How men are mixing it up: the 'winterfication' of the summer wardrobe
Traditionally, menswear has strict seasonal boundaries: jumpers and dark hues for autumn winter, short sleeves and mankles for the summer months. But it’s a rulebook that doesn’t allow for the reality of how men wear clothes: namely that for most men, a couple of perrenials should last all year long. In this spirit, there’s been an increasing winterfication of the summer wardrobe in menswear.
“I think men are quite random about their wardrobe,” says psychologist Ros Taylor. “It’s like, they bought a hat in winter and felt they cut a dash with it, so why change a winning formula for a season change? As women, we coordinate, and buy magazines to inform us of the latest shoe combos. Men tend to wear what’s in their wardrobe.”
Witness David Beckham hitting the gym in a black vest and a beanie, Harry Styles wearing a sheepskin shirt jacket with a T-shirt, and Pharrell, who has been mixing seasonal looks for years, combining loafers with preppy jumpers and cardigans with quarter-length trousers. It’s been happening on the catwalk for a while, too.
Gucci’s Alessandro Michele is never scared of mixing summer and winter: knitted shorts, coats with sandals, shorts with wooly hats, while Prada went for the boarding school boy look – shorts with coats in its spring/summer 2016 collection.
It’s indicative of a sea change in menswear, a relaxation of what’s acceptable. “You can see it in the way men are working active wear into their day-to-day looks, whether that’s a cycling jacket with tailoring or Lycra with a parka,” says Simon Chilvers, head of menswear at Matchesfashion.
This rule-breaking new era comes as sartorial tribes are mixing things up, combining differing styles in one look: the prefix of “new” on so many trends (new lad, new preppy, new grunge) suggests just that. “As far as men go they have traditionally been less seasonally conscious than women,” adds Chilvers. There are another reasons too. As the weather in one day lurches from blue skies to bursts of rain, it pays to sartorially hedge your bets and, like Joey in Friends, wear everything at once.
John Galliano has already seen it on one of his under-the-radar trips to Los Angeles. Now the public can take in men’s fashion in all its carefully curated glory at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art’s “Reigning Men: Fashion in Menswear, 1715-2015,” which opens on Sunday and is on view through Aug. 21. Two hundred looks spanning 300 years have been carefully culled to highlight both the history of menswear and its ties to contemporary fashion, through an art museum’s lens, rather than a purely historical perspective.
The show is divided into five thematic sections — Revolution/Evolution, East/West, Uniformity, Body Consciousness and The Splendid Man — and 90 percent of the pieces, or about 350 total that make up the 200 looks, are drawn from LACMA’s permanent collection.
Sharon Takeda, senior curator and head of LACMA’s Costume and Textiles department, noted that many living designers ended up donating several of the requested looks, complete with runway accessories. The exhibit took five years from conception to fruition, mainly because gathering the correct pieces took so long. The other 10 percent that was borrowed took up to two years to secure.
Indeed, the list of modern and contemporary designers and houses is extensive: Alexander McQueen (pieces by the late designer and Sarah Burton); Ann Demeulemeester; Balmain; Bill Blass; Brooks Brothers; Burberry; Calvin Klein; Chanel; Christian Louboutin; Comme des Garcons; Dries Van Noten; Etro; Giorgio Armani; Gianni Versace; Givenchy (by Riccardo Tisci); Gucci (by both Tom Ford and Frida Giannini); Helmut Lang; Issey Miyake; Jean Paul Gaultier; Louis Vuitton; Franco Moschino; Ozwald Boateng; Pierre Cardin; Pucci; Ralph Lauren; Raf Simons; Roberto Cavalli; Rudi Gernreich; Thierry Mugler; Thom Browne; Vivienne Westwood; Walter Van Beirendonck; Yohji Yamamoto, and Yves Saint Laurent for Rive Gauche, to name a few.
Among those based in Los Angeles or with close ties to California are: Phillip Lim, Chrome Hearts, George Esquivel, Jeremy Scott, Libertine, Rick Owens, and Yves Saint Laurent by Hedi Slimane (the latter a true historical piece now that Slimane’s departed).
Said Michael Govan, LACMA chief executive officer and Wallis Annenberg director, “We liked the counterintuitive notion of men’s ‘fashion.’ When you look at something like a Louis XIV-period piece, the investment, craft and money in these garments rivals women’s clothing.”
Govan also pointed out that each ensemble is like a sculpture in that they weren’t necessarily created for the medium of photography, but rather as three-dimensional objects that are just as fascinating from the inside out. The mannequins weren’t placed under glass so viewers could see the details in the fabrics and finish up close.
Commune’s Roman Alonso and Steven Johanknecht transformed the white gallery space into a more intimate and masculine setting that focuses the eye downward from the high ceilings toward the clothes. The rich wall colors and period-specific architectural details such as cornices drew on references from Louis XIV to Michael Graves. “I wish we’d added scent and music,” mused Alonso.
In a neat twist, the “Reigning Men” galleries connect into the “Robert Mapplethorpe: The Perfect Medium” exhibit, which allows guests to examine more male forms in art, sans the clothes.
10 classic jacket styles that will make your wardrobe work harder
Cropped, boxy, a bomber, denim or tweed – the perfect jacket is an investment worth making. And will see you through our very British, very temperamental weather in style.
Here's your need to know on the best jacket styles to add to your wardrobe.
The military jacket
Military styles don’t need to be khaki. Try a chic navy option and pair with cropped denim flares and ankle boots for day, and for evening, wear over a black slip dress with heels.
The bomber
A recent addition to the classic jacket club, the bomber has had something of a cool-girl makeover and now comes in beautiful embroidered styles, set to transform your basics . Go bold and embrace silky prints, or stick to wearable styles in neutral shades and lightweight fabrics.
So good for work. Go for a navy tailored option and team with a crisp white shirt, cropped trousers and flats. On the weekend, throw on over a plain t-shirt with slouchy trousers and trainers.
Something suede
Reboot your off-duty wardrobe with a luxe-looking suede jacket. Imagine yours over a roll neck knit with the skinniest of jeans, or thrown over a printed dress with slides in summer.
The classic tweed
Classic dressers will want to keep a cropped tweed jacket to hand at all times. Avoid anything pastel and stick to a palette of black, grey, navy and white for real staying power. Wear with lightweight knits and silky shirts.
The biker
Your weekend hero, the biker is an essential jacket for any savvy dresser. Choose – and invest – wisely and transform every item in your off-duty wardrobe in an instant. Simplicity, along with practicality is key. Look for buttery soft leather and wear-with-everything tones.
The sleeveless option
The perfect piece for layering, stick to neutral shades and classic fabrics when investing in sleeveless jacket styles. Head to J Crew for workwear options, and H&M for lighter, fluid fabrics.
The embroidered jacket
You don’t have to go boho to appreciate the impact of a beautiful embroidered jacket. Choose oversized shapes and embrace bold shades to get your look right.
The do-it-all denim jacket
It’s the hardest working cover-up in our wardrobe, the humble denim jacket will always be a much-loved piece and only gets better with age. Frame Denim has your slim-fit styles, or head to Topshop, whose purse-friendly options look every bit as cool and won’t blow the budget.
The belted jacket
Plain or patterned, ensure your armed with a belted jacket for the ultimate evening cover-up. Try something light and floral for an instant outfit when teamed with jeans, or keep things paired back in something block colour.
She put the one-piece back on the agenda this summer — by way of a high leg, ultra-low sides and back lines, creating a throwback to her original '80s design.
But then Merrilee Madrigal is no stranger to creating a buzz with her swimsuits.
Madrigal is the founder of the family-owned Merrilee's Swimwear — a Laguna Beach-based swimsuit design house and retail store known for suits with cheeky cutouts, reversible bottoms and colorful patterns.
For nearly 40 years, Madrigal has cultivated a loyal fan base among local beachgoers for her Bohemian and modern swimsuit designs, though she maintains that creating effortless and chic classics will always win over following current trends.
"A lot of this stuff is back again," Madrigal said recently at her Laguna Beach headquarters as she looked at a halter top on a back room table.
As if to emphasize that she would rather be a leader than a follower in the fashion world, Madrigal said, "I think a lot of trends are born here."
The tie-dye prints, paisley motifs and strappy bandeaus at the Pacific Coast Highway store are a nod to Madrigal's hippie flower days in Huntington Beach, when she was sewing bathing suits for friends and family while in high school.
Word spread among local beachgoers about Madrigal's hand-sewn bikinis. To keep up with consumer demand, her mother allowed her to stay home one day a week from school to sew suits, but under the condition that she continue earning good grades.
The deal worked, and each weekend Madrigal would sell the swimwear out of a leather suitcase in front of the now-defunct Golden Bear nightclub. The iconic Huntington Beach venue had hosted famous acts from the 1960s through the '80s, including Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix and the Grateful Dead.
In April 1977, Madrigal opened her first bikini store — on Main Street, within Sunline Surfboards. Jack's Surf Shop purchased the property a few years later and moved her business across the street into what was then Jose's Shoe Shop.
Shortly after, she was overseeing her own manufacturing facility, selling swimwear in shops across the U.S. and in Japan, with wholesale accounts like Pacific Sunwear, Wet Seal and Nordstrom. The company expanded with more retail locations and Madrigal selling to specialty boutiques and department stores.
In 1986, Madrigal opened the brand's 5,000-square-foot location in Laguna Beach, where the corporate office, stockroom, photography studio and manufacturing are now also located. The current Huntington Beach retail store is at The Strand, across the street from the Shorebreak Hotel. These two are her only retail locations in Orange County.
Over the years, Madrigal decided to scale back and return to her love of designing swimwear and selling the clothing directly to consumers. Her children help her operate the business. Daughter Felicia designs and manages the majority of operations, and her son, Robert, supervises the computerized and technical aspects of the company.
"The real reason we are successful is because customers know they can get a quality swimsuit," Felicia said. "My mom is a big stickler for quality, and she won't put something out on the floor if she isn't happy with it."
Together, mother and daughter look to European fashion forecasts and seek out what designs will work for the Southern California beach community. They also hire young girls from local schools to give their feedback on storyboards, and they pull from their library of swimwear designs to put a spin on classic cuts.
For example, the Halter-Kini Top was an original style from the '90s, but the look was updated with a crochet top piece and made to be reversible. The design was redone to appeal to swimmers who wanted to avoid sunburning their chests or show off the latest fashion in swimwear.
The Sash Halter has remained a best-seller since it was pulled from previous collections. The cut was redesigned with a twist: Sash ties, like those around the neck, were added to the back to provide more comfort and support. The bikini top's cinch sliders also allow a wearer to adjust the height of the triangle or go for a more traditional halter look.
And if a customer is interested in a special order, she may pick a style and fabric from the company library without having to pay extra.
It's a prolific time for the company — 10,000 swimsuits are handmade a year by three to 15 sewing machine operators at any given time. Many of the employees, Madrigal said, have worked for her for years, some for more than 20.
The family is already planning to put another swimwear collection together, increase the company's online presence and, perhaps, return to the wholesale market.
But no matter the trend or pattern that might reemerge in a collection, Madrigal said her priority is to ensure that customers know that they can find a selection of original and fashion-forward designs at her stores.
"I can spot a bikini worn on the beach and tell you the exact style number and what year it is from," Felicia said with a laugh.
"It's cool to see that we're setting trends and that the third generation is coming in," Madrigal said. "We're keeping those old faithfuls going."
Best gifts for Mother's Day: From a BOSS Bespoke bag to a Vera Wang bouquet
A barrage of sentimental gush is imminent: in case you had forgotten, Mother's Day is this Sunday. Somewhere beneath the heaps of mass-produced cards (some 30 million sent every year in the UK) lies a genuine attempt at honouring the sacrifices mothers make for us unruly offspring. For that you can thank Anna Jarvis, who conceived the day as a means of personal celebration between families in 1908.
Fast forward a century or so, and it's become more about spending money than spending time. While there's plenty wrong with that development, a bunch of petrol-station carnations isn't quite as convincing a thank-you for multiple hours of labour as, say, this limited edition BOSS Bespoke bag (1 - see gallery below). Designed by Mobama-endorsed Jason Wu, the "Intarsia" is the perfect spring addition to any wardrobe, above all your mum's; mainly because you get to borrow it afterwards. I bet Malia has her eye on it already.
For the more traditional (or forgetful), flowers are a sure bet. But, still, eschew the forecourt floristry. Take a cue from Mother of Pear which yielded Victoriana florals for its spring/summer collection and opt for a bunch that offers a more stylish experience, such as this premium bouquet from Interflora and Vera Wang.
Equally, while perfume is not entirely groundbreaking gifting, the launch of Sarah Burton's first fragrance for Alexander McQueen is. It not only smells exquisite but is guaranteed to appeal to those with an affinity for shiny objects; its facetted cap and antiqued gold feathers are a must for any magpie mother.
While, traditionally, Mother's Day serves to recognise those that go above and beyond with a showering of gifts, there are those of us that see fit to lower the tone entirely. Whether it's an inside joke or your mum really is a bit of a battleaxe (in a rose-garden), why not acknowledge Mommie Dearest with a copy of the cult classic movie. Disclaimer: a sense of humour is compulsory.
Kate Winslet 'is NOT pregnant but was simply letting Cate Blanchett and Brie Larson feel the material of her dress when they touched her tummy at the Oscars'
The rumour mill went into overdrive on Sunday night when Cate Blanchett and Brie Larson were pictured excitedly touching Kate Winslet's tummy at the Oscars.
After social media users speculated that she could be expecting her fourth child, a slightly more simple explanation for the exchange has since emerged.
A source close to the actress told TMZ that 'the star is NOT pregnant but was actually letting her friends feel the beautiful fabric of the dress.'
The set of the candid snaps, taken at the major movie event, featured Kate, 40, Cate, 46, and Brie , 26, excitedly chatting to one another. In the pictures, the trio of Oscar nominees are seen standing in a circle, smiling and talking.
In the first of the series of shots, Kate has her hand on the waist of a rapt-looking Brie, her mouth open as she tells the Room actress something.
