"Sweet Intoxication.."

I really can't help myself. When I watch one of my favorites "Phantom of the Opera" I always succumb to "sweet intoxication" as the Phantom serenades Christine in his dark lair.  Wearing a 19th century wedding gown Christine unwillingly becomes his bride to save her true love Raoul. Oh the drama!!

Wedding gowns obviously shouldn't been purchased and worse worn in duress, but occasionally they are when the bride is just not quite satisfied with her choice. Is there a "buyers remorse" phenomenon in the wedding gown industry? The answer can be as complicated as a bride's emotional journey toward her wedding day. Some brides clearly change their mind due to circumstances beyond her control. However, if that remorseful feeling surfaces hours post purchase clearly it is not the right gown and should be rectified immediately before the boutique proceeds with an order. In my mind I know to refund a bride's deposit within 24 hours of purchase, but I've never had to thus far.

I aim for that "sweet intoxication" with each client I work with. Falling out of love with her gown hasn't happened yet in twenty years. A stylist should be as exuberent as her client when the bride decides to purchase a gown. When this occurs the stylist has done her job, the bride leaves intoxicated :)

Phantom's Christine Daae might have been lured into her wedding gown (and a beautiful one I might add), but this can only happen on stage. FInding the dress should be geniune and blissful. The less drama the better for any bride. I'll stick to relying on the Phantom for my drama fix.

The Turn

I'm just that kind of person that lives in a dreamy state. Daily brain synapses always involve something pretty, dreamy, romantic, charming. As I age I grapple with the counter punch of cynicism and sadness the world hurls toward my cerebral poetry. Thank God I know how to sustain the dreamy tank by working with brides, the pretty dresses, and attending weddings to witness The Turn!

It is very common for brides to agonize if the groom would be pleased with the dress they choose. On occasion I've had the groom participate in the dress selection, but it is still very rare for a bride to bring him. The bride's gown is still traditionally not seen by the groom until her walk down the aisle or first look photos. I still prefer the walk viewing as this is the moment The Turn occurs.

Will he like me in this? Is this what he'd like to seen me wear? Will I look good for him? What if he doesn't like it? Will this make sense for him when we dance? Will he recognize me? Will we look good together in photos? Will he still want to marry me in this? The bride's mind swirls with these questions along with many more that don't involve "he".  I always reassure He will like her in anything she chooses, but until He gazes upon her and The Turn happens she can't be sure.

That moment when the bride first appears is it. It The Turn moment. Whether it's a five or five hundred guests, they turn and gasp upon her arrival. She sees their warm and supportive faces. I can't describe how my soul flies at the moment. When I see the bride's silhouette as she takes her first steps toward her groom my dreamy mind ignites tenfold! I then look at him. His gaze on her melts me into thousand beating hearts.

As the bride ascends, he continues his gaze sometimes teary eyed. The Turn becomes a fixed field of vision from all witnessing those precious minutes. My heart is full and fueled until the next bride makes her entrance and she commands The Turn once again.

SPRING cleaning

It feels so good to be back!!  Now that it's Spring and new growth is all around us, thought a fitting occasion to clean up a bit and breath some new life in to the look of my dearly beloved blog:)

I also altered the blog description to give a broader scope sense of the the subject matter I discuss here. My focus on wedding attire hasn't changed, but in that realm I cover a plethora of angles hopefully of interest to all those who find themselves brides to be.

Do brides Spring clean? The answer is yes, but perhaps not in the way you might think. Come Spring I think most humans rejoice that the days are longer, warmer and brighter. There is a new outlook, a new beginning, birth of baby animals, harbingers of summer around the corner. By Spring brides who intend to marry in the Summer are seeing their gown for the first time post purchase. Fittings commence and anticipation heightens as things become"real." At this time brides are also purchasing accessories to augment their walk down the aisle style. Other wedding plans are finalized and final payments are due. Brides sometimes make offers on homes or remit security deposits for their new marital nests.

