HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

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Every year I've been posting a Halloween Bride. 2009 brings us this ensemble for the bride heavily into Goth . . .of course not everyone embraces this genre of fashion which makes it all the more original . . .

SHARING THE CHIC

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I just had to share this medley of ultra femme images a client sent me a couple days back. It hails from In Style Weddings and acted as the inspiration point from which she wanted to begin the design process. Thanks Rachel for passing on your own muse to so many other brides out there . . .

WINTER CHIC

When asked by You and Your Wedding Magazine, what designer Sassi Holford would be doing if she weren't in the wedding industry, she replied, 'I would be unemployed!'Personally I think she'd do magnificent wherever she decided to work. Feast if you will on these gowns by the awesome Sassi perfect for chillier climates. This British designer remains one of my favorite creators of chic . . .

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STALKING THE LOOK BOOKS: DANIELA GRISTINA

Daniela Gristina's gowns are green, almost casual and hint at far away places in time and culture. Ethnic in feel , you'll find flowing, feminine lines. The fabrics are all natural cottons and linens, light organza, chiffon and silk gauze.

Photos courtesy of Vogue Sposa

VIONET INSPIRED

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Pioneer of the bias cut, Madeleine Vionet, once said, '"When a woman smiles, her dress must also smile" . Translated I think madamoiselle may have meant, a woman is happiest wearing her gown like a second skin. Long before the development of knits, the bias cut was used for body-hugging silhouettes like the Vionet original above. It all started back in the 1920s when the Parisian couturier developed a technique utilizing the true cross grain of fabric rather than straight grain lines of weft or warp of the fabric. Vionnet used fabrics like crêpe and charmeuse; These were novel to women's wear in the 1920s and 30s. She also ordered fabrics two yards wider than the 19-36"norm for the time so that she could work out draping and layout techniques. As a result gowns and dresses moved beautifully when cut on the bias. Vionnet's trademark: styles that cling to and move with the wearer. Examples: Bias cut gowns with cowl necklines, the handkerchief dress of the 1920s, and halter top. By 1930, Hollywood designers took advantage of Vionet's bias cut and made it into a real trend via moving pictures. Today the bias cut gown is a classic option for brides.

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Madeleine Vionet in her studio circa 1920
With tulle overlay by Blumarine


Greco-Roman in inspiration, by Rosa Clara.




From Elie Saab



V-shaped neckline by Manuel Mota for Pronovias.

HE CHIC ITALIAN STYLE

Devota y Lomba.

There's guy chic and there's Italian guy chic. Yes, Italian men have long had the edge especially for pioneering new directions in formal wear. With a certain respect for tradition while at the same time innovating, Italian menswear designers are trading regulation black, offering a host of optional colors such as bronze, ecru and eggplant. Add to that texture: we're looking at some suits with a hint of the iridescent while some sport outright shiny. The lines are going slimmer (a la Don Draper). Still with all this freedom we're looking at a return to the serious and traditional tailoring from which Italians (and British) made their mark.

Miguel Suay.


Javier Arnaiz.

Javier Arnaiz.

Fuentecapala - Moda Uomo.

Miguel Suay.

Devote y Lomba.

Javier Arnaiz.

MEET TWO BRAND NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK

I'm always surprised at how many local brides and wedding pros surface when I run a Bay Area related post. The fashion/wedding world here in San Francisco is buzzing about Mocha Bride and Bride Nine magazines, two very novel concepts of Bay Bella Publishing. Mocha Bride's cover always features a bride of color as seen in the premiere summer 2009 issue pictured at the right. Bride Nine features a bride who represents one of the unique nine counties in the Bay Area. The fall issues are out and can be purchased on the website http://www.mochab.com/ or at a local Bay Area bookstore. A quick peek at editorials and I was awestruck by the inspiration factor and highly recommend both mags whether you live in the Bay Area or not . . .

LOVIN' THOSE PEEPS

Amazon.com: BALLY Women's Iwells-62 Peep Toe Pump: Shoes
$750 - amazon.com

Right: Unicorn Princess Heels $120 - modcloth.com

FLOWER POWER

Silk flower headpiece, from £.7.95 by VV Rouleaux

Thinking of going Boho perchance? Or do you just love the look of fresh cut florals in your hair? These gorgeous phonies look so real you'd swear they were just picked.

Silk flowers, £298 by Basia Zarzycka

Chiffon rose, £285 by Basia Zarzycka

GETTING HARLOW AND GARBO CHIC

Low-waist dress with lace bodice and rhinestones brighten this multi-layered chiffon skirt. Bracelets Sharra Pagano.

