Can you hear it?

It started as a low rumbling at first, then it got louder and more resonant, like a pack of wildebeests stampeding across the plain. It's the excited murmurs among Anthropologie addicts celebrating the store's official launch of their wedding collection, BHLDN. To say the least, it was highly anticipated and long overdue.

I've been asked on numerous occasions where brides can look for inspiration for their invitations or wedding decor. This, my dear readers, is what would inspire me:

Shades of gray

This is what my week looks like:

Some weeks are all about vibrant hues and pops of color. Not this one. Over the next five days, I'll be swimming in platinum, graphite, and gunmetal gray as I assemble stationery pieces for three lovely couples.

And in totally unrelated news, I caught a passing glimpse of Tim Gunn this weekend at Ala Moana Shopping Center. As I watched a large group of fans waiting to get an autograph and pose for a picture with him, my husband asked me if I wanted to take my place in line. I looked at Tim Gunn, decked out in a beautifully tailored suit, then looked down at my outfit. Looked back at Tim Gunn, then down at my outfit. Nope, I'd have to settle for admiring him from afar. Just couldn't bear to stand next to that impeccably dressed man while rocking my t-shirt and shorts and without a stitch of make-up on. I definitely could not make it work.

Fashionista paperie

Earlier this month, I made a quick visit to Ward Center and literally almost ran into some exquisitely dressed mannequins. Students from the UH Manoa Apparel Design and Merchandising program were competing in a Go Green Fashion Competition and the outfits and accessories were created with recyclable materials. My favorites showcased the creative use of paper like the two entries pictured above.

The paper fringe dress on the left was stunning and I only wish that I had a better picture of the top half of the dress which featured a strapless, sweetheart neckline. The black and white cocktail dress on the right was decked out in gorgeous roses...and I love the black piping just above the bustline.

Hmm, anyone interested in a paper gown for their wedding?

Fashionista wedding style

What an event! Check out these gorgeous pics taken by Nick and Rachel from Blue Nalu Photography:

Dream Weddings

A few weeks ago, I whipped up these fantasy-inspired invitations for an upcoming "Dream Weddings" event hosted by Anne Namba and Hawaii Bride and Groom magazine. Along with bridal gowns and fashion for the mothers of the bride and groom by Anne Namba, the event will showcase these talented professionals:

Elite Catering

Yvonne Design

Mood

Emi Ink

Les Saisons

A Perfect Day

Cake Works

Alison Hayashi

Blue Nalu Photography

. . .

Sunday, March 15th

1:00pm - 4:00pm

324 Kamani Street

. . .

Reservations required (589-1135)

Spring 2009 Color Report

Since fashion trends often spill over into other facets of our world (i.e. home decor, graphic design), Pantone's Spring 2009 Fashion Color Report was highly anticipated by many. Fashionable brides may even choose to incorporate a hue from this playful palette into their wedding decor. I'm already working with a handful of Spring brides who requested lavender and dark citron, so they're definitely in the know!

Hello old friend!

Some people aren't very impressed with the new Nordstrom store that recently opened up at Ala Moana Shopping Center. I'm not one of those people.

When I first got wind that Nordstrom would be making its Hawaii debut this year, I was thrilled. Having lived in the Bay Area for awhile, I had come to love this chic department store and waited with baited breath until I could once again put my Nordstrom credit card to good use. Even my husband, bless his heart, understood my excitement and presented me with a Nordstrom gift card at Christmas so I could shop to my heart's content once the store officially opened.

I checked out the store during its grand opening weekend, but not wanting to feel pressured by the frenzied crowd of shoppers, I kept my gift card safely in my purse. There's just something about an unused gift card in your wallet that makes you feel EMPOWERED!

However, when one must make the choice between the feeling of empowerment or two pairs of cute shoes, there's really no comparison. For me, the shoes will always reign victorious. Shocking.

Thanks to a fun girls' night out on Saturday that ended with a victory dinner at the in-store cafe, my inner shopping diva is happy once again.

