Studio tour.

Kate Maxwell paid a visit to The English Dept. and my design studio, and took some very nice photos. Thanks, Kate! More here.

Thanks...

...for all your supportive comments re: BHLDN and their well-known "design" practices. As a former law student, I do know that there's very little legal protection for clothing designers. I've studied the arguments on both sides regarding whether fashion design deserves such protection, and there's merit to both arguments (although I'm sure you can guess where I stand). I don't usually get in a lather over copying incidents--designers (like all creative people) draw inspiration from many sources, and that inspiration flows in all directions. What bothers me is a very studied practice of ripping off smaller designers' work as a business model. Consumers need to know that Anthro's cute "designs" come straight from uncredited, uncompensated sources. That's how they roll.

Besides being unethical and exploitive, it's just so boring! Way to take the creativity out of fashion. So I did that post. For that reason, and to show solidarity with my good friend Myra, who is wearing herself out trying to protect her work.

Luckily, we small designers have what big companies can never fake, no matter how they try--the urge to create for its own sake, the honest joy of new ideas.

A sweet occasion.

The ladies at The Sweetest Occasion and Elizabeth Anne Designs were kind enough to feature one of my dresses in their recent photo shoot collaboration. Modeled on my Giselle dress, this one of a kind gown features a lace trimmed dotted tulle skirt and lace embroidery at the waistline. She's at Lovely for a limited time--should she be yours?

Meanwhile, you can view the entire suite of photographs here and here. Thanks Cyd and Ami!

Just saying.

Left: Elizabeth Dye 2012.

Right: BHLDN 2012.

Who's that girl?

Here's Dana with her lovely mom, Betty. A couple of stunners, no? I finished Dana's custom wedding gown today: ivory silk crepe with cap sleeves and a bias flounced skirt. It suits her beautifully and I can't wait to see photos of her wedding day. Dana's a hard-working woman and she had completely lost her voice when she came for her final fitting today. Betty stepped in as interpreter, but I let myself imagine that Dana was just speechless with delight. I worked up a special floral corsage for the shoulder of her dress:

It's a mix of silk organza flowers, ostrich feathers, lace, velvet leaves, vintage brooches, pearls, and 1920s glass and gilt buttons.

A special piece for a very special lady.

Thank you...

...to all the dear brides (and moms) who came out on a sunny Mother's Day weekend for my spring trunk show in New York. I had so much fun meeting you ladies. And a special thanks to Lanie, Cassandra, and the incredible staff at Lovely for hosting me.

The lineup...

"Vertigo" waiting her turn...

The perfect bride (a Seattle girl!) purchased Two if by Sea, a one-of-a-kind gown.

A Lovely time was had by all.

Thank you to everyone who came out for my trunk show in New York last weekend, and thanks most of all to all the wonderful women of Lovely for hosting me! If you are in the New York area and looking for a wedding gown, I doubt there's a sweeter, more beautiful shop in the city for your special dress.

The boutique resides in an adorable brownstone in the West Village. It's the most relaxed, welcoming sanctuary for pretty dresses that you can imagine.

The staff is incredible. Store manager Cassandra, here striking a pose with some gowns, is loads of fun and brings a welcome sense of humor to the wedding dress search. Somehow I have no photos of Lanie, Lovely's owner and mastermind--she was probably too busy working her magic behind the scenes to pose for a photo op!

Everyone was extremely welcoming and the shop even hung a string of pennants spelling my name. What star treatment!

I was so happy to get the chance to meet some of the girls who are ordering my dresses! Kim and her mom took the train up from Philadelphia for the day. Kim chose "Ghost," full length. Mom also walked away with a one-of-a-kind dress I brought just for the show...it was everyone's favorite so I had to steal it back for a quick photo before handing it over.

Okay, I'll stop gushing now. But seriously? What a nice trip. It was Lovely.

Photos from Finishing School 2012

 

 Thanks to everyone who came out on Sunday for Finishing School, our annual do-it-yourself event for making bridal hair accessories and dress embellishments.

Look at the concentration on these ladies' faces!

 

My project: a metallic lace shrug with hundreds of lace "petals" hand-stitched around the neckline. I finally finished it--that's why we call it Finishing School.

