Always a Blogsmaid

Plea For Dresses for the Girls' Club!

All,

Every year the Lower Eastside Girls Club gives away new and gently used dresses and gowns to girls in our programs--girls who cannot afford a new gown for her prom.

For many of our members this is a very special time - as High School graduation eludes many in her family and her community, she is going to prom because she has finished High School and is on to college. So "prom" is more than prom...and we want our girls to look their best and feel fabulous!

This year we received many gowns sizes 0-8 but are in desperate need of gowns sizes 10 and up.

If you have anything to donate, please mail it or drop off at the Girls Club by Thursday May 7th. Gowns should be clean, stain free, and appropriate for prom.

And please forward this request widely!

Thank you so much,
Adriana
The Lower Eastside Girls Club

Bridesmaid Revisited

I love hearing stories about how people started their businesses, but this one might be a favorite. As a bridesmaid for her friend's wedding, Jessica Ciarla didn't want them to wear just anything, so designed bridesmaids dresses for the wedding party. Each one  flattering the individual girl who wore the dress.  Her friend's wedding was then featured in Brides New York and the calls rolled in and, next thing you know, CiarlaBride was born!  The dresses themselves are lovely and they solve the eternal challenge of something uniform that fits each lady.  Not only are these flattering to multiple figures, they express multiple personalities.  Her classic line is featured below, as well as some of the colors and belt options.  She also launched an Alice line, that's a little edgier, and you can check a couple of them out here as well.  

A Bridesmaid Gift to Covet!

Amongst some bridesmaids' gifts that I've received over the years have been a coordinating clutch bag, a champagne glass set that said Bridesmaid and a really weird bolero jacket.  So, when I saw these awesome monogram necklaces from Kacey K Fine Jewelry, I immediately began to wonder where these necklaces were when my girlfriends were planning their weddings.   And, when you place your order directly through Kacey K, and mention bridesmaid's gifts, you will receive 20% off. 
Both styles are available in Gold and Silver.   Gold might be a little pricey for your average bridesmaid's gift ($500), but the silver (with the discount) is pretty lovely!($200) And she will actually WANT to wear it.  There are a ton more styles available.  Visit the site or email [email protected]

Dressing Up Your Wedding Party

This past weekend we had a wedding at the Bowery Hotel filled with gorgeous and lovely looking ladies.  To keep things mellow, our bride opted to have all the bridesmaids wear pink cocktail dresses in whatever shade they chose.  The result was stunning (pictures forthcoming) and I noticed that everyone had looks that were personalized, but it still came together.  One trend that I loved: really chunky necklaces on all the ladies.  Some were beaded, some were embellished with flowers.  All of it stylish.  That made me think of Stella & Dot.  Their stuff is so amazingly fashionforward and fun, yet reasonably priced.  Perfect for a bridesmaid or guest looking to let people know who YOU are!

If you buy through this particular link, their rep has offered our readers FREE SHIPPING! WOO HOO!.

The Bergdorf Exclusives....

I'm an annoying New Yorker in that I love having stuff that other people don't have (or, that I convince myself other people don't have).  That said, we went to an awesome press preview this morning at Bergdorf's bridal salon.  They just started carrying Monique Lhuillier and have a number of exclusive gown that she designed JUST for Bergdorf's.  Similarly, Bergdorf's has many "Only Found at Bergdorf's" gowns this Spring, including Marchesa (of the Red Carpet and Harvey Weinstein Fame) and Angel Sanchez.
Here are some Sketch to dress pics (I always love seeing those) as well as my commentary.  Detail shots, more gowns and us making funny faces can be found on our facebook page.
Here is probably the most reasonably priced gown I've seen this season! This gorgeous Monique spaghetti strap number! The tiny florettes on top have gorgeous crystal detail.
This was my favorite.  I don't think the pics do it justice, but this amazing Angel Sanchez dress has completely curving seams so that it appears to wrap around your body.  AMAZING construction... when people wonder why wedding gowns are pricey, this is a sculptural testimony to why! 
Some more Moniques! 
The Latina in Mayra loves the bling and frankly, this dress is so stunning, I'd be looking to get invited to SOMETHING fancy so I could wear this dress again if I bought this amazing Marchesa  Naeem Khan.
And a final, fun Empire and crystal Marchesa that made me smile...

Did any of you get your gowns at Bergdorf's? 

Happy Hair Pieces

I was reading In Style Weddings this weekend and was so into this little floral pin from Tiger Lilly Jewelry - www.tigerlillyjewelry.com (Lilly with 2 Ls, btw... one L takes you to a website that makes really weird acrylic flowers...) I was so impressed with their thoughtful hair jewelry, I wanted to share these funky feathered pieces with you. The Poof is 100bucks, but the Ostrich feathers are sooo Vintage Glam and only 35 a piece. Plus if you enter INSTYLE in the promo code, you can get 10percent off!!