Busyness can and usually does get out of control for brides. In the over 20 years I've been working with brides I know the few months before the wedding can be the most challenging. Sometimes there are setbacks like a dress doesn't arrive exactly the way it was intended or it doesn't fit the way the bride hoped. At those moments all involved must take several deep breaths and determine a plan of action together. This collaboration and not a bride vs. the boutique approach alleviates tension, confusion and mostly importantly wasted time.

A bride needs precious time to "clean" and prepare for her new beginning :)

Around the River Bend

Out of nowhere here I am after 5 months sans post. I'm in the midst of reorganizing a bit, prepping for a lovely vintage accessory holiday collection and planning an exciting event for early next year! As I attend those details, I ask that you gaze upon this joyous Edith Head (designer of Princess Grace wedding gown) sketch for an Elizabeth Taylor movie "A Place in the Sun."

I'll be back soon up and around the river bend of life :-) with more posts from Pink French Bride...xo

Money Talks

It’s something we’re taught not to talk about. Something not polite to discuss among friends or family. It’s even considered rude to ask someone how much one paid for something. Unless you’re in the business of finance or money management, how much is not acceptable. Oddly you can’t win here. If you talk too much about money you’re boasting. If you don’t talk about it enough you’re naive.

When I was training to be a consultant/stylist, I was always reminded to be very sensitive to the money subject. If a bride was accompanied by friends and or family, I was told to make sure I was discreet in asking the bride’s budget as to not embarrass her in front of her guests. Many times I avoided the budget question altogether and waited until the opportune moment to approach mom or the bride herself privately to go there about money.

After doing this for a while, I realized how foolish it was. As I became more adept at my job, it was clear to me I needed that vital piece of information almost immediately after introductions. In fact, a stylist cannot do their job well or at all without talking money from the get go.

Well trained experienced stylists will ask you for a budget. It’s very important to establish this before your boutique appointment. It may or may not be a conversation you want to have with yourself or the one paying the bill, but it’s quite important so that you’re prepared when the stylist asks. Today designers accommodate many price points. Your choices will not be restricted based on budget. The industry prices are mostly based on designer, fabric and manufacturer location.

photo Glamour Magazine

When a bride is searching for her special dress, it’s understandable to get carried away with the excitement and glamour of the boutique’s lovely assortment of gowns. All brides should experience that moment of walking into a wedding shop filled with all things girly and romantic. The fantasy is in full force and the bride is a little girl again playing dress up. I never want to take that feeling away as she floats in dreamland, but finding that sweet spot in her budget is key.

The money talk could and sometimes does bring her back to earth, but it doesn’t have to. After the budget is ascertained, the floating can resume and the stylist can go to work. A good stylist will maintain the bride’s dreamy state with tact, product knowledge and a bit of magic :)

Finding the bride her gown, seeing her and her loved ones cry continues to be one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. Plentiful tears are normal and beautiful when she finds the one dress she’ll remember for a lifetime. No stylist wants a bride to shed tears post appointment when she stares at her bank account in shock.

Keep floating, keep dreaming, keep smiling, but keep the money talking.

Swish

Upon first gaze it had me. When I first heard the sound of fabric colliding along the breeze of movement, it captured my heart. It's the skirt of a ballgown. The sight and sound of swingy swish, puffy, angelic layers of ethereal fabric creates an indelible image of femininity and grace I adore.

The recent movie I just had the pleasure of seeing delivers that skirt with lots of "swish". Belle in "Beauty and the Beast" floats in her yellow ballgown. It was beautifully designed by costume designer Jaqueline Durran. She updated the look of Belle's ballgown without sacrificing the dreamy romantic garment we associate with Belle as she glided over the dance floor falling in love with her prince.

These iconic images of fashion in pop culture do unknowingly permeate our minds. When brides shop for their special gown, perhaps they turn to those ballgown images that conjure the level of "swish" they want. I have to admit when a client asks for me a ballgown in its truest form with yards of skirt fabric, "swish" and that sound only a ballgown makes, my heart skips a beat!

