Vera Wang Trunk Show

You're invited to celebrate the simplicity and sophistication of Vera Wang

July 11 & 12
VERA WANG
BRIDAL TRUNK SHOW

VERA WANG CHICAGO
34 East Oak Street
2nd Floor

View the current collection featuring romantic, sensual, and luxurious styles. Receive special savings on your special order gown, and $100 off a veil and headpiece.

By appointment only | 312.787.4696

New York Fall 2008

New York Fall Fashion 2008 is here. And look at this gorgeous eye-candy! I can see you lounging at an ultra-chic, late summer wedding reception with one of the fabulous frocks on!






All of these pretty numbers can be had by visiting Neiman Marcus. And for a limited time, get free shipping at any price! The redemption code is: SHOPNM
Photo Credit: Neiman Marcus

Nordstrom's Half Yearly Sale Starts Wednesday!

OMG!! I must resist. . .
I have to resist. . .
I'm not sure if I can resist. . .

Look at what can be had. . .

40% off or more?? In store or online??? SWOON!

Local and Sustainable

With Earth Day just passing us by, I think this is the perfect opportunity to re-introduce Dawes Design jewelry. First mentioned in the blogosphere about forty-five days ago by BFF Bridal, Dawes Design jewelry is the "green" jewelry for today's tres chic fille.
Dawes Design jewelry was started by Jennifer Dawes in rural Northern California as a socially and environmentally responsible jewelry line. Everything is made locally and sourced using sustainable businesses that use recycled products. The exquisite, stackable baubles are made using only recycled gold, conflict free diamonds and responsibly mined stones. The beautiful and versatile collection can be mixed and matched throughout all the lines to create a contemporary look that remains classical. All of the pieces are designed for stacking so you can combine the many styles and colors and invent some truly unique looks. Dawes also created a bridal line. And what's more, each piece is handmade and finished at Jennifer’s studio in Sonoma County.

In our never-ending quest to "go green" and be eco-chic in our daily living, buying this jewelry is a great way to be stylish. wear pretty, unique jewelry and concomitantly do your part in saving Mother Earth. And if you can look this funky while doing it--what's not to love?

Anyone reading already a wearer of Dawes Design jewelry?? We'd like to hear what you think!

Floral and Fabulous

Rock these rocks at your spring time wedding. Floral themes, in jewelry and everything else, are hot. These pieces perfectly fit the bill with their bright and bold colors. The "big, bright and beautifully crafted" designs showcased by Ice.com bring a fun, feminine and flirty feel to your wedding adornments.



The cool and serene blue-green colors of the 4.5 carat peridot and iolite sterling ring definitely make a statement. It can be your something blue and I think it's my favorite piece of the ICE floral collection.

The deep, luscious purple of the amethyst floral earrings truly lend a feminine look to your bridal attire. You can tie it in with the amethyst colors of your bridesmaids dresses.



Filled with purple amethysts, yellow citrines, green peridots, sky blue topaz and red garnets, this oh-so-charming bracelet can bring out the fun in any wardrobe. Add and unexpected sparkle and pop of color with the lovely spectrum of jewels and colors (26.5 carats!). As colorful as any bouquet, this bracelet can be as understated and demure as you wish or as bold and bodacious as you dare! For the bold and bodacious look, stack two or three of them. At $120 each, you can afford to do this. And for an added personal touch, give one away to your mother and mother-in-law after the wedding. Awwwww!


The glow of these gems will make you the center of attention. Embrace it and be floral and fabulous! Are any of you wearing any different or unusual pieces as a part of your wedding attire? We'd like to hear about it!

Bling Me

I was working on an inspiration board and I came across these beauties on Eluxury.com. If you know me, then you know I'm a sucker for:

1. designer


2. sparkly

Incorporate these Giuseppe Zanotti stunners into your wedding wardrobe. So what if you and your honey are ocean lovers or you like to take fishing trips together or, maybe one of you is a paleoanthropologist (hey--it could happen!). You could incorporate the fishbone into your stationery, favors, place cards and everything else, right on down to your toes--for a mere $850.

Any takers?

Photo credits: Eluxury.com

Something Borrowed

Brides can get their celebrity-fix on their own wedding day. Just as Nicole Kidman can borrow wonderful jewels and baubles from Fred Leighton for her walk down the red carpet, brides can borrow gorgeous gemstones for their walk down the aisle. Bag, Borrow or Steal is an online outlet that allows us regular gals to rent authentic, designer handbags and jewelry. If you have a membership, the rental fees are less, but you don't have to become member to rock their fabulous wares. And if you rent an item and love it to death, feel free to "steal" it. You can purchase any item on the website that you've "borrowed."