In the next shot, Carol star Cate's eyes get wide with surprise, as she seems to be full of excitement over whatever it was that Kate had just said.
She then leans in to place a hand on Kate's stomach, resting it at the top of her abdomen. Finally, Brie gives Kate an enthusiastic hug.
The sweet set of images were immediately seized upon by beady-eyed social media users, with some internet sleuths speculating that Kate may have told the other stars that she is pregnant and expecting a fourth child.
'Did Kate Winslet just tell Cate Blanchett and Brie Larson that she's pregnant or am I just looking into it too much?' tweeted @SouDamnTrue after the show last night, while sharing the set of images from the awards ceremony.
Titanic star Kate already has a 15-year-old daughter with ex-husband Jim Threapleton, whom she divorced in 2001, Mia Honey Threapleton, a 12-year-old son with her second ex-husband, director Sam Mendes, Joe Alfie Winslet Mendes, and a two-year-old son, Bear Blaze Winslet with her current husband Ned Rocknroll.
Kate and Ned, who are extremely private, are reported to have tied the knot in New York in December 2012, in an intimate ceremony among their nearest and dearest.
Kate's super-shiny Ralph Lauren gown threatened to reveal every last bump — but Kate also looked quite svelte on the red carpet.
Fans also speculated that she may have been remarking on how slim Kate looked, comforting her stomach ache, or feeling the high-shine fabric - which TMZ's source claims was in fact the case.
But while the reason for the sudden outburst of excitement between the star, who was nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Steve Jobs but lost out to Alicia Vikander, and her friends is not known, there is no doubt that it was an emotional and unbelievably happy night for Kate on every level.
The actress watched on with a joyous expression as her former co-star and long-time friend Leonardo DiCaprio won his first Oscar, scooping the Best Actor award for his role in The Revenant.
As Leo gave his acceptance speech, during which he took the opportunity to share a warning about global warming, the cameras panned to the audience to show a visibly-emotional, and very teary-eyed, Kate, who appears to have attended the ceremony without her husband, sitting with her hands clasped together in front of her face.
Daily Mail Online has reached out to Kate Winslet's team for comment.
1. Bottega's sparkly coats. Embroidered with gold and then embroidered over that with sequins, they glittered down the runway like the world's most tasteful disco balls.
2. Two pairs of perfect boots. Gianvito Rossi’s military-inspired black leather boots were an exercise in sexy restraint, while Bally’s gold python boots were an exercise in sexy kitsch, thanks to their kitten heels and bubble-gum pink laces and toes. (The inspiration: “Anita Pallenberg in a John Waters film,” according to design director Pablo Coppola).
3. Missoni wins. There was a bulldog on the runway, nestled sweetly at the feet of the very handsome Missoni heirs. There was a swinging fringe dress, fun socks with sneakers, and drapey print-on-print outfits. And after the show, as per tradition, they served the entire fashion world dinner. All told, Missoni was a great time.
4. Marni's visual gold mine. In a landscape packed with Instagram bait, Marni’s sunglasses collaboration with Marchon gave us some of the best, wildest eye candy of the whole season. The invitation to the event promised that emotions would “flow freely in a poetic Total Theatre tale of colors and shapes,” though that didn’t even come close to describing the joy this event provoked in us. Zoolander 2 would have been a lot more funny if it had included any scene quite so over-the-top.
5. Dolce & Gabbana lived happily ever after. The fairy-tale backdrop (Cinderella’s gilded carriage, a glitzy pumpkin for photo ops) set the stage for a finale fit for any Disney princess: an entire lineup of models wearing Cinderella shoes and shimmery silver, pink, and red dresses made entirely of paillettes.
he 2000’s were a funny time for fashion, and the Oscars red carpet was no exception. From a seemingly covered in foil Nicole Kidman to a bare-bellied Tara Reid, choosing the best 2000s Oscars dress was not an easy task. That is, until I landed upon a picture of a young Charlize Theron in an orange halter gown at the annual festivities.
While most of the crowd at the 2000s Oscars carted around tulle shawls and adorned sequins aplenty, Charlize Theron’s burnt orange Vera Wang gown seemed ahead of its time with its understated elegance. While Theron’s gown definitely made a statement, it was orange after all, it was the fit of the gown that won me over. Unlike most evening gowns, Theron’s Vera Wang halter was seamed down the front to accentuate her statuesque frame, and then, to make matters even better, it was backless. While I have to admit, I am a sucker for a backless dress, this might be the backless dress of all backless dresses. Yes, I do believe it trumps Hilary Swank's 2005 Oscars gown. Not only is it low cut like Swank's gown, but just after the dress begins again, it extends into an elegant train, need I say more?
Theron has been known for many a great red carpet moments, but I have to say this might just be my favorite look of hers ever. Not only does the dress fit her perfectly, but the color compliments her gorgeous green eyes just as well. If you love her dress just as much as me, scroll down to get a better look at what is arguably the best dress of the 2000’s Oscars.
From the front, Theron's dress is a simple halter gown that reveals a little bit of décolletage. In truth, the most notable thing about this dress at first glance is its beautiful burnt orange color. However, the back of the dress is much more sexy. The super low scoop back ends in ruched cascading train that gives just enough drama to be an Oscar worthy dress.
To finish off her gorgeous outfit, Theron opted for a peach pout and structured brows. To top off this beauty look she styled her golden locks in '20s inspired pin curls.
While it is hard to go wrong with a Vera Wang gown, Theron didn't just go right, she hit it out of the park with this sexy number. But then again, when doesn't she? Theron might be one of my favorite celebs to watch on the red carpet because she isn't afraid to take a risk — she is always down for a deep plunge or high slit. While she has quite a few memorable dresses that top my list, I have to say this Vera Wang dress is my all time favorite.
Gucci’s return to a logo area as monogram features extensively
It seems Beyoncé in her electrifying Formation video is not the only one looking at throwback Gucci for ideas. The retro GG monogram, customised for her leggings and crop tops, anchors Alessandro Michele’s latest collection for Gucci. Barely visible since the logo mania of the 1980s, the monogram was painted graffiti style on the backs of leather aviator jackets and printed on swishy skirts. Retro Gucci graphics came thick and fast printed on suits and skirts, while the famous signature red and green stripe trimmed blousons and bag straps and boldly emblazoned a white suit and cross body bag.
There were hints that Michele was going old school in 2015, when he added the monogram to his Dionysius handbag and buckle belts, but now the logo is appearing everywhere.
The colourful new collection opening Milan Fashion Week was a mash-up of 1940s meets ’70s silhouettes, with prim veiled pillbox hats over a long tulle gown, and Studio 54 shiny sequin dresses and pantsuits. It felt sexier than his previous outings although not in a louche way. There were fewer geeky glasses and a more decadent attitude filtered through in the shiny trouser suits and satin dresses. Michele is proving himself as deft with colour as Yves Saint Laurent was.
Mr. Porter held its five-year anniversary event at the Saville Club, a private gentlemen’s club. Retired bartenders from the Savoy served up martinis (both shaken and stirred). There was a caviar bar, Cuban cigars — and a room full of handsome, well-dressed men. The perfect reprieve from weeks of women’s fashion.
2. Molly Goddard had one of the most inventive presentations of the week.
Last season, the designer recreated a sandwich factory. This season, inspired by the idea of old couture shows, Goddard cast models from the street and from Facebook, and arranged them around a multilevel set. They sat in her signature voluminous dresses, watching old couture salon videos on YouTube.
3. Alexander McQueen finally came home.
For the first time in 15 years — and for the first time since the founder’s death — the brand brought its show from Paris back to London. Sarah Burton presented a whimsical, dreamy collection with tons of influences thrown in: punk, boudoir — even a beaded dress with a unicorn.
4. Mulberry got new blood.
Johnny Coca, the brand’s new creative director, debuted a standout collection for the British house this week — its first major runway show in more than two years. Out with the sweet, countryside Mulberry girl of the past, in with the tough Londoner with a punk edge.
5. Burberry tested its new business model.
Burberry made waves a few weeks ago when it announced that its next show, in Sept. 2016, would be see-now-buy-now. As a leadup to that, the brand put its entire fall/winter 2016 collection in its Regent Street shop, where customers are able to see the new clothes and place orders, immediately following the show. Based on the strong collection of oversize outerwear and beaded Mod dresses that Christopher Bailey put forward on Monday, people will surely be storming the gates for it.
One of the most romantic shows of the week was Simone Rocha, where the designer’s show notes suggested a sense of unraveling — which translated to rich, beautiful fabrics with frayed edges, oversize silhouettes and excess fabric swaddled around the models like an emotional gesture. Christopher Kane, too, featured slits in fur jackets, feather details and piled-on jewels that seemed undone. And at Joseph, Louise Trotter featured a gray turtleneck sweater and skirt with yarn strings still hanging from the sleeves.
7. Queen Elizabeth’s presence was felt.
Countless designers — including Simone Rocha, Erdem, Peter Pilotto and Ashley Williams — seemed to reference the royal jewels, with a strong showing of sparkling earrings and necklaces. And at Alexander McQueen, piled-on barrettes added some extra sparkle.
8. There’s a new crop of minimalists in London.
A handful of amazingly talented designers are making a strong case for understated dressing — and serving as a powerful counterpoint to the city’s experimental sensibility. Some of the best of the week were Margaret Howell, Paula Gerbase of 1205 and the newcomer Fran Stringer, who debuted her first collection for Pringle of Scotland. They showed well-tailored trousers, knits — and, of course, white button-down shirts.
9. Jonathan Anderson showed one of his best collections yet.
But what made the J.W. Anderson show extra-special were the details: zipper-lined tunics, cropped, flared pants and studded leather skirts. And, since the designer constructed a thin, maze-like runway, audience members were treated to an very close view of the clothes. And, after such a good show, one must celebrate: the brand threw an after party at the ACE Shoreditch, in collaboration with i-D Magazine.
10. The Central Saint Martin’s grad show reminded us what’s so great about this city.
It breeds and fosters new talent unlike any other. This season’s graduate show was filled with new exciting ideas for women’s wear, men’s wear and textile design. Some standout names to watch: Michael Halpern, Henriette Tilanus, Alexander Krantz and John Alexander Skelton. Here’s to the next generation.
According to a new study, working out with your boyfriend could be the best motivator your workout ever had - with 40 per cent of us agreeing that our partner is our most significant other when it comes to keeping fit (new workout kits aside).
The study by workout wear company ADAY asked 350 couples if their boyfriend boosted their healthy intentions. The resounding answer was yes: we think we work out harder with our significant other. And, over three quarters of us revealed that our boyfriend or girlfriend was our best wellbeing cheerleader.
One woman confessed: “My husband inspires me to eat healthier and live an overall healthier lifestyle. He is my motivation, because ultimately, I do it for us.” Another added “It’s much harder to have a meal of cheese and pickle if someone is there! Plus, I would far rather make an effort for two.”
“He believes in my ability to push myself more than I do, and he is very encouraging throughout,” said another.
As the experts at W10 Performance training explain, "We know that people who have spouses or partners who work out regularly are much more consistent and get much better results. One, there’s accountability for gym sessions. If they do these together, there is no opportunity cost time-wise. Also, even if they don’t come together, they prioritise workouts and manage households accordingly (kids, etc)," explains founder Jean-Claude Vacassin. "But it’s outside the gym that has perhaps the biggest impact. People who have significant others who are also into getting into and staying in shape, typically make better foods choices and stray less from a ‘good diet’. Again, they keep each other accountable, and don’t sabotage the other's efforts (the latter happens A LOT)."
As personal trainer Olli Foxley explains, "While having a training partner is always motivating, training with your other half? Even better, particularly as you learn to work towards the same goal. It also gives a couple more common ground, as well as some crucial extra time spent together.”
No surprise then that it’s not just our figures that are making gains either, but our relationships too. Sixty-five per cent of couples who work out together felt more connected to one another according to the research. As W10 Performance coach Adam Jones ponders, "Perhaps those who train together stay together." Couples' classes anyone?
Upcoming fashion trends that will soon appear in stores were being showcased in New York City this weekend.
The Capsule Show for women’s fashion began Sunday at Pier 94 along the Hudson River at 52nd Street. It is not open to the public, but CBS2’s Ilana Gold got inside.
Nearly 700 designers put their work on display for buyers at the show. They scoured through the racks to stock up on their stores for the fall.
The hot trends are taking on a so-called “girly look” with pastel colors. They are also full of big, bright patterns and quirky patterns like a dress that is covered in prints of lips.
“Something that starts a conversation is helpful — just fun, whimsical, even a little bit sill,” said designer Rachel Antonoff.
Designers have also experimented with unusual silhouettes; wide, flowy pants; and boxy coats. They are also using unique materials – among the items on display were a jumpsuit made of corduroy and jackets made of plastic.
“A lot of texture — you’ll see designers using faux fur; suede,” said Greg Armas of Assembly New York. “People are going by touch and feel more than a print of a color.”
When it comes to accessories, designers are going away from bulky statement pieces and instead they’re making them dainty. You will notice delicate necklaces and rings of gold and rose gold
“You can layer them; you can mix metals with rose gold and yellow gold,” said jewelry designer Ariel Gordon.
The capsule show runs through Tuesday for professionals.
In the early 1980s, Anna Sui was a young fashion hopeful toiling, mostly unsung, on Seventh Avenue, her look largely influenced by the style and the music of the London youth quake. Flash forward a decade, and a chain of lucky circumstances introduced the Chinese-American designer to her first brush with fame.
Here, on the day of her show at Skylight at Moynihan Station, Ms. Sui, 51, reminisces about that period, and the baby-doll dress that ignited her decades-long career. She will bring back that look, a hybrid of a London dolly bird and a New York fairy princess, this spring.
Did the industry itself in those days bear any resemblance to what it is now?
It was the early ’90s, probably before the fashion week tents went up in Bryant Park. Fashion was so different then. It wasn’t like you had to look in a million places to find it. Elsa Klensch had her show on CNN, and everybody watched it. It was a much more condensed viewing experience. A young designer could get noticed.
What about the art and music scene of the time most vividly affected you?