Trash the dress

Would you? Should you? Could you?

I hadn't even heard the phrase "trash the dress" (or TTD, for short) until I became a bride-to-be. TTD sessions have gained much popularity in recent years and involves a post-wedding photo shoot in which the bride's wedding dress serves as a sacrifical lamb for the love of photography. Don't get it? Picture the unforgettable beach scene in "From Here to Eternity."


Now picture Burt Lancaster and Deborah Kerr in wedding attire and you've got the ultimate TTD scenario. Still don't get it? Click over to the blog of Hawaii photographer, Frank Amodo (Amodo Photo) for an introduction to the wonderful world of trashing the dress.

So, why would any bride in their right mind consider trashing thier gorgeous gown after the wedding? TTD sessions give the newly married couple the chance to let their hair down (literally) and just relax and have fun in front of the lens. On the wedding day, most women are concerned with their gown looking perfect...no wrinkles, no dirt smudges, definitely no food stains! Imagine the feeling of liberation of being able to PLAY in your gown!

Of cousre, you could always purchase a second (aka not-so-expensive) dress and reserve it for the day-after TTD shoot. Just a possibility...

Dress up

When it comes to "dream" wedding gowns, of course Vera Wang comes to mind. After all, isn't her name synonymous with gorgeous, jaw-dropping wedding dresses? I'm also a big fan of Pronovias gowns and am absolutely in love with their 2008 collection. Ahh, if only I could go dress shopping all over again...I suppose I'll just have to live vicariously through my clients!

Air time

Have you tried the Cole Hahn Nike Air shoes yet? Neither have I. But I'm dying to. Imagine the comfort of Nike Air technology (think heaven in the form of cushiony pillows) plus the sexiness of a 4" high heel (think va-va-va-voom). It's a hard concept to grasp, but the thought that keeps popping up in my head is, "It's about time!"

Like a lot of women, my closet is full of shoes that are out to get me. They look pretty and seem harmless enough in the shoe store, but when I treat them to a night out on the town, they turn on me, usually within the first hour. I honestly don't know what possesses them to treat me like that...I take good care of them, I don't get them wet, or feed them after midnight. I swear on my checkbook that I take no responsibility in knowingly purchasing uncomfortable, unwearable, unbearable shoes. It's the shoe's fault, I'm completely innocent.

Well, it'll all be water under the bridge when I finally strap on my pair of Cole Hahns. Wow, comfortable heels. What'll they think of next?

I do believe...I do believe

Once upon a time, there lived a disillusioned bride who thought that purchasing bridesmaid dresses would be a snap. The fact that one of her bridesmaids lived thousands of miles across the Pacific Ocean posed no challenge to the bride, for she decided to buy off-the-rack dresses that would require minimal alterations. The bride hit the malls with a vengeance, only to turn up empty handed at the end of each shopping trip. Then one day, the bride decided to venture into the land of online shopping and was lured in by the promise of free shipping and a no-hassle return policy. The bride searched high and low for the one thing that was more elusive than the Wizard of Oz…a simple black dress that would be elegant yet casual enough for an outdoor evening wedding, would flatter all body types, and would not break the bank.

After hours of searching, the bride found what she was looking for…in the CLEARANCE section! She wept with joy as she saw that all the sizes she wanted were still in stock! She quickly entered her credit card number, congratulated herself on the best purchase in all of the kingdom, and lived happily ever after.

Or so she thought.

Alright, what I didn’t know was that the sizing of the dresses was on the small side. I was faced with the dilemma of having to find a larger size for a dress that was no longer available. After checking with the store, I jumped on a couple of different forums in hopes that I would find someone selling the exact dress I was looking for. Lo and behold, someone in Queens, NY had the dress in the right size…but the wrong color. Well, it was ebay to the rescue! I found what I needed for 1/4 the price and I didn’t even have to engage in a bidding war. If I wasn't already a believer in the magical power of ebay, I’d sure be one now.