Bridesmaids, your prayers are answered

If you have been or will be a bridesmaid, you'll appreciate this little nugget that we just have to share. For all those times we silently suffered as our besties picked out dresses they swore we'd wear again, for the times we bit our tongue with jealousy that the groomsmen could just rent their tuxes, not fuss with altering something deemed "bridal sizing" and then clog their closets with the aftermath... Well, our sulking has been heard! Rent the Runway not only has a variety of perfect for partying dresses, but now, a recently launched bridal line.

Now your bridesmaids can wear designer gowns {Milly, Badgley Mischka, D&G} or dresses that perfectly suit your wedding color scheme... and everyone wins. What a gracious compromise! After the wedding, bridesmaids pop their dresses back in the mail and never have to worry about them again.

*Photo courtesy of Rent the Runway

Ruffled wedding trends

Ruffles and weddings were made to go together - much like cake and frosting. While there are a plethora of wedding dresses adorned with ruffles and chic ruching, we must not forget the details! Here are some ruffle-related trends that turned our heads. So, if you're a bride to be, don't be afraid to add a feminine punch {and some fabulous texture} to your special day...

Photos clockwise from top: Cake via NoBloPoMo, garter via A Alicia Handmade, bridesmaids dresses via Cherry Blossom Girl, Flower bouquet via Emici Bridal, Ruffle ribbon ball chandelier via Martha Stewart Weddings, Wedding Dress via Style Me Pretty, White rosettes via Making it Fun.

Get your bling on!

How could we resist sharing this fabulous Boston-based find ~ JOJO’s Bling?! We truly have been obsessing over these little swarovski crystals for months and figured that today of all days {New England being covered in sparkly snow and all} was just the day to share it. Ladies, please note: there is a color and style for every occasion/outfit/wedding color scheme. If you’re not careful, you might be like one local nurse who is rumored to wear bling to match every pair of scrubs she owns. ;)

As if the above isn't fabulous enough, check out JOJO's Party Bling collection... some occasions just call for more sparkle!

For all the brides out there, JOJO loves working with you to create masterpieces for your maids, mothers or yourself. Perfection!

*Photos courtesy of JOJO's Bling

Tuesday Shoesday Optimism

Can you believe that stores are already busting out their spring collection?! The cruelty is like placing a dozen cupcakes in front of a dieter = just mean. Of course, they reel us in and we've already got our eyes on some "must haves" for the upcoming warmer months{yes, we're being VERY optimistic}. Even if mother nature, won't give us a reason to show off those pedicures, Yves Saint Laurent will.

"The Spring 2011 shoes continue to break barriers with such details as dramatically sloped wedges and heels shaped similar to the bow of a boat." -Barneys New York

Hey, we can dream, right?

*Photo courtesy of Barneys

Favorite posts from 2010: No. 4

In honor of ringing in 2011, here are a couple of our favorite party related posts to inspire... Celebrations call for champagne! Lets be honest, a little bit of bubbly is festive, fun and really gets the party started. With candy bars and dessert bars becoming commonplace at special events, we have a new "bar crush" on CHAMPAGNE COCKTAIL BARS! Even the name sounds fluffy and delicious!!

Lifestyle and entertainment expert, Kelley Moore takes the complication out of putting one together when she unveils chic options for stemware, delicious types of champagne {not being a champagne connoisseur, this section is ever - so - helpful} and last, some tasty concoctions that will excite those taste buds! As for how to display the table, treat it like any other buffet, varying heights, sizes and colors. Pop over to Kelley Moore's website to get the full scoop on how to do it like a pro.

If you're looking for a quick way to add flair, consider one of these ideas from Martha:

{By soaking sugar cubes in fruit puree or concentrate, removing and letting them dry over night, you'll have instant bursts of flavor to pop in the glasses}

{Swap out your standard orange juice with blood orange juice for a unique twist}

Whether you're celebrating a shower, birthday soiree or a wedding... it's better with a little bubbly!

