Christmas easy to incorporate into ceremony, festivities
From red marzipan bows on the cake to holiday wreaths on tables, December brides and grooms have found many ways to incorporate Christmas into their weddings.
December nuptials remain a small minority — 2 percent of couples surveyed last year by the bridal site TheKnot.com — and not all are looking to take on the holiday in a big way, but embracing readily available festive decor makes it easy to incorporate the spirit of the season. And it saves money in the process.
“But couples should keep in mind that there may be competition for venues thanks to holiday parties,” said Lauren Kay, senior style editor for TheKnot.
Brighid Molway and David Burns planned to take photos in front of a huge Christmas tree inside the 900 North Michigan Shops when they tied the knot Saturday evening at a downtown Chicago hotel. Their DJ had a play list of holiday songs, including Elvis singing “Blue Christmas” and two versions of “White Christmas” by Bing Crosby and The Drifters.
Molway and Burns were planning their first dance as a married couple to Judy Garland singing “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.” Clips from “It’s a Wonderful Life” were going to roll on a screen as they danced, Molway said.
“That was my mom’s favorite Christmas movie and she is no longer with us, so we’re going to dedicate the dance to her,” Molway said. “We decided to get married around this time because it’s my favorite time of year. It’s also a time that screams family to me.”
For Suzanne McCullough’s Dec. 4 wedding five years ago, it started with her dress. She wanted velvet.
“We needed a time of the year when velvet would be appropriate so we decided on Christmas, which I think is the most romantic time of the year anyway,” said McCullough, of Burlington, N.J.
“We were married in a 300-year-old bed-and-breakfast that was beautifully decorated for Christmas. We served a hot wine punch with hors d’oeuvres and a croquembouche for dessert,” she said.
Their centerpieces were wreaths with frosted red berries tucked in and a mirror and a votive candle at the center. McCullough’s bouquet featured red and white flowers, and a flower girl wore a sparkly, Christmas red dress.
“The town’s Christmas parade was going on while we were being married,” she recalled.
Kellee Khalil, founder and chief executive of the wedding site Lover.ly, said incorporating holiday touches can span the wedding experience, Khalil said.
Try serving up some seasonal favorites, for instance, such as roast turkey or ham. Embrace modern mixology with cocktails like a peppermint bark martini or a bourbon-cranberry blizzard.
“If you’re not about those flavors, opt for more festive accoutrements like red and white or metallic-stripe straws and swizzle sticks with candy cane stirrers,” Khalil suggests.
Couples can orchestrate holiday decor without falling prey to a played-out color palette, she said.
“I love mixing metallics like gold, silver, bronze, rose gold, platinum and pearl into tablescapes.
“Or get a little bit more literal with mistletoe. Hang it at the altar or use it as the muse for your photo booth,” Khalil said.
For couples willing to go over the top, treat guests to a performance by carolers, she said. Maybe have Santa make an appearance for little guests. Set up a hot cocoa and cookie station with frosting to keep them occupied.
On that wedding 'to do' list is getting the right photographer. The one who can give you that memory you can look at over and over again. But, the Fox 5 I-Team learned of a photographer who's given brides a few memories they'd like to forget.
Joshua Rauh, who got married December 2014, said, "We liked his pictures on the website. We liked his use of color."
Mr. Rauh and his then-fiancee' picked Graceology Photography run by Chris and Heather Yellina to photograph their wedding.
"He told us that actually he had just had surgery, so he hadn't been able to work for a little while. So, he offered us to pay half his normal fee," he recalled.
$1,600. Done. They asked him to also do bridal portraits.
"He gave her pretty much the same deal, 'Just pay half and that'll be it'."
$250. Another thing checked off the wedding 'to do' list. But the hard part was yet to come - trying to get a Graceology photographer to show up.
A few weeks before the first photo session, the couple says they got an email from Chris Yellina, that he'd had "some surgery complications," but nothing about canceling their shoot.
"My wife reached out to him about a week or so before the scheduled bridal session."
Then came another email. This time he'd been involved in "2 car crashes."
"He said, 'I've been in the hospital. I'm going to have my associate Victor do the bridal session', which was fine with us," Joshua said.
But, he says no one reached out. And no one at Graceology Photography was answering his calls, so he tried calling from a different phone.
"He picked up."
Joshua Rauh taped the conversation.
Photographer: Hello, it's Chris.
Groom: This is Joshua Rauh, Molly Shepherd's fiancé.
Photographer: Yes, how are you?
Groom: Just wondering if we are still on tomorrow?
Chris Yellina said, yes, his back-up would be there in his place because, well, he was sick again. Here's more of that taped conversation.
Photographer: I've actually been in the hospital all week with some heart symptoms.
The bridal party photos are stunning. No thanks to Graceology Photography. The fill-in failed to show. Fortunately, a sympathetic relative stepped in and took these shots.
That was it. The wedding was two weeks out. The couple decided to cancel their contract and asked for their money back. They hired new photographers Lamar Gee Photography and Kevin Voth, whom they were very happy with.
"He did eventually send an email out to my wife saying he would reach out to her to discuss everything that had happened. He never did," he said frustrated.
The couple sued. Chris and Heather's defense in court?
"Oh, he didn't show up in court," said Joshua.
The newly married couple got a default judgment last May for $2,376.50. They're still waiting for the money.
The Fox 5 I-Team went to the Yellina house and asked for Heather Yellina.
"She's not here. I'm the housekeeper," said the woman who answered the door.
Chris Yellina called us right after this. He admitted that was not a housekeeper but his wife.
He told me, this has been "the worst year of my life."
The wedding photographer claimed car accidents, a sick child, a knee replacement. Things, he says, that couldn't be helped.
Clients told the I-Team they are forgiving of personal problems but not of ignoring their calls, their texts and their emails; of sending strangers to shoot their wedding last minute; and of refusing to show up in court to explain what happened.
Chris Yellina of Graceology Photography said he has worked hard this year to pay back clients. He said he only owes Joshua Rauh and his wife money now.
"No that is not true. He still owes me money," said summer bride Nicole Nguyen.
Her complaint that Graceology owes her money added to the BBB's "F" rating. She hired Graceology to photograph her wedding, but another photographer showed up. She said the fill-in photographer, Evan Porter Martin, did a fine job, but he couldn't give her the photos. Graceology still owed him money.
"He said that Chris did not pay him the full amount of money."
She felt trapped. Pay an extra $500 to get her pictures or risk never seeing them again. She paid by taking that money from what was to be honeymoon spending cash.
Shaking her head Nicole said, "I don't think I will get my money back from Chris at all."
In a text Chris Yellina told the Fox 5 I-Team that he plans to pay her back. He told me - again - it's been a terrible personal year. He said he had to borrow money from family to pay people back. And, he has one more big, life hurdle to jump then he will return money to Nicole Nguyen and Joshua Rauh.
Heidi Montag & Spencer Pratt Dress Up As Grinch Characters In Crazy Christmas Card
‘Tis the season for bizarre Christmas-themed photos! Case in point: Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag channeled The Grinch and Cindy Lou Who — from Dr. Seuss’ holiday favorite, ‘How The Grinch Stole Christmas’ — for their holiday card. ‘The Hills’ alums even commandeered their dogs for the photo shoot, which is definitely a holiday photo hall-of-famer!
