Showing posts with label dresses. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dresses. Show all posts

Monday, August 16, 2010

Julia's Fashion File: These Shoes are Made for Walking

Shoes are important. They protect and provide comfort for our feet from the wear and tear of our daily grind, they keep our tootsies warm in the winter months, they showcase our colorful nails in the summer after an expensive pedicure and most importantly, they're an avenue of self expression. From stilettos to sneakers and every size heel in between, there's something for everyone out there...but is there something for every bride?



Being a woman who has exceptionally finicky feet, I've found myself on one too many occasions breaking in to a cold sweat at the thought of having to pick out shoes for any occasion let alone for my hypothetical big day. I'd like to believe that I'm not the only one out there who can't wear a 5 inch heel but regardless of what you desire out of your bridal shoes, I've found the perfect site for all tastes and sizes.



Bridalshoes.com offers a huge assortment of quality and fashionable choices for a wide variety of brides out there. I've come across quite a few cheesy and cheap looking bridal shoes so it was refreshing to come across an abundance of awesome finds on one site, most of which I'd recommend to a friend. The prices are reasonable as well so you won't feel guilty buying your favorite pair and then kicking them off when the dancing starts.

Speaking of recommendations, I picked out a few awesome pairs of heels that if I could sport, I would wear in a heartbeat. Nina Ambert offers a stunning white satin, strappy open-toe sandal with a 3 1/2 heel for brides who want a classy yet look-at-me style.

Chinese Laundry offers a sassy ivory sandal adorned with a classic bow and a few flashy touches for the bride who wants the wow factor.

Alternatively, for those that can't or don't want to walk down the isle in treacherously high heels, they offer flats as well! This was the biggest selling point for me; elegant and flat don't typically belong together in the same sentence but bridalshoes.com offers a huge variety of small heels to flats. It's a dream come true for sensitive feet.



My favorite pair is the kitten heel with crossed toe straps by Coloriffics.


Your dress is the centerpiece but your shoes are going to take you to the alter. Choose wisely, fashionably and comfortably; you shouldn't have to sacrifice one over the other.

xoxo
Jules

Friday, July 16, 2010

Planner on Patrol: New at the Crew

Though J. Crew’s been a retail favorite for over 25 years, it’s taken them until now to open their first boutique catering solely to the bridal crowd. A gorgeous shopping showcase located on New York’s Madison Ave., the ground floor is dedicated to the bride and bridesmaids and the upstairs to elegant special occasion gowns and accessories.

Absolutely a must if you’re in the NYC area but call ahead, bridal appointments are usually booked up for a month in advance. Wedding dresses start at $295 and the store features a number of exclusive designs before they’re offered online or in the J. Crew catalog!

New York Magazine give sit a rundown: http://nymag.com/daily/fashion/2010/06/j_crew_bridal.html

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Spotted: Bella Bridesmaid: A Bride's Best Friend


Bridget Brown, founder of the famed Bella Bridesmaid, opened her doors in May 2000 after realizing there wasn't a single store in the US dedicated to chic, modern and wearable bridesmaid dresses.

Now that Bella Bridesmaid is a franchise, they have some incredible exclusive lines available. Meaning, you can only get these designers at Bella Bridesmaid boutiques nationwide.
  • Swoon: based out of LA. Flowy, etherial, destination-inspired dresses in slinky silks and romantic colors.
  • LulaKate: whimsical and fun silk shantung shapes in vibrant hues.
  • Joanna August: former Hollywood film executive turned bridesmaid dress designer, creates silk chiffon gowns that are Oscar-worthy yet versatile.
  • Carol Hannah: Coming this Fall, the Season 6 Project Runway finalist debuts with her new bridesmaid dress collection of flirty jersey frocks and informal bridal gowns .
  • And Saja: based out of NYC, came out of a gap in the market for well-made, silk bridal gowns that don't break the bank more appropriate for low-key brides or low-key weddings.

The lowdown is that Bella Bridesmaid boutiques have a fantastic collection.

What can you expect by booking an appointment with your Mom and your bridesmaids? They'll ensure that you have a personal, one-on-one experience in their cozy boutique and narrow their 350+ selection down to your favorites.

And what is Bridget's professional opinion when it comes to dress shopping: “You don't have to come to us with an exact style or color, but give us some details on what grabs you--what palettes you are drawn to, formal versus casual, clean lines versus flowy. Tell us about your venue and what your gown looks and feels like, what emotions you want to invoke. Bring a few key decision makers but leave the entourage behind for the first appointment.” Well said!

http://www.bellabridesmaid.com/

Monday, May 17, 2010

Julia's Fashion File: MOTB


While thinking about my next post it dawned on me that when I conjur up thoughts of wedding fashion I rarely think the Mother of the Bride, famously known as MOTB in wedding acronym speak. Which is a shame because it's just as important as all the other style aspects that go in to creating a beautiful, chic wedding.

When I imagine a MOTB, I see poise, elegance, class, and glamour. A lot of mom's feel that due to age and fear of overshadowing the bride, fashion has to suffer. But, I'm here to shine another light on it; there's no reason why mom can't be gorgeous right along with you.

As with bridesmaid dresses, I think MOTB dresses can get a bad rep because there are some bad (cringe-worthy bad) seeds out there. So I decided to poke around Bride.com and find some pieces that I would be proud to see my mom in on my big day.

I love the sassy black and white strapless dress for a mom who likes a more youthful look. Or, alternately, the floor-length forest green strapless with a lace shrug for those who like to be a little more covered up. The great thing about the lace shrug is that it's still sexy while being modest.

I was heartened to see so many beautiful styles out there. I for one can't wait to help my mom find hers when it's my turn. With dresses like these it's going to be hard to choose!

Wishing both you and your moms champagne toasts and fabulous fashion finds.

xoxo

Jules