Fashion

You are currently browsing articles tagged Fashion.

A Jules Verne & Steampunk Inspired Bridal Fashion Editorial

December 6, 2011 in Styled Photo Shoots | 6 comments

This incredible fashion editorial was shot on the Creole Queen Paddlewheel for the winter issue of NOLA Wedding Guide. The shoot was inspired by Jules Verne, the 19th century and steampunk.

“Jules Verne’s novels were rich with extravagant voyages and adventures set in the romantic Victorian Era,” the team explained. “This was the era of the newly invented steam engine and through-railways and steamships, which opened up the opportunity for leisure travel and adventure for the first time.”

“What could be a better metaphor for wedding planning and a marriage than an extraordinary voyage? Isn’t that what you, the bride, is embarking upon? Your upcoming marriage is the beginning of a journey filled with delightful adventures, and of course romance!”

Check out the behind the scenes video too…

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Fashion, Steampunk

Tobi Hannah Occasionwear A/W 2011

September 4, 2011 in Fashion Advice | 4 comments

The very lovely Tobi Hannah launches her A/W 2011 occasionwear this month and I’m thrilled to share the key pieces in the new collection with you. The core pieces are all black, bright pink or royal blue…all my favourite colours!

The structured designs are bang on trend (I kinda hate that I just used that phrase but it is true…) and each piece is inspired the work of British sculptor, Jeff Lowe.

I just love them all but I’m particularly drawn to Andi (love that skirt), Audrey (love the shape) and Olive (cute cute cute!) You?

The range is available to buy from the 26th September through Lipsy.co.uk or directly through Tobi Hannah’s website.

Andie – £300

Audrey – £200

Jen – £200

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Fashion, fashion designer, Short dress, Tobi Hannah

Wedding Fashion for Plus Sized Brides

July 27, 2011 in Fashion Advice | 39 comments

Hi Kat,
My name is Sara and I just found your website. Wow I was so relieved I wasn’t the only one who hated the idea of a cookie cutter poofy foofy wedding! Amazing site! I have always dreamed of a 50′s style tea length wedding dress. I found one I love on unique vintage thanks to you, but here’s my problem. I’m plus sized. Like say a size 26 plus sized.

I’ve been really ill for the last year and between taking care of my Mom (she had a stroke on my sixteenth birthday) and my illness, weight loss has been on the back burner. I’m set to be married November 5th of this year. I’m on a tight budget, but I just can’t stand the idea of not having a wedding dress. Please please help me find one!
Thanks,

Sara, loosing hope in Georgia.

♥ ♥ ♥

I have been alarmed recently by the number of emails like Sara’s that I’ve received from my readers asking for advice on where to look for plus sized wedding dresses. I’ve had so many in fact that I thought this was certainly a topic worth covering on the blog. I also read this article on Businessweek and was pleasantly surprised that there does seem to be the beginnings of a shift in the ‘ideal’ bridal look and size. So today I indulged my inner shopaholic and have done some fantasy dress shopping for all you curvacous ladies.

You know this already but I’m going to say it anyway, you do not have to be a size 0 to look like a supermodel on your wedding day. Your fiance is the luckiest man in the world to be marrying you – he knows that and so should you. So don’t go feeling rubbish about yourself just because you don’t fit into the dress shop sample sizes!

As someone that’s be everything from a size 6 to a size 16, I know all too well what it’s like to feel pants about the way you look…and to feel like you don’t fit in with the rest of the world. But you know what, I’m hear to help and I’ve found some pretty damn awesome dress suppliers on my travels, all of whom want to make you feel fierce!

OK pep talk over. I spoke to some of my favourite designers to ask what they offered for plus sized brides and I’m pleased to report that I was inundated with responses! OK on with the shopping…

Vivien of Holloway

“Here at Vivien of Holloway we are renowned for our 1940′s and 50′s reproduction ladieswear, but we also a great place to head for Fifties style bridalwear. The Vivien of Holloway sizing is based on original 1950′s sizes. Customers are recommended to come along the shop to ensure they get fitted correctly. If you’re ordering from home you’re advised to measure yourself before ordering anything! Our sizes range from a 10 (which is about the equivalent of a high street 6-8) to a size 24 (available in circle dresses only).”

