Saturday, July 31, 2010
I was skimming through Gilt Groupe today and came across the sweetest kicks I've ever seen in my life. These studded converse high tops make me feel like becoming a street bike riding, leather jacket wearing, flip-my-hair-in-the-wind-after-I-take-my-helmet-off fierce female. They were originally $100 and are now $65 on Gilt. Additionally, just about every size is sold out except for the golden 6.5, which are of course my size. It's a sign, right? These street sneaks remind me of Balmain a few collections ago and I love them! However, as I look up from behind my laptop screen I see all of my clothes in my closet are girly sundresses and frilly skip-in-the-meadow garments. So what's a girl to do? Buy something that could potentially sit in my closet alone, sad, and unworn, or could this be the beginning piece of a collection of clothing items that speak to my bad ass chic side? Hmm...the Gilt sale is open for just a few more hours. Let me know what you would do!
Friday, July 30, 2010
Okay so I'm making another change to Sample Sale Highlights. Thanks for baring with me while I go through this trial-and-error process with this series. Anyways, instead of trying to post something every few days on sample sales, I'm moreso going to focus on the kinds of sales as opposed to the date of the sale. Of course, I'll only post upcoming sales because it doesn't make sense to post sales that have already passed. However, if you notice above I've changed the title to showcase the products, not the dates. Hope this helps!
Here are some great sales that will take you into the weekend! This Sunday, my mom and I are going to take my brother and sister back-to-school shopping in Scottsdale. I'm not gonna lie...I have definitely purchased a few headbands and bracelets from the Children's Place, so there is a possibility I might wind up with a few trinkets for myself! And I love shopping vicariously through my sister. She has such an eccentric sense of style and is totally in this girly punk phase with bright pink peace signs and plaid vests; its pretty adorable. Hope you all have a great weekend!
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Saturday, July 24, 2010
I have mentioned on more than one occasion that I often start my morning by opening my internet browser and pulling up the following tabs (in no particular order): my personal e-mail, RemChic's e-mail, my Facebook, RemChic's Facebook, Hautelook, Gilt Groupe, Rue La La, Beyond the Rack, and ideeli. Yes folks, you heard right, somehow my sample sale site perusing has replaced even my morning fruit and tea on the routine list. Why? Because looking through sample sales is like starting the day with opening Christmas presents. YSL bags that were originally $2,995 on sale for $1,500. Oh, and that amazing camel colored knit cardigan by Michael Kors is somehow $25 from $150. Who needs caffeine when all the adrenaline you need is just a click away?
Anyways, I had a reader e-mail me asking for some more information on these sites, including information on their sales and invitation codes for the sales. All of these sites are by invitation-only and the sort of member-only society lends itself to a luxurious shopping experience without having to get dolled up to shove your fellow shoppers out of the way to score a good deal. Although don't get me wrong, it's on my bucket list to go to a New York warehouse sample sale. I just need to buff up a bit first.
I will be periodically posting what I call "Sample Sale Highlights" where I will showcase the most anticipated online sample sales, what time they will go live, and invitation codes for everyone to join! I'd love to hear about your amazing designer buys, so be sure and comment if you have any sample sale success stories!
Okay, so it only behooves you if I post the sales prior to when they go live, so make sure you mark your calendars if you are going to shop! Additionally, I won't be listing any sample sales from brands I'm not familiar with. There will probably be other sales in addition to the ones I've listed, but as the title says, these are highlights.
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Some of you might be aware of my outspoken dislike for Louis Vuitton monogram bags. I just think if you are going to pay a grand plus for a bag it shouldn't be a wearable advertisement. Most label whores often go for LV bags as their first claim to fame purchase, and the whole thing is so anti-fashion and extremely pro-materialism. I won't deny the quality of LV bags, and I will say some of the shapes of the bags are pretty cute. I just think some people take their bags too seriously as a status symbol. Anyways, today after raiding the local grocery store (and their convenient dollar sale of Mike and Ike boxed candies) I came across an ad from Louis Vuitton's fall 2010 ad campaign, which featured the monogram volupté bags. They are actually very functional looking and tame. At first I didn't even notice the LV stamps.