2017 "Beauty and the Beast" Costumes by Jaqueline Durran

The movie obviously made every effort to give the audience Belle's iconic dress as it is almost a character itself. There were dress sneak peaks and interviews with the designer well before the movie opened to market the film.  Miniature Belle gowns were stocked in toy departments everywhere to give little girls that anticipated excitement of Belle on the big screen. Disney released another gown photo not revealing when it would be worn by Belle. 

"Beauty and the Beast" Belle's celebration gown

The use of ballgowns to market a film stresses the importance of these garments and their imagery.  Whether you choose lots or very little "swish" in your gown, you will still glide across the dance floor as you fall more in love with your prince. <3

Victoria Effect

Elie Saab

Vera Wang

Valentino

Queen Victoria as a bride in 1840

Victoria you're on my mind. I've been enthralled with the US debut of "Victoria" on Masterpiece Theater. She was a young bride at 21, but already known as a trailblazer and cultural revolutionary as evident in her choice to wear white on her wedding day. Before this shift in garment hue, most brides dressed in their Sunday best of perhaps blue or green. Headstrong Victoria wouldn't have it like most, and chose what would carry on over 175 years later to today's wedding white.

Many designers have challenged the fair hue with exemplary choices available to brides today. I have a particular fondness for a bit more color saturated gown, but they are not for everyone. I've worked with brides who initially tell me they want color because they chose a non-traditional wedding. To her surprise, however, she usually purchases the traditional off white or ivory gown. (Today most brides opt for off white/ivory, which is still considered a white gown). That's the Victoria effect in action as a bride's final gown choice is ultimately what she believes a bride should wear. I always ask my client if she feels like a bride. Interestingly, most have a common belief what a bride should look and feel like. The Victorian bride still lives!

Some might balk at this comparison arguing we are not living in the 19th century and women today prefer modern 21st century gown choices.  This is very true. Thank God brides have come a long way in all aspects of the marriage ceremony, wedding aesthetics and most certainly the wedding gown. However, I would implore you to scrutinize the next bridal gown you try on. The style and cut may reflect modern design elements, but fabrics, embellishments, general construction have remained constant since Victoria's glorious white frock and precisely why I adore wedding gowns. They reflect today, but hark back to the days of exquisite detailed fabric and a special custom dress fit for a queen.

Mad Rush

This time of year should be about peace and goodwill toward humanity, but ironically peace does not describe life before the holidays. Similarly, like the holiday season planning a wedding might feel like peace deprivation. Why does the holiday season seem like a mad rush when it should be a time for anticipation, reflection and joy? Can't we stop or slow down to catch our breath long enough to gaze at the December sky whispered with milky clouds, cool air and early dusk?


Once engaged many brides commence the gown journey with a new Pinterest boards, planning apps and appointments at boutiques. Instantly brides are immersed in the wedding industry's clutches. This is exhilarating, but often overwhelming and stressful.

I've heard or observed "the sigh" of a bride many times. This is when I know she's amidst the mad rush. When she's in the dressing room not able to make a decision between two gowns she adores, it's time to step away from the rush and breath.

The beauty in the fine details of the wedding are what should be relished. The hand stitched embroidery on your gown. Your favorite color palette woven through the day. The supple silky petals on your bouquet. The sweet embellishments on your invitations. The ethereal billow of your veil.... These are the treasures to behold and remember.

While taking that breath and break from the rush as you reflect on the glorious details of your wedding day, your blurry vision will begin to adjust with reprieve. It is then that the grip of the rush will release and you'll truly capture the true meaning of your betrothal. The quick beat of your heart will not be from stress, but from genuine bliss only a bride can reap.

