Lovely Vintage Inspired Bridal Garters

I’ve had the website for Bleu Garters bookmarked for a few weeks now, and am excited to share their lovely creations.  Garters have become a bit passe thanks to lackluster, outdated designs, but Bleu Garters is one company that is making them en vogue once more.

Bleu Garters makes their lovely designs using high quality silks, ribbons and embellishments for unique, vintage inspired garters that an aesthetically-inclined bride is sure to appreciate.

I can just see these being used in a Parisian inspired wedding, a vintage wedding or luxuriously plush nuptials.  Or, the garters would make perfect accessories for a sexy boudoir photo session as well as a honeymoon surprise – they’re so stunning and irresistible, it’s hard to pick just one. Although, if I had to, it would definitely be the Monaco art deco inspired garter in sea foam green, hehehe….

Here are some of my favorites in the Bleu Garter collection:

1. Monaco Art Deco Garter (as seen in main pic above, too), $75

2. Strasbourg Garter, $55

3. Vougeot Garter, $70

The Stylish Soiree on Style Me Pretty

I decided to plan a networking Halloween party so the younger, talented wedding industry crowd in Los Angeles and Orange County could network and have a great time. I never thought it would end up this big but lo and behold, as soon as I got some amazingly talented professionals involved as sponsors (top So Cal caterer Nathaniel Neubauer from Contemporary Catering, event and floral designer extraordinaire Carissa Jones from JL Designs,  ridiculously talented and super sweet photographer Meg Perotti, and ‘crazy delicious’ dessert and cake baker Melody Brandon from Sweet & Saucy Shop), the guest list exploded and so did the party plans. And the icing on the cake was having “A Very Vintage Halloween” featured on my favorite eye-candy wedding blog, Style Me Pretty (Read Part I and Part II here).

We went from a laid-back, intimate 40 person affair to a decked-out Halloween bash with a vintage decor scheme.  The soft, romantic look with vintage touches is close to my heart, so planning a vintage themed Halloween party was a dream.  By the time the party was held in Franklin Canyon Park on Tuesday evening, we had over 175 RSVPs from top wedding industry professionals and even more fantastic sponsors, including the fabulously chic (and super fun) Mint Photo Lounge, Wildflower Linen, super premium IS Vodka (pronounced ‘ice’),  DJ Crash (former resident DJ at the Playboy mansion!) and talented Katrina Centeno from Calligraphy Katrina.

Carissa from JL Designs took the decor to a whole new level and integrated so many gorgeous details for the vintage theme, and I spent many a sleepless night hand-stamping vintage patterns onto cocktail napkins as well as printing vintage animal drawings and vintage Halloween postcards onto water color paper for hanging banners. It was a true group effort, and I couldn’t be happier with the results – working with so many amazing young, talented wedding industry vendors was an absolute joy and the party was such a blast.

My favorite part of the night was when a big group spontaneously burst in the ‘Thriller’ dance, led by the Sweeney Todd and an escaped inmate.   And that, my friends, is a successful Halloween party. I was also impressed with all the fantastic costumes – people really went all out, which I loved! Thank you to everyone who helped make this such a success, and a big thanks to all the great people who joined us despite the dark roads, gale-force winds and chilly weather! Can’t wait to do it again next year… hope you can join us. If you want The Stylish Soiree to plan your next Halloween bash, check out our official website for more info.

Vintage Halloween Husband Hunting

Halloween holds a special place in my heart as a holiday.  I mean, what other holiday encourages far-out costumes and a copious consumption of candy? Those two facts alone make Halloween an extra-fun holiday, but what I really love is the spookiness surrounding the holiday. Most people love getting a little bit spooked, which is why I think Halloween is so popular. Horror movies, haunted houses and scary stories raise hairs on the back of our necks and add a sense of adventure and excitement to our night, even if deep down we don’t quite believe in ghosts.

Today Halloween is known primarily as a scary, garish holiday with clashing purple, black and orange -  but it wasn’t always this way. From the late 19th and early 20th century Halloween celebrations focused mainly on getting together with family and friends, and one of the biggest beliefs of the holiday was that Halloween was the night when a young woman’s future husband could be divined. Various methods were prescribed to catch a glimpse of your future hubby, ranging from tossing hemp seeds outside to gazing into a mirror with a candle in front of it.  Vintage Halloween postcards illustrated these methods with lovely illustrations, which I’ve compiled above. If you stick around for tomorrow’s post you will see how I incorporated great vintage Halloween postcards into the decor scheme for A Very Vintage Halloween party that took place in Los Angeles on Tuesday… it’s darling stuff, I promise.

So, to all you lovely single ladies… are you planning on staring into the mirror to find Prince Charming this Halloween? Or will you take matters into your own hands with a killer costume and a pair of stilettos?

Good Gifting: Signed Martha Stewart Cookbook

We all have friends and family members who are our own personal Martha Stewarts. Talented at cooking and entertaining, they can whip up elegant dinners and cocktail parties with seemingly little effort, creating memorable evenings spent in the company of good friends and delicious food.  For many of these master entertainers of our world, Martha Stewart is their idol. So what better gift to give them with the holidays fast approaching than a signed copy of the original domestic goddess’s new cookbook?

