FALL INSPIRED

♥ Doğum Günün Kutlu Olsun Dilekcim...=) ♥ by @ Nermin @ featuring Vince Camuto shoes

Desi Fashion Police: Clutch
desifashionpolice.com

Pink Sequin Bow Prom dress - Lunacy Clothing Boutique
$224 - lunacyboutique.co.uk

Carolee Pearl & Crystal Earrings
$38 - dillards.com

$80 - piperlime.gap.com- Round toe pump 4" covered heel, 1/2" hidden platform Man made lining Leather outsole Black upper: 100% patent leather Gold upper: 100% metallic nappa leather.

SUNDAY INSPIRATION . . . .

Leaving you with a little inspiration here from that inventive designer, Yumi Katsura. These scrumptious images hail from her 2007 -08 Paris show. For me they're inspiring and truly unforgettable.

All images courtesy Fashion Week Photos

ONE OF A KIND DETAIL

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Taffeta is one of my favorite fabrics for bridal gowns, especially here where it poufs and folds beautifully as a a French Bustle. A truly original gown, I just had to share . . . .

THE PETITE BRIDE

Spose di Gio

Recently I was out shopping for fabric and surprised at how many huge floral and big prints are out there. For brides over 5'8, these work fine but what about the so-called average and petite bride? Here's an example of the kind of email I get from the concerned shorter bride : I'm very small boned. Most gowns I’ve tried on are for women that are 5’6’’. This means whenever I get in front of the mirror I’m swimming in the dress. Almost any sleeve, belt, print or lace looks magnified on me. What are my options?

One of the most important things for the vertically challenged to remember is scale. If you’re petite and in shape, you can wear just about any gown as long as you scale down to the right proportion. Also thinking vertically (up, up, up) it will be easier to figure out which treatments suit you best. For instance, choose a bodice and neckline that draw the eye up to your decolletage. Here’s some more to consider:

GO FOR

* a gown with a panel or seam(s) running up the front. The unbroken lines give you height.

*Empire waists are one of your best options considering you go floor length. You want to keep that vertical line going.

* A V or U-neck, it gives the impression of a longer neck.

*Modified Mermaid. The to-the-floor sash on this gown below draws the eye up.

Gown by Amy-Jo Tatum
Smoot Photo

*A mermaid. If you’re slim and petite consider this style. It’s fitted like an evening gown up top and has all the bounce and swirl of a ball gown below.

*An A-line. Think of it as your very own scaled down version of a ball gown.

*Sheath and evening gown silhouettes, long and columnar; they will flatter you.

* Length over volume in your skirt

*Sleeves that are long and straight.

* Best proportion is a floor length gown with veil or train of the same length.

*Prints and laces as well as any motifs should be scaled down and worn on the upper portions of the body. Busy designs below the waist (even small ones) draw all eyes downward.

*Soft and sheer fabrics like crepe and chiffon that drape to the body.

PASS UP:

*any ball gown. The volume in the skirts will consume you.

*heavy, elaborate fabrics like brocade or any print or design that is large.

*Wide belts, sashes and cummerbunds interrupt the vertical lines you want to create. If you do wear a sash or belt go thin (1-1 ½ inches) and as close to the shade of your gown as you can get.

*any design with big puffy sleeves or shoulder pads.

*Any train longer than a sweep.

AmandaWakely
Sheath and evening gown silhouettes, long and columnar will flatter you.

Bruce Oldfield

Fitted like an evening gown up top, this mermaid has all the bounce and swirl of a ball gown below.

Caroline Parkes
Think of the A-line as your very own scaled down version of a ball gown.

Ben di Lisi

Empire waists are one of your best options considering you go floor length. You want to keep that vertical line going.


Spose di Gio

Sleeves that are long and straight flatter you

JASPER CONRAN: NOT JUST FOR BRIDES

All those gorgeous bridal gowns Jasper puts out are to be rivaled only by these suits he launched last year year with his line of formal wear. I have to say I haven't seen groom chic on this level til I ran across these images on Brides UK.

All photos courtesy of Brides UK

CLAIRE PETTIBONE GETS ACCESSORIZED

Untitled by Elise_lili featuring Mario Bologna shoes

I'm a true fan of Claire Pettibone's work and her imaginative use of all those light, whispy laces like Chantilly and peau d'ange. The Forget me not dress here is a beautiful charmeuse under tulle. Simply stunning. It's beautifully accessorized here with gold and champagne tones . . .

