to be or not to be?

So I bought this dress recently from BCBG, thinking it was a rehearsal dinner contender... And it arrived... and it's cute... but it is not right for the rehearsal. First of all, it's yellow. And yes, I knew this when I bought it. But I thought, "oh maybe..." But my colors are green and black. Not yellow. And I don't think I want to be yellow at my rehearsal dinner afterall, regardless of the prettiness of the frock. But I still think I like the dress. Not love. Like. And in this economy, should I keep a dress I like, not love, for an unknown event? It might be good for the wedding of a friend in the Spring. But it's a silk/wool blend, so it needs to be a brisk day when I wear it, lest I itch my stomach off.

Thus, I need your votes - to keep, or not to keep... that is the question... And if "to keep," then for what, pray tell?

(front)
(back)

Vote in the comments section...

morning delight

I heart Etsy.

I can no longer recall when I stumbled across this site-better-known-as-bliss, but it had to be some time during this Wedding Saga. A variety of blogs cite to Etsy as a source of all things unique, handmade, beautiful. My real obsession over Etzy stems from the fact that it far exceeds wedding-related items. There are a ton of interesting new clothing designers. Today, the featured seller - larimeloom - is re-donk-u-lous. Her stuff is striking its its creativity. Check her out. But don't buy up everything - leave a few peices for me...

*gasp* this last piece... wow. I want.

skinny jeans

Something very exciting is happening today, as You read.

I, am wearing my very first pair of Seven jeans, purchased circa 2000. I still remember when I bought them, when it was considered insane to spend over $100 on jeans. My, how times have changed...

They are eight years old, and I love them. And they are roughly two sizes smaller than the Joe's Jeans and the Rock & Republic jeans I've purchased this year [I heart designer jeans...and rather speedily got over my hesitation about their ridiculous price tags...I mean, what object of Your wardrobe do You wear the most?!].

And here's the important note: They fit. Again. They are not snug. They're pretty darn cute actually. Did I mention they are eight years old and two sizes down?

This whole working out thing is fan-friggin-tastic. I love my jeans.

(And, no the picture is not of me, it's of a Nordstrom's model. My butt looks better.)

why shoes are important.

" Fashion can be bought. Style one must possess. "

— Edna Woolman Chase

Which is why I have determined that the bride who wore these is a friggin' style diva. All images are courtesy of the talented eye of Marie Labbancz and came via her blog, Art of Love.

i wish i was a size 12

Why would I want to go several dress dress sizes UP, You might ask? ...So I could buy this little beauty from BCBG to wear at our rehearsal dinner... Size 12 is the only size remaining, and I am so. so. sad. It's perfect. Glamorous. Sophisticated. Mature. Perfect to go from church to dinner and exude that party mood. *Sigh* Maybe I should just eat more cookie dough ice cream after all so I can wear it?

stupid spam

Here I was, diligently minding my own business, doing my work, when *bam*. JCrew spam mail. Announcing the latest "new arrivals". And I am a strong woman. But not that strong. When new clothing beckons.

So I thought I'd take just a 5 minute breather to check out what this email was all about.

And, I must stay, They certainly do have some adorable little ensembles coming out. We've come a long way, baby, from the over-sized wool sweaters that I used to love having delivered to Theta in college. (You know You did too).

Here's a few of my new favs [read: must buy when go on sale]:

Issy sweater-jacket = yum! Makes me want to curl up in it right now...:

Victoria ruffle shirt + Pembridge-dot pencil skirt. I'm actually already picturing myself wearing this. Yep. *Happy thought*:

Golden roses dress... I'm not sure why, but I love this one. I think there's a good chance it would actually look horrendous on me. But in the pic it's so super chic and elegant...:

And of course, don't forget the shoes! How cute (if something over $300 can be "cute"...) aren't these?!? The feather!!! Finally, I'd do a little Happy Dance if anyone wanted to leave this in my stocking this year:
... Okay... back to work now. Must afford online shopping diversions somehow. We all know my investments won't be doing it this year.

project wedding!