There was a certain something in the air; it was the whole grunge period at its height. My friends and I were listening to Smashing Pumpkins and Nirvana — all those alternative bands. Fashion and MTV were kind of closely intertwined. Courtney Love was on the covers of all the magazines.
I think it was a combination of those girl bands of the time, Babes in Toyland and Hole, and the way the concertgoers were dressing — they were going back to their childhood birthday parties — that most moved me.
That was when I did my first baby-doll dresses: they were either an English dolly bird look or fairy-tale princess, done in iridescent sequined organza. That was the look that changed things for me.
When did you know you had a hit on your hands?
Linda Evangelista wore one of those dresses to the couture shows. And I started getting calls from all the supermodels. It was, “Can I get a dress like that?” That’s what gave me the confidence to do my first show. It was 1994, the height of the supermodel time, an iconic moment when Linda, Christy and Naomi all came out on the runway in those baby-doll dresses.
Afterward those dresses became so successful that they were almost my whole business at that point. I was selling them in most of the major department stores. Barneys bought them. Sofia Coppola wore them. That was it.
I still always do that baby-doll dress in one form or another. To this day, it’s the most important part of my business.
Preapre to take your seats and to clap gracefully as we name the best and worst dressed from the BAFTA red carpet last night. Consider it a consolation prize for those who missed out on an award...
Best OTM Choice: Bel Powley in Gucci
If you don’t know Bel Powley, then as the wearers of backwards baseball caps would say, ‘get to know!’ The Royal Night Out actress chose a Gucci rainbow dress and in the process conveyed everything we love about the yearly comeback of spring stripes. PLUS its pleated AND metallic, too, talk about nailing three trends in one! After me now… red and orange and pink and green… I can sing a rainbow, too.
Best Medieval Moment: Alicia Vikander in Louis Vuitton
Alicia Vikander and Louis Vuitton is a match made in heaven, especially when the dress catapults back to Camelot! Doing her best futuristic Maid Marion impression, Alicia in turn also partly embodies her Ex Machina character and it definitely helps when your Robin Hood is Michael Fassbender. It’s not fair, how can one woman have all of the Louis and all of the Fassbender at once? We are just not worthy of your prowess, Alicia.
Sorry Eddie, but you have been officially knocked off your Best Male In Mode pedestal. You had us at the contrasting satin lapel, Idris.
Best Emulation Of An Emoji: Dakota Johnson In Dior
Another smashing attempt at nailing a very OTM trend, but this time its flamenco. I am literally clapping my castanets in complete approval and doing a couple of one, two steps underneath my desk whilst writing. Lovely pared back beauty, too, with that classic go-to of a red popping lip.
The Queen Of Everything Award: Cate Blanchett In Alexander McQueen
There are just aren’t enough adjectives to describe how sensational Cate Blanchett ALWAYS looks. We shall christen this look when bird of paradise meets botanic garden, and still Cate comes up smelling of royal roses. Just like the actual Queen I am willing to pay taxes to keep Cate clothed for life. It would be money well spent, clearly.
Best Back: Julianne Moore in Armani
Despite contracting laryngitis, Julianne Moore still made it to give Leo his Best Actor award - at the end of the day who wouldn’t when you are guaranteed a cheeky kiss on the cheek from the man of the moment? Plus, she looked sensational in the process by bringing sexy back with a cascading ribbon. Chicccc. As Hear Say would say, ‘pure and simple.’.
Monday marked the first day of New York Fashion Week Men’s or New York Men’s Day, setting off fashion week in ‘The City of Dreams’. Set in the spacious Industria Superstudio, Lucio Castro debuted a collection that was pure 70s euphoria.
Revolving around a subtle, earthy neutral color palette, the collection offered hints of deep forest greens found on culottes and jackets and shimmers of fluorescents, seen tucked away underneath sweater vests and button down shirts or more confidently embossed across entire suits. Prints were conversational, like the bomber jacket or suit with an elaborate labyrinth-like print and of course stripes and plaids as far as the eye could see.
Joining Castro’s aesthetic harmoniously was his smart use of accessories. Cool top hats, colorful oversized frames, and leisure sneakers worked together creating a polished metropolitan meets sportif vibe. Another real stand out were the oversized key chains, either linking together the belt loops of the trousers or dangling as almost haphazard trinkets from the waists of models.
Castro’s collection left us a bit wanderlust about decades past, but more so optimistic of the bright future of this innovative designer.
Geordie Shore's Holly Hagan undergoes a trashy makeover as she flashes her bra in plaid shirt for fancy dress night out in Newcastle
They have to indulge in wild nights out while filming hit MTV reality show Geordie Shore.
And Holly Hagan took trashy to a new level on Monday night as she indulged in a spot of fancy dress.
The cast hit Newcastle for an American themed night out, but appeared to be more Hillbilly than Hollywood.
The 23-year-old swapped her skimpy dresses and tiny tops for a plaid shirt, but added her trademark sex appeal by leaving it unbuttoned and flashing her bra.
She added a kooky blonde wig with cans acting as rollers and showed off her slim figure in tight leggings.
Holly wasn't the only member of the show who got into the party spirit - co-star Nathan Henry displayed his cheeky side as a rear-flashing Rambo.
It's the latest wild night out the GS squad has enjoyed this week.
The reality starlet looked sensational in a scanty bralet which failed to contain her bountiful assets while also flashing her incredibly toned abs.
Holly, who found fame in the first season of the show in 2011, looked sensational in the crimson crop top - which could easily have passed for underwear.
The scanty number flaunted the pretty star's incredibly trim waist as well as her surgically-enhanced bust, the result of a series of boob jobs - the first of which she underwent at the tender age of 18.
Ensuring she stuck to the cardinal legs-or-cleavage rule, the Thornaby-on-Tees-born beauty opted to entirely cover her toned legs in black harem pants.
She added sky-high strappy sandals to the ensemble, which coordinated perfectly with her envy-inducing Mulberry clutch bag.
The pretty star opted for her favoured Nineties-inspired jewellery, as she stacked a thin gold choker over a delicate chain while she slipped rings on to her pink nail varnish baring fingers.
Holly let her two-tone blonde and brunette locks cascade in perfectly-styles curls, which tumbled over and briefly covered her bare chest.
The stunning star's make-up was typically heavy-handed yet exquisitely applied with a taupe and bronze eye-shadow pallet outlining her almond shaped eyes.
Far from seeking the natural look, Holly opted to replace her natural hazel eye-colour with a pair of piercing blue coloured contacts.
She also applied lashings of highlighter to help emphasise her cheekbones and nude lip gloss to show off her plumped up pout.
The stunning star was spied filming in the so-called 'Toon' with her female co-stars including Charlotte Crosby, Marnie Simpson and former cast member Sophie Kasaei.
"My father was our match maker"- Amina and Mangis share love story
Mangis said 'it took the match-making skills of his father and a mutual friend to bring him and Amina together'
When Amina and Mangis were introduced to each other in 2014, little did they know that they would be spending the rest of their lives together as man and wife two years later.
Sharing their wedding story exclusively with Pulse Nigeria, the groom said "it took the match-making skills of his father and a mutual friend to bring them together". Though it started as a long distance relationship, the connection felt by the bride and groom couldn't be dampened, instead it got better with time.
Amina and Mangis will officially be married on March 26, 2016 in Jos, Plateau State.
Read the bride and groom's romantic journey below:
Bride's story:
How we met:
Rewind 2 years back during my otondo days, Mangis sent me a BBM invite which he got from a mutual friend, he also got my phone number too. I was in the ‘No New Friends‘ state of mind talk more of relationship. He called me the next day and we continued communicating afterwards.
We didn’t meet for months because I was in Lagos serving our great Nigeria and he was working in Abuja. My heart melted when he told me he will be leaving for school, Tragedy!
Mangis was a friend I always talked to and suddenly, he is leaving for school?. The guys in my life left for school and the rest is history. I imagined history was gonna repeat itself, since I send them to school and they don’t come back to me.
Well, I couldn’t change things, we planned to meet before he left. He was meant to come over to Lagos but before he could, I was in Abuja for a wedding, so I decided to use a stone to kill two birds.
We all know I was more excited about meeting him *laughs*. The first time we met, I saw the good looking, short, chubby young man coming outta his car, I actually imagined him taller though *sigh*.
Mangis is now a big deal in my life, his family is amazing and very hospitable, I bless the day his momma bore him, he is heaven sent specially for me.
The Proposal
During his sister's birthday party on April 23, 2015, he asked me to be his Bonnie and he my Clyde, we stole her day. In a nutshell I’m getting married to the most amazing person, my Habibi, my Mr. Hamsom (handsome), God fearing and playful person.
Groom's story:
How we met:
It was such a lovely day filled with daily expectations as always. I drove down to the office ready for the day's job. I work in my family's construction firm as an Architect; when I got to the office, my dad invited me into his office and kept smiling uncontrollably, I sensed foul play because it is typical of him when he does that.
He told me about a family he visited and met with a pretty woman who cooed with a lot of good talk about her husband and children. She also spoke about her last daughter who was serving in Lagos then.
Dad picked interest in the girl because of how pretty her mum looked and insisted I checked out the girl on Facebook. I didn't check, he kept pressuring me and I finally yielded. To my amazement, this was the same girl a friend gave me her bio a week before my dad's gesture.
I felt the urge to know Amina so I got her BBM pin and phone number from a mutual friend. Our first chats implored my curiosity with the right answers I was looking for. We started communicating and that was how I ended up with this damsel as my lover, best friend and soon-to-be wife who is loving, kind, honest, down to earth, God fearing and amazing in and out.
Congratulations to Amina and Mangis.
See their pre-wedding photos of the beautiful couple in the gallery above.
Singer Pixie shows off her lithe limbs in tangerine sun-dress
She will reprise the role of Holly Golightly, made famous by Audrey Hepburn, in the stage production of Breakfast at Tiffany's when it opens later this year.
And Pixie Lott looks as though she can hardly wait to make her theatre debut as she flashed an unrelenting smile while at a photocall for the upcoming production on Thursday.
The 25-year-old star was sure to turn heads as she posed outside of the Theatre Royal Haymarket, clad in an vivid tangerine sun-dress that ensured the pop princess was unmissable.
Breakfast at Tiffany's is set to open later this year and we cannot wait to see the beautiful Pixie Lott play Holly Golightly.
The singer has stepped away from what made her famous, instead taking to the stage for her new role and she seemed raring to go as she posed outside the Theatre Royal Haymarket.
But it's not just singing and acting that Pixie Lott is now known for. She is pretty renowned for her fashion sense too. She adeptly mixes up designer and high street brands, but here for the photocall she stuck to high end fashion, in the form of this gorgeous Fendi dress.
The bright orange number was distinctly summery and we loved the layered design that made it appear to be a paired top and skirt. If you're ready to get your spring/summer wardrobe in order like Pixie, click right to bag this Fendi number now at MATCHESFASHION.COM. Beware though, it doesn't come cheap, which is why we've rounded up similar and much less pricey options below.
The Mama Do crooner, who has made no secret of her theatre ambitions, looked sensationally leggy in the short design which featured laser cut detailing around the skirt.
The singer elongated her famous pins with barely-there gold stilettos, which made for a somewhat summery style overall despite the chilly weather.
Even Pixie's choice of outerwear nodded at the warmer days of spring as she modelled a white duster coat emblazoned with a bright floral motif.
Her signature blonde locks were worn in a sleek, yet voluminous, style around her stunning face which sported a glamorous make-up look comprised of a copper smoky eyeshadow look and a glossy nude lipstick.
Pixie was joined at the photocall by co-stars Charlie De Melo and Matt Barber, of Downton Abbey fame, as well as director Nikolai Foster.
The Essex native will be taking the lead in a limited 12-week season of Breakfast at Tiffany’s at the Theatre Royal Haymarket in London’s West End in 2016, after doing a UK and Ireland tour of the production from March 2016.
The play is based on Truman Capote’s original 1958 novella.
Breakfast At Tiffany's has been adapted for the stage by Tony and Olivier Award-winning playwright Richard Greenberg (Take Me Out, Three Days of Rain), and contains memorable songs from the era as well as original music by Grant Olding (One Man, Two Guvnors).
Pixie enthused: 'I am so excited to play Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany’s in my first West End play.
'I absolutely love Holly’s style, and free spirit; she has always been an icon to me and I can't wait to bring my own personality to the role.
'Alongside music, I've always wanted to be in a play, and getting the opportunity to be in one of my all time favourites and play this fabulous character is a dream come true.'
Set against the backdrop of 1943 New York, the story follows writer Fred's attempts to woo Holly, a charming, vivacious and utterly elusive good-time girl with a string of rich suitors.
Fans can catch Pixie on stage from 30 June to 17 September 2016.
Lace gloves are off as luxury bridal boutiques blackball home traders
Some top-end wedding retailers are battling the rise in companies selling dresses from home by boycotting their suppliers. Two owners square up
A gaping rift has appeared in the wedding industry. Traders that sell wedding dresses from their homes have come under fire from traditional bridal boutiques, who accuse them of undercutting them and providing a poor service. Some have gone even further. Ellie Sanderson, owner of Ellie Sanderson Bridal Boutique in Buckinghamshire, says luxury bridal shops such as hers are boycotting suppliers that deal with home traders. “The UK independent retail bodies, together with retailers, have joined forces to blackball any label that sells to these ‘home traders’,” she says. However home traders argue that they are running professional businesses that provide great customer service.
Here two bridal businesses argue their opposing views:
Jana Svalbe, owner of Mode Bridal
Mode Bridal is a small luxury bridal studio in Hove, East Sussex. Based in part of the family home, it sells designer bridal gowns handmade to each bride’s measurements, with prices ranging from £1,000-£3,950.
We focus on delivering excellent service, offering relaxed private appointments where each bride receives great styling advice.
The bridal industry, however, seems to be neither interested in the quality of our offering nor in the opinion of our customers, preferring instead to brand all home traders as bad for the industry.
Influential industry voices are going out of their way to stop entrepreneurs selling wedding dresses from home. They are calling for designers to stop dealing with businesses trading from home, for respectable industry award bodies to exclude us, for the media to deny us any coverage and for trade shows and large wedding fairs to refuse us entry.
