Thursday inspiration: Stopping traffic Friday, Aug 20 2010

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Fab Frugal Fashion: Sample sale at The Unique Bride Thursday, Mar 25 2010

The Unique Bride is having a sample sale of all of their designer wedding gowns.  The Unique Bride is making room for their Fall 2010 gowns and need your help!  In exchange for helping them make room for the new, you’ll receive off the rack gowns for up to 80%!  

If you’re looking for gowns designed by:

Amsale

Kenneth Pool

Jenny Lee

Monique Lhuillier (my all time favorite)

Rivini

Lazaro

Are you looking for one of these beauties?  Well then RUN to The Unique Bride!  What are you waiting for?  I said RUN!!!  The sample sale ends on April 3, 2010.   

The Unique Bride is also having a fabulous sale on special occasion and bridesmaid dresses.  These dresses are going or as low as $40.   If you are a fan of Watters, After Six, Dessy Siri, Bill Levkoff, Lazaro or Alvina Valenta, you are sure to find what you are looking for at The Unique Bride for under $100. 

    

    

As with all great things, you will need to come prepared, so make an appointment today by calling The Unique Bride at (650) 347-7001 or go to their website at www.uniquebride.com.    Happy Savings! 

(Fab Frugal Find:  Check out the listing on TheKnot.com and you’ll receive a special offer exclusive to TheKnot.com readers.  Go to www.theknot.com.)

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Recessionista Brides and their affordable wedding gowns. How did they do it? Wednesday, Mar 24 2010

Many are feeling the side effects of the current recession.  However, a bride does not need to settle for less than she deserves when it comes to her wedding, especially nothing less than a fabulous gown.  There are many options for the Brides-on-a-Budget looking for knock out gown for a few pennies (pennies as defined by the wedding industry, that is).   Whether you decide on purchasing a used gown from a thrift store, consignement store or online or if you decide on a new gown from a sample sale, discount bridal stores or again, online.   There are a wealth of affordable gown options for a Bride-on-a-Budget.  The internet has allowed our generation the opportunity to find awesome deals from the other side of the Planet without leaving the comfort of our homes.  It’s no different with wedding gowns.  Please pay attention to the dress sizes (street versus label) and know your EXACT measurements before purchasing a gown online. 

Are you looking to save a bundle on your dream gown.  Below are tips on purchasing your affordable gown (used and new) and some online vendors offering designer gowns for the frugal.  Happy dress hunting… and surfing!

1. David’s Bridal

David’s Bridal is probably the most recognized name in the bridal business. This bridal super store is known for it’s fabulous wedding gown sales and its huge selection of wedding gowns. It is also best known for it’s one-stop-shopping approach.

2. Weddingbee.com Classifieds

Weddingbee should be your second stop for all things wedding, Sui Generis Events & Designs being the first. Weddingbee Classifieds has daily postings of many things for sale by Weddingbee members and guest. Included in these classifieds is a section dedicated to wedding gowns. Generally the gowns are used, but there have been quite a few new-with-tags gowns. The price ranges from quite affordable to ummm not really in my budget. There have been posting of designer gowns for half the cost, some of them being worn once and professionally cleaned. Keep in mind that these gowns have more than likely be altered, so remember to know your measurements before asking for more details on the gown. 

3. PreOwnedWeddingDresses.com

PreOwnedWeddingDresses.com is an online bridal consignment store. As it’s name suggests, it has a large collection of previously worn wedding gowns at low prices. If you do not see the gown of your dreams on the website, they will work with you and find it for you!  Now, how awesome is that?  This is probably the best frugal find of the year! PreOwnedWeddingDresses connects buyers to sellers and you are able to negotiate directly with the seller. Many of the sellers are willing to cover the shipping cost and cleaning costs, if the gown is not already cleaned.  As with most online shopping experience, remember to ask a lot of questions and be cautious if someone is not willing to provide you with specific details of the gown, pictures of the gown, location of the gown, etc.  Also, I highly suggest you only purchase from individuals (and vendors) accepting PayPal.

