Friday Favorites: Bridal Fashion Week *Saturday Morning Edition

Happy Fri... uh, Saturday! Life happens, and before you know it, 20 days pass without a blog post! To get back into the swing of things, here's a Friday Favorites, one day late. Bridal Fashion Week was a great time, surely for folks attending runway shows and galas, but also for the common Instagram follower. Here are some of my favorite Instagram pics from #BridalFashionWeek!

@wedberry_com

@badgleymischka

@bridalmusings

@amsalebridal

@calvetcouturebridal

@misshayleypaige

@wedberry_com

Refined Wedding Showcase!

It's hard to believe that the Refined Wedding Showcase was already a week ago! A friend and I drove 5 hours last Sunday to Events at Refinery where we had the chance to meet Randy Fenoli! Before his hour-long presentation, there was a bunch of cool stuff to look at. Fun DJs, prop rentals, a pole dance instructor doing demos, etc. AND there was cake! 

There were dresses galore! 

Then there was Randy! His presentation was hilarious, informative, and inspiring. I'm not sure I've ever seen anyone talk for an hour straight with that much energy. As if that wasn't enough, he followed his presentation with a lip synced rendition of Pharrell's 'Happy'. And then he met with every person who came to the showcase. Not only for a quick "Hi" and photo op; he spent time really talking, listening, and laughing with people. I spoke with him for about five minutes and presented him with the cross stitched "Hello Beautiful" I made for him. He was so sweet! He even asked if it was OK for him to change the frame it was in so it would match his apartment. 

He mentioned during his presentation that he was staying at the same hotel as us, but we didn't actually think we'd see him. As we were checking out the next morning, though, we saw him in the lobby. He was such a good sport. It was an AWESOME ending to a very fun weekend!

Bridal Expo + Fashion Show

Last weekend, I attended my first full-blown bridal expo! I've been to a smaller DIY bridal show, but nothing at the convention center level. Two engaged friends were going to join me but when they couldn't make it, I decided to crash this party, anyway! While there weren't nearly enough cake samples, there were dresses galore. I loved stopping by the bridal salon booths to hear their advice for an aspiring bridal consultant.  The top tip from everyone was to just apply but also set up an appointment to meet with the shop owner. The fashion show was really the highlight of the expo. So much pretty and so much fun!

Here Comes the... RANDY FENOLI!

[source]

Big news! Randy Fenoli is coming to town! Yes, Randy from TLC's Say Yes to the Dress and Randy to the Rescue. Yes, Randy AKA Brandi Alexander: 1990's Miss Gay America! Yes, Randy who grew up on a farm in Southern Illinois and was dressing his mother by the age of 9, only to leave home at 16 and become a star of the wedding industry! YES!

[source]

Technically, he's not coming my town, but to Champaign, IL, which is close enough to drive a few hours to see him! A friend and I already have tickets to the Refined Weddings Showcase, at which he'll be presenting. Apparently, that entitles us a meet-and-greet/photo-op with Randy himself. I am losing my mind from the excitement. If there is one person who has inspired me to chase my dreams of breaking into the bridal world, it's Randy. The showcase isn't until the end of September, but you can be sure I'll post all about it here. And if you love Randy as much as I do, don't miss out on snagging your own ticket!

GET TICKETS HERE

Designer Spotlight: 3 Reasons to love Hayley Paige

Hayley Paige seems to be everywhere these days. I followed the designer on Instagram without knowing much about her, and suddenly I realized that I was double-tapping a lot of wedding dress photos. These gowns are not only stunning, they're quite unique- the kind of dresses that are immediately recognizable. In a way much like Pnina Tornai's designs, they have such an identity that you know exactly who designed it with a mere glance. Here are three* reasons to love these dresses...

1. Ruffled layers for days. Girlfriend knows how to bring a skirt to life! Regardless of what silhouette you're looking for, if you've a flare for the dramatic, there's probably a Hayley Paige dress for you.

1. Dori [source]
2. Luca [source]
3. Petal [source]

2. Sexy, detailed, blinged-out straps. Strapless dresses don't work for everyone. Honestly, even if it looks good, a strapless dress can still be a huge pain in the ass if it's not fit absolutely perfectly. These straps alone are reason enough to dream of wearing one of Hayley's designs down the aisle.

4. Khalessi [source]
5. Sasha [source]
6. Hattie [source]

3. Fabulous fabrics. Hayley Paige designs frequently incorporate beautifully detailed fabrics and romantic textures that set them apart from other gowns. Her striped dresses are the most famed, but she's also been known to make magic floral lace.

7. Lana [source]
8. Guindon [source]
9. Conrad [source]

*Surely, there are many more reasons to love Hayley's work. For more Hayley Paige, check out http://www.jlmcouture.com/Hayley-Paige/Bridal.

Sabrina Style

So many brides are inspired by Audrey Hepburn when picking out their wedding dresses. Obviously, she had such a classic style that it's still banging in 2014. We all know the iconic black dress from Breakfast at Tiffany's, but it wasn't until I recently watched Sabrina (1954) that I realized how much her style could inspire bridal fashion, even when she wasn't wearing a wedding gown.