If you live in the Los Angeles vicinity, be sure to stop by the Sur La Table at The Grove tomorrow evening (Monday, October 19th) to purchase a copy of Martha’s newest book and have it signed by Ms. Stewart herself.  The book is called Dinner At Home: 52 Quick Meals to Cook for Family & Friends, which sounds perfect for the born-entertainer and aspiring cook.

This would make a fabulous hostess gift, engagement party present or wedding gift for people who love to cook or want to learn. Extra points if you come up with a cute well-wishing phrase that Martha can write in the book to personalize it for the recipient.

P.S. Attention gentlemen (if any of my readers happen to be of the male persuasion!) – this book would also make a great gift for your wives for an anniversary or the holidays. Just make sure she actually does like to cook, otherwise she might take a well-intended gift the wrong way, hehe.

Lovely Vintage-Inspired Engagement Shoot

Jen from the always-inspiring Green Wedding Shoes featured this stunning engagement shoot by Axioo Photography on her blog  and I instantly fell in love. Not only is Audrey Hepburn a style icon, but Breakfast at Tiffany’s is an iconic film. To see the lovely vintage theme replayed for an engagement shoot like this was such a treat, and I hope it inspires you to get creative with your own engagement pictures.

In my opinion, the best ’styled’ engagement photos represent the couple doing something that is uniquely them. Perhaps the future groom is an avid hunter and the bride to be is known among friends and family as a talented baker.  A hunting lodge with mounted game would make a perfect setting for the shoot in the case of the groom, and the couple can wear plaid shirts, puffer vests, jeans and wellington boots. The groom brings his shotgun and cap along for props, and you have yourself a clever, cohesive and personal engagement shoot that is uniquely you.

For the bride, whip up a batch of cookies and cupcakes before the shoot and display them on cake stands and platters in the kitchen. A KitchenAid mixer, vintage and mismatched tea cups and saucers and Anthropologie-style aprons complete the props. If you want to style the engagement shoot further, you can always don a 50s housewife style dress and accessories and dress your man in a ‘Mad Men’ esque power suit… the possibilities are as open as your imagination – be creative and you can create the perfect setting for an unforgettable engagement shoot that embodies your personalities and relationship to a T.

Psst… check out Green Wedding Shoes for more delectable pictures from this engagement shoot!

Stylish Fall Bridesmaid Dresses

I might be biased toward Amsale since my own wedding dress came from them, but I can’t help but go gaga over their gorgeous gowns. I also l-o-v-e their line of bridesmaid dresses, which are constructed so well that you’d never guess in a million years that they are bridesmaid dresses. A lot of bridesmaid dress makers make the claim that their designs can be worn again, but then we’ve all seen 27 dresses, haven’t we?

The Amsale bridesmaid dresses, however, really do seem like they would make a great party dress to be worn after the fact. All of three of the dresses below would flatter a wide range of body types and can be dressed up or down with accessories and hair styles. Casual, outdoor fall wedding? How about gifting your bridesmaids with a nice looking neutral colored shawl they can wrap around their shoulders to stay warm. Formal, indoor fall affair? Consider gifting them with blinged-out, oversized cocktail rings – a different gemstone for each girl. They can wear either the wrap or the cocktail ring all season long, which makes it a thoughtful present.

Here are three of my favorite fall picks from Amsale’s most recent bridesmaid dress collection, which come in rich fall colors like wine, spice, coco and cranberry:

High Drama Dress: Rosa Clara’s ‘River’

Rosa Clara is a Spanish line of wedding gowns with a definite flair for the dramatic.  It goes without saying that the high impact dresses aren’t for every bride (or every wedding). Nearly every Rosa Clara wedding gown in their collection has a ‘look at me’ sensationalism about it that cannot be ignored. For brides who want to make a big style statement on their wedding day – the bold and beautiful drama queens perhaps, or the self-imposed slaves to fashion – Rosa Clara has just the dress.

Take, for example, their stunning ‘River’ dress shown above. The full skirt has three distinct tiers that narrowly escape looking overdone, and the top is a bustier-style fusion between the always-flattering sweetheart neckline and a trendy one-shoulder strap. It all sounds rather crazy written down, but together the effect is somehow completely enchanting – it’s the perfect dress for the fairy tale bride with fashion savvy and modern flair. The dress is something you might imagine bridal Barbie to gracefully waltz down the aisle in, and definitely requires a tall, leggy bride to properly pull it off the flouncy layers of silk skirting.

For brides who want to rock this high drama look, the key to pulling it off is to keep everything else simple and really let the dress shine. I’d love to see this Rosa Clara gown worn with glossy locks upswept in a simple chignon and large diamond studs sparkling in the bride’s ears.  The lovely neckline has enough interest and shouldn’t be worn with a necklace, but one large, sparkly bracelet would be the perfect crowning touch on the look. As with the rest of the ensemble, makeup should be light and understated, highlighting only one feature, preferably the eyes paired with a nude or light pink lip. A high drama dress is one thing, but too much drama can end up coming across looking harsh on a wedding day. Fashion, as always, is a delicate balancing act, and the more dramatic the dress the harder it is to balance. For brides who can walk the link, however, the sweet reward is an unforgettable wedding day look that guests will be gushing about for years to come.