... And a party wouldn't be complete without the perfect party dress!

How glorious it would be to wear one of these? We are loving Ouma's shop on Etsy... so many gorgeous gowns that are perfect for parties, bridesmaids or even as a wedding gown! Enjoy!

*Photos courtesy of Ouma

*Photo courtesy of Martha Stewart Living

Tuesday Shoesday

I know a lot of us are preparing for winter, but for those of you that get to live in sun year-round (lucky!) or are planning a trip to the sun soon, you don't want to miss out on this shoe! Today's pick is an adorable Tory Burch Stripe Espadrille that comes in 3 fabulous color combos. Don't believe us? Click here to see {and order} for your self.

*Photos courtesy of Nordstrom.com

Tuesday Shoesday

As many of you know, we have recently joined twitter land and are starting to get the hang of things. It has been brought to our attention that Tuesday's have been deemed "Tuesday Shoesday". Yes please! Because of the flurries that occurred yesterday morning, we find it only appropriate to get ready for winter and start the hunt for some stylish boots.{Even though nothing stuck, ah-hem, these boots are a priority, right?!} Alas, Ugg's did not disappoint circa 2008 (yikes), and they certainly won't do it again. Check these babies out. Who doesn't love a shoe that you can wear 2 ways?! Getting ready for winter never looked so good.

Order them here!

*Photo courtesy of Ugg Australia website.

Shopping for a cause!

It's that time of year again... there is pink around every corner! In light of October being such a special month {breast cancer awareness} we wanted to pass along some of our favorite finds that are being sold to support the cause. The following designers and/or stores are donating a portion of profits from these products to benefit breast cancer research, outreach and education. Who knew that shopping could help so many people??! Ladies, we must do this to help out everyone we know that has ta - ta's! {yes, we can rationalize just about anything}

1. {Vera Wang for Kohl's}

2. {David Yurman}

3. {Lilly Pulitzer}

4. {Hayden Harnett}

5. {Vineyard Vines}

6. {Shiseido}

Share THIS link and help Paper Moss reach 1,000 Facebook "fans". If we can do this by October 31, we've agreed to donate $1,000 to breast cancer research! Check out the details here.
*Photos provided by respective companies.

Let it rain

Fall wouldn't be Fall without rain. It's a necessary evil that is sure to kill any potential for a good hair day, not to mention soak your hot new heels while running for cover. In all the madness of a downpour this week, we foolishly left our 6 year old umbrella in a cab {blonde moment} as we were bolting to shelter. Well, one lucky Bostonian scored a vintage umbrella that day... it was BEYOND time for a new one anyway. We popped into a local boutique and it was instant umbrella heaven when we saw the happy and colorful assortment. Stripes, polka-dots and bold florals - all designed by the Finnish company, Merimekko. What a wonderful way to add a burst of color on a rainy, grey day. We were actually excited to use it! Is that weird?

So the moral of the story is to never leave your umbrella in a cab... unless you need a legit excuse to buy another one. Sport one of these with some boots and bring on the rain!

*Photos courtesy of Marimekko {if you're like us and love reading about the design process, here is some insight on Marrimekkos designers}

Head gear

What comes first: the dress or the accessories? We would have laughed at the question... prior to setting our eyes on this femme & chic trend of wedding day hair decor. What a fun way to add some pizazz if you decide to forgo a vail or even to spice things up post ceremony! A few months ago, Untamed Petals was gracious enough to let us {well, a model actually} play dress up for our Style Me Pretty inspiration - to - reality shoot. Here are some more of their precious pieces:

*Photos courtesy of Untamed Petals

Waiting for Earl

Earl has been wreaking havoc these last few days and is apparently headed our way. As New Englanders, it's no surprise that we’ve spent the last couple of days anticipating the arrival of hurricane Earl. How could we not? It’s on every news channel, in all the news papers and people are tweeting about it left and right… don’t even get us started about the obscene amounts of worried text messages we’ve received from the west coast. {Thank you for worrying, we love you too.} In the spirit of this hurricane mayhem, we’ve been thinking about ways to combat the intense rain… then it occurred to us that our rain boots are in Seattle {son of a!!!!} Now is probably the time to invest in some new kicks - in honor of Earl, and in light of a quickly approaching fall.

