LGTM ♥ Weddings!

The veil question is always a hot one for all brides to be. Are you wearing one or not? If so, what size/shape/material will it be & if not, will you wear something in its place?

I have decided not to wear a veil for our wedding. I just don’t think it works with my dress and I definitely did not feel like myself wearing one.

But I know I’d definitely feel at ease in this drop-dead gorgeous oversized floral hair clip from none other than Alber Elbaz at Lanvin.

Coming from Lanvin, you know it just has to be elegant. I love how soft the fabric is and the way it drapes around the head just so like a vintage cloche. It is quiet and striking all at the same time, sort of how I hope I look when I walk down the aisle.

Any of you delicate flowers out there think you’d like to wear a bloom like this for your big day?

Lanvin Large Radzmir Floral Hairclip (via Net-a-Porter)

The New French

Hello! Hope everyone had a good weekend & weren’t the Oscars good? Almost everyone who I wanted to win (except the costume designer for I Am Love), it was a fun show.

My favorite dresses were Cate Blanchett, Mila Kunis, Michelle Williams and that amber dress Florence Welch wore while performing. What about you?

I’m still processing bits from Fashion Week (like really processing). One of the things I loved from the runways was all of the great nail art models were sporting, and I wasn’t alone.

My favorite nail trend out there right now is the twist on the traditional French Manicure. I love the way people are mixing up colors, matte and shine (or sparkle!), proportion and even flipping them upside-down! It is a super fresh twist on one of the most tried and true nail looks out there.

Maybe I’ll get a cool French Mani for my trip this week!

Below from left are manis inspired by Ruffian (includes DIY instructions!), YSL and nails from my favorite favorite NYC

nail salon Valley Nails. Valley is the place to go in the city when you want nails that will really make a statement!

LGTM ♥ Weddings!

Couldn’t resist one more quick post for you before we all get started on the weekend. I just love that Elizabeth Dye sent her models down the runway in these awesome neon tights for her 2011 Bridal Fashion Show. Such an unexpected blast of color!

Maybe not the right look for everyone’s big day but nothing says let’s party like a pair of colored tights!

To view full photo & see The English Dept.’s full 2011 collection, click here.

Weekend Style Inspiration

It’s a rainy day today here in NYC & it looks like it’s going to continue into the weekend.

The one thing I don’t mind about the showers is that they are a sure sign Spring is on the way.

Today I’ve got some rainy day style inspiration for you ladies and gents. Pulled from my Pintrest pinboards, these two folks are looking particularly put together for the rain.

I love this casual gentleman’s pegged jeans paired with a bow tie and shiny black shoes. I love the preppy lady’s layered combo and the way she’s belted the coat but kept it open. It’s like she stepped out of a J.Crew lookbook.

The best part is I’ve got similar pieces in my closet: Glasses, check. Blue gingham shirt, check. Miniskirt, check (mine is grey). Tights, check, Brown sandals, check.

These two look mighty fine especially compared to what I slogged myself to work in this morning. It will give me some motivation for stepping my rainy day look up a notch as the showers continue to fall.

Oh, and I definitely need to invest in a new trench!

Happy weekend everyone, stay dry!

*Image sources: His & Hers

What I Wish I Wore (in Mexico)

You all know how I love to make packing lists for all of my trips big or small. I probably shouldn’t admit that I’m on about the fifth draft of my list for our trip to Mexico (next week!!)–give me a break folks, a girl’s got to get through her ride on the subway somehow.

In my list-making I’ve realized something: my clothes are boring.

When you think about dressing for vacation you want to whip out the hot pink, pull on the prints and generally flash and dazzle. The problem is, I have no hot pink, my prints are pretty much all stripes and there is nary a sparkle in my closet.

Don’t get me wrong, I like the way I dress. I think working in New York has made my closet more stylish but also more subdued. I am obviously not going to revamp my entire wardrobe for a quick trip but you can’t blame me for entertaining the idea of it. There are so many great Spring clothes showing up in the stores for Spring, here’s what I wish I could wear for sipping a margarita by the pool.

Clockwise from top left: Urban Outfitters Straw Floppy Hat; Vince Hi Low Metallic Sweater (via Bloomingdales); Sass & Bide The Fable Short (via Shopbop); Super Lucia Sunglasses (via Gargyle); Issa Silk Maxi Dress (via Net-a-Porter); Jil Sander Multi-Color Wedge Sandals (via Saks)–I want everything from this collection!!

LGTM ♥ Weddings!

Growing up, my family had a giant chalkboard mounted by our back door. Being the young artiste that I was considered myself, I used to dedicate hours towards trying to create chalk-masterpieces for all of the people coming in and out to admire.

If I had known then about the work of Brooklyn-based graphic designer/chalkboard artist extraordinaire Dana Tanamachi I would have just given up right there. Tanamachi creates wall-sized chalk installations that are as visually engaging as well as poignant and downright sweet.

With a keen eye and steady hand she creates unique full-scale signage that makes a serious impact. I for one, melted into a big puddle of awe when I first stumbled upon her work and I’m not the only one. Wedding super-bloggers from Martha Stewart and 100 Layer Cake have both swooned over Tanamachi’s awesome style.

I’m very (veeerry) excited to share with you that we’ve been working on a project with Dana for our own big day! That’s all I’m going to say about it but come on, you know it’s going to be good, right?

Take It From The Master

Whooeee! Sorry I disappeared like that.

I always tell myself I am going to be more present during fashion week and share all of my little observations on what is happening out there. The truth is though it is always so draining, I don’t know how the real fashion bloggers do it. After keeping up with all of the shows and work and the hubbub, a girl just needs a lot of wine and a weekend-long nap to recover (oh yes, and making French macarons from scratch).

So, to make it up to you, here is one big-ass illustration today.

I did manage to squeeze in a visit to the Balenciaga show at the Spanish Institute before it closed on Saturday (as some of you may have seen over on Tumblr). It was a lovely small exhibition featuring some pristine samples of the designers original work paired with quotes he had made about the clothes and many of his inspirations.

My favorite quote: A ruffle must be intelligent. I couldn’t agree more.

I imagine Alber Elbaz might have a thing or two to say on the topic as well, don’t you?

So Sleepy…

Too much fashion, not enough sleep…

Image from Cup of Jo

Fiery Stare

Somewhat recently I picked up the habit of wearing eyeshadow on a daily basis.

It makes me feel a bit more grown-up and professional even though it is nude and probably invisible to everyone but me.

So, though I am no eyeshadow-pro, I have been very excited by the dramatic eye makeup seen on the runways for Fall 2011. Many designers (Vena Cava, glitter!) featured gorgeous eye makeupbut none was so striking and fabulous as Thakoon did for his show.

The eyes were the finishing touch on a visually rich showing; definitely an early favorite for the season. Even though they are quite over the top, the look is so cool and intense that it is something I just might be inclined to try.

Photos (and product breakdown!) from Makeup for Life

It’s  Long Story…

I think I might have mentioned that I am currently growing my hair out for the wedding.

As a self-professed “short-hair person” this is no easy feat.

The winter blah’s have officially set in and I am hankering for a change. Something fresh and new to switch up my look and I just don’t think a new tube of lipstick is going to cut it.

As my Twitter followers know, I recently joined Pintrest and am in love with the site. I’ve been making a pinboard filled with great hairstyles, many of which are serving as my motivation to keep my locks long (and not lop it all off into a bob as I want to do every other day).

Here is my hair pinboard, along with 2 great Tumblr feeds for people just like me who are trying to keep it long (here and here).