There are two versions of this bag: Beauté and Psyché. The first is a bit longer/more rectangular, while the latter is a square. There are two colors available gris (a sort of navyish gray) and bordeaux (a muted plum/mulberry). I think I like these bags because they are a classic, but the texture on the bottom half is interesting. It is sort of worn and crinkly, with the LV logo secretly embedded in the leather. On one hand it kinda looks old and beat up (which isn't comforting when you consider the $2,000+ price tag), but on the other hand it's innovative and is a fresh break from the super shiny leather and matte leather bags we've seen a lot of this fall. If you are interested, these bags will be released on August 13! Personally, I think I'd go for Psyché in Gris. Here are the bags! The pictures were found on ILVOELV:
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Christopher Bailey is a genius, and as Sarah Mower of style.com states, "There's only one problem with the jackets on the Burberry Prorsum runway for fall: Which one to choose?" The first aspect that caught my eye was Bailey's color choice. The collection incorporates my two favorite color pallets- earth tones and charcoals, while also adding a little "oh la la" factor with splashes of cobalt blue in the mix. The collection is structured and confident, as well as timeless. The assertive looks are without a doubt dominated by the jackets, which are adorned with oversized collars and military-inspired button lines. The variations in volume and shape are visually pleasing and daring, but in a subtle way. Any garment from this collection would last you decades, and I for one hope Bailey gets all the recognition he deserves for this collection.
Alas, for us starving fashionistas, it's time to look around for inspirational pieces that will remind us of Burberry's fall collection until we can afford the actual pieces. Below I've made a slideshow of seven of my favorite looks (pictures are from style.com) followed by a montage I've created which captures the different elements of this collection.
I am an avid sample site shopper/browser and often start my mornings perusing through sites such as Gilt Groupe, ideeli, Hautelook, and Rue La La. I recently discovered another similar site, Oohilove and was really interested in seeing what it was all about. Unlike the sites I previously mentioned, Oohilove is an auction-based site where you buy bids at $0.99 a piece. It's sort of confusing, but the best way I can describe it is you buy a bundle of bids, where each bid costs $0.99. The minimum package (which is what I bought) is $29.99 for 30 bids.
Okay, so the next step is you go to the live auctions and each time you (or anyone else) bid(s) the price of the item goes up by $0.02 and the timer goes up by 10 seconds. All items start at $0.00. They feature a ton of great items from $100 Tiffany gift cards to Louis Vuitton bags that retail for over a grand. They also have a tab where you can view the auctions that have ended and the winning price. I was completely floored when I saw Tory Burch leather totes won for $15.00 or less. Additionally, everything is guaranteed authentic.
Now for the scam part. I am completely convinced you are bidding against at least one person per auction from Oohilove. There were multiple times when I clicked "bid" when the timer was at 1 second or less. Somehow I kept losing! How could this be?! After losing a Tiffanys necklace, a pair of Christian Louboutin Rolando pumps, and over $10.00 worth of bids...I started to question the site. I went to Site Jabber, which is a great website for researching the legitimacy of websites, and of course 95% of the reviews of this site all said the same thing- it's a scam. The mathematics are broken down in a bunch of the reviews on Site Jabber, so I won't go into that, but really this company is based on complete trickery.
Although I do believe the products are authentic (I HATE knockoffs and think they are disgusting) the site is a gambling scam. It's just like the casinos in Vegas- the marble and onyx has to be paid by someone! I probably won't even be using my remaining 20 bids because if I were to win (which is unlikely) I really do not want to give this company any business at all.
Moral of the story: watch out for designer product scams and stick with legitimate companies for all of your chic purchases!
Monday, July 12, 2010
Friday, July 09, 2010
I, like every girl, have been contemplating my wedding dress since I was the age of 5. As early as the 1st grade I often chopped up my Barbie's white gowns in order to test possible wedding day frocks. Nowadays, I drool over the awe-inspiring wedding gowns of designers such as Oscar de la Renta and Vera Wang. And this might be a little too much information, but I definitely have spent a few Friday nights curled up watching repeats of TLC's Say Yes to The Dress. Naturally, I was completely excited when RemChic reader, Katy, asked for help with her own wedding plans!
Here's what she had to say...
Question: "I have been having the toughest time finding ANY dresses that I like for myself and my bridesmaids. I've looked at RemChic and really like the things that you put together and I would like your help if you have the time. I really like tea-length dresses since my wedding will be on the beach and I don't want to drag a train through the sand. I think the bridesmaids dresses should be the same length or shorter. I like semi-formal ones more than fancy expensive things...If you do get the time to look and you come across anything awesome, just let me know."
There are so many options out there it's really hard to decide where to begin. I'll be breaking this question down into a 3-part series:
The first (most important) aspect to consider is what your personal style is. This is a day where (like it or not) all eyes will be on you! You want your dress to reflect who you are as a lady, right?
There are a series of questions every bride-to-be should ask herself, so naturally I picked Katy's brain in regards to a number of aspects she should consider. Here are the guidelines. Katy's responses have been highlighted in light pink.
This is the first place to start because shape will really help you find a starting point. I listed 4 different shapes for Katy to choose from based on the preliminary information she gave me. Of course, there are tons of silhouettes out there, but these four are fairly common and would work well considering Katy's circumstances.
