HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

MTcoffinzUnderground

Every year I've been posting a Halloween Bride. 2009 brings us this ensemble for the bride heavily into Goth . . .of course not everyone embraces this genre of fashion which makes it all the more original . . .

SHARING THE CHIC

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I just had to share this medley of ultra femme images a client sent me a couple days back. It hails from In Style Weddings and acted as the inspiration point from which she wanted to begin the design process. Thanks Rachel for passing on your own muse to so many other brides out there . . .

WINTER CHIC



When asked by You and Your Wedding Magazine, what designer Sassi Holford would be doing if she weren't in the wedding industry, she replied, 'I would be unemployed!'Personally I think she'd do magnificent wherever she decided to work. Feast if you will on these gowns by the awesome Sassi perfect for chillier climates. This British designer remains one of my favorite creators of chic . . .




STALKING THE LOOK BOOKS: DANIELA GRISTINA

Daniela Gristina's gowns are green, almost casual and hint at far away places in time and culture. Ethnic in feel , you'll find flowing, feminine lines. The fabrics are all natural cottons and linens, light organza, chiffon and silk gauze.



Photos courtesy of Vogue Sposa

VIONET INSPIRED

Pioneer of the bias cut, Madeleine Vionet, once said, '"When a woman smiles, her dress must also smile" . Translated I think madamoiselle may have meant, a woman is happiest wearing her gown like a second skin. Long before the development of knits, the bias cut was used for body-hugging silhouettes like the Vionet original above. It all started back in the 1920s when the Parisian couturier developed a technique utilizing the true cross grain of fabric rather than straight grain lines of weft or warp of the fabric. Vionnet used fabrics like crêpe and charmeuse; These were novel to women's wear in the 1920s and 30s. She also ordered fabrics two yards wider than the 19-36"norm for the time so that she could work out draping and layout techniques. As a result gowns and dresses moved beautifully when cut on the bias. Vionnet's trademark: styles that cling to and move with the wearer. Examples: Bias cut gowns with cowl necklines, the handkerchief dress of the 1920s, and halter top. By 1930, Hollywood designers took advantage of Vionet's bias cut and made it into a real trend via moving pictures. Today the bias cut gown is a classic option for brides.

source
Madeleine Vionet in her studio circa 1920
With tulle overlay by Blumarine


Greco-Roman in inspiration, by Rosa Clara.




From Elie Saab



V-shaped neckline by Manuel Mota for Pronovias.

HE CHIC ITALIAN STYLE

There's guy chic and there's Italian guy chic. Yes, Italian men have long had the edge especially for pioneering new directions in formal wear. With a certain respect for tradition while at the same time innovating, Italian menswear designers are trading regulation black, offering a host of optional colors such as bronze, ecru and eggplant. Add to that texture: we're looking at some suits with a hint of the iridescent while some sport outright shiny. The lines are going slimmer (a la Don Draper). Still with all this freedom we're looking at a return to the serious and traditional tailoring from which Italians (and British) made their mark.

MEET TWO BRAND NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK




I'm always surprised at how many local brides and wedding pros surface when I run a Bay Area related post. The fashion/wedding world here in San Francisco is buzzing about Mocha Bride and Bride Nine magazines, two very novel concepts of Bay Bella Publishing. Mocha Bride's cover always features a bride of color as seen in the premiere summer 2009 issue pictured at the right. Bride Nine features a bride who represents one of the unique nine counties in the Bay Area. The fall issues are out and can be purchased on the website http://www.mochab.com/ or at a local Bay Area bookstore. A quick peek at editorials and I was awestruck by the inspiration factor and highly recommend both mags whether you live in the Bay Area or not . . .

MILph - MOMS I’D LIKE TO PHOTOGRAPH

I received an email yesterday from Brianna of The Last Forty Percent Photography. She sent over these pictures along with information about their new project. MILph (Moms I'd like to photograph) is similar to boudoir sessions but with a mommy twist! It's a session honoring moms! In a world filled with diapers & spit-up it's nice to have a day to feel outwardly beautiful & sexy! Here are pictures from their first MILph session!

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LOVIN' THOSE PEEPS


Happy Hour: Swamp Sangria

Ingredients

Serves 12

5 lady apples
1 bunch (about 8 ounces) green seedless grapes
1 bunch (about 8 ounces) red seedless grapes
2 bottles dry white wine, chilled
2 cups sparkling apple cider, chilled
6 tablespoons poire William (pear-flavored eau-de-vie)

Directions

  1. Put apples and grapes into an ice-filled punch bowl. Pour in wine, cider, and poire William. Gently stir. (Source: Martha Stewart)

Engagement Shoot: Victoria + Anthony

Photography: Hillary Maybery

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