Wedding Dress Obsessed

You too could be a beaming bride, and all for $700

noreply@blogger.com (MK) — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 02:44:00 +0000

I should have stopped looking on Craigslist after I saw the pretty dress before. But, I just couldn't help myself. Should have really stopped.

Yep, ladies, for only $700, you can prance down the aisle in this oh-so-lovely dress, with the beautiful decolletage......you are sure to have everyone's eyes "on you".

Grecian Goddess

noreply@blogger.com (MK) — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 02:37:00 +0000

Saw this while browsing Craigslist. Couldn't copy too many pics from the site to show you gals (and guys), but worth checking out. Some cute stuff, reasonable prices, no idea how reliable.

Storing a wedding dress-Austrian style!

noreply@blogger.com (MK) — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 00:06:00 +0000

So now that my friends' whose wedding I attended last fall are settled and married, it was time to pack away the wedding dress. Leave it to the Austrians to pack away a wedding dress neater than any professional service you would give it to here on our side of the Atlantic!

Our friends recommend Empty Box for the beautiful packing box-and they tell me it's acid free-I am assuming this is a good thing when storing a wedding dress.

Just had to play with this

noreply@blogger.com (MK) — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 23:31:00 +0000

What a way to start a new year

noreply@blogger.com (MK) — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 23:17:00 +0000

After a lovely new year's dinner, lovely new year's champagne toast, and lovely hotel in lovely town, I decided to take a lovely stroll new year's morning....

And this is what I saw in a lovely store window-what a way to start the New Year! Somewhere in heaven, an angel is laughing its head off...

Inspiration for 2008

noreply@blogger.com (MK) — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 15:35:00 +0000

As we are about to usher in 2008, it seems to Style Diva that perhaps some inspiration is required. A friend forwarded me some photos from Cheap Chic Weddings.com, who have been running a toilet paper dress contest for at least 2 years. And to all you Haute Couture design houses, I say, you've been put on notice! These ladies have made out of toilet paper, what many of you can't seem to make out of the most expensive fabric and best Eastern European seamstresses known to man! Ladies of the Cheap Chic Weddings Toilet Paper Wedding Dress Contest (2007 and 2006) , I salute you! (all the photos are from Cheap Chic Weddings.com)

2006 Winner: Stephanie Stutzenberger of Cumming, Ga

Keep in mind people, this is made out of TOILET PAPER!

2007 Winner: Hanah Kim
(Monique, Vera, Reem-you guys taking notes?)

Hanah was also runner-up in 2006-this woman's got talent! Hanah, ever thought of applying for Project Runway?

Others amazing feats of toilet paper: (to view a full list for 2006 and 2007, check out the Cheap Chic Weddings.com website)

These ladies even made veils!

Happy New Year-let's hope!

noreply@blogger.com (MK) — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 20:29:00 +0000

Happy New Year kids from:
(this continue our previous post)

Jenny Packham:

Elizabeth Filmore (you'd have to have guts to pull this off, but by golly, if you could....):

Who knows what the New Year will bring from:

Vineyard collection:
I just don't know about this dress. It's like a tutu, mixed with some kind of gift wrap, mixed with ruffles, mixed with a nice bodice. But it's also kind of cute....I just don't know..

Design by Cristos: Ok, so, well, if you were Jane Austin, or one of the characters in Pride and Prejudice, then sure, this is the one for you. If you've always loved her books, also the one for you. But I don't know about those sleeves for anyone. But hey, if you are trying to hide a bun in the oven, a great option!

Not such a happy new year from (even tho The Knot and MSN claim it should be...)

Badgley Mischka: tisk tisk, just couldn't help themselves with the bow and the ribbon.

Monique Lhuillier: What the %*#*? Who is going to look good in this? A Hollywood actress who does not eat, and can pay some new age guru $500 an hour to shape her body into this dress? Good luck to her!

And here's a special New Year's gift: For those of us who dream of going classic vintage, Claire Pettibone has got the style. (A Style Diva confession-Claire Pettibone has been my fave for years-copies of her dresses have been stored away long before this blog).