Which silhouette do you prefer?
a. Ball Gown: These have a full skirt and usually have layered skirting. They also generally have crinolines built in or a slip (that may or may not be a separate piece) that must be worn in order to support the shape of the gown. Ball gowns are also similar to a bell shape.
b. A-Line: This type of dress has a fitted bodice that is the most tight around the waist and then flairs gently downward to form an “A” shape. This is ideal if you want to cover the tummy or other lower body areas. A-lines are similar to ball gowns in that they both flare out; however, they aren’t as voluminous as ball gowns.
c. Sheaths: This dress is designed to fit the body snuggly. I would only recommend this dress if you are very comfortable with your figure. The material for these dresses is usually a silk and hardly ever contains elaborate embellishments, although minimum beading and/or lace overlays can be found with extra hunting.
After you have considered the foundational element (shape) then start to think about what kind of detailing you'd like to see on your dress. I generated a list for Katy to choose from, but again, the possibilities are endless.
Which of the following would you consider on your dress?
a. Bows
b. Ruffles
h. Ruching
i. Draping
j. Asymmetrical/One Shoulder
p. Cut-out Back
No one is a cookie cutter bride! Ask yourself what kinds of specifics you want when dress hunting. Having a list of 5 or so words and phrases will help you tell personnel at the bridal boutiques what you are looking for. You can also stop and ask yourself "Is this dress (insert word or phrase here)," which is helpful when making wise shopping decisions.
Please list 5 adjectives that you feel describe your style and/or the style of your wedding dress.
Here are Katy's answers:
Of course, you MUST think about where you are going to wear your dress, as well the other aspects that will make up your look, such as hair style and veil. Here are some questions I asked Katy to consider:
Will you be wearing your dress for the ceremony and reception?
What kind of footwear will you be wearing?
Do you plan on having a veil?
Will you be wearing your hair up, down, or half up?
Beyond these preliminary questions, it can be beneficial (and fun) to try other bridal resources, such as one of the many wedding gown quizzes out there. I had Katy take one from TLC's Say Yes to The Dress. The link is below, as well as Katy's result.
Please take this quiz and enter your final results below.
Stay tuned for PART DEUX where I will take all of this information and apply it! The hunt for Katy's wedding dress is on! In the mean time, if you have a question for RemChic you can...
1) E-mail me at info at remchic dot com
2) Become a fan of RemChic and ask via Facebook!
RemChic needs YOUR help. Should I buy studded high top Converse?
Sample Sale Highlights: Converse, Lacoste, Juicy Couture
Here are some great sales that will take you into the weekend! This Sunday, my mom and I are going to take my brother and sister back-to-school shopping in Scottsdale. I'm not gonna lie...I have definitely purchased a few headbands and bracelets from the Children's Place, so there is a possibility I might wind up with a few trinkets for myself! And I love shopping vicariously through my sister. She has such an eccentric sense of style and is totally in this girly punk phase with bright pink peace signs and plaid vests; its pretty adorable. Hope you all have a great weekend!
Saturday. July 31 2010.
The Classics Sale (Keds, Converse, Sperry) opens at 9:00am MST
Sunday. August 1 2010.
Summer Tees and Tanks Sale opens at 9:00am MST*
Nina Ricci and Christian Lacroix Scarves opens at 9:00am MST
*was originally scheduled for Saturday
Nina Ricci and Christian Lacroix Scarves opens at 9:00am MST
*was originally scheduled for Saturday
Monday. August 2 2010.
Moschino Signature opens at 9:00am MST
click here for the Hautelook invitation link
Saturday. July 31 2010.
Saturday Blowout opens at 8:00am PST
Monday. August 2 2010.
Back to Cool Sale opens at 8:00am PST
Monday. August 2 2010.
Back to Cool Sale opens at 8:00am PST
Sunday. August 2 2010.
Haute Hippie opens at 8:00am PST
click here for the Rue La La invitation link
Saturday. July 31 2010.
Nicole Miller opens at 11:00am EST
opens at 11:00am EST
Nicole Miller opens at 11:00am EST
opens at 11:00am EST
Sunday. August 1 2010.
Skullcandy opens at 11:00am ESTSunday Night Styleathon opens at 8:00pm EST
Monday. August 2 2010.
TechnoMarine opens at 11:00am EST
Monday. August 2 2010.
TechnoMarine opens at 11:00am EST
click here for the Beyond the Rack invitation link
Saturday. July 31 2010.
Prada opens at 11:00am EST
Juicy Couture opens at 11:00am EST
navoh opens at 11:00am EST
Sunday. August 1 2010.
N.Y.L.A. shoes opens at 11:00am EST
Guess opens at 11:00am EST
Monday. August 2 2010.
True Religion opens at 11:00am EST
Menswear Event (feat. Dolce and Gabbana, Lacoste) opens at 11:00am EST
Saturday. July 31 2010.
Prada opens at 11:00am EST
Juicy Couture opens at 11:00am EST
navoh opens at 11:00am EST
Sunday. August 1 2010.
