Bridesmaid Look Book: All Dressed in White

The Royal Wedding has got us thinking: why can't the bridesmaids wear white too? We understand that the bride is the center of attention, etc. but in a way, having your bridesmaids dressed in white makes them blend in rather than stand out in their bright colors. It's a classy and elegant approach to dressing your bridesmaids, and may be preferred by brides who are into neutral shades or want to keep things simple. Here are some ideas:

Keep it short and sweet in this knee length chiffon dress from BHLDN. We love the sheer neckline and sweet bow detailing, and just wish they had this in a miniature version for the flower girl! Of course, just make sure your shade of white dress doesn't clash with your maids!

For a sleek, modern look, dress your girls in this simple sequined trim dress by Ralph Lauren. It's a wonderful compliment to a more minimalist bride, with just a bit of dazzle to make it more than your every day white dress. This is definitely a great look if you're going for an icy hot winter wedding.

Of course, you don't need to dress all in white. Throwing on a fun print is a great way to add some color without cluttering up your all white theme. In our opinion, this look seems best fit for when you just have one bridesmaid, or if you want to make your maid of honor stand out and leave the rest of the maids in all white.

Similarly, dress your girls in white (or off white) but add an all-over pattern to set them apart. We love this retro style dress from Mango, and think it's perfect for low key spring or summer weddings.

This basic pleated skirt dress is perfect for a casual summer wedding. It reminds us of the black and white look at the mom's wedding in Because I Said So, which can be elegant and sexy or simple and casual.

This may be one of our favorite dresses of the lot. It's short and sassy, with lots of pretty details around the neckline to create a charming overall look. Plus, this dress works for all seasons and wedding styles, so you can dress it up or down with the right hairstyle and jewelry.

If you haven't noticed, almost all of our selections are cocktail length, as choosing a floor length white gown for your bridesmaids can be very tricky. We think you can only really put it off if (1) the dress is much more simple than the wedding dress and (2) the bride has a lot of confidence.  For instance, this simple floor length gown from J. Crew (which is actually a wedding gown), would look great with a fuller or more detailed wedding dress. It's all about making them different enough so that the bride stands out. If Kate and Pippa could pull it off, so can you!

XOXO,

Jen & Saira

Hats Off to You!

With all the Royal Wedding hoopla last week it wasn't hard to get caught up in the romance, the extravagance, and of course, the hats! Sure, some of the guests and royal family had hats that were a little over the top (see Princess Eugenie and Beatrice), but others were chic and definitely tasteful.   Most of the time we think of hats for baseball games, old ladies, or as a cure for a bad hair day but the Royal Wedding has us excited to try some for every day or formal occasions. Here are some very wearable head ornaments for spring and summer.

Not only is a floppy black hat the easiest way to achieve instant elegance, it is seductive and mysterious -reminding us of old Hollywood glamor.  Wearing black to formal events is typically, but wearing a hat like this will insure you don't get lost in the crowd.

Who says fedoras are just for gangsters (or pimps?).  This girl looks cool and casual in this straw fedora from Nordstrom with it's pretty and romantic oversized flower.

You don't need to go on safari to wear a cool hat!  This simple white hat, adorned with a fun leather strap and buckle, will look great poolside or while roaming those flee market aisles. Available at Urban Outfitters.

Straw hats are all the rage, from floppy to fedora, they come in a wide variety of style and give you that carefree, laid back look.  We like this hat from Free People because it's a little bit country but has a great old fashioned shape and chic, feminine bow.

 

Another great straw hat is this one from Banana Republic.  It's a fun hat with a large brim and is detailed with a pretty, delicate eyelet pattern.  Careful though, reviews say this hat is great but runs a little large so order the smaller size if in doubt.

Love the straw style but looking for something bolder?  Go with stripes and instantly modernize your look!  We love this citrus striped hat for it's bright, sunshine color that is sure to add a little punch to the spring and summer palette.

Not the laid back, straw loving, farm girl?  Show your a little edgy and go metallic from head to toe!  This sexy and dramatic hat, from Bloomingdales, would be a greatway to jazz up an outfit with it's sexy, floppy style and metallic silver sheen.





XOXO,



Jen & Saira

Royal Wedding Recap

They came, we saw, and William and Kate conquered. Although we didn't wake up at 5 a.m. to watch the festivities, we did DVR it and were very pleased with the results. Turns out, all the hype was worth it -- the Royal Wedding did not disappoint! From the build up to her arrival, to the long walk down the aisle and the double kisses on the balcony, the entire day was magical. And while we're sure all you dolls have read up on the event already, here are our thoughts on the wedding:

There is no doubt about it, Kate Middleton was absolutely stunning on her big day. Decked out in Alexander McQueen, the Duchess's style was regal, understated, elegant, modern, and classic at the same time. This dress is reminiscent of Grace Kelly's wedding gown (which is our favorite royal bridal style) and the timeless look will keep it from looking dated in the history books. It's interesting to note how the v-neck is Kate's signature look, and the neck and bodice of this dress reminded us of the blue dress she wore to announce their engagement. Well done, Duchess!