Via IMDb

This Givenchy is a simply perfect tea length gown. Imagining it in white, ivory, or blush, isn't hard, and it would be a great fit for a vintage style wedding, without going over the top. Because it's so beautifully simple, it could easily be accessorized any way the bride should chose. I like to picture it with a delicate, beaded belt to add a little bit of glitz. 

Via IMDb

Via Etsy: EleganceByKate

Most recognizable from Sabrina is likely the embroidered gown she brings home after studying in Paris. A quick search online will show that this gown has already influenced quite a few wedding dress designs. Apart from being stunning, this dress is fabulous because of its unique structure. From the back it looks like a ballgown complete with a train, but from the front it's almost a ankle-length sheath. It has the best of both worlds - the drama and formality of a ballgown, but the ability to show off a pair of knock out shoes. Plus, one could imagine it'd be easier to walk in!

Via IMDb

 While Audrey and her fashion were amazing throughout Sabrina, the dress that caught my eye the most was actually worn by Elizabeth Taylor (Martha Hyer). Trying to find images online of this one was difficult, and I could barely get a screenshot good enough to show the sweetheart neckline. Though it can only be seen briefly at the first party scene in the film, it's a winner. The fanned neckline, dropped waist, and flowing skirt scream GLAMOUR! And if my eye didn't mistake me, later in the film Elizabeth can be seen wearing a similar, if not the same style, dress in black. Which is so telling, because when she's in white, she's being loved, and in the black is when her fiance is dancing with another woman. Oh the drama!

Via Flickr: milliemotts

Talking Tea Length: 8 Perks of a Shorter Gown!

Tea length dresses are the bomb! Here are some of the advantages to opting for a shorter gown...

• Movement: It's easier to dance, and walk, without a bunch of skirt tripping you up! 
• Clean Hem: If you aren't necessarily the most sentimental and want to get some of your money back by selling your gown post-wedding, a tea length dress will likely be in better shape to do so. Because it's not being dragged across grass, concrete, dirty dance floors and dining areas, the hem will end up less damaged, and thus in better shape for a second wear.
• Vintage-y: Vintage-style weddings are really trendy right now, but finding a truly vintage dress in good shape and the right size might be difficult depending on where you are. Many new tea length dresses are designed with a retro or vintage flair and can be easily fit into this popular theme. 
• SHOES: Why on earth anyone would want to hide a pair of beautiful and possibly pricey shoes is beyond me. Really. No further explanation needed. Just SHOES.

1.      Matthew Christopher “Arabesque”  

2.      Pearl Bridals “Tansy”

3.      Demetrios “Destination Romance”

4.      Justin Alexander “8650” 

[Shout out to #4 - One of my best friends will be wearing the Justin Alexander to her October wedding! ]

• Comfort: Not only are you more free to move, you'll likely be more comfortable in less dress. Less fabric means less weight to carry around all day, and in those summer months could be a cooler option. Sweat reduction is always a bonus in my book!
• Cost: Again, less fabric has it's advantages. Tea lengths seem to be a bit more affordable, unless of course you are buying a full length gown and having it altered into a tea length. 
• Versatility: Not all weddings require traditional formal gowns. A tea length version might better way to match the vibe of a more casual event, or nicer fit for a certain venue, such as a rustic barn or the beach.
• Flattering: In my humble, non-expert opinion, tea length dresses look good on every one- tall, short, skinny, curvy. The key is having it tailored appropriately. 

5.      Kenneth Winston “1550”

6.      Jim Hjelm “8320”

7.      Henry Roth “Zoe Too” 

8.      Encore Watters “Dress RHO”

Designer Spotlight: Lazaro

Lazaro Perez is a man who knows how to make a gown! He's a brilliant designer, not only because his collections are always gorgeous, but also because each includes such a variety of silhouettes and fabrics. I'm convinced he could successfully design a dress for any bride. I'm really drawn to his ballgowns and A-lines with natural waists and tulle skirts, especially in the blush he's used in past collections. So glamorous, I'd wear any of them to the grocery store!

Style Number:32163560
Price:$3001 - $5000

Style Number:32572166
Price:$5001-$8000

Style Number:32877862
Price:$3001 - $5000

Style Number:32803421
Price:$5001-$8000

Style Number:32901423
Price:$3001 - $5000

Style Number:32951543
Price:$3001 - $5000 

 My absolute favorite; If I were getting married tomorrow, had a balling budget, and could have it hemmed to tea length, this would be my dress...

Style Number:32903403
Price:$3001 - $5000

Lazaro is the best. If you won't take it from me, maybe Mariah can convince you. She wore this beauty when she renewed her vows with Nick Cannon on their 5th anniversary. Lazaro: Dem Babies approved.

(All gowns designed by Lazaro Perez; Images, style numbers, and prices from Kleinfeld.)