Rack Revelations

"Posh Bridal" photo

So much of life is about perspective. What I see may not be what you see and vice versa. Those distinct tastes and opinions make this world the way it is. When I see a rolling rack with wedding gowns draped from pretty hangers, I always catch my breath. This time of year when designers proudly present their new collections at bridal market, I pinch myself when I gaze at the rack morsels. Fabric on utilitarian metal racks is a feeling like no other!

Conversely, you may walk in to a boutique with such racks of splendor and all you seem to feel is nausea. The overwhelming feeling hits you hard. How do I find my dress in this totality of fluff? Where do I begin you might say. Or some brides feel like a kid on Halloween feverishly riding on adrenaline grabbing every dress they can. The result in both of these scenarios is usually frustration, confusion and ultimately the "rack loathe".  

Ideally, the boutique you visit should have the gowns organized to facilitate ease of selection. Many small boutiques use the gowns on racks to highlight the aesthetic of the boutique making the room of dresses very inviting. The process should not be intimidating, but enjoyable with a stylist at your side assisting with gown selection. Never pull more than 3 gowns at at time and remove all eliminations quickly to make for clear decisions. The stylist should assist with this process through out your visit.

Many brides enjoy the freedom of rifling through the dresses to perhaps behold that special one! You should be involved in the process, but allow your stylist to lead through the maze of fabric, price points and styles. This will alleviate your stress and build the important client stylist relationship needed to find the perfect gown for you.

When a wedding gown is chosen from a rack, tried on and magic happens, that is the true crux of my passion. Beautiful dresses on racks are only ornamentation until one is selected for a bride. Maybe by the time the wedding day arrives, your rack ruminations will be forgotten and you have your own to show how really lovely they can be.

Dream Daze

Most people remember their dreams.  At the very least they have dream recall on occasion. Dreams fascinate me on many levels, but mostly because they have yet to be fully understood.  A purge of the  subconscious? A brain unload? A fantasy buried deep within us only our dream state can reveal? Not sure we'll ever know what our minds are fully capable of. I see dreams as a gift to embrace and behold.

Planning a wedding is living a dream for many. It may not seem like it as credit cards are stretched and stress levels rise with deadlines, but ultimately like dreams they are a glorious, finite time. Weddings harness a deep energy and passion of our minds that manifest the depths of our souls. Well, perhaps I'm being a bit dramatic. I can't help but romanticize this time in a woman's life as extraordinary.

When I ask a bride to describe her ideal wedding gown I frequently hear the words princess, glamorous, sexy, classic, elegant. Beneath those words are her dreams. The way she imagines herself as a bride. Maybe those details were what she dreamed since childhood. It's my job to capture as many of her dreams as possible and translate them to reality in the form of her special gown! Listening to a bride is one of the most crucial parts of my job as a stylist. If your stylist is not listening to you, it might not be a healthy partnership for you or the boutique.

I also hear many overwhelmed brides say they can't focus on what they really want. They love everything and can't decide on one special dress. I would say they are fighting that dream daze that lives inside. It is there waiting to be embraced and the only one that can evoke it is the bride herself. When I have a block and dreams aren't surfacing, I scour the internet to find images that speak to me.

Illustrations for me are heavenly to look at. When I find one that makes my heart skip a beat, my  dreaming resumes.

Katharine Asher Illustration

What's your dream daze? Where can you find it without visual overload? Explore with your eyes, imagine with your mind, take a breath and unlock those dreams. Never believe dreams don't come true. You and I are living proof they do.

It's a Girl Thing

"Love Story" by Taylor Swift

As the song goes "pick out a white dress" and we have for over 100 years. Since Queen Victoria started the trend of white wedding gowns our Western culture equates all things wedding with wedding gowns and vice versa. Of course there are exceptions as some brides elect to marry in shorts and a t-shirt, but for the majority a wedding gown is usually included in the festivities.

You can always analyze each layer of "the gown" and talk about the style, the color, fit, the venue it will coordinate with, the wedding palette, the theme, the accessories, etc,etc.. All of which are very important of course! What intrigues me the most is what we can learn from past brides. What can a modern 2016 bride can take away from a 1916 bride? What do the brides from the past have in common with brides of today???

