Wednesday, 25 February 2009

ALL ABOUT LOVE

source

Let me not to the marriage of true minds
Admit impediments. Love is not love
Which alters when it alteration finds,
Or bends with the remover to remove:
O no! it is an ever-fixed mark
That looks on tempests and is never shaken;
It is the star to every wandering bark,
Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken.
Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks
Within his bending sickle's compass come:
Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,
But bears it out even to the edge of doom.
If this be error and upon me proved,
I never writ, nor no man ever loved.

SONNET 116

William Shakespeare (1609)

Tuesday, 24 February 2009

A MODEL BRIDE

Isn't she gorgeous! Believe it or not I met Polina via the 'will you model for me?' route. We set up a shoot for her to pose in some of my 1950s 'Dioresque' dresses. That's when I learned she recently got married at City Hall in San Francisco on Janurary 16.
In the City by the Bay we have a city hall with one grand and glorious rotunda. True, most of the brides who celebrate here sport less formal chic than Polina's; this gown though is totally in tune with the magnificent backdrop.

So what was Polina's wedding like? When I asked she told me, "After the ceremony we went to the Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park where we took some pictures. The reception was at the Carnelian Room Restaurant in the Bank of America building on the 52nd floor. It's really beautiful in there during the sunset."
So was this stunning gown my creation? No, remember I met Polina only a few weeks after she and husband Daniel said, "I do". The dress is actually from Davids Bridal. I particularly love the black and white wedding theme here. When I asked Polina just how she put her whole wedding ensemble together, she said, "The shoes, sash and veil all came from David's Bridal. It was my design and idea to combine two colors in the dress. Originally the dress was boring plain white with a short green sash. I decided to go with two black sashes together - the short one gave the detail (the stones) in the front and the other one - the long one - had the details in the back. The veil was also white but had some black details in it."

Pictured above are Polina and Daniel. Both are Russian and met in San Francisco 3 years ago. Personally, I think Polina is one of the happiest, most beautiful and radiant brides I've ever seen. And I've seen quite a few in my day . . . .
Gown and accessories . . . . David's Bridal
Venues . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . .Carnelian Room

Monday, 23 February 2009

SHEER INSPIRATIONS FROM CHRISTOPHER KANE

magic woman........


So how did Scottish born designer Christopher Kane go from designing bandage dresses to these beautiful palette creations? Kane apparently does a 180 every season but I see it more as an evolution or growing process. Recently Kane moved away from the body-hugging look and settled on looser-fitting chemises simpatico with 1920s styles. Kane is a great collaborator. Manolo Blahnik created the shoes for the showing of his second collection in 2007. Believe it or not he also designed the costumes for Kylie Minogue's music video 2 Hearts.[

Rose


Rose - by dalmatinka on Polyvore.com

Kane's designs are accessorized here by Polyvore members. Bless them for contributing their own unique vision to celebrate this new, talented designer.

Sunday, 22 February 2009

STORY BOOK SPRING

I'm so much in love with all these delicate pastels and soft textures of Spring. We have so much to look forward to this season . . .

Saturday, 21 February 2009

THE CHICER THE HEADPIECE . . .

I'm always talking about those fascinating new veils we've come to love . . . the hybrids. Neither veil nor hat but a combo of both. Stalking Polyvore, I found this head chic by Irresistible Headdresses that fits the scenario perfectly. What kind of gown would you wear it with? And what sort of accessories do you see paired with this look?

Friday, 20 February 2009

CATCH ME IF YOU CAN

No you're not missing me today, I'm just elsewhere. Two places actually. First, check out Weddings Fresh where I'll be covering Gown Friday once more. We'll be looking at the elegant creations of European designer Britta Kjerkegaard. Isn't the gown above just a knock out? You'll find a treasure trove of gold and iridescence from this designer.

What will they think up next? Has the guitar replaced the veil, you ask? This is one of Joseph Font's head innovations--one of many new trends you can check out on OneWed's brand new blog, Savvy Scoop. I'm so happy to announce I'm their regular Friday Guest blogger. Each week we'll be looking at the ever changing world of bridal fashion . Today we'll start off with some Trends for 2009 and Beyond.

I'll be back here on my own site tomorrow where I'll have a few comments on some very special head chic.

Thursday, 19 February 2009

COUTURE REPORT: PARIS FASHION WEEK


Of the Big Six of French Fashion Royalty, asked whom I think is the finest fashion house in Paris I'd say unequivocally the House of Dior is and always has been the pinnacle. Check out some of the imagination and technique on this season's creations. For me it's like looking at pure art. Oddly, Dior only ran his baby for ten years from 1947 till his death in 1957. After that it was the legacy of a succession of in-house designers interpreting a unique dialect of fashion Dior left behind.

Dior

Dior
Dior
Dior
Dior
Dior

Dior


Pure Valentino!
Valentino

Valentino

Valentino
Givenchy

Givenchy
Givenchy concentrated on Grecian-inspired and flowing relaxed silhouettes this season.
Givenchy

Givenchy


Jean Paul Gaultier

Gaultier

For me Gaultier's work is so solid in technique his whimsy seems more innovation. The level of his style is what Betsey Johnson might have reached had she been born and apprenticed among the French design elite and honed the wildchild in her.
Gaultier

Chanel

Chanel
It's almost as if Mademoiselle herself were looking down upon her empire to this very day.
Chanel

Chanel

Chanel


Larcroix

Lacroix

This bridal veil is magnificent sporting a bowl of fruit under layers of white tulle.