N.Y.L.A. shoes opens at 11:00am EST
Guess opens at 11:00am EST
Monday. August 2 2010.
True Religion opens at 11:00am EST
Menswear Event (feat. Dolce and Gabbana, Lacoste) opens at 11:00am EST
A few friendly reminders from RemChic
1. There is a new poll up for August so be sure and vote! The poll is located on the sidebar!
2. RemChic now has a Facebook and a Twitter, so please like RemChic on Facebook and follow RemChic on Twitter! Click the words "Facebook" and "Twitter" to be linked to RemChic's Facebook and Twitter page, respectively, OR look for the widgets on the sidebar!
3. If you enjoy reading RemChic, please show your friends! Suggest it to them verbally, through Facebook (here is an article on how to do that), or tell them to sign up for my nifty e-mail updates!
4. Above brings me to my next point, don't forget to subscribe to RemChic's e-mail update service! There's a widget on my sidebar and all you have to do is sign up and then go to your e-mail's inbox and click a confirmation link that will be sent to you in an e-mail from Feedburner (who hosts my e-mail subscriptions).
Thanks everyone! Your support means the world to me!
2. RemChic now has a Facebook and a Twitter, so please like RemChic on Facebook and follow RemChic on Twitter! Click the words "Facebook" and "Twitter" to be linked to RemChic's Facebook and Twitter page, respectively, OR look for the widgets on the sidebar!
3. If you enjoy reading RemChic, please show your friends! Suggest it to them verbally, through Facebook (here is an article on how to do that), or tell them to sign up for my nifty e-mail updates!
4. Above brings me to my next point, don't forget to subscribe to RemChic's e-mail update service! There's a widget on my sidebar and all you have to do is sign up and then go to your e-mail's inbox and click a confirmation link that will be sent to you in an e-mail from Feedburner (who hosts my e-mail subscriptions).
Thanks everyone! Your support means the world to me!
Quotes & Couture VIII
"I love to take things that are everyday and comforting and make them into the most luxurious things in the world."
-Marc Jacobs
Sample Sale Highlights: July 25-28, 2010
Anyways, I had a reader e-mail me asking for some more information on these sites, including information on their sales and invitation codes for the sales. All of these sites are by invitation-only and the sort of member-only society lends itself to a luxurious shopping experience without having to get dolled up to shove your fellow shoppers out of the way to score a good deal. Although don't get me wrong, it's on my bucket list to go to a New York warehouse sample sale. I just need to buff up a bit first.
I will be periodically posting what I call "Sample Sale Highlights" where I will showcase the most anticipated online sample sales, what time they will go live, and invitation codes for everyone to join! I'd love to hear about your amazing designer buys, so be sure and comment if you have any sample sale success stories!
Okay, so it only behooves you if I post the sales prior to when they go live, so make sure you mark your calendars if you are going to shop! Additionally, I won't be listing any sample sales from brands I'm not familiar with. There will probably be other sales in addition to the ones I've listed, but as the title says, these are highlights.
Sunday. July 25 2010.
Pour la Victoire opens at 6:00pm MST
Monday. July 26 2010.
Alexander Wang opens at 9:00am MST
Alexander Wang accessories opens at 9:00am MST
William Rast opens at 9:00am MST
Tuesday. July 27 2010.
Diesel Black Gold opens at 9:00am MST
Noir jewelry and handbags opens at 9:00am MST
Wednesday. July 28 2010.
Kain Label opens at 9:00am MST
click here for the Hautelook invitation link
Monday. July 26 2010.
HARAJUKU LOVERS opens at 8:00am PST
Hautlook's Handbag Blowout opens at 8:00am PST
Tuesday. July 27 2010.
decades/decades two blowout opens at 8:00am PST
Wednesday. July 28 2010.
Free People opens at 9:00am PST
click here for the ideeli invitation link
Monday. July 26 2010.
ideeli's Back to School sale opens at 12:00pm EST
ideeli's Back to College sale (feat. Lacoste, Harajuku Lovers) opens at 12:00pm EST
repetto sale opens at 12:00pm EST
C&C California opens at 12:00pm EST
Monday. July 26 2010.
ideeli's Back to School sale opens at 12:00pm EST
ideeli's Back to College sale (feat. Lacoste, Harajuku Lovers) opens at 12:00pm EST
repetto sale opens at 12:00pm EST
C&C California opens at 12:00pm EST
Tuesday. July 27 2010.
Report Signature opens at 12:00pm EST
click here for the Rue La La invitation link
Sunday. July 25 2010.
Sunday Night Styleathon opens at 8:00pm EST
Monday. July 26 2010.
PUMA opens at 11:00am EST
Tuesday. July 27 2010.
MICHAEL Michael Kors opens at 11:00am EST
click here for the Beyond the Rack invitation link
Sunday. July 25 2010.
