May 2009 Archives

 

Want a bridal party to brag about? With these smart strategies your nearest and dearest will make a big impression on your big day.

 

Cool hues

From berry and shell pinks to sunflower yellow, today's bridesmaid dresses are a far cry from the pale, pasty numbers girls got stuck wearing 30 years ago. Think fresh clean hues and saucy, soft finishes for a sophisticated bridal party entrance full of modern elegance.

 

Shape it up

A bridesmaid dress with a fitted V-neck bodice and a bell skirt offers an easy, elegant option that flatters most figures. Choose silk-shantung fabrics in fresh, candy-colored shades. These classic options wear beautifully and are filled with garden-party glamour.

 

Super suit

This season three-button, notched-lapel jackets give your groom and his attendants a huge dose of Hollywood glam. Opt for shades of charcoal, dark grey or black and coordinate with dark, grey-striped ties.

 

Metal works

Silver accents add a dose of modern drama to your bridal party. Choose sweet little clutch bags, bracelets, rings or hair bands that shimmer with style.

 

 

A June bride can be a glorious sight. But makeup meltdowns can ruin that wedding day glow. Here's how to face your big day with flawless style.

 

Skin is in

-Use a very sheer foundation over well-moisturized skin. Even if you have a perfect complexion it will smooth out your facial tone and provide a base for your makeup.

-Apply concealer sparingly around the nose, under the eyes or on any tiny blemishes. Then whisk lightly with a sheer powder to set. Remember, less is more. Use powder with a very light hand.

-Keep blotting papers in your bridal handbag. Use them, instead of powder, on your big day to avoid a cakey look

 

Eye lights

-Dot foundation on lids before you apply shadows. This will help your makeup last throughout the day.

-Avoid eye pencils and shadows that are greasy. They will crease easily and smudge in no time at all.

-Use waterproof mascara. This will guarantee that your tears of joy  look beautiful, not smeared.

-Appy a light shimmery shade in gold to the corner of eyes or the center of lids. Your eyes will pop and look bright and beautifull all day long.

 

Lip service

-To make lipstick last longer apply, blot and repeat. Do this two or three times to build the intensity of color.

-Go for moist, timeless lips. Too much gloss will make your wedding day smile look goopy, not gorgeous.

-Avoid brown-toned lipsticks. These shades look muddy in photographs.  Instead, opt for sheer shades of peach, pink and red for a breathtaking smile.

 

 

Strapless gowns and bridesmaid dresses are made for modern glamour. But this season's fashion-forward bridal looks offer many alluring options full of grand impact.

 

Deep V drama

Whether you're winging off to a destination wedding our getting ready for a traditional church affair, a plunging V-neckline is a flattering alternative to the classic strapless gown. A great option for women with rounder faces, the plunging V-neckline elongates your look -- a big plus for photos -- and adds a sense of sophisticated urban drama.

 

The haute halter

Halter-styled necklines are superb choices for women who have beautiful shoulders and fit, toned arms. Think First Lady Michelle Obama and you'll understand the real impact a look like this can have when all eyes are on you.

 

Get waisted

This season's new waistline details add fresh visual interest to gowns and bridesmaid dresses. From Empire cuts that feature sleek, delicate belts to well-defined pleats that gather snugly at a natural waistline, these alternatives put the focus on modern femininity.

 

Bling is in

Beautiful beading is a new basic for Spring/Summer 2009. Whether these details are delicately incorporated on straps, necklines, waistlines or points of interest on the back, they accent this season's simple, elegant fashion picks in must-have fabrics such as silk chiffon or georgette.

 

 

Eco-chic is on the minds of modern couples about to walk down the aisle. To reduce their carbon footprint, brides and grooms are looking at great new ways to reduce, recycle and re-use on their big day:

 

Reduce 

-Having an informal outdoor wedding? Give it an eco-upgrade by banning the use of plastic plates and other throw-away serving accessories.

-Less is more, particularly on your wedding day. Only purchase wedding items that can be used more than once - for example, table favors, bridesmaid dresses and wedding party gifts.

 

Re-use

-For a modern twist give guests miniature trees or flower seeds as table favors. Also, choose guest gifts such as cookies, chocolates or mini wine bottles that can be taken home and consumed.

 

Recycle

-Give smaller, more intimate wedding receptions an eco-friendly personal touch by borrowing china from your favorite family members or closest friends.  It'll help the environment and bring special meaning to your big day.

-Add to table settings by purchasing glass and china accessories from second hand shops. Go for sleek, classic styles that can beautifully accent your overall table theme.

MrsNowMrs.com is an online service created to simplify the name-change process for newlyweds. They research the name-change procedure for each state and make sure that all forms and filing instructions are the most up-to-date versions available. Simply create an account which will guide you through 3 easy steps in 30 minutes - saving you over 12 hours of research and form completion. 

Step 1 - Questions: Answer questions about yourself.
Step 2 - Forms: Your answers will be used to auto-fill all forms and notification letters.  
Step 3 - File: Print out forms and filing instructions which include order of submission, fees, required filing documents and office addresses.