What really is behind all of this? A false perception is being peddled that all businesses trading from home have an overwhelming and unfair competitive advantage as they are “paying little or no rent and rates” and are therefore able to undercut any shop-based retailer on price, all while delivering “inferior service” to the customer.
As someone who has set up my own business from home, I hope to dispel these myths.
The bridal industry faces many challenges, from increasing rents and rates that make it difficult to run a viable “traditional” bridal business, to an influx of cheap products from China and elsewhere making it difficult for quality European suppliers to compete for cash-strapped consumers.
There is a growing volume of counterfeit products deluging the market, barely resembling the gowns brides thought they were purchasing online.
Caught in this bridal industry panic are talented entrepreneurs who have great plans to produce beautiful products but aren’t willing to risk signing up to long, punitive rental and other contracts before being certain they will succeed in those first make-or-break 18 months.
This supposed advantage of home traders is tempered by very clear disadvantages. Without a beautiful shop window located in an area of high footfall, attracting potential customers requires much more effort, determination and a significantly higher percentage of marketing expenses.
Most home traders do not generate greater sales volumes than high street retailers, or the supposedly “superior profits”. And, in my experience, most home traders do pay business rates - it is a government requirement.
Home traders are choosing a model that balances the risks and expenses of launching and running a small business with the greater flexibility that suits their own particular circumstances (having small children, for example).
The argument that “all home traders offer poor service” and “all high street retailers are professionals” is disingenuous, misleading and highly simplistic.
It is time for the industry to remove its head from the sand and accept the reality of the 21st century. Home trading is a legitimate and viable business model and can offer an equal, if not better, service to high street retailers. The view that it should be prevented is preposterous.
If the industry really wants to improve both the trading environment and delivery to our customers, we should focus our energy on promoting enforceable quality standards, lobbying the government to take tougher measures against counterfeiters and providing small businesses with better support to stay competitive, not wasting time and effort on pointless insular fighting that offers zero value for the consumer.
Stephanie Hank, secretary of the Retail Bridalwear Association and managing director of Bride to Be boutique
The recent hype around weddings, with non-stop television programmes such as Say Yes To the Dress, has seen an increase in bridal home traders. Naive householders think it is an easy and tax-free way to earn an income.
High street stores invest huge amounts of money in premises, business rates, insurance, stock, staff wages, staff training, and marketing …. the list goes on. High street bridal stores are serious businesses run by commercially aware, professional people. These stores support the local community by employing local staff and paying rates to local councils.
Most people who run bridal businesses from home are startup businesses with little or no experience in what can be a very challenging industry. They therefore have very little advice and guidance to pass onto a bride. In addition, it is likely they are not paying business rates and are possibly not insured.
Shops have to have public liability insurance to protect their customers. Most home traders, however, are trading from bedrooms. What if a customer tripped on their stairs while carrying their wedding gown? Shops also have insurance for their stock and their brides dresses. A home trader may not have either of these in place and if their house burnt down or flooded the brides could all lose their gowns.
If a bride has a dispute with a home trader, the law might not protect them in the same way that it would had she purchased a gown from a proper high street store. If the home trader is selling as a private seller and not a business, there are key parts of the Consumer Rights Act that won’t apply.
Home traders are unable to offer the bride a large selection of desirable designer gowns as the top manufacturers and designers won’t supply them. A bride can feel that she is under immense pressure to purchase her gown when she has been made welcome into someone’s home but would not feel the same obligation to buy from a high street store.
Buying a wedding dress is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and coming into a beautiful shop is all part of that. It is probably the most expensive piece of clothing most brides will ever buy and should be left in the hands of professionals.
The premium RBA stores offer a reassuring guarantee to all of the brides who purchase their gown from the store, whereby they underwrite the 50% deposit that a bride pays for her dress at the time of ordering. This is something that, unfortunately, no home trader will ever be able to offer.
Lace gloves are off as luxury bridal boutiques blackball home traders
Some top-end wedding retailers are battling the rise in companies selling dresses from home by boycotting their suppliers. Two owners square up
A gaping rift has appeared in the wedding industry. Traders that sell wedding dresses from their homes have come under fire from traditional bridal boutiques, who accuse them of undercutting them and providing a poor service. Some have gone even further. Ellie Sanderson, owner of Ellie Sanderson Bridal Boutique in Buckinghamshire, says luxury bridal shops such as hers are boycotting suppliers that deal with home traders. “The UK independent retail bodies, together with retailers, have joined forces to blackball any label that sells to these ‘home traders’,” she says. However home traders argue that they are running professional businesses that provide great customer service.
Here two bridal businesses argue their opposing views:
Jana Svalbe, owner of Mode Bridal
Mode Bridal is a small luxury bridal studio in Hove, East Sussex. Based in part of the family home, it sells designer bridal gowns handmade to each bride’s measurements, with prices ranging from £1,000-£3,950.
We focus on delivering excellent service, offering relaxed private appointments where each bride receives great styling advice.
The bridal industry, however, seems to be neither interested in the quality of our offering nor in the opinion of our customers, preferring instead to brand all home traders as bad for the industry.
Influential industry voices are going out of their way to stop entrepreneurs selling wedding dresses from home. They are calling for designers to stop dealing with businesses trading from home, for respectable industry award bodies to exclude us, for the media to deny us any coverage and for trade shows and large wedding fairs to refuse us entry.
What really is behind all of this? A false perception is being peddled that all businesses trading from home have an overwhelming and unfair competitive advantage as they are “paying little or no rent and rates” and are therefore able to undercut any shop-based retailer on price, all while delivering “inferior service” to the customer.
As someone who has set up my own business from home, I hope to dispel these myths.
The bridal industry faces many challenges, from increasing rents and rates that make it difficult to run a viable “traditional” bridal business, to an influx of cheap products from China and elsewhere making it difficult for quality European suppliers to compete for cash-strapped consumers.
There is a growing volume of counterfeit products deluging the market, barely resembling the gowns brides thought they were purchasing online.
Caught in this bridal industry panic are talented entrepreneurs who have great plans to produce beautiful products but aren’t willing to risk signing up to long, punitive rental and other contracts before being certain they will succeed in those first make-or-break 18 months.
This supposed advantage of home traders is tempered by very clear disadvantages. Without a beautiful shop window located in an area of high footfall, attracting potential customers requires much more effort, determination and a significantly higher percentage of marketing expenses.
Most home traders do not generate greater sales volumes than high street retailers, or the supposedly “superior profits”. And, in my experience, most home traders do pay business rates - it is a government requirement.
Home traders are choosing a model that balances the risks and expenses of launching and running a small business with the greater flexibility that suits their own particular circumstances (having small children, for example).
The argument that “all home traders offer poor service” and “all high street retailers are professionals” is disingenuous, misleading and highly simplistic.
It is time for the industry to remove its head from the sand and accept the reality of the 21st century. Home trading is a legitimate and viable business model and can offer an equal, if not better, service to high street retailers. The view that it should be prevented is preposterous.
If the industry really wants to improve both the trading environment and delivery to our customers, we should focus our energy on promoting enforceable quality standards, lobbying the government to take tougher measures against counterfeiters and providing small businesses with better support to stay competitive, not wasting time and effort on pointless insular fighting that offers zero value for the consumer.
Stephanie Hank, secretary of the Retail Bridalwear Association and managing director of Bride to Be boutique
The recent hype around weddings, with non-stop television programmes such as Say Yes To the Dress, has seen an increase in bridal home traders. Naive householders think it is an easy and tax-free way to earn an income.
High street stores invest huge amounts of money in premises, business rates, insurance, stock, staff wages, staff training, and marketing …. the list goes on. High street bridal stores are serious businesses run by commercially aware, professional people. These stores support the local community by employing local staff and paying rates to local councils.
Most people who run bridal businesses from home are startup businesses with little or no experience in what can be a very challenging industry. They therefore have very little advice and guidance to pass onto a bride. In addition, it is likely they are not paying business rates and are possibly not insured.
Shops have to have public liability insurance to protect their customers. Most home traders, however, are trading from bedrooms. What if a customer tripped on their stairs while carrying their wedding gown? Shops also have insurance for their stock and their brides dresses. A home trader may not have either of these in place and if their house burnt down or flooded the brides could all lose their gowns.
If a bride has a dispute with a home trader, the law might not protect them in the same way that it would had she purchased a gown from a proper high street store. If the home trader is selling as a private seller and not a business, there are key parts of the Consumer Rights Act that won’t apply.
Home traders are unable to offer the bride a large selection of desirable designer gowns as the top manufacturers and designers won’t supply them. A bride can feel that she is under immense pressure to purchase her gown when she has been made welcome into someone’s home but would not feel the same obligation to buy from a high street store.
Buying a wedding dress is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and coming into a beautiful shop is all part of that. It is probably the most expensive piece of clothing most brides will ever buy and should be left in the hands of professionals.
The premium RBA stores offer a reassuring guarantee to all of the brides who purchase their gown from the store, whereby they underwrite the 50% deposit that a bride pays for her dress at the time of ordering. This is something that, unfortunately, no home trader will ever be able to offer.
Obese woman sheds 8st and splashes £12k on plastic surgery for dream wedding
A BRIDE-TO-BE shelled out thousands to get the “perfect” body before her big day.
Chantelle Harris tipped the scales at 21st and was at a loss after trying and failing ever diet under the sun.
After seeing a friend’s results, the 29-year-old decided to fork over £6,000 for gastric band surgery so she could beat the bulge once and for all.
She went under the knife five years ago and quickly shed 8st thanks to eating smaller portions and getting a personal trainer.
And just one month after her op, Chantelle met the man of her dreams Marlon Powell, 30, who proposed last year.
Chantelle said: "I think a lot of people forget that after a gastric band you don't wake up skinny because that's the start of your journey – but it's completely worth it.
"After the weight started to drop off I found I had so much more energy and was all the more confident.
"At first it was difficult understanding the limitations of the gastric band and sometimes meant a lot of my dinners went cold before I could finish them.
"After losing eight stone I felt great, I was fitter, not sluggish anymore and could feel the difference in every aspect of my life.”
But Chantelle refused to walk down the aisle without having a boob job after her dramatic weight loss had caused her breasts to drop from a G to a C-cup.
She explained: "After my initial gastric band surgery I felt great but there was one last thing that I wanted to resolve about myself.
"My only problem was that my breasts had lost a lot of their volume and I'd gone down five cup sizes. It left me feeling unhappy as there was nothing I wanted more than to look amazing on my wedding day.
"I wanted to have the option not to wear a bra on my big day and for me it was the way to complete my amazing transformation. Now I feel incredible and can't wait to get married.”
Seven months ago Chantelle spent another £6,000 on size E implants so she could be body confident for her wedding day this April.
“There was nothing I wanted more than to look amazing on my wedding day”
She continued: “What took me aback was that before most people would see my size before anything else, but not my fiance, Marlon, he didn't even think I was big enough to have a gastric band.
"Before my breast surgery he told me that he only wanted me to have the surgery if I was doing it for myself and no one else – he didn't mind whether I had it or not.
"I'm so glad I did as I've gained all of my confidence back and feel so much happier now."
Chantelle booked in with Staiano Plastic Surgery who enhanced her assets.
Jonathan Staiano, 44, company director and plastic surgeon said: "Losing weight is one of the major things that can change the appearance of a person's body. In Chantelle's case she wanted her body to look how it did before her gastric band and keep looking in proportion.
"I met up with her several times before the operation to discuss what she could realistically achieve and knew the change was important to her.
"She wanted to return to having the body shape she had before and was really happy with the results.
"She was always a confident lady before the surgery but I could see a real emotional difference in her after the operation and we both were delighted with her results."
Now Chantelle wants to share her story in a bid to help others who feel trapped being overweight or unhappy with their appearance.
She added: "My surgeon was so lovely, he really put me at ease and I knew as soon as I walked out the door that he was right for me.
"Everyone was incredibly supportive and understood why I decided to go for the surgery.
"When I woke up I expected to feel pain but it was amazing, it was then that I knew I was complete and ready for my big day."
They met in high school but, despite their friends' protestations, didn't ever think they'd end up together. Fast-forward a few years and these old schoolfriends tied the knot in a spectacular farmyard setting.
But we'll let Teri fill you in on all the romantic details...
How did you meet? Sam and I met in our first year of high school at Alfriston College, Auckland. He didn't have a pen on the first day of classes so I gave him one – that was our first interaction. There were many jokes made throughout high school that we would end up married with many curly haired children. We steadfastly denied this but it turns out everyone else was right. Soon after leaving high school a close friendship turned into something more and five years of dating later Sam proposed!
Tell us about the proposal: Despite all the odds (I am very nosy and my family can't keep quiet), Sam managed to make the proposal a surprise. He had been making secret trips to the Ellerslie Jewellers to design a one-of-a-kind ring and had asked my dad's permission at Christmas time.
A few days later, on a summer trip to Waiheke Island at the end of 2014, Sam made me walk up a hill overlooking the ocean. He had the ring hidden in a champagne box that he had brought over and left with a friend the week before. During a beautiful sunset, Sam got down on one knee and popped the question. It was an amazing, unexpected and perfect moment.
Location of wedding: We got married at my parents' farm in Clevedon. I had wanted to get married there ever since we moved in, and luckily my parents were just as excited about it as I was. It took a lot of effort to get the place wedding-ready, and we were blessed to have so many family members and friends helping us.
We used every aspect of the property – even decorating the 1km-long driveway in white ribbons. The ceremony was in my mum's beautiful garden, drinks were by the pool, and the reception was in my dad's trucking shed. The shed was the biggest transformation - we decorated the ceiling with festoon lighting and ivy with fresh flowers and flickering candles on all surfaces. It was stunning!
Describe your wedding day: It was amazing. Having a December wedding was slightly risky weather-wise, but it turned into a perfect warm and sunny day. We spent the night apart which meant we got to wake up with our respective families and bridal party – this was very special and added to the excitement of the day.
It all went by in such a blur, but all the stress of the preparations dissolved and we just got to immerse ourselves in the day. To be surrounded by family and friends who had each played a part in our upbringing and relationship was very special.