Shu Uemura opens at 11:00am EST
Designer Bag Boutique (feat. Dior, Miu Miu) opens at 11:00am EST
Monday. July 26 2010.
Tom Ford sunglasses opens at 11:00am EST
Levi's opens at 11:00am EST
Designer Accessories Event (feat. Coach) opens at 11:00am EST
Sunday. July 25 2010.
Shu Uemura opens at 11:00am EST
Designer Bag Boutique (feat. Dior, Miu Miu) opens at 11:00am EST
Monday. July 26 2010.
Tom Ford sunglasses opens at 11:00am EST
Levi's opens at 11:00am EST
Designer Accessories Event (feat. Coach) opens at 11:00am EST
Louis Vuitton's Monogram Volupté bags are not too shabby!
There are two versions of this bag: Beauté and Psyché. The first is a bit longer/more rectangular, while the latter is a square. There are two colors available gris (a sort of navyish gray) and bordeaux (a muted plum/mulberry). I think I like these bags because they are a classic, but the texture on the bottom half is interesting. It is sort of worn and crinkly, with the LV logo secretly embedded in the leather. On one hand it kinda looks old and beat up (which isn't comforting when you consider the $2,000+ price tag), but on the other hand it's innovative and is a fresh break from the super shiny leather and matte leather bags we've seen a lot of this fall. If you are interested, these bags will be released on August 13! Personally, I think I'd go for Psyché in Gris. Here are the bags! The pictures were found on ILVOELV:
Beauté
Psyché
Inspired by...Burberry Prorsum RTW Fall 2010
RemChic Note: "Inspired by..." is a series that focuses on highlighting an outstanding runway collection. These articles summarize different elements of the collection, as well as show affordable pieces that are inspired by the collection. The objective here is to recognize high fashion and to translate it into a budget-friendly wardrobe. Imitation is not the objective.
Christopher Bailey is a genius, and as Sarah Mower of style.com states, "There's only one problem with the jackets on the Burberry Prorsum runway for fall: Which one to choose?" The first aspect that caught my eye was Bailey's color choice. The collection incorporates my two favorite color pallets- earth tones and charcoals, while also adding a little "oh la la" factor with splashes of cobalt blue in the mix. The collection is structured and confident, as well as timeless. The assertive looks are without a doubt dominated by the jackets, which are adorned with oversized collars and military-inspired button lines. The variations in volume and shape are visually pleasing and daring, but in a subtle way. Any garment from this collection would last you decades, and I for one hope Bailey gets all the recognition he deserves for this collection.
Alas, for us starving fashionistas, it's time to look around for inspirational pieces that will remind us of Burberry's fall collection until we can afford the actual pieces. Below I've made a slideshow of seven of my favorite looks (pictures are from style.com) followed by a montage I've created which captures the different elements of this collection.
The first thing to do would be to look for outerwear. I would recommend looking for either longer coats that have wide collars and big buttons or shorter straight line jackets that can be worn unbottoned. One example of this is the double-breasted coat by Laundry by Shelli Segal featured below, and of course, you can never go wrong with black. Then, pair it with a fierce heeled boot, such as Diba Women's Sassy Thing boot (that thing is straight out of Pretty Woman I swear). Next, we need to add some tidbits of blue and olive green, so I've chosen a slim linen trouser by Max Studio and a very affordable estate blue top from Kohl's. If you aren't feeling the olive trousers (I've recently seen enough twill bottoms to last me a lifetime), go for a pair of slippery-seeming leggings by Topshop. And of course, you can't leave the house without accessories! I've chosen to feature a very affordable black waist belt from Forever 21 and a studded clutch from ASOS (inspired by picture number five if you count from the left). The ring I found from the wholesale site erayo, but get this- each ring is a vintage button attached to a brass ring loop. How cool is that? If you're interested the minimum quantity is five; you could keep one (or two or three) and give the rest away! Finally, I thought this outfit would look great with some manicured nails in plum, so I've chosen an OPI nail color from their Hong Kong collection. Whew!
Well, that concludes my first Inspired by... post! Let me know what you think! If you'd like to see a certain collection featured on Inspired by... send me an e-mail at info at remchic dot com!
Weddings 101: A crash course in wedding & bridesmaid frocks- PART TROIS
After hunting around for bridesmaid dresses, the saying "always the bridesmaid, never the bride" doesn't register with me as a bad thing. Just saying, I wouldn't complain if I was Katherine Heigel in 27 Dresses so long as I got to twirl around in gorgeous satin or chiffon frocks. At least for a little while that is. Anyways, now that we have addressed the most important person in our wedding series, the bride, it is time to focus on her bridesmaids! If you missed the first two parts in this series check out PART UN here and PART DEUX here!