What's really neat about the website is the Match Maker feature. You can pick an occasion (Wedding!), pick a base color, pick your personal style type (classic, modern, edgy, vintage, elegant, etc.), as well as pick the materials, special features and how you intend to wear the accessories. The Match Maker makes recommendations based on all your preferences. Just picking wedding as the occasion gives you over 300 choices alone! The color ice blue is going to be hot this year. It was definitely hot on the fall runway and it will most likely translate over into the pretty colorscapes for weddings. Here are some pretty ice blue options from Bag, Borrow or Steal:

It's your special day and you have the right to accessorize and be beautiful beyond belief! Who cares if you have to return the jewelry a week later?? You can look stunning and not break the bank. Would you borrow high-end, designer jewelry for your wedding day?

Couture Valentino

After 45 years of inventing and evolving haute couture, uber-designer Valentino has chunked the deuces (=said goodbye!) to the fashion world. Fortunately, he has left us with some stunning material from his 2008 Spring line. These pieces could easily cross over into the wedding sector--especially for the young, hip, ultra-modern, ultra-haute, daring bride.

Your dress will certainly be the talk of the wedding for months to come! There are even a few pieces that could suit the bride on her second run down the aisle (minus that gargantuan hat, of course).


If you dare to wear these gowns during your nuptials, please, please, please do not sign up for a Trash The Dress session! Vintage Valentino will always be hot and you'll be holding on to an exquisite piece of history.

Who are your favorite designers, wedding or ortherwise? Let me know and I will pick one or two or four to blog about in the future.

P.S. Love, love love that overcoat in the BUTTERCUP color! If you will remember my mention of that hot color for 2008 in earlier posts. . . :-)

All photos courtesy of FabSugar.com

The EYES Have It (Part Deux)

I imagine, as a point of reference, I should probably post a pic of my own eyes. So here goes: Katasha's eyes on an ordinary day (Look, Ma! No Falsies!):



Can you imagine what my eyes will look like on MY wedding day? Laughing, laughing. . .


What is your favorite every day make-up look? Please post your answers here.

The EYES Have It

There is one thing that I will not leave home without. . .and it's not my Visa or American Express Card.



What is it, you may ask?? Quite plain and simple, it's mascara. Whether I'm going out for a night on the town or across the street to the grocery store, I have to have on mascara. I'm not a make-up snob, either. It doesn't have to be Diorshow or Defincils or Parad'Eyes or Cils Magiques. It just has to be:



1. Black

2. Lengthens

3. Separates











My friends think I'm nuts because I already have long lashes, but I daresay that's not the point. I look washed out without mascara. My light brown eyes seem to blend in with my light brown complexion. I FEEL washed out without mascara. Putting on make-up does have some mental health benefits associated with it! Mascara adds a little glamour to my day. I am not dressed to the nines in Target, but I still don't look like a complete bum. Plus, as a wedding planner, I never know when I will meet my next potential client. I need to at least try to look the part!







What does this have to do with weddings?? Everything! Your wedding day is gonna be spectacular. It will be one of the best days of your life. You will be the belle of the ball and you will have all the pictures to prove it. So I say make the most of it and start with your eyes. Go deep. Go dramatic. Go smokey. Add color. Get some fake lashes if you have to. Stand out. After all, eyes are said to be the window to the soul. When someone gets a glimpse of my soul, I want it to look good on the outside! Can you name these famous eyes?

27 of These Might Be Nice. . .

Jim Hjelm has introduced two new Spring 2008 Bridesmaids Collections: Occasions and Just Teas. I like Jim Hjelm BM dresses because they are modern and fresh, fashion forward and body conscious. The dresses also feature supreme fabrics such as silk shantung, satin and chiffon. The following dresses will fit well in the buttercup/slate grey color trend that will be very popular in 2008:











Because of my Beyonce-like shape (ha!), I am a sucker for a trumpet skirt. It flatters and fits in all the right places. Navy and cream with an accent of pink color is classic.







A current client who has a love for deep reds and oranges would find this dress to be just perfect for her 'maids!







And what God-fearing, Alpha Kappa Alpha woman (moi) doesn't like green?!?!







The 2008 Jim Hjelm Spring Collection will be debuted in a trunk show at Bella Rose in Lexington, KY on March 6-8. Sorry, Indiana girls--that's as close as it gets to us. Be sure to visit the Jim Hjelm website for more information.
All photos courtesy of the Jim Hjelm website.