I Must Confess...

       When people ask me about my work, they usually assume that my favorite part of  being a bridal stylist are the beautiful gowns that I have the privilege of working with. While I really and truly do admire and appreciate their beauty, I must confess that my absolute favorite part of bridal styling and pulling together a "bridal look" is getting to work with so many fabulous and exclusive accessories!
                                                       
        As a bridal stylist, I've gained unique access to a wide and varied range of accessories. Sashes, headpieces, veils, blushers, tiaras, combs, jewelry- it's all at my fingertips and I love working with them all. Truly, it's the most fun part for me; it's cliche to say, but at times I feel completely like a kid in a candy shop!
                                         
         It's not just that the pieces are beautiful, unique and enchanting, but having the right accessories are really the key to creating the look that you want as a bride. A birdcage veil (top left corner) can create a chic, retro look. A sash/headpiece (running across the middle) can look very Grecian or Great Gatsby. A headpiece can be used in multiple ways and many hairstyles. Either way, whether you flip through a magazine or work closely with a consultant, have fun with selecting your accessories-it will be one of the best parts of the wedding process!
     For yourself,  what would be the must-have accessory on your big day? Are you into tiaras or not so much? Do you think there's such a thing as too many accessories? Let me know in the comments below!

Whimsical Romance - Monique Lhuillier's 'Alice in Wonderland' Spring 2016 Bridal collection

         One of the big names in bridal fashion, Monique Lhuillier, has officially debuted her Spring 2016 collection and it is collection that is truly has a unique source of inspiration. While many bridal collections are inspired by princess, the Spring 2016 collection was inspired by Lewis Carroll's, Alice in Wonderland. 
         According to WWD.com, bridal gown designer Monique Lhuillier, was inspired by both the elements of fantasy and curiosity that she found from the story. Lhuillier also felt that there was a darker side to the fairy tale and, " . . . that was my way of incorporating the sultry side of the bride."
         I have to say, I do think that Alice in Wonderland is a unique source of inspiration and in reviewing the styles that were featured, you can definitely get a sense of whimsy, mixed with sophisticated sensuality. Here were a few that stood out to me:

                       I love how soft and romantic this looks. Unfortunately, I wish we could see how the cape or shrug was attached. I'm sure Lhuillier made it detachable though, to give brides the option changing up their look on the big day.

 

Okay, so I have a penchant for sleeves on bridal gowns. I must confess, for myself, I LOVE the look of sleeves, especially 3/4 lentgh sleeves. I also very much love the boat neckline. Doesn't it frame the shoulders and neck beautifully? 

Well, this one isn't my favorite, but I do think it's pretty and would look nice on a girl with the right figure. I do appreciate the texture of the layers. Imagine how beautiful this dress would move if it were to glide along a ballroom floor? 

What do you think readers? Does this collection stand out or blend in? If you were to design a dress inspired by a fairytale or book, which one would it be? 

To read the article, go to: http://wwd.com/runway/spring/review/monique-lhuillier/ 

A picture's worth a thousand words - check out the slideshow here: http://wwd.com/runway/spring/review/monique-lhuillier/slideshow/ 

Thanks again my lovelies! Visit me again, I will be writing again MUCH, MUCH sooner than I have been - promise!  

                   

Enchanted with the "Elsa" Dress

              Hello my beauties!
              I hope this entry finds you well. Things have been running at a break-neck speed in bridal world and if you are having a wedding, or helping to plan a one, you are right there in the trenches with me! The hours have been crazy and I've been surviving on lots and lots of coffee, comfy but cute flats and getting in as much beauty rest as I am allowed. In order to take care of my brides, I have to take care of myself, right?
               In looking at bridal gowns, I'm sure you have, at least in the past, come across or heard of how a few years ago, Disney (yes, THAT Disney!) partnered up with the legendary Alfred Angelo Bridal company to create a collection of bridal gowns inspired by the Disney Princesses.  Not only do they have dress for the classic princesses, such as Snow White and Cinderella, but they have really sought to keep the collection updated as new princesses join the Walt Disney Kingdom. A few years ago, Princess Tiana, from Disney's The Frog Prince, was added to the collection and she has had her own bridal gowns for a few years now.
              Well, as we all know by now, pop culture and our society in general has been caught up in the avalanche that is Disney's"Frozen", and in keeping with everyone's obsession, Disney has once again partnered up with Alfred Angelo Bridal to bring . . . yes, you guessed it . . . an "Elsa"inspired bridal gown, and without further delay, here she is!

