Bridal Bliss

I know they say June is for brides, so I'm going to write a post to show all of you my favorite gowns from this past year. In addition to it being June 1st, it was also our sample sale at Madeleine's Daughter today and it was so much fun seeing brides leaving with their bargain-price bridal gowns. The sale is one of my favorite events of the year because with prices at 40-70% off, it's possible for a bride to wear her dream gown on the cheap.

Anyway, enjoy these photos of some of my all-time favorite bridal gowns:

Chelsea by Amsale

The sweetest gown on the planet. 

Mimosa by Jenny Packham

Jenny does beadwork like no other. 

RK359 by Romona Keveza 

If ever there was a breathtakingly stunning ballgown, this would be it. 

Darling by Monique Lhullier (you can't tell in the photo, but this gown is the palest blush!)

Memory by Monique Lhullier

I have one word: ahhhh!!!

Principessa by Jenny Packham

Ophelia by Christos

Greenwich by Amsale

Unfortunately, this gown never made it to production. Isn't that sad? 

I am sure you can tell from these photos that there are many different textiles and silhouettes that I love. If I ever get married, choosing a gown will be no easy task. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed drooling over these lovelies as much as I have. I haven't seen the Romona Keveza gown in person, but I have a feeling it would make my heart stop if I did, so it's probably for the best. And as for "Principessa" by Jenny Packham, I'm confident that would be a charming exit dress, or maybe even rehearsal dinner dress (we are talking about my non-existent wedding, of course). 

Have a great day, everyone! And as always, thanks for reading! 

Busy, Busy, Busy...

I've had a lot going on in the last few weeks, which is why I haven't been blogging regularly, but I figured I'd share some of what has been keeping me busy with all of you. And yes, some of it is style and fashion-related.

First, I took a trip to New York City with some coworkers for an awesome conference. We came back from our trip feeling energized and excited to get back to work. While we were there, we were able to see the 9/11 Memorial which was very powerful.

We were also able to see a Broadway show in our downtime: 

Unfortunately, I did not document any of our outfits while I was there. It was just so hectic. Our days were jam-packed from the moment we got up until we crashed in our hotel room at night. It was a fabulous trip.

Since coming back, things have still been very busy. I've styled a magazine photo shoot:

Is this model gorgeous or what? She's wearing Hudson by Amsale with flowers by Kate Parker Designs, Hair by Lena Hartford of Hair that Moves and make-up by Joanne McDonough of Joya Beauty. The whole shoot was very architectural with pops of blue-print blue throughout (hence the bright blue necklace and ribbon around the bouquet). I can't wait to see the actual photos- these were all snapped on my phone, so they're nothing like the end product. I'll try to remember to post the photos from the shoot once it's published. The veil we used was absolutely EPIC. 

Other than that, I've been busy with friends- I've been to a Pinterest Party, down to Boston for a girl's shopping weekend and for the last few days I've been planning a spa-themed birthday slumber party for the Professor's daughter. I'll post more as soon as I have time. Check back soon and as always, thanks for reading! 

Forget Emerald, Mallard is What's Hot

Recently, Pantone announced the "hot colors" for 2013, with Emerald as the standout bold color of the year. It's already everywhere- in fashion, home decor, etc. We've even seen its influences at work in the bridal industry already. While I have no complaints about emerald in general, I have to say that there is a color that is so far beyond it in terms of elegance and overall depth that it just leaves the so-called "color of the year" in the dust. "Where can I find this color?" you ask. I'll tell you.

Amsale designs a line of silk chiffon bridesmaid dresses and they have a new color called "Mallard" that is deeper and richer than any emerald on the market. It took my breath away the first time I saw it on a bridesmaid dress in our store last week. And that's a miracle because it's a well-known fact at work that I hate bridesmaid dresses. Yes, that's right. I hate them. They are boring, miserable dresses that rarely flatter every body type (like all brides claim) and will never be worn again for any reason (contrary to what all brides claim). I hate them.

Despite how much I hate bridesmaid dresses, I would wear anything (even a bridesmaid gown) if only it were in this decadent shade they have named "Mallard." I haven't seen many ducks as pretty as this particular shade of green, but I'm sure they're out there.

It is now my goal to have a dress or a top or something in this color. Mallard is my new obsession. It will be mine.