“For gorgeous plus-sized brides, we have white or ivory Halterneck Circle Dresses available, either in plain satin or covered in our luxurious lace. These all have a boned bodice with a satin halterneck strap and a full-circular skirt. This style is also available in a fabulous range of florals and polka dots, for the sassy bride in all of us! The dresses look exquisite when worn with one of our fluffy petticoats, giving you a glamorous 50′s look!”

“Our largest size is our 24, which measure a 46″ bust, 38″ waist and 50″ hips.”

Knot Couture

Photography Credit: Story Photographer

“We cater to plus sizes since all of our dresses are made to order! One of our recent brides sent us photos of her wearing the dress and you can see them here. We can make any of our gowns in any size, or we can replicate any style dress to the bride’s exact measurements.”

Uptight Clothing

“I cater for all ladies, of any size, no limits, as they are all designed and made to measure, there is no such thing as standard size here!”

Stop Staring

Photography Credit: a reason to be fabulous

“Although our dresses are not considered bridal dresses, we are more cocktail style, our dresses have been used countless times in weddings! Our sizing in house is offered to A US size 18…but we recently got picked up by Torrid so our dresses will soon be available to size 26. We have had such a huge demand for our plus sizes and the fit of our dresses is sooo great on ” everybody” that we just continue to be the on demand dress shop! If you go our blog you can see images of just about every size women available. As I said before, our dresses fit “everybody” absolutely amazing… By the way the designer is a US size 12 herself so she knows how to make curvier figures look great!”

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Fashion, How To..., plus size, Short dress

Unique & Rock n Roll Engagement Ring Ideas

July 23, 2011 in Fashion Advice | 11 comments

I get a number of emails from my newly engaged readers who are looking for something a little different for their bling, so this week I thought I do some more fantasy shopping and share some of my favourite non-traditional rings. Oh I’m so good to you.

Feel free to add your own links to engagement rings you’ve seen and loved on your internet travels to the comments section.

(From top left – clockwise)

♥ Lily Royale ring
Catbird NYC, $2800

♥ Rose gold twin sparrow claw ring
Bloodmilk on Etsy, $170

♥ ‘Oui’ Ring, 18k pink gold with diamonds & morganite
Dior, POA

♥ Melting love ring
Catbird NYC, $160

♥ ‘Oui’ ring, 18k white gold & diamonds
Dior, POA

♥ Black veil claw ring, 18K Black and Yellow Gold with a 5.5ct Black Diamond
Atelier Minyon, $14,500

♥ Persephone’s jewel part ii ring
Bloodmilk on Etsy, $150

♥ Round sapphire 14k white gold ring with diamonds
Gemvara, $6629

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Engagement, engagement rings, Fashion, How To...

How to…Dress as a Wedding Photographer

July 9, 2011 in Fashion Advice, How To... | 59 comments

After such a great response to last weekend’s post about How to Dress as a Wedding Guest, I got thinking about how I could expand this mini-series. I had a few photographers in the comments asking if I had any tips of how they should dress to shoot weddings. Now clearly I’m not a wedding photographer myself so I thought instead of trying to guess my way through answering this question, I’d ask some of my favourite photographers to share an outfit they might typically wear to shoot a wedding.

Here’s what I learnt from the girls…

♥ Pockets are important - for memory card, lip balm, run sheets, your mobile phone etc.

♥ Comfy shoes are a must. Heels are to be worn with caution.

♥ Layers are great for changing weather (especially for the UK I’d imagine!)

♥ If wearing a dress that tights or leggings are often donned to avoid any embarrassing knicker flashing when getting into awkward positions to get that shot.

♥ It’s important to make a bit of an effort. As Chloe Browne put it, “I like to look smart and I think it’s good for my clients to see that I’m not “coming to work”, but that I’m going to their wedding. It’s also really important for me to feel like I fit in and it’s often something that my clients bring up at their first meeting, so I know it’s important to them too.” You don’t want to look like the ‘staff’ but similarly not like a guest…

♥ Dark colours are preferable as they are less likely to show up the dirt (again, after getting in all those funny positions!) but the most important thing is that an outfit is comfortable, doesn’t crease (again, when getting into all those funny positions) and is easy to clean.

♥ You need to find the balance between something that’s not too expensive (it’s likely to get ruined!) or too cheap (no one wants to look cheap or have their clothes falling apart mid-wedding.)

♥ Pretty accessories are usually kept to a minimum so not to get in the way, however some bits of ’flair’ can be great for distracting children when doing the group shots!

♥ Camera bags don’t have to be ugly to be practical.