Wedding Dresses ~ The TP Edition
My sweet friend Alicia from The Charity Wedding was also so kind to guest post for me today. She swooped in at the last minute to help me and with two glasses of vino in her put together a piece of Friday Wedding Hilarity! Read, enjoy, and head into your weekend giggling. 🙂
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Hello Niche White readers! I am so excited to be here today with you. Nicole has a busy week and she needed a little help to keep her blog flowing with goodness, so that is where I come in. I wasn’t really sure what I was going to post and I didn’t have a ton of time to figure it out so I decided to head to her blog for inspiration. As you know, she always posts the latest fashion trends, eye-catching photos, unique ideas, and things you just don’t expect to look as fabulous as they do, but of course they do look fabulous. Out of nowhere, the thought of wedding dresses made of toilet paper popped in my head. Bear with me friends, it was late, I had a long day, and I was already on my second glass of pinot grigio. Now don’t get me wrong I am not trying to insinuate that dresses made of 2-ply are the latest fashion trend but I can assure you what I found is both unique and eye-catching not to mention pretty much fabulous. These are NOT the crap dresses that you made at your bridal shower during one of the games that no one likes to play. Prepare to be amazed.
Alright so this one is pretty much artsy and probably not real. BUT let me tell you there are some that are real.
Yep this is real and made completely out of what you wipe with.
Be honest, if I didn’t tell you, would you have known? Absolutely no way.
So come to find out, there is an entire contest dedicated to dresses made from toilet paper that takes place year after year. Tell me you are not impressed.
Seriously, am I crazy or is this awesome?
These are gorgeous. Vera Wang take note. Now we all know how brittle toilet paper is and yet these artisans are creating braids, flowers, and full out gorgeous gowns.
If this teaches us anything it is that with a little ingenuity and effort, you could create something absolutely gorgeous on a budget. I’m not sure how well a TP dress would hold up through walking around, pictures, sweating, and dancing but if you could pull it off, without anyone knowing, wouldn’t it be fabulous?
Happy Friday Friends! Let this inspire you to create something amazing this weekend while having a whole new appreciation for toilet paper!
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My Dreams Have Come True
Jason Wu now has a bridal collection, exclusively available at Net-A-Porter. That’s it. That’s all I have to say about it, because the pictures are enough:
Bow-embellished silk-faille dress
Ruffled silk-chiffon camisole and silk-chiffon skirt
Embroidered tulle and silk tank and ostritch feather-embellished cotton skirt
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There’s more, too. 🙂 Go have a look.
Q is for Quail
Please excuse me, in advance, for all the gushing that’s about to happen in this post.
As most of you know, blogging is not my bread and butter. I do it just to get the Niche White name out there and to share inspiration with brides and fashionistas (and based on yesterday’s cupcake post, dessert lovers too 🙂 ) About 10 or 11 o’ clock each evening I start scouring the web and magazines for something I hope you’ll find amazing. Sometimes I settle…and sometimes I hit jackpot.
Today, you get jackpot.
Designer Michelle Nguyen Williams, creator of Quail, already had a fabulous line of tops, dresses, and outerwear (and more!) when she decided to go bridal. Oh I’m so glad she did. Her stuff is gorgeous and the prices are actually – gasp! – affordable. {Plus some great stuff is on sale right now}
The Peony Gown is actually two pieces – the Parisian Top paired with the Peony Skirt. That gives you so many options! I love how Michelle paired the skirt with this T-shirt below (also available in her shop) ~ it’s a cute idea for a “Day After” photo session:
There are also TWO convertible dresses in the bridal line! So not only are her prices nice to your wallet, but you can get two dresses in one – color me happy.
Are you in love yet?! Well now it’s time for your bridesmaids~
{See dresses for bridesmaids here}
If you already have your dresses, you can still go check out her accessories and cover-ups! Plus you can see other brides that are gushing over her designs.
I wanted to post every.single.thing she has on her site but I’ll stop here. Please go get lost on her sites. 🙂
What’s your favorite thing??? I honestly think I could live in that Peony Skirt. Really, I do.
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Dress of the Day – Blue by Enzoani
I love that the belt comes in black AND white.
Danbury, Blue By Enzoani
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Lo-Ve-La
Let’s ease slooooooooowly back into post-Christmas reality, OK? OK. Dresses seem like a good way to start, and I’ve chosen to show off Liz Fields’ “Lo-Ve-La” collection:
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When you are properly caffeinated come back to tell me which dress is your favorite! And if you are wearing/did wear anything by Liz Fields to your wedding, please share! I am a little bit in love with the first one – I think it would make a darling reception frock.
Also…I’m dying to hear what you all got for Christmas! Please leave big paragraph comments detailing all the goodies Santa brought you. 🙂 My family, as usual, was overly generous. Even my husband was, and I only got him one gift: a Wii. And let’s be honest, that was a self-serving gift! Maybe I will join you in the comment section with a gift list…
Oh, P.S. – Know what else I got this weekend? A cold. Hmph.
