Gown Friday: Monique Lhuillier Spring 2011 RTW

today my hubbie and i are heading out of town to enjoy some good college football!  so excited!  you ladies like football??  it's one of the best things about fall--red, orange and yellow leaves, brisk foggy mornings and College Game Day bright and early on Saturday mornings :)
...anyway, getting back to girly business! and nothing is more girly than Monique Lhuillier.  from hand painted magnolias to nude corset bodices, tempting candy apple red to soft, luxurious creams and whites, Monique delivered a fantasy land of beautiful evening wear for her spring 2011 RTW collection that was simply stunning.
enjoy your weekend full of football :)

{images:  style.com}

red carpet looks

Olivia Wilde in Reem Acra

think we must take a moment and look at the red carpet fashions from the emmy's last night. there were a lot of fabulous dresses designed by some of my favorite wedding gown designers--monique lhuillier, reem acra, badgley mischka, and angel sanchez. seriously, one thing to do on my "top ten list" includes having a reason to drop a ridiculous amount of money for a designer dress, and i wouldn't mind wearing one of these!!  oh and olivia wilde above definitely gets "best dressed" for the night--stunning.

Brooke Shileds in Badgley Mischka

Felicity Huffman in Reem Acra

Christina Applegate in Reem Acra

Mariska Hargitay in Carolina Herrera

Nicollette Sheridan in Angel Sanchez

 

Terri Hatcher in Monique Lhuillier

 

Debra Messing in Monique Lhuillier

{photo credits}

Gown Friday: Monique Lhuillier Fall 2011

For this spring break Friday, we have Monique Lhuillier's fall 2011 collection.  I have to admit, it completely slipped my mind that the first day of spring was this week...could be all the rain and wind we are experiencing!  Nothing says bridal like Monique.  She fulfills the fantasy of every girlie girl's dreams of a white wedding.  I especially love the dress with the off-the-shoulder sleeves and sheer overlay.  Such a beautiful neckline--simply stunning!  

See you next week!

{Images:  Martha Stewart Weddings}

Monique Lhuillier Spring 2011

it's been killing me that i haven't had time to post the spring 2011 bridal collections yet, but it's never too late to talk fashion and it's never too late to talk Monique Lhuillier! ladies, it's all about the slim and sleek, short and chic, and the new trend: the convertible wedding dress. yeah, that's right two dresses in one. and what bride doesn't want the drama of having two designer dresses to show off? monique was inspired by nature for her titled "field of dreams" show, with embellishments of butterflies, twigs, feathers, and even wheat stalks woven into her designs. and not to mention plenty of figure hugging dresses and sheer corsets for all you daring brides out there. i LOVE the one above--i would have been tempted to buy this one...and thank you for all your kind, sweet words. i am slowly recovering and fashion always puts me in a good mood :)











{images: marthastewartweddings.com}

From City to Country: Bridesmaid Go Couture & Free Giveaway!

Hi everyone!! Cassandra from coco+kelley here to kick off Couture Week on Weddings Fresh with some gorgeous picks for bridesmaid dresses - most of them quite over the top and very divine! This time last year I was picking my own dream dresses for bridesmaids, and it was so fun to have the opportunity to dive into the wedding world once again, so thank you so much Dani for inviting me over!

When I think couture, I have a few favorite designers that come to mind - Elie Saab, Marchesa, Zac Posen... so, I dug through my runway files to pick some of my recent looks and put them together according to venue - after all, next to the colors you pick for your maids, the location always sets the tone...

*The Vineyard: The top pick for a wedding of my own dreams is definitely a vineyard - to me that means rich, earthy tones like these gorgeous designs from Chloe, Monique Lhuillier and Marchesa in luxurious fabrics.

*The Loft: Modern spaces are all about being non-traditional, and the dresses should be no exception! A black and white palette or pieces with architectural lines are perfect picks. From Christopher Kane, Reem Acra and Oscar de la Renta.

*The Country Club: Why not play up the fact that your event requires a VIP invite? Drape bridesmaids in over the top florals and pinks like these dresses from Zac Posen, Oscar de la Renta and Dior.

*The Country: Couture on the farm? But, of course! Keep the palette natural and the texture intense - feathers are a bonus. Dresses by Monique Lhuillier, Luisa Beccaria and Lanvin.

*The Beach: There is plenty of couture out there that is all about the color, and perfect for a beach wedding, just like these dresses from Reem Acra.

*The City: You know the type of wedding - the couple who always knows about the next hot spot. Whose wedding will start fashionably late and go all night long. It's classy and sexy all at once, so rich jewel toned dresses from Lanvin, Marchesa and Barbara Tfank are just what the bridesmaids will need.

And, since a dress is only as good as its accessories, we have our first giveaway from Chickdowntown.com - the for the entire Couture Wedding Week - to get you on your way to your own couture look! The prize? A very chic black satin crystal broach clutch from Monya Handbags! It's the perfect little couture touch for your wedding - thanks Chickdowntown.com!! You have until Friday at Midnight to leave a relevant comment on this post (one per person) and one lucky winner will be chosen at random. So get to it!

*all photography via style.com and monique lhuillier

gown friday: summer kick-off edition!

{priscilla of boston}

happy friday, ladies! i hope you enjoyed our summer kick-off week with arin of zinke design--i can't get enough of her high fashion blended with summer wedding tradition--a fabulous combination for sure! thank you, thank you, arin!!

for gown friday i thought i would feature some summer chic gowns. when i think of summer weddings i envision the likes of melissa sweet, monique lhuillier, and claire pettibone--breezy fabrics, flower applique, delicate lace details, and more along the lines of sheath, a-line, and modified trumpet skirt, rather than a large, princess ballgown (though i had to indulge in the pnina tornai below just because it's HOT for summer!). so i leave you with just a little sample of just that--of course the are so many to choose from, and these gowns aren't necessarily the most current collections from each designer, but nonetheless, gorgeous and a perfect fit for a summer soiree!

{pnina tornai}

{monique lhuillier}

{monique lhuillier}

{melissa sweet}

{rosa clara}

{lazaro}

{judd waddell}

{vineyard collection}

{jim hjelm}

{danielle caprese}

{claire pettibone}

{claire pettibone}

{alvina valenta}

{romona keveza}

{all gowns courtesy of kleinfeld bridal}