                                                                "Elsa" - #251
                 

      So here are the vitals:  The shape of "Elsa"(style #251)  is a flared sheath gown. This means it's fitted very similarly to that of a mermaid gown on top, but as it travels down to the bottom, the flare is relaxed and soft. According to the website of Alfred Angelo Bridal, the embellishment of sequins and glitter tulle on the bottom are meant to glisten like "freshly fallen snow"-how romantic does that sound?!? Also very interesting is that  not only can this dress come in the traditional white or ivory, but will also be available in a one-of-a-kind shade of BLUE, entitiled "Ice Crystal".

      I think you can see the color better in this photo (below) that shows the unique back.
                                     

 

                                                                                              

         My take on this creation? I think it's a good tribute to the princess that inspires it and I think it's a dress that brides could wear, especially maybe as a second dress. I mean, aren't those sequins and glitter tulle made for a dance floor lit by tea lights or twinkly lights? I especially can't wait to see it in white or ivory. Although color has really come back into bridal, I don't know if many brides would actually do blue for their big day.
         I want to know what you're thinking! What do you think of a "Frozen" inspired bridal gown? Would you walk down the aisle in "Elsa"? Also, would you be bold in blue, or would you feel more comfortable in white or ivory?  I want to know! Let's talk!

     
       


   
   

Merry Bridal Christmas

               It's that time of the year.
              Yup, I know its only January and Christmas and the holiday season has passed, but for our store, we are heading into the craziest time of the year - it's Bridal Christmas!
             "Bridal Christmas" refers to the time period from January to March. I think, for most brides, whether their weddings fall in spring, summer or fall, the majority use the holiday season as the marker for when they plan to start getting things ready for their wedding. So, they enjoy the holiday season, let Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah roll on by, and then right after New Year's Day (probably when the bride and her maids are over the holiday bacchanalia and have sobered up), the rush begins. I mention this because this past weekend was the official first weekend of our busy bridal season.
               It is like nothing else. My fellow stylists and I will usually head into the store and hour or 30 minutes prior to opening to ensure that the store is ready for the day - we will finish our coffee, make sure the bridal runs are neat and orderly, read our numbers, maybe make some calls and touch up our lip gloss too. And while we do that, we usually have a few crowds of women standing and constantly pushing or pulling at our locked doors.
               Once we open those doors, we just don't stop. The flow of people, wedding parties, never stops. The phone doesn't stop. The card of swatch colors for bridesmaids dresses get passed around and by the end of the day looks like a worn out, torn up pinata.  Sometimes we miss our lunches or breakfasts, so we usually run to the back and eat whatever we can.
                Probably the hardest part is the continous outpouring of excitement and exuberance that we have to put out. A manager once mentioned that when we step onto the sales floor, we are also stepping onto a stage. Our "performance" is to smile, be upbeat, be energetic and work quickly and gracefully. Again, that's probably the hardest part - the constant "act" we have to try and portray in order to give a positive experience to our brides and their parties. Now, don't get me wrong - every stylist that I have had the pleasure of working along side with is usually very genuine and thoroughly enjoys helping their brides and clientele. Especially when we get a bride who is sweet, nice and fun to work with, we truly get excited and want to help her even more!
                Indeed, "Bridal Christmas" is probably close to the holiday of Christmas - it's an exciting time that's fun and enjoyable, but if you start to rush around too much or there's a lot of pressure, it can start to seep into your psyche and mentality. You just can't give up though, you just can't stop.

The Starting Point

               I had just returned home. I was exhausted, hungry and my feet were killing me - it had been one of those days. Kicking off my black patent leather pumps, I stepped into my grandma's house where she was visiting with my Aunt Vivian, who is also my godmother. Saying hello, I got a plate of leftovers, threw it in the microwave and sat down where I began to regale my grandma and aunt with stories from my workplace; a high-end bridal salon in the crazy city of Los Angeles. It was cathartic for me to be able to vent about clients and their weddings. When I had started a few years prior, I had no idea how entrenched I would become in my clients and their lives. I had no clue as to the demands and pressure that would be placed on me to deliver what they wanted. I had no idea how crucial my role would be in what was considered by many of them to be the most important day of their lives - their wedding day. 

           I can't think of exactly when, but after some time, my Nina Viv, suggested that I start writing all these down and put it into a blog and well . . . we all have to start somewhere and this is the start of that said blog. 

             I invite you, dear reader, to go where few people get to go - inside the life and profession of a bridal stylist. Come back and enjoy an insider's perspective on one of the craziest industries that's behind the most important day in most people's lives.  

             Picture above is my dear friend, Carmen. I think she looks simply stunning in this champagne-colored bridal gown with a plain tulle veil.