Category Archives: Fashion

Fashion Friday

Today I bring you a couple stunning bridesmaid dresses from Ruche Boutique, purveyors of vintage-inspired dresses at mid-range prices. The line is full of rustic earthy hues and flowy silhouettes. Here are a few of my favorites.

I love the scalloped lace look and the pop of polka dots on this earthy mocha Bouvardia dress. It will be lightweight and breezy in a cotton/nylon blend and won’t break the bank at $69.

The Hydrangea dress is all about the wavelike pleats at the bustline. The flattering empire waist and flowing skirt give a ton of movement. It’s also one of the few dresses at Ruche that comes in multiple colors. You can opt for this lovely sage or grey, burgundy, pink or blue. And the $146 price tag is low for a floor-length gown. There’s also a knee-length option but since it’s $126 and only comes in one color (lavender), I think the floor-length is more bang for your buck.

A scoopneck and pretty pink pleats make this belted beauty super sweet. The braided detail at the belt is especially nice and the color would be a perfect springtime complement to a bride’s rich cream gown. It’s also $65—not bad at all!

Real Bridesmaid Reviews

Dress: David’s Bridal Satin Strapless Ball Gown with Sweetheart Neckline Style 84066

What she thought: This week’s bridesmaid was disappointed by this floor-length strapless dress from David’s Bridal. The quality of the fabric and dress construction didn’t match the $149 price tag and the fit left a lot to be desired. “The pleats under the empire waistband stuck out and no amount of ironing would make them lay flat,” she said. “I also spent a lot of money getting the dress hemmed. The length was uneven, so the dress almost looked as if it had a train. Since I had mine altered but other girls didn’t, some girls had a pseudo-train that day and others did not.” Though she does admit that the dress worked well for one of the bridesmaid who was pregnant, she wouldn’t recommend this dress. “After the wedding, I immediately took it to Good Will.”

Fashion Friday

So, full disclosure: My 9-to-5 is at J.Crew corporate, where I work as a proofreader on the catalog, website, blogs, and more. I try to be balanced in my coverage of bridesmaid dresses here and avoid sharing every J.Crew style I love, but I have been absolutely dying to share this wedding shoot with you ever since I saw it a few months ago. Now that it’s finally out in the September catalog I’m thrilled to show it here. I can’t get enough of the lobster shack setting in Maine (I want to go to there!), but even more inspiring is the mix of dresses in the same color family and entirely different fabrics. The dresses are also accessorized with bold, bright pieces, including statement necklaces, studded belts, leopard clutches and even a rugged field jacket. The finished shoot feels effortlessly modern, but looks stunningly chic.

1. Natalia dress, $365. 2. Cecelia dress, $195. Strapless lace, $295. Lousia dress, $250. 3. Arabelle dress, $250. Sinclair dress, $250. 4. Raquel dress, $235. Downtown field jacket, $148. 5. Heidi dress, $250. Lucienne one-shoulder dress, $250.

Shop the catalog here or visit the website for the full collection.

Real Bridesmaid Reviews

Dress: Alfred Angelo style 6493

What she thought: Claire’s friend Katie picked this Alfred Angelo floor-length strapless dress in black for her wedding. “When Katie first told me this was the dress she picked, I immediately panicked. I’m slightly larger in the chest and strapless dresses are not my friend. I hate strapless bras and feel like I’m always yanking up my dress or spilling over the top.” But Claire’s worries were soon put to rest. “I guess the great seamstresses at Alfred Angelo really made sure the dress fit perfectly, because I don’t think I yanked the dress up at all!” It was also affordable at around $120, a steal for a floor-length gown. “I really enjoyed wearing this. The ruching made us all look superskinny, which is always a plus. After the wedding I had it shortened to right above the knee and I now have an perfect little black dress for any occasion! The bridesmaid dress I was the most worried about ended up being one of my favorites!” Continue reading →

Real Bridesmaid Reviews

Dress: David’s Bridal Short Cotton Dress with Y-Neck and Skirt Pleating (Style 83690)

What she thought: This first-time bridesmaid loved that the unique neckline set the dress apart, but the silhouette was still classic and flattering on the four other maids in this wedding. And the price didn’t hurt: “The dress wasn’t expensive (only $139), and I’ve been able to wear it to other social events, so it’s definitely a good bang for your buck,” she says. Another cost-saving bonus: None of the bridesmaids required alterations as the dress fit very true to size. The only downfall was the material. “It’s really stiff and doesn’t move with you, so it kinda poofs out sometimes. But other than that it’s a great find!”

Fashion Friday

Lately I’ve been seeing ivory and champagne bridesmaid dresses everywhere! Long thought to be taboo, it’s sometimes even considered an insult to wear white to a wedding, which is why as a guest I think you just shouldn’t take the risk. But a lot of brides are choosing cocktail dresses in off-white for their girls and I have to say the result is beautiful. (P.S. I think the short length is a must. If all the girls are wearing floor-length white dresses, it just looks like a gaggle of brides.) Here, a few lovely ones.

I absolutely love the gorgeous layers of crocheted lace on this shift dress from MM Couture, especially that contrasting stripe at the bottom (available at Macy’s for $108).

Talk about chic. I adore this beige belted beauty from BHLDN. (Necklace sold separately, but belt is included).

A faux sweetheart neckline, delicate lace and a pop of metallic at the waist—this dress from Dorothy Perkins is pure adorable and a steal at only $55.

This two-tone delicate strapless dress with tiny pleats on the skirt and a little silk bow is a little bit vintage and perfectly feminine (and it’s on sale right now!).

Lingerie

All right, we’re going there, ladies. Lingerie for the shower. The first thing you’ll learn when you start shopping is that good lingerie—you know, the delicate kind with lace—is expensive. I mean, it can be really expensive. Bras can run your $60 easy. I think there are two gift approaches when going into a lingerie shower. Option 1: Team up with another guest to get the bride one really nice set, something she would never buy for herself and may very well use to seduce her husband (but don’t think about that part). Option 2: Go for a more affordable everyday item, something in cotton or jersey that’s cute and comfy and that she’ll wear all the time. This post addresses option one, though I’ve tried to keep things reasonable. Seductive and admittedly beautiful Agent Provocateur pieces will set you back $200 for one bra…not a proposition I’m personally willing to entertain.

To me, black and lace is the ultimate in classic sexy. It will never go out of style. This gorgeous Espirit set comes in at only $60 for the bra and panties, or swap out a chemise in the same pattern for $50.