 Truly impressed by the artistry on display. Nice work, class of 2012!

 Photos: Lauren Sornberger, Rebecca Westby

Speechless.

This is perhaps the most amazing picture anyone has ever sent me of one of my dresses. Zara recently eloped and chose my "Ghost" dress for her celebration (in a location that needs no introduction). I don't think I even need to say one more word--except wow. Thank you, Zara!

Ivy & Aster trunk show this weekend!

This weekend only, we have some beautiful visitors . . . dresses from Ivy & Aster's new collection! Come see (they're only here until Tuesday) . . . more photos to come!

Weekend in the city.

So nice to meet all the Lovely brides on this sunny trunk show weekend in New York. The dresses will be here a few more days...come on down to Lovely to take a look!

A paper bride.

 I've just learned about the work of Jum Nakao.

 The Brazilian artist makes these intricate gowns entirely out of paper.

 At the end of one of his runway shows, his models were instructed to tear up the dresses on their bodies, to remind the audience that fashion is a medium and not an end in itself.

 I've always thought of the wedding dress as a performance, a moment, as much as it can also be a garment for all time. So what about it, ladies? Anyone up for a paper wedding dress?

I went to a wedding.

It was a front porch affair. I had nothing to do with the dress. I was there in a strictly amateur capacity--as an old friend of the groom. I did help with flowers, though. Farmer's market tulips and sweet peas. Hosta, heuchera and iris from my garden. Special peonies from a secret source.

It was fun having a totally different job at a wedding.

It hardly felt like work...

...which is good, since my "front porch informal" floral style is only available on a volunteer basis.

Congratulations, Kim & Peter!

Simple, swiss dot, sateen.

One of the best parts about my job is that I get to meet incredible women, many of whom become friends. Brittany asked for a simple (simple!) dress--I could tell she was exasperated with the typical bridal fare, and I love coming to the rescue when I sense dress-related despair. I also instantly liked Michael, her fiancé (now husband, of course). I was thrilled to see that their wedding was featured on one of my favorite wedding blogs, Snippet & Ink. Brittany and Michael's personalities really come through in the details they chose for their celebration. Brittany's swiss dot and sateen dress was every inch her... as it should be on such a special day. You can see more pictures (and read all about their whip-smart wedding) here.

One of my lovely stockists, Mrs. Bridal Boutique in Toronto, recently styled this beautiful photo shoot featuring my dresses (L: Oysters & Pearls, R: Tempest). Thanks so much, Kelly and Michelle--I love it!

The beginning of a little something special for Dana...

Check us out!

Love the new shop. Love the extra space, love the whitewashed pine Swedish cabin fantasy floor, love having places for ladies to sit, love the light. Love, love, love!

Tupelo Honey.

My Honeychurch dress was recently photographed for Southern Weddings.

So good it hurts.

A few pieces from two upcoming exhibitions at the Brooklyn Museum and the Met. Obviously, I am still deep in my apricot-and-gold obsession. That first one is Lanvin--there's a lady who knew how to make a dress. Sigh.

Are you going to Finishing School?

 Join us at The English Dept. for Finishing School 2012
Sunday, May 15th
12-4 pm

Create one-of-a-kind accents to complete your wedding ensemble: headbands, flower combs, fascinators, sashes, silk flower corsages and gown embellishments. We will supply materials, assistance and inspiration for this hands-on workshop. The event is $25 to attend. Your admission fee is good for credit toward materials for whatever you create! Call The English Dept. with questions or to rsvp.
For a glimpse of last year's event, click here.

Polka dot linen bolero for Jodi. As someone who tends to get a bit crazy with detail, sometimes it's nice to be reminded how fresh and pretty something simple can be.

Thanks, Etsy.

I'm today's Featured Seller! Read the interview here.

vintage.

Bits of a vintage silk organza gown have a new life in store...

Off to the races!

It's Kentucky Derby Day! And since every well-turned out lady simply must wear something on her head at the races, I thought I'd mention that we have many gorgeous new Twigs & Honey headpieces, headbands and hairpins at The English Dept. Myra's pieces are completely exquisite and we're so lucky to have them. They're too lovely to stay here long, though! The best pieces will go to the fleet of foot...