Tieing the Knot

noreply@blogger.com (MK) — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 23:45:00 +0000

A friend of mine sent me a link to an MSN/The Knot online feature discussing the recent wedding gowns featured at fashion shows. There were several topics, and the first one I clicked on was: "Slideshow: 15 Best New Wedding Gowns." Now I assume, some very experience fashion editorial team at The Knot put their heads together and all came up with these "WOW" gowns of the season. And I must admit, some really were WOW, but most were, "Eh" and a couple were even, "Wow, I pity the bride who marches down the aisle in that one." And so, never one to let someone else be the judge, below is Style Diva's own review of MSN/The Knot 's top 15:

(all photos from the slide show)

Gown 1: Designer- Melissa Sweet
Style Diva Rating: "Eh"-It's not ugly, and actually, much better than a lot of the stuff out there, but is this one the THE BEST out there? If so, I'm kind of worried about what's out there.

Gown 2: Designer-Kenneth Pool
Style Diva Rating: "Eh++"-Kind of like gown 1, same style, but this one's got more "oomph" and looks a lot less rigid than gown 1. But of course, they had to go an stick a sash on it....Gown was was sweet, but this one's got some spice to it!

Gown 3: Designer-Amsale
Style Diva Rating: "Wow --"-Is there a category for "I'm pregnant and I don't want my wedding guests to see my baby bump?" If so, this definitely goes into the "Best Dresses" Category. And ladies, we all know what happens to bosoms when we are pregnant, so for those who are always pulling up those strapless gown due to lack of substance at the tops, this one might actually stay up by itself if there is a bun in the oven.

Gown 4: Designer-Reem Acra
Style Diva Rating: "Eh"-I just can't see a lot of people looking good in this. Maybe a 5'10 100 pound model, but most people, just seems like this dress would accentuate everything us non-model types are trying to hide, especially in the wide-hip area.

Gown 5: Designer-Vera Wang
Style Diva Rating: "Wow-". Ok, so, leave it up to Vera Wang to WOW us, and then ruin it by putting a BLACK SASH of all things on the dress. Why Vera, why?? Alright, let's recompose ourselves-take away the sash, and a true stunner-different, pretty, not-a-strapless, what else could Style Diva ask for? LOVE the flow and the bottom. Definitely not for the bride that wants to look like a Cindarella on her wedding day, but let's say Snow White were to marry her prince in the woods, with the Dwards as bridesmaids-perfect.

Gown 6: Designer-Prina Tornai exclusively for Kleinfeld's
Style Diva Rating: Now I have to go on a side track here-Prina Tornai designs have been heavily featured on my new favorite show-all these brides come into Kleinfeld's and want to wear her gowns. Prina, darling, it's nothing personal, but someone explain to me what is the attraction to these dresses? Let's say I was Satine, working in the Mulan Rouge, and instead of dying from TB, getting married. Then the whole see-thru lace corsette, layer and layers of puffy gathered skirt look would be exactly what I need, but for the rest of us, I just don't get it. But hey, if this is what floats your boat, I can't really argue with this being "the best" of this type of style. Nice lean skirt, STRAPS, a not-so-huge bow...

Gown 7: Designer-Angel Sanchez
Style Diva Rating: "Wow!" Love it! Would wear it! (Don't love the model's hair tho and the malnourished look on her face.)

Gown 8: Designer-Romona Keveza
Style Diva Rating: "Wow, I pity the bride who marches down the aisle in that one." Ok, so nice top, nice material, but what the **** is with that bottom? And there is another one like this later on! I don't care if someone thinks its creative-put it on the "daring" category, but "the best"? Come on now! Who exactly is going to look good in this?

More than half way thru! Rest to come in next posting...

High Fashion in the Down Under

noreply@blogger.com (MK) — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 01:16:00 +0000

I am still so excited about the Ristarose dress from my previous post that I just had to show it to a friend a very good friend of mine, who happens to live in Perth, Australia. If you've never heard of Perth, don't worry, most of the earth's inhabitants haven't either, but from what I hear from the one person I know who 1) lives there and 2) actually seems to enjoy it, Perth is the lost garden of Eden of Western Australia.

So now that we've gone off on a tangent, let's get back on the road. My friend's mother, is a seamstress/designer, and my friend sent me a link for the Perth Fashion Festiva l, where her mother's design took top prize for bridal. Some picks from the pics below. Any guesses on which dress won top prize?

I know, I know....

noreply@blogger.com (MK) — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 00:48:00 +0000

Where the hell have I been? I have no excuses. I have let the blog lapse. BUT, my wedding dress obsession has NOT lapsed, in fact it has only gotten worse. And in the meanwhile, while I've been lax on my blogging duties, there have been many wedding activities going on, two friends getting married, a new show on TLC called "Say Yes To That Dress" which is a MUST every Friday night for ANY woman who considers herself even slightly interested in wedding dresses.