Spencer Pratt, 32, may not be a grouch in real-life, but he sure nailed the part of the ornery, green-skinned Grinch in a new photo, in which his wife Heidi Montag, 29, dressed up as Whoville’s wide-eyed Cindy Lou Who — pigtails and all! And the couple’s dogs even have a starring role in the photo, in a nod to The Grinch’s tortured pooch, Max — though the pooches are missing strap-on antlers. Wait until you see this epic snap!
Super cute photos are an annual holiday tradition for Heidi and Spencer, who last year channeled Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus, but we think the reality TV duo outdid themselves with this year’s photo, especially by enlisting their dogs and popping Santa hats on them. Adding to the yuletide vibe, is the couple’s decked-out Christmas tree in the background. Love it!
Stream music, completely unlimited and ad-free, RIGHT HERE
We can’t wait to see more Christmas photos from Heidi and Spencer, since unlike the Grinch, these two are filled with holiday spirit! They’ve been together now for years so we bet they’ve done several other Christmas cards! We just have to wonder what their former The Hills co-stars,Lauren Conrad and Brody Jenner think about this. We bet Lauren would never do something this creepy!
But the onslaught of celeb holiday cards hasn’t even begun. Kelly Clarkson kicked it off Dec. 9,releasing her Games of Thrones-themed card with her family, which was incredible … but we’re really looking forward to the Kardashians’ annual holiday photo spectacular! Will little Saint Westmake an appearance?! Fingers crossed!
do you think Heidi and Spencer’s photo is creepy or cute?
Holiday cookie recipe: The ultimate wedding cookie
Perhaps you know them better as butterballs or tea cakes — even crescents if the cookies are simply shaped another way. Whatever you call them, wedding cookies are a longtime holiday favorite. Rich, crumbly and packed with chopped nuts, the cookies are rolled in powdered or granulated sugar before serving. This recipe comes courtesy of reader Bonnie Zanardi of Whittier. She was a finalist one year in our L.A. Times Holiday Cookie Bake-Off. She writes:
2. In the bowl of a stand mixer, or in a large bowl using an electric mixer, beat the butter with one-half cup powdered sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the vanilla.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, salt and nuts. Beat the flour mixture slowly into the butter over low speed if using a stand mixer, or gently stir the flour into the butter mixture by hand until evenly combined to form a dough.
4. Roll the dough into 1 inch balls (about 1 rounded teaspoon of dough per cookie); if the dough is too soft to roll, chill it in the refrigerator until it is easy to handle. Place the cookies at least 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets. Bake until lightly browned, about 15 minutes.
5. While the cookies are still hot, gently roll them once in the remaining powdered sugar, then place the cookies on a rack to cool. After the cookies have cooled, roll them again in the remaining powdered sugar.
6. Store the cookies in tightly sealed plastic bags; they also freeze well.
I got married this past summer. The wedding ceremony was beautiful, heartfelt and touching. The reception featured delicious food, great music, dancing and celebrating. The day reflected our personal style and tastes perfectly.
And, miraculously, it didn’t put us in debt.
If you’ve ever planned a wedding, you know just how hard this can be. American weddings are a $60 billion-a-year industry, according to the market-research firm IBISWorld. And theknot.com found the average cost of a wedding in Los Angeles is $38,735. Think of all the things that money could be spent on: a down payment on a home, saving for your kids’ college tuition, several world-class vacations or a charitable donation to your favorite local nonprofit.
As my then-fiancée, Amanda, and I thought about it, we decided the “dream weddings” seen in magazines and online would be a nightmare to plan, and not worth the cost to us. So, instead, we relied on our friends’ help to pull off the wedding we actually wanted, not the one we thought we were supposed to have.
Location: After surveying our family members’ availability and picking the most accommodating date, we had to choose the location. We decided against a destination wedding and instead spent a few weekends visiting local parks, gardens, private clubs and other venues. Many of the spaces were not that attractive and would have required a lot of decorating. They cost several thousand dollars for just a few hours, and many require you to hire their preferred caterer, bartender, and even security guards and valet.
As we discussed our ideal location, we kept comparing it to our friends’ gorgeous backyard in Culver City. After they bought their house, they spent several years building a lush garden space with hanging plants, a fountain, a bar, a movie screen, fire pit and chairs. We asked them if they’d host our wedding, and they excitedly agreed. The husband makes a living as a carpenter and craftsman, and he offered to build us a stage for the chuppah. The labor was his gift to us, and we chipped in for the supplies.
Because of the smaller space, we decided to cap the invitation list at 50 people, which meant we had to make some difficult decisions. But we were able to celebrate with our family and closest friends — and we actually talked to everyone who attended.
Invitations: Once we had a date and location, we had to invite our guests. The cost of custom-printed invitations, RSVP cards and envelopes adds up quickly, and they lacked the personal touch we were looking for. Amanda is an artist and loves making things by hand, and she decided we should make our own invites. She brushed blue and green watercolor strokes onto blank cards. She then hand wrote the text in beautiful calligraphy on one card, which we had scanned and printed onto the painted cards at a professional printing press. The result was simple yet elegant, and, most important, handmade. We decided RSVP cards are a weird formality that somehow persists, so the invitations simply asked guests to confirm their attendance by email.
Chuppah: We spent a lot of time looking online for the right chuppah, the canopy that would cover us during the ceremony. Rather than use a big white sheet or tallit, we asked our friend Graham Keegan to make one. He uses natural, plant-based dyes to create original textile designs. We sifted through prints at his Silver Lake studio and chose a honeycomb-like pattern with an indigo dye. The blue patterned fabric served as our chuppah and will be used as our tablecloth for years to come.
Ketubah: We spent a lot of time looking at ketubot online, but couldn’t find a design that appealed to us. We were looking for something that was more contemporary than kitschy. Our criterion was: Would we actually hang this on our wall? I asked my younger brother, a budding graphic designer, to create one for us. Amanda and I came up with a text that conveyed our true feelings for each other, and my father (a native Hebrew speaker) helped us with the translation. My brother created a striking, minimalist design and silkscreened it onto high-quality poster paper. It’s a piece of art that we’ll cherish forever.
Food: We turned to our friends who own an incredible Mediterranean restaurant in Atwater Village called Dune. They laid out an enormous spread of falafel, hummus, pita, grilled veggies and mouthwatering focaccia sandwiches made with pickled beets, feta cheese and hard-boiled eggs, and our guests helped themselves. Another friend prepared giant salads, and a friend who manages a gourmet-food import company laid out a spread of artisan cheeses, charcuterie, olives and fruit to snack on before the ceremony. We also pre-mixed a couple of signature cocktails, which we served out of glass dispensers, next to buckets of ice-cold India pale ale and bottles of wine.
Cakes: A close friend of ours is a wonderful cook and loves to bake. She created some sample cakes for us and they were all so delicious; we couldn’t choose one. So she made three: pistachio with rosewater buttercream, lemon with lavender icing, and red velvet. She topped them with fresh flowers, and after we smashed the first slice in each other’s faces, my new wife and I served up platefuls to our delighted guests.
