Friday, March 30, 2012

FROM BEIJING WITH LOVE . . . .


                                                                 Wu Xuekai Collection


Today you'll find me over on the One Wed Blog talking all about Beijing Fashion Week.  Starting March 27 designers sent their finest down the catwalks  mixing  up the Fall/Winter 2012-2013 uber chic in Land of the Silk. Since 1997 China is becoming a major fashion capitiol. . . . .  READ MORE . . .

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

OUTSIDE THE BOX


 Perusing Vogue Espana I found these lovely gems worth checking out if you're inclined to be stepping outside the bridal template on your wedding day.  Above is an Angel Blanco a la seventies with long fringe .  .
 Who else but Oscar de la Renta could do this gala grand entrance maker with satin bows? 
Who says outside the box can't be romantic?  Vera Wang has worked some magic here making a scrumptious, walking bouquet out of silk organza.

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

SALUTE TO THE BOLERO

Everywhere you look from BHLDN to the indie designers on Etsy, the bolero seems to be the ultimate piece in covering up for your wedding day.  Something like a vest with long sleeves or shorter jacket that crops above the waistline, this peice is perfect for jazzing up and changing around your bridal look. 

Top Row: Ruche Bottom Row: BHLDN

Monday, March 26, 2012

TOPPING IT OFF


Here's some tres chic head wear from indie designers for those of you who want to add some real drama.  Above: Pull it all together with some Callas by Eve Anders.One of a kind calla lily flower hat. It was created using mixed technique of nuno, wet and needle felting, combining hand dyeing and wool painting with merino wool, silk fibers and chiffon silk.
Silk organza fascinator with ivory petals interspersed with layers of ivory tulle by One Little Dove


 
Beaded Chantilly lace cloche with a scalloped edge, with a highly detailed handmade pressed edge silk organza flower & buds at the side by Erica Elizabeth Design.

Flower headband. Handmade flowers in ivory satin with  organza leaves and ivory lace by Lena

Friday, March 23, 2012

WOULD YOU WEAR WOOL ON YOUR WEDDING DAY?



Over on One Wed Blog we've been looking over a few 2012 trends the past few Fridays.  Here's one for you.  Have you noticed any designers using wool for wedding dresses?   Last year I created above out of wool crepe. With the low back, cowled front and silk flowers it says spring all over.   When we conjure up images of wool dresses plaids and winter wardrobes usually come to mind. Yet lighter weight wool crepes and jerseys are fantastic through spring and summer as long as the styles go draped and loose . . . . . READ MORE . . . .

Thursday, March 22, 2012

INSPIRATION THURSDAY


You find the gosh darnedest and most inspiring stuff on Pinterest.  This I find poemworthy enough to christen with these words from William Wordsworth:

I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze
Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the milky way,
They stretched in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

~William Wordsworth, "I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud," 1804


Wednesday, March 21, 2012

EXTRAORDINARY FABRICS FOR BRIDES . . . .


As a bridal designer you can't imagine how jazzed I was to get engaged some twenty odd years back.  The first thing I did of course was mentally design my dress.  My then fiancee now hubby had one request: Ed wanted to wear full Scottish regalia including kilt, jacket, sporn, tartan, the works.  It didn't take long for the dress above to evolve in my head.  Once it did I made a beeline to Britex Fabrics in San Francisco,so stoked was I to get on with the creative process of fashioning myself as a bride.   What Toys R Us would be to a kid, Britex Fabrics is to the designer: An emporium chock full of extraordinary fabrics sourced from all over the world. Back to my dress, the lace was imported from Paris and most of the silk florals you see were found in the bridal notions department; the rest were hand-rolled silk dupioni.  Not bad for one day's shopping . . . .