So let's catch up on the news:

Friends getting married:

I am still looking for a pic from one friend's wedding, but in September yours truly flew over to Europe, Vienna to be precise, for a proper Austrian wedding. The bride, who I met for the first time (friends with the groom), is one of those beautiful, Ralph Lauren catalog women, who not only happens to be pretty and nice, but also has taste.

She wore a gorgeous Pronovias gown, which had a little jacket that she wore during the traditional (with a twist) Catholic ceremony.

After the ceremony, the happy couple hosted all of us at the most beautiful restaurant-great view of Vienna:

I usually do not comment on wedding decor, etc, but this wedding had a theme I absolutely LOVED-berries! Every table was a different kind of berry (we were strawberries) and everyone got a little jar of jam and even a live strawberry bush with little green unripened berries on them to take home. I did not bring one home, cause well, you never know if our government has decided live bushes pose an unidentified security threat and I might not be able to board the plane home, but regardless, I thought it was genius....

Back to the dress. At the wedding, the bride took off the little jacket to reveal a very classy two-strap gown. Interesting fact-according to Austrian tradition, the bride is not to take the veil off during the entire evening, including the ceremony, and has her veil removed by her mother when only the last guests of the evening remain (I may have gotten some of the details of this wrong as I happened to be one of the last, and drunkest, guests remaining...). Once the mother removes the veil, the bride is now officially not just a daughter, but a wife.

Now ladies, I know there are some eagle-eyed readers out there who must have noticed there was some bowage on this gown-a little bow on the front, and a bow right across the back, and you all know how this blog generally feels about bows, but let me just say, that if the girl in you just has to have a bow on her gown, this is the way to go. Small, not overwhelming to the gown, does not detract from the bride herself.

Oh, and I guess being inspired by a bride who wore a dress Style Diva could not knock, I have been seeing pretty dresses everywhere. While browsing DC Craigslist for FUGLIES to show you people, I instead got distracted by a not-so-fugly, which led me to the site for Ristarose Couture
and found some amazing pieces, including one I am now in love with and which is currently the front runner for a dress I would actually wear to my own wedding one day (photos below from Ristarose website).

This is the new love of my life:

And the rest aren't so bad either:

(the one above is called "Carmen")
And of course, for the girl that just HAS to be different on her wedding day:

Am I wrong?

noreply@blogger.com (MK) — Sat, 31 Mar 2007 21:36:00 +0000

The thing is, I am seriously contemplating buying this dress for my future (hopefully) wedding. I am thinking of making the cape into some kind of veil. Or I might just stroll down the aisle with it. Something about it just calls out to me, but I suspect I'd have to stick myself on this website as one of the people I regularly degrade for their wedding attire. What do you think?

Of course, its from CherishedBride-my fave as promised.

From the front:

And from the back....check out that trainage...

And a few close ups...

And since my dear friends at CherishedBride provide helpful matching headpiece suggestions for each gown, I am thinking of this one for my magical, 60's inspired psychedelic stroll down the aisle....(P.S.) that is not my head ;)

I like these too....

Ideas?

stuck on vintage

noreply@blogger.com (MK) — Sun, 25 Mar 2007 13:43:00 +0000

I am still stuck on vintage. And still looking for pretty ball gowns. I found another great vintage site-CherishedBride.Com which not only sells actual vintage gowns, but amazing vintage headpieces and veils, and other accessories.

Because I am supposed to be looking for ball gowns, I found some on this site that, well, I would not necessarily recommend for any bride to wear, but they are great example of style and beautiful detail that we can all at least learn from.

So, this entry devoted to ball gowns from CherishedBride. Next entry, my faves from CherishedBride. (all photos from CherisedBride.com)

If you are going to go for layers, (as many brides seem to be doing now using the "make me look like a melted wedding cake or a can of shaving cream that exploded" technique), this is the way to do it. Look at the beautiful neck-line. Collars on a wedding dress can be beautiful, when done right (hint, hint, Giorgio ). And what's that, a back to a dress without an ass bow?? Is it really possible?

I absolutely love the beautiful neckline on this one. So pretty, oh so pretty!

Ok, if I was a ballerina, I would totally get married in this dress! They so knew how to use lace properly back then. Why do we not use as much lace anymore? Why?!! Another beautiful neckline!

