vintage weekend...

so excited...my absolute favorite vinage expo is happening this weekend in santa monica. i've been going in both san francisco and santa monica for years...in fact, i bought my amazing vintage wedding dress {circa 1930's} from a great vendor there. it's probably the best spot to find a genuine vintage wedding gown...as there are so many under one roof...

this weekend!  february fourth & fifth in santa monica!

all i do is tag hippie wedding dresses...

an amazing hippie wedding dress if you wanted to get married at magic hour on the beach...

{photo credit: girl on a vine on etsy}

hippies buy used dresses

for $26!! not sure why i'm on such a hippie dress kick lately, but i simply can't ignore an amazing hippie wedding dress for $26, yes you read that right: twenty-six dollars, people!

{photo credit here}

dress like a hippie...

loving this dress from one of my favorite "upcycle" or recycle designers amour sans anguish...she made this dress for me. this would be awesome for a hippie or prairie bride...if a hippie decided to get married...

and it's only $225...amazing!

{photo credit here}

i know you covet a monique lhuillier gown...

so some friends are casting for a monique lhuillier series and are looking for a bride-to-be...who knows who might want to be on tv to get a monique lhuillier gown? so i thought i'd post. no judgement if you apply....

from their site:

"MONIQUE LHUILLIER DOCU SERIES”

NOW CASTING: Brides-to-be with stories that will touch hearts across America!

A Major Cable Network and Gay Rosenthal Productions are seeking brides-to-be for a new Docu-Series.

· Do you have an emotional or inspirational story connected to your upcoming wedding?

· Do you have a particularly emotional or dramatic story that led to your engagement?

· Have you always wanted to walk down the aisle in the wedding gown of your dreams?

· Do you know someone getting married who has a great emotional story?

Monique Lhuillier is among the worlds leading creators of haute couture bridal wear -- brides and celebrities all over the world have sought her out to design their gowns.

On this new show, lucky brides will have the opportunity of a lifetime to wear the dress of their dreams!

To apply visit: http://thecastingfirm.com/monique-lhuillier

do hippies even get married?

well, if so, here's another hippie wedding dress. or prairie. or backyard garden. i'd love to see someone get married in this sweet dress.

{get this gorgeous dress here}

hippie is a state of mind...

ok, i have to weigh in on this. after esb did her version of a hippie wedding, i feel like i needed to throw in my 2 cents...being a hippie at heart and all...

hippie is a state of mind, not a style...you can't just throw on a new dress, spend lots on a flower headband and call yourself a hippie. i'd suggest finding a vintage dress, going barefoot, having a pot-luck, recycling and donating to charity instead of accepting gifts...so there, my 2 cents.

{photos from tavin shop, where she recently opened a vintage bridal section...}

vintage glitterati...

as you all know, i'm a vintage fanatic...so i've been so excited by a new vintage site called vintage glitterati. it's a collaboration of several different vintage sellers from etsy. many of the sellers specialize in upcycling vintage...taking a current vintage piece and upcycling it into something different. a great way to save vintage pieces that may not be able to stand on their own due to damage over the years. thus, the ultimate reduce, reuse and recycle--my favorite. i have an amazing cuff and belt that has been upcycled from many different vintage trims.

there are so many great finds on their for the vintage bride! sigh, if i were only getting married again...

go check it out!

{photo credit here}

other folks weddings: {corinna & julie}

another brilliant same-sex wedding featured on rock'n'roll bride. the dress is to die for, the couple is gorgeous and the photography amazing. oh, and it's outside {my favorite} and there are horses. if you haven't seen it already, go check it out right now.

{photo credit evrim icoz photography via rock'n'roll bride}

loving the recycled dresses...

i'm loving all of the upcycled vintage dresses out there...seems like there are more and more out there everyday. check out this one from etsy seller lorimarsha. it's called "truly, madly, deeply"...can't go wrong with that name...

speaking of upcycling, we had another bitch & switch and i scored some great items (the shoes aren't from the switch, but esb scored them for me at wasteland!)...i'll post more of the scores later, but that reminds me... esb just posted about cutoffs, which is really funny since i've been thinking today of making some cutoffs. i just got that bike (hey, since i'm working with the company, they gave me an amazing deal...so i couldn't resist), so i've been riding to work everyday. but, can't really ride in short skirts in this weather. so, i'm gonna make some cutoffs too!

also working on a post about our upcoming european vacation/overdue honeymoon!