Flowers: Rather than hiring a florist, Amanda and some friends visited the Los Angeles Flower Market when it opened at 6 a.m. on the day before the wedding. They returned with buckets filled with red, orange and yellow ranunculus blossoms, purple globe amaranth pompons, green chrysanthemums, golden yellow brush-shaped celosia and silver-green eucalyptus leaves. They fashioned them into stunning table centerpieces, boutonnieres and flower crowns using floral wire and tape.
Miscellaneous: Luckily for us, the garden already looked beautiful, so we didn’t have to do much to it. We rented tables and chairs and a giant piece of artificial turf for a dance floor. We bought fabric from the Fashion District and cut it into table runners. We gathered some childhood photos and displayed them using string and miniature clothespins. We set up a Moleskine notebook for people to write messages to us. For wedding favors, we didn’t want to give people kitschy souvenirs that would just take up space in their homes. So we baked a big batch of vegan banana bread granola and scooped it into small white muslin pouches, each hand-stamped using an ink stamp of two daffodils, one leaning against the other.
Because I work at a radio station, I was able to get a good deal on a photographer and a DJ, and I borrowed an iPad stand from the office and set up a photo booth. We projected a looping supercut of film dance scenes onto our friends’ movie screen as a backdrop. Our host also had a smoke machine and a glittering gold disco ball, which added to the dance party ambience. We did hire someone to help with washing dishes, refilling the drink containers, and other chores so we could focus on having fun.
If this seems like a long list of details, that’s pretty much what planning a wedding is: a never-ending checklist. In the end, we threw a memorable party, and our guests had a great time. That’s all you can hope for in a wedding, and we demonstrated that it can be done well on a tight budget.
We are lucky to have friends and family who are talented at things such as baking, floral arrangement and graphic design, and who own a restaurant and could cater our wedding. But if you think about it, you probably also have friends whose skills you can tap to make your wedding more personal and, yes, more affordable. They’ll feel honored to be included in your special day, and their gift to you will be that much more meaningful.
She eats organic. She composts. She buys her beauty products at Whole Foods and Farmers Markets (and of course the occasional lavish spa). Impress the hell out of her this holiday season by purchasing one of these sumptuous non-toxic beauty gifts:
Tata Harper Natural Glow from Head to Toe
This kit is basically a destination spa in a box -- like a 5-star, fluffy robes and orange slices kind of spa. Including full sizes of the brand's Smoothing Body Scrub and Rejuvenating Hand Cream, and travel sizes of the Redefining Body Balm, Revitalizing Body Oil, and Fortifying Body Lotion, this kit actually saves you money because she can spa at home (or at least that's what she'll tell you). $115. Available at Credobeauty.
Marie Veronique Serum de Jour and Gentle Retinol Serum
This is not her Farmers Market skincare. Give her this highly active (yet gentle enough for sensitive, rosacea-prone skin) duo of power serums from skincare guru Marie Veronique, to arm her with a protective antioxidant arsenal during the day and a potent natural retinol at night. After a few weeks of using these two serums, all the other flower children at the food co-op will be commenting on her radiant skin.Serum de Jour is $90 and the Gentle Retinol is $110. Available at Marieveronique.
Beauty Heroes
I usually stay clear of recommending beauty subscription boxes. I see little value in deluxe samples -- it's never enough product to get a real take on whether a product works. And then everything changed when I met my subscription box spirit animal -- Beauty Heroes. This highly curated monthly subscription box features one full-size and one travel size product from a prestige non-toxic, beauty brand. With a three-month commitment at $115, your lovely lady will plant a tree in your honor when she sees brands like Vintner's Daughter, In Fiore, and Laurel Whole Plant Organics, all brands that can cost north (sometimes way North) of $100 per potion. Starting at $115 for three months. Available at Beautyheroes.
Kjaer Weis The Glow Kit
Yes, this makeup brand from Australian makeup artist Kristin Kjaer Weis is non-toxic, but it's also just beautiful makeup. All of it. Seriously. Do you know how hard it is to find a makeup brand that performs across all products? Trust me -- I've been searching for that Holy Grail since I was 13 when I bought every Clinique product on the shelf with my Bat Mitzvah money. The Kjaer Weis Glow Kit is basically the radiant chalice of a Holy Grail. Packaged in the brand's signature red gift box, the two stunning silver compacts swivel open to reveal creamy, universally flattering highlighter and bronzer.
Little Mix Are The Only Festive Makeup Inspiration You Need AT The BBC Music Awards
Little Mix are always red carpet goals, what with their fearless attitude to fashion and makeup, but they well and truly nailed the only festive beauty looks we want in our lives when they headed to the BBC Music Awards this week.
With a big performance during the awards ceremony, the gals were at their most glam and managed to make their colour-coordinated outfits look individual af with a few clever little additions to their hair, makeup and outfits.
If you're hunting for a festive party look to wow everyone with over the holiday season, you don't need to look any further because let's just say that Jesy, Perrie, Jade and Leigh-Anne have got you covered.
Take a look below for the best kind of makeup inspiration.
Jade went full glitz for the red carpet and while her sheer dress and amazing disco bralet might seem like the kind of pieces that could take over your look, she's balanced them out by letting her natural curls flow wild and free. On the makeup front, she's steered clear of heavy eye makeup and kept everything clean but dramatic with a bold flick of black eyeliner, Hollywood lashes and a deep red matte lippy to finish.
leigh-anne pinnock
While the gals' outfits stick to a black and silver colour palette, Leigh's given her look a pop of intense colour with a sweep of bold swimming-pool blue across her eyelids. Fully going for it, she's also lined under her eyes in the same shade, which just makes her dark eyes look even more piercing. Matching this bold look with an equally bold brow, she's brought it all together with some killer braids and a glossy nude lip colour that Kylie Jenner would be proud of.
jesy nelson
Jesy is officially goth glam goals in this plunging black dress and while her outfit is dramatic but simple, she's added a load of texture of the look with those super shiny curls and the smokiest of eyes. With big fake lashes to amp up the drama, she's kept her brows natural and instead used a hot pink lip to add in a swirl of colour.
perrie edwards
Just like Leigh, Perrie's gone for a bit of colour around her eyes but instead of using her lids to introduce the blue, she's left it under the lower lash line for a slightly more subtle effect. Nailing the contouring, she's got an amazingly glowy complexion which goes beautifully with her soft natural eye makeup.
All that aside, it's her hair that's given this one even more wow-factor and with it slicked back off her face, Perrie was working an incredible single braid that gave the finished look a touch of Xena Warrior Princess vibes.
For design duo Viktor Horsting and Rolf Snoeren, fashion is an artistic tool to get their inspirations across
Often dubbed fashion’s Gilbert & George, Viktor&Rolf is known for pushing the boundaries between fashion and art. The Dutch duo of Viktor Horsting and Rolf Snoeren took the concept even further in their latest haute couture presentation in July – their first since discontinuing their ready-to-wear business.
Ever the showmen, the duo put themselves at the centre of the show – or rather an act of performance art, which called on a certain déjà vu of their previous collections as early as the 1999 Russian Doll series, where model Maggie Rizer stood on a revolving turntable.
The haute couture collection, aptly titled “Wearable Art”, saw models donning deconstructed golden frames from which printed fabrics protruded. The designers unhinged the frames from the models and then hung the skirts-turned-paintings on a blank wall. The prints referenced works of art from the Dutch Golden Age in the 1650s, such as Jan Asselijn’s The Threatened Swan.
