Some Other Blogging...

As you know, I've been blogging more at work, maintaining the Madeleine's Daughter blog. I have really enjoyed writing posts for work, since I usually get to write about beautiful gowns and sparkly bridal accessories. However, I recently wrote a series of posts that introduce our readers to the amazing bridal consultants. Over the next few weeks, we'll be publishing them on the MD blog. I am really excited about this series because I know first hand how incredible my co-workers are and I'm excited to put their personalities and pictures on the internet for everyone to see. I used a simple formula and had each consultant answer the same set of questions. It was really fun to see their unique answers to the questions. The first post published yesterday and introduced McKenzie, one of the most seasoned bridal consultants we have on staff.

Click here to view the first post in my "Meet the Staff" series and feel free to follow the Madeleine's Daughter blog, too!

Holiday Party Photos

November and December are the major party months of the year and this year was no exception. Between the official company holiday party and the various other parties thrown by my coworkers, I feel like I haven't had a weekend free in a while. We were all very fashionable for our company party, so I'd like to share some of the photos with you:

Brandie, Kristin and I at our company holiday party

I was in love with my outfit for this particular event. I found the dress and the sequin cardigan at Forever 21 of all places! Combined, they cost less than my shoes (which I found at DSW). I felt festive and sexy and up for a night on the town with my girls! I hope I get to wear this outfit again sometime. It would make a great date outfit as well. 

Juhree and I at our company holiday party

You can't really tell in either photo, but I also sported one of my fascinators. You can check it out in this post. I thought it was a fun, funky finishing accessory for my outfit. As for Juhree's outfit- I love that she didn't wear just a standard LBD (like most of us!), but rocked a bold, cobalt blue satin dress. I don't have a photo of the whole dress, but trust me when I say she looked hot! 

McKenzie and Jeff

McKenzie's dress made me drool all night long- a simple LBD in a fitted bodice with a full skirt and the fabric was sparkly and lush. She's so gorgeous, I can hardly handle it! I also love that her boyfriend Jeff wore a newsboy cap- so cute!  

What did you wear to your company holiday party? Was it a dressy event? Send me a picture or leave a comment below to tell me all about it!  

Shoesday Tuesday: New Shoes at Work and an Update on My Busy Life

Where have I been?!?!?!? I have been a blogging slacker lately and I'm sorry about that! The month of November was particularly crazy for me. I did a lot of traveling-mostly short trips for a couple of days at a time, but by the end of the month, I was ready to stop living out of a suitcase. I feel like I spent a small fortune on travel-size toiletries, too.

I started off the month with a quick trip down to North Carolina which was pretty adventurous for me because I went down there to meet a gentleman I'd been talking to on match.com. I won't go into the details now, but let's just say that my friends have been asking, "When are you going to do a blog post called 'How to Dress for a Skype Date'?"

The week after that was Beth's wedding, and you've all read a little about that. I had more fun at that wedding than I ever thought possible. I enjoy weddings- the food, the friends, the dancing- but there was definitely something special about that wedding in particular. It was an awesome time with wonderful friends and some really great fashions, too.

The following week, I went with some co-workers down to Providence, RI to visit a friend performing in the touring stage production of How the Grinch Stole Christmas. It was a wonderful show and a really fun trip. It rained while we were there, but our moods were sunny the whole time. I purchased a pair of adorable flat oxfords while I was there, too!

The week after that was consumed by prepping and cooking for Thanksgiving- we had a small family gathering with enough food for an army. On Black Friday, Madeleine's Daughter held our annual sample sale and it was record-setting! So many brides came in looking for a bargain and they got it! Dresses were marked up to 80% off and it was exciting to see the smiles on the faces of the brides who found amazing dresses at even more amazing prices.

Finally, I finished off the month with a quick trip down to Lancaster, PA to visit some friends from my old job at AMT. I saw a matinee performance of their current Christmas show and also spent a lot of time catching up with cast, band and crew. I hadn't seen most of those people in over a year, so we had a LOT of catching up to do. I loved hearing about what's been going in their lives and of course I loved talking about what's happening in mine. Between my job that I love and my new budding match.com romance, there was a lot to share.