Last Thusday Britex Fabrics kicked off celebrating their 60th year with it's Designer Spotlight Series. I'm so honored to have been one of six bridal and evening wear designers featured at the opening.  Others included were, Karen Tierney, Meslissa Bolin, Monique Zhang, Helena Chenn and Hester Michael--all incredibly talented.  If you're local to the San Francisco Bay Area, this series continues in May with Wardrobe Essentials, to Costumes & Corsetry in July and Menswear & Shirtmaking in September.
Dina and Geana, the awesome coordinators of this event . . .
Me and my gorg model Laura wearing the VALERIE dress
 Above: The work of designer Karen Tierney
Believe it or not these are pieces of crepe and Duchess satin simply draped and pinned on the dress forms to show off the incredible hand of the fabric . . . .
 Evening wear designer Hester Michael

Designers Monique Zhang and Victor Tung

Photos 3, 4, 5 and 7 courtesy of Styrous

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

AWESOME SHOOTER SERIES: SAN FRANCISCO CHIC

This post is a salute to one of my fave photographers, Ryan Chua of San Francisco.  He wanted to do a stylized shoot with some of my gowns with San Francisco landmarks as a backdrop.  We could have gone forever chasing the gorgeous landscapes but ran out light--we did get as far as The Palace of Fine Arts,  Marina docks and Presidio.  A truly beautiful day and shoot . . . .




CREDITS
Photography by Ryan Chua
Gowns and headpieces by Amy-Jo Tatum Bride
Makeup by Juliane Chai
Hair by Penny Do
Models: Dan and Becky

Monday, March 19, 2012

THE LITTLE WHITE DRESS BRIDE


My very first wedding was my aunt's. She was married in 1963 in a short but formal dress as all the grown-ups told me because the family couldn't afford a big to-do. Today I'm finding some brides simply love the short dresses and are going for them on their wedding day just because they are easy to wear and sexy . . . . Also 'the little white dress' is part of the new bridal wardrobe concept: a collection of dresses for the pre-post wedding activities like shower, rehearsal dinner, and reception. Oh, and I forgot, the engagement party. Any of these by The Little White Dress would rock and pop when you announce your upcoming nuptials to the world . . .

Friday, March 16, 2012

PART TWO . . .

Today you can catch me over on One Wed Blog  picking up where I left off last week sharing indie design trends for spring 2012. So much swoonwoorthy is happening in bridal fashion now I'm like the proverbial kid in a bakery full of whipped pouf and gossamer confections. Above is one of my favorite things going on in wedding fashion: Big princess dresses are scaling down to diaphanous little chiffon numbers. This dress by Pantora by Andrea is perfect for brides feeling romantic but wanting to keep it light.  READ MORE . . . . . .

Thursday, March 15, 2012

HAIL TO THE SHEATH!

The sheath is a fave of brides who work out and the eventual reward of of those who like to strut their stuff. I'm not referring to the evening gown or any variation with a flared skirt but the sheath Audrey made famous--that snug fitting, long columnar silhouette in a heavier fabric like Duchesse satin or peau. Defined, the classic sheath looks like the images above and below--having waistline and skirt features that are usually as snug up top as on bottom. This silhouette can work for the bride who wants a stylish, simple presence as well as one who wants to make a more powerful statement with her veil or accents of laces and a train added. On the right bride this silhouette is elegant and proffers the look of class and chic combined. Adding skirt to a sheath by way of a detachable train is traditional for bridal as well as evening wear reminiscent of 1950s.




 
Photos courtesy Brides UK

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

MEET YOURS TRULY . . .


If you're lucky enough to live in the San Francisco Bay Area you won't want to miss Designer Spotlights hosted by Britex Fabrics in San Francisco.  I will be one of five designers making a personal appearance on Thursday night.  Here's their promo on the event, glitz and glam a promise . . . .

Designer Spotlights - Bridal & Evening Wear

Thursday, March 15 from 7 - 9 PM


Britex Fabrics celebrates its sixtieth anniversary with this special series of design community events. Beginning on March 15, we are hosting four Designer Spotlights, each of which showcases a particular design theme--from Bridal & Evening Wear in March to Wardrobe Essentials in May, to Costumes & Corsetry in July and Menswear & Shirtmaking in September.

Join us for festive evenings of mingling with some of the Bay Area's most innovative designers and dressmakers. Choose the perfect collaborator for your special project, from an array of top-notch talent--and bring your ideas to life.