The best part about marrying the heir to the throne is that you can wear two dresses and no one thinks you're extravagant.  Kate opted to wear Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen again, and again she looked gorgeous. This dress was definitely more modern than her ceremony gown, but still lovely and elegant. We can't believe how tiny her waist looks, and as cute as the mohair shrug is, we can't help wondering if it got all over Prince William's perfect black tux.

It looks like Kate's little sister, Pippa, is officially England's new darling. While we don't quite agree that she stole the show from Kate (I mean really, you can't ignore the tiara and veil), we do think she was one of the most chic bridesmaids in the history of all weddings. Also wearing Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen, Pippa's simple, ivory colored dress with the cowl neck turned a lot of heads, including Prince Harry's we hear. We also loved the green dress she changed into for the reception, but she was just perfect at the ceremony.

Something about seeing the two princes together in their military outfits made us all teary eyed. Maybe its because we've grown up with them, or maybe it was all the commentary about their mother, but those two boys (or young men, we should say) really know how to tug at our heart strings! It's really very touching how well they seem to get along, and together they represent a young, healthy, and strong royal family.

Aside from the newlyweds, David and Victoria Beckham were definitely the best dressed couple. Apparently Becks wore his medal on the wrong side and never actually put on his top hat, but he looked so dapper it really doesn't matter. As for Victoria, surprisingly enough she had one of the more sensible hats of the day, which is saying a lot (althoughwe aren't quite sure how it is sticking to her head..)! While we wished she smiled more, we loved her custom made Victoria Beckham dress, which framed her baby bump nicely.

Last, but not least, is the Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth herself. She was absolutely a ray of sunshine today, all decked out in yellow, and she really seemed to be enjoying herself. We wonder every time the crowd sings "God Save the Queen" if she feels secretly awkward, or really enjoys having everyone sing to her while she politely pretends to listen. We think it's the former.

And they all lived happily ever after!

XOXO,

Jen & Saira

Royal Wedding Fever

Late next week, Kate and William will be tying the knot. It's pretty much all we've been hearing about lately and we are so excited.  Now, we're a little upset that their nuptials will take place while we're at work and that President Obama did not declare this day as a national holiday, but I guess we'll be able to watch the highlights on the evening news. In anticipation of this event, we decided to share pictures of the most famous royal weddings... or at least what we consider the most famous royal weddings.  Enjoy your Monday, dolls.

Obviously, we must start with The Greatest Wedding Of Our Time (thus far), of Prince Charles and Princess Diana.  The infamous "fairytale" wedding was watched all around the world as the world fell in love with Lady Di. Princess Diana arrived in a glass coach escorted by her father. Her wedding dress was designed by Elizabeth Emanuel, a British designer who concocted the famous 25 foot train. While Prince Charles and Princess Diana's separated a little over 10 years later, their wedding still stands out as the most iconic and memorable in recent history.

Known more for scandal than anything else, Edward VIII's wedding to Wallis Simpson was a great scandal and without all the fanfare normally associated with royal weddings. Duke Edward renounced the title of King of England in order to marry the American divorcee. The Royal Family boycotted the wedding, and the couple married in France. While known as the Duchess of Windsor, the Royal Family refused to give her the title of "Her Royal Highness." The couple was briefly highlighted in "The King's Speech," but the life of Ms. Simpson will be featured in Madonna's movie, W.E. which does not have a formal release date.

One of the most beautiful women to ever live, Grace Kelly's wedding to Prince Rainier III of Monaco was a two-part affair. The royal couple had a small civil wedding, and the next day had a grand royal wedding that was then dubbed as "the wedding of the century." Princess Grace wore a wedding gown designed by Helen Rose, which was a gift from MGM studio. To this day, Princess Grace remains one of the most beautiful royal brides of all time.

No list of famous royal weddings is complete without adding King Abdullah II of Jordan's wedding to Queen Rania. The royal prince fell in love with the young Palestinian Apple executive, and after a whirlwind engagement, they were married just two months later. She wore a stunning short sleeved dress designed by Bruce Oldfield, and changed into a more sexy, sleeveless white dress with a plunging back for the reception, also designed by Bruce Oldfield. Queen Rania is now known as one of the most stylish monarchs in recent history, and also tops the list of the most powerful women i nthe world.

Interestingly enough, while Disney movies are all about love and marriage, they very rarely feature the actual wedding of the prince and princess. It took Jasmine and Aladdin two sequels to finally tie the knot, Beauty and the Beast don't really marry so much as dance happily, and all you see in the Little Mermaid is Ariel waving goodbye to her father. At the very most, you just get a scene of the bride and groom waving happily to the royal subjects. Despite all the wonderful details, we had to add Prince Charming and Cinderella to this list, as every little girl envisions looking like Cinderella on her big day.



XOXO

Jen & Saira