“We are fashion artists. This season especially we wanted to showcase this in a literal way. We consider haute couture to be like a laboratory, with every collection posing its own set of unique technical challenges,” Horsting says.
The challenge for this couture collection in particular, the duo say, was to work with “un-clothing-like elements” as structurally imposing as the frames.
Haute couture is more than just a testing ground for Viktor & Rolf – it has also freed them from the creative restrictions that come with the gruelling pace of ready-to-wear and retail.
“[We feel] that ready-to-wear, with its many deadlines and fierce competition, is creatively restraining,” Snoeren says. This sentiment towards today’s fashion industry is shared by some of the most prolific and influential designers in the trade – for example, Jean Paul Gaultier ended his ready-to-wear business last year and, more recently, Raf Simons stepped down as creative director at Dior.
Viktor and Rolf have voiced their frustrations and referenced them in their designs.
Their 2008 autumn-winter collection, for example, features the word “No” rendered in 3D as a key motif reflecting on the status quo of the fashion industry.
The duo’s decision to end their ready-to-wear collections was announced in February. The label’s majority shareholder, Renzo Rosso – whose company OTB also owns Maison Martin Margiela, Marni and more – calls it a strategic decision to position the Viktor&Rolf brand in the highest luxury segment of fashion.
For the duo, the notion of luxury is in sync with their ideal muse who they strive to capture in their creations – individuality.
“Luxury is synonymous with self-evident rarity and quality,” Horsting says. “We are attracted to women who possess a unique mindset – women who are intelligent and stylish.”
Now focusing solely on their haute couture and fragrance businesses, the duo have found their anchor in creativity.
“We now have much more time to create. It feels like a breath of fresh air,” Horsting says. By presenting only two collections a year instead of up to 10, the duo can now take their time on the design and execution with the craftsmen in their own atelier. “It’s very different from working with a factory, even though we’ve worked with the best,” Snoeren says.
Their efforts in pushing the boundary between fashion and art have been consistent since the start of their career in the 1990s.
Their works are featured as much as in galleries and museums as they are in high-end boutiques and select shops. Groninger Museum in the Netherlands, for instance, features Viktor&Rolf designs in a permanent collection.
The launch of Le Parfum in 1996 – a bottle of perfume with a lid that’s designed to be impossible to open – probably better illustrates their commitment to the merging of fashion and art. The perfume, as the duo describe, “can neither evaporate nor give off its scent, and will forever be a potential-pure promise”.
Theatrical productions are often seen at Viktor&Rolf shows that evoke emotions and inspire ideas, using ultraviolet lights that make white objects glow or models with their faces painted in fierce red.
They collaborated with theatre director and visual artist Robert Wilson in 2009 to design costumes for the German opera Der Freischütz by Carl Maria von Weber. The two designers used almost 1 million crystallised Swarovski elements to create ultracolourful and flamboyant costumes that looked like flower bombs.
“We have always used fashion as a primary means of artistic creation,” Snoeren says.
The synergy between the two since the very beginning has set the foundation for their creations. Growing up as best pals in the Netherlands, they started collaborating after graduating from the Netherlands’ Arnhem Academy. They showed their first collection in 1993 at a competition called Salon European des Jeunes Stylistes, and it wasn’t until the late 1990s that they started showing regularly in Paris. The duo have been working alongside each other for more than 20 years now and say that meeting each other was their biggest career breakthrough.
“As teenagers, independent of each other, we were both inspired by perfume advertisements,” Horsting says. “We enjoyed the glamour and mystery these images convey. For us, this fascination served as an entry into the fashion world.”
Snoeren says their collaboration has been a continuing conversation. “Our friendship forms the base of our creative relationship,” he says.
“It’s a relationship that allows us to create as one. There’s really no difference as to who does what. Also, there is not much separation between life and work in the sense that we communicate daily about everything. ”
Their bond also holds the key to the duo’s longevity in fashion. “We just really enjoy coming up with ideas together,” Snoeren adds. “Fashion itself is very inspiring – its possibilities and impossibilities allow us to create the unexpected.”
Now focusing on their haute couture collection, the duo are optimistic about their future prospects.
“In this day and age, where we live by visuals, the craftsmanship involved in the creation of haute couture is more relevant than ever,” Snoeren says. “It is like a beacon, reminding the world that a dress does not come out of a computer, but is made by human hands. Couture is the ultimate expression thereof, and the world needs this awareness.”
8 of the best Christmas party dresses from your local supermarket - from only £14
Look no further than collections from F&F, George and Tu to see you through the party season.
When you're shopping for your Christmas dinner, why not browse the aisles for thesefestive party pieces too?
Yes, Tesco, Asda and Sainsbury's are now the place to pick up some seriously stylish outfits. Especially if you're looking for something special for the festive season.
Sales of clothing at our favourite supermarkets are up by 30% and we can see why. With sequinned shift dresses, pretty proms, fun faux fur and daring jumpsuits you needn't look anywhere else.
This is supermarket chic!
1. Stand out from the crowd in this striking dress and show-stopping heels
Camouflage Wedding Dresses Are The Latest (And Weirdest) Bridal Trend
There are a lot of weird and wonderful bridal trends out there in the depths of the internet, but this has to be one of the weirdest ones we've seen yet... or have we seen it at all?
Cosmo recently reported that over 22,000 people search for “camo wedding dresses” on Google every month — the same amount of people searching for lace wedding dresses.
There are also hundreds of social media pages online dedicated to this very unusual look.
Some say the trend began in 2013 when reality TV star Mama June (Honey Boo Boo's mum) wore a camouflage dress with bright orange sash to her wedding.
She did keep her veil traditionally white though...
The bright orange incorporated into the designs is to mimic the way hunters often wear orange, alongside camo print, for safety reasons.
The camouflage itself is often designed to mimic leaves, twigs, dirt, bark, and grass and is usually in muted shades of green and brown - but also comes in a wide range of colours, including pink, orange, purple, and the traditional wedding white.
You can even get camo inspired wedding bouquets for your big day, and now grooms can get in on the action too - with ties, vests, and whole tuxedos being created in camo print.
K-drama couple So E hyun and In Gyo Jin became parents of a baby girl on December 4. The couple celebrated their one-year wedding anniversary in October.
Key East Entertainment, the agency which representsboth actors, made the birth announcement on December 6.
So E Hyun, 31, and actor In Gyo Jin, 35, have known each other for more than a decade, but for most of that time they were just good friends. They met because they were represented by the same agency. They played a couple in the 2008 SBS daily drama "Aeja's Older Sister Minja" and again in the 2012 JTBC drama "Happy Ending." They even filmed a wedding scene in one of their dramas.
But he was dating actress Seo Woo, his co-star in "If Tomorrow Comes."
It took So E Hyun and In Kyo Jin a decade to decide they should date but only a short while to decide they were meant for each other.
In Gyo Jin proposed in March 2014 and a month later they announced their wedding. So made her debut in the popular TV drama "Yellow Handkerchief" in 2003, while In Gyo Jin made his debut three years earlier in the 2000 drama "Lifetime in the Country."