Again, since Katy is having a number of bridesmaids she needs to find a style that will suit more than one body type. I would recommend an A-line dress because it will look good on a variety of shapes. This type of dress has a fitted bodice that is the most tight around the waist and then flairs gently downward to form an “A” shape. This is ideal if you want to cover the tummy or other lower body areas, but it will also look good even if you don't necessary want/need to cover those areas. A-lines are similar to ball gowns in that they both flare out; however, they aren’t as voluminous as ball gowns.
I found the dress through David's Bridal and have picked out three colors to show. From left to right the colors are: persimmon, tangerine, and canary. I like this dress because it is an A-line shape and the pleating around the waist will really accentuate the smallest part of any girls' body, creating a very pretty feminine shape. The dress is fully lined, but the sateen fabric makes this dress very airy- perfect for Katy's beach wedding in Mexico!
Option 2: Mori Lee Chiffon Dress
Well, that concludes our bridal series. What did you guys think? Leave me a comment or e-mail me at info at remchic dot com! I'd also like to wish Katy and Cory congratulations on their engagement and all the happiness in the world!
Exhibit A: Colors
Katy told me she is going to have six bridesmaids and would like to have a sunset-inspired color pallet, meaning oranges, corals, and yellows. When it comes to bridesmaid dress selection, one of the cardinal rules is having enough color contrast between the bride and her bridesmaids. I would be very careful about picking pastels. In all honesty, I probably wouldn't even consider pastels for my own wedding, but to each his (or her) own.
Also, since Katy is going to have six bridesmaids, she needs to think about colors that will accommodate a variety of skin tones. If she is planning on lining her bridesmaids up in a certain order, she must take their dresses' color into consideration (for example one option would be having two girls in orange, followed by two in yellow, and then two in coral). Furthermore, Katy needs to know all of the color options for the if the style of dress she desires. All of these elements will play into her final decision. Here is a collection of possible options:
Exhibit B: Silhouette
Again, since Katy is having a number of bridesmaids she needs to find a style that will suit more than one body type. I would recommend an A-line dress because it will look good on a variety of shapes. This type of dress has a fitted bodice that is the most tight around the waist and then flairs gently downward to form an “A” shape. This is ideal if you want to cover the tummy or other lower body areas, but it will also look good even if you don't necessary want/need to cover those areas. A-lines are similar to ball gowns in that they both flare out; however, they aren’t as voluminous as ball gowns.
Option 1: Short Sateen Dress
I found the dress through David's Bridal and have picked out three colors to show. From left to right the colors are: persimmon, tangerine, and canary. I like this dress because it is an A-line shape and the pleating around the waist will really accentuate the smallest part of any girls' body, creating a very pretty feminine shape. The dress is fully lined, but the sateen fabric makes this dress very airy- perfect for Katy's beach wedding in Mexico!
Option 2: Mori Lee Chiffon Dress
This dress is another A-line; however, there is a lot more going on here. The bust is sweetheart shape that has breathtaking pleated chiffon, and the strap has some floral detailing. This dress is also longer: it's knee length, as opposed to the cocktail length shown in the first option. The colors I've chosen to feature are jalapeno, buttercup, and cantaloupe. For more information, check out Mori Lee's website.
Option 3: Amsale Chiffon Dress
This is another chiffon dress and is sort of a hybrid between the first two options. It's above the knee and has a floral detailing, but it isn't as fierce (for lack of a better word) as the second option. Their website wouldn't allow me to switch between the colors, so I've included their collection of possible swatches you can order. I would recommend the coral.
Fashionably Scammed: Oohilove trick cost me $30
Okay, so the next step is you go to the live auctions and each time you (or anyone else) bid(s) the price of the item goes up by $0.02 and the timer goes up by 10 seconds. All items start at $0.00. They feature a ton of great items from $100 Tiffany gift cards to Louis Vuitton bags that retail for over a grand. They also have a tab where you can view the auctions that have ended and the winning price. I was completely floored when I saw Tory Burch leather totes won for $15.00 or less. Additionally, everything is guaranteed authentic.
Now for the scam part. I am completely convinced you are bidding against at least one person per auction from Oohilove. There were multiple times when I clicked "bid" when the timer was at 1 second or less. Somehow I kept losing! How could this be?! After losing a Tiffanys necklace, a pair of Christian Louboutin Rolando pumps, and over $10.00 worth of bids...I started to question the site. I went to Site Jabber, which is a great website for researching the legitimacy of websites, and of course 95% of the reviews of this site all said the same thing- it's a scam. The mathematics are broken down in a bunch of the reviews on Site Jabber, so I won't go into that, but really this company is based on complete trickery.
Although I do believe the products are authentic (I HATE knockoffs and think they are disgusting) the site is a gambling scam. It's just like the casinos in Vegas- the marble and onyx has to be paid by someone! I probably won't even be using my remaining 20 bids because if I were to win (which is unlikely) I really do not want to give this company any business at all.