The day flowed really well and everything looked excellent – it was a fun day that was enjoyed by everyone. The dancing went on well into the early hours of the next day.
The dress: My dress was the 'Gardenia' design by Claire Pettibone, and sourced at the gorgeous Primrose and Finch store in Parnell. It was a full lace dress with the most amazing back detailing. The dresses for my bridesmaids were made by Tegan Joy, a friend and up-and-coming fashion designer based in Auckland. She also was a life saver by making the boys' bow ties with very late notice!
The flowers: My grandmother made the bouquets with the help of a friend, as well as all the flower arrangements on the tables and at the end of the aisle. I tasked her with the challenge of finding wild flowers in the off season, but with a lot of time and effort she managed to source all of the flowers from friends' gardens across the Waikato. They looked beautiful and it was very special that she had put them together for us.
Highlight of the wedding: Seeing it all come together and everyone having the best time. So much planning and thought went into the day, so being able to just stop, enjoy it, and share it with all of our favourite people was absolutely a dream come true.
Was there any drama? A fair bit of drama actually - dress issues, car trouble and broken-down trucks stuck in the reception venue. The best bit of drama though occurred when Sam was out picking the ivy two days before the wedding. He stood on the end of a rake which (as seen in the movies) flew up and whacked him in the face, leaving a big, bleeding egg-shaped bump right on his forehead. There was no concussion but a lot of makeup was needed to cover it up and many jokes made at his expense. The rake actually ended up making an appearance in our wedding photos.
The honeymoon: We were very lucky to be sent on an amazing trip to Bali and Singapore. Sam has family in both places and we were extremely well looked after. We spent three weeks exploring, eating and relaxing – it was really nice to spend time together after a busy few weeks pre-wedding. I highly recommend to all couples taking time out for a honeymoon, even just a short one!
Your photographer and favourite photo? Jay and Lena from Pure Love Photography New Zealand photographed our wedding and they were absolutely amazing. They captured every moment and had us all feeling very comfortable. Choosing a favourite photo is hard but I think the one straight after 'the big kiss', where we are both smiling at each other, would be it. The photos of all of the bridal party and ones in the forest are also a highlight.
Love the location: You don’t have to go far for wild destination weddings
There are destination weddings. Then there are those places that take your breath away.
Clara Richardson and Dave Hill first checked out the West Coast of Vancouver Island — specifically Tofino and Ucluelet — shortly after they got engaged in 2012. And they were pleasantly surprised.
“We went to the Black Rock Resort — it was the first place we went to and once we saw it, it was so gorgeous,” says Richardson. “It was a destination wedding – but not too far.
“We assumed it would be out of our price range, but when we compared it to a variety of places around Vancouver, we thought, why not?” For a price comparable to a ceremony and dinner at several popular Vancouver venues, Richardson and Hill instead got a steps-from-the-ocean ceremony framed by towering cedars and crashing waves, and a first-class, sit-down dinner for 68 people.
“It’s the best of both worlds with a 180-degree view of the ocean and the rocky shoreline,” says Richardson, a Vancouver lawyer with Aaron Gordon Daykin Nordlinger.
The ceremony was held outside on the main patio. That wild, West Coast weather can mean sunshine one moment, and rain the next. The backup plan for Richardson’s wedding was to hold the ceremony inside, but the drizzle that shrouded the resort all morning magically cleared before the ceremony was set to take place.
Richardson was a bit late in arriving for the ceremony, and laughs as she recalls that as Hill stood waiting for her, he was calmed by the sound of the waves.
“It was absolutely stunning,” says Richardson. “The wedding was seamless — it was very professional and it was all pulled together quickly as we were engaged only six months.”
For Richardson and Hill, the wedding was the perfect day to cap their engagement that began nearby at the renowned Hot Springs Cove. The Tofino-Ucluelet area has always held special appeal for them and on Valentine’s Day in 2012 as the couple walked the boardwalk to the hot springs, Richardson was shocked to look down and see that one of the planks on the walk read: “Clara Richardson will you marry me?” The two-kilometre boardwalk trail has messages carved into the planks — everything from names and dates, to recollections of the visit from locals and tourists alike. Richardson didn’t know it at the time, but Hill had made the plank himself while back in Vancouver, keeping it a secret from Richardson until they visited that February weekend. The couple stayed at the Innchanter, a boat moored just offshore near the hot springs and, with the help of the inn staff, Hill had the plank installed on the boardwalk the night before the proposal.
“I was beside myself with excitement,” Richardson said. “It was a total surprise.”
Six months later, Richardson and Hill were married.
“It was celebratory, fun, emotional,” says Richardson. “I tried not to cry because I didn’t want to ruin my makeup, but I’m sure a tear slipped out. And the best part was looking out at everyone and realizing that all these people who I love so much are here to bear witness to our love.”
A special surprise for guests was the video that Hill had been shooting on their engagement weekend.
“He’d run ahead and get video of me walking the path — so I was already used to it. For the proposal, he ran ahead and set it up as I was walking toward the spot where the board is, so it was all caught on film,” said Richardson.
“We showed an edited video of that at our wedding reception — there wasn’t a dry eye in the house.”
Samara Weaving models this season's must-try makeup trends
You may remember her best from her role as Indi Walker on Home & Away, but Samara Weaving has come a long way since her days in Summer Bay. After re-locating to L.A. to take a crack at Hollywood (in the time-honoured tradition of ex-soapie stars like Margot Robbie), Weaving has already snapped up some choice roles including a part in Joseph McGinty Nichol's The Babysitter alongside Bella Thorne. She also stars in a local thriller — Bad Girl — due for release this year. In a nutshell: 2016 is already shaping up to be a big deal for this 24-year-old.
When she arrives for her Byrdie Australia photo shoot at Sydney's The Fashion Institute, Weaving looks exactly as you'd expect — stunning. Her hair is damp and her skin scrubbed clean; she's fresh, fascinating (see: her Harry Potter-inspired tattoo) and funny. The perfect muse for our summer makeup shoot? We think so.
Samara Weaving: I like a scrub so I'll use a Nivea ($10) one or something a bit more natural. I like to think it helps clean out my pores, especially if I've got makeup on or I've been travelling and sleeping in different hotel rooms and flying. I've got really dry skin and La Prairie's Skin Caviar Cream ($500) really helps with keeping up hydration levels all day. I don't ever have to reapply it. I've got like a little ModelCo rosehip face mist ($20) that tones and makes my skin all firm and dewy. Sunscreen-wise, I like the ones that you spray on. The mist is fine so you don't get greasy and gross and they're still very protective. At night I'll do the La Prairie cream again and sometimes I'll put a little dab of Lucas' Papaw Ointment ($6) under my eyes and around my mouth so when I wake up my skin is all fresh and dewy.
B: You fly a lot—how do you keep your skin looking good with all the plane travel?
SW: I tend to take a travel-sized raw coconut oil ($5) with me on the plane and dab it under my eyes, on my lips and forehead every three hours or so. Normally I stay away from oils because they make me break out but because it's so dry on a plane it just seems to work. I put it on the ends of my hair as well to prevent breakage.
B: How would you describe your everyday makeup look?
SW: I don't like to wear a lot of makeup because my skin is quite sensitive. I'm prone to breakouts so I try and stick to a BB cream like the Garnier one ($15) and the little Bobbi Brown eyebrow gel ($45). Then if I want to go from day to night I'll wear the Lancôme Teint Miracle foundation ($55). It stays on for ages and makes you look like you're radiating health—it's amazing. ModelCo's mascara ($36) with the little brush-on fibres makes my eyelashes look ridiculously long. During the day I'll not do the fibres but then at night time I'm gonna go all out and make them nice and lush. I'll also do a liner on the inner upper waterline. Then I just use eyeshadow in browns and nudes for the eyes. I use a Benefit blush ($51), it's a really peachy colour and not sparkly which I like. I'm really obsessed with this Burberry lipstick ($49) I have; it goes on really smoothly and it doesn't even really look like lipstick—it's almost in the middle of a lipstick and a gloss. It's really good.
B: You have very striking eyes; do you use any makeup tricks to accentuate them?
SW: My mum's in the art industry and we grew up going to lots of museums and learning about art so I think I've picked up some things from that background. You should always use the opposite colour to your eyes to compliment them so because I have blue eyes I tend to go more towards bronze-y oranges to make them pop.
B: You've just had hair extensions put in for The Babysitter. How have you been adjusting to those?
SW: I was surprised when they said they wanted to put a few extensions in. I was a bit hesitant because I thought you'd be able to tell but—and if I'm wrong someone tell me—I feel like they look pretty good. They're just a bit of fun really. I'm not going around pretending they're my own hair, I'm actually kind of pointing it out to people. My hair is dry anyway so I use the Olaplex home treatment which is amazing. I put it in once I've finished washing my hair, comb it through and leave it in. It really helps keep everything soft.
B: Are you a fan of DIY beauty?
SW: After a day of work where I've had a few different hair looks or there have been certain effects done to my hair and it's been through a lot, I'll do a homemade treatment. It's just coconut oil and avocado and a bunch of other natural things—basically whatever's in the garden. I put it on and watch T.V and hope no-one walks in one me while I've got weird goo in my hair.
B: How would you say being an actress has influenced your beauty routine over the years?
SW: I think being surrounded by professional makeup artists and hairdressers you pick up little tips and trends. I think I'd be a bit of a lost puppy if they weren't around. I've learned how to contour my face which I really love. If I'm feeling a bit puffy or haven't slept properly and I've got an audition or meeting, I'll be like, "It's okay, I've got this!" I use the Anastasia contour kit ($67) for that—it's good because the powders are creamy and easy to blend.
B: What's the best tip you've picked up from a makeup artist on set?
SW: Once a makeup artist put a little gold highlighter on my Cupid's bow and it accentuated the lip colour and brought the whole makeup look together. It was just a little thing but I loved it. I do it myself now but I have to double check myself. I'm like, "Is this too much?" You don't want to be leaving home with a big glob of gold on your face.
B: How do you stay fit and healthy?
SW: I do yoga every other day or as much as I can. I tend to go to ones that are just 30 degrees or 25-30 rather than Bikram yoga which is super-hot, around 40 degrees. I would pass out in there! Yoga is great because once you know enough moves, you can literally just buy a mat and do it anywhere. You only need two metres to yourself.
B: Is there anything else you do to be well?
SW: I just try to listen to my body. I think it's very important to be mindful of your body and actually listen to it. If I'm craving a certain kind of food I'll have, but I notice when I'm full. It's kind of like a logical diet. I think when people go on restrictive diets they put too much stress on themselves which might make them prone to bingeing. I think mindfulness is the way to go.
B: Are there any beauty moments from film you've taken on board in your everyday life?
SW: A couple of years ago my friend and I were watching heaps of That 70's Show and we were obsessed with the characters. After that I had a lot of love for the '70s and that sort of indie look. I even started doing centre-parted hair; It was like Almost Famous vibes. I love the flair of that era and the whole hippie feeling.
B: Is there anyone you aspire to be like in your industry?
SW: Lately, I've really been admiring younger female actors like Emma Stone, Jennifer Lawrence and Jessica Chastain — they're women who are taking on really interesting roles. They're not being stereotyped in a certain way, and they're giving it their all and doing really well.
B: What can you tell us about your upcoming film, The Babysitter?
SW: I don't actually know how much I can say just yet! It was such a great shoot and it was so great to work on something of that scale.
Joanne Froggatt turns on the charm in an exquisite blue strapless dress
She's been putting her best fashionable foot forward at various events this awards season.
And Joanne Froggatt didn't disappoint on Sunday night as she worked her charm once again, this time at the Critics' Choice Awards in Santa Monica, California.
The 35-year-old actress looked a world away from her Downton Abbey alter-ego Anne Bates as she put on a show-stopping display in a glittery blue column gown.
Joanne Froggatt may have started her career on the cobbles of Coronation Street but she's a fully fledged Hollywood starlet these days thanks to her break out role in Downton Abbey.
And she seems very at home during awards season rocking fabulous gowns by designers like Reem Acra, J Mendel, Stella McCartney, Victoria Beckham and Ermanno Scervino. Not bad for Anna the maid!
Last night at the Critics' Choice Awards she once again wowed us in a strapless creation by Roland Mouret another of Joanne's favourite labels. We love the shimmering blue silk while the dramatic frill at the back ensures everyone will be watching as she walks away.
The good news for fans of Ms Froggatt, and her style, is this floor length dress is available to buy now. Click (right) to snap it up at Farfetch and wear with metallic high heel sandals and a matching clutch.
Or get the look for less with one of the similar styles we've found below.
The strapless garment was cut straight across her decolletage, allowing a hint at her cleavage, while making the most of her slim and toned arms and shoulders.
As she turned to pose for the cameras, the British beauty showed off the back of the gown, complete with a long ruched ruffle down the back, giving it an almost mermaid-style vibe.
She kept it simple with dainty diamond earrings and a chic box clutch with a metallic sheen.
And she wore her golden blonde locks in a seriously elegant low ponytail, curled flawlessly with the front of her hair coiffed into a retro elevated quiff.
She pulled her entire look together with a ravishing smoky eye and a deep shade of pink on her lips.
Although Joanne wasn't nominated on the night, she still managed to steal attention while enjoying her time on the red carpet, one of her many appearances at the busy awards season this year.
Last week she stepped out at the Golden Globes, which saw her nominated for a gong for her role in the hit British period drama, but she missed out on the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film prize.
Meanwhile, Joanne recently revealed she has relocated to the US from the UK to focus on a career in Hollywood.
Speaking exclusively to The Daily Mail ahead of the Golden Globes, she confessed that she and husband James Cannon had made the move recently.
'We've taken the plunge and done it. Last Tuesday we rented out our house for six months, boarded a flight to Los Angeles and here we are,' she said.
'We're actually homeless. We're living in a hotel until we can find ourselves somewhere to rent out here. We have some feelers out and we're assembling a list of places to view.
'I have no jobs lined up in Hollywood but there are so many opportunities to be had. We're going to have a little bit of a break first and then plunge right in and see what's out there. I won't be here forever.