So E Hyun appeared in So E Hyun previously appeared in the paranormal detective story "Who Are You?" with Ok Taecyeon and Kim Jae Wook. Her last drama role was in "Three Days" with co-stars Park Yoo Chun and Park Ha Sun. She also had a memorable role as the deceptive wife in "Cheongdamdong Alice" with co-stars Moon Geun Young and Park Shi Hoo."
In Kyo Jin had roles in "Good Doctor," "I Need Romance," "Queen Seonduk." He recently appeared in "Make A Woman Cry" and "Sassy A Go Go."
Impromptu wedding thrown for Syrian refugee couple in Saskatoon
Mohamad Alnoury and Athar Farroukh were high school sweethearts. Now in their early 20s, the two had to speed up their wedding a year ago in Syria because of bombings in their hometown. There wasn’t time for photos or celebrations.
That all changed Sunday in Saskatoon with an impromptu wedding planned in less than 24 hours.
Eman Bare is a journalist and met the refugee couple Saturday afternoon. When she heard their story, Bare knew she had to help.
“For my story, I starting taking a few pictures of them and then the bride, Athar, starting laughing, saying that she didn’t have her wedding pictures. So I said ‘why don’t we get together tomorrow and I’ll take some more wedding-looking photos for you.’Then in about an hour it escalated into this,” said Bare.
The couple’s families are both in Syria, but that didn’t mean there was a lack of wedding guests in attendance.
Bare spread the word on social media and before she knew it, a wedding dress had been donated; along with food, gifts, flowers and a banquet hall at the Delta Bessborough.
“I just had to contact her and say ‘in what way can I help?’ and you know she said the bride needed a wedding dress and shoes and the groom needs a suit and shoes and everything too. We got all of that ready,” said wedding dress donor Amanda O’Leary.
Alnoury and Farroukh were overwhelmed and shocked by the impromptu wedding. Using a translator, Farroukh thanked everyone for coming, “I was very surprised but it is a very great feeling to share this with the people here. Even though we don’t know each other we’re kind of able to come together.”
Bare said she had to tell a white lie to Farroukh in order to get her makeup done and come into the hotel.
“I took her upstairs and showed her the dress and I was like ‘so there’s actually going to be a lot more people here.’ It took about a half-hour to convince them to come downstairs because they were so surprised,” said Bare.
“I mean they’re new to Saskatoon, it’s not really their community just yet, but I think by the end of the day they will definitely feel like this is their home.”
Students Allege That Teachers Forcibly Removed Their Makeup in Front of the Entire Class
Dress codes are a hot button issue, and many people fall on opposite sides of what should and shouldn't be allowed to be worn in school hallways. But when it comes to the way one high school's teachers chose to enforce their rule banning makeup, most people agree that they went about it in the totally wrong way.
An investigation has been launched by the Australian board of education at Cairns State High School in Cairns, Australia after two teachers humiliated a group of girls by forcibly removing their makeup in front of their classmates.
The teachers being investigated, one male and one female, allegedly lined up the group of Year 9 students (8th graders in the U.S.) and physically removed their makeup for them according to a report by The Cairns Post. Students alleged that the teachers used their fingers to scrape the makeup off, which reportedly included mascara and foundation.
Although the wearing of makeup is strictly forbidden at Cairns State high school, parents are still outraged over the way their children wearing makeup was handled, and understandably so.
"Surely a more private setting would have been more appropriate, and I'm not sure the teachers have to be so 'hands on', touching the students' faces like this,'' said one parent.
Cairns State High School's principal Angela Toppin has not yet responded to the controversy, but the Department of Education has confirmed that the situation is being investigated fully.
Even though the girls in question were breaking the school's rules, there are better ways to enforce them. Hopefully the investigation into this unfortunate situation will lead to Cairns High School figuring out a more appropriate way of handling dress code issues to eliminate inappropriate and humiliating situations like this one happening in the future.
8 WAYS TO MAKE PLANNING A WEDDING SLIGHTLY LESS PAINFUL
After I got engaged I figured I should get on Pinterest. All good brides-to-be create wedding inspiration "boards" right? At the very least, I'd find an image or two of a floral arrangement that didn't make me cringe. I found more than two. I found thousands upon thousands of wedding "inspo" boards, boards for every imaginable component of a wedding, and felt completely overwhelmed. Did I really need to consider adding succulents to my bouquet? After a few feeble pins I gave up. This was not for me.
Weddings are wonderful joyous occasions that bring together all the people you love in one place. Planning a wedding is not wonderful. It's a full time job in addition to your actual full time job, and one that comes fraught with family drama and the potential for hurt feelings at every turn. This is why people elope. This is also why people hire wedding planners. But if you are going to go through with it, as I just did, here are some things I did that minimized damage and stress along the way.
DON'T BUY A WEDDING DRESS. (OR AT LEAST DON'T FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE TO.)
Here's something I learned almost instantly when you plan a wedding: the minute the word "wedding" is attached to any product or service, add two to five zeroes to its price tag. When I started to look for a wedding dress, I started first by looking for white ready-to-wear dresses, and ended buying a white evening gown by one of my favorite New York designers, Katie Ermilio, on Moda Operandi…on sale. High fashion labels like Erdem, Lanvin, Calvin Klein, and more contemporary priced labels like Mara Hoffman or BCBG or Halston Heritage generally show lots of white dresses for spring/summer–take advantage!
DO GET FAKE EYELASHES. EYELASH EXTENSIONS ARE EVEN BETTER.
I know this sounds hyper-specific and you're probably thinking—Really? THIS is your great wedding advice?—but hear me out: I asked a lot of people for day of wedding advice. I got a lot of vague "just savor every moment" type responses. I found the specific bits of advice, like this one, which I heeded, to be most helpful.
So why eyelash extensions? It seems counterintuitive to spend time on such a high maintenance beauty procedure, especially if you fancy yourself a "cool bride" like I did, but it takes an hour and then it's something you never have to worry about for the whole wedding weekend (or week, if you're wedding is serious like that). False lashes stay on for a night while eyelash extensions last around three weeks. It's like having permanent mascara and eyeliner that never smears.
APP YOUR INVITES.
We sent out save the dates via email. And I wouldn't have been opposed to sending out actual invites virtually as well. So green! Still, there's something nice about a proper snail mail paper invite and we ended up doing just that but only because a plug and play invite site made it so damn easy. Shutterfly has a wedding invite offshoot called Wedding Paper Divas—I know, the name still makes my husband cringe—but the site has a suite of different designs, paper stock, letter press, and even lets you input your own design elements (which is what we did). We had a beautiful suite of invitations within two weeks. And we were cutting it close. They saved us.4ANTICIPATE EVERYONE'S QUESTIONS—AND ANSWER THEM IN AN EMAIL.
Anticipate everyone's questions—they will include things like "what will the weather be like?" (really)—and answer them in an email around a week before the event. And you may even want to send out another reminder the day before. Even if you've gone to the trouble of creating a highly detailed wedding website, most people will forget the URL or forget to read the site. Some sample questions from our "here are the answers to your questions" email: Where I am supposed to be and when? What am I supposed to wear again? How cold will it be?"5BUY WEDDING SHOES YOU'LL WANT TO WEAR AGAIN.
And wear them before your wedding—that way they'll be broken-in by the time you wear them.