Moral of the story: watch out for designer product scams and stick with legitimate companies for all of your chic purchases!
Weddings 101: A crash course in wedding & bridesmaid frocks- PART DEUX
The first part of this series was pretty much a brainstorming session. Now, we are ready to shop! Granted, I wouldn't recommend bridal shopping online, but the internet is a good place to start. I've decided to feature 4 dresses, all of which incorporate elements desired by Katy. However, they are also all different and collectively showcase a number of possible embellishments and styles. Hope this helps!
I love this dress because it meets a lot of Katy's criteria. It's tea length and classic. It appears to be well made and has a few interesting details. First, the color is a little bit of an off-white, and the beading around the v-line neck is really pretty. The beading is also intertwined with some embrodiery, but nothing here is over-the-top. It's elegant, but not too overbearing for a beach wedding. It will also transition well from the ceremony to the reception. View this dress and others by Melissa Sweet on The Knot (you do have to be a member to view anything on The Knot, and yes I did create a fake account to access this in which I had to enter a fake groom's name, fake wedding destination, and fake wedding date.)
Couldn't they have named this dress Floral Applique Dress or something besides Style WG3165? The series of numbers and letters really makes wedding gown hunting seem very unglamorous. They should work on their marketing haha. Anyways, I picked this dress because Katy said she would consider floral embellishments and the floral applique around the bust is really adorable and is different from the beading we saw in the first dress. This fit is an a-line, which I know would look great on Katy's petite frame. The applique can be custom ordered in beige, champagne, or white, so if you are feeling a little contrast for an extra "pop" it can be done!
This brings me to another point. Throughout my search I've found a lot of places offer little custom details, and everything I've done has been online. If you are out dress shopping be sure and ask about any and all custom details. Don't rule out a dress because of one minor detail because chances are you can get it fixed/changed.
Okay, so you would have to order this dress in all white. I think the featured picture is a pink/white combo in order to show the lace detailing, which you wouldn't really be able to see if you were looking online at an all white dress. I chose this dress because it has a lace bust and the back (not pictured) is a corset back. Both of the elements I just mentioned were ones Katy said she would try. Additionally, the A-line of this dress has a little bit more flow to it when compared with the first two options. The only element that made me hesitant is the bow because Katy did not mark bows or ribbons. Perhaps that's something that could be altered as well. Check out more details here.
Option 1: Antigua by Reverie by Melissa Sweet
Option 2: Galina Wedding Dress Style WG3165
Couldn't they have named this dress Floral Applique Dress or something besides Style WG3165? The series of numbers and letters really makes wedding gown hunting seem very unglamorous. They should work on their marketing haha. Anyways, I picked this dress because Katy said she would consider floral embellishments and the floral applique around the bust is really adorable and is different from the beading we saw in the first dress. This fit is an a-line, which I know would look great on Katy's petite frame. The applique can be custom ordered in beige, champagne, or white, so if you are feeling a little contrast for an extra "pop" it can be done!
This brings me to another point. Throughout my search I've found a lot of places offer little custom details, and everything I've done has been online. If you are out dress shopping be sure and ask about any and all custom details. Don't rule out a dress because of one minor detail because chances are you can get it fixed/changed.
Option 3: Mon Cheri Style BY21041T
Option 4: Mon Cheri Style BY1969T
This is a chiffon dress (most of the other ones I have featured are silk) and the sweetheart bodice has a little bit more structure to it. The gathering of the fabric has a different dimension in comparison with added embellishments (such as beading and embroidery). This dress is also has spaghetti straps, which is a unique choice for a wedding dress. The picture shows the dress in lemon, but it is available in white. The dress is a little bit more romantic, as opposed to Katy's casual style, but it's still very pretty and would suit Katy's body shape. More information is available here.
Okay, so now that PART UN and PART DEUX have been written, the next thing to explore is bridesmaid dresses! Stay tuned....and in the mean time let me know what you think so far!
Weddings 101: A crash course in wedding & bridesmaid frocks- PART UN
I, like every girl, have been contemplating my wedding dress since I was the age of 5. As early as the 1st grade I often chopped up my Barbie's white gowns in order to test possible wedding day frocks. Nowadays, I drool over the awe-inspiring wedding gowns of designers such as Oscar de la Renta and Vera Wang. And this might be a little too much information, but I definitely have spent a few Friday nights curled up watching repeats of TLC's Say Yes to The Dress. Naturally, I was completely excited when RemChic reader, Katy, asked for help with her own wedding plans!
Here's what she had to say...
Question: "I have been having the toughest time finding ANY dresses that I like for myself and my bridesmaids. I've looked at RemChic and really like the things that you put together and I would like your help if you have the time. I really like tea-length dresses since my wedding will be on the beach and I don't want to drag a train through the sand. I think the bridesmaids dresses should be the same length or shorter. I like semi-formal ones more than fancy expensive things...If you do get the time to look and you come across anything awesome, just let me know."