Here are some stylish ways you can play in the rain... pre, post or sans hurricane:

Tall black boots by Hunter
Mid-calf boots with liner by Bogs
Floral boots by Kate Spade
Blue plaid boots by Sperry Top-Sider
Teal boots by Hunter
Olive Green lace up boots by Tretorn
Red and navy boots by Sorel
Grey plaid boots by Burberry

Most Wanted

During a quick trip to New York last week to meet with clients, we had the chance to pop into the Elliot Lucca showroom, where a dear friend of ours is living the dream as a graphic designer/ photographer. Now don’t get us wrong, Paper Moss is our own precious dream come true and we couldn’t love it be more, but SERIOUSLY, jealousy tugs on our heartstrings at the sight {and sweet smell} of this showroom. What do you know… handbags happen to be one of our favorite vices! Our friend was kind enough to send over pictures of a few of their handbags on our “Most Wanted” list. Though we’re sad to have summer fade away, these gorgeous fall handbags are making us so excited for crisp days, being bundled in warm clothes and donning one of these saucy new purses!!

Also follow Elliott Lucca on Facebook and Twitter... because we said so :)

* Photos courtesy of Victoria Masters

Pearls of Wisdom: Wedding planning made simple

She woke up with a hazy feeling clouding her memory. The dream was so sweet: her special day {always looming in the back of her mind} was effortlessly pulled together by this gorgeous, glittering goddess... this master mind of all things events. Wedding planning became simple! From the dress to cosmetics, the bridesmaids dresses to groomsmen’s suits, bridal party gifts to the wedding night lingerie… it came together in one fell swoop. As the haze dissipated, she realized: WAIT- this isn’t a dream! The August Nordstrom catalogue just introduced the service of wedding coordination. You already know and love them for their world-renowned customer service, now let them be your one stop-shopping destination for all things bridal. Your wedding stylist will coordinate it all for you {yes, even things like tailoring and getting your skin on a pre-wedding beauty regimen}! 

To connect with a Nordstrom wedding stylist, call 1.888.300.1295 or click here. Let them think of everything so you can relax and savor the time leading up to becoming a Mrs.!

 

These “Pearls” were gifted by, Lynn De Koekkoek. Lynn has worked in the fashion industry for nearly 10 years, but was a fashionista right from the womb. She has gained expertise through working for Nordstrom Corporate and Cole Haan as well as obsessing over trend forecasting and worshiping Anna Wintour {Chief editor of Vogue} in her spare time.

Decoding the dress code

Few things make us cringe more than seeing denim at a formal wedding. Conversely, our heart aches for the girl in a floor length gown at a networking cocktail event. We’ve all seen it, and perhaps we’ve even been that person? Shhhh, it’s okay we won’t judge…. It’s obviously an ‘etiquette no-no’ to be on the wrong end of the formality scale, but more importantly, it’s not comfortable! If you’re trying to make a statement, there are many ways you can achieve that while still respecting the requested dress code.

Whether you’re trying to dress yourself or your man, this Dress Code Decoder, courtesy of Emily Post should help clear up any confusion:

{starting with most formal, ending with casual}

White Tie

Fellas:

  • Black tailcoat, matching trousers with a single stripe of satin or braid in the US
  • White piqué wing-collared shirt with stiff front
  • White vest
  • White bow tie
  • White or gray gloves
  • Black patent shoes and black dress socks

Ladies:

  • Formal (floor length) evening gown

Black Tie

Fellas:

  • Black tuxedo jacket & matching trousers formal white shirt
  • Black bow tie (silk, shiny satin or twill)
  • Black cummerbund to match tie, or a vest
  • Dressy suspenders to ensure a good fit (optional)
  • Black patent shoes and black dress socks
  • No gloves
  • In summer/on a cruise: white dinner jacket, black tuxedo trousers plus other black tie wardrobe

