Zip Me Up

3.1 Philip Lim

Lockheart

Kate Cusack

Versace

YSL

The spring-like weather today has awaken my oh so very dormant shopping bug. My number one must-have this spring is something with wavy layers of exposed zipper. Designers have been doing some really interesting things with zippers this season. And I just love how it's been worked in both soft & feminine or edgy punk ways. I'm not sure if I want a skirt or a shirt or a bag or maybe just a cool bracelet but I'm definitely going to be hitting up the shops soon.

Finally Friday!

Thankfully it's the end of another long work week. The weeks always seem to drag on this time of year and I'm really looking forward to catching up on a little shut eye. Hope you all have a good one!

Image: Camilla Akrans for Italian Elle

Magazine Madness - InStyle Weddings

I was so excited to see Sarah Shahi of The L Word fame on the cover of the InStyle Weddings Spring '09 issue this week. Now I know a bunch of my girlfriends will be very sad to know that she is recently married and expecting a baby, but I just love the pictorial! She looks blissful and absolutely stunning!

Check out a video of her covershoot here!

I am SO doing this!

This marries two of my greatest passions - illustrating and weddings! And what a fantastic keepsake!


At Dreamlines, you can have a custom sketch of your wedding gown made for, what I consider, a fairly affordable price. The French artist, Penelope-Anne Altmann, creates an illustration from a photograph of the dress. If you would prefer something even more personal, albeit pricier, you should check out All About the Dress, where Jennifer Angilello will create a custom illustration of the bride in the gown.

Image: mydreamline.com

Illustrious Illustrator - David Downton

Today I wanted to feature my absolute favorite fashion illustrator, David Downton. He's a UK-based artist who works primarily with watercolor & gouache. I absolutely adore the fluidity of his work and his use of lines and color. His work has been featured in top fashion magazines such as Bazaar and he also created Pourquoi Pas?, the only international periodical dedicated entirely to fashion illustration. It's an absolutely amazing publication and I just have to get my hands on a copy the second issue. It's been on my to do list for a few months now and they only produce a limited run so I hope I'm not too late!

I Heart these Heels!

I just love these adorable Moschino heels! They would be perfect if I were getting married a little later in the fall. The texture is a little too heavy and the heel a little too chunky for a late summer wedding. The color is amazing and the price is right but I'm looking for something a little strapier which unfortunately will most likely mean less comfortable than these cuties.

Image: http://www.zappos.com/n/p/p/7422407/c/154242.html

Inspiration Board - Naughty but Nice

I love tones of pink mixed with black. Not quite naughty but not too nice.

Mood: flirtatious, sexy yet girlish, romantic boudoir
Color Palette: blush & black

Images: Top row from left: Solve Sundsbo for Harper's Bazaar, etched candle from bestowboutique.com, chandelier at moodboard, bedroom from HGTV.com
Middle row from left: macaroons unknown, MOR Lip Delights from bestowboutique.com, Marie Antoinette boudoir print, lace pump by Georgina Goodman, betty panty from bestowboutique.com
Botton row from left: annemone bouquet by Artfool, champagne by Joel Flory from snippet & ink, Pink Diamond Candle from bestow.com, cake from marthastewartweddings.com, girl from polyvore.com

Cocktail Hour Options

Image: Jen Kroll Photography

Image: marthastewartweddings.com


Images: gifts.com, stylemepretty.com

We really wanted to have bud vases and votives on the tables for the cocktail hour but we were totally suprised at how expensive bud vases could be! Since we are trying to keep our flower budget in check we were thinking of coming up with more affordable alternatives. The only thing I can come up with is having a few votives on each table but we could upgrade to more decorative ones than the hotel provides.

Image: gifts.com

I'm desperate for ideas and am absolutely amazed at my lack of creativity here! I'd love to hear if anyone has any other ideas.

Glorious Gift Giving - Bestow Boutique

I could spend hours browsing throught the Bestow Boutique website. It offers a unique selection of lingerie, bath & body products, home decor and accessories for Ladies, the Home, Gents & Occassions. There's even the Bestow Bridal Collection for the Bride and for the Bridal Party which features gorgeous clutches, jewelry, hair accessories, and unique decor. I think I finally came up with some perfect gift options for our attendants!

My First Blog Award!

"These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers. Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award.”

I am over the moon! I just received my first ever blog award today from the lovely Krista, the Canadian Bride. Krista's wonderful blog is one of my daily must reads. Be sure to stop by and check it out. I promise you will not be disappointed. Thank you so much Krista!

It was extremely tough but i finally narrowed it down to 8! I hereby pass this blog award onto the following fantastic bloggers (in no particular order):

Amy-Jo @ Bride Chic

K @ BlogGoogles

Mara @ A Wedding Cabaret

Mo @ Pink Argyle

Pretty Bride

Two Chicks Nest

An Atlanta Bride

Tina @ Tying the Knot

Seafoam Dream

I could hardly sleep last night because I was desperately hoping for a snow day today. We're in the midst of our first major snowstorm of the year in NY but I guess that doesn't happen if your over 18 and not a teacher...

I found myself needing a little bit of spring dreaming to get through today and I remembered this gorgeous Armani Prive gown that Camilla Belle wore to the Met's Costume Institute Gala last May. Isn't it absolutely breathtaking?

Quick Change

I've been thinking about making a dress change during the reception and/or after party for a while now but I am totally conflicted. Do I really want to change out of my wedding gown??? Originally I was thinking it would be easier for dancing and all but my WG isn't really that heavy. At least I don't remember it to be. I found a few dresses that I like but I'm still not convinced.

Images: amsale.com

Today I came across these gorgeous brodeaux Jenny Yoo dresses and I'm totally in love! Could I really make such a dramatic change or do I need to stick to ivory?

Images: jennyyoo.com

Our attendants will be wearing wine so I'm thinking if I do decide to make a change that I need to stick to something more like this Priscilla of Boston Platinum Collection dress.

Image: priscillaofboston.com