Weddings are expensive enough—why spend hundreds of dollars on shoes you'll only wear once and that you'll take off on the dance floor when you can't stand the pain anymore? One caveat: don't wear them too much before your wedding. I wore mine a lot and kinda (ok, totally) destroyed the heel. Luckily my dress hid that part. (I bought these Gianvito Rossi sandalsI'd been wanting for a while.)
HAND OUT SPARKLERS.
They make an excellent photo op. Our photographer, the fantastic Brendan Bullock, recommended this one. He wasn't wrong.
HAVE A BEYONCÉ MOMENT.
I will admit it: I totally thought I was a "cool bride." Low maintenance, wearing beat-up shoes, not at all interested in floral arrangements. So chill, right? But would a "cool bride" change mid-wedding, from a floor-skimming, figure-hugging Katie Ermilio gown into a sheer, short, Dolce & Gabbana lace number? Probably not. But I did and felt great about it. I also wasn't going to wear a veil until another wise friend told me "You get to be a bride once! Wear a fucking veil." That friend was right. The takeaway here is to embrace being the bride. It feels uncomfortable to have all eyes on you. But instead of letting that discomfort freak you out, head straight into it. Be the Beyoncé inside.8TRUST EVERYONE AROUND YOU TO HELP YOU.
They love you and they want to. I understand the impulse to want to control everything to make sure it's perfect. It's your day! But it's hard to be in the moment if you're worrying about every detail. It seemed like nearly everyone who came to the wedding helped in some way: from my parents who made it all happen, to the ELLE team (ELLE.com deputy editor Ruthie Friedlander, senior market editor Jade Frampton, and accessories director Maria Dueñas Jacobs) who let me borrow their fanciest clothes, to my best friends from high school who bought my husband's sister shoes when the ones she bought turned out to be the wrong size, to my husband's best friend who almost blew off his hand DIY-ing a fireworks display. (Okay, I don't recommend that part.)
It’s so difficult and annoying when you’ve got to get your makeup done and leave the house 5 minutes, but can’t find your mascara or your blending brush in the pile of makeup stuff all in one place. It’s insane!
If you are tired of always having to dump out all of your makeup just to find one thing you need at the moment, you’ll have to organize your makeup, to have them at hand when you need them.
Here are some tips on how to organize your makeup and store your cosmetics:
If you don’t own a travel makeup case or another kind of organizer it is time to get one. Buy one that has several compartments because it will be easier for you to store your makeup and other accessories.
Throw out any old or expired makeup product. Makeup has an expiration date so you shouldn’t use them if they already expired.
Old makeup can build up germs and bacteria so it is not a good idea to use them.
Here is for how long makeup should be kept before you should dispose of them:
mascara between 3 and 6 months
blushes between 6 months and 1 year
eye shadows, pencils, creams, concealers can be kept up to 1 year
foundation cream, lipstick and moisturizer between 1 year and 1 ½ years
powdered blushes and face powder can be kept for about 2 years
Make Sure You Do The Following:
Get rid of any makeup that you don’t use or you don’t like.
There is no point in just keeping them there because if you haven’t used them in a couple of months you’ll probably never going to use them.
Sort you makeup after your preferences. You can place them according to color, season, the ones you use on a daily basis or by categories, lipstick with lipstick, eyeliner and lip pencils with pencils, etc.
When you are done organizing your makeup don’t forget to keep them organized.
Always put your makeup back from where you got it after you are done.
Sort them again every few months to make sure everything is in order.
Emmy Rossum stands out in red dress as she supports Godiva's Toys
Emmy Rossum made an extravagant appearance in NYC on Monday.
The Shameless star, 29, was in a vision in red at Godiva's Hot Chocolate for a Cause charity event.
The sweet-treat retailer will donate one dollar to Toys for Tots for each drink sold beginning on Tuesday and lasting until December 15.
Emmy Rossum dazzled us at a charity event in New York City. Red is such a statement, and almost always a good one! On Emmy, this dress was a no-brainer. Not to mention the monochromatic look popped even more with the gorgeous red lipstick she wore.
We couldn't think of a better ensemble to don this party season! Its simply divine.
The long sleeves are so on trend (not to mention warm in these cold months) while the pleats add a fun classic detail.
Pick up your size through the link to the right on Farfetch. This Ferragamo dress will be the envy of the season!
If your budget isn't bursting like Emmy's, we have pulled together an edit below of purse friendly dresses we know you will fall in love with.
The 5'8 stunner looked ever-so-lovely in a long sleeve, turtle neck red dress. The actress made a daring choice with her monochromatic look, but managed to pull of the one color ensemble.
Her velvet red heels were adorned with tassel detailing, while the mouth of the shoe was oddly cut into a heart-shaped pattern.
Emmy kept her look mostly underrated, except for the bold pop of color on her lips.
Her hair was parted to the side, with soft waves flowing through her medium-length hair.
Emmy stars as Fiona Gallagher in the hit Showtime series, Shameless.
The show, starring William H. Macy as the alcoholic father of six children, is set to return for it's sixth season in January.
The brunette beauty plays the eldest of the children, who had to take on the majority of the responsibility in raising them.
Emmy recently became engaged to writer/director Sam Esmail in August of this year.
In 2014, the actress' fiance directed her in the romantic dramedy, Comet, alongside Justin Long.
Prior to her engagement, Emmy was in a relationship with Counting Crows front man Adam Duritz after her marriage to music executive Justin Siegel ended in 2010.
Winter is creeping up on us fast! For the make-up junkies, who love contouring, that means it's time to switch up their maquillage to reflect the changing colors and seasons.
Change of seasons calls for a change in makeup routine too. What may seem good for winter will make you feel de trop during monsoon, while a summer makeup will leave you washed out and colourless during winters. All seasons have a unique style statement and hues.
The chilly months subject your skin to a lot of extremes, like dry heat from heaters, rapid changes in temperatures from indoors and outdoors, wind, rain and cool, harsh air. With winter looming, a new colour palette becomes a must.
Here are some points that will help you understand the difference, easing out the whole make-up transition.
Fashion blogger Anupriya from AllAboutWomen.in told ANI during Timeless Beauty campaign at DLF Promenade, "Difference between summer makeup and winter makeup is as different as day and night. In summers, you don't want a lot of makeup on your face to sweat off; you want basic natural and soft things which make you feel happy. And in winters, you can take out all those red and wines and enjoy yourself."
According to another fashion blogger, Manavi, from a beauty and lifestyle website beforbeauty.com, the difference between the summer and winter makeup has got a lot to do with pallets like dark and light.
"You can try and experiment with a lot of darker colours in winter, during which a lot of lipsticks come out like Burgundies, Marsala, dark red and stuff. You can go all out with your smokey eyes. The grays, the blues, the blacks, you can go very dramatic. Summer, it'll look a little too much. Hydration is very important in winters and for summer, you are just looking for fresh skin without making it look too oily," she said.
Nidhi Arora from ChicLifeByte said "In summer, we don't use more of foundation and all because it melts with sun. You use more of powders and translucent basis dermas n supras combined together and give more emphasis towards matt form. Then, matt skin looks dry in the summer season, if you give a shine look in winter that will also help."
For the national make-up artist for North region Bipasha Debbarma, Colorbar USA, summer is much more fresh light make-up. "Go for more orangy colour, peach. It gives you a fresh look. In winter go for deeper colour, which is maroon, darkish, deeper red, deeper pink. It looks much better."
