What Lies (Smoothly) Beneath.

So, let's talk about a great moment in red carpet fashion history. THIS dress:

...the now infamous green Versace gown worn by Jennifer Lopez to the Grammy Awards in 2000. Whether you thought it was fantastic or wanted to throw a trenchcoat over her, this dress generated buzz. After debuting this look, JLo jumped right into the headlines and never left. And the whole phenomenon was made possible one tiny, brilliant invention: double stick tape.

Now imagine yourself in a dress like this one from Scala (because I am most certainly NOT advocating attending your prom in that Versace, unless you want to be expelled...)

Those cutouts are dangerous! By which I mean not only are they alluring and naughty, they actually run you a pretty significant risk of Wardrobe Malfunction (and you know what I mean) without some behind-the-scenes assistance. And here's where we come to one of my favorite finds of 2009: Hollywood Fashion Tape.

Doesn't the lovely lady on the front of the box look put together, despite her risky plunging neckline? That's because of the good people at Hollywood Fashion Tape, who saw an obvious need (which begs the question, where were they looking?) and came up with a solution. They make a variety of shapes and sizes of double stick tape and other products to make sure your dress stays put. My favorite kit, the Red Carpet Assortment, has thirty strips of assorted shapes to stick under your straps, at the edge of your neckline, even at the top of a slit that you don't want to appear too risque. The strips have enough stickiness to keep your dress on and not remove your skin when you take them off later. I happen to appreciate that. These are aptly named too, as they are turning into quite the Hollywood Secret. Stars that use these include Sandra Bullock, Kate Hudson and Paris Hilton.

And the company makes tons of other cute little goodies designed to make your evening a bit more stress-free. They have 'Tag Tamers' (to keep those scratchy tags off your back), 'Touch Ups' (handy little traveling lint remover sheets), and 'Goes Commandos' (I'm not going to explain what these are. Feel free to peruse the website.) A new addition to the line are their 'Fashionista Flats', which are soft, pretty ballet flats which actually roll up and tuck into a little organza bag. If James Bond were a woman, he definitely would have had this whole collection in his arsenal.

Or, alternatively, imagine wearing a slinky style like this:

Yikes! The key to this sophisticated style by Jovani is a smooth fit. It may be a modest cut, but the jersey fabric clings to you like a second skin. I don't happen to think a spectacular evening out has anything to do with skipping dinner, skipping the dance floor or skipping carbs for a week beforehand. But I do still want to look like a svelte goddess all evening. Enter Spanx:

These are exactly what they look like. Almost-invisible, super-thin body shapers that mask every last bump, making seams and fabric lie smooth and flat, WHILE sucking you in by one full size AND lifting and shaping your behind. Yes, please. They have more versions and cuts of these then I can go into here, enough to fit under almost any garment, and someday I'll own each one. Because if I can't have JLo's Versace gown, I can at least have her derriere. For one evening at a time, anyway.

Link to these images and more information at www.scalausa.com, http://www.hollywoodfashiontape.com/, www.jovani.com and www.spanx.com.

A Tiny Post about Tiny Dresses...

...and the tiny girls who wear them. By which I mean flowergirls, those adorable little mini-me's who bring up the 'cute factor' of any wedding party. There's something so sweet about these earnest little helpers who are given such special responsibilities at a wedding. It may be your Big Day, but its a pretty big moment for them too. Nine out of ten flowergirls are going to be just as picky as you are about what they wear (although there are those, as well, who would just as soon waltz down the aisle in a Spider Man costume. I had one of these, and I loved her for it.)

This is one of my all-time favorite dresses for really tiny girls, courtesy of Us Angels...

Too cute, right? I love that although the design is clearly for a little girl, the materials of this dress are very grownup! In silk dupioni and Alencon lace, this dress could potentially be a perfect match for the rest of the wedding party without looking too old for a little girl. The natural structure of the silk makes a pretty bell shape and the lace adds fanciness to the top while keeping the cut simple. Also the fabric is extremely light, which is nice for little ones who may not be used to sporting formalwear for long stretches...

Another big trend right now is putting the flowergirl in a white dress like the bride, but with a little color accent to tie in with the bridal party. Us Angels has some lovely options here as well. This style, for instance, is available in sixteen different sash colors and five different shades for the floral detail:

Oh, the possibilities are endless. Then again, if you and your smallest attendant agree that she needs a unique showstopper of her own, you may want to check out Joan Calabrese's collection for Mon Cheri. Every design in there is a winner:

And on the other hand, if she really pushes for that Spider Man thing, maybe its worth considering. At least let her change for the reception - after all, a wedding is nothing if not an expression of personal style...

Link back to these images and more information at:

http://calabresegirl.com/, www.usangels.com, and http://trendybabyboutique.wordpress.com/2008/06/29/little-girls-tutus/.

Let's Get Sparkly.

I'm a blogging addict now. I can't stop. I especially can't stop when I'm fresh off a trunk show of fabulous new pieces like the ones sent to us by Veil and Headpiece Artiste Laura Jayne. I want to get married about thirty times so I can wear each one of these:

I'm sure my husband will be on board with planning twenty-nine more weddings when he sees how gorgeous my hair accessory options are. But seriously, each piece that comes to us from Laura Jayne shows the true artistry of this designer and her team. Some of her flexible floral inspired pieces seem to bloom right in your hair, like this:

And her designs run from the regal,

to the romantic,

to the whimsical...

