Tag Archive for 'dress'

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The Flattering Wedding Dress

{click any image to enlarge}

Nevermind the all-day real-life focus on the bride, let’s say (only) that the bride is in a decent portion of her own wedding photographs. Perhaps 75% of them, even. So if we consider the dress as a design element, it needs to be off-the-charts incredible. But it also needs to be right for the bride—for her body and personality. It should suit her.

Here are some general considerations to keep in mind when and however the shopping happens:

Keep in mind that the dress will be an important part of setting the tone for the overall wedding design. Choose a dress that will be appropriate to the venue and type of wedding your planning. Or, if the dress comes first, then vice versa.
Consider structure and shape. The dress should be extremely flattering to your specific body. It should accent your loveliest features and downplay anything you don’t like. If your collarbone is fabulous, for instance, choose a dress with a neckline that highlights it, rather than a high-necked halter dress. If your ankles are great, perhaps consider a shorter dress … If you hate your back fat, don’t go for a corset-style bodice. If you’re wonderfully curvy, the mermaid shape can be a total knockout on you. The list goes on and on. If you are having your dress designed and made for you, it’s easy to make these considerations. But if you’re looking in a shop for a vintage or new ready-made gown, bring someone else. Someone whose honesty you can depend on. I think this advice is often-repeated, but judging by the number of bride’s body – to – bodice mismatches, I’d say it’s possibly ignored more often than it should be.
Be sure you can move in it. Shimmy and shake, walk, dance, twirl, and definitely lean over. Even if you feel a little silly at the dress shop, it’s totally worth it. You want to be 100% sure your chest is both flattered and concealed during any movement you might make in front of people on your wedding day.
Be sure the dress is properly and expertly altered.
Wear the best undergarments you can afford, and the right ones for your dress. I saw a fabulous feature in a gossip magazine recently (truly, and unfortunately I can’t remember which) on what the stars wore under their gowns for the Academy Awards. I loved that the article seemed like it could have been written Bridget Jones under the headline “Knickers of the Stars” and that it also debunked the myth of effortless Hollywood glamor. It reinforced something I think about a lot: good undies cover a multitude of wrongs. In all my years of photographing weddings only one bride has gotten away with wearing absolutely nothing under her gown. For the rest of us, an honest assessment of what might use a little cinching or perking up is priceless. Spanx are a well-known option, but lots of other undergarments exist with lots of other self-improvement powers. More on this in a future post …
Consider craftsmanship. Most people buy clothing for emotional reasons. Or rather, it’s an emotional purchase. I think wedding gowns are at the top of the list here. But the wedding gown is a big investment for a big day. So I suggest you take some time to look really, really closely at the gown. Evaluate it. Even if you’re not a clothing expert, you’ll be able to see how well made it is. Look at the hem (if it’s finished), at the seams, the waist; look at the fabric content and at the fabric itself; evaluate the fit on your body. Fit is an important aspect of craftsmanship (and your future happiness with dress!). I should mention even if in a whisper … that as much as I love designer clothes and wedding gowns myself, I have seen a couture gown fall apart before the bride even put it on. So don’t be less tough on a high-end well-known designer.

Happy shopping! There are zillions of ways and places to get a gown these days … And no matter how many tips I offer, I still think the gown you choose will be the one you fall in love with. But try to keep your wits about you … in love and in shopping!

{*My sister Reva studies fashion, so she helped me compile the craftsmanship-evaluation tips.}

UPDATE: As Jessie pointed out in the comments, lots of brides end up buying the first dress they try on—even if they try lots of other dresses on after it. So maybe one last tidbit of advice is to choose that first dress to try on very carefully!

polaroids by: Gia Canali … I took these dress shopping with my friend Katie on a hot June day in Chicago.

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Published on July 8, 2009 in Fashion, Full Articles and Planning. 2 Comments

R & A’s Los Angeles Wedding

R & A did a wonderful job conceiving their wedding. It involved lots of peculiarly-LA logistical challenges—a ceremony at the church the groom’s family attends in Downey, a reception on a chilly early-spring evening at a private home in Agoura Hills, getting guests to drive the hour-and-ten-minutes between locations—to name a few. But it came together beautifully under the direction of Heidi Mayne from Red25 (whose new site will launch very soon, so be sure to check back).