You will have six months of unlimited access to your MissNowMrs account, so you can complete your name-change forms at your own pace. You can even get started before your wedding. And they offer giftcards, which make perfect shower or wedding gifts.

Stay up-to-date on new additions to the Dessy, After Six, Alfred Sung and Lela Rose bridesmaid dress collections, as well as Sandals Destination Wedding Dresses. And get the latest news about bridesmaid dress styles and colors, wedding & bridesmaid accessories and bridesmaid gifts. Follow The Dessy Group on Twitter.

The Joe Fresh spring '09 collection offers mix 'n match, classic pieces such as trouser jeans, cardigans, shirt dresses and flats at wallet-friendly prices. Flip through the Joe Fresh top trends; or check out their mix 'n match tool where you can design an outfit, see how much it will cost and then post it to your Facebook page.

With over 30 years experience in the fashion industry, Joe Fresh's creative director Joe Mimran; along with his brother Saul Mimran, and Alfred Sung are responsible for developing luxury fashion brands including Alfred Sung and Club Monaco.

This spring Joe Fresh also launched Joe Fresh Beauty, a professional quality line of cosmetics, brushes and accessories at their familiar affordable prices. And Joe Fresh Beauty is on the road offering free makeovers and beauty tips. For beauty inspiration, find a beauty tour stop near you or get insider beauty tips online from Joe Fresh stylists on the hottest beauty trends.

Wedding Mapper offers wedding inspiration, advice and tools to help you plan your dream wedding. Share wedding ideas, ask wedding advice, and browse photos with help from their global community of thousands of brides and grooms who have shared their wedding day experiences. Create a custom interactive wedding map with markers for your rehearsal dinner, wedding ceremony, reception and other wedding events; as well as recommendations for hotels, dining and entertainment to help your guests with their plans while in town for your wedding. Ask questions about or view descriptions, photos, ratings, and reviews for local wedding vendors and venues; browse real weddings near you and view upcoming events by wedding location. Visit Wedding Mapper for free wedding planning tools and advice.

As of this month, Dessy Group's sponsored video, "A Brief Guide About Bridesmaids" has received over 20,000 views.

Ideal as a gift for Mother's Day, hostesses, and summer bridal parties, the travel bag designed exclusively for Beauty.com is a sophisticated cosmetic and toiletry bag. The Lela Rose encore design features wide stripes in fresh neutral shades from her current color palette with a convenient top zipper offering a pop of nautical navy. The Spring 2009 bag has a roomy collapsible shape, cotton canvas exterior, and multiple interior pockets, making it a quintessential accessory for both daily use and travel.

Valued at $150, the classic cosmetic bag comes filled with 15 hair, makeup, and skin care samples, the most full-and sample-sized products ever to be included in a designer gift with purchase bag on Beauty.com. Customers may receive all this for free with a $100 purchase on Beauty.com.

    1. Urban Decay Big Fatty Mascara, Black
    2. Laura Geller Blush-n-Brighten Compact, Golden Apricot 
    3. POP Beauty Eye Magnet Primer, No.1 Airbrushed
    4. It Cosmetics My Youthful Smile Duo, Signature Blue
    5. Nuxe Tonific Fermete Intensive Firming Cream
    6. Bliss Best of Skintentions with SPF15
    7. Borghese Piede Vitale Foot Creme
    8. ARCONA Papaya Enzyme Gel, Rejuvenate PM
    9. BVLGARI Omnia Amethyste Body Lotion
    10. Nick Chavez Beverly Hills Angel Wings Ultra-Light Styling Paste
    11. Rene Furterer Fioravanti Shine Enhancing Detangling Cream Rinse
    12. Jonathan Product Straightening Lotion
    13. CLARISONIC Gentle Hydro Cleanser, All/Sensitive Skin
    14. PHYTO Phytojoba Intense Hydrating Shampoo
    15. Stila Eye Shadow Pan, Shore

Beauty.com has been a backstage partner to Lela Rose during New York Fashion Week for the past two years. The behind-the-scenes beauty tutorial videos from these seasons are some of the most viewed in the Beauty.com video library.

Since then, Lela Rose and Beauty.com have continued their collaborations, creating last May's travel case -- widely featured in the press and extremely popular with customers, as well as the 'Stila Backstage with Lela Rose' which continues to be a top-selling gift set on Beauty.com.

"As always, Lela has designed a stylish and on-trend makeup bag that any woman would love to carry in her handbag," says Kathleen McNeill, president of Beauty.com. "Inside the bag, our customers will find an exciting assortment of beauty products from some of the most coveted brands in the industry. It's a fun way for our customers to experiment with some of their favorite brands as well as discovering some new ones."

Bridesmaid.com is the official blog of the Dessy Group.

Our designer, Vivian Diamond, is also a fan of Stila and has recently created a special bridesmaid's gift set, which includes a quilted color satin matching clutch bag.