Out of the Box Groom Style

I had wanted to do a post about grooms wearing patterned shirts, because I think it's just kind of a bold thing to do and I love fashion forward dudes.  In the process of researching, I found a treasure trove of BOLD and sometimes unusual Groom Attire!

From Mama's Getting Married.... Genevieve and Eben's Montreal St. Albert, Alberta CA wedding took the scarf trend to a new level (and frankly, this groom is so cute, he could have shown up in a sweatsuit and looks dapper):

 From Rock n' Roll Bride (the best place for Groom-spiration) This unbelievable Marie Antoinette inspired bride and groom:

This wedding was less outrageous, but still stylish as the groom and groomsmen wore vintage ties belonging to the groom's dad (via Snippet and Ink):

Finally, here are the patterned shirts that started this entire post..... Happy, citrus stripes from Michael Norwood via life, love & lipstick

 

And Classic Callico from Rock 'n Roll bride:

So, is your guy going traditional, or a bit more outside the box?

Perhaps the Perfect Pump?

As a wedding planner, I am on my feet in fancy pant shoes A LOT.  I covet Cole Haan + Nike shoes and literally started salivating on myself a few months ago when I hear about the marriage of CECI designs and Cole Haan/ Nike to create a line of bridal shoes.  I could not wait and now, here they are!  Most of them are dyeable, all of them are sure to be comfortable and they are SOO uber stylish.  (Some of you may remember my Lela Rose rant.... granted these aren't in the same BALLPARK in terms of price, but aren't they LOVELY?) There are a couple of other styles not pictured here, but you can buy online here.

Shoegasm: The Shoe Inspiration Board

I mega-heart shoes, and I am particularly made happy by colorful shoes. I will admit to owning 4 pairs of yellow shoes.  So, it warms my little heart to see brides wearing colorful shoes and I thought I'd make a board about it.  I just think it adds so much personality to the day and to the photos.  If you read this blog regularly, you'll know I don't really make inspiration boards, but as I said, I'm really motivated by shoes.  I have a new found respect for my fellow bloggers who do these boards all the time, and I hope I do a proper job of crediting these awesome pics!  Top Row: Jeff Tisman via Brooklyn Bride, Bride's Little White Book; Second Row:red shoes from Rock and Roll Bride, coral shoes from Bride's Little White Book, Blue Shoes from Rock n Roll Bride, black shoes from Off Beat Bride; Third Row: blue shoes from Rock n' Roll Bride, green shoes from (where else?) Green Wedding Shoes, tiffany blue shoes from Green Wedding Shoes; Fourth Row: multi color shoes and green shoes both from Green Wedding Shoes; Fifth Row:amazing pink shoes and gorgeous purple items from Style Me Pretty; Sixth Row: adorable polka dot galoshes from Elizabeth Anne Designs, yellow flats (they are j.crew) from Snippet and Ink and the Seventh and final row:  amazing bright blue moccasins from Taza and Husband via East Side Bride.

Those Lela Rose Shoes....

I wasn't going to write about this, because I felt like it was just a matter of posting about something that was up on every blog, Buuut, I realize that I have a strong opinion about the Unforgetable Moments by Lela Rose shoes at Payless.  And the verdict is, I love the price, and I love Lela Rose, but I do not like these wedding shoes. 

I love Lela Rose's dresses. One of my favorite gowns that a client of mine has worn was a Lela Rose  (here she is in her gorgeous gown, photo courtesy Christian Oth) and I've been pretty smitten by her for a while. I also love high end designers doing stuff with mass-retailers.... I love Target and fight  for scraps whenever a special line comes out, and same said for H & M.   But, these shoes, while fabulously priced at only $24.99, I think are pretty mediocre at best.  They remind me of shoes I would buy for "semi formals" when I was in college 10 years ago. AND THEY AREN'T DYEABLE. Here are the two styles I found the most offensive (in their blandness).  They look like they are just Payless for Payless..... Where is the Lela Rose in this platform slingback?

These are no more fashionable (though they are cheaper) than these "standard wedding shoes" from Touch Ups (who have been around forever) which, btw, ARE dyeable.

Unforgettable Moments by Lela Rose for Payless, I'm underwhelmed.... There, I said it.  I love when you ladies tell me that I'm wrong, so please weigh in.  Thumbs up or down on the new collection?

UPDATE: I Stand Corrected!!! The NEW versions are dyeable.  They just aren't available on the website yet (or they weren't on there this morning) but they ARE in 2600 Payless stores.  I'm happy to admit when I'm wrong ;-)