♥ My love affair with Monique Lhuillier ♥

The bridal collections by Monique Lhuillier make me wish I lived in a modern romantic fairy tale land as heir to some coveted throne so I could wear one of her gowns every waking moment! Monique started out as a bridal designer when she was thinking up styles for her own wedding gown and who better to understand the needs of a brides than someone actually in the process of searching for the perfect gown? Her gowns are sweet, stylish, modern and vintage all at once. Each time I look through her collection I'm completely blown away by the artistic way the garments are put together and her modern interpretation of classic silhouettes.

Most wedding gowns are clichés, they all repeat the same old styles and ideas to the point that they are almost yawn-worthy and painfully predictable. Monique's gowns are far from that, each of them has a unique personality of its own, with her interesting fabric choices, unusual shapes and flawlessly executed detailing.

Not only do her gowns look great walking down the aisle, they are also excellent for the red carpet too.

Hope you're all as glad as I am that the week is nearly over...

Photos courtesy of Corina Lecca

Haiti....

Words really cant describe the horrors that have been endured in Haiti since the earthquake.. On blurry days like these the world seems to make no sense whatsoever...

The truth is we cant all be heroes and fly out there to help dig out survivors, but we can all pitch in and help in different ways. Brides-to-be who live near Campbell, CA have the chance to make a difference simply by going out this weekend and buying the dress of their dreams. I spoke to Laura at Gabrielle's Bridal Atelier earlier today and she confirmed that during their fundraising sale this weekend they would donate 10% of every gown sold, so if you live in the area and you're getting married soon, this weekend is the perfect time to head down to Gabrielle's for a stunning bridal gown with a heart.

They have a beautiful selection of wedding dresses ranging from Vera Wang to Melissa Sweet and Vineyard; their boutique has a gown for every bride! For more information about the fundraising sale click here to see the full article with contact details.

Prayers and best wishes for the survivors and rescue teams in Haiti tonight.

Its a love~hate thing!

I love the complete ensemble in the picture, the bridal gown that can be completely transformed into a mini party dress, as well as the pink satin peep-toes by Christian Louboutin, not to mention the sinfully attractive crystal cuff; I could stare at it adoringly for hours.. but I have nothing but hate for the fact that the entire outfit costs almost as much as my car... I thought they said the best things in life were free? It got me thinking & writing about all things bridal that I have a love hate relationship with such as;

Stunning bridal gowns paired with dowdy shoes from granma’s closet; I love the idea of being a comfortable bride, but hate the thought that a lot of women wear nicer shoes to other people’s weddings than they wear to their own! Most sensible bridal shoes are just too plain-jane for my liking; women shouldn’t even have to choose between being stylish and comfortable anymore. One order of comfy heels please!

Outdated mother of the bride collections: I love vintage inspired gowns and elegantly tailored pieces, but I hate the ancient yawn-worthy imposters that pretend to be stylish options for moms of the bride. Moms want to look chic and sophisticated too which is why I simply adore the collections by Mon Cheri and Cameron Blake.

Average bride syndrome: I love the fashion forward bridal designers and the stunning gowns they churn out season after season, but I hate that their gowns are mainly suited for the ‘average bride’ of a certain height and weight, which leaves all the not-so-average brides scratching around for a flattering wedding gown. The Body Conscious Bride series on my National Examiner page should be helpful for brides searching for their perfect gown.

Princess barbie tiaras: I love the added sparkle and glam of a tiara but hate the fact that the majority of them look like shiny plastic crowns that belong at a dress-up party. Less is more when it comes to bridal hair pieces, you dont want to look like you just stepped out of the Chronicles of Narnia ( even thought I loved the books when I was a child)

And finally I love Fridays but hate how fast the weekend goes by… Take care my darlings and hope you all have a wonderful weekend.