Last night on Bravo was a bride's dream...Not only was it the first of two finalé episodes of Project Runway [best. show. ever], but the competitors were charged with designing a wedding gown AND a bridesmaid dress [*squeal of joy*].

[An aside: If you haven't watched Project Runway, this season especially, I'm not sure we can be friends. But, anyway, we'll move on...]

To date, Korto has been my favorite this season... thus, I was insanely disappointed that she came up with these sad little brown numbers for her dresses... ew. I was expecting something much more from my reality-tv-crush. Thank the Lord she survived to show her collection next week, but looking at these dresses, I'm not entirely sure she should have...

Next was Leanne, who frankly annoys the crap out of me, but this episode, I must confess her dresses were spectacular. I mean, I would actually wear them. Both. A couple times. *Love* Sadly, I couldn't find a nice pic of her bridesmaid dress online, but take my word that it was darling (though a bit of a crap color, but we'll let that one slide). The wedding gown was re-donk-u-lous:

Then. There was Kenley. I can authoritatively say if I knew her in real life, we would not be friends. This child is just too mean for words sometimes. And lacking of any graciousness [she said, "I know," when Tim complimented her apartment. The normal person would say "Thank you."]. But, whatever. Her designs last night rocked my little wedding world. I would never wear them [see, Leanne, above, for what I would wear...], but there was no arguing with the fact that her stuff was stunning. Stunning. Who cares if she ripped off Alexander McQueen. In my opinion, her stuff was better. And look at that darling bridesmaid dress. *sigh*

Last (and least), there was Jerell. Oh, Jerell. He wants to channel Austin Scarlett, I think. Sadly, he does not. Flowers on the head?! Really??? His dresses could be amazing... but in the end I think they just look sloppy. Would You ever make your bridesmaid wear that wrinkly little mess of green?!
Which, in the end, is why Jerell checked out last night. Anyway, given this wedding diversion, I can hardly wait for next week's finalé part deux... How can you top a feather wedding gown, after all?!

i wish We wore hats

...because what is more darling than these beautiful pics from my increasingly-beloved-photography-site, Lillian and Leonard, of wedding attendees in hats?! These are from across the Pond, so they look natural. Put our American guests in hats, and suddenly it looks ridiculous. So sad. Because I LOVE hats [I will endeavor to dig up a little ditty from my childhood wherein I attempted to wear mutliple hats...at once... and not much else...]

For instance, there's Happy Hat:

Hats in church!

Little happy curly-que-almost-a-hat

and last but not least, Big hat + little person

*sigh* I wish hats were as prized over Here as they are in Lillian and Leonard's world... I for, one, would be all for it!

the things we do for friends

This weekend I'm off to visit two of my dearest friends from law school. And in between reminiscing, enjoying wine, going to a dog blessing [don't ask, because I couldn't explain it if I wanted to], vetting one's new boyfriend [we'll be nice, I promise...], we shall also be going bridesmaid dress shopping. Oh, You lucky lucky girls! I can hardly wait! Cross Your fingers we find some lovely options, lest we have to dig out numbers like those above...

At least I'll look pretty.

ihavealotofclothes

ihavealotofclothes
Originally uploaded by danske

...like, a ton. And the older I get, the less I like 85% of the clothes I own (now, the clothes in the store, THAT is a different story...I love THOSE... which may be what contributed to the percentage of fabric hanging in my home...).

It generally takes me 30 minutes to get ready on a school day... from first stretch to when my keys are locking the door. Today, for reasons unbeknownst to me, it took 65. Sixty-five. Do You know why? Because I stood staring in Closet #1, unhappy with the options. Then I trooped over to Closet #2, and I didn't like anything there. Back and forth. Back and forth. Shirt on. Shirt off. Shirt on. Shirt off.

