The Wedding Chronicles: ACT THREE "Going on a White Dress Safari"

BHLDN / Mia Bridal Couture

As I discussed previously, in this post, wedding dress shopping is a pretty huge source of anxiety for me. Thankfully, it ended up being only mildly tiring and kind of pleasant. That is due, of course, to a solid group of friends who kept the Veuve and compliments flowing. The first place we went was BHLDN on Westheimer. I give the private room and private seating area a A++. As for the dresses, they were more of a 5/6. The selection was pretty large, the prices awesome (average price apx. $1k), but the sales lady was lacking. She was nice, but was constantly telling us how much time we had left. She also didn't offer too much in  terms of dresses, veils, etc. Instead my friends ended up surfing the showroom take items off of mannequins. Pretty funny. We then went to Benjy's for a much needed brunch and mimosa break. Thanks, Mom, for financing that! After a little too much food and champagne we went to Events on West Gray to look at china patterns... Because we had time to kill and I clearly have not done any of that. That place is amazing, btw! Still no idea what china I want?

Finally, it was time for our 2 pm appointment at Mia Bridal. It was packed with brides and mothers and aunts and friends.  It was at this time that it occurred to me that I was sad that none of the motherly figures were there to share this monumental occasion. I knew they were not coming, but it still hit me pretty hard. Thanks to good friends I was able to recover. Diary of a 'check's-in-the-mail' orphan. It could always be worse. Like, I could be a real orphan. 

On a lighter note, we only had to wait a little bit for our seating area and in the mean time I was encouraged to pull dresses I wanted to try. There were SO many dresses. Thankfully they were organized by price - keeping my selection pool to a minimum. Plus my sales associate was really helpful and most importantly honest about what she thought would look good on my body type. She also was not bashful about nudity and helped me get in and out of those suckers. It was so exhausting because those dresses are work to put on! 

Luckily, I ended up finding the perfect dress and it was under budget, until they informed me of what alterations + veil + that crystal belt cost. Oh well, thanks Dad! It will be here June 7th and I am so excited. Nothing says 'get in shape, girl!' like trying on wedding dresses. Stay tuned for my save the date proofs and more wedding action. The fam and I are off to Vegas tomorrow for meetings with the florist and the Bellagio. Fingers crossed it all goes smoothly!

Musical Musings: New Song to Jam On

Closet Confession: My Latest Obsessions

I just spent some serious time perusing the online stock of two of my favorite trendy and affordable retailers. I have to say both have some pretty great stuff in stock PLUS they have free shipping both ways. Who gon' stop me, huh? I was so excited about the Zara purchases that I opted for the 24-48 hour shipping for an additional $9.50 - hey big spender! Fingers crossed just one pair of those shoes fit and are comfortable. My feet are so hobbit-esque wide that I am not going to hold my breath - thank goodness for free returns! Same thing goes for Asos: free shipping both ways. But I have to say their clothes fit much more generously (aka true to size) than the Zara collection. Perhaps it is because the English girls are big boned like us Americans? 

We are going to Pitbull tonight at the Houston Rodeo and it is going to be ridiculous. Fair food, people watching, open bar - let's get weird! I promise I will post my wedding dress try on shots as soon as I get the nerve. Without further ado, the Harlem Shake video for Rodeo Houston...

Fashion Month's Highlight Reel - Highs & Lows

The Cut went above and beyond this fashion month with their coverage. Their staff photographers YoungJun Koo (still the best name ever) and friends put a lot of miles on those collective shutters capturing some pretty excellent-unbelievable-creepy-awesome things. I really love the street style coverage every time there are new fashion weeks. I prefer the street style to the runway (mostly) because it's real life fashion, outside, and in the world. 

