Tuesday, May 27, 2014

HEAD CHIC OF THE WEEK

Wisps of netting, poufs of tulle and fascinating fascinators are just a few of your options for outside the box head chic on your wedding day. Neither hats nor veils but maybe a little of both, I designed these for brides who want some sort of pouf or veiling while embracing her inner haute chic . . .
Head pics available via Amy-Jo Tatum

Friday, May 23, 2014

TODAY YOU'LL FIND ME . . . .

Today I'm over on One Wed Blog sharing a magnificent shoot I did a couple weeks back in the heart of the wine country.  Every wedding pro on this project was top drawer.  Special kudos go out to the talented shooter, Shona Nystrom of Studio7teen Photography.  Our posh venue was, The Madrona Manor Inn and Restaurant set on eight acres of gardens you'll have to see to believe.  I was so fortunate to have pieces from The Forever Boho and Bouffant collections shot against the magnificent landscape of Healdsburg, California. READ MORE . . . .

Thursday, May 22, 2014

HEAD CHIC OF THE WEEK: THE LACE MANTILLA

Believe it or not all these mantillas were made from the same pattern; I simply bordered them with different laces.  The great thing about wearing a mantilla is versatility. Because this style lacks density, you can fold it over into a layer and tack it to the back of a bun. Or, you can literally drop it  (aka drop veil) atop your head, wearing it over the face or further back with or without a headpiece. If you wear it low on the forehead topped off with a head band it looks very Gatsbyesque. 

You can look at more ways to wear the ivory lace mantilla in my Etsy store

Photo Credits
Top: Pixamage

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

THE COLORS OF GUCCI AND PUCCI

Let's go back about fifty  years!   Gucci made dresses like the ones below in a clashing bright color scheme that caught  fire.  Fast forward to 2014 and these gems have been reinvented by the same design house for a recent spring collection.  As for Emilio Pucci we'll never forget his contribution to fashion as he was most renowned for his 'Pucci Prints' like the fuchsia and orange scarf below.  The orange, pink, fuchsia palette is strong, happy and reminds us of the tastes of sherbet, the sunny floral mixes found in gardens and some of the best decor from the mid-Century. From tablescapes, flowers  to bridesmaids dresses, this could be the perfect combo for summer and beach wedding themes . . . .



 CREDITS

Top Photo:  Dior 
Photos 2 and 3:Dress by Kate Spade/Shoes by Nasty Gal
Photo 4: Pucci Scarf via Red List
Photo 5:  Mule slides by Kate Spade via Amazon
Photo 6: Table Setting via The Lennoxx.com
Photos 7 and 8: Table Scape via Hostess With The Mostess/African Dasies via Pinterest

Tuesday, May 20, 2014

DRESS OF THE WEEK:SHAYLA

I want to introduce a new gem from the Forever Boho Collection. Meet Shayla.  Inspiration for this dress came from envisioning a wide neckline baring a beautiful decolletage.  Also running around in my head was a whisper of lace underneath a semi-full skirt of tulle fanning out in a generous train.  Created in Chantilly lace and blush tulle, the Shayla Dress was designed for the bride zeroing in on a hopelessly romantic look sans all the volume and petticoats.  We shot Shayla amid the foliage and orchids at the beautiful conservatories of Shelldance Nursery in Pacifica, California.  It was a perfect venue for these down to earth pieces--the organic fused beautifully with the goddess element of the Forever Boho pieces.
 Dress by Amy-Jo Tatum//Makeup by Prettyologie//Hair by Pins and Curls

Monday, May 19, 2014

VINTAGE 20s

Love the Gatsby influence still lingering in everything from head wear to lace?  Drawing inspiration from the 20s look is looking at all those small details. While it was a time of change and freedom from corsetry lending to simpler silhouettes, there was an intricacy in jewelry and love of intricate hand detail on clothing. 
Hair by Rachel Gardea
 If you're trying to get as close as you can to authenticity and your hair is long, try wearing it in a styled chignon like the one above. A hairstylist knows how to add rolls and deep waves. If your hair is short get it going into a Bob. Great hairstyling lays the perfect canvas for adding just the right headpiece or veil.
 * Veils and hats tended to be worn across or low on the forehead as in the images above.
* The 1920's was the decade of the dropped waist that sat either on the hips or fell into no waistline at all found in the shift and chemise styles. 
*Zero in on accessories that polish off your look like long ropes of pearls you can tie, knotted or fringed shawls and cloche hats.Add some long white gloves for an elegant look . . . .
* Look for beautiful detailing and workmanship.  While the standard 1920s silhouette didn't flatter every shape of woman it was an era known for incredible detailing on clothing such as intricate smocking and hand embroidery, lace insets, pleats, draping, etc. 
*Study the era.  Watch shows like Boardwalk Empire or rent DVDs of House of Elliot and/or Downton Abbey. The costuming and set design in these productions is magnificent.
All gowns and head wear by Amy-Jo Tatum

Friday, May 16, 2014

DAISY!