Prettying up winters isn't that hard. All you have to do is to put away the light foundations, the summery eye colours and use the cream moisturizers, protective foundations, matte eye shadows and winter colours like grey and brown.
Stay hydrated and beat the chills with your haute looks.
Dear Amy: I was close to some friends my age growing up, but I haven’t seen or talked to them in a long time. Life got in the way.
A few years ago, their mother (“Jane”) accused their father (“John”) and my mother of having an affair, solely on the grounds that they had to work together on some church functions.
This accusation had no basis in reality. They never met outside of the church environment and only shared the occasional phone call to coordinate on church events.
Since then, John has stopped talking to my mother and both Jane and John have been spreading nasty rumors about my family.
I’m getting married next year, and as I was extremely close with their kids growing up and have no reason to burn bridges (other than our parents dislike for one another), I have always thought I would invite them to the wedding. However, my father informed me that I am not allowed to invite anyone from that family, due to the situation between the parents.
I am inclined to ignore his request and invite them anyway since I’ve never personally had issues with them. But since my parents are fronting some of the costs for the wedding, I wonder if I am obligated to accommodate. I’m sure the friends would feel aggrieved at not being invited, so I’m not sure how to best defuse the situation. Help, please! — Confused Bride
Dear Confused: I assume you are interested in inviting only the children (not their parents) to your wedding. However, you say you have not had even a conversation with these childhood friends in a long time. Keep this in mind as you decide whether to go head-to-head with your folks.
If you decide to proceed with the invitation, this is worth a deep — and calm — conversation with your parents. Explain your reasoning and listen to their response. If they attach conditions to their wedding funding (which is their right to do), you will have to make a choice about how to proceed.
Your obligation is to realize that they have some leverage, should they choose to use it. Their obligation is to realize that this is supposed to be your wedding. Accepting their money may cost you some autonomy.
Dear Amy: My fiancé and I have been together for nearly five years. Our relationship is solid, but my mom keeps trying to persuade us to break up. I’m an only child, and my parents’ relationship is on the rocks.
I love my mom, but I feel like she is destroying my relationship with her because of how she treats my fiancé. She’s even gone so far as to tell him to his face that she “likes him as a person, just not as a boyfriend” for me.
The rest of my family seems to love him.
My fiancé does not like spending time with my folks because he always feels unwelcome. I’ve tried to talk to my mom about this, and she just talks about how he and I should break up.
Please help me figure out how to salvage my relationship with my parents, without sacrificing the man with whom I have chosen to spend the rest of my life. — Torn in Two
Dear Torn: When parents disapprove of your choice in partner, to the extent of serving up passive-aggressive personal swipes, they run the risk of enacting an age-old dance that will damage their relationship with you (and your partner).
You should behave respectfully but firmly toward your parents. Remind your mother that she isn’t marrying your guy — you are. She doesn’t get to choose your friends or your spouse for you.
Dear Amy: I’m responding to the letter from “Angry Widow,” who had learned after her husband’s death that he had been cheating on her with a married woman. You should suggest she have her doctor run a bank of STD tests. She needs to know now if her husband gave her a disease. And if he did? THEN she has a reason to contact the other cheated-on spouse. — Mary
Dear Mary: Good point. Incidences of STDs are up sharply among older people.
Rachel Zoe, ‘Project Runway Junior’ Lead the Fashion TV Charge
“America’s Next Top Model” is soon going off the air after 22 cycles, but the fashion television genre will be in style for seasons to come.
Tyra Banks’ modeling competition debuted on UPN 12 years ago, launching the high demand for high-fashion unscripted TV, before moving to the CW, where it will finish up its final runway walk in late 2015 — the same quarter Banks launched her new syndicated daytime talker “FabLife,” a lifestyle show that covers the mainstream fashion conversation on a daily basis.
The year after “Top Model’s” 2003 premiere, Bravo introduced viewers to “Project Runway.” Now on Lifetime, the show is in its 14th season, and has spawned five spinoffs. Ratings for the Heidi Klum-hosted designer competition are up 10%, and the show has been Emmy-nominated for best reality series every year since it’s been eligible. With nearly 60 nominations and a major win for the supermodel as best host, the only diminutive element of “Runway” is its teen-themed follow-up, “Project Runway Junior,” which bowed this month.
SEE MORE:‘American Horror Story’ to ‘Star Wars’: Items for Fashion-Friendly Fans
“I think ‘Project Runway’ succeeded because it was the first show that really pulled back the curtain on the creative process, and allowed viewers to see the artistry, the skill and the meticulous amount of work that goes into creating a single piece of clothing,” says Eli Lehrer, senior VP and head of non-fiction development at Lifetime. “Fashion is obviously something that everyone can relate to, because we all engage with it, but most people, prior to ‘Runway,’ hadn’t been let into the creative process.”
Though “Runway” and its fan-favorite spinoff “All Stars,” which was renewed for a fifth season by Lifetime, have put
out a collection of episodes big enough to fill the seats at a major Fashion Week show (including its own, which is taped for the finale episode every season), not every aspect of the franchise has worked.
“Under the Gunn,” hosted by Emmy winner and “Runway” star Tim Gunn, wasn’t a hit, and neither was 2011 offshoot “Project Accessory” or “Project Runway: Threads,” another younger version of the flagship, which lasted only one short season after its October 2014 premiere.
“We thought there was some- thing amazing about teens who were almost like fashion prodigies,” Lehrer says, admitting that the show didn’t click because the cabler shifted away from
the “Runway” formula, having three new designers each week, rather than watching the same team throughout the season. With “Junior” coming up, Lehrer explains the network is excited at the prospect of a teen show that can work. “There’s something about watching them on a journey, as opposed to ‘Threads,’ which was standalone, so you couldn’t invest in the characters emotionally,” he says.
This fall, Lifetime is capitalizing on a proven entity, with the addition of a weekly fashion panel show hosted by celebrity stylist Rachel Zoe, who’s known to TV audiences from her former Bravo docuseries “The Rachel Zoe Project,” which brought her unique one-liners into the pop culture zeitgeist. On her new talk show “Fashionably Late With Rachel Zoe,” she welcomes her well-dressed A-list friends, including Reese Witherspoon and Jessica Alba, to discuss the week’s style highlights.
“I think people are really interested in the intersection of celebrity and fashion,” Lehrer says about the new late-night talker. “You only have to look at the front of any magazine to know that people are fascinated with how celebrities wear clothes.”
Zoe’s show draws similarities to E!’s “Fashion Police,” which endured major changes and talent woes, following the sudden death of Joan Rivers. Currently hosted by Rivers’ daughter Melissa, E! personality Giuliana Rancic and stylist Brad Goreski — who also toplined his own reality series, “It’s a Brad, Brad World,” on Bravo, home to the early 2000s’ fashion-inclusive “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy” — “Police” has found its niche again.
“‘Fashion Police’ has incredibly loyal viewers from all around the world who want the show to go on, and love that we can have fun with fashion and not take ourselves, or Hollywood, too seri- ously,” Rancic told Variety when the comedic show returned with a revamped panel on E!, which also airs Diane von Furstenberg’s sophomore series “House of DVF.”