...and this is not even mentioning the veil designs, which deserve a post of their own. I'll rave about those at a later date. Laura Jayne's studio is located in Toronto where she works closely with a staff of skilled artisans to design and produce these lovely hair adornments. The company's website states: "Laura’s design sensibility stems from classic, delicate, time honored looks to which she likes to add a hint of the unexpected. She truly believes that a bride’s accessories make the ensemble “her own”, and strives to create versatile designs that leave interpretation open to the wearer, thus providing the tools for a personalized look."

Versatile indeed. Also unique, timeless and lustworthy. If you're looking for the 'little something' to add that last bit of sparkle and provide one FANTASTIC detail shot for your photographer, it could easily be in these collections. And won't your friends be excited about that 'something borrowed' thing when their weddings roll around...

Link to Laura Jayne's website at http://www.laurajayne.com/index.htm.

Dangerous Curves: Plus Size Prom 2010

I don’t care what size you are – this dress is FIERCE.

So is this model. I LOVE the attitude she’s bringing to this shot, which brings me to my Thought of the Day, which is that it doesn’t matter what size you are - there is no reason to sacrifice your comfort, style or general fabulousness just because you don’t happen to be an 8. Of course, great design doesn’t hurt either. Gone are the days of plus-size eveningwear that look like shapeless and unflattering. Some of this year’s best prom trends play right into designs that work beautifully on plus sizes. Empire waists and drapey chiffon are dominating prom design this year– and of course, beautiful beading and sparkle on everything. It all comes together on the dress pictured above, which was inspired by an Oscar dress worn by Grey’s Anatomy star Sara Ramirez. I wish I could learn this model’s traffic-stopping strut. I’d enter EVERY black tie event I attended this way.

Speaking of Hollywood glitz and glamour, can we talk about Kate Winslet for a moment? Because she’s gorgeous. AND she knows exactly how to dress her shape. I was in love with this sleek Yves St Laurent gown from the moment she stepped onto the red carpet:

The smooth fit and sparkly detail on this dress subtly shadow her curves and highlight her natural hourglass shape. Now, she’s doing the look in black, but I REALLY like this similar cut from Faviana that has just a bit more bedazzlement:

I mean, why just have one teeny row of crystals when you can have all-over sparkle? As a great fashionista once said, 'I don’t dress up this way to go unnoticed'. Plus, the weight of the beading lends a very glamorous drape to the fabric. If there were a better detail shot available, I could point out how some lovely teardrop-shaped beads cascade down from the single shoulder, making this dress even more reminiscent of some sort of waterfall-goddess type creature. Very alluring.

And just in case you’re thinking of jumping on this year’s print trend, Faviana hits it on the button once again:

Seriously. This girl has got the attitude down. I’m pretty sure she could win a pose-off with anyone. It always helps to be wearing a great dress though…

Enter the Little White Dress...

Here at the Boutique, we are very familiar with the Little Black Dress, often simply called the LBD. Everyone should have a fantastic LBD in their closet to pull out for that last minute formal event – classic black can be extremely simple and still look fabulous. That said, today I feel like taking a moment to appreciate the LBD’s much underappreciated counterpart, the Little White Dress. Sometimes, the best color is no color at all. Case in point, this little number from Scala:

SO cute, right? This dress would totally stand out in a sea of Little Black Dresses. And that myth about black being the most flattering color? It goes completely out the window on a dress like this, where the fitted waist and drapey chiffon create a simple, slim silhouette. The bit of flare in the skirt is just flirty enough – to me, this dress is a totally modern take on that Little White Dress classic, the white halter dress worn by Marilyn Monroe in “The Seven Year Itch”. Be warned though, she practiced that move with the subway grate. Leave that to the experts.

I was also really pleased to discover Faviana’s new “White Collection” section while perusing their website recently. They’ve sorted out all of their best white designs and grouped them together so you can see a wide range of styles in white. Here are some faves:

That last one was inspired by a dress worn by Kim Kardashian. It’s also lovely in the other available colors which are navy and fuschia, but the white gives it a certain sparkle that I really enjoy. The delicate chiffon rouching and the beading around the bustline are fantastically well executed, and the fact that the dress is fitted just to the knee and then flared means you could actually walk reasonably well in it. Always a plus. Also, check out the gorgeousness of the back:

If that's not slimming, I don't know what is...

(Link to these looks at http://www.scalausa.com/p-898-scala-n12002-white.aspx, and http://www.faviana.com/white-collection.php)

Where's my Magic Wand?

Some days, we all want to feel like Tinkerbell. It would be hard not to be the Tinkerbelle of the Ball in this floaty, flirty little number from B.G. Haute, available in a very tempting array of colors (I couldn't put up images of every color available, but you can check them out at http://www.bghaute.com/multisearchresults.php?searchphrase=3053)...

Ummm, cute sparkly top? Check. Stylish floral detail? Yes, please. Tulle ballerina skirt that makes me feel like a Cotton Candy Princess? Yup. This dress is so sweet it makes my teeth hurt. I see this one making