Etsy Halloween Decor Ideas

With Halloween less than a month away, it’s time to break out the pumpkins, witch hats and macabre decor. I love Halloween because it’s one of the few opportunities that adults have to slip into an alternate identity, play pretend and completely let loose. Aside from its freeing aspect, Halloween also involves over-the-top decorations and costumes. And with costumes come fashion and styling, two of my favorite things in the world.

My most recent costuming quest was the creation of a Bjork swan dress costume. Lacking even the most rudimentary sewing skills,  it took me an entire box of free safety pins from my local dry cleaner, two white feather boas and two yards of white fuzzy fabric from LA’s garment district to create the dress. It was so much fun to make, and I’m currently mulling over the possibilities for this year’s made-from-scratch costume. (Suggestions? I’d love to hear them!)

I might not be set on my costume yet, but I lighted on Etsy seller Cozy Rosie’s store and found some fantastic ideas for Halloween decorations that I’m planning on scooping up.  Two of my favorites in the store are the Spooky Halloween Paper Garland and the Boo Cupcake toppers.

The paper garland and cupcake toppers have a great vintage Halloween feel that I love; they’re much more eerie than downright scary and would definitely blend in better with your average home or apartment decor than a host of wart-covered witches and skeleton bones .  What’s best, the two decorations together won’t set you back $20 – a true Halloween bargain for such cute decor. Of course, if you’re feeling crafty, it would be fairly easy to create your own take on these Halloween delights. If you choose to go this route, using a patterned craft paper throughout the party’s decorations is a great way to tie the whole look of the party together with little effort, and really customizes the look of your event.

Bridal Ensemble: Classically Elegant

Though wedding dresses trended towards the sexy look in the 90s and early 2000s with tighter silhouettes and lower necklines, a more conservative style in taking root among the top designers’ 2009/2010 bridal collections.  Bateau necklines and short sleeves are becoming popular not only for the modest bride, but for the bride who values style and aesthetics. Case in point this gorgeous Amsale ‘Anya’ dress that inspired the classically elegant ensemble below. Simple, stunning and sexy without revealing an inch of décolletage – quite Audrey Hepburn.

Dress by Amsale ‘Anya‘, Bracelet by TZUDIO on Etsy – $85, Heels by Christin Michaels on Zappos – $93

The Stylish Soiree: Focus on Style

Etsy designer Sarah Seven pairs timeless style with trend for a thoroughly modern look that stands the test of time.

I’ve decided to shift the focus of The Stylish Soiree blog a bit to hone in on what truly sets us apart from other Los Angeles event planners – our styling service. Wedding fashion is a very personal expression, and I feel that one of the most important things a bride can do to make her wedding memorable is to really pay attention to her style. By ’style’ I am referring to the term in the sense of permanent, timeless appeal as opposed to fleeting trendiness.

Trading Trends for Timelessness

Much the way that Audrey Hepburn’s elegance transcends eras, brides should carefully build their wedding day ensemble to reflect their personality without sacrificing timelessness. Gigantic hair flowers the size of a bride’s head (fastened 70’s style around the crown of the head, no less) make lovely editorial statements – but chances are, twenty years from now your kids will be snickering (lovingly, of course!) at your choice of wedding accessory.

There is, however, a balance between incorporating trends you love with a look that will never be stale. Choosing a dress that has both classic elements and a touch of trend is a great way to strike that balance, as is incorporating fashion-forward accessories that aren’t too over-the-top.

Put Your Wedding Dress To the Test

My favorite “Test of Timelessness” involves asking yourself 4 questions:

1. Would this ensemble have looked beautiful in the forties or fifties? (The tailoring, fit and fashion of these decades will always be classic)

2. Would this ensemble have been in style last year? (If it wasn’t in style yet, chances are it’s a trend!)

3. Will this ensemble look out of place ten years from now? (Be honest with yourself! I’m sure plenty of 80s brides could have guessed that future dresses will not all have ginormous poofy sleeves from then until eternity).

4. The most important question of all: Does this ensemble fit me perfectly and flatter all my best assets while forgiving my not-so-favorable spots? (True classics should look like they were made for you, regardless of the trends they encompass)

If your wedding dress passes the above test, chances are it is a fabulous choice. I’m a firm believer that classic fashion can also incorporate trends, as long as they are not over-the-top.  Sometimes even one over-the-top element, such as a huge architectural bow, or a chiffon-covered one-shoulder strap are still fantastic choices if they accent the bride’s best qualities. But buying a trendy dress for the sake of being trendy is not the best way to choose a gown, and will inevitably lead to “what was I thinking?!” regrets years down the road.

*Photo Credit: Sarah Seven, “With All My Love” gown, $1,210 on Etsy