Now we're into December and I can hardly believe it! I feel as though I didn't really work at all last month and this month is so full of holiday parties that I can't imagine how I'll stay focused at work! First up is our company Holiday party this Friday. It's a secret what we're doing, but we've all been told to dress up. I plan to recycle an old stand-by- my red dress. It's a great dress, so why not wear it at every opportunity, right? The very next day is a holiday party hosted by my coworker Brandie. I plan to wear a dress that I also wore  on my trip to North Carolina. I promise I'll take a photo to share it with you. It will forever be known as "the date dress" but that's a story for another time. The following weekend, my other coworker Sadie is hosting her annual "Yule Ball" and I've got an awesome outfit picked out for that party. I'm excited to show it to all of you. The only thing I haven't figured out is the shoes, but I've got some time. After that, there's a bit of a breather and I'll get to just enjoy the next couple of weeks leading up to Christmas and the New Year. However, my New Year's plans just changed last night. Originally, I had planned to go to a party that my other coworker Juhree is hosting. I even bought a fabulous dress and super sparkly cardigan that I was SO excited to wear. But then I was surprised with the offer to take New Year's Eve off of work, so I took it. After a little research, I was able to book a flight down to North Carolina, so I'll be ringing in the New Year in a more intimate setting.

Phew! That's a lot of news to share, but I had to get it all out in one shot! I hope you'll forgive me for being such a blogging slacker these last couple of weeks. I'll try to be better! I promise.

In the meantime, check out these amazing shoes we're going to be carrying at Madeleine's very soon:

Are they spectacular or what? I can't wait to try them on! Speaking of work, you may have noticed I've been blogging over at the Madeleine's Daughter blog pretty regularly. So, technically, I haven't been a complete blogging slacker. Check out those posts when you have a minute and follow that blog, too! 

Have a great Shoesday Tuesday, everyone! 

Shoesday Tuesday: Mel's Smokin' Heels

This weekend I got together with my friend Melanie and while we were out having lunch and seeing a movie, we got a few compliments on our stylish outfits. I was especially impressed with Mel's shoes:

I'm so in love with these! And Mel is right on trend with the opaque, dark tights which not only keep her warm in the cold, New England fall weather, but they draw the eye right to her amazing shoes. Want these shoes for yourself? We saw them on sale at DSW in the grey pictured above as well as black. 

If this isn't enough of a Shoesday Tuesday fix for you, hop on over to the Madeleine's Daughter blog today and check out my Shoesday Tuesday post there! Leave a comment here or there- you know how much I love comments! Have a great day, everyone! 

Kristin's a Babe!

It's true! She can't help it. Kristin's a total babe and she's on her way to being the star of my blog with her adorable outfits:

What's great about Kristin's outfits is that she always looks put-together and professional, but her accessories are simple and understated. She's chic, but not overdone in any way. And her hair is always super cute, too. It's making me want to book an appointment at the salon and chop about 4 inches off mine. 

Leave a comment and let Kristin know how fabulous she looks! 

Shoesday Tuesday: Sadie's Boots!

Sadie has been drooling over a certain pair of boots for a few weeks, but she finally caved in and got them!

I'm completely in love with them, aren't you? I love the zipper on the side and the snap over the gusset on top. I love the color, the suede- everything about them! If you want to get these for yourself, you can find them here or here. 

And if this isn't enough of a Shoesday Tuesday fix for you, hop on over to the Madeleine's Daughter blog and check out my Shoesday Tuesday post there today!  

Finally- the Wedding Outfit!

This past weekend was one of the most fun, exciting, beautiful weekends I have had in a long time. My BFF Beth got married! Other than one glitch involving cookies homemade by the groom's mother (more on that another time), everything went perfectly. From setting up the venue, to the rehearsal dinner to seeing friends and family to the actual wedding and of course all our outfits- everything was spectacular. What I loved so much about this wedding was that it was 100% what the bride and groom had envisioned. From start to finish, you could feel the personalities of the couple, their friends and their family members infused within the event. My personal favorite was the chuppa we helped to construct and erect. My contribution involved helping to drape the fabric canopy and although it was my first chuppa, I have to say it was pretty stellar.

I don't have time right this minute to write a blog post about everything, but I wanted to show all of you my bridesmaid outfit for the wedding. Up until this point, all you've seen are the shoes, but I was so happy with my entire "look" and I really do plan to wear this dress again!

The picture's a little grainy- the lighting wasn't amazing in that room and I had to use the camera on my phone. Not ideal, but you can definitely get a sense of the overall look. The dress was purchased at Ann Taylor months ago. The coolest thing about it is the exposed zipper on the side. It just adds the slightest edge to an otherwise sweet, simple dress. In addition to the zipper, there is a raw edge to the fabric at the waistline that doesn't look unfinished, as you might expect. It's more of a cool detail that you have to almost know about in order to notice it. The shoes are epic. And excruciating, but whoever said beauty doesn't hurt was lying. The bracelet is my oh-so-fabulous Audrey Cluster Bracelet from Stella and Dot: 

Love it!