'My home is in England. I just want to see what happens.'
Summer has yet to deliver enough long, hot days, but one thing we can rely on is a stream of great music festivals. Rain, hail or shine, the looks seen on and off the stage are often as memorable as the music. Festivals rock a strong, bohemian flavour.
The Glastonbury and Coachella festivals have become style hotspots where the international set party, and the cool crowd's fashion picks are reinterpreted as streetwear trends worldwide. Key trends? Think luxe jet-set hippie meets edgy rock chick with a touch of 70s-style glam. Get in touch with your inner gypsy and become a free spirit this summer. Here's my music festival fashion guide to help you get inspired.
Swing out in Spell Designs' vintage-inspired romper featuring lace detailing. Toughen up the feminine sweetness with fierce cowboy boots, tribal jewellery and a sassy attitude.
Dance the night away in Staple + Cloth's off-the-shoulder Dune dress. This effortless chambray dress personifies the ethos of the modern hippie and is bound to become a festival favourite.
Amp up your style in Hideseekers Silk Penny cami and Tiny Dancer shorts, perfect for showing off a great set of pins. These animal print shorts will unleash your wild side adding a cool rock 'n' roll edge.
Feel the good vibes and chill out in Tigerlily's Batik floral ensemble. The cropped top with frill detail is a great choice for sun-soaked days and the maxi skirt is undeniably chic. Hippie deluxe styling at its best.
Be in fine festival form in Sylvester's Chevron bikini top, Utility shorts and bucket hat. You'll beat the heat and also nail festival chic in this flirty combo.
Turn up the volume in the style stakes with Coop's Fast and Loose halter-neck dress. Featuring a cheeky pin-up girl and palm-tree print, this head-turning outfit is sure to become the main event.
Take centre-stage in Ruby's Aloe blouse and Zora miniskirt. This peasant style, embroidered blouse has a definite folk feel and will have you channelling Stevie Nicks.
Outfit details, from left: Spell Designs Isla Bonita Romper in white $269.95 from Tosca and Salome
Staple + Cloth Dune dress in denim $299
Silk Penny cami $198 Tiny Dancer shorts $189 All from Hideseekers
Batik floral top $129.95 Batik floral maxi-skirt $169.95 All from Tigerlily
Fast & Loose dress $249 From Coop
Aloe blouse $229 Zora miniskirt $169 Lila heel $299 All from Ruby
The Line up: Must-have music festival accessories
Kookai's chic embroidered clutch adds a colourful touch to any outfit, and Topshop's glitter pot creates a disco sparkle wherever you need it.
You will want to make love, not war, with Sylvester's Daisy sunglasses. Nars' Illuminator gives you a radiant sun-kissed glow.
Country Road's fringed sandals work well with Zoe & Morgan's bold Tribal earrings, resulting in a strong bohemian statement.
Get your music festival style on this summer, and rock that free-spirited vibe.
Kookai chic embroidered clutch $25 Kate Sylvester Daisy sunglasses in Black Tort $368 Country Road Azalea sandal $44.95 Topshop glitter pot in Perfect Stranger $13 Zoe & Morgan Tribal earrings in gold $472 Nars Illuminator in Hot Sand $46
Summer has yet to deliver enough long, hot days, but one thing we can rely on is a stream of great music festivals. Rain, hail or shine, the looks seen on and off the stage are often as memorable as the music. Festivals rock a strong, bohemian flavour.
The Glastonbury and Coachella festivals have become style hotspots where the international set party, and the cool crowd's fashion picks are reinterpreted as streetwear trends worldwide. Key trends? Think luxe jet-set hippie meets edgy rock chick with a touch of 70s-style glam. Get in touch with your inner gypsy and become a free spirit this summer. Here's my music festival fashion guide to help you get inspired.
Swing out in Spell Designs' vintage-inspired romper featuring lace detailing. Toughen up the feminine sweetness with fierce cowboy boots, tribal jewellery and a sassy attitude.
Dance the night away in Staple + Cloth's off-the-shoulder Dune dress. This effortless chambray dress personifies the ethos of the modern hippie and is bound to become a festival favourite.
Amp up your style in Hideseekers Silk Penny cami and Tiny Dancer shorts, perfect for showing off a great set of pins. These animal print shorts will unleash your wild side adding a cool rock 'n' roll edge.
Feel the good vibes and chill out in Tigerlily's Batik floral ensemble. The cropped top with frill detail is a great choice for sun-soaked days and the maxi skirt is undeniably chic. Hippie deluxe styling at its best.
Be in fine festival form in Sylvester's Chevron bikini top, Utility shorts and bucket hat. You'll beat the heat and also nail festival chic in this flirty combo.
Turn up the volume in the style stakes with Coop's Fast and Loose halter-neck dress. Featuring a cheeky pin-up girl and palm-tree print, this head-turning outfit is sure to become the main event.
Take centre-stage in Ruby's Aloe blouse and Zora miniskirt. This peasant style, embroidered blouse has a definite folk feel and will have you channelling Stevie Nicks.
Outfit details, from left: Spell Designs Isla Bonita Romper in white $269.95 from Tosca and Salome
Staple + Cloth Dune dress in denim $299
Silk Penny cami $198 Tiny Dancer shorts $189 All from Hideseekers
Batik floral top $129.95 Batik floral maxi-skirt $169.95 All from Tigerlily
Fast & Loose dress $249 From Coop
Aloe blouse $229 Zora miniskirt $169 Lila heel $299 All from Ruby
The Line up: Must-have music festival accessories
Kookai's chic embroidered clutch adds a colourful touch to any outfit, and Topshop's glitter pot creates a disco sparkle wherever you need it.
You will want to make love, not war, with Sylvester's Daisy sunglasses. Nars' Illuminator gives you a radiant sun-kissed glow.
Country Road's fringed sandals work well with Zoe & Morgan's bold Tribal earrings, resulting in a strong bohemian statement.
Get your music festival style on this summer, and rock that free-spirited vibe.
Kookai chic embroidered clutch $25 Kate Sylvester Daisy sunglasses in Black Tort $368 Country Road Azalea sandal $44.95 Topshop glitter pot in Perfect Stranger $13 Zoe & Morgan Tribal earrings in gold $472 Nars Illuminator in Hot Sand $46
Robbie Amell and Italia Ricci Dish Wedding Details
There's going to be an overdose of adorable at Robbie Amell and Italia Ricci's wedding!
Before the engaged actors say, "I do" later this fall, the precious Mavi Amell -- daughter of Robbie's cousin, Arrow star Stephen Amell -- will be walking down the aisle as a flower girl, ET exclusively reveals.
"She's just the most perfect little human," Ricci spilled of the two-year-old cutie and her role in the wedding.
ET caught up with the couple earlier this week at the premiere of the highly-anticipated X-Files revival, in which Amell stars as Agent Miller.
When asked how the wedding planning was going, Amell admitted that he wasn't allowed to spill much. "He's not allowed to talk about it!" Ricci joked.
"I got in trouble for releasing the date once," The DUFF star said sheepishly. "But I did just find out she tried on her wedding dress as a joke and she decided to go with it, so I have that to look forward to!"
Sorry, to break the news to you, Robbie -- but we've already known part of that secret! Last year, ET was the first to discover that Ricci actually found her gown while filming season two of the ABC Family drama Chasing Life.
"It's funny because when we were shooting the scene of April trying on wedding dresses," Ricci explained on set in July 2015. "In between takes, we were at a bridal shop, so I was looking around and "I was like, 'This is convenient!'"
"And I found my wedding dress," she smiled. "I bought my wedding dress from the place where April was trying hers on."
In addition to their upcoming nuptials, the couple has plenty to celebrate in 2016. ET broke the news that Ricci has been cast as bad gal Silver Banchee for an action-packed arc on CBS's Supergirl, and Amell will also return to The Flash, but this time as the villainous Deathstorm. Talk about a comic book power couple!
When Ricci, 29, and Amell, 27, do tie the knot later this year, they will have been engaged for more than two years. The CW hunk popped the question in 2014 while the duo was vacationing in Big Sur, CA and celebrating six years of dating.
"The only reason we waited was because we wanted the date to fall on two special numbers," the brunette beauty explained of the couple's lengthy engagement.
"I've really just been putting everything off because I'm terrified of all of the decisions." Ricci added, "I want everything."
Despite their busy schedules, the couple is not far behind with the wedding to-do list. Ricci and Amell have locked down a venue in Los Angeles, the menu, and the theme of the day. "[It'll be] classic and elegant -- I mean, I hope," Ricci said with a laugh.
"As classy and elegant as you can get when there are burgers or pizza [being served] -- or maybe both," she added.
The only missing portion of their wedding day details will be to decide which type of flowers Mavi Amell will be spreading during her walk down the aisle. "It's going to be tricky to pick flowers because I don’t like the smell of most of them," Ricci confessed.
No matter which flowers they chose, we have a feeling this will be one of the sweetest celeb weddings of 2016!
Gwen Stefani Caught the Bouquet at a Wedding This Weekend
Would you want Gwen Stefani at your wedding, catching your bouquet?
Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani, judges on The Voice and musicians in their own right, are dating. We know this. But what level of dating are they, exactly? Are they “using the BF word or the GF word” dating? Are they “meeting each other’s parents” dating? It’s not entirely clear. What we do know is that they are at least “bring as a guest to a friend’s wedding” dating. Shelton’s hairstylist (yes, it takes a professional to make this happen), Amanda Craig, married Joel Borski, the head of merchandise for Warner Music Nashville, over the weekend, and Shelton and Stefani were honored guests.
The pair made a whole weekend out of their Nashville visit, popping up at an O’Charley’s restaurant on Friday. O’Charley’s! I wonder what they ate. Let’s take a look at the menu and guess. Well, I mean, if they are any kind of decent people, and they seem to be, they got the tater tot fondue to start, because “crispy potato tots served with warm, creamy cheddar fondue topped with crispy bacon and green onions” sounds so good I can’t even stand it. But what about for mains? I’ll bet Blake got the bacon & bourbon glazed filet mignon, because he’s got Voice money to spend. Gwen? She seems like a New Orleans cajun-chicken pasta kinda gal. It’s not the healthiest thing in the world for a famously fit person to eat, no, but it was a wedding weekend. She could indulge.
Anyway, this whole story has a point, and it’s this: at the wedding reception, there was a bouquet toss and Gwen Stefani caught it. Imagine that! Obviously this portends of things to come, perhaps another marriage to another musician is in the offing. Wedding omens like bouquet- and garter-catching almost always come to pass, so if Gwen Stefani isn’t marrying Blake Shelton, she’s marrying somebody else.
So there is that to consider. But there’s also the matter of Gwen Stefani catching the bouquet at some relative stranger’s wedding. I’m sure Gwen Stefani knows Blake Shelton’s hairdo artist, but I doubt they’re the best of friends. So there’s a normal-ish, unfamous person having a normal-ish wedding, filled with other normal-ish people, and then at the big “come on up, single ladies” moment when the bouquet is thrown? Gwen freakin’ Stefani catches the damn thing. One of the biggest recording artists of the 90s and 2000s is the one who snatches a special little moment out of the hands of who? Nashville’s lesser gentry? It just seems unfair, doesn’t it?
I’ve always wondered about that dynamic, of the non-famous person who has a famous person or persons at his or her wedding. What must that be like? Sure, it’s your special day and you look lovely in your gown, but, oops, there’s Gwen Stefani doing something. Or, you’re having fun dancing and you’re in the center of the circle because you’re the newly married couple and all eyes are naturally on you, but then, oh, whoops, here comes Carson Daly (he was at this wedding, too) doing some kind of dance and everyone’s gotta watch him do it because he’s Carson Daly. Having a famous person at your wedding just seems like a really good way to feel upstaged on a day when you’re not supposed to feel upstaged. You get one or two or at most 10 days in your life when you are the unquestioned center of attention, and then you go and invite Gwen Stefani to come?? It makes no sense.
Well, O.K., in this case Gwen Stefani was not invited, she was a plus-one, but still. Still! There she is, pulling focus from you like you’re one of the other guys in No Doubt. A credit to this newlywed couple that they’ve clearly got a better hold on their egos than I do, I guess. Or, maybe ego had them excited that Gwen Stefani was coming to their wedding, and only later did they realize the terrible effect her presence would have. Who knows.
Either way, let this be a lesson to you engaged people out there: tempting as it may be, try to avoid having a famous person at your wedding. Especially if they’re single and thus could be in contention for the bouquet (or, I suppose, the garter). Realizing this is as important a part of wedding planning as picking out the centerpieces and hiring the D.J. Just remember: Whose special day is it? It it yours, or is it Carson Daly’s?
Do these gowns show ribs or abs? ‘Fashion Police’ keeps drama to a minimum.
It’s closing in on the first anniversary of E!’s “Fashion Police” implosion, thanks to Giuliana Rancic’s controversial patchouli-oil-and-weed joke that many deemed racist. Kathy Griffin (initially replacing the late Joan Rivers) had already left, and Kelly Osbourne angrily followed suit in the wake of Rancic’s comment. There was clearly bad blood there.
So, what does the long-running show look like in its latest iteration, especially as we officially start award season? It’s still swimming along with the new team: Rancic; Executive Producer Melissa Rivers; stylist Brad Goreski; “Real Housewives of Atlanta” star Nene Leakes; and comedian Margaret Cho. And things are tame now. Very tame.
Sure, they were mean about some dresses as usual (including a dig about how Rooney Mara’s Alexander McQueen gown looked like shredded skin) and made a few vulgar jokes, but otherwise, there was little drama.
The closest anyone came to a disagreement was the “ribs vs. abs” debate, sparked when Cho gleefully noted that Jennifer Lawrence had her “ribs” on display in her Dior dress, just like Rancic’s gown.
This immediately set off yelling from the other co-hosts: “Those are abs! Those are abs! Not ribs, abs! Abs!” It was a startling response and Leakes immediately started cracking up at the commotion.
Rancic looked decidedly unhappy — after all, people of the Internet have always been very vocal about her slim physique. It got so intense last year that Rancic was forced to explain that weight loss was a side effect of her treatment for breast cancer.