Ladies:

  • Formal (floor length) evening gown or short, dressy cocktail dress

Black Tie Optional

Fellas:

  • Either a tuxedo (see 'Black Tie' above) or
  • Dark suit, white shirt and conservative tie

Ladies:

  • Short, dressy cocktail dress or
  • Dressy separates

Semiformal

Fellas:

  • Dark, business suit (usually worsted wool)
  • Matching vest (optional)
  • White shirt
  • Conservative tie
  • Dressy leather shoes and dress (dark) socks

Ladies:

  • Short afternoon or cocktail dress or
  • Long dressy skirt and top

Festive Attire

Fellas:

  • Seasonal sport coat or blazer in color of choice and slacks
  • Open-collar shirt or
  • Shirt and "festive" or holiday-themed tie

Ladies:

  • Short cocktail dress or
  • Long dressy skirt and top or
  • Dressy pants outfit

Dressy Casual

Fellas:

  • Seasonal sport coat or blazer and slacks
  • Open-collar shirt

Ladies:

  • Street length dress or
  • Skirt and dressy top or
  • Dressy pants outfit

Business Casual

Fellas:

  • Seasonal sport coat or blazer with slacks or khakis
  • Open-collar shirt

Ladies:

  • Skirt, khakis or slacks
  • Open-collar shirt, knit shirt or sweater (no spaghetti straps or decolleté)

Beach Casual

Fellas:

  • Khakis or shorts (cargo or Bermuda)
  • Knit or polo shirt
  • Sport jacket (optional) or sweater

Ladies:

  • Sundress, khakis or shorts (cargo or Bermuda)
  • Open-collar, knit, or polo shirt
  • Lightweight jacket or sweater

Thank you, Emily Post for helping us stay classy!!!

*photo courtesy of Atty's Vintage

Seaworthy

Lovers of all-things-vintage & lovers of nautical style will equally adore this Portland, Oregon based company that caught our eye and lured us in! Imagine finding an old treasure chest filled with romantic antique charms, lace and jewels- pieces that are characterized by history. Seaworthy actually scouts out “discarded” items that the ordinary eye might overlook, and transforms them into beautiful works of art that would add intrigue to any ensemble. The mysterious previous life of each piece is our favorite part. They sum it up best by saying:  “What’s old is new again and it’s story is carried on…”

What a fun idea for bridesmaids, birthdays, hostess gifts… or a little treat for yourself!

Pearls of Wisdom: Sassy or Classy?

Pearls of Wisdom are bits of info that industry professionals have shared with us, to share with you. We’ll pull from photographers, florists, event coordinators, fashionistas, business owners… and whoever else is beaming with creative ideas to share. Whether these pearls are to inspire, indulge, clarify or challenge, we invite you to take them or leave them, and tell us what you think! One wedding trend that lives on in 2010: Colored Bridal Shoes. We know that tradition says to wear white or ivory “dyed to match” heels… but then they never get worn again. Stepping away from tradition can sometimes be hard {if not for you, perhaps for your parents} but this trend is both sassy and classy.

Photo by: Laura Ashbrook Photography

Colored shoes can be a fun way to integrate your wedding colors into your bridal attire, show a peep of personality and get more bang for your buck. Pops of color can revitalize the traditional matrimonial black & white by coordinating the brides shoes, bridesmaid’s dresses, the groomsmen’s ties, cufflinks, even socks and {of course}the invitations. Indoors or outdoors, year round, this little detail can add a lot of personality to your special day!

These "Pearls" were gifted by, Lynn De Koekkoek. Lynn has worked in the fashion industry for nearly 10 years, but was a fashionista right from the womb. She has gained expertise through working for Nordstrom Corporate and Cole Haan as well as obsessing over trend forecasting and worshiping Anna Wintour {Chief editor of Vogue} in her spare time.