Okay, after sending some inspiration dresses and determining that I'd like a satin dress with lace on the top and bottom in a mermaid shape, here are the sketches the Kathryn, the dress designer came up with. So what do you guys think? Do you have a favorite? Is it anal to request not to have those seams in the fronts? What do you think? What feedback should I send her?
Please, please, please send me ideas soon. Thanks!
NOT FOR MATT'S EYES
This one is an example of a dress she's made in the past. Similar to the Melissa Sweet Lia dress.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Sketches from the Dress Designer
Friday, April 24, 2009
Looking "Haute" in Couture
Okay, like I said last time, I've had it with dress shopping and am looking into having someone make my simple dream dress. After doing some research, I found Kathryn Conover in New York magazine. She started out in fashion with a line of evening wear at Bergdorf's, then had a lower end line at Dillard's and now solely does custom bridal. She also specializes in lace and does pretty nice work. It can be seen at kathrynconover.net. I called her up and she sounded great. She buys her materials from the same places at Vera and Monique and makes a muslin copy of the dress before she tackles the real one to get the shape perfect. I sent her my inspiration dresses and told her I liked: mermaid shapes, scoop, strapless necklines, lace, covered buttons and colored sashes. I did not like: empire waists, rouching, beading, sheath or ballgown shapes, asymmetry. After looking at my ideas, she said she could definitely do a dress under budget and made some suggestions of her own. Like adding some flower detailing. Here are my inspiration dresses. (NOT FOR MATT'S EYES.)
So what do you guys think? Should I go with an all-lace or some satin? I was thinking of a satin dress with lace at the top and bottom. Would a colored sash work with that or be too much? Should I add the flowers like she suggested? Let me know ASAP so I can share with Kathryn!
Dress shopping in hell
Alright, last weekend I gave dress shopping one last try. I hit up the Kleinfeld Sample Sale (yes, the famous Kleinfeld from Say Yes to the Dress), visited RK Bridal one more time and visited a new place called Designer Loft. It was a disaster.
Okay, disaster is an exaggeration. There were no fires, explosions and Will Smith didn't have to save the day, but it did not go well. First was Kleinfeld's which is a beautiful store. It's easy to see how people get sucked into spending 1000s of dollars on a dress in this luxe environment. There are crystal chandeliers, silk couches and unbelievably beautiful dresses. Unfortunately, none of them were on the end of the sale rack that I could afford. I've discovered that if you want a sale dress, you have to go with a ballgown shape, b/c that's all there is. Big, fussy dresses with bows and sequins. So even though our salesperson was very nice (offered to knock a few dollars off the price), there were no winners at Kleinfeld's.
Next up was RK Bridal part deaux. We'd already been there and like last time, it was a mad house. We had to wait an hour for a dressing room and I was rushed through every dress. Also told multiple times that this dress was too dressy for an outdoor wedding. Excuse me? How can a bride look too dressy? Am I supposed to wear overalls b/c I'm getting married outside? Every bridal magazine I've ever seen has done a beautiful spread of dresses outdoors. So I'll decide what's too dressy thank you very much. Also, she even took away the dresses I'd been considering. Then a screaming match broke out b/t the staff and a mother and I'd had enough.
Next was Designer Loft. The experience was totally different and the best so far. The shop was tiny and calm and cute. They only see two people at a time and we were the only ones there for our appointment. They have a unique selection too, although many were out of our price range. (They also have a sample sale every day, but again, every dress was ballgown.) The salesperson was very friendly (and an Arkansan!) and she and the girls almost talked me into buying this flowy Grecian type ballgown. It was beautiful, but I felt it just wasn't me. (which is weird b/c one of my girls specifically said, "it's so you." very confusing.) Anyway, even though I liked the place a lot, no winners.
So at this point, I've decided I've had it with dress shopping and called a custom dress designer. More on that next.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
You're invited. Now pick a number.
For whoever didn't know, I'm the maid of honor in my sister's June wedding and I'm planning her bachelorette party for next weekend. Since she finally received her invite in the mail, I decided I'd post about and show you the invite. For the invite, I made a "cootie catcher" or "fortune teller" like we used to do in grade school. But instead of telling you which boy at school you would marry and whether you'd live in a mansion or a shack, it reveals stuff like what to bring to the party and when it is. I found a template online so I could print everything out in Powerpoint. In case you want to make your own, here's where I found it:
http://vintageglamblog.com/2008/09/freebie-fridays-cootie-catcher-menu-template/
And here's how it turned out.
And to complete the invite, I placed it in a box stuffed with fishnet stockings (which are on the "What to Bring" list.)
And not to toot my own horn or anything, but I think she loved it. :)
With this ring
This month I celebrated a birthday and for my birthday, my future mother-in-law gifted me a super cute ring bowl from Paloma's nest on Etsy. Paloma's Nest handmakes these little bowls in Austin, TX and customizes them to say whatever you'd like. Mine says, "With this Ring" and "09.18.09" (the wedding date). Until (and after) the wedding, I'll be using this little beauty to hold my ring when I'm doing something where I can't wear my ring. (Like putting on self-tanner or rock climbing or chopping firewood). And at the wedding, one of the groomsmen will carry it down the aisle with our rings. Ooh, and at Christmas, we can hang it on our tree! Anyway, it came in the other day in the cutest packaging.
And here's what the bowl looks like. (Sorry you can't really read it, but I just snapped a pic with the ole phone.)
Wedding dresses, wedding dresses everywhere
I don't know if it's a spring thing or what, but I'm seeing wedding dresses made out of random objects in store windows all over town. Here are a few I thought to snap up with the iPhone.
Dress made of wedding china at Bed, Bath and Beyond
Dress made of wedding china at Bed, Bath and Beyond
Dress made of Tile at a Bathroom studio
Dress made of paper at Kate's Paperie
Dress made of paper at Kate's Paperie
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