Though fashion has made its mark in the unscripted space — from TLC’s makeover pro- gram “What Not to Wear” and wedding dress staple “Say Yes to the Dress,” to NBC’s Jessica Simpson vehicle, “Fashion Star” — the genre is also on sale on the scripted side.
The success of some style-inspired shows could be attributed to characters and storylines — not just the designs. Series like “Sex and the City” have proven that both broadcast and cable audiences have a keen eye for high-fashion visuals.
Following the HBO megahit, the CW launched a spinoff, “The Carrie Diaries,” which brought the world of ’80s fashion to modern viewers. Long before “Sex” made it to air, long-running soap opera “The Bold and the Beautiful,” set at the Forrester fashion house, premiered in 1987. David Spade’s hit NBC comedy “Just Shoot Me!” took a major network inside the halls of a fashion magazine, much like ABC’s Golden Globe-winning “Ugly Betty.”
And though it wasn’t a big hit, NBC also had dramedy “Lipstick Jungle” on its schedule for two seasons. CW found success in the high-society style aisle with “Gossip Girl,” and fellow younger-skewing network ABC Family greenlit “Jane by Design,” though it lasted only one season.
Networks are still interested in the genre, with two fashion-based projects in development at NBC. The network recently bought pitches for “Icon,” a light drama about the modeling wars in the 1980s from exec producer Cindy Crawford, and an untitled fiction series, loosely based on the life of Cosmopolitan magazine editor Joanna Coles and her editorial staff. Over at ABC, Felicity Huffman is behind a fashion house dramedy, “House of Moore,” which is in contention for the 2016-17 season.
With the growing television business in a state of flux, one type of content is still on-trend: fashion.
Now You Know: What It's Like to Be at Honolulu Fashion Week
In honor of Thanksgiving, I’m taking a few days off this week, so I asked my friend Lynne O'Neill to fill in for this week's column. O'Neill, if you don't know, is a veteran fashion show producer whose commanding personality inspired a similar character portrayed by Margaret Cho on an episode of Sex and the City. She's off working in Honolulu these days, as executive producer of Hawaii's big fashion week event, so I asked her to send us this postcard of how it all went:
Honolulu Fashion Week was so much bigger this year. Not only were we able to shine the spotlight on Hawaii designers, like Kaypee Soh, with more fashion shows on the runway, but we also shared the collections of international designers, including Todd Snyder from New York, Ellery from Sydney, Lie Sangbong from Seoul, and AULA from Tokyo. People could shop right here as well, with more than 50 designers in the marketplace.
It's the only fashion week that officially starts with a blessing of water and ti leaves from a Hawaiian kahu (reverend). And there were flower leis just about everywhere, including a custom-made body lei created by New York–based Hawaiian jewelry designerBliss Lau, who is known for her dramatic body chains, and Hawaii-based designer Meleana Estes (pictured, above).
The behind-the-scenes action felt just like New York Fashion Week, because our production team from New York brought a #NYFW-style runway to the islands. The only difference was thealoha spirit. The team we worked with from Honolulu Magazinewelcomed everyone into their ohana with open arms, so the experience was very special and unique.
We saw a lot of Hawaii Five-0 actor Alex O’Loughlin, who was backstage with his surfer-model-swimwear designer wife Malia Jones. Heatherette designer Traver Rains showed up for the show and ran into Fern Mallis, the creator of New York Fashion Week, who was a special guest. Harold Koda flew in from N.Y.C., just after opening his final exhibit as curator in charge of the Costume Institute at the Met (pictured, above, between O'Neill and Mallis).
For me, the most stressful part of a fashion show are the moments leading up to it—when the models arrive, the casting, the fittings, finalizing the lineup—because everything only comes together in the final week. Once I'm there for the show, that's when I have fun—that's when we see our vision come to life.
Theatre Awards worst dressed from Joely Richardson and Salma Hayek to Kelly Brook
The Evening Standard Theatre Awards promised a red carpet full of glamour - and it didn't disappoint - well, mostly
Stars turned out in their finest suits and gowns for the Evening Standard Theatre Awards last night - but as with any red carpet, there were a few fashion fails.
If it wasn't Kelly Brook flashing the world, it was everyone from Joely Richardson to Salma Hayek and Bip Ling leaving us all confused with some, erm, interesting outfit choices.
Kelly led the way however as she suffered a major wardrobe malfunction.
The model and actress , who loves being in the limelight, wore a very daring long velvet red dress for the occasion at London's Old Vic and ended up having a bit of a fashion fail.
As she strode onto the red carpet, a gust of wind blew back her dress, featuring a huge split, and she ended up flashing her pale knickers. Cringe.
Despite previously having her own lingerie range, her pants didn't seem like a very sexy choice to go with her outfit, considering it was pretty likely they might end up on show.
Elsewhere Bip Ling left us in awe for all the wrong reasons as she arrived in a colourful dress, fur coat and bright pink beret.
At least she ensured she stole the limelight - one way or another.
The eccentric star wore her brown hair to the side and added white trainers.
Meanwhile Salma Hayek risked a wardrobe malfunction to rival Kelly's, as she showed off EVERY inch of her huge boobs in a low-cut white number.
While the gown was stunning, it's impossible to focus as she made the busty entrance at the star-studded bash.
Joely Richardson opted for metallic as she covered up in a ruffled floor-length dress, falling into the shadows behind the stars at the event.
Katie Brayben joined the group in a knee-length black and white patterned dress, covering her figure in the unflattering number.
Wearing her hair messily to the side, she smiled happily next to the big names on the red carpet.
Consider This Before Asking Your Wedding Guests To RSVP Via E-mail
You'll save on postage, but it won't necessarily increase your response rate.
The rules of wedding etiquette are constantly changing, making it difficult for modern brides, grooms and guests to find up-to-date and correct information. That's why we launched#MannersMondays, a series in which we ask our followers on Twitter and Facebook to submit their most burning etiquette-related questions. Then, with the help of our team of etiquette experts, we get you the right answers to your biggest Big Day dilemmas. Check out this week's question below!
In this age of technology, is it acceptable to request an e-RSVP on our wedding website, or by phone or email? I don't want to pay for postage twice, and they aren't going to send the thing back anyways. Help! - Natalie Bowen Fannin via FB
Wedding Papers Divas' resident wedding and etiquette expert -- is here to help us answer this week's question. Find out what she had to say below:
You are right – times are changing! It is extremely common for couples today to use a hybrid solution when it comes to wedding stationery and guest communication – meaning they send beautiful paper pieces but the convenience and affordability of digital options can’t be ignored.
If you decide to ditch the printed RSVP card, just make sure your alternative is extremely easy for both you and the guests. Here are a few things to keep in mind when making your decision:
You will need a system that is easily accessible and accurate – even for multiple events.
Communicate to guests clearly! You will still need to print an email address, website or app information with the invitation so guests know how to respond.
Consider your less-savvy guests. If you are worried about a handful of guests who may not be comfortable with a digital option, many companies will allow you to print as few as 10 paper RSVP cards for a low price. Then everyone is taken care of!
One word of caution: While the digital RSVP option seems more convenient for guests, I’m sorry to report that it doesn’t always increase the response rate the way you think it might. Just be prepared to make a few inquiries about attendance plans regardless of which option you choose.
عضو شوید
عضویت سریع
آمار مطالب
آمار بازدید