Back in the good old days...

noreply@blogger.com (MK) — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 23:24:00 +0000

During my quest to find pretty ball gowns, I have stumbled on this AMAZING site, VINTAGEGOWN.com. I have always been in love with gowns of the past, and by past, I don't mean the horrid gowns from the 80's I've often feature here that are best forgotten. It's not so much the gowns on this site, but the history of beautiful gowns, and the VEILS! I am probably as obsessed with veils as I am with dresses, but one so rarely sees beautiful veils. They even have a section on "opera glove etiquette"! Today's wedding dress designers could learn so much about class, style, and real beauty from days gone by.

So then I wanted to post some photos, but the website wouldn't let me copy them, so I found this other site, sovintagepatterns.com, with all kind of sewing patters, and well, I can't sew, but having seen some of these, I really wish I could! (all photos from sovinatepatterns.com)

I even managed to find some ball gowns :)

The search almost ends before starting

noreply@blogger.com (MK) — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 01:18:00 +0000

So, as I promised, I set out to find pretty ball gowns to inspire my newly engaged friend. Not being a huge fan of ball gowns or princess gowns, I decided that I needed to stray away from Craigslist and go to the mama of all bridal sites-The Knot, as they were sure to have heaps and heaps and heaps of all kinds of gowns and princess type outfits.

Well, The Knot certainly did not disappoint. They have so many gowns to view, that you can pick by designer, price, style, etc (you all know what I'm talking about-you know you've looked before). And so, I clicked "ball gown" and leaped into the world of puffy skirts, petticoats, and Cinderella dreams come true. And I swear, I was set on finding pretty gowns and showing them to you.

98 gowns in, I was horrified!!!! Designer, after designer, after designer, dress, after dress, after dress I would only maybe wish on my worse enemy (if I had one) to wear on her wedding day. What has happened in the wedding design world? I cannot imagine brides actually wears these monstrosities! Maybe it's just like "couture" where they don't actually expect a normal person to wear what the models wear down the runway? Maybe they make something more normal for people who do not plan to get married in their own version of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show"?

I got so distressed, that I just have to show you these, and beg you all to please please please be brave and save any friend, cousin, sister, ex-boyfriend's new fiance, some woman you saw at David's Bridal from wearing one of these! I do believe that if we work together, we can save brides from wearing these.

To help us in our quest, I am posting a few examples from The Knot. I am not picking on any one designer, they seem to ALL have gone insane. (all the photos are from The Knot.com, but I assume they got them from the various designers)

St. Pucchi,

Someone explain to me, what is this on the bottom of this skirt? Feathers? Seaweed? Kelp? That stuff that holds soda cans together? And ok, I know we are being artistic and all, but when was the last time we saw a bride play a mandolin at her wedding? Nicholas Cage had a hard enough time with it in "Captain Corelli's Mandolin". Who has time to worry about dragging a mandolin around their wedding?

St. Pucchi is not the only ones, here is Enmanuel Couture

I LOVED feathers in the ballerina's outfits in Swan Lake. So unless you are a prima ballerina marrying your leading man, PLEASE LEAVE THE FEATHERS AT HOME.

What is it with designers trying to make people look like a mix between a wedding cake and "Gone with the Wind" gone wrong?

Justin Alexander

Someone explain to me, how are you supposed to sit in this? Technical drawings of how one would sit in this thing are welcome and will be prominently displayed on my site.

My Lady Design:

Prina Tornai:

Sposa by St. Pucchi:

Destination by Mon Cheri: (this one could not look more like a wedding cake)

Ok, ok, amongst all this I did find a few dresses that were, well, NOT UGLY, and even kind of pretty:

Birnbaum and Bullock:

A "interesting" one by St.Pucchi:

Oh so Pretty...

noreply@blogger.com (MK) — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 18:08:00 +0000

I am still so overjoyed that my friend is getting married, I have decided that for the next week or so, instead of celebrating the ugly of Craigslist, I will celebrate some of the pretty dresses I have found through Craigslist postings.

A recent posting in Denver Craigslist that I mentioned in this blog led me to the Watters website, www.watters.com. I have to say, I found several of their gowns very inspirational-simple yet beautiful, and skillfully incorporating some of "in-style" features that are just so "in" right now, like the sash or a skirt that looks like layers and layers of shaving cream, but doing so in a way that's very tolerable, and even pleasant on the eye. I will not feature many of the sashed numbers here, but there are plenty on the site that even Style Diva approves of. (I couldn't save photos from the Watters site, so all these photos are of Watters gowns, but from House of Brides.com which bills itself as "the world larges online wedding store.")

