Thursday, January 29, 2015

ETSY THURSDAY

 I wanted to share a relatively new piece from Gatsby's Bride--my capsule collection of gowns reminiscent of the 1920s-30s era.  The ALEXANDRA Dress is actually one of my crossover pieces that can go from the Golden Age of Hollywood chic right into Boho.  If you look closely at most Boho, with the right accessories and styling most gowns can be worn with all the glam of movie star chic.  This embossed silk chiffon confection is lined in silk crepe. The side waist and back shoulder have drapes of flowing silk gauze--a fabric even lighter than chiffon.  The piece de resistance is the cluster of hand-rolled florals on shoulders and waist .  .
Images by Shona Nystrom of Studio 7teen//Flowers by Victoria Marshall

Monday, January 26, 2015

A BLACK AND WHITE MEDLEY

 
 We're looking at some of best black and white inspiration off the editorials here on Bride Chic.  Simple and elegant all at once, the clean lines of black and white always proffer a certain sharpness and precision.  If you're looking for a strong statement this might just be the palette you're looking for. Add a third color via jewelry, accessories or your bouquet and you'll have a great touch of visual harmony going on . . . .
CREDITS
Top Photo by Zlata Modeen Photography/Dress via Deb Shops
Photo 1:   Karla Rosalin Photography via Bride Chic 
Photo 2: Zlata Modeen Photography/Dress via Deb Shops
Photos 3-4:   Karla Rosalin Photography via Bride Chic 
Anemones via Burnett's Boards
Photos 6-8 Zlata Modeen Photography/Dress via Deb Shops

Friday, January 23, 2015

TODAY YOU'LL FIND ME . . . . .

Today you can catch me over on One Wed Blog where I'll be talking about my up and coming pop up shop at Ivory and Beau in Savannah, Georgia. I'm over the moon excited that Feb 7 through 14 a few of my select designs will be featured there.  Offering a choice group of outside the box bridal designers, owners of the boutique Nicole Schwalge and Adrienna McDermott have created an environment where brides can fuse choosing that once in a life dress with expert wedding and event planning.  Below is one of  my pieces that Ivory and Beau will be showing   READ MORE . . . . .

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

OH LA LA POUF!

Wisps of net, shots of tulle--  I designed these for brides who want some sort of pouf or veiling while embracing her inner haute chic. Created out of tulle or netting, poufs are a great alternative to the longer, more traditional veil.  Poufs are uber-chic as well as practical.  They pair up nicely with just about any dress and there's none of that changing from ceremony to reception and/or dragging yards of tulle around come party time.  Finally, they have the oh la la factor as well as whimsy and the element of surprise when you make that grand entrance . . .

These are just a few of the small veils and poufs available through Amy-Jo Tatum
Top Photo by Smoot Photo

Tuesday, January 20, 2015

SHORT STORIES

I do love creating those short and chic dresses!  Whether you're considering abbreviating your hemline for your wedding, rehearsal, reception or shower, here are some fem and flirty looks from the collection.  These dresses are also  ideal for the get-away and city hall bride, sometimes marrying on the go with improv planning. . . . .
CREDITS 
Dresses and head chic by Amy-Jo Tatum

Monday, January 19, 2015

DITCHING THE TRAIN

 
 Trains are all over the runways and bridal boutiques,  trending big time even for the less formal wedding.  No doubt about it, dresses sporting a full and spread out train can be all out gorgeous in their own right but not for everyone.  The good news is, you can go formal without pulling that train around all day.    So what are your options if you like a real formal look?  If the dress you have your heart set on has a train wear it bustled.  In fact, some brides love the bustling effect  (train tacked up and under) and prefer to keep that French 'Gigi' look going the whole day rather than letting it flow.  
Did you know boutiques can order your dress trainless from some designers (read: some).  Also, you can go to a private designer and have your dress custom made.  Below are a few of my favorite designs sporting no trains but lots of bridal glam . . . .
 The dresses above and directly below all have full skirts in  formal fabrics sans the train with the exception of the below dress bustled leaving you free from ceremony to reception.



 The two A-lines above sport underskirts and flare with floor-length hemlines--there's  back interest on these dresses minus the extension 
 Above is a sheath and evening gown silhouette, as snug in the bodice as it is in the skirt, elegant and beautiful despite the absence of a train . . . . . 
 Considered long and fit for formal weddings, ballerina length (just above the ankle or calf length) is ideal for brides who want to feel dressed up on their wedding day,but want to move around freely . . . .an added plus is you can show off those pretty shoes,
 CREDITS
Header Photo by Strotz Photography
Photos 2 and 3 by Bride Chic
Photos 4 and 5 by Lirette Photography
Photos 8.9. 10 and 11 by Jim Vetter Photography

All dresses and head pieces by Amy-Jo Tatum


Friday, January 16, 2015

TODAY YOU'LL FIND ME . . . .