Leakes brought up the debate again later when the panel critiqued Kate Hudson’s look. “She can show her rib if she wants to show her rib. How dare you act like the girl can’t show her ribs!” Leakes said.
“Abs,” Rancic quietly corrected her.
By the time they got to Brie Larson’s cut-out dress, Rancic didn’t bother speaking up again as Leakes pronounced them ribs:
…and that was the amount of “drama” on a show that used to feed on controversy. It doesn’t produce as much outside buzz anymore (except for when the hosts joke about previous hosts), but after the year the show had, that probably suits producers just fine.
Wedding fair connects couples with marital options
When Havila and Jack Helmsing were getting ready to get married, the bride-to-be had a single request. She wanted to get married in a barn, and she wanted Jack to build it himself.
“What can I say? I dream big,” Havila said.
Her husband, who has a background in construction, put up a barn in time for their September wedding. Now the Helmsings are hoping to turn their wedding location just outside of St. Ignatius into an event venue, marketing it under the name Rugged Horizon.
The couple were among nearly 50 vendors who set up tables at the 29th annual Missoula Wedding Fair, held Sunday at the Holiday Inn hotel in downtown Missoula.
Jack said they are just starting the new business venture and are hoping to find couples who are planning their weddings and finding that other venues are already booked.
“I think as much as anything, it’s just about giving people some options,” he said.
Anna Homen of Cherry Creek Radio, which organizes the fair, said the point of the event is to bring all the various wedding services and companies together in one place.
“That means we have wedding planners, dress and tuxedo shops, caterers, photographers, entertainers and venues,” she said.
Every year, the fair brings in between 1,500 and 2,000 attendees, Homen said, with about 300 brides registering with the organizers.
“Brides are the biggest group that attend,” she said. “There are some who aren’t actually engaged yet, but have been talking about getting married.”
While the fair is a great place to network with businesses, Homen said some of the brides-to-be end up hiring vendors if they already have a day set and find something they want.
Kate Spalling, who said she got engaged at the start of the year, hadn’t started thinking about the wedding yet but decided to come to the fair anyway.
“It’s all a little overwhelming. I guess I didn’t realize there were this many things to consider,” she said. “I’m a big planning person, but today I’m just seeing what’s out there.”
Tom and Tonya Seiler, the couple who own Slikati Photography in Missoula, said in 2015 they shot about 15 weddings, and already have eight booked for this year.
“Probably by the end of the spring we’ll be booked up for the rest of the year,” Tonya said.
One couple has even hired them for a 2017 wedding already.
“You get engaged and you get so excited about it and you want to start making plans right away,” Tonya said.
Making plans early is one of the best tips for newly engaged couples, said Rebecca Wagner, who owns Rococo Bridal.
“A lot of people don’t realize that you might need to order your wedding dress six to 12 months in advance if you’re not just buying off the rack,” she said.
Changes in size, color or length all mean that a dress has to be custom-made, Wagner said. For her company, the wedding fair is a good place to meet potential clients and give them a sense of what her store offers. Wagner said online websites like Pinterest and wedding-themed television shows like “Say Yes to the Dress” have made parts of her job easier in recent years.
“The brides-to-be tend to come in better informed about what they want and the types of decisions they will be making,” Wagner said.
Alex Jones looks stunning in wedding picture as The One Show host's vows include ''embracing camping''
Kiwi Charlie Thomson's own bizarre vow to his stunning Welsh bride was to “not to take too long in the shower”
The One Show host Alex Jones and her husband Charlie Thomson beam like happy campers after exchanging rather unconventional wedding vows.
Welsh bride Alex, 38, told the New Zealander during the ceremony: “I promise to try to develop patience and to embrace the outdoors and all it has to offer, including camping.”
While insurance broker Charlie vowed “not to take too long in the shower”.
BBC presenter Alex married Charlie in a ceremony at Cardiff Castle on New Year’s Eve.
Talking about her wedding, she told Hello! magazine: “It was spectacular. Everyone says it’s the best day of your life and it just exceeded my expectations. I enjoyed every single second.
“I’d told myself not to let it pass in a blur, because it really is quite overwhelming and nerve-racking.
"But I really did love it, seeing all my friends’ faces. And then once I held hands with Charlie, I thought, ‘We’re right’.”
Charlie said he couldn’t stop smiling as his bride walked down the aisle.
He said: “Alex looked absolutely stunning.”
During the ceremony the couple spoke in English and Welsh and their vows included a “personal touch”.
Charlie’s vows included a promise to “stand by you, whatever the future holds, to cherish and care for you and always be there for you when you need my support”, before adding: “I promise not to take too long in the shower and to be on time.”
As for Alex’s vows, in the past she has admitted she is not great at camping, despite covering events like Glastonbury festival for the BBC.
Speaking in 2013 when she stayed at Glasto in a trailer, she told the Mirror: “It’s AGES since I last camped properly.......about 13 years. I was with an ex boyfriend who insisted we went.
“We had one of those awful two-man tents with two poles and a bit of canvas. We might as well have had a Tesco bag over us for all the good it did.
“We ended up having an argument and sleeping in the car and we split up the next day.
Lingerie designer weds NBA exec in hippie Hamptons ceremony complete with a Yoko Ono Wish Tree
A wealthy New York City couple had an incredible hippie wedding for the twenty-first century — that is, without that live-off-the-land, anti-consumerism mentality.
Lauren Schwab, 30, co-founder of the lingerie company Negative Underwear, tied the knot with Bobby Webster, an executive with NBA’s Toronto Raptors, in the Hamptons on August 16, and their four-day celebration was the stuff of flower child fairy tales.
Vogue shared details from the extravagant affair, which featured a 'bohemain' rehearsal dinner where guests sat on cushions on the grass at a luxe Hamptons estate, good-vibes crystals in the gift bags, a reggae band playing at the cocktail hour, and a wedding night spent in a Moroccan-themed tent decorated by one of the priciest furniture stores in Manhattan.
Being unique and straying from tradition seemed to be of top importance to the couple, who made it a point to incorporate different forms of art in their wedding. The only elements that seemed to be off-limits for the August weekend were anything normal or conventional. And money, clearly, was no object.
It was important that all of the events felt authentic to each of us individually and to our relationship'It was important that all of the events felt authentic to each of us individually and to our relationship,' Lauren told the fashion magazine. 'We wanted our friends and family, who were traveling from all over — Australia, London, Prague, Hawaii, and California, to name a few — to feel a part of our lives, deeply appreciated, and connect with the other important people in our lives.
'We carefully and thoughtfully designed every component of the wedding to encourage these feelings,' added Lauren, who planned the whole thing with her mom, Lyn Schwab, and wedding planners Duke + Van Deusen.
First, they sent out save-the-dates and invitations that featured a photo of the couple at Burning Man, a festival 'dedicated to community, art, self-expression, and self-reliance' held once a year in Nevada.
The rehearsal dinner was held at Lauren's parents' waterfront Southampton home, the grounds of which had been transformed to have a 'bohemian feel'.
They opted for a Moroccan theme, where guests sat on multicolor pillows in the grass in front of tables laden with wildflowers.
The menu was designed by the groom with a local catering company, with the cuisine inspired by his childhood in Hawaii.
The mother-of-the-groom, too, offered a unique twist for the night, bringing fresh orchid, pikake, and plumeria leis from Hawaii for guests to wear.
It truly was this Burning Man meets chic Hamptons garden soiree with Hawaiian bonfire and bluegrass music lovefestGift bags were also distributed, which included 'open heart and communication crystals' to help everyone get to know one another and become friends.
The next day, the ceremony and reception were held at LongHouse Reserve, a 16-acre venue that houses extravagant gardens as well as art installations and sculptures by Yoko Ono, Willem de Kooning, Dale Chihuly, and others.
The site alone costs up to $35,000 to rent for the day, and only hosts two weddings a year.
When guests arrived, they were greeted by the sounds of tinkling bells and gongs meant to capture the Zen ambiance of the grounds. Performance artists wearing elaborate butterfly headdresses - reminiscent of Elizabeth Banks's first Effie Trinket costume in The Hunger Games - stepped forward to guide 180 guests to the ceremony.
They came up with the idea for the butterfly performers after Bobby listened to a podcast in which butterflies' transformations were discussed. He thought the idea was a nice symbol for marriage.
There ceremony itself was set up in a circle, with guests sitting all around the couple. Above them was a floating ribbon structure that one guest likened to a dreamcatcher.
The couple's wedding party was uniquely dressed, with women wearing white dresses they'd picked out themselves and the men wearing maile leis. They also had a 'flower boy' who tossed fresh orchids brought in from Hawaii.
Finally, the bride and groom walked toward each other in the center of the circle. Lauren wore a champagne-colored Inbal Dror gown with seven-inch Giambattista Valli platforms, and carried a bouquet of red roses, pink mini dahlias, black calla lilies, magenta scabiosa, and jasmine.
After saying their vows, which they'd written themselves, they walked out to Dog Days Are Over by Florence and the Machine.
'It truly was this Burning Man meets chic Hamptons garden soiree with Hawaiian bonfire and bluegrass music lovefest,' Marissa Vosper, Lauren's friend and business partner, told Vogue.
During the cocktail hour, a reggae band played while the women in the butterfly headdresses danced, eventually ending up doing their performance in a pool.
Nearby was Yoko Ono's Wish Tree, an installation at LongHouse Reserve, on which guests were asked to attach wishes for the bride and groom.
They then picked their seating assignments off Spanish moss hanging from a weeping cherry tree before heading into a tent for the reception, where moving images were being projected onto the white ceiling.
A 13-piece band played the song Wagon Wheel, to which the couple danced their first dance, before Bobby's uncle led all the guests in a banzai toast, a Hawaiian tradition.
'Banzai translates to "10,000 years" in Japanese — and is not to be confused with the miniature bonsai tree! The term is meant as an expression of enthusiasm similar to hurrah and the toast is performed in two parts,' Lauren said.
A New York City catering company eschewed traditional dishes like chicken and steak, instead serving diver scallop cruda with kimchi gastrique, Fuji apples, and ginger puree, balsamic braised short ribs, creamy potatoes, pine nut gremolata, and broccolini.
For dessert, sweets likes cakes and lollipops were passed around to people on the dance floor, while a vegan and gluten-free tiered wedding cake was also served.
By 11pm — when East Hampton’s noise ordinance kicks into effect — the party was nowhere near ready to wind down.
So the couple brought in Quiet Disco, an events company that brought headphones for the guests so they could continue to dance to the music playing only in their ears.
The crowd also wore glow sticks as they snacked on mini cheeseburgers, grilled cheese, and chicken fingers.
When even those after-partiers were ready to get going, the newlyweds retired to their honeymoon suite - which wasn't at a hotel.
Instead, they recreated a 'magical' night they had enjoyed one of their first trips together, to Morocco. In Lauren's parents' yard they set up a tent, and used rugs and other design elements from the high-end NYC store ABC Carpet and Home.
THIS IS THE REAL-GIRL BRAND ALL THE CELEBS WORE TO THE PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARDS
Red-carpet darlings everywhere have fallen in love with Self-Portrait.
You've heard of Valentino, Marchesa, Kaufmanfranco, and Elie Saab—but if the People's Choice Awards show is any indication, there's going to be a new go-to red carpet designer this awards season. Actresses Lucy Hale, Renée Bargh, Maggie Lawson, and Sarah Drew all wore Self-Portrait, the women's wear label launched by Han Chong in late 2013, for the evening's event. Sold everywhere from Shopbop and Net-a-Porter to Selfridges andRevolve, Self-Protrait's pieces fall in the $500 to $700 range, making the brand a favorite of celebrities and everyday women alike. "With my experience in high street and high fashion, I knew I wanted to offer women luxury fashion pieces without the price tag," Chong told me via email. "We wanted to create something that allows women to feel extraordinary, and if we can do that without having our customers break the bank, even better." Read on to learn more about the brand everyone in Hollywood is wearing.
Who is the Self-Protrait woman?
Han Chong: A Self-Portrait woman is someone that is confident and not afraid to stand out. She's not the type of person that wants to just blend in.
Everyone from Olivia Palermo and Lady Gaga to Jourdan Dunn and Kerry Washington have worn your designs. What has been your favorite red-carpet moment so far?
I love how diverse the women who wear our clothes are. It's always a thrill to see how their personalities and styles reflect in our designs. It's so hard to choose a favorite, but a really special moment was when Rachel McAdams wore our dress to the Aloha premiere, because I had her in mind when I created it.
Tell me what it was like to see the very first celebrity wear your designs.
Jennifer Lopez wore a dress from our very first collection to American Idol which her stylist had pulled. I was so surprised and excited when I saw her in it. I just couldn't believe that someone who has access to so many brands decided to wear our piece.
Your line is billed as the red-carpet label people can actually afford. Why was it important for you to maintain this price point?
With my experience in high street and high fashion, I knew I wanted to offer women luxury fashion pieces without the price tag. We wanted to create something that allows women to feel extraordinary, and if we can do that without having our customers break the bank, even better.
Why do you think celebrities and average women alike have taken to the Self-Portrait brand?
Our brand is about femininity but with a modern edge, and I think that's something that resonates with many women today. Honestly, what I design is very personal to me and it's just a bonus that customers like it.
Name a celeb who hasn't worn your designs yet who you'd love to dress.
I am such a fan of Carey Mulligan and her work, so it would be cool if she became a Self-Portrait girl.
THE setting is Dar El Modaraat Hotel, Salah Salem, Nasr city, Cairo. Sometimes as often as three consecutive nights each week, Egyptian weddings are held here.
The wedding music can be heard across the hotel’s hallways, even from its highest floors. While the hotel’s tenants wait to be served dinner, they are often entertained by the wedding festivities.
On this specific night, the bride is led down a flight of stairs inside the hotel by her father, who holds her hand as the wedding guests cheer in the background and follow right behind.
She is then led to her waiting groom, who takes her hand, evidently charmed by her beauty.
Afterwards, she and the groom are serenaded by the sound of music from hired band players as they make a slow walk to the hotel hall.