1950s bride

A modern bride of today perhaps doesn't want to be compared to a bride from the 1950s like the above. "I would never wear that!" or "I don't want to look like my grandmother!" "I want to look modern" a today bride might say. What is the definition of modern? As a stylist, I've learned this definition is not a one size fits all. Likewise when I ask "Do you feel like a bride?" That loaded question always conjures an image of a bride that is unique to the individual. What makes one girl feel like a bride might be the polar opposite for another.

Ultimately, brides today decide on a gown they adore not because they feel like they are true to the times, but because they feel beautiful. The bride who falls in love a second time (the first love is of course with her groom!) with her dress does not look in the mirror and say thank goodness I don't look like my grandmother (with all due respect). She usually says I feel a-mazing and cries looking at the gown she will wear down the aisle!

Can we learn from the past? Always. There was elegance. A demure innocence when I study photos of past brides. Many times they were very young women under the age of 20. They sometimes look frightened and for good reason. In the 1800s you were not to smile in your wedding photo! Aside from facial gestures, I adore photos of brides and their attire from all of the decades photos were available. The styles, fabrics and accessories were so indicative of the times and each bride wore them with feminine grace. It is our duty to carry on that grace. Most designers of today do capture it from the inspiring brides from the past.

If you have an heirloom wedding gown available to you take it out, examine its grandeur and give homage to the woman who wore it. Like you she was a girl who liked pretty things and she was a bride.

Mind Swirl

All brides are susceptible. Most cannot escape its clutches. Life plus wedding planning equals Mind Swirl.

Every generation can say they live with economic, social, and personal challenges. This should not be minimized and is a factor in our daily lives. The  21st century bride has no less or more challenges in life, just different. Recognizing a bride today is a busy, global influenced woman she can't help but succumb to hundreds of bridal gown designers vying for her attention, vendors galore, and of course Pinterest pages devoted to the "ideal" wedding.

In war time of the 1940s, brides were opting out of wedding garb instead using a favorite dress from the closet. Fabric wasn't available to produce wedding gowns. They also just picked some pretty flowers from the yard in lieu of a florist creation.  Resources were tight and weddings were planned in a week before the groom was shipped out. A bride in 1941 no doubt had the Swirl.

Challenges that feed Mind Swirl are difficult no matter what the challenge or decade.  I recognize brides are first and foremost people with lives that happen to be planning a wedding, too. A client will carry lots with her when she visits a boutique other than the handbag on her shoulder. What she's carrying in her mind, affects her decision to purchase a gown, If she can't separate the mind swirl from the task at hand, a gown choice, then she is not ready purchase and cannot purchase until the Swirl lets up. I've learned this over the years and I respect brides who simply say " I just can't make a decision." My reply is always "You need to feel right about it." There is no rushing a decision to purchase a wedding gown. The caveat, however, is not to give yourself too long to decide. Set a decision deadline and then you're in charge and not the Swirl!

The 1941 vs. the 2016 bride certainly have their differences, but in the end both became brides because they agreed to share their life with someone. Being a bride is temporary. It should be a joyous, memorable time in a woman's life. Mind Swirl or not, nothing should take that away from you.

Nettling Nature

It is true that with age comes wisdom. Though we can be the wisest of them all, our human tendencies can elude our mindfulness.

I met a beautiful, young woman a month ago who clearly knew what she wanted for her wedding gown. The first few minutes of our acquaintance told me her style without her uttering those specific words. Her body language, choice of words, and appearance allowed my opinions to form. Her intellect clearly obvious, I prepared myself for numerous inquiries and lengthy explanations. I knew we'd need to dissect her wedding gown piece by piece for several hours to make her comfortable for purchase. My assumptions braced me, but ultimately obscured what could have been a clearer client/stylist path for both of us.