TGIF so you'll find me over on One Wed Blog where we'll be talking about what's in store for the unveiled bride in 2015.  While topping off your look with a beautiful veil is classic not all brides are following tradition and are opting for everything from hats to hair jewelry.  Above and below are a few of my own visions for unveiling yourself.  If you want to see what other designers are doing READ MORE  ........
 Photo Credits: Header Photo Lirette Photography
Directly Above Photos by Sweetlight Studios//Head chic by Amy-Jo Tatum


Thursday, January 15, 2015

SHOOT CHIC: BEHIND THE SCENES AT THE PRESIDIO GOLF COURSE


If you're wondering why I'm so late in posting today it's because I'm catching up.  It's been an awesome  week here, first with the UNION installation at The Prince Gallery  in Petaluma and the next day a shoot with the uber-talented wedding photographer, Erica Garlieb (above)  Throw in the talents of Felicia Chang of Bun Bun Bridal Lab and some fabulous jewelry from Novia Blanca and it made for a great day at The Presidio Golf Course in San Francisco (yes they do weddings!).
 A little off the golf course proper is a hiking trail where we set up shooting for the up and coming La Boheme Bride.  This editorial will feature pieces from the Forever Boho Collection.  The trails were the perfect backdrop with the evergreen trees and giant logs acting as nature' s props . . . .
Michelle modeling The CALIOPE Dress, an allover ecru Chantilly lace evening gown silhouette with an asymmetrical drape cinched with a cluster of silk florals.  The bck of this dress is particularly elegant sporting free flowing lace panels that hand from the shoulders . . .  .
Makeup artist and hair stylist Felicia Chang between changes working her magic  . . . 
The JOY Dress, a confection of while silk dupion with a tulle skirt  
 Nope, we certainly didn't forget to add a headpiece into the mix here.  This fascinator may be more 1940s than Boho but isn't that part of the fun of vintage mixing it all up . . . .?

Tuesday, January 13, 2015

DIORESQUE

Morgan Rose from The Dioresque Collection

Just thought I'd clue everyone up to what's in store for Spring 2015!  Yes, I'm a bit swamped and these gemmies from the Dioresque Collection haven't quite made it off the work table. . . .  the good news is, I'm keeping Mira and Marisol, my two bestsellers in the collection so there are actual photos to accompany the renderings.  They seem timeless in the sense, clients keep ordering them and they never go out of style . . . .
 The Antonia Dress from The Dioresque Collection
Above: The Mira  Dress is available in a Chantilly lace for the bodice with a full silk chiffon skirt over layers of tulle . . . .
 Above: We've actually added some new and improved fabrics to The Marisol Dress.  The over bodice now comes in a stretch silk chiffon that sculpts to the shoulders and decolletage.  We added that same fabric to the under bodice so it would 'give'.   This proved  a wonderful change to this great design . Clients have told me its too comfortable a dress to take off  . . .

Monday, January 12, 2015

CHAPEAU CHIC: Workin' That Chi Chi Alternative to the Veil


Greystar Pictures

If Breakfast at Tiffany’s had a sequel, we’d probably find Holly Golightly sporting a hat on her wedding day.  A hat bride is a bit Golightlyesque in the sense, once she makes her entrance, the hat is something unexpected and unique.  Worn imaginatively, hats do make style-savvy statements. Did you know Rita Hayworth wore a cartwheel hat when she married Ali Kahn?  And Bianca Jagger a picture hat when she married Mick?  Celebrities and second-time-around brides aren’t the only ones opting for a hat on their wedding day; a few first-timers are bypassing the veil in favor of a hat.  Ball gowns, A-lines, evening gowns, and sheaths all look fantastic paired up with the right hat.  Today topping off your gown has more to do with choice and whatever makes you look and feel your best 
STYLES    
Once upon a time about three generations back, the rule was whenever you went out the door, you had to cover your head.  Better to have forgotten your purse than the hat since getting caught bare-headed in public was considered a disgrace.  Luckily times have changed and the decades have left behind a wealth of memorable head chic.  Below are a few of the best styles that survived.  Just wish we could cover them all.       

Pillbox-Pictured above, round and brimless, this hat is worn either centered or back on the head.  Though this style was introduced in the 1930s, Jackie Kennedy revived the look.  And guess what? Martha Stewart wore a pillbox when she got married in the early sixties?  Her version had a wisp of dotted nose veil across the front.  Generally, this hat looks best with suits and fitted sheath designs; super with most other silhouettes.   


Photos LirettePhotography

Cocktail Hats-Include toques, pancakes, and beanies to name just a few.  Small and brimless, these hats sit tilted or perched atop the head, usually accented with flowers or a spray of long feathers; a cover of net or nose veil typically wraps all or part of the face.  To add a touch of fun to a simple gown, cover a cocktail hat fully in marabou or ostrich feathers.  All cocktail hats look great with upswept hair and most silhouettes.  Ideal as a headpiece attached to any length veil.