Jennifer’s Gift
What an appropriate name for this designer…Unfortunately I don’t really know anything except where you can buy her dresses {and other stuff} and that she picks beautiful fabrics. But I guess in the scheme of pretty things, what else do you really need to know?
I love these florals for a court house civil ceremony or maybe bridesmaids gear~ I can’t begin to tell you how much I adore printed dresses for the ‘maids!
Pink in large doses is not really my thing…until I saw these. Perfectly matched, not too ‘girly’, very worthy of wearing to your sophisticated cocktail party welcoming guests to your event.
For my ‘traditional’ readers ~ but still modern and beautiful, of course. 😉
My favorite! It would be lovely on bridesmaids in a formal evening wedding, any time of year.
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These dresses are just some of my favorite in the shop, please go check out the site for even more!
The Light and Dark Side of Fabulous {Fashion}
Welcome to Friday! If you’ve been hanging out with us all week then you know the blog has been featuring two posts per day – one regular and one Halloween-inspired. What did you think of that format? Was it workin’ for you or a waste of space? Just trying to gear up and plan for the other holidays right around the corner!
Regardless of your answer, today is just one post. Everything is rolled up into one – the light and the dark. Also, you’ll notice it’s not titled “Friday Pretties” as usual. I’ve decided I don’t really like that moniker and am trying to think of something new for this particular feature once the face-lifted site launches. Input welcome and appreciated!
Let’s get going, we have a lot of ground to cover…. starting with the Light Side of Fabulous.
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You knew it would start with dresses right? I’m pretty predictable. Here are my five favorite dresses EVER! Well… my five favorite dresses this week.
J. Crew Vintage Lace | Vivienne Westwood Gold Label | Alice + Olivia |
J. Crew Cupcake Crepe and Lace | Milly
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Let’s call this section limbo… a nice, easy, STUNNING transition from the light into the dark. The following pictures are from Jessica and Vito’s wedding in Philadelphia. “Fabulous” is an understatement, and it’s a perfect example of how to have an edgy, moody wedding and still be glam. GLAM, I tell you!
Take note of all the details ~ from the graveyard photos, the checkerboard theme, skeleton keys, and the to-die-for (no pun intended) gown.
Photography: Marie Labbancz | Gown: Pronovias | Bridesmaids shoes: L.A.M.B. |
Jewelry: handmade by the bride | Hair and Makeup: Claudia Seyler| Cemetery: Laurel Hill Cemetery|
Ceremony + Reception: College of Physicians
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Welcome to the Dark Side… of Fabulous.
My love for anything Alexander McQueen has never been a secret, especially not here. This is the first collection since his death, designed flawlessy by his former assistant of 14 years – Sarah Burton.
I love this ‘tattered’ dress with the white peeking through – perfect for Halloween.
This last one is my favorite – I could eat, sleep, live in that kimono. I’d probably have to because I wouldn’t be able to afford rent after I bought it! Eye candy is free, though.
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One more note on the Dark Side ~ no, I don’t know why that girl looks so angry. She’s wearing McQueen for goodness sake! Oh well, it adds to the edge. So. There you have it. Favorites? Hates? And what are you doing for Halloween?
Have a great weekend!
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It’s Monday, I’m In Love
You wear white and I’ll wear out the words ‘I love you’… and ‘You’re beautiful”…
~Train, “Marry Me”
Well I’m just full of lyrics on this Monday, aren’t I? OK so the lyrics I’m referencing in the title are really about Friday but it’s so fitting for today! This weekend I fell in love with WEDDING DRESSES…. all over again.
But first: I just had to tell you the best line of the weekend, which belongs to my husband. At my nephew’s soccer game I was complaining about the heels of my booties sinking into the ground. Hubby didn’t skip a beat: “Well you should’ve known better than to wear your Jimmy Blahnik’s out here”. Did you hear that? Jimmy Blahnik. When I finally stopped laughing I asked him if he knew what each designer’s real name was. Again, he replied instantly: “Yep. Manolo Choo.” He’s one in a million, that man I married. 🙂
Fashion – especially bridal fashion – is my first love, and that’s why I was glued to the computer every available moment this weekend. Bridal Market was/is going on in New York and some fabulous people were kind enough to provide a glimpse into the shows via Twitter. What did we ever do before hashtags? And in case you missed it I’ve compiled some of my favorite dresses that were tweeted in front of my face. Thanks again to all who took the time to share the latest greatness with those of us who couldn’t be there!
I would say the top trends coming out of this weekend were both full and trumpet skirts plus lots of texture and sparkle. Here we go: (Remember most of these are pics from phones, taken by audience members not photographers!)
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Badgley Mischka
Photos {L: Michael Norwood for Weddings Unveiled R: Marissa Kloess}
Photos {L: Michael Norwood for Weddings Unveiled }
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Monique Lhuillier
Photos { Grace Ormonde, Jacalyn Lee, Love Cinderella}
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Amsale
Photos {Brooklyn Bride}
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Kenneth Pool
I would divorce and remarry my husband just to wear the one on the left, above!
