Despite what fashion calendars may dictate, mid-April means one thing to "real brides", and that's CRUNCH TIME until the first dress fitting. As a seasoned fashion stylist, I totally understand this. As a past-bride, I also know that if you're anything like I was, you are Physique 57'ing and Blueprint Cleansing your way to fabulousness right now. You are not giving a second look to what's coming down the aisle six months from now. You have your dress - you love your dress - you need to accessorize your dress - I get you.
So, while I'd love to wax poetic about this week's bridal fashion runway {and I will tomorrow, because you can still be inspired!}, today's post is all about the Spring/Summer 2012 bride, i.e. the girl who is psyched for her first dress fitting, but quite understandably, a bit nervous to pull her look together.
Photo by Christian Oth
The greatest thing about running a styling company is that no two days “in the office” are ever alike. The calendar is always a hodge-podge of organized chaos, from producing photo shoots, dressing clients, scouting props, previewing collections with PR folks or… if I’m quite lucky… working with a bride.Working with brides is my absolute favorite part of the job {and quite honestly, the spark that set our business aglow}. Anna Wintour could ask me to style a spread in VOGUE, and {while I’d probably jump out of my skin} I’d be just as excited to secure a new bridal client. Why? Because 1. A wedding is one of the most dynamic and magical times in a woman’s life. 2. The bond with a bride is beyond that of any other client. 3. Even the most fashionable bride needs a stylist’s help.
Photo by Christian Oth
And I mean point 3 wholeheartedly. You could have a closet packed with Louboutins, Chanel clutches in every color, Marc Jacobs cutting and sewing couture for your entire social calendar… essentially, the luxury of choice every day. But when it comes to your wedding, you have one shot. One outfit. One pair of shoes. And a few fun accessories to help pull it all together. Let’s face it. It’s daunting!When we style a bride, our goal is to bring her out from behind the dress… She absolutely should not feel bound beneath the layers of tulle, crinoline and tradition. She can wear a short dress, a tight dress, not even a white dress… and she can accessorize it all with the same level of ease as she would for a Saturday night out.
To help get your mind beyond “BRIDAL” and into defining your personal wedding day style, here are a few fun ideas… Take a peek and let us know where you would land!
The Vintage Bride
Photo by Shira Weinberger
1. Deco Baguette Earrings by Madame Mathilde | 2. Deco Necklace by Madame Mathilde | 3. Slate Sissa Necklace by Madame Mathilde | 4. Blue Nadia Bracelet by Madame Mathilde | 5. Champagne Python Clutch by Madame Mathilde
A bride who loves vintage elements isn’t necessarily having a “wildflowers in mason jars” wedding. She may love the glamour and sass of the twenties, as shown in the collage I created here. At left, I styled the bride in a beaded Matthew Williamson dress from Kleinfeld and paired it with a deco-headband from Preston and Olivia. The jewelry on the right is from Madame Mathilde, a New York-based designer who scours estate sales for vintage elements such as chandelier crystals and flapper-esque shoe clips. The designer then creates earrings, necklaces and bracelets from her findings that just exude glamour. We’re so thrilled to have all of these one-of-a-kind pieces exclusively on NewlyWish!The Classic Bride
Photo by Shira Weinberger
1. Lily Crystal Earrings by Elizabeth Bower | 2. Blue Crystal Catherine Earrings by Madame Mathilde | 3. Star Bright Bracelet by Elizabeth Bower | 4. Eloise Necklace by Elizabeth Bower | 5. Star Bright Chandelier Earrings by Elizabeth Bower
A “classic” wedding doesn’t mean part deux on your mother’s wedding. It’s about taking the a-line dress, the d’orsay heels and the pretty pearls, and making them your own. When I styled the look on the left, I dressed the bride in a blush gown from Ivy & Aster, a sash from Untamed Petals and an oversized chiffon hair flower from Preston & Olivia. The look remained demure, but the color, scale and style were modern. At right, I’ve picked some pieces from our new Elizabeth Bower assortment on NewlyWish. Elizabeth’s designs meld classic materials with modern sensibility. They create a polished, yet unfussy look for the bride who’s big on tradition, but shy on stuffiness.The Chic Bride
Photo by Kat Harris
1. Superstar Earrings by Roberta Chiarella | 2. Starlight Clip Earrings by Roberta Chiarella | 3. Mint Sissa Necklace by Madame Mathilde | 4. Lady Luck Necklace by Roberta Chiarella
Ah, the chic bride… how I love her. The looks here are for the girl who loves fashion and craves individuality. She won’t look for a “wedding dress” – she wants something from the fashion runway. She won’t get married in a church or temple, she wants a city hall ceremony followed by a sky-high celebration. She kinda snubs tradition {which is totally ok} and revels on glamour.I styled the look at left for this girl. She wears a short Badgley Mischka shift dress {which is available on Rent the Runway}, a fur stole from Gabriella New York Bridal Salon, Valentino bow-toed heels and the Ellette headpiece from Jannie Baltzer, which is available in our Style Shop on NewlyWish.
At right are some fashion-forward bridal pieces from NYC-native Roberta Chiarella. Uber-chic and red carpet inspired, Roberta’s pieces are designed to take your wedding day look to a glamorous new level. They’re reasonably priced and available in our Style Shop on NewlyWish!
Photo by Sofia Negron
Well ladies, I hope our post helped you define your style and get you excited about accessorizing on your wedding day! There’s more beautiful baubles, stunning headpieces and sweet sashes inside the Merci New York Style Shop on NewlyWish. I hope you’ll take a peek and of course… reach out to me personally with any questions you might have about your own bridal look!xx,
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