I should also mention that the Watters website features beautiful bridesmaids dresses as well. It even offers suggestion of matching bridesmaid styles when you click on a particular gown. If you are looking for a simple wedding gown, some of those bridesmaids dresses could easily be turned into a gorgeous dress for down-to-earth bride.

A note about our next entry: "Princess/Puffy Dress Do's"

I will start with my very favorite. I have always loved sleeves on wedding dresses. But sleeves, as we have seen so many times here in this blog, can so easily go so wrong. But in the number below, the sleeves, the dress, the body, the skirt, they are all just so right.

Here are some more faves:

And even something for the more non-traditional bride:

Must be the season

noreply@blogger.com (MK) — Mon, 26 Feb 2007 01:01:00 +0000

On the heals of one friend getting married in San Fran earlier this month, this morning great news from Chicago-a friend is engaged! Now, this being one of the sweetest, kindest people I know (you have to be to be a teacher I think), I have decided to dedicate this posting to her. Even though my friend readily agreed to have Style Diva approve via the web all potential wedding dress choices, I dedicate this posting of Craigslist Chicago Don'ts to my dear friend, as a warning. Chicagoans may have great pizza, and great culture, and great wind, but it seems at times not the best taste (obviously this would not apply to my friend).

In fact, Chicago brings us the first winner of the "This is So FUGLY I don't know if I should even expose my readers to it" award.

I really feel this one requires no explanation. I might just note that the ad claims this is a "designer, hand-made dress." Hand-made by whom? A blind want-to-be debutant from Texas?

For $200, you too can own this "one of a kind."

Next we have a designer, Ulla Maija dress. I strongly urge anyone planning to buy a wedding dress, and in particular a designer one, to visit this site for examples of what NOT to spend your money on, because it doesn't even look like the model can pull off those numbers. The one below is offered for $1800. The top reminds me of another designer dress, the one Kat from TomKat wore to her wedding. And we didn't like that one either. Looks like the designers are all having "original" ideas that might just be too original for us normal people.

I may have to hand out a second "Fugliest Ever Award" all in this one post. Our next "winner" combines all the best of a FUGLY wedding dress-too much shine, too much ruffle, too much puff sleeve, and of course, the too much ass bow. This one is billed as "slightly used." Pity on the soul who used it for anything other than a Halloween outfit.

A note to my friend: I tried hard, for your sake, and even hoped, that Craigslist Chicago would be chuck-full of beautiful gowns for sale, and then I could post them up here to let you know that indeed, Chicago knows wedding style. Unfortunately, there were slim stylin' pickings. But I did find this one dress. It is an Oleg Cassini, (I assume the photo is from the official website) and maybe not as Couture as some of the dresses we've mentioned here, but still, so pleasant on the eyes. And the veil is nice too. It makes me hopeful that at least one bride in Chicago had some style sense! I know you will outdo them all and wow us!

Maybe it's the altitude....

noreply@blogger.com (MK) — Fri, 23 Feb 2007 01:43:00 +0000

This week, I bring you wedding's by Craigslist a-la Denver, my sweetie's home town. Now, I've never been there, StyleDiva hates being cold, but I hear they are pretty high up-Mile High City and all, so maybe the thin air, lack of oxygen to the brain, is making it a little hard for some of these brides to think clearly....

and a close up, sleeveless I generally love, straps holding up sleeves, half tied, I don't love...

And just in case you were wondering, yep, it even comes with an Ass Bow!!!

I don't even know what this is! Apparently, it is a "designer" wedding dress...

Maybe Denver can still redeem itself-this dress was actually worn by someone in Denver to her wedding, or so I assume, and even though we only have the designer's photo, I say cheers (photo from www.watters.com)

Nope, I was wrong, the very very next listing: (I wonder if it because they are out West and maybe they like to re-use things their ancestors used? Ladies, you are no longer pioneers! You do not need to wear something SO SHINY that if a freak winter storm were to hit your wedding the search party could locate you by the shininess of your dress material....)

I think I once wore the outfit below at a touristy photoshop in upstate New York where they take photos of you in Old West outfits...

And as if that wasn't enough, the ULTIMATE sash gruesomeness!!!! A perfectly nice dress, RUINED!

I can't even look anymore.