Have you heard of those people that come to your home and go through your closet and tell you what you should keep, what you should buy, what you should donate, and what should just go straight to the dumpster? I once thought the idea was assinine. I mean, who needs that, right? Till this morning anyway. In my 65 minutes of indecision, The Fiancé managed to (1) do a load of laundry; (2) walk the dog; (3) take out the trash; (4) drop off our dry-cleaning; and (5) take his first conference call of the day. [Now, granted, he only has one mere foot of closet space from which to choose from (as if!), but I suppose that might be my fault, not his].

In that same span of wakefulness, I, managed to take my outfit off and try roughly 4 other ones on.

I have a lot of clothes. It may be time to reevaluate...

stalking evangeline lilly

First I was going to post the pic to the left as an example of an absolutely perfect gown {that could even be a wedding gown if You were glamorous and didn't mind 'sexy' being one of the adjectives to describe You on Your big day - neither of which describes me}. Then I was going to post the pic to the right as an example of the hair style I would love to rock on my big day {if I were carefree and effortless..and brunette...none of which I am, at least today}.

Then I decided to hell with it: I don't want the dress or the hair. I want the body, the skin, the hair and the access to incredible fashion. Is that so much to ask? Note to self: must find new job STAT. Perferrably one involving less document review and more Emmy party invites.

so you're saying there's a chance...

He never claimed to be fashion forward, so when The Fiancé suggested that he wear a morning suit for our nuptials, I accepted the suggestion with equal parts horror and bemusement. I wasn't even sure what a morning suit was at the time, but since he was bringing it up, I was fairly certain it might evolve into some sort of fashion catastrophe.

However, today I officially take it all back. I am in love with the morning suit on the groom in the entry from http://www.elizabethannedesigns.com/blog/ - ooo la la. J'adore.

The wedding pictured above took place at the Central Park Observatory Gardens (I wish!), followed by a reception at the Rainbow Room (ummm... Wow... who are these people?). The photos are from Brian Dorsey.

in seersucker and in shame

I adore the New York Times. I do. I shudder, however, when the New York Times reports that the latest trend of wedding couples is to dictate their guests' attire... As in, "Please wear x, not y..."

I had to read this article twice to determine its authenticity. I mean, it had to be a joke, right? There can't really be a bride out there who "is requesting “hacienda chic,” which, as interpreted by the bride-to-be, means seersucker suits for men and brightly colored cocktail dresses for women."... can there?!?

[Think: Amanda Brooks & Hamish Bowles in Men's Vogue, circa 2006:]

I mean, yes, the attire [at right] is adorable. But it somehow loses its appeal when mandated. In fact, it just becomes downright absurd. Moreover, the thought of any number of our friends in seersucker literally makes a chuckle bubble up inside me. *Hee* Incomprehensible.

Why, then, I wonder, do some brides feel the desire to define not just themselves on their wedding day, but their treasured guests? This desperate grasp for control seems to be the final bucket heave from an otherwise sinking ship.

"According to Antonia van der Meer, the editor in chief of Modern Bride and Elegant Bride magazines, many guests enjoy being asked to dress in “festive brights” or “boating elegant.”"

Really?! Who are these guests? I can assure you they are not the type guests The Fiancé and I would be to any sort of wedded soiree, and thus I must assume they are not the type guests we would invite either. I'm not even sure what "boating elegant" means... This does cause me to ponder, however, what we'd see if we requested our guests arrive in "Irish Chic." Tweed jackets and riding britches, maybe...? Oooo, or Aran Islands wool atop tulle... yes, that would be lovely... I do love tulle...

"[W]hen she married Rossano Rubicondi in Palm Beach, Fla., in April, Ivana Trump spelled out her wishes at the bottom of the invitation. Opposite the words “no cameras or cellphones permitted” were the guidelines for attire: white tie for men and “pastelle” long gowns for women, with three additional caveats: no prints; no yellow (reserved for the maid of honor); and no pink (reserved for the bride).""

Wow. Dear Guests: I hereby pledge you can wear whatever you want to our wedding (I know I will live to regret this, but sobeit...). Just promise to have a merry old time. The only thing reserved for this Bride on her wedding day is the heart of her Groom (be it dressed in tweed or seersucker or anything in-between).