There are so many options out there it's really hard to decide where to begin. I'll be breaking this question down into a 3-part series:
PART UN:
will focus on brainstorming and making sure we have a clear idea of what type of wedding dress you are looking for. We will be assisting Katy in figuring this out, and consequently, she will be serving as a great example!
PART DEUX:
will focus on giving examples of how we can translate the information from our brainstorming session into bridal attire.
PART TROIS:
will focus exclusively on bridesmaid attire, and all of my examples will be catered to Katy's wedding.
The first (most important) aspect to consider is what your personal style is. This is a day where (like it or not) all eyes will be on you! You want your dress to reflect who you are as a lady, right?
There are a series of questions every bride-to-be should ask herself, so naturally I picked Katy's brain in regards to a number of aspects she should consider. Here are the guidelines. Katy's responses have been highlighted in light pink.
Exhibit A: Silhouette
This is the first place to start because shape will really help you find a starting point. I listed 4 different shapes for Katy to choose from based on the preliminary information she gave me. Of course, there are tons of silhouettes out there, but these four are fairly common and would work well considering Katy's circumstances.
Which silhouette do you prefer?
a. Ball Gown: These have a full skirt and usually have layered skirting. They also generally have crinolines built in or a slip (that may or may not be a separate piece) that must be worn in order to support the shape of the gown. Ball gowns are also similar to a bell shape.
b. A-Line: This type of dress has a fitted bodice that is the most tight around the waist and then flairs gently downward to form an “A” shape. This is ideal if you want to cover the tummy or other lower body areas. A-lines are similar to ball gowns in that they both flare out; however, they aren’t as voluminous as ball gowns.
c. Sheaths: This dress is designed to fit the body snuggly. I would only recommend this dress if you are very comfortable with your figure. The material for these dresses is usually a silk and hardly ever contains elaborate embellishments, although minimum beading and/or lace overlays can be found with extra hunting.
d. Empire Waist: This is most similar to A-line; however, the tightest part of the body is actually the bustline, not the waist. Empire waist dresses are made of light, flowy fabric.
Exhibit B: Embellishments and Styling
After you have considered the foundational element (shape) then start to think about what kind of detailing you'd like to see on your dress. I generated a list for Katy to choose from, but again, the possibilities are endless.
Which of the following would you consider on your dress?
a. Bows
b. Ruffles
c. Lace
d. Beading
e. Pleatingf. Floral Embellishments
g. Ribbonh. Ruching
i. Draping
j. Asymmetrical/One Shoulder
k. Strapless
l. Halter
m. Cap Sleeven. Backless
o. V-neck Backp. Cut-out Back
q. Corset Back
Exhibit B: Capture Your Style Preferences
No one is a cookie cutter bride! Ask yourself what kinds of specifics you want when dress hunting. Having a list of 5 or so words and phrases will help you tell personnel at the bridal boutiques what you are looking for. You can also stop and ask yourself "Is this dress (insert word or phrase here)," which is helpful when making wise shopping decisions.
Please list 5 adjectives that you feel describe your style and/or the style of your wedding dress.
Here are Katy's answers:
1. Flowy
2. Semi-formal (Beach Style)
3. Tea-Length
4. Simple, but with one or two “pops” (like beading or flowers)
5. Fitting (not too, too puffy)
Exhibit C: Venue and Circumstance
Of course, you MUST think about where you are going to wear your dress, as well the other aspects that will make up your look, such as hair style and veil. Here are some questions I asked Katy to consider:
Will you be wearing your dress for the ceremony and reception?
Yes.
What kind of footwear will you be wearing?
During the sandy-ceremony, either flip-flops or bare-foot. After that, something cuter like wedges or a kitten heel (I can’t do three inchers unless it’s a wedge haha).
Do you plan on having a veil?
No.
Will you be wearing your hair up, down, or half up?
I think I will either have my hair down or half up.
Exhibit D: Explore Other Resources
Beyond these preliminary questions, it can be beneficial (and fun) to try other bridal resources, such as one of the many wedding gown quizzes out there. I had Katy take one from TLC's Say Yes to The Dress. The link is below, as well as Katy's result.
Please take this quiz and enter your final results below.
Your style is: Casual
“Effortless, elegant and comfortable” describes your style. Your ideal wedding is one where everyone feels relaxed and happy, including yourself. Look for a simple, flowing dress with a flirtatious cut to match your refreshing style."
Stay tuned for PART DEUX where I will take all of this information and apply it! The hunt for Katy's wedding dress is on! In the mean time, if you have a question for RemChic you can...
1) E-mail me at info at remchic dot com
2) Become a fan of RemChic and ask via Facebook!
