WebsiteBride Chic
Draping and playing with fabric started some twenty years back when I did a three-year stint as a bridal fabrics buyer. After that I opened Bridal Alternatives, a custom design studio and ever since have had the opportunity of working with brides who want that extraordinary one-of-a-kind dress. I’m in love with fashion history and re-invention of the past. Other connections to fashion? I’ve been a columnist for San Francisco Art and Fashion News and written articles for The Wedding Gazette. I founded The Design Project of San Francisco, a networking organization of fashion professionals collaborating their skills and talents on projects. I’m currently working on a book called—you guessed it—‘Bride Chic’, all about that white gown and very special designer/client relationship. I live with my husband Edgar and Chihuahua Piccalina in Marin County California.
Recent Posts by Bride Chic
Shirred Beautiful Bridal Gowns
I'm wowed by anything shirred. So what is shirring anyway? Shirring is an application consisting of rows of pleats or gathers on a dress, giving off a particular wrap effect harking back to Mid-Century fashion. These days we're seeing shirring mostly on bodices. It's hot right now in bridal and evening wear, especially with tulle, chiffon or any transparent fabric forming soft folds. Here's a medley of some of the shirring seen in wedding couture this year... Which of...
Spanish Bridal Couture Splashes Down
Perusing Spanish Vogue to get inspiration for my, "Spain 2013" series on Bride Chic, I couldn't resist posting the latest a la mode off the runway from four of my favorite Spanish designers, Patricia Avendano, Rosa Clara,Yolan Cris and Victorio Lucchino. If I could sum up in a few words what's happening in Spanish bridal couture it would be a dose of modesty mixed up with pure flamboyance. Add in some good old fashioned Spanish tradition, like the donning of beautiful fans and...
Bridal Designer Spotlight: Lyn Ashworth
I found the dress directly above on Pinterest which led to my posting the rest of these tour de force bridal gowns by UK designer, Lyn Ashworth. For me her creations are youthful, fresh and right on que with what's going on in fashion. When reading more about how this designer works I was intriqued by what she had to say about fibers and the actual work of creating: "I let the design take shape as I work, until the moment comes when I know it's exactly right. Then all that's left to...
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Wedding Dresses
The City Bride
Hope to get all you urban-inspired brides fired up! For me the backdrop of a cityscape conjures weekday weddings and alternatives to the big white traditional gown. City Hall nuptials usually happen quickly with an after celebration close by--a restaurant, club maybe a private home. This means a bride has all those chic touches that say 'wedding' only abbreviated. Hems are usually ankle or tea length, veils either short or some hybrid of hat/veil combo. Here's by far some of the...
A Woods and Wildflowers Wedding
A very gifted photographer named Taralynn Lawton looked me up some months back about shooting some of my spring wedding dresses. Right off I found her light-filled photography dream-like and in a word, stunning so I jumped at the chance. Once we met, I ran a few ideas past her. Waifs in the woods was what I saw, and bouquets of wildflowers was what she pictured. Combined, this is the work we came up with, hopefully inspiring all you brides out there intrigued with the 'wedding in...
Enchanted Atelier Wedding Accessories
Once I discovered Enchanted Atelier, I totally swooned over these images from their Spring 2013 accessories and headpiece collection. Each design is hand-crafted and features hand-loomed French lace made in Caudry, France by the lace house Maison Sophie Hallette. The hand-sewn lace gloves made by a master glove maker (featured in the last photo) actually have hand pressed silk petals and leaves, and hand riveted delicate filigree metalwork. Enchanted Atelier offers a unique...
Everything’s Coming Up Roses: Reem Acra Launches New Bridal Line for Nordstrom
Reem Acra has launched Roses, a capsule collection to be carried exclusively by Nordstrom Wedding Suites. Premiering in late June, Acra worked with the Pacific Northwest flagship store to create six looks from her signature collection. These styles will be available for under $4,000, about half of what her wedding dresses usually go for. Imagine the same patterns and silhouettes in a range of more affordable fabrics, with minimal bling and adornments. Says Acra, "Now I am able to...
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Wedding Dresses
These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things…
2012-2013 bridal wear is still echoing a vintage vibe in most designer collections. And today, I share just a few of my favorite wedding dresses, hats and accessories mostly by indie designers (all Etsy sellers) who invariably add that one-off touch to whatever era they choose to recreate with their own signature twist...
The Beach Bride
Beach weddings conjure azure water, white sand and typically a casually chic white dress. Realize if you want to marry beachy, certain dresses may be ideal but you certainly aren't restricted. Any style can be worked for the beach wedding as long as you add or even subtract touches that will bring out its finest beach chic. In the case of the big, cathedral gown with a long train, yes, by all means you can wear it but best to keep off the sand in it--at least until after the...
Romantic Bride’s Guide to Topping It Off
This spring/summer there are more bridal veil and headpiece variations than I've ever seen, from tiny wisps of netting to full blown headdresses. Topping it off you can go as traditional as a long veil or with a really extraordinary accent piece that can pull your whole bridal look together. Here are a few newbies from the latest Etsy collections guaranteed to inspire you on to creating your own one-of-a-kind look... Take a peek at all this lovely, then post a comment below to...
Vintage Inspired from Across the Pond: Downton Abbey Bridal Gowns
Love the looks found on Downton Abbey and Dinner at Eight? Any of these wedding dresses by UK designer Sally Lacock would inspire a vintage enthusiast. I consider these magnificent pieces, all a work of art in their own right. If you're lucky enough to live in London, stop into the Sally Lacock bridal shop to see these dresses, as well as some scrumptious samples for sale...
TAFFETA: Timeless and Trendy
Grace Kelly wore taffeta on her wedding day and so did Jackie Kennedy. What can I say, the taffeta bridal gown is a great tradition. And since taffeta is one of the most widely used fabrics for bridal wear you're probably going to be seeing and hearing a lot about it once you start your dress search... If you've already been shopping you know it is also popular for bridesmaids and little ones. There's no mistaking taffeta: It has that rustling and screeching sound when it moves and...
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Wedding Dresses
7 Bridal Trends from Across the Pond
If Holly Golightly were to materialize out of the pages of fiction we might find this fashion icon hanging out at White Gallery London, a chic design event showcasing the best talents in the British bridal industry. Holly would especially like the coat and dress ensembles, bouffant skirts, short skirts, mini skirts, angel sleeves, scarves and sunglasses; you'd swear we all were back in St. Tropez 1966 watching the action on this catwalk. Swinging sixties isn't the only hark back in...
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Wedding Dresses
Trend Spotting: The Drop Veil
Mantillas and drop veils are showing up more and more in the weddings submitted to Bride Chic. I wanted to share this tidbit with you simply because this tells me something about brides and what's going on with their heads: Some of you still love topping it all off with a long and flowing veil. Defined, a drop veil or mantilla style is circular, has no poufs or gathers at the crown and can literally be dropped onto the head in a single layer of lace or tulle. They're often bordered...
The Fine Art of Choosing a Wedding Hat
So you're going for a hat on your wedding day. Hats, fascinators, headbands, and many more are all a given these days for topping off your white aisle look. Not long ago, society's code for brides wearing hats instead of a long, flowing veil meant you were either a second time bride or over thirty-five and marrying for the first time. Interesting isn't it? There were, of course, exceptions to the rule: A bride having a very small or 'going away wedding' as they were called back then...
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