Be frugal.  Be fashionable.  Be fresh.  Happy gown shopping!

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Ethnic inspired wedding gowns by Therez Fleetwood Tuesday, Feb 23 2010

In honor of Black History Month, I am dedicating articles to African-American wedding industry gurus.  This week, as the Sacramento Bridal Fashion Examiner , I had the opportunity to interview renowned exotic wedding gown designer, Therez Fleetwood of Therez Fleetwood Bridal.   I have been a fan of Therez Fleetwood’s gowns for some time now and was not at all surprised to learn of her designing ethnic inspired costumes for Walt Disney Theme Parks and Resort’s Micky & Minnie Mouse.   Therez Fleetwood’s gowns are inspired by countries such as Egypt, India, Morocco, South Africa and Asia.   Her gowns add color to the traditional white American wedding gown, making the gown exotic and unique to each of her brides.      

Courtesy of Therez Fleetwood: Ayana Gown

Therez Fleetwood studied fashion design at The Fashion Institute of Technology and as the interview below will show has been sewing since childhood.    She worked as a production manager in New York for years perfecting her garment construction and garment making process skills.   For the past 11 years, Therez has been designing and making wedding gowns under her own name, Therez Fleetwood.   Her designs have been featured in top magazines, shown on many television shows and on display at Museum of the City in New York and the Black Fashion Museum.   Therez Fleetwood is the epitome of a self-made fashion designer making her mark on the world with her own exotic and distinct style.    Not only is she a talented and successful designer, Therez is also a writer.   So, without further ado, I’d like to introduce to Northern California, the talented, creative and exotic wedding gown designer, Therez Fleetwood.   

Courtesy of Therez Fleetwood: Disney’s Micky & Minnie Mouse

 

SBFE: How long have you been in the wedding gown industry?

TF: I have been in the wedding industry since 1999.

 

SBFE: What inspired your start in the industry?

TF: I’m not sure what inspired my start in the industry besides wanting to wear the clothes that I couldn’t afford.

 

SBFE: How long have you been designing? How long have you been sewing?

TF: I have always been involved in fashion. I was participating in fashion shows back in my home town of Boston, MA since the age of 14. My parents sent me to sewing school at the age of 13 to satisfy my insatiable desire for expensive clothes. They figured, if I learn how to sew then I would make my own clothes and they would not have to keep running back and forth the store to return the items that I did not like.

 

SBFE: When a bride-to-be contacts you about a custom wedding gown, what do you typically ask her to provide you?

TF: All of our dresses are custom made for each individual client. Since we make each dress per order, we ask them to provide us with several body measurements. These measurements can get as detailed as asking for the upper arm, knee to floor length and diaphragm

 

SBFE: Can you make a gown based on a photo?

TF: Absolutely, but we don’t. We are a design company not a “copy” company. The only time someone will send us a photo is when we are designing a dress for them that is not in the collection and they like the hem, or they should or the neckline and they want us to incorporate this look into their wedding dress.

 

SBFE: Can you incorporate certain elements from multiple wedding gowns to make one custom gown?

TF: Yes, we can. We do this often. A client may like two or three of our wedding dresses and they would like to take different design elements from each one. So in this case, if all design elements work together then we can accommodate them.

 

SBFE: How long does it generally take for you to make a custom gown?

TF: Our lead-time for custom gowns is 5-6 months; however, we make dresses in less time. Any orders under 5 months are subject to a “Rush Fee” added on to their overall cost.

 

SBFE:  A lot of your gowns seem to be ethnic inspired. Where do you look for inspiration when making your gowns?  

TF: I love ethnic designs and nuances. My inspiration can come from several things like the way a fabric blows in the wind. Artwork, paintings, batiks, trinkets and different ethnic adornments.

 

SBFE: Do you make traditional all white, traditional American wedding gowns? 

TF: Yes, I do make white gowns. No. I do not make traditional gowns; there are enough of those types of gowns out there for brides to choose from. As a designer, you must find your niche and cater to that. You want to find a way to make your mark in the industry without copying what other designers are doing. It is a challenge to walk to the beat of your own drum but it is also very rewarding.