Just as we the stylists allow human nature to sneak up on us, so too do brides. For the bride, however, assumptions can wreak havoc on her finite experience as a bride to be. It truly breaks my heart when a bride can't allow herself to be happy. Assumptions can be insidious, unassuming and painful that ultimately create overwhelming anxiety.

gown by vera wang

brooch vintage accessories

It is part of life, facing our humaness and no one is immune. It's what makes us vulnerable and imperfect as our creator intended, but we can rely on each other, trust one another to find joy. Be open minded. Consider a blush gown instead of light ivory. Wear your grandmother's brooch if not on your gown, then on your handbag or in your bouquet. Try a cathedral veil for a poolside, casual wedding. Make each visit to a boutique positive without assuming the worst.  Go with your heart and let it organically transport you to a place of memorable, genuine, exuberant, happiness.

You deserve this special, time in your life to be one of the best. You are human, but you're a woman who is about to marry. Nothing, not even assumptions, should deny you this adventure.


My very, best wishes for a memorable, blessed New Year. Hope you like my new banner and updated look to the blog. I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to write about what I love. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading. xo

Modest Mindfulness

My heart still skips a beat when I'm in the presence of a wedding gown. A garment intrinsically connected to the raw beauty of marriage. Besides being so appealing to the eye, wedding gowns elevate their owner's being and those around them. Symbolic, traditional, feminine, stylish, sacred wedding dresses have it all.

Vera Wang Fall 2016

I'm compelled to question some designers when I saw the latest trend shown at the October Bridal Fashion Week.  A bridal gown with an illusion aesthetic is breathtaking. The liner removed from the lace or "anti-illusion" just doesn't seem justified. There is no illusion, but parts of the body most women choose not to reveal at their wedding ceremony.                                                                                                   I've talked about trends in other posts which I usually applaud. Some of course fade quickly, while others stay, repeat and evolve. That's the joy and vitality of fashion! Couturiers are dynamic souls always surprising us with their art. I would hope that amidst that explosion of creative interpretation, they consider what and whom they are designing for when it comes to wedding garments.

I'm aware my overzealous enthusiasm for wedding gowns might cause me to be a bit over protective and defensive. They are, as I've also posted, a deep rooted passion since childhood. The gown below makes me swoon and dreamy.

Monique Lhuillier Fall 2016

The illusion detail, the color, the linear beading take me on a romantic journey. These dresses are made for one day in a woman's life. They are cherished on that day and years to come as heirlooms. They conjure a day of pure joy and a sacred, union. Wearable art I humbly respect, a liner shouldn't affect design integrity that much. It would only be a modest change for the designer, but for the bride and her admirers a decent, garment worthy to be called a wedding gown.





                                                                                                         

Don't look..DREAM

Those first few minutes are very, telling. After introductions and formalities, I can sense her demeanor. She's been blissfully mesmerized by beautiful, gowns dancing in her head or frantically frustrated with exhaustion, or thoroughly confused?  Has the search been a joy or a task?

Stylists in our industry should be adept at reading where their client is emotionally and provide options available to ultimately find her the gown she wears down the aisle. Whether a bride walks in our boutique relaxed or tense, I always ask if she is willing. Will she try on a dress I recommend even though it doesn't appeal to her on the hanger? Will she tell me her thoughts when she's wearing the gown? Will she not look for a moment or two in the mirror and..dream?

I realize asking a bride NOT to look in the mirror wearing a wedding gown may seem odd and counter intuitive. Sometimes mirrors agitate and confuse even the calmest of brides. So many thoughts race through the mind to like it, love it, hate it, compare it... Take a step back with eyes closed and think of you and your groom standing together on your wedding day. Just those few seconds to regroup may provide the clarity you need to savor the moment and make your decision.

Being a bride in the 21st century certainly has its advantage as every generation is inherently more sophisticated than the one before. Somehow modern sophistication and expectations lead to that nervous hand I briefly grasp when I meet a bride. Surrender yourself to the meaning not the look of your wedding day. By doing so, you'll find what your heart truly wants and your dress will be one that dreams of are made of.