Photos {ATL Weddings Mag}
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Angel Sanchez
Photos {Wedding Bee}
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Sarah Seven
Photos {Anne Marie Ashley}
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Lela Rose
And then here’s the amazing back of the above dress:
Photos {Weddings Unveiled Editor}
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And here are just a few randoms from assorted tweeters:
Birnbaum and Bullock, photo by Anne Marie Ashley
Jennifer Salzman, photo by Anne Marie Ashley
Jenny Packham, photo by Mark Niemierko
Jenny Packham, photo by The Stylish Bride
Johnna Ho, photo by The Stylish Bride
Jorge Manuel, photo by Anne Marie Ashley
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Whew! I’m going to have to call this my stopping point! SO. MANY. other great dresses and tweets and coverage – please search them out online because the designs are just amazing. There was very little I disliked or found “blah”. Keep your fingers crossed I can go next year! (If you’ve known us for a while, you know that we have our own shop in the works!)
Did you follow the tweets and other online resources for Bridal Market this weekend? What/who was your favorite? What do you think of the trends that are prevalent for the upcoming season? I’m loving all the sparkle, fullness, and especially the textures! Oh and COLOR! I didn’t even include much of that – maybe another day…
Lady in Red
Would you ever consider wearing a red gown for your wedding? Do you know anyone who did?
I do….
“Like I’m the only person who’s ever mixed a margarita in a sailor’s mouth?”
The one and only Blanche Devereaux {having dieted to fit into her wedding dress on her anniversary}
So maybe that’s a little over the top. *Maybe?!* How about if it were a red gown by designer Jason Wu?
{Seen here on Camilla Belle, pictured with Wu, at the 2010 Met Costume Institute Gala}
I can totally see a bold, fashion-forward [non-Catholic-wedding] bride wearing something like this.
Would you wear red? Did you wear red? If you answered yes to either question, I need pictures!
Wedding Day Looks for Less
You’re looking at your wedding budget with a sigh of relief. You have managed to whittle down every line item until it all came under the dollar amount you REFUSE to go over – venue, caterer, wedding cake, DJ, photographer, officiant, attendant gifts, florist, favors, string quartet, invitations…. that should be it, right?
Nope! Don’t forget to include your bridal ensemble in the budget! It adds up quickly and can put you over the top before you even know what happened. Brides are spending an average of $1500 on their wedding dress alone, not to mention the garter, shoes, a veil, and jewelry. In this age of Ebay, Craigslist, and a variety of discount dress websites there is no reason you can’t get away with spending $500 – $700 TOTAL on your attire for the big day.
Don’t think it’s possible? I decided to take the challenge for myself. I did all of my shopping online and I have no doubt I could have done even better going to brick-and-mortar locations. Remember to keep an open mind – after all, if you’re not wearing your money down the aisle it can be spent on a fabulous honeymoon…. or the open bar!
The Dress: I found this beautiful dress on my local Craigslist. There were a TON of options within 10 miles of me and even more if I expanded my search to the 2 closest metro areas. Granted you have to be careful with this site because you never know which posts are from scammers or just plain crazy people, but if you do thorough research you can get a beautiful deal. This strapless gown was listed for $450. Don’t be afraid to offer them a little less – the worst they can say is no!
The Veil: I just LOVE a birdcage veil when accompanied by the right dress. They’re easy to find all over the internet and range from $20 – $200. Of course we’re going with a thrifty $40 veil. That might seem like a lot for such a little thing, but compared to the price tags on full-size veils anything under $100 seems good! In addition to looking great and costing little, they are a great way to look both vintage and modern. For ambitious brides there are also many DIY instructions online for any size veil. Remember that you’ll only be wearing it for the ceremony, though, so I wouldn’t put out much time or money.
The Shoes: These beautiful Touch Ups – style “Erin” – were a great deal at $40. They won’t be seen much but when they are they’ll look like a million bucks.
The Garter: Be creative! Surprise your groom with a garter from his favorite sports team or his alma mater. Most college bookstores carry these now. This Virginia Tech model is only $12.
The Jewelry:
Ring: Who says you can’t have the finer things in life? This “Something Blue” Gabriel & Co. ring is for rent from BagBorroworSteal.com for only $51/week.
Bracelet: “Diamond and Pearl” costume bracelet cuff for $30. There are many variations of this to be had all over Google so just type and click!
Earrings: Also a pearl and diamond look to perfectly compliment other jewelry. These are on Overstock.com for only $40.
And that’s it! Since I was shopping for ME, the necklace is free – I would wear one of my grandmother’s. Of course with any of the components here, if something is gifted or lent to you it cuts down on your costs even further. This particular ensemble comes it at a final price of $623! Not too shabby. Spend the rest of your wardrobe cash on bikinis!
PS – If you’re left thinking “What about the men’s apparel?” Naturally that would be included in your budget too. But, most tuxedo rental shops include the groom’s tux for free when at least 3 or 4 of his groomsmen rent too!
Happy dressing!
Niche White Bridal Loft 
