I Boo!

Don't freak out, I haven't gone goth on you, I swear. But there are only three more shopping days until Halloween, and if you're still looking for a costume it turns out that there are just about a zillion ways to spin being a bride. There's the classic zombie bride (as seen above), the shotgun bride, bride of Frankenstein, vampire bride, devil bride, princess bride, pirate bride, trampy bride, skeleton bride, runaway bride and. . .I bet you didn't know this existed, the sexy monster bride. Seriously, someone's going to buy that. Just to name a few. Happy hunting!

Photo by D. Bising.

Help a girl out

File this in your do your girls a favor folder. I've said it before and I'll say it again, bridesmaids don't have to wear actual bridesmaid dresses. How beautiful would they look in this?

Asymmetric silk jersey gown, T-Bags $275

No, No, No!

As previously mentioned, along with all the sublime gowns that floated down the runway last week there were just a few weak points. So today I give you the low lights:

What was with the weird shepherdess trend going on? Sure I'd venture to guess that a huge chunk of brides to be, let's say close to 50%, end up walking down the aisle in the good 'ol classic poofy dress. But nobody wants to look one staff and a few sheep away from being Little Bo Peep, right? Cross these off your list.

Atelier Aimee

Reem Acra

Then there was the acoutrement obsession. Hmmmm. Let's see how many doodahs and doohickeys we can add to a dress. Hats! Pleats! Feathers! It's modern, we swear! Nix.

Kenneth Pool

Oh and I just don't know what to do with this one. You carry a bouquet down the aisle, you don't need more attached to your shoulder and your hip. Pass.

Atelier Aimee

And I hate to say it, but the boring award has to go to. . . Badgley Mishka! Who'd have thought that the design duo responsible for some of the most gorgeous gowns to grace the red carpet would produce such a blah, ho-hum bridal line? Skip it.

As they say in fashion

Bridal Fashion Week is over and hooray, more gorgeous gowns to scour for inspiration while we wait for them to hit the stores. Without further ado, I present to you. . .

. . .the elegant. . .

Romona Keveza

(Remind me to tell you my Romona Keveza story someday)

. . .the modern. . .

Vera Wang

. . .the glamorous. . .

Reem Acra

Monique Lhuillier

. . .the romantic. . .

Christo

. . .and the absolutely, positively, fantastically delightful. . .

Oscar de la Renta

(All pictures courtesy of Coutorture)

Thoughts? Stay tuned. . .tomorrow I'll show you the the boring, the shapeless and dowdy. Rrrrrreow!

(Note: Ok, so I got a little click-happy and I now see that the Vera Wang and Oscar de la Renta dresses above are actually from the previous season - my bad. But beautiful nonetheless!)

Suits me

I'm not a Kenley Collins, I swear, but I do love me some fashion from the Fifties. Have you ever seen old photos or movies where after the wedding, the bride changes into a sort of 'travel-outfit'? You know, usually a beautifully constructed colorful skirt-suit and a hat, and then off she goes to her honeymoon? Sort of like these?

Vintage Vogue patterns, images from Carbonated

So. . .why exactly did brides stop doing this? It's so classic! Here are some great post-wedding suit options, for those of you game to try.

Tweed suit, Rebecca Taylor $548

Coco wool ruffle jacket and mini-skirt, Milly, $770

Double-face wool jacket and high-waist skirt, Magaschoni,$872

Swan Neck Peplum Jacket, Dior, $2,670.00
Iridescent Silk Skirt Suit, Armani Collezioni, $1590

BR Monogram blazer, Banana Republic, $225

Nueva short-sleeved jacket and Mary Lou skirt, Diane Von Furstenburg, $600

Purr-fect jacket, Nanette Lepore, $276.50

This side of Paradise

This dress is stunning. Bananas. Yikes, forgive me, someone's watching a little too much Rachel Zoe Project.

Organza wedding dress, Chanel Haute Couture
As photographed for October 2008 Vogue

This month's Vogue gives an insider peek at the world of couture, including this stunning photo of Chanel's head dressmaker, Martine Houdet, with the wedding gown she and her team created. The dress is alabaster embroidered-pearl-and-strass organza, layered of pleated tulle, and ruffled hat with silk camellias. Try saying that five times really fast.

Secretly in love

I'm trying to find the perfect wedding gift for some dear friends. What do you guys think about this?

"Love", original oil painting by Jessie James

One of my favorite movies, for sure. But is it unsettling? I guess I don't have to worry about whether or not they will find the idea of pseudo-brothers-and-sisters in love slightly too creepy to have hanging in their living room. At $1,000, it's pretty much out of my price range. Still love it though. The search continues. . .

The gloves come off

Loves it

Please tell me you watched the Project Runway wedding dress challenge last night? Leanne's dress was my favorite. I loved how it was modern and romantic at the same time. I'm pretty sure I just stole that line directly from Tim Gunn. But whatever, it's true. And, like my friend said, it looked like clouds.

(Picture via New York Magazine)

Love, Love, Love

Back from Libby & Allen's wedding in Glen Arbor, Michigan and I'm still smiling over what an amazing time we had. The 20-degree temperature change and four bumpy (to me anyway) plane rides were totally worth it to see the wedding of two dear friends who are just head over heels for one another.

First, I must tell you, in case like me, you didn't know: Northern Michigan is soooooooo pretty.
Seriously, it's gorgeous.
The entire wedding weekend was at the Homestead, a beautiful hilltop resort overlooking Lake Michigan. Libby had these cute gift bags waiting for all her bridesmaids when we arrived.
All the pertinent details in our agenda for the weekend.
Now, we all found MI to be just a teensy bit colder than expected and it was touch and go for a while as to whether or not the ceremony was going to be outdoors, as planned. But the cold was no match for the clear skies and beautiful views. Here's the bride and co. taking golf carts up to the top of the hill for the rehearsal.
The ceremony site.



Newly-wedded husband and wife!
Please believe me when I tell you that Libby told me she wanted long rectangular tables at her wedding, like, within the first month we met. She got them - and they looked perfect.
The cake - which the staff at the Homestead served along with warm homemade donuts. Delish!
The bridesmaid bouquets.
The send-off.

It was so romantic. Congratulations guys!

We have a winner

I don't know who comes out on top in the upcoming movie Bride Wars, but if we have to judge on dress alone. . .. . .I'd say it's Anne Hathaway. . .
By a lot. I mean Kate Hudson looks beautiful, but Anne's just breathtaking. Don't you think?

That's it for me, goodnight all. That's right, look at the posting time. It's pretty darn early. These kids are picking us up at 4:15 am so we can catch a 6:15 am flight at BWI to watch these kids get hitched. That's friendship folks. Back next week with lots of pictures!

(Pictures from USWeekly.com)