$270 - net-a-porter.com. 18-karat gold-plated gypsy chandelier earrings with moonstone embellishment. Isharya earrings are ovoid, have concentric circle detail and a hook fastening suitable for pierced ears.


Forget Me Not
Blush bias cut silk charmeuse gown with lace bodice and tulle overskirt trimmed with scattered flowers and leaves with lace edged sweep train.
$2,500 - clairepettibone.com


$794 - mercedeh-shoes.com MARIO BOLOGNA - Sandals : 1710182 SETA - BEIGE - 793.88$ : Mercedeh-

J Furmani Metallic Gold Pleated Designer Clutch Bag
$35 - shoes.com

LATE SUMMER BEACH CHIC

birnbaumnandbullock.com

We're on the last lap of summer out here in California where Beach Wedding season can go from early March and as late as November if its a good year. Whether you re planning a destination wedding in the tropics or coast wedding in California, Mexico or somewhere else exotic, check out these beach-worthy gowns and accessories. Chanel on the beach? Who'da thought?

Chanel



Amsale

In one of my very favorite fabrics, point d'esprit

this halter gown by Amsale has the halter neckline so synonymous with beach wear and summer chic.



Angel Sanchez

White silk satin and organza tulle gown with whisper gray lining, taffeta ribbon and crystal embroidery.



Angel Sanchez





echo design





iridescent head wrap/scarf by echo design. Jewelry by Stephen Dweck.







Youlin

Gold silk satin and beaded lace gown by Youlin.

Helen Kaminski

Raffia braided clutch with hand-cut glass crystals.

Anne Barge



A beautiful opalescent strapless chiffon with gathered skirt. Pink and silver striped chiffon wrap by elizabethfillett.com

Eric Javits

The white picture hat--a classic; this one by Eric Javits donning a thin gold chain. Great for keeping the sun off. The earrings are gold mother of pearl and blue topaz by Simon Alcantara .

Sposa by St. Pucchi

White pleated silk organza halter gown with dropped waist, Alençon bodice and court train



j. Mendel





J. Mendel

Tri-tone white, nude and blush hand-draped silk mousseline gown with pleated tulle skirt.

RARE AND BEAUTIFUL VINTAGE FIND

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Silk chiffon gown with asymmetrical drape of tulle and taffeta florals hand studded with crystals and sequins.

Every now and then I come across a find somewhere out there I simply have to share. This is an authentic vintage gown available from The Frock.com. If you love 20th century design, this site has the creme de la creme of vintage fashion. I found this under the bridal section, no designer mentioned but the era is definitely 30s. The sections are also broken down into eras, handy, if you're a fan of a particular time gone by.

SAAB STORY

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I'm leaving you with a little asymmetrical inspiration from Elie Saab's Spring 2009 collection. You will need a slip, my dear . . . . .

MEMORIES OF GREEN

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This gorgeous board hails from one of my favorite blogs, Santa Barbara Wedding Chic. The color scheme here proffers a kind of refined elegance that truly inspires . . .

CHEMISE DRESSING

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Nataya

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Posh Girl Vintage

The chemise or shift is actually a relaxed version of the sheath. It falls in a straight line usually cut on the grain of the fabric. The exception was Madeline Vionet's chemise that was pioneered on the bias cut around 1925. The waistline if any is loosely fitted and fits low on the hips a la 1920s style. Two periods of the twentieth century are known for chemise dressing: the 1920s and 60s. Mod London looks incorporated mini versions of chemise more commonly known as the shift. The first super model Twiggy wore shift dresses in ads for Vogue and Harper's Bazaar. She worked with designer, Mary Quant as both were and still are synonymous for breaking ground with the Mod look of the swinging 1960s..
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Twiggy's claim to fame was her long, lean body lines that played up this simple silhouette to its best advantage. A perfect choice for a wedding dress, the chemise or shift can be long or short
and offers an ideal background for ornamental touches such as embroidery and intricate beadwork. Below are some stunning updated versions.

Nataya

the outnet.com

Chloe

Maestria lace shift dress

Amy-Jo Tatum

Scott Williams Photography