Trendy Consideration

There is always a stand out for me when the new, season of gowns hit the runways. The "unveiling" from designers isn't usually earth shattering as many styles are repeated or tweaked from last season, which is typical of the fashion industry. What I enjoy are the nuances, the shifts that hearken new trends on the horizon. There are groundbreaking designers and there are those who are inspired by the ground breakers. In the end, the bride enjoys the variety of options available to her style and budget and I gain even more respect for designer talent manifested in garments that set the pace.

Trends to some are not appealing. Brides often tell me they don't want to be "trendy", but timeless. There will always be elements of a trend in any gown you try on. The difference is how obvious it is to you. Many times brides are surprised how they look and feel in a dress they deem trendy. Don't restrict your options simply because you fear your gown won't be timeless. Timeless is relative and elastic in the fashion industry. Your gown will reflect the time today, but most importantly who you are. When you see yourself in the mirror wearing "your gown", you'll know it, you'll adore it and you'll tell your grandchildren some day that was the trend in 2015, but it was your style.

Theia

I salute these trends of the season that trickle in some way or another to all bridal gowns. The selection brides have is so varied, which makes it an excellent time to purchase a gown! You have the spectrum clamoring for your attention in likes of strapless, illusion, cap and full sleeve, low back, super slim fit, ballgown, a-line or fit flare. It's all there, it's all on trend and it's available to try and enjoy.

Elizabeth Filmore Spring 

Vera Wang 

Angel Sanchez

Claire Pettibone

Naeem Khan

Ersa Atelier

Inbal Dror

My heart skips a beat at the ebb and flow of trends in wedding apparel. You may or may not share my enthusiasm. Either way trendy or not, your gown is only fabric unless you are wearing it. It's you, the glowing bride, that brings it to life and the trendy part fades into the true meaning of the gown's purpose on your wedding day and years to come.

Fabricly Speaking

Each time I closed that book my heart sang as it was read to me.. "Happily Ever After." I studied her dress, her veil and her expression. Jubilance on her face, her dress billowed with love. The book that was read to me over and over was "Cinderella." Still today as a grown adult I swoon in the presence of her in my beloved fairytale. Now treated to an updated version on the screen, I'm beside myself with anticipation.

The very talented, costume designer Sandy Powell captured Cinderella's brilliance so precisely in the cast wardrobe. She used ethereal, shades of blue to reflect the kind, innocence of Cinderella's character using yards of fluttery, soft crepe line silk. The butterflies add a sweet, symbolic touch.

Sandy Powell sketch for Disney Studios

The wedding gown Cinderella wore in the film was an updated version Ms. Powell created so beautifully again using layers of silk organza in stunning creamy beige. It respected the original animated creation that began my Cinderella adoration many years ago, but added a fresh perspective that again without words expressed her kind spirit and goodness. In contrast, the counter characters of the step mother and her daughters were incredibly costumed with heavy, over the top frocks conveying wickedness and contempt. 

By Sandy Powell for Disney Studios

Your walk down the aisle is your moment to speak to an audience without saying a word. Your gown will speak for you. Whether you purposely chose a certain type of fabric or not, it will convey who you are. I wouldn't go as far as saying you're wearing a costume on your wedding day, but your dress does play a very important, part in the production. Likewise, if you choose a heavy satin gown that has vivid architectured angles, I am certainly not suggesting you are remotely similar to an evil step mom!

As a stylist, I am blissfully aware of all the fabrics designers offer brides. Your stylist you work with should present many fabric options to you so you can get a feel for the structure of the gown on your body and how that makes you feel. Your selection, unique to you, will be your voice of joy, love and happily ever after.

Kaleidoscope

I can recall swirling echos from my childhood saying don't wear those two things together "They don't match!" It's not about who repeatedly drilled those instructions, but why. It just wasn't cool to be unmatched, un put together, un kept and certainly un chic!

