Lela Rose Is A Genius

Just about every little girl dreams about their wedding day. We dream about the colors of the bridesmaids dresses, the magical kiss from our very own Prince Charming, and how we will wear our hair. But mostly, we dream about the dress.

When I was planning my wedding last fall, I had a vision of the exact dress I wanted to wear. My requirements were: vintage feel, not too "bridal," and not too white.

Lela Rose came through with flying colors. This is a dress that I will pull out of my closet when I'm an old woman, run my hands over the fabric, and remember how beautiful and alive I felt on that day. It is gorgeous and timeless and will forever remind me of the happiest day of my life. (Photo Courtesy of Matthew Williams. www.matthewwilliamsphotography.com)

 

Nanette Lepore Night and Day Coat

My new current obsession.

It's been virtually impossible to find since "Jenny" on 'Gossip Girl' wore it on the show. Bluefly, Shopbop, and Bloomingdale's are all sold out, so if anyone gets a heads up on where to score this amazing coat, please let me know!

The Return of Balmain

When Christophe Decarnin took the helm of Balmain in 2005, the once illustrious design house had fallen into financial ruin and stagnancy. But over the past few years, Balmain has had a revival of sorts, becoming the star of the fashion world with everyone from Hollywood celebrities to European society darlings donning Decarnin's edgy creations.

Although I am neither, I have fallen in love with the Spring 2010 collection, specifically the military jackets pictured above. Sadly, I will probably have to just admire the photos for now, as one of these jackets can set you back $9000 or more. (Photos Courtesy of www.nymag.com)     

No, She Doesn't Still Have This Dress

I called my mother up the other day to ask her if this dress was still in my grandmother's possession, and was pretty disappointed when I was told that she had given it away a long time ago. This small let-down made me pause and think about the items in my closet that I would love to pass down to my future daughter or granddaughter. 

Here is my humble yet hopefully ever-growing list:

1. My grandmother's mink wrap and stole

2. my Lela Rose custom wedding dress

3. Yoana Baraschi jeweled mini dress that I wore walking across the Brooklyn Bridge with my soon-to-be husband

4. Vintage black leather motorcycle jacket

5. My crochet Cynthia Steffe dress (amazing, vintage inspired!)

6. A pearl necklace that my grandfather brought back from the South Pacific during WWII

Oh, and by the way....wasn't my mom the cutest little baby?!

Winter

I've never been a big fan of winter. Growing up in California and North Carolina hardly exposed me to blizzards and white-outs. My memories of this time of year consist of rollerblading on the beach on Christmas day and camping in the balmy mountains around Asheville, and most of my childhood was spent without a single "winter" coat in my possession. But with a new man in my life comes a host of new experiences. I've spent a good bit of time this year up in Chicago and Northern Indiana, and any true Northerner would know that only a fool would go outside in December in anything less than full on winter gear. It's been a bit of a challenge, but I do have to say that I am actually embracing this season of hats, gloves, and layering. I think I may even be turning into a scarf person.

(Coat by Old Navy, Bag by Chloe, Dress by Bailey 44, Thrifted Vintage Rabbit Fur Scarf, Thrifted Hat, Tights from Target)

Lucy & Lloyd Boutique

I was fortunate last season to be able to attend a runway show at New York City's Mercedes Benz Fashion Week. It was incredible to watch creation after creation waltz down the runway (albeit on impossibly long legs!), and to be completely transfixed on the cut, the colors, and the materials used for each piece. The dress pictured above was my favorite from the show, designed by an up and coming designer named Johanna Hatzenbueler. Of course, I had to have it, so I e-mailed Johanna asking about purchasing the dress. She was lovely, but unfortunately this piece is priced well out of my price range. So what is a fashion loving, dress coveting girl to do? Head to Lucy & Lloyd Boutique, Nashville's newest resale clothing store. It is tiny, yes, but it packs a punch. Filled with new and gently used designer finds, as well as interesting one of a kind pieces, you are sure to find something that your friends will be jealous of. Some labels featured include Susana Monaco, Wink, Marc Jacobs, BCBG, and Joe's. And the prices are so outrageously low, you almost feel like you're committing a felony. Mapquest the following address: 2203 Bandywood Drive, Nashville, Tennessee 37215, and come by and say hello!

Designer of the Moment

Last fall as I was shopping for a dress to wear to the CMA Awards show here in Nashville, I stumbled upon a brand new boutique in the Hill Center in Green Hills called Hemline. Small and to the point (it's about the size of my bedroom) it is nevertheless packed with hard to find designers like Sweetees and Wendy Katlen. Almost immediately, my eyes were drawn to a fuschia colored mini dress by a designer I'd never heard of named Yoana Baraschi. I loved the clean, simple style contrasting with the jewel encrusted collar. And it had pockets too, so I was already sold on it. Since then, I've bought several more of her designs, including the black and blue dress above. She has consistently impressed me with her bold, jewel-toned fabrics as well as the girly little details like bows and ruffles that I love so much. I checked out her Spring 2009 collection on her website (www.yoanabaraschi.com), and instantly fell for at least two of the lace infused dresses. I'm seeing a pattern here and it's a little nerve-wracking to think that I may have to get a second job in order to sustain my habit.