On a happier note, fascinating article in NY Times about how to have a "Green Wedding." Yes, yes, I am on a preachy trip about the world and the environment, and weddings...

Trumping all weddings

noreply@blogger.com (MK) — Sun, 11 Feb 2007 16:03:00 +0000

(photo from New York Daily News)

Last night I couldn't go to sleep, so my mind drifted to the events of that day, and I thought about the post I recently wrote for a friend's website, where I mentioned the dress Melania Trump wore when she married the Donald.

Now I know this is old news, and I know I am already diverging from my new theme of wedding fodder entirely from Craigslist, but I just can't help but address some questions to Mr. Dior and Mrs. Trump:

1) Mr. Dior, I do not know much about you, but having spent a few minutes on your website and being entirely confused by your navigation, (which was nevertheless entirely uppity) I know see that you are not into the "clean and simple" school of design. What is going on with the bottom of that dress? There are ruffles, and what looks like crystal designs, and folds, and all kinds of fashiony add-ons I do not even know the names of. I know that the Donald likes to make a statement, but what exactly is this dress saying? "I have bought every single inch of white fabric made during 2005"? Is it a version of "Where's Waldo" and whoever finds Melania in all those folds wins?

2) Again to Mr. Dior: reportedly, this dress weighs 50 pounds. Were you aware that it was intended to be worn, and not just worn, but I guess, in this case dragged, down the aisle by an actual human being, who is not a champion body builder? Are you attempting to comment on the state of our society by encouraging women to exercise so they too can attempt to wear a 50 pounder down the aisle? Was there enough room under all those folds for someone to run along with Melania and help her carry the dress? Are there pockets in there somewhere for her to keep a tissue to wipe off the exercise sweat?

3) To Melania (aka Mrs. Trump the third): Can I have your trainer's phone number? (He has to be good if you are in such good shape you could wear that dress-even if it was just during the ceremony).

4) To Melania and Mr. Dior: It is also reported that the dress had a 13-foot train. Were there little wheels attached to the train to help it roll down the aisle? Did the Trumps save loads of cash on clean up fees for the ceremony because the veil was so large it was also used as an automatic aisle sweeper when Melania went back and forth?

5) To Melania: Clearly, you are a beautiful woman. Did you ever consider that maybe less is more? Maybe a dress that accentuates your beauty instead of competes with it for attention?

But you know Mr. Trump, Melania, and Mr. Dior, I kind of understand the sentiment-when my father finally made it big in America, he told me his new mantra was: "eat a lot, drink a lot, everything a lot." You guys sure took that to heart.

Spreading wedding joy through the blogernet

noreply@blogger.com (MK) — Sun, 11 Feb 2007 02:28:00 +0000

Yours truly recently authored a piece on Jewish Art of Wedding Dresses on my friend's blog, http://iconia.canonist.com/. If you're into the spiritual, the religious, or anything to do with art, and how all these mix together, you should definitely keep an eye on his blog.

More dresses coming soon! I've been collecting all kinds of goodies from Craigslist.

Wedding Bells in San Fran

noreply@blogger.com (MK) — Tue, 06 Feb 2007 23:49:00 +0000

A friend of mine got married last weekend in San Fran. A true West Coaster, she taught this East Coast liberal what liberal really meant. Nothing about my friend, San Fran Diva, is ordinary: this is the friend that snuck into a couture show in Paris by claiming to be Barbara Streisand's daughter, the friend made a skirt out of old ties, the friend who StyleDiva all about the wonders of radio, this fearless San Franciscan got married during a housewarming/engagement/wedding party at her new home with her new housemate/fiance/now husband. Mazel Tov to them!

During this oh-so-traditional act--marriage--my friend of course wore a not-so-traditional dress. I couldn't make it to the wedding, but San Fran Diva sent me photos of her dress. Look and learn ladies-this is Style, San Fran Style. Perfect for a housewarming/engagement/wedding party. And so perfect for my friend. Miss you always San Fran Diva!

New Year, New Blog Theme

noreply@blogger.com (MK) — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 23:24:00 +0000

I had let the site go for the first month of 2007, busy with work and also scared by my someone I know who got offended when he saw me typing this so now he shall remain anonymous about being sued by some haughty fashion design house for my not so nice reviews, but then I couldn't help myself and cruised Craigslist postings for wedding stuff galore. Then it hit me! There is no need to even review the fashionistas of the wedding world. I could focus entirely on Craigslist posting for wedding attire and all kinds of other wedding-related items and probably never run out of material! So I am back, with my Ode to the Craigslist Wedding.