 

                                           

 

SBFE: What is your most memorable custom wedding gown experience?

TF: I have so many memorable experiences with my clients, they are precious and treasured. I would have to say, my most memorable experience with designing a custom wedding dress was when I created the KAMILI dress. I had just returned from Southern Africa visiting Zambia, Zimbabwe and Botswana. I felt in love with the batik paintings and artwork from this region. I wanted to take that inspiration and incorporated that feeling into a wedding dress. It is so exciting as a designer to see your vision come to life. This dress was also on exhibit at the “Black Style Now” exhibit in New York at the Museum of the City which highlighted African American designers who made black style a big business.

 

 

 

 

SBFE: Have you designed a gown for a specific wedding theme, recently? How was that experience?

TF: I designed a wedding dress a few years ago as a tribute to The Lost Boys of the Sudan.   I was inspired by the red and yellow costumes worn by the married women of that country. When you design a dress around a theme you must make sure you capture the essence of that theme. It was an emotional experience because of the plight of these young refugees; however, I was enlightened as well because I had to research the Sudan in order to create a dress that would pay homage to its people. Today, this is still one of my favorite pieces and I can’t wait for it to become part of a museum exhibit.

 

SBFE:  Do you have gowns available for immediate sale?

TF: No, all of our gowns are made to order.

 

SBFE: So, I saw on your website that you designed Afrocentric costumes for Mickey & Minnie Mouse. How was that experience? 

TF: I love taking on design challenges – and what an honor it was to create outfits for Mickey and Minnie Mouse. At the time I had no idea that they would be a part of the 150 special occasion outfits. I was asked to design costume for the Miss African American Pageant so that they could represent the event. Now Disney has even made plush dolls of Mickey and Minnie wearing their kente garb. How fun!

 

SBFE: Not only are you a talented and creative designer, you are also a writer. Tell my readers about your guide, The AfroCentric Bride – A Style Guide, and the reason for writing the guide.  

TF: I wrote the Afrocentric Bride – a Style Guide, to answer all the emails I received from brides asking questions about (1) how to style their wedding, (2) what’s the best silhouette for their body type (3) what should their bridesmaids wear; and (4) what kind of accessories will work with their wedding dress, etc.  It is a guide book that helps brides create the perfect ethnic look for their wedding.

 

                                                  

  

SBFE: Therez, please let my readers know where they can contact you. 

TF: I can be reached at (972) 682-9495 or via email at therez@therezfleetwoodbridal.com

 For more info: Go to www.therezfleetwoodbridal.com to check out more of Therez’s gowns.   (All photos courtesy of Therez Fleetwood)

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Ines Di Santo: Let’s talk about bling, baby! Wednesday, Jan 20 2010

Northern California bride, are you looking to compliment the bling on your left ring finger with a little bling in your gown?  Look no further, Ines Di Santo wedding gowns have the perfect gown bling to compliment your ring bling. 

Looking for a ball gown fit for a princess?  Ines Di Santo has it.  Maybe you are not into rules and desire something less traditional, trendy and full of Rock n’ Roll?  Ines Di Santo has the mini wedding dress of your dreams. With a lot of bling bling for you to rock with! 

Are you planning an intimate wedding and looking for a classic yet simple wedding dress?  You will find it among the hundred plus wedding gowns Ines Di Santo has to offer.  And all of them come with a little (or a lot) of bling bling!  

Now ladies, remember, the bling is going to cost you.  Ines Di Santo does have a range of gowns to fit in many budgets.  However, Ines Di Santo is a designer and the gowns will have typical designer gown prices.  These blingful gowns are worth every single penny spent.  If you are thinking of passing this dress down to your daughter or maybe selling it on Preownedweddingdresses.com, consider the resell-ability of the gown and try to stick to gowns with classic and traditional designs. 

Click here for a glimmer of bridal gown bling. 

For more info: Go to Ines Di Santo , Brides.com or contact Gabrielle’s Bridal Boutique in Los Gatos at (408) 399-9393.

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