Archive for May, 2010

Say ‘I Do’ to Non Traditional Wedding Dresses

Friday, May 28th, 2010

Spring is in full bloom, and with it? Everywhere you turn, brides in classic bridal attire posing in the traditional picturesque spots (think: Boston Common, swans gliding in the background; the Brooklyn Bridge; Central Park; the Jefferson Memorial, avec cherry blossoms…you get  the picture). And don’t get me wrong – classic is absolutely lovely, but what about those brides looking for something slightly different?

J. Mendel asymmetric dress; Deborah Milner plastic lace dress; my second wedding attire

Clockwise, from left: J. Mendel asymmetric dress; Deborah Milner plastic lace dress; my second wedding attire, from a vintage Vogue pattern

Are you an eco-concious bride? You could really push the limits with this one-of-a-kind dress by Deborah Milner, a gorgeous lace creation made completely from plastic bags (cover of ID magazine, above). If you just don’t care for traditional, period, are a little left of center, choose something like this J. Mendel asymmetric dress (found on Fabsugar). Or – speaking from experience – maybe it’s your second wedding, for which I’d suggest something less formal like the dress my mother made (here, bottom left) based on a vintage Vogue pattern and paired with turquoise metallic Jimmy Choo sandals.

Thankfully, for those creative types who want to stand out, Covet Shop has some new dresses just for you. If you’re a bride seeking a unique dress, check back often since we are posting new spring merchandise every week!

Monique Lhuillier Lace Inset Dress; Moschino Victorian Dress

Monique Lhuillier Lace Inset Dress; Moschino Victorian Dress

Of course, the wedding dress is only one piece of your bridal fashion puzzle: Don’t forget the rehearsal dinner, the engagement party (ies), the shower (s)…so, might we suggest the below party picks, perfect for (from left): The Hippie Wedding, the Downtown Affair, and last but not least, the Shotgun Wedding.

Lauren Pierce Felista Dress; Calvin Klein Piped Dress; Moschino Balloon Dress

Lauren Pierce Felista Dress; Calvin Klein Piped Dress; Moschino Balloon Dress

Here, we’ve found styles that suit: The Upscale Garden Engagement Party; the White Glove Rehearsal Dinner (with flats perfect for late-night, kick-off-your-wedding-heels dancing).

Prada Embroidered Backless Dress with Sergio Rossi Cross Strappy Sandals; Tadashi Shoji Mesh Pleat Cocktail Dress paired with Christian Louboutin Peep Toe Flats

Prada Embroidered Backless Dress with Sergio Rossi Cross Strappy Sandals; Tadashi Shoji Mesh Pleat Cocktail Dress paired with Christian Louboutin Peep Toe Flats

I’ll leave you with this: The Disco Ball sandal. Need I say more? Who can pull this one off for their nuptials? Whatever the occasion, whomever buys these babies definitely needs to send us a picture of them in action.

Disco Ball Sandals by Valentino. So Studio 54.

Disco Ball Sandals by Valentino. So Studio 54.

Vacaciones en México

Tuesday, May 18th, 2010

Sorry we haven’t posted lately…but due to some big happenings I’m throwing out an equally big excuse. First, I had a baby boy about three weeks ago (!!), as alert readers might have guessed from my sneaky “Covet Shopping for Baby Bumps” post last November. (By the way, that Moschino blazer I snatched up was a very stylish lifesaver for the office.)

Secondly, Nancy got engaged and was recently on vacation in Mexico. Props to her BF-now-fiance for cleverly not being predictable and popping the question AFTER the trip instead of during it. And  Nancy has happily taken to her new status well by properly obsessing over her gorgeous ring. Best of wishes to them!! I’ve been so busy with the baby that haven’t heard the full story yet, but look forward to catching up with her this week.

What's hotter than a defrocked priest?

What's hotter than a defrocked priest?

So what’s packed in fabulous Nancy’s bag for a trip to the tropics? When I travel to Mexico, my imagination goes wild so course I’m envisioning their trip was something out of “Night of the Iguana,” the 1964 classic (shot off Playa Mismaloya, near Puerta Vallarta) dripping with scandal. Though, unless their travels included an encounter with a defrocked priest at hot as Richard Burton, it was probably slightly more tame.

Below, her guidelines for a stylishly packed bag.

- Array of bikinis in prints and solids (including a new Eres suit…love!)

- Cover up tunics and light dresses; lots of maxi dresses

- YSL straw tote beach bag

- Favorite straw Panama hat

- Silk tops, including a new studded top from Jodi Arnold; denim short shorts

- For shoes: Havaianas and jelly slides, Missoni wedges

Sooo, if you’re looking for inspiration from Covet Shop, we’ve compiled these two outfits, as styled by Nancy. Muy bonita.

Roberto Cavalli Long Floral Printed Dress, Bottega Veneta Vintage Clutch, Jimmy Choo Prize Sandals (sold), Gucci Buckle Sunglasses

Roberto Cavalli Long Floral Printed Dress, Jimmy Choo Prize Sandals (sold), Gucci Buckle Sunglasses

But ladies, it’s not all about the fashion – for beauty picks, Nancy smartly likes to “keep it simple” for trips and just include basics like bronzer, lip gloss, Bumble Surf Spray, and mascara. But since I’m the beauty chick here, I’ve taken the liberty of adding some of my faves. First, take a peek at M·A·C’s impending “To the Beach” collection – not available until May 28, but you heard about it here. For me, the joy and design of the packaging weighs in at about 70% of my purchase influence (since ladies, let’s face it, lots of beauty products work equally well), and — well — as a beachaholic these new items are stunners. They just make you happy, period.

Lipglass in Easy Lounger, new Cream Bronzer...take me away

Lipglass in Easy Lounger, new Cream Bronzer...take me away

We’ll leave you with these three beauty essentials for your escape – trust me, this is just about all you’ll need to look fantastic – in addition to the lip gloss and bronzer, of course. Oh, and some deodorant.

Don't scare beach-goers with your pasty legs; prepare beforehand with Jergens Natural Glow (comes in various shades, plus the choice of Revitalizing or Firming); Korres' delicious Lip Butter; and Bumble's Surf Spray (Nancy's pick)

Don't scare beach-goers with your pasty legs; prepare beforehand with Jergens Natural Glow (comes in various shades, plus the choice of Revitalizing or Firming); Korres' delicious Lip Butter; and Bumble's Surf Spray (Nancy's pick)