This week, we bring you everything wedding from Washington D.C., my home town. DCists like to think of themselves as very fashionable-not in the NY or LA way, but in the "we hold the power to blow up the world in our pinkies so we sure know how to put together a suit and matching shoes" type of way. But there is a dark undercurrent of wedding FUGLY in DC, especially in the burbs, where locals often rebel against the invading herds of want-to-be-Senators and Power Brokers from out of town.

The first wedding ad I clicked on today, no kidding, was a warm welcome back to my blog. The ass bow in this add purred at me, and the little baby bow seemed to say "despite your best efforts last year, we have grown and multiplied." Well, my little junior ass bow, I'm back!

Then there was this beauty, that looked like someone had taken those little candies and stuck them all over the top. (I have to confess something about this dress is still kind of cute).

One redeeming quality for both these dresses: according to the Craigslist ad, 40% of the proceeds will go to St. Anthony's Bridal, ""A small non-profit dedicated to helping all brides on tight budgets enjoy the sacred beauty of a church wedding."

This one was for sale for $100. I would totally have worn this one if I had married in the early 80's. Or maybe the late 60's. Or maybe now...

I found this ad for wedding and engagement rings made out of WOOD. The ad claims they are good for the environment, and trust me, I am the first one to dig through my coworkers' trash to make sure there aren't any aluminum cans in there, but WOOD rings? I just don't know if the world is ready.... I showed these to my boyfriend and he actually really liked them. He would also like my to encourage those of you who are going to get a wood ring to inquire whether the wood comes from Micronesia.

I assume the photos are from their site, www.simplywoodrings.com, so I am giving proper credit.

And finally, I have saved the best for last. Before I show you the actual thing, here is the text of the ad (and I am not making this up):
"Okay, so a friend was down on his luck one night, had a few too many beers and ponied up his ex-wifes wedding dress. I won the hand. Now, I'm stuck with it and I have no idea what kind it is or what it is worth. It has a matching headress thingy with fine mesh and trails about 3 feet of fabric behind. It comes in a nice cardboard box."

Anyone interested in this beauty, at the bargain price of $25, should email sale-269815190@craigslist.org. The ad was put up on the 28th of Jan, so you'd better hurry to get this one of a kind.

noreply@blogger.com (MK) — Sun, 24 Dec 2006 22:58:00 +0000

This holiday, brought to you by Madina Vadache. A foreign-born Seattle-based fashion world rising star, and one of Style Diva's favorite new designers. But even Ms. Vadache, sometimes just can't help but go FUGLY. In the spirit of the holidays, we'll forgive her. (all photos from www.madinavadache.com)

Some girls were naughty....

And others were nice.....

Some looked like a Christmas tree (okay, okay, a gorgeous Christmas tree),

Others were all spice....

Happy Holidays from Style Diva!

Confused and British

noreply@blogger.com (MK) — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 01:45:00 +0000

Continuing with our designer extravaganza, and figuring when in Europe, today Style Diva's going to review British designer Jane Wilson-Marquis. Born in Britain, years of experience, this that. Her website's got couture and ready to wear, and while nothing is outstanding and there are some duds, I can't really make up my mind about this one. Would I buy any of her dresses? No. Are they so ugly humanity should be spared the waste in fabric? For the most part, NO. Judge for yourself-I've picked out some do's and some don't-you-dare-wear. Most of the duds came from the couture line. Hmmm.

In:
Kind of pride and prejudice, British country side. Different and lovely.

Style Diva's not a fan of sashes. But for a simple dress, this one is a winner.

This one might be a lapse in Style Diva's judgement, but something about it just speaks to me. Maybe it's the hip bow. Just glad to see it not on the ass. The second one reminds me of my mother's wedding dress, so it's IN.

The OUTS:

At first glance so pretty.....

And then we see the bottom. What happened Julia? Did the skirt get all bundled up in the laundry? No time to straighten it out? Maybe the local dry cleaner could have helped? I have the number of a really good one....

Umm, not really sure what happened below. Is there a gale-force wind in the studio? Will the dress act as a parachute should a Tornado come through and whisk the bride away to Oz?

She just couldn't help herself. Little bunny foo foo hopping down the aisle...

Great if you were getting married in Italy. In the 16th century. In a forest full of elves. And talking animals. Could also be great to wear to a Renaissance Festival! Seriously!

