New Bridesmaids Fashion

ann taylor "see now, wear now" for your bridesmaids

Ann Taylor has a new head designer named Lisa Axelson who is catching a lot of praise for her recent makeover of the label's conservative image. When the collection was shown this year at Fashion Week, people questioned whether or not they were in the right place. After all, the looks coming down the runway didn't resemble anything they had seen on a mall mannequin before. "Ann Taylor stepped up its styling game for Thursday," the Wall Street Journal reported, "to give its pieces more of a high-fashion aesthetic. Unlike the other shows in the nearby Bryant Park tents, which were displaying styles for spring, the Ann Taylor presentation was dubbed “See Now, Wear Now.” All of the looks will soon be available and ready for purchase for fall 2009. Good news for brides looking for a bit of high fashion when it comes to their accessories and bridesmaid dresses.



Bridesmaid ready looks that graced the runway include Silk Tiered Strapless Dress, $240. Among my favorite accessories are this Crystal Bib Necklace, $50 and Gemstone Slippers, $50. I can't think of anything more stylish to slip into after a long night of dancing. If you have a friend getting married soon, why not gift her with these and call them the ultimate frill!

Spring 2010

Some of the gowns from the Marchesa Spring 2010 collection look like the designers took a charcoal pencil and sketched little floral details on them by hand. For more detail shots from the runway, check out today's Daily Inspiration gallery.

Over-Accessorize

did salma hayek over-accessorize her lilac look?

Remember how easy it is to over-accessorize your look? The balance between wearing a killer bib necklace and weighing down your neck with one too many strands can be difficult to find. One beautiful necklace can go along way, especially if you plan on wearing a veil and earrings and a huge grin all day long. But if you must over-accessorize, don't do it in front of the camera. Save your strands of beads and baubles for a night out on the town when the only red carpet you'll be photographed on is the one in your head. Salma Hayek got it almost right when she paired this pretty purple Bottega Veneta piece with both a long and short necklace for the 2009 Alma Awards this past weekend. It was styled the exact same way when it came down the runway for Fall 2009. But on Salma, something just seems different. Do you agree?

Frilly wedding

frilly wedding details from fendi & holly stalder

I love the work of Holly Stalder whose custom shrug was recently featured on Kiss the Groom, a fantastic blog from photographer Elizabeth Messina. Elizabeth photographed Kristen and Todd's wedding with special attention paid to the handcrafted shrug made by Holly Stalder from lace the belonged to the bride's great great grandmother. Don't the delicate details and soft colors of this pictorial inspire you to add your own frilly details to your wedding wardrobe? If not, take a look at what Fendi just sent down the runway for Spring 2010. Their collection was filled with feathery details, wispy fabrics and pale hues that hopefully will inspire you to add your own romantic elements to your wedding style. Take a cue from the chill in the air and add something billowy and beautiful to your gown. It can be a simple silk shawl wrapped carelessly around your shoulders or a more textured item like those crazy woolly sleeves that can perhaps be added to your gown after the ceremony.

Thread Social Fashion

THREAD is known for making pretty bridesmaids dresses and even prettier ad campaigns. THREAD Social was created with the social butterfly in mind. Let your bridesmaids and your party guests be one, I say, and steer them in the direction of the newest collection for Holiday 2009. These Sequin One-Shoulder Dresses with silk charmeuse tops are perfect for the bridal party while the Matte and Shine Silk Bow-Front dress would make for a most memorable evening. Pre-order is available for an October 15th ship date so if you have a November wedding coming up, get clicking.

Bridal Fashion market

Yesterday I got to spend a little time looking at the newest Nicole Miller Bridal collection. I am a huge fan of the Ready to Wear collection. The line is always so chic yet totally accessible. The treatment of fabric is so sensitive that even a simple twist (as seen in the dress at right bottom) can say so much. The gowns are perfect for destination brides who need to pack up their dress and hit the road but still want to wear something that is show-stopping.