{photo credit here.}

the doily dress

i'm loving this doily dress from amour sans anguish on etsy. it's a custom-made, one-of-a-kind dress that she creates from vintage doilies!! i bet you could even send her some of your own doily finds and she would create a special dress for you...what a great wedding dress idea...it incorporates all of my favorite things: vintage lace, reducing, upcycling and re-using...

{photo credit here.}

is this dress too "white" to wear to a wedding?

ok, i need your advice.  i know a wedding guest is *never* supposed to wear white to a wedding, but is champagne ok??  i bought this dress from armour sans anquish on etsy, and i *love* it, so i'm sure i can wear it another time, but is it ok to wear to a wedding?  thoughts?  i bought the cute headband from fascinating creations on etsy.

and how much do we love the upcycled fashions of armour sans anquish?  if you don't know about them, they are awesome, they take existing clothing and upcycle them into fab new fashions.  they have a blog, too.

{photo credit 1 & 2: armour sans anguish, photo 3: fascinating creations}

wow, seriously?

there's been a some great posts about the wic vs diy {i love 2000 dollar wedding's worst wedding advice series}, fantasizing about the "perfect dress" and wedding 'zillas.  then i saw this photo over at a farmhouse wedding.  i almost fell off my chair.  really?  wow.

while i'm glad that there are options for discounted dresses for these women, the "running of the brides" is pretty amazing--i mean, these women have their war paint on.  i'm so grateful i didn't have this experience. 

{photo via a farmhouse wedding}

**update:  the video is even scarier.

farewell show pony

i was working all weekend, so i missed the farewell party for kime buzzelli's fabulous store, show pony. show pony was an amazing store in my neighborhood...i often ran into kime whil hiking our dogs.  she's shuttering in order to focus on her art, and her first project is with vans.  although i'm sad about the store, i love her art and i can't wait to see what's next for kime buzzelli...

{top photo credit here; kime buzzelli artwork via definatalie.com}

reduce, reuse, recycle: {b*tch & switch}

this weekend, a bunch of us girls are going to get together for one of our "bitch & switch" parties.  here's how it works:

1.  clean out closet

2.  bag up clothes {cream of the crop only}

3.  assemble at someone's house {potluck, bring a snack!}

4.  swap clothes!

5.  go home with some "new" clothes & the rest {not swapped} goes to goodwill {or take it & sell it at crossroads}

it's a fun way to reduce your closet, weed out some great stuff that you just never wear & invigorate it with some "new" pieces from your fashionable friends.  {you know you've been coveting your best friends sweater, maybe she's sick of it!}  we've had several & i have some great finds from the parties.  it's also a fun reason to get together--we usually do a simple snack potluck.  we need energy for shopping!  we only bring the "cream of the crop" to swap {no one really wants your old pajamas}, and someone volunteers to take the "leftovers" to goodwill, or one can always bring home & sell it at a crossroads or someplace similar.

wedding details: {dress}

many folks have asked me about my wedding dress.  it is vintage from approximately 1927-1932.  i found it at the vintage fashion expo when it came through santa monica.  the vendor was called "the butler's cottage" and she was from the bay area.  she had the most amazing collection of vintage wedding gowns at the expo!  i think i tried on at least 20 dresses at her booth alone.  judith butler, the proprietress, was so lovely and helpful.  she was honest and kind and helped me find the perfect gown.  it was actually a white vintage slip, with an ecru lace gown over the slip.  i don't know if you can see the details, but the lace is so delicate and amazing.

if you are lucky enough to be in the bay area, or in a city where the vintage fashion expo passes through, definitely check her out.

more brigade girl dresses

more cool bridesmaid/brigade dress ideas.  this is an etsy designer who has great stuff.  i may this lace dress from an earlier post as a reception dress (maybe easier to dance in).  but here are two dresses that she can make in different colors (brown?  pink?) and they are really reasonable!  you can buy them here.

a dress for the end of the night?

we aren't going off to our honeymoon, so i don't really need this...but should i get another dress to put on for the reception?  this is from a really great designer called claire la faye.

another great dress

another great dress for the girls.  it's available in chocolate.  eco-friendly fabrics & a great dress that can be worn again & again.  she has lots of other great designs, too!  from gaiaconceptions on etsy!

great brown dresses

cool "green" dresses for the girls!  I really like this one.