Priscilla Of Boston Store Closing!

I wish I could say I am surprised to hear that one of the longest running wedding dress shops, (its been around for 65 years!) Priscilla of Boston, is closing its doors at the end of the year. But as many other brides in 2011/2012 know, our economy is really feeling a blow and it's taking its toll, even in the bridal world.

Here is the statement by POB:

Here are a few of my favorite gowns I saw at the salon.

 Gemma dress by Vera Wang

 Gracie dress by Vera Wang

 Gabriella dress by Vera Wang

 Sunni dress by Melissa Sweet

Billie dress by Melissa Sweet

 PL399 dress by Priscilla of Boston

PL399 dress by Priscilla of Boston

The company is connected to their sister company David's Bridal which caters to brides with a bit less to spend in their pocket books. The average POB dress weighs in at around $5-8,000.00+ and the average modern bride spends about $1,000.00 on their gown. DB's most expensive gown comes in at most for $1,400.00, which happens to be by Vera Wang White label.


Vera Wang's gowns usually come with a hefty price tag just like POB and Melissa Sweet, but she has taken on a smart new twist by starting to carry her White label at DB.
Pretty much the White by Vera Wang label is her version of knocking off her own line, just like the Go International feature in Target Stores. 


Simply put, a big name designer makes their signature look available to the general public by cutting the costs by a whopping 70-90%. So a traditional Vera Wang dress which costs $9,000.00 is simplified and cut down to be about $1000.00. Pretty awesome for us budget brides out there. And I am pleasantly surprised by the quality of these dresses.


Here are regular Vera Wang gowns:

 Vera Wang gowns


And the next are the Vera Wang White label gowns:

White by Vera Wang


I'm sure you wont be getting as much silk and Italian lace in the White label as in the regular VW line but really, do you think they look cheap? I don't. I think this was beautifully done at a very appropriate time.


Also, for the money savvy fashionista, if you have fallen in love with any of POB's gowns you should get yourself in store asap to catch the 40% off sale, and a get a piece of bridal history, before it's gone!

Wedding story board and color inspiration

Hello my friends!
Phew! What a week!
It's almost done. One more day to work then the weekend!!

Yesterday I went to Macy's bridal salon with my nearest and dearest buddies. We shall call them my "lovelies". (as I already call them) And I tried on a few dresses.
A few hit and few missed, but one almost nailed it perfectly on spot. And under $1000.00 to boot! (Surprised? I am!!)
But after a long night deliberating with myself, I will call that one white gown my "back-up" dress. You know, just in case I don't find anything particularly enchanting at any other stores, or if I FAIL at making my own dress. I do want to try.

I absolutely FELL IN LOVE *swoon* with a dress a Monique Lhuillier on Tuesday. But one giant problem with that; it cost a mere $8,000 before alterations. Hmph.. chump change right? Nooo... not when you have to pay for your own wedding.
So instead I am taking inspiration from that dress and working it into my own dress design.

It's true, if you've heard I will be stopping at one more boutique next week. Priscilla of Boston. They have their own line and also carry a few others, including (datdadadaaa!!) Vera Wang, which I featured a pic of one of her bridal looks in my last entry.
Although I think when I was scanning the dresses in the Edina shop when I made my appointment, I didn't see any hi-low hems, and they only hand a handful of Vera Wang. Bummer!

Like I keep saying,
I WILL MOST LIKELY END UP MAKING MY DRESS,
cuz I am a f****ing designer after all.
But who really wants to toil like a sweatshop worker over their own wedding gown when you can just sit back and have someone do all of the work for you? This way I will have more time to pick out flowers and sample petit fours. Well, one last store.. one last try. And it is fun trying on all of those couture gowns after all!!

Ok, now on to the pictures, cuz we all know why you "read" this blog,
not for my clever words, it's for the FASHION!!

First we will start with the crazy shoes I chose for the main event.
They came in this lovely box! if you have been to my house you would know how loud I shrieked when I realized they have "got" my style.

And this is what I found inside!! OMG OMG OMG...
Iridescent beautiful little babies! LOVE.
So know you see why I am going with a hi-low hem dress. There is no way I'm gonna let anyone miss the sight of these!

Ok, now we can all calm down and get back to the dresses.
This is what I saw at Monique Lhuillier.
They still take my breath away.
I'm obsessed with the horsehair trim that gives you that beautiful ruffle.
I'm definitely going to try and use that in my dress.

I tried these on...

Gorgeous, but too long and too much pouf for me.

This one the sales lady pinned up for me in the front so I could get the idea of it being hemmed from long to short, and it even had horsehair trim on the bodice!
I was starting to fall.. oohh lala..

Then I tried on this bodice..
(they were separates)
...with this skirt.
I die.
She threw on a beaded black sash and that was it!
I loved how the back cascaded down to a cathedral length.
But It simply was a little too poufy for me with the silk organza flowers.
But nothing has topped the feeling I had when I was in that $9,000 wonder.
(of course!)

Now that made it really hard to like anything else I saw. Even though I know I would alter that design to make the PERFECT dress for me, I highly doubt I will ever put anything else on off of the rack that I will get so emotional over. But, it's worth a try. ;)


Now, now, now...
I promised that I would share my inspiration and color scheme with you.
So here it is...
Those 3 boxes on the top is my color scheme..
The picture is from Printemps window display in Paris.
Freaking amazing right? God I wish I lived there!

And this is just some more inspiration I pulled and put together after searching the web for my lightly Alice in Wonderland themed reception. We will see how far I go with it or if I completely scrap it! But right now it's still fun to look at!
(sometimes I can't believe I'm sharing all of these secrets with you!)

Alright...
I think it's time to go.
I will catch up with you later.
Have a lovely day!
xo