Just to be clear, I'm not suggesting those that like to have matching items in their closets are not style deprived. It is not a bad thing to match. Sometimes it is quite essential for things in life to match and match well!

I'm simply presenting another perspective that isn't for all tastes, but has gained momentum in recent years. I always go back to the mismatched table setting to illustrate my point.

Not one plate is the same, but together they are magic!

Translate this to clothing and we've got something here I'm crazy about. Keeping similar color tones, but doubling or tripling prints and textures results in a divine kaleidoscope of wow. 

Naples Illustrated January 2015

A myriad of print on these maids framed by the tonal bouquets 

Accessories get in the act as well. The lines on these earrings above accent the paisley print beautifully as does the hibiscus print with the Tory Burch green floral. Pattern on patten really works and it's super chic and very put together!

I recently purchased the clutch below from an incredible designer, Suzanna Niles, who has an Etsy shop. You must visit "Sewzanna" on Etsy if you admire this glorious example of pattern and texture mixing. It truly epitomizes my love of pattern mixing with a vintage, feminine touch!

"Sewzanna" original design

Perhaps you're still not convinced? That is the beauty of personal style. You can create your own kaleidoscope for your wedding. Yours may be a winter white wedding and you use your grandmother's blue, embroidered table cover as an accent on your place card table. Believe it or not, you mixed! Old with new is always the perfect dare I say match!

Side note: So glad to be back on the blog! I missed it, but have been busy putting the final touches on my new, venture "Brooch" Vintage Accessories. Would love for you to follow me on Facebook by clicking on the photo on the right above! It's been fun so far! I truly wish all the best to you in 2015 and greatly appreciate anyone who stops by to read my posts! 

One last note... Have to share some pics of designers who blew me away at bridal market NYC in October. As always, I was inspired and will talk more about these Spring 2015 looks in upcoming posts. Inbal Dror has set the bar and Ersa is another designer I'm smitten with. Haley Paige is a delight as a person and as a talented, young designer. She has truly made her mark this season. ENJOY!

Ersa Atelier 

Inbal Dror

Haley Paige

Perfect Love

I read recently that human beings can't comprehend perfect love, because we are imperfect. We are incapable of giving or receiving perfect love. Despite this sobering notion,  I would contest that I've come close to perfect love so far in my life. I've seen it around me, I've been touched by it and I know it exists in the world albeit in its imperfect form. Perhaps like the facets of a diamond the human scope of love exists on several angles, sides and surfaces in our hearts.

One of my angles has belonged, since childhood, to wedding gowns.  When October comes around each year my pulse quickens with anticipation as I prepare to attend bridal fashion week in New York. Every year I'm mesmerized by the garments talented designers showcase. The level of detail exuding from each piece that I eagerly fix my eyes is humbling. Newborn designs make their debut down the runway as I study with a buyer's mind, but weakened in the knees with a fanatic's obsession. Imperfect love in the air at bridal week.

Tattoo lace, tulle, volume skirts, sleeves, clustered beading, illusion, color, old Hollywood are some of the themes and trends I expect to see next weekend. Each designer attempts to dazzle buyers with their version of the trends and a personal aesthetic stamp. It's a whirlwind of activity and at times chaos that overwhelms even the seasoned attendee. The excitement is palpable and the pace fast as time escapes my delirious love, sick mind. Exhausted mentally, but resuscitated creatively bridal week is stylists' marathon.

A bonus plan for this year's visit is to complete my search for vintage pieces I've been curating. My micro vintage accessory business should be completed this Fall with a launch soon after. Another facet of my heart's desire- vintage jewelry.

My trip journal will be full of notes and ideas that will propel my innate passion for wedding styling to another level. My future posts will connect with what my eyes witness on the runways. But my heart will rejoice wildly within that facet wedding gowns occupy and perhaps give me just a glimpse of heavenly, perfect love.