No 283: the Halloween!

This is my favorite holiday of the year; Halloween trumps New Year's, Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day (why would you want to drink green beer anyway?), Christmas, all of it. Why, you might ask, and the answer is simple: it's a costume party. But in addition to the opportunity to be someone else for the evening, I adore watching Hocus Pocus: Sarah Jessica Parker pre-Sex and the City, Bette Middler post-Beaches and 96 minutes of 1993. Have a wonderful and safe Halloween, darling readers.

No 282: the Cocktail Napkins

How absolutely adorable.

No 281: the Fall

Today finally felt like the first day of fall here in seasonless San Francisco. The light tonight as the sun set was so pink that I was reminded of this incredible photograph, from weheartit. Wouldn't a orchard like this one be amazing as the background of a dove gray wedding?

No 280: the Invitations

Oh, Oh So Beautiful Paper, you have done it again. You always turn paper into art and invitations into personal expression. Isn't that the absolute ideal for any choice, large or small, for you wedding? I adore the contrast of muted colors and elegant letterpress on the exterior envelope and the tomato invitation within, stamped with late 60's lettering.

No 279: an Engagement Shoot

Normally, I poo-poo the engagement shoot. Yes, it's an opportunity to work with your photographer, loosen up in front of the camera before the big day and show off a bit more about your personal style, but they're all just so damn boring, I could die.

But then an utterly unique shot, like this one photographed by Dunston Todd, lands on my blog desk and I have to at least amend my position. I hate engagement photographs, except magical ones taken of exceptionally inspired couples. And thank goodness for them.

No 278: and My Pick...

...for favorite gown of the Fall 2010 collection is this beautiful Reem Acra. The silhouette, the fabrication, the lovely scalloped sweetheart neckline-this dress is good.

No 277: Real Wedding: Celia and Reagan

Thank you for Texas sometimes. Celia and Reagan were married on her parents' ranch in Dallas-Forth Wort, and thanks to Celia's med school exams at UT Houston, much of the wedding was a surprise to her. She counted on her mother and wedding planners to put together this truly glorious wedding, which is by turns incredibly chic and wonderfully rustic. Celia's Oscar de la Renta gown is stunning (remember it from Spring 2008 and the Sex and the City movie?) but she said her favorite element was the crystal chandeliers, which twinkled and sang throughout the evening. I love the blend of high-low in this wedding-a couture gown and a cowboy boot, luscious white flowers and a bridal suite covered in antlers, a breathtaking estate and grilled cheeses-further proof that if you infuse your wedding with you, there's nothing you can't pull off. The Events Company was ultimately responsible for the whole shindig, from building the tent, arranging the flowers and providing the catering-there's apparently nothing they can't do. Gorgeous photographs by Brooke Schwab.

No 276: the "It" Dress

Look at this (singular) dress! It was on everyone's runway, strutting its right over left ruching, delicate satin ribbon at the waist and abstract floral design covering its skirt. Granted, there are variations: the fullness of the skirt, and the execution of the floral design, from classic crewel embroidery to small strips of ruffled tulle, but the overall impression left is very much the same. And that's all right with me; I thought this gown, in all its incarnations, was breathtaking.

Confections from Oscar de la Renta, Lela Rose, Christos and Amsale.

No 275: the Layers of Tulle

Look at all these glorious piles of tulle! Featured on mostly drop-waist gowns which add gorgeous volume at the hips, these dresses are so feminine and romantic. The Jim Hjelm with lovely lace at the end of each layer is enchanting, and I adore Reem Acra's take on the trend so much that I featured both the front and back views. Thank you, Sweet Baby Jesus, for ruffles.

Gowns by Christos, Eugenia, Farah Angsana, Jenny Packham, Monique Lhuillier, Jim Hjelm and Reem Acra.

No 274: the Crumb Catcher Bodice

The crumb catcher bodice is actually made of 2 parts: one lies close to the body, and then a ruffle that usually begins below the bust gives the illusion of a wide open neckline. These dramatic bodices are particularly beautiful on newlyweds with smaller busts, as they create volume, although bustier brides should steer clear of this particular trend. On the runways last week, crumb catchers were represented in nearly every collection and character, from demure to downright outrageous.

Gowns by Amsale, Douglas Hannant, Liancarlo, Monique Lhuillier, Vineyard by Priscilla of Boston and Watters.

No 273: the Peplum Bodice

A peplum, dating back to the 19th century, was a ruffle, sometimes attached to a coat or skirt, to give additional volume to the hips and accentuate the itsy bitsy waist created by corsetry. In these glamorous gowns, a peplum-style bodice accentuates gorgeous details at the natural waist and creates such a dramatic silhouette. The shape is ever so beautifully Baroque, but clean fabrics and simply executed details keep these dresses from looking like costumes.

Gowns by Amsale and Platinum by Priscilla of Boston.

No 272: the Bow Bodice

As John remarked, so many bridal gowns look the same. It's hard to keep them all straight, and with all the ruched bodice trumpet gowns and drop-waisted ball gowns with Art Deco crystal embellishments on the runway last week, it sometimes felt like we were seeing the same gowns from Fall 2009 (except, in many cases, worse. It wasn't such a great group of collections.) That's not to say that a few design trends were completely lacking, and so I thought I would compile them for you, dear readers. So onto the trends! 

"Bow" bodices, with the illusion of a bow created at the bust without an actual bow were making the rounds, especially in the Priscilla of Boston collections. Feminine, sweet and not a touch retro, these designs from Monique Lhuillier, Reverie by Melissa Sweet, Platinum by Priscilla of Boston and Junko Yoshioka (from top to bottom) are perfect for the bride who imagines speeding off in a vintage roadster to the tarmac, her grandmother's pearl studs and a birdcage veil resting atop her Globe-Trotter vanity case.