Apparently it's become a "Hate Watching Sport" according to some of the writer's at The Cut (read the article here). I totally see how that is true, but mainly I think we are just all enthralled with people and their proclivities for weirdness. In the words of Oprah's Own Super Soul Sunday, "Their vulnerability resonates with our vulnerability and connects us all to the greater being." Ok, clearly that was not a direct-direct quote, but you catch the drift. People being weird makes the weirdness in us rejoice. Fashion week/month is like the fashion weirdness parade where we can all applaud each other's risk taking and brovado. I think it is great and have hand chosen my favorite images from the last several seasons (here, here and here). And that is exactly what I have done below too. 

The dress, the cut and those nails - how terrible in a wonderful way! The Blonds, New York

Can you name all of the people in this image? It's Kanye, Karl, that Italian lady for Vogue? Don't know the other guy. Very interesting image though. They all look like Madam Toussad's wax figurines. Just saying.
Carine Roitfeld, Stephan Gan, Kanye West, and Karl Lagerfeld at CR Fashion Book Issue 2 After Party, Paris

It's my boyfriend! House of Waris creator, Waris Ahluwalia and Johan Lindeberg at Purple Magazine and Bulgari Dinner, Paris. Remember when I wrote about him? You don't? Read that here.

Every season there is an iconic bright lipstick-backstage-application shot. And I love them every time. Especially this fuchsia color. Remember when I wrote about my mother's fuchsia lipstick? Oh, you don't? Read that here.

No words. This is just really, really amazing. Bare skin in a snow storm? Yes PLEASE.

Similar to the above: no words. Well two words actually: NIP SLIP. If 'nip' counts as a word. I love everything about this gentleman, especially his XXS shirt, his fake tats, and his many-many belts. Whoever  you are can we be friends? I just got those same glasses from my father's 1980s self! I am wearing them now. Ok, not now but when I get outside I will. Promise.

This cartoon style jacket doesn't scream rich so much to me as Kanye West? Is that you, Kanye? No reason to hide.

See the rest of The Cut's 50 Best Photos from Fashion Month here.

What else is new? Wedding lists are getting finalized. The numbers jumped quite a bit - so the wedding went from small to small-ish... Would you like a style board of me in all of the dresses I tried on? I am a little embarrassed  but think it would be good for a laugh. Clearly I will not be posting THE Dress because you-know-who is probably reading this right meow. Until then!

The Wedding Chronicles: PROLOGUE "Bridal Party Time"

Customized Cards on Etsy/ Handcuff Necklace/ Handcuff Bracelet/ Leigh Ann's Wedding on Style Me Pretty 

Hey there wedding friends! Wanted to keep you all in the loop about the latest with the wedding. Lot's has been happening in this last week:

1. I tried on about a million dresses (ahem, like 30) and found THE ONE. Shout out to Erin at Mia's Bridal - thanks for making the experience so easy! It's ordered and on it's way in 4 to 6 months. Don't ask me why it takes that long. It's seems like forever. Plus with only 7 months 'til our big day I might be cutting it close with the 4 to 8 weeks for alterations situation... Alas, that is a conniption for another day. 
2. My boo and I went to the Galleria and spent some major insurance money to get some stuff back. It was fun and crazy all at the same time. It was like we won the lotto in the saddest and most traumatizing way ever. Had to get my daily spending limit increased because my debit card has NEVER seen action like that... I actually got shopped out. Stop bragging? I know. Sorry.
3. I've started gathering addresses from everyone (good bye weekend free time) and boy is it going slower than expected. Some lady-genius at Google in her 20% free time clearly created a Google Wedding lab for her own wedding planning and it's helped me quite a lot too. Check it out here. 
4. We have officially put Figaro the cat on Prozac. Now we  lovingly refer to him as Prozac Cat. Apparently he has the cat version of PTSD from all the moving in his four year life. I feel for him, but come on. 

That is basically all for now. Dad has been hard at work negotiating with the Salamanders aka his favorite country club cover band. I was able to finally see some videos and they actually look great. Very relieved. Bach party planning underway (thanks, sis!). Watch out NOLA!! Hopefully this time next week I will have some Save the Date proofs to share. XO.