My fascinator brooch was purchased on Etsy from an amazing little shop called Takka Petit. The prices can't be beat and the quality is great. Between Beth, her sister Amy and I, we each had a fabulous "flower" of some sort as part of our looks. Beth's was part of her dress, Amy wore hers in her hair and mine was versatile- I mostly wore it on my dress, but at one point, I clipped it in my hair. I'm looking forward to wearing it again soon! 

Purple Feather Fascinator, Takka Petit (Etsy), $16.50

Just because I love them so much, let's have another look at my shoes: 

CJ by Charles Jourdain via Off Broadway Shoes

The only other accessory I had was a glittery champagne clutch that I actually purchased at work: 

Farah Clutch, Benjamin Walk via Madeleine's Daughter

What I loved about my outfit was that everything coordinated with the colors of the wedding. The shades of purple that I wore (dress, fascinator) were used in the flowers and the centerpiece designs. Every other accessory fell into the champagne family, which perfectly complimented the bride. And even though my bracelet, bag and shoes were all technically "neutrals," they were each very special pieces. In fact, there wasn't much about them that was neutral aside from the color. 

So there you have it: my bridesmaid look. Please feel free to leave a comment and tell me what you think. I'm sure at some point I'll see the photos from the actual wedding photographer, so you'll have that to look forward to as well. Enjoy the rest of your weekend, everyone! 

I'm expanding- as a blogger, that is!

Today is my BFF Beth's wedding day and I am SO excited for her! As you read this, we are probably getting all dolled up for the big event. I am certain this day is going to be wonderful from start to finish, and since I'm going to be totally focused on everything wedding related, I'll be taking the weekend off from blogging. However, you can still get your blog fix by visiting the Madeleine's Daughter blog here. I've recently "taken over" as the main author of that blog and I'm really excited about it. In addition to today's post over there, I've also written a few others here, here and here. Check it out and leave a comment here or there to tell me what you think!

Psychic Coworkers

I've mentioned before that my coworkers and I tend to show up to work wearing very similar outfits sometimes. Remember Juhree and Kristin? Well, the other day, Brandie and Kerry took it to a whole new level and actually showed up in the exact same dress!

You can see that they both styled their dresses with black accessories to coordinate with the black waistband of the dress. And yet, they both look so different! Brandie (on the left) styled her dress with a pair of black leggings and some killer high heels. She kept the accessories to a minimum with just a fabulous pair of earrings and her wedding ring. Kerry, on the other hand rocked a pair of high-heel, tall boots, lace tights, a cardigan and lots of Silpada jewelry. Just like Stella and Dot, Silpada is a fabulous jewelry company of which Kerry is a representative. It seems she's always booking parties and she always seems to have so much fun doing it. If you're interested in finding out more about hosting a Silpada party, email Kerry and ask all about it! Don't tell the S&D folks, but I'm a fan of a lot of Kerry's jewelry! I really like these rings: 

Etched Black Lip Shell & Sterling Ring, $89

Sterling Silver Ring & Interchangeable Stones, $99

Also, every time she wears this ring to work, it catches my eye. And until I visited her Silpada site, I actually had no idea that the stones in the ring were interchangeable. Now I'm REALLY a fan of that ring! 

Leave a comment and tell me what you think of the different ways my coworkers have styled this dress. I think that everyone I work with is super stylish, but I love hearing other opinions, too! Have an awesome day everyone! 

Stylin' Ladies

Lately my co-workers have really been bringing it when it comes to their daily fashion choices. I feel like there is someone nearly every day who I just NEED to photograph for my blog! Of course, most days we're busy actually working, so it doesn't work out nearly as often as I'd like. The other day I just HAD to photograph Juhree again- her outfit was too cute!

Juhree is particularly good at accessorizing- she always has a fabulous cocktail ring, a great pair of boots and super cool earrings. This outfit struck me as not only cool and stylish, but also flattering. Notice how she's cinched the flow-y top with a cool belt in the same color as her skirt and tights. Not only does it make her waist super tiny, but it draws the eye upward, which is always a good thing. 

On the same day that I took this picture, I also had to photograph Kristin: 

First of all, anyone who can rock a sweater dress like this gets some serious kudos from me. Second, light pink and chocolate brown is one of my favorite color combinations. As if she isn't already tall and slender, Kristin maximized her height by keeping her tights and boots monochromatic. 

I love how great all my coworkers look every day- it really makes writing this blog a LOT easier! 

Leave a comment if you have something to say about either Juhree or Kristin's outfits and have a fabulous day! 