The wedding guests, all decked out in their most stunning attires, happily sing and clap along.
The bride is the centre of everyone’s attention, including the hotel residents who have now formed a small group of curious observers.
Some take out their mobile phones and begin taking pictures of the bride and groom. Before long, camera flashes mingle with the light in the hallway.
The Dar El Modaraat Hotel, is a popular venue not just for Egyptian weddings but also for residents drawn from different parts of the world.
It is these guests who take particular interest in the different weddings held at the hotel nearly each night save for the weekend.
Egyptian culture dictates that a man and woman are not to date before they marry. However, there are still occasions where Egyptian men and women have a chance to meet each other, for instance at a workplace or school.
“In such circumstances, it is possible that a young man and woman may fall in love and desire a marital union,” Union of African Journalists (UAJ) secretary general Samia Abbas explained.
These marriages are traditionally opposed, although the family will usually relent if the couple remains committed to the idea, as long as both the man and woman are of the same social and educational status.
Egypt’s population is 94 percent Sunni Muslim, therefore the culture of the country is highly influenced by traditional Muslim practices.
This includes areas pertaining to marriage, although Egypt is less traditional in this area-particularly in the relationship of a couple before marriage-than many other traditional Muslim countries.
In circumstances where a young man and woman fall in love after interacting at school or in a workplace and desire a marital union and the families eventually approve, the marriage process is started.
Outside of the love match, Egyptian weddings are arranged with the families of both bride and groom making inquiries of friends and relatives, and neighbours as to the other’s standing and conduct.
“If a union is deemed suitable by both families, the man and woman are permitted to meet and begin socialising. If they like each other, several more meetings with families are arranged and an engagement party organised. At this party, the groom will give the bride an engagement ring,” Dr Abbas shared.
During the marriage ceremony, the marriage contract is signed by the groom along with the family of the bride.
There are also members of both families present as witnesses although the bride is not present in the room. Instead she waits in a separate room and the contract is brought to her for approval.
The ceremony itself follows traditional Muslim practices, including reading passages of the Quran.
“It may take place in a mosque, a secular establishment such as a hotel or at the home of one of the couple’s family,” Dr Abbas shared.
This is the image that becomes familiar to residents of Dar Elmodaraat Hotel whenever there is a wedding taking place in the hotel.
Before the bride and groom can enter the wedding hall, they are also entertained by a Tanoura, which is an Egyptian folk dance performed by Sufi men or Darawish.
The men wear long colourful skirts which are sometimes decorated with lights that the Tanoura will turn on at some point during his performance.
The addition of the lights is a new thing, according to journalist Ayman Abdelaziz, and also a tricky thing if something goes wrong with the lights.
The dance usually involves the Tanoura spinning in an endless motion so that the different colours of his skirt are displayed.
He will stop spinning when he is finally tired or if the audience has had enough. As he turns, his skirt gets wider and wider, demonstrating the full length of it.
He also carries a “Mabkhara” which releases incense while placed above people’s heads. The tanoura will place it above the heads of guests and also above the heads of the bride and groom for entertainment.
As he spins, the bride and groom and all wedding guests present clap along in joint merriment. At intervals, the bride and groom may dance together while on their way into the wedding hall.
Finally after the long serenade, the wedding guests usher themselves into the hall to carry on the festivities well into the night with the help of some food and drink.
Anamarie Xilonem Rios said yes to a wedding dress when she was 17 years old. She wasn't getting married; her mother was. While they were looking for dresses, Anamarie saw an ad for a gown by Vera Wang and "knew that was going to be my dress one day."
A few years later, while studying fashion design at LSU, she attended a class where designer Suzanne Perron St. Paul was guest speaker. Slides went by, and Anamarie's dream dress appeared on the screen.
Before setting up her own atelier in New Orleans in 2006, St. Paul, an LSU grad, worked for Vera Wang in New York and was directly involved with creating the original dress.
Fast forward 10 years, and Anamarie got engaged to Kevin Michael Twomey in April 2014. Unlike many brides who try on dress after dress after dress, "I didn't even have to go to a store," she said. The call went out to St. Paul. "With my background in fashion, I knew what a complicated dress it would be to make, so I really didn't trust anyone else with it," said Anamarie, who now works in design and product development for Be Inspired Boutique, an e-commerce fashion retailer in Los Angeles.
The trumpet-shaped, strapless dress consists of dozens of hand-sculpted satin bias ribbons appliquéd to champagne tulle. The bands are shaped to the curves of the sweetheart neckline, basque waist and the sweeping skirt shape. While St. Paul designed the wedding gown, the navy dresses for the bridesmaids, readers and flower girl were from Be Inspired Boutique.
Navy — one of the bride's favorite colors — also snuck into the details; Anamarie's nails were painted Julep's Boho Glam in Michelle, a sailor blue. Orange, Kevin's favorite, showed up in the floral arrangements by Pistil & Stamen, a New Orleans flower farm and floral studio.
Kevin also has an eye for design. He works in project management and technical sales for the West Coast division of Rose Brand, a company that supplies theatrical fabrics, stage curtains, event drapery and production supplies.
The couple, who now call Los Angeles home, met while Kevin was in Baton Rouge working on a movie.
Based out of North Carolina at the time, Kevin went home, only to return a few weeks later for Jazz Fest, "He told me he really didn't care about Jazz Fest, he was using it as an excuse to see me," Anamarie said. Shortly after, they moved to Philadelphia together, then made their way to the West Coast eight months later.
Anamarie and Kevin were married Nov. 14 at the Beauregard-Keyes House in the French Quarter. The ceremony was in the garden, reception inside and out.
The Lagniappe Jazz Band lead the couple and their guests in a second line to Jackson Square and back. Anamarie, of course, stood out in the dress she had been dreaming about for a decade.
"I made a 10-year dream come true," St. Paul said.
Commenters in an online discussion wonder why she doesn’t want to include any family members, including his mom.
Dear CarolynAdapted from a recent online discussion.Hi, Carolyn:I’m marrying the middle of three brothers. We have been engaged for about a year now. Growing up I never imagined myself getting married, much less having a big fancy wedding.
My problem is that I don’t want to get married in front of the family. I don’t want a big day where I don’t get to spend the whole day with my fiancé. I want something just between me, him and the officiant. How can I explain this to the mother-in-law without making her feel like I’m giving the whole family the middle finger?
– EngagedDEAR ENGAGED: Well, you kind of are. What does your fiancé think about cutting out all guests? Does he want this, or is he agreeing to it to appease you? Why are you the one explaining it to his mom?And, have you talked about the role your families will play in your shared lives ever after?Eloping doesn’t faze me; I think it’s natural to say, “Ugh, let’s just go make this official.” But complaining that “I don’t get to spend the whole day with my fiancé” has a whiff of possessiveness that stops me.If that’s how you see your marriage playing out — just you two, locked arms, no one else — then I beg you to make sure this is what he wants, too. And that it’s healthy for you both.Also imagine being a parent yourself someday, one your future son-/daughter-in-law doesn’t want around.If your fiancé wants distance from his family, then that’s his prerogative. But if you’re the origin of this approach, please keep in mind that sharing him with the people he loves is one way for you to show your love for him.
Re: Wedding:It’s all about communities. And the “the whole day alone with my fiancé” thing is troubling for me, too. Granted, a marriage is about the teamwork between you and your spouse, but you don’t marry out of your families — you marry into each other’s.
– AnonymousDEAR ANONYMOUS: Yes. Some do want out of their families, but that’s a personal choice, not a choice one’s partner gets to make for you.
To clarify, though: I have no problem with a couple who wants to elope. I’m merely concerned this no-families-wanted attitude would carry into the marriage. It’s fine if you want privacy, but you can’t keep your partner away from family because your sense of privacy demands it.
Diamond wedding celebrations for Grangemouth sweethearts
A cheery couple who had a bit of a carry-on on the buses have celebrated a special anniversary following a 60-year journey together.
Stan and Margaret Kimm from Grangemouth first met when Stan (88) drove buses and Margaret (85) was a conductress in Glasgow – and it was sometimes a bumpy ride when they worked together.
Stan said: “One day, when Margaret stepped off the bus to punch a ticket, I drove away without her and she had to run back to the depot.
“She wasn’t too happy with me that day I can tell you. We both got suspended.”
Margaret said: “Yes, take what he got that day. We had a lot of fun working on the buses though, but the night buses were a bit wild. Lot’s of great memories.”
The couple got married on December 23, 1955 in Govan’s McGregor Memorial Church. Stan’s best man was the bride’s cousin Ralph Melville, while Margaret’s bridesmaid was sister Frances Crawford.
They have a son and a daughter, Ian (58), who now lives in the USA, and Mandy (52), as well as grandchildren Scott (27) and Nicola (23).
Before working on the buses Stan was a military man who served in Korea with the King’s Own Scottish Borderers.
The couple moved to Grangemouth in 1968 and Stan became a long distance HGV lorry driver. His ambition is to drive across the ice like the Ice Road Truckers. Margaret worked for Foster’s Menswear, Crawford’s the Bakers and Sweet Talk in Grangemouth.
Stan proposed to Margaret at the pictures with a box of chocolates, which he admits to eating himself and, as with their time on the buses, their wedding day had its ups and downs too.
Margaret said: “At the reception some people complained about a draught so Stan went to see if could sort it out, but when he moved something a big speaker fell and hit him right on the face.”
On the secret of a long and happy marriage, Margaret added: “We’ve had our struggles and been through hard times but we’ve always managed to see the fun side of life.
“I think we have young heads on our shoulders. We’ve been lucky with our health too and have an amazing family.”
Here’s how you can undo the effects of party make-up before your skin gets tired
Keep your skin healthy this party season.
After wearing make-up for outings and parties, your skin tends to lose its shine. Try a cream-based moisturising facewash, and a day after the party spend some time reviving your skin by exfoliating it with a mild scrub to get back the natural glow, says an expert.
Manoj Khanna, chairman and managing director, head of cosmetic surgeon at city-based Enhance Clinics, has shared tips to make your skin glow:
Get an extra dose of moisture: Make-up removers and harsh facewashes can destroy skin’s natural moisture. Post the party season, switch to a cream-based moisturising facewash. Let it stay on for a few seconds so it permeates deeper into the skin, before washing it off. End your day with a thick night cream and be sure to greet the next morning with a fresh face.
Opt for an instant eye cooler: Cucumber slices work the best. They cool, have a lightening effect and help counter puffiness. If not cucumbers, try the next best remedy — green tea bags. Once they come to room temperature, squeeze out the excess water and keep them on your eyes for 20 minutes to find respite from stubborn dark circles.
Don’t forget to scrub: A day after the party, spend some time reviving your skin by first opening the clogged pores with a steam session and then exfoliating it with a mild scrub. The steam will open up the pores and the abrasive action of the scrub will force all the grime, make-up residue and impurities out.
Follow up with a moisturising face pack: Treat yourself to a nourishing do-it-yourself face packs. Papaya and honey together are a winning combination to hydrate the skin and combat dryness or grind soaked almonds with milk and use it as a paste to make the skin look and feel smooth. Milk is rich in antioxidants, vitamin B and essential minerals such as calcium, potassium, magnesium and selenium whereas almonds are full of proteins, antioxidants and vitamin E.
Declare a no make-up day: After a few days of partying and wearing heavy make-up, make sure the next few days keep cosmetics at bay. This will allow your skin to breathe and get its original glow back, naturally.
Police arrest 2 revelers caught on ‘hate wedding’ video
Suspects held over role in celebration of Duma killings; court orders release of one suspect detained in connection with attackTwo people were arrested Tuesday in connection with the “wedding of hate” where right-wing activists were filmed celebrating the Duma firebombing attack that killed three members of a Palestinian family, police said.
Initial reports suggested that only one suspect was brought in for questioning, but a police spokesperson told The Times of Israel that a second person was also picked up for involvement in the event, in which wedding-goers danced with guns, knives and a mock Molotov cocktail.
The two Israelis are suspected of having committed the crimes of incitement and the illegal possession of a firearm, as well as having violated restraining orders against entering the West Bank and Jerusalem, police said.
Footage released last week showed dozens of young Israeli right-wing extremists, said to be linked to the suspected perpetrators of the Dawabsha family murder, celebrating the killing at the wedding of other activists. The images in the clip sparked wide condemnation.
The video, aired by Channel 10, also showed revelers holding a photo of baby Ali Dawabsha, who was burned to death in the July 31 firebombing, and repeatedly stabbing the picture.
The crowd in the video chanted the lyrics of a song which include a verse from Judges 16:28, quoting Samson, blinded in Gaza, saying “let me with one blow get revenge on the Philistines for my two eyes” — but changing the word Philistines to Palestine.
One of the suspects arrested Tuesday is a resident of the West Bank settlement of Tapuah, Israeli reports said. The investigation is ongoing, police said.
The groom, who is reportedly friends with the Jewish extremists detained in connection with the firebombing attack, said Thursday he was unaware of the celebrations of the murder at his wedding.
“I didn’t even see it. At my wedding I was in the clouds, not on the ground at all,” Yakir Ashbal told Channel 10.
He called the footage “shocking,” but insisted that “there were about 600 people at my wedding, and this wasn’t something I agreed to. There were a million people. I don’t control what happens at my wedding. I’m just the groom; I didn’t even pay for the photographer or the singer.”
The video drew widespread condemnation from across the political spectrum, though some right-wing lawmakers accused security officials of leaking the clip to demonize Jewish extremists being investigated over the Duma firebombing.
Also Tuesday the Lod District Court rejected a state appeal and ordered the release of one of the suspects held in connection with the Duma firebombing, Channel 2 news reported.
The suspect, who was in Shin Bet custody for 30 days, is set to be indicted for an assault two years ago on a Palestinian youth.
Only one member of the Dawabsha family — Ahmed, now 5 — survived the Duma attack, and remains hospitalized in Israel. The 18-month-old baby Ali was killed on the night of the attack, while parents Riham and Saad succumbed to their injuries in the succeeding weeks.
عضو شوید
عضویت سریع
آمار مطالب
آمار بازدید