Please RSVP to info@britexfabrics.com or by phone at (415) 392-2910.

Meet the Bridal & Evening Wear designers:

Karen Tierney of Studio Trousseau has been a design professional for over 25 years in the Bay Area. Her focus is on designing and producing custom-made wedding gowns and historic gowns, and the restoration and preservation of historic gowns—particularly the lacework. Her detailed work reflects her ability to blend history with fashion-forward style.

Amy-Jo Tatum produces extraordinary, one-of-a-kind dresses in her custom design studio, Bridal Alternatives. She has been a columnist for SF Art and Fashion News, has a weekly fashion gig on One Wed, and founded a networking organization called The Design Project of San Francisco. She is currently working on a book called 'Bride Chic', about that white gown and special designer/client relationship.

Helena Chenn is a wardrobe expert and image consultant. Her specialties include custom couture design, wedding gowns and tailoring and alterations for both men and women. Helena is co-author of the book Image Power: Top Image Experts Share What to Know to Look Your Best, and an active member of the Association of Image Consultants International (AICI), the Association of Sewing & Design Professionals (ASDP), the American Sewing Guild (ASG) and The Textile Arts Council.

Hester Michael is a fabric artist specializing in custom sewing and pattern making. Hester studied fashion and costume design in San Francisco at FIDM and the Louise Salinger Academy of Fashion, earning her BFA. Since then she has been a Fashion Instructor at FIDM and the Art Institute of California and a designer for local couturiers. She continues to be creative with textile weaving, art to wear, painting and pastel drawing.

Monique Zhang is a principal designer, stylist, and trendsetter. Over the course of her diversified fashion career, she has brought her Asian heritage to American culture to showcase her artistry, from fashion design to image branding to entrepreneurship. Her high style custom design studio Cicada Couture (with a showroom in Union Square) features her signature line of special occasion apparel, which are also available at Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue and boutiques in NYC, LA, Honolulu, Santa Fe and Shanghai.

Melissa Bolin of Kitty Andrews followed her heart into the art of millinery, and is passionate about its rich history. Her inspiration comes from costuming and haute couture, pin-up and punk rock, and years of traveling and living abroad in Japan. At Kitty Andrews, she combines traditional knowledge, techniques, and design precedents with a fresh, youthful approach drawing on modern materials and tastes. Each piece—meticulously crafted by hand, from the highest quality fabrics, felts and trimmings—is a unique adornment.

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

PREVIEW OF COMING ATTRACTIONS

Stay tuned!  You won't want to miss out on Oh La La! a stylized shoot inspired by Paris, the 50s, the Belle Epoch and a little bit of Toulouse-Lautrec thrown in.  All the creations you'll be seeing in this shoot are about pouf, frills and spun tulle. The shot here is one of  my faves with Natalie dancing it up in a lace and crinoline slip and corset . . . .


Monday, March 12, 2012

THE CHERRY BLOSSOM WEDDING


 
 
Perusing through Etsy I ran across too many variations of cherry blossoms (amongst apple, Magnolia, plum, etc) that I couldn't leave without sharing one of the most magnificent shows of spring there is.  Here each designer shares a bit of blossoming magic from dress, to head wear to invites. 

Top 2 photos: Cherry Bomb Silk Organza Wedding Dress by Claire La Faye; Cherry Blossom Wedding Bouquet with Dusty Miller and Twigs-- By Lovelee Flowers
Row 1: Pink cherry blossom hair wreath by The Honey Comb; Cherry Blossom Pink Briolettes by Anatolian Tale Design; 
Row2: Heirloom Filigree Polaroid Photo Brooch by Jersey Maids; Cherry Blossom Hairband by Two Pearls in a Pod
Cherry Blossom favor cake boxes and centerpiece by LMK Gifts
Row 3:  Cherry Blossom Wedding Bouquet & Matching Boutonniere by Natas Do Ceu; Cherry Blossom Double Petal pendant by Hapa Girls
Cherry Blossom Wedding Table Decoration by A Bespoke Touch;  Cherry blossom wedding invitation by Archaic Ink