Bridal Market

A couple of weeks ago was bridal market in New York, Chicago, etc. and of course Madeleine's Daughter was well represented at those shows. It's such an exciting time- seeing all the new trends and deciding which lines and dresses to carry in the store for the next year. For the most part, we continued with all the designers that we already carry- Monique Lhullier, Lazaro, Christos, Amsale, Alvina Valenta, Maggie Sottero- the list goes on and on and on. But, we are also going to be adding a line- the Nicole Miller bridal collection. And we are all very excited about it. It's perfect for the bride who wants something simple, but still very fashion-forward. Here are a few of our favorites from her collection:

I love this look for an informal wedding, or for a second look at the reception. The asymmetry is so trendy right now. 

I absolutely adore the neckline on this dress- so striking, but subtle at the same time. I would absolutely wear this dress.

Again, her simple silhouette with stunning detail is what makes her designs so appealing. There is no gimmick, just beautiful lines. I'm really excited to see these dresses in person once they're in the store.

Leave a comment and tell me what you think of these dresses!

Cigarette Pants and Sassy Heels

Meet McKenzie:

I love everything about this outfit- the skinny cigarette pants, the cool pattern of her sweater, the awesome grey heels- it's all fabulous. And what I wouldn't give for hair like hers. McKenzie has a bit of a pet peeve when it comes to jewelry, though. She can't tolerate anything that's noisy. That pretty much eliminates multiple bangles, or anything with baubles or charms that clink together. I guess I'm not the only one with irrational wardrobe habits. 

Don't you agree that this outfit is super chic? Leave a comment if you like and tell McKenzie yourself! 

Boots n' Blue

My co-workers are stunning women. Stunning. Just look at Sadie: 

Sadie ALWAYS looks amazing, but something about this outfit I really love. I love the details on the dress, the super cool boots, the flower pin- all of it! 

Sadie's such a babe! And she's super fun to work with, too. I'm very lucky to have such amazing, fashionable co-workers in my life. It makes going to work something I look forward to. 

Weddings Galore...

This past weekend was unseasonably warm for October in New England. I was thrilled for the weather, though, since I had not one, but two weddings to attend. The first was for a friend from church and I was a part of the wedding in that I played the piano for the ceremony. It was a beautiful wedding that went really well and I was happy to be a part of their day. On Sunday, I attended another wedding for a friend simply as a guest and it was beautiful as well. I only managed to snap a photo of bride #2 that weekend, but I am proud to say that both of them were not only good friends of mine, but they were also both Madeleine's Daughter brides. And both of their dresses looked amazing. Here's a photo of Shawna (bride #2) in hers:

Doesn't she look stunning? Congratulations to Shawna and Craig, and Krystie and Dave! Your weddings were beautiful and fun! 

More Amazingly Fashionable Co-Workers

There are often days at work when three or four of us will show up wearing similar outfits- the same color tends to be a common theme. On Thursday, there were four of us wearing a coral colored top with black pants or a skirt. Another day it will be purple, or red, or maybe even black and white stripes. Since we're all very fashion-obsessed, it would make sense that we have similar tastes, or that we would gravitate towards similar looks, whether we're inspired by a style magazine or another coworker. Last week, both Juhree and Kristin wore amazing outfits centered around the same types of pieces: an awesome teal dress, rockin' knee-high boots and simple accessories. 

Juhree

Kristin

I wish I'd taken close-up photos of the girls' accessories- Kristin's bird necklace and Juhree's cocktail ring are each the perfect finish to their outfits. I love the richness of the cognac color of Juhree's boots- the combination is perfect for fall. And Kristin's 60's-era silhouette looks modern with flat black suede boots and her awesome bird necklace. So, if you're in need of some outfit inspiration, consider creating a look inspired by Juhree or Kristin and you can't go wrong. Here are some super chic options to help you build an outfit from the ground up, or finish off one you already have: 

Donna Ricco Twist Front Jersey Sheath Dress, Nordstrom, $118

Steven by Steve Madden "Intyce," Piperlime, $149

Lacquered Hummingbird Pendant, Forever 21, $5.80

Faceted Dome Ring, Forever 21, $2.80

Kerry's Fascinating Fascinator

Have you ever left the house and gotten halfway to work only to realize you forgot to put on a pair of earrings, or a scarf or a headband or any accessory at all? I've been there! So have some of my coworkers. In some cases, I admit, I've "shopped" the store. One of my coworkers- Brandie- is notorious for coming in a few minutes early, and looking around the store for the perfect necklace to wear with her outfit. And she does- price-tag and all! It's actually a great selling tool, when you think about it. Earlier this week, my super stylish coworker Kerry did the same thing, only she chose an awesome feather headband to wear for the day. It worked perfectly with her grey scale outfit that consisted of a fitted charcoal grey sweater and a lovely dove grey pencil skirt. Against her fair complexion and stunning red hair, the normally neutral grey actually pops!

I loved watching the feathers bob jauntily as she hopped around the store helping brides, bridesmaids and mothers all day long. 

Is she a babe or what?