Turban-Adapted from Eastern headdress, the classic turban is a piece of fabric that wraps around the head.  Trendy in the late 30s, the 40s ushered in some interesting variations on turban dressing, mixing functionality with chic.  Factory workers wore scarves tied up turban style to keep hair in place while working machinery.  Consequently, designers went on to glamorize this style in satin and velvet so it also complimented eveningwear.  Tulle and net turban head wraps topped off with bows or florals became quickly assembled head adornments for wartime brides.  So if you think a ball gown and turban might look a bit odd, check out a Joan Crawford flick called, The Women (1939). Hollywood Designer, Adrian does some incredible things with headwear, especially turbans. Unfortunately, you won’t see or get to try on too many turbans these days unless you check into a spa and have a facial.  They aren’t really trendy right now.  If you love this look you’ll be better off visiting a milliner and having one custom-made. The one pictured above was styled for a client out of ivory tulle and clipped closed with an antique brooch. 
                                                                  
Cloche-Close fitting helmet-like hat worn low on the forehead with or without a brim.  All the rage in the 1920s.  Today’s versions are mostly felt and straw, complimenting vintage dresses and suits. Look best worn with a bob or other short hairstyles.

Picture Hat- The most classic hat for daytime formals.  Wide-brimmed and typically constructed out of straw or horsehair, they are sometimes swathed in netting and organza.  Picture hats conjure up images of croquet parties at Jay Gatsby’s and all those 1930s movies situated in garden party chic. Evoking an edgier image is the wool felt picture hat synonymous with women in Irving Penn photos of the 1950s.  Whatever look you want to create with this style, here are some things to consider when wearing it.  Go ahead and put on your picture hat for the ceremony.  Just do yourself a favor at the reception and take it off when you’re receiving guests.  Unless your hat is made out of that bendy sort of horsehair with lots of give, when you reach out to hug and kiss people the hat will either fall off or scrape someone.  Picture hats go great with most silhouettes, especially ball gowns.  The wide brim balances the volume in the skirt.
  Wide-brimmed Picture Hat by Amy-Jo Tatum/Photo by Stephanie Williams Photography 

You can use some of the same guidelines in choosing hats that apply to veils: the more minimalist the gown is in detail, the more ornate the hat can be; whereas the more ornate the gown, the simpler the hat.  Once you start trying them on, you’ll see it’s all just a matter of getting the symmetry right. You do need to get in front of a mirror, gown on, and have alterations done to rightly evaluate how the hat and gown work together.  As far as accessorizing your gown with a hat, add gloves, earrings, and pearls and you have a real vogue look.  The length glove you choose has to do with preference and the style of your gown.  Generally, long gloves and wide brims proffer more of a high fashion look—short gloves and little hats, a more lady-like appearance. 

Experiment.  Getting the right look is all about personal choice and working out the proportions you like.    And speaking of proportion, if you’re petite you can certainly take the width of a picture hat as long as you scale down the brim some to match your proportion.  Also, any hat that adds height like a derby or pillbox will work well.  A taller bride with her heart set on one of these styles might have to experiment a bit, wearing a pillbox tilted to the side or back further on the head.  She might have to forego the derby altogether and settle on something lower in the crown.  Generally, fuller silhouettes like ball gowns need wider brims to balance out the skirts, although evening gowns and sheaths also look great with wide brims.  Smaller hats work best with more columnar looks; try adding poufs of veil or netting to work with fuller skirts.
  Following hat trends isn't as typical in our culture anymore.  There are styles out there and your initial search will probably start online as well as perusing books on Hollywood costume and fashion history.  Bookmark and clip any photos and pictures you like.  You’ll find the best selection of hats you can feel and touch in millinery boutiques.  Here you’ll get lots of personal attention from plugged-in aficionados passionate about headwear.  Show any clippings and pictures to your salesperson so she’ll have an idea of what sort of style you have in mind.  Ideally, you should take along your gown.  If it hasn’t been delivered, take fabric swatches since you’ll want to match the shade as closely as possible.  If you don’t see anything you like in the store, chances are they can custom design a hat for you.  Another option is the department store millinery salon.  Here you might find exactly the style you want but say it’s in orange.  If this is the case, they’ll usually check another one of their stores or with the manufacturer to see if it can be ordered or sent in white.  Vintage clothing shops are another good source.  True, most of the hats in these places are at least thirty years old but you might run across that rare and excellent find you never dreamed possible.  Vintage shops also carry 'retro-inspired' hats.  Simply put, these are new hats fresh out of the plant that have that fifty-sixty-seventy-year-old look without the wear and tear. 


    One of the questions a bride often asks is, “Can I wear a hat and veil all at once . . . together?”  In other words, can you have the best of both?   Of course.  Wearing a hat by itself is one option you have.  But choosing to wear a hat doesn’t necessarily mean having to do away with the veil entirely. Realize any length of tulle veiling can be attached to the crown, back, or inside of almost any hat. And hats acting as headpieces—even big ones—look stunning.  So the answer is yes.  Wear both.
photo by Rob Martel
   
   The most important thing to remember is, there’s a hat match for every face, body, and gown style. In your search, you might find the perfect hat right off; you might have to try on many.  And once you find the right one, you'll look back at your reflection . . . and you'll know its the right one.

Hats and Gowns by Amy-Jo Tatum