 

 If you're perchance planning a summer wedding I promise this definitely will inspire.  And, it might just get you thinking about a Summer of Love or Field of Daises theme.  For me  Daisies evoke youth, sunlight and whimsy.  The daisy was prominent in 1960s fashion and became one of the the symbols of peace and love . .

CREDITS
Top photo: Daisy hat by Amy-Jo Tatum Bride
Daisy floppy-brimmed hat and belt by Amy-Jo Tatum
Daisy hair photo/ bouquet by Heavenly Blooms
Daisy cake photo via Pinterest/ Daisy bouquet from Ruffled Blog via Pinterest
Daisy cupcakes via Daisy Pink Cupcake Blog/ Daises in bike basket photo via Pinterest
Table setting photo via Stone Gable Blog
Yellow macaroon photo via Pinterest/ Daisy cake via Pinterest

Thursday, May 15, 2014

JAMI AND DAMIEN'S HAWAII WEDDING

Hawaii based photographer Rachel Robertson has captured Jami and Damien's magnificent destination wedding so beautifully here.  First glimpse of these images I was of course wowed completely by Jami wearing Claire Pettibone's Cloisonne gown set against the perfect backdrop--beach and palm trees.  In May 2011 Jami and Damien got engaged while traveling through Greece. Halfway through the trip, Damien decided to pop the question in Santorini, a gorgeous and photogenic place, with charm to spare – an epic setting. 
The couple was attracted to the St. Regis Princeville when they saw a photo online of their beach site at Kamani Cove. It was stunning – an insane sunset with an awesome view, and unique floral arrangements. They were sure it would be out of their price range, but decided to call and inquire … just in case. Luckily, they learned it was within their budget, so they began working with their team to craft an event proposal. When asked what made Jami and Damien decide on a destination wedding in Hawaii here was their response. "There were a few reasons why we were interested in a destination wedding. The first was that we thought it would be fun! We also really liked the idea of working with a hotel that could take some of the pressure and planning off of our shoulders. Additionally, we were concerned about practicality: our families and friends are so spread out that wherever we decided to host our celebration, we were going to have more than half of our guests traveling. We live in Los Angeles, but Damien’s’ family is in Ohio and Southern California, and Jami’s family is based in Massachusetts. Plus we had people on our guest list based in New York City, Canada, San Francisco, and several other spread out states. Picking one neutral location for everyone to meet up at felt like a good idea.
We chose Hawaii because we both love Hawaii! Jami spent a summer at U Hawaii at Manoa, and Damien is on a competitive Outrigger canoe team. We love visiting there, the weather is great, and it felt like the right place to bring together all of the people we love."

 

 What were some of the highlights of Jami and Damien's celebration? The ceremony at sunset. Another of the evening was the screening of a custom photo slideshow video that was edited by good friends at 12 Street. The 1000 Paper Cranes Photo Booth was also a big hit.
"We ordered flower leis and had them delivered on the day of the wedding to a few of our relatives who have trouble traveling could not make the trip all the way to Hawaii.  We thought it was a nice way to let them know they were in our hearts on our special day. It seemed to be a really big hit and a nice surprise – its not every day your doorbell rings and you get lei’d by the mailman!
Because we live near the Claire Pettibone Salon in Beverly Hills, Jami got to work directly with Claire, her dress designer.  It was very cool knowing that she was involved with the dress, personally – and a relief to know that the gown was going to fit and look exactly the way it should!"
Jami was inspired by some paper crane art installations that she saw online on a few different wedding blogs. As a kid, she had been part of a school project to fold 1000 paper cranes, and decided that this would be a fun DIY project for the wedding. Together, the two of us folded 1000 paper cranes. Damien didn’t know how when we started, and is now a total pro! After we finished, we had a party and a few friends and family members came over to help us string them and pack them for shipment to Hawaii. Our insanely talented photographer, Rachel Robertson, helped us pull together a photo booth for the reception, so that we could string the cranes as the backdrop for everyone’s silly, tipsy, and wild photos later in the evening! The cranes were a hit, and definitely inspired some antics.
Photographer:  Rachel Robertson Photography//Reception Venue: St. Regis Princeville//Bridal Gown by Claire Pettibone//Bride's Shoes by Jimmy Choo//Bridesmaids Gowns by Jenny Yoo///Groom's Suit by Zenga//Groomsmen's Ties by Sugar Chicago Neckwear///Flower Girls Dress by Janie and Jack///Ring Bearer's Suit by Nautica///Submitted via Two Bright Lights