I love the Art Deco wedding complete with a bride making her entrance in the starlet gown. Some simply add touches of that movie star look with feathered fascinators or those rare vintage shoes. Though the peak of Hollywood Glamour was the 1930s, 40s and 50s fashion reflected its own kind of chic too. The 1940s concentrated on wide shoulders, satin and high hair-dos, usually worn half up, half down. The 1950s ushered in the strapless bodice with full skirts and layers of petticoats. Reminiscent of Golden Hollywood fashion is the long white satin evening gown, ruched and ruffled arms, sleeves and hems and of course the long, slinky gown with a train. Part of the magic of glamour fashion is designers today are using it as an inspiration point to create their own take on it . . .

A working honeycomb and rhinestones for apparel bustier with pleated full skirt. Collier Swarovski. Peep-toe René Caovilla.

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Empire dress in chiffon.

Pleated organza chiffon empire dress with rhinestones on the neckline and short train. Sandals, Rene Caovilla.

Voile lace bodice with, pearls and rhinestones, pleated chiffon petticoat. Saloons Tarina Tarantino. Swarovski earrings. Bracelets Sharra Pagano. Peep toe Rodo.

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Lightweight satin dress with tail, embellished with embroidery and crystals on the straps under the bustline.

FICTIONAL BRIDES AND THEIR WEDDINGS

Anne Hathaway in the film "Bride Wars" (2009).
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If you've been following my blog for any length of time you know by now how much I respect Hollywood's influence as well as contribution to bridal fashion. These may not be real brides but the designers, writers and producers who created them certainly are. Thus, actresses who wear these creations inspire the way we look at weddings and fashion .

Kate Hudson in "Bride Wars" (2009).

Jennifer Aniston along with Owen Wilson in Marley & Me. Gown by Susana Molina.


Sarah Jessica Parker wore a Vivienne Westwood dress in the film "Sex and the City" (2008).

This dress made fashion history. Yes, Carrie Bradshaw is fictional but we've gone through too much with her--men, career, relationships--not to deem her real in her own way to each of us. For me she's what 2008 bridal fashion was all about: brides finally willing to take a chance with their look, (her ready-for-take-off headpiece is a good case in point). What would have once been considered too theatrical or gauche for a proper wedding not only became fashion norm, it's changed the bridal scene entirely.
Carrie's Ivory silk taffeta confection was actually one of the finale pieces from Vivienne Westwood's 2007 "Wake Up Cave Girl" Collection. Hand picked by Sex and the City stylist, Patricia Field, personally, I was surprised Sara Jessica didn't rate a custom designed gown for her role in the film. I mean heck! Didn't Audrey Hepburn have a one-of-a-kind-designed-to-fit-her-character Givenchy tulle wedding dress in Funny Face?



Amanda Seyfried as a bride dressed in "Mamma Mia!" (2008).


In "What Happens in Vegas" (2008), Cameron Diaz wore a champagne colored minidress, definately a popular option for today's bride . . .

Here's Angelina Jolie. This is not the actual wedding gown worn in the film, The Good Shepherd, but costume designer Ann Roth's sweetheart gown, a design popularized by young women like Judy Garland and Debs of the late 1930s-early 40s era.

Julia Roberts in "Runaway Bride" (1999).

Now's the time to curl up with a good old-fashioned wedding movie. Most below are out on video or disc/DVD. Watch your favorite and listen to the commentary if there is one--you'll learn so much.

It Happened One Night (1934)

Father of the Bride (1950)
Father of the Bride (remake 1991)

Panama Hattie (1942)

Design for Living (1933)

The Sound of Music (1965)
The Graduate (1967)
Penelope (1966)
Sex and the City (2008)
Runaway Bride (1999)

What Happens in Vegas (2008)

The Bridal Wars (2009)

THE LITTLE GIRL WEDDING

In Europe, kids make up the wedding party almost entirely. Remember Lady Diana's wedding to Prince Charles in 1981? Her eldest attendant was a junior bridesmaid. The rest were taffeta-clad flower girls and pages dressed in the traditional costume of the English Court.Imagine a parade of pretty little girls ranging in age from 3-13 processing their way through a garden in delicate organzas. Although this line-up doesn’t fit the typical wedding, the ‘little girl’ trend is different and delightful. For those of you considering a ‘wee chic’ wedding, I Love Gorgeous offers some fantastic kid couture. Also the top images are from one of my favorite Bay Area Photographers, CinZo who captures the essence of childhood with such a sensitive eye . . . .