This wedding initiated me to {Krislyn} whose delicious designs have me swooning … Krislyn made the bride’s balsa wood and Swarovski bouquet (below and previously featured), the wishing tree, and the A + R vase (also below) that sat beside the tree at the reception. Lucky for me, Krislyn did florals at another wedding I photographed recently so I get to indulge (and share!) my newfound obsession.

{as always, click any image to enlarge}

I have to confess, though, my aesthetic obsessions at Rosalinda and Aris’s wedding were varied. Many are indicative of current and coming trends:

Krislyn (cannot be overemphasized). The design is extraordinary. And I am pro-keepsake. Aren’t we all? It’s not only “green” to double duty pieces from your wedding as home decor, it’s wonderful to have more to hang onto.
The groom’s modern slim fit three piece suit from YSL. May all my grooms be so well-dressed. I love that a vest gives the groom not only a perfectly tailored look, but an “alternate” look. He won’t wear the jacket all night anyway.
The bride’s all-over lace gown by Elizabeth Fillmore. It perfectly accented the bride’s lovely figure. The asymmetrical train was pretty fabulous, too.
Bare wooden dining tables, dressed with manzanita or beechwood branches and orchids.
Greek revival fashion, e.g., the bridesmaid dress.
How the bridesmaid’s bouquet accented the color of her dress. This rarely happens so nicely, and was, apparently, an accident. Katie’s Flowers in Downey had set out to make a “neutral” bouquet because they didn’t know what color the bridesmaid would be wearing.
All the nooks and crannies—and the Moroccan flavor—of their friend’s house, where the reception was held. I am always happy for architectural/environmental portrait opportunities. This house offered myriad.
Little wooden wedding sign.
Stone seating “cards” and table numbers.

A sweet little ceremony getaway in the groom’s brother-in-law’s Rolls Royce.

Some of the sweet reception details … I loved the variety (as I always love variety) in the centerpieces. Manzanita or beechwood branches strewn with orchids, or wooden boxes full of them decorated each table. Presenting old family photographs as they did, in a frame, with strings and clothespins, was quite charming.

The light changed quickly as day turned to night, so we snuck portraits here and there, as we could, amongst dancing and toasting.

♥

A little nighttime love … As I mentioned earlier, R & A spent most of the night close together. If you want wonderful photographs of you and your beloved late into the night, do this!

This couple did an amazing job of designing a gorgeous wedding without it feeling like they were over-producing it. (I think that’s a weird diagnosis of some weddings, but probably true, now that I think about it.) They prioritized having a great party … and it paid off. They danced with each other and their guests into the wee hours of the night. For my own part, I was very happy that they made time, even as the sun set, for me to get out the clunky old 4×5 camera (see top image). I’m looking forward to seeing how these images become themselves, later on …

photo credit: Gia Canali floral centerpieces: Malibu Market & Design lighting: Images By Lighting

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Published on June 23, 2009 in Decor, Fashion, Finds, Florals, Photography and Real Weddings. 0 Comments

Some Lovely Finds From Etsy

I spend untold hours scouring the internet for things I can ♥. I say ♥ because I like to like them, even when I don’t need them myself. Here are some delicious vintage items from 13 Bees’ shop via etsy.

and

Well … I might need that black dress … In any case, there are zillions more finds on etsy, and lots more on 13 Bees. Happy shopping …

photos via: 13bees

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Published on June 18, 2009 in Fashion and Finds. 3 Comments

Instant Gratification

Every once in a while, I forget just how much I am going to miss Polaroid 55 film once it’s gone. And then I remember.

Congratulations, Julia & Eli!

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Published on June 16, 2009 in Photography and Real Weddings. 3 Comments

We’re Being Featured on Style Me Pretty Today!

Jessie and Matt’s sublimely adorable wedding is being featured on {Style Me Pretty} today! Click {here} to see the first post, and be sure to check back throughout the day for lots more images. Hurray! Style Me Pretty is one of my favorite blogs … and one of Jessie’s, too, so we are both ecstatic! {Jessie’s website} is well worth a visit, too, for lots more artistic inspiration.