Project RUNAWAY FROM THAT DRESS

noreply@blogger.com (MK) — Tue, 12 Dec 2006 00:42:00 +0000

This week usher's in designa-hating here at Wedding Dress Obsessed. Having spent the weekend perusing obscure and not so obscure wedding gown designers, Style Diva is increasingly worried about those of you dropping major $$$ on designer gowns when the are just as, if not more so FUGLY than perfectly affordable FUGLY at David's Bridal (although Style Diva will admit there are a few cuties at David's).

While Style Diva isn't particularly happy about hating on her own peeps, but I feel compelled to start with Olga Kvitko Couture. Ms. Kvitko, originally from St. Petersburg (yes, yes, Style Diva is an ex-communist too), apparently moved to the U.S. in 1990 and even worked as an assistant designer at Valentino and has oodles of other accomplishments. It almost hurts me to say this, but maybe Ms. Kvitko should have stuck to designing pants-a pair of which she claims were her first sale, at the age of 15.

While a few of the dresses were tolerable, but then the Fugly just outweighed the maybe-I'd-wear-this-if-I-got-married-in-the-communal-farm-barn looks. Sorry, comrade, while certainly original, maybe you should have left some of these in St. Petersburg. (all photos are from Ms. Kvitko's site).

Paws down for TomKat

noreply@blogger.com (MK) — Mon, 11 Dec 2006 02:30:00 +0000

I have tried to avoid it, but apparently, it is inevitable that I must comment on this topic. The TomKat wedding, and more precisely, the dress(es) Katie Holmes wore to marry the cruise-control has obviously been off for the past couple of years Mr. Tom Cruise. Even still, the photos are everywhere, and so I cannot help but but in my two meow's about the attire she-kat wore on the glorious day.

Apparently, like her other famous wedding blow-out Melania Trump, Ms. Holmes (or is it Mrs. Cruise now?) decided that one uber-designer, uber-expensive, and possibly chic wedding dress wasn't enough, so she turned to her "friend" Giorgio Armani to design the entire wedding "wardrobe", which apparently included not only the dresses for the wedding, but the honeymoon outfit, and clothes for all the kids (all this info I learned from People magazine online-all of the photos except the sketch are from People online).

I found the sketch Armani made of the dresses on a blog that I understand is run by people who actually LOVE the couple and fanatically follow their every move-TOMKATCRAZY!

Let me ask you this, do you know of anyone with those body proportions? Whose legs are about 4 times as long as their actual torso? And arms that easily fall down to their knees? I mean, I realize this is just a "sketch" and having watched "Dawson's Creek" during a time in my life I'd rather not admit to, I know Katie is really tall, but come on Giorgio!

The "ceremony" dress, in real life, did turn out to be not so much of a dazzle. In particular, we are really left to wander what in the world that fringe-like thin is at the top front part of the dress. On the sketch, you could almost miss it, but in a close up photo of the happy couple (again, let me apologize for subjecting you to this wedded bliss), the weird fringy thing looks much like some weird upper body chastity belt or perhaps a fancy bib to catch Suri's drool, or maybe Katie's if she nods off during Tom's pontificating on how much he loves her, and church, and himself, and Oprah. Look, he cannot even lean in to kiss her, he can only touch her with his nose, because the all powerful chastity/drool collar is protecting Katie from Tom's onslaught. That was pretty smart of you, Giorgio, looking out for Katie like that, but I gotta tell you, if someone showed me this dress trying to convince me to hire you to design mine, you would so be Fired, or not even Hired!

To those of you who may be despairing on Giorgio's behalf, and also thinking that maybe I am a little mean in my assessment-after all designers are artists and so we cannot expect the ordinary and mundane from them, I do think Giorgio redeems himself with the wedding reception number. Although I could not find a photo that showed the dress in real life in it's full splendor, it does look very beautiful-the soft color, the one shoulder Greek goddess look-my hat is off to you Giorgio on this one, and I have to say, I guess Katie does have some taste if she managed to wear at least one pretty dress, although to be honest I would rather have seen her wearing it in a wedding to Chris Klein. Remember him Katie? He was hilarious in American Pie, and more your age! And as a side note to Katie and her planner, how matchy-matchy can you get? We get it, you like roses! But really, do we need the roses on the cake, and the table, and a rose bush?

In any case, to summarize Style Diva's take on the TomKat wedding-just like their relationship, it looks almost pretty, but something is definitely off with this number.