fashion (in smaller doses I can wear it). I chose this gown because I felt like the style could go straight from the red carpet and right to the aisle (sans color). The ruffling is so beautiful and the sweetheart neckline? Sexy! I would wear this gown on my wedding day if given the chance.
Modern Trousseau Trunk Show: September 25-27th
White Dress by the Shore is having a Modern Trousseau trunk show Thursday, September 25th through Saturday, September 27th. From their website:
A 10% discount will be granted on any Modern Trousseau purchase made during the event
Event Hours (by appointment only)
Thursday 12-8
Friday 11-7
Saturday 10-5:30
by appointment 860.669.4596
I really wish I could attend but I will be in Newport for the weekend for a long deserving vacation to celebrate my birthday. I encourage all of our Connecticut readers to attend the trunk show! Modern Trousseau is exclusively carried by The White Dress by the Shore (read our recent post featuring this beautiful boutique).
Vendor Spotlight: The White Dress by the Shore & Chic by the Shore
Yesterday I had the opportunity to sit down with Beth Chapman of The White Dress by the Shore and tour her exquisite boutique. It’s located in downtown Clinton in a historic and beautiful old home (I think she said it was over two hundred years old!). The boutique is so inviting and beautifully designed; it is, in every sense of the word, the essence of what a bridal boutique should be. I was so impressed by every element of White Dress – from the beautiful décor, to the unbelievable inventory of gowns by Anne Barge, Priscilla of Boston, Judd Waddell, and so many more. Beth also introduced me to a line of gowns by a very up-and-coming Connecticut designer, (more…)
Wedding Gown Style: Old Hollywood Glamour
For the past few nights I’ve been entrenched in finding some old hollywood glamour inspired wedding gowns. I really love the classic silhouettes of screen sirens past, and fully believe that it is every woman’s right to channel Rita Hayworth or Marylin Monroe on her wedding day! Some elements you should look for in a gown if you are planning an old hollywood based soiree are sweet-heart necklines with mermaid, drop-waist, and curve accentuating gowns. Stick with satin, Silk-charmeuse and Chantilly lace. Delicate bead work and crystals are also a signature component of this style. I also recommend a faux fur or feather shawl to add an extra bit of glam!
For more inspiration, read our post on Dita von Teese , the ultimate fashionista who infuses the glamour of the 40′s and 50′s into her style.
White Dress by the Shore: Couture Sample Sale!
‘Tis the season Connecticut Brides! The beautiful bridal boutique The White Dress by the Shore in Clinton is having a couture sample sale on Sunday, August 10th.
Receive 25-75% off bridal gowns, mother of the occasion, flower girls, cocktail dresses and accessories. Get the gown of your dreams at an amazing value! Designers include Melissa Sweet, Priscilla of Boston, Anne Barge, Vineyard Collection, Manuel Moto, Judd Waddell, Modern Trousseau and Watters and Watters.
Happy hunting!!
Designer Spotlight: Carolina Herrera Fall 2008
The one word I would use to describe Carolina Herrera is: classic. Her designs are classically beautiful, classically modern, classically tailored, and classically chic. Her designs are one of the top contenders for my own bridal gown because they are so timeless yet fresh. Every gown is crafted like a soft, billowing statue. I wanted to share with you my highlights from her Fall 2008 collection. The spring 2009 collection is already out, but these old beauties deserve their time in the spotlight.
My favorites:
I love the ruffles mixed with the structured satin.
Beautiful, classic, and romantic. I love lace gowns and cap sleeves. This gown was made for a garden wedding!
The pattern on this is a bit modern, but the cut and style of the empire waist is so flattering and romantic. I love (what looks like) ribbon underneath the bust.
This is also a modern design with an accentuating mermaid style fitting waist. I love the bits of tulle peeking out of the bottom — its very flirty.
Another modern lace design that has been extremely popular this year. The sweetheart neckline gives this dress some glamour!
Another mermaid style dress with some beautiful lace in the full skirt. I love the ribbon edging on the bottom too… it gives it a sleek, finished look.
This gown was made for a bride. It is so dainty and feminine — by far my absolute favorite! The sleeves are a bit unexpected but a wonderful touch. I love the look of lace.
Celebrity Style: Anne Hathaway
The premiere for Anne Hathaway’s movie Get Smart was in Rome last night. Her Valentino dress was so exquisite I wanted to share it with you. This would make an absolutely luscious wedding gown. The style of the gown is a beautiful marriage between Grecian (which is so abundant and popular right now) and Romance (which is so feminine and classic). I love the draping and ruffling of the fabric and the way it feels so light and airy. The cinched waist and offset crystal embellishment really glams up this already glamorous gown. Anne always has such style and grace about her and she just gets it when it comes to fashion. Enjoy the pictures below, and be sure to click on them for full sized images!