Jessie just sent me her brand new website for her wedding coordination and design, Married :: by Jessie Abrams Baca. Love the style! {Click here} to visit.

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Published on April 14, 2009 in Gia's News and Real Weddings. 0 Comments

Justine & Robert’s Wedding

I love the feel of this wedding— a little bit of outdoors, a little bit of bringing the outdoors in, elegant but rustic, earthy, romantic and a little funky. Justine and Robert were really fun to work with, so I thought I’d share some of their good taste and aesthetic choices for inspiration.

{click on any image to enlarge the gallery}

Justine’s gown was a Melissa Sweet, and in true Melissa Sweet style, was feminine and romantic with playful touches. The shape was super-sexy and I loved how it moved. Vinny, the couple’s dog, was their ring-bearer. The ceremony was really spiritual, sentimental, and involved the guests. Aesthetically, we liked how they lined the aisle with orange rose petals. There was a kind of arbor that served as a focal point for the ceremony.

Because their wedding was midday, they elected to do their organized photographs after the ceremony. We made time for group portraits and some intimate portraits just after the ceremony (including the above portraits), and a bit more time for intimate portraits during the reception. This worked out great because the couple was able to take advantage of a several unique settings over the two mini-portrait sessions. This kind of variety definitely helps add visual interest when we go to design their finished album.

The two photographs below I took on a long lens right after the ceremony when Justine and Robert shared a moment alone (but not so alone that we couldn’t photograph them from afar). I like when couples get to share a moment or two with just each other. These quiet moments are often the ones that stand out in memory later on.

Justine and Robert chose wonderful centerpieces that incorporated dahlias, orchids, pitcher plants, fresh in-season fruit, leaves, succulents, etc., in unique still-life style arrangements. Potted herbs adorned the outdoor cocktail tables and buffet created by Back to Earth Catering, which specializes in organic (and especially yummy) dishes from locally grown food.

I know I’m going a little overboard on the detail shots here … but I want to show the kind of variety I love, and how many natural elements were in their florals. Valley Flora from Napa did a wonderful job. These details were definitely “green” without being pretentious or showy.

Justine and Robert did a choreographed first dance (you can see them practicing it in one of the portraits above). The first dance is a tradition I hope never goes out of style … Look at that gown swirl! Here also you’ll find more portraits. I brought along a parasol I found at a flea market in Miami (supposedly antique and supposedly Italian-made!). I’d been saving it for years for the perfect couple and a wedding that matched.

Nestldown offers endless variety, so a short walk with Justine and Robert afforded a fantasy (hobbit) house, an orchard, a wooden bench with swan accents, and a very funky, prickly looking tree … all in about twenty minutes. The reception ended with Justine and Robert’s grand getaway in her father’s Alfa Romeo. I love the guests seeing them off …

photo credit: Gia Canali

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Published on March 14, 2009 in Decor, Florals, Inspiration, Photography, Planning and Real Weddings. 0 Comments

The Eco-Vintage Wedding Dress … Found!

Yes, please! We were just discussing the idea of the environmentally-conscious wedding dress. And today on etsy (I looooove etsy), I found this simple, stylish doily dress from Tawny Holt’s Armour sans Anguish. I love this dress—it totally brings back memories of raiding my grandmother’s treasure trove of doilies, but it’s also irresistibly modern and romantic. Each dress is environmentally conscious: it’ll be fashioned from found, re-purposed doilies and made by Tawny, a local artisan (if you live in California, as I do).

photo credit: Matt Fredrick

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Published on March 12, 2009 in Fashion, Finds and Inspiration. 4 Comments

The Well-Dressed Guest: Dresses from Thread Social

Clearly, I have fashion on my mind today! Also, it’s raining which makes me happy (I live in southern California), but slow to do anything. And because of a family emergency, I haven’t posted in over a week. I think I’m easing myself back into work slowly here. So, I was thinking about guests. I always have a secret award—at every single wedding—for the best-dressed guest. Sometimes, it’s a girl; sometimes a guy. Depending on the wedding, any of these dresses from Thread Social would have my nomination! Thread Social is an off-shoot of Thread, which always offers fashion-forward bridesmaid dress designs. I actually think that some of the below dresses might even work as bridesmaid dresses at a more modern, colorful spring affair.