Always a Blogsmaid

Coren Moore's New Collection

Our business started right around the same time as then Brooklyn based designer, Coren Moore.  Actually, like us, she started in her little apartment. Obviously, business has grown and she's moved out of her house, but she's still creating the fun, flirty bridal attire that first garnered her attention. Here are some looks from her Collection and her Signature lines. The Signature line is meant for a more casual bride or destination wedding.  To me they are all just lovely and, they are all manufactured here in the US.

Grooms Style Advice

The Q:  My fiance and I are planning a summer wedding, and the groomsmen will most likely wear grey or tan suits.  Should the groom wear an identical suit? or a slightly different one? What is the typical way to differentiate the groom from his groomsmen?

The A:  Well, I definitely think you should have him wear the SAME color suit (so either tan or brown) but it doesn't need to be the same suit.  Typically, the ties are the differentiator, however, you can vary the suit too.  The great thing about Grey or Brown is that they are inherently a little more "wedding risque" than a black suit/ tux, so you have some room to play!!! This is from Rock n' Roll Bride and shows you how the Groom's suit was 3 piece grey, while the groomsmen were just 2 piece suits. AND they switched up the ties... I thought it was stylish, but tied in...

One of my other favorite things is to mix in a patterned suit amongst solids. So perhaps it's a stripe or a plaid, as with this groom, also on Rock n' Roll Bride.  And, by the way, I sort of love the vests on the other groomsmen, especially for a summer/early fall wedding. Looks buttoned up, but not HOT.
One of our old clients, Tim and Lauren, did Brown suits on all the groomsmen (and the Man of Honor) but Tim switched it up by incorporating a striped shirt with his suit, and I thought that looked great....

Geez, I love Priscilla Dresses....

I've previously posted on how much I love Priscilla of Boston and the other day I was looking through Modern Bride and saw a dress that I just adored. It's at once elegant and Casual. It's actually the Madison dress from Vineyard by Melissa Sweet.
The Funny part about "The Madison" is that it would look awful on me (I'm short waisted and belts aren't my friend) but I still just love it.  That's why, ladies, you should bring an overly honest friend or mother with you when you go dress shopping.  Anyhoo, I'm also a big fan of their bridesmaids dresses. Mayra LOVES this pink ruffled number.  This color looks awesome on, btw.  Click here to see this from one of our "real Weddings" this past summer.
Are any of you wearing Priscilla?  Or are your maids? 

If I had to get married this month.....

I realize that I've gained a few pounds lately.  So, I decided that if I was forced down the aisle tomorrow, without having the chance to ammend my Thanksgiving tummy, this is the dress I would pick..... Truthfully, I just love this dress... it's so forgiving.  From the Pronovias collection.  And, ladies, mark these dates: Jan 15th and Jan 31st.  We are partnering with Pronovias for something REALLY fabulous and I'll be sharing details a little later this week.
 

Beat the Wedding Chill

The Q:  I am getting married in January and I literally just realized that I'm going to need some sort of jacket or something.   (I don't know how I didn't notice this before.) Do you have any suggestions that won't totally break the bank?  I'm not trying to spend a lot of money on this thing.

The A:  I know how you hadn't noticed- it hadn't been cold!  Luckily there are some adorable (and affordable) options out there.   New York Magazine did a piece about winter cover ups and featured this find from David's Bridal for only $99. 

They also featured this AMAZING beaded number, which was significantly more money, but it inspired another thought...
It made me think of the awesome beaded sweaters that ladies used to wear in the '50s.  A little bit of vintage in a cardigan or bolero could be a great addition.  I did some hunting and found this on Ebay.   And this Something Blue number was from Lulu's vintage.

Frolicking Frocks!

My dream had always been to wear a vintage wedding dress.  I know it isn't for everyone, but the romance of days gone by (and I'm not talking about 80's puffy sleeves, here, I'm talking VERY vintage) is just so hard to capture AND you never worry that anyone else will be wearing your "look".  I was thrilled to find TheFrock.com and couldn't wait to share.  From $1200-6,000 these designer duds of the past will add a spot of glamour to the lucky gal who fits into the dress.  My favorite- the vintage Givenchy number at the bottom.

Sketch the Dress!

A week or so ago we went to Pronovias new flagship salon on 53rd street here in the city and were blown away by the variety of styles.  One of my favorite details though was with their exclusive collection designed by Manuel Mota- the customer is able to see the designer's original sketches side by side with the actual dresses.   Well, Brides.com obviously realizes what a little thrill that can be, because they started a feature called Sketch to Dress where you can see some of this season's amazing gowns next to their paper and pen version!  Here are a couple from Ines di Santo and Lela Rose.

Giambattista Valli's Bridal Collection

Yesterday, I hiked my way to mid-town for a breakfast preview of Giambattista Valli's new bridal collection carried exclusively at Bergdorf Goodman. 

It was at 9AM, and the store wasn't open yet; so I had the ODD experience of entering Bergdorf's through a side entrance and, like a dream I've had before, wander the hallways of Bergdorf's alone.  (Though in my dream I walk out with a boatload of shoes- that didn't happen in the reality.)  Anyway, what I saw was fabulous.  Giambattista Valli's dresses are romantic, but humorous and a bit whimsical with grosgrain details.  More amazingly though, they are insanely well crafted (it is Petit-Couture) and most of the dresses were both light as a feather AND still featured built in corseting to keep the girls looking their best.   The only downer is, I don't know if the gowns are cut for the bride who might have a lot of décolletage.  Regardless, gorgeous.  They range from 8-15K and they can ONLY be ordered at their three trunk shows at Bergdorf's- Today and again December 2-4th.  Give a call for an appointment to 212.872.8774

J. Crew Fever

In this time of credit crisis, isn't it fantastic to see the NEW, GORGEOUS wedding styles over at J.Crew?  The dresses below are some of my favorites and range from $350-2,500.  They have really upped the sophisticated ante and I can imagine some of these gowns on my Smack Mellon brides right on over to my Botanical Garden girls. And, several of them have POCKETS!

Seriously though, can anyone whose worn a J.Crew dress or recently bought one tell us about the process?  I haven't had a bride wear one yet and I'm just wondering how it goes?  Is there really an Ashley? I would so appreciate your feedback about the experience for bride's or bridesmaids.

Mc Fabulous Rings.

So, Mayra is really in love right now and, she won't admit this,  it causes her to look at a lot of jewelery sites for "research for the blog" (I'm winking now, you can't see that, but I am).  Anyway, she and I have fallen in LOVE with the amazing designs at McTeigue & McClelland.  They are romantic, floral, but clean and to me, have a wonderful vintage feeling about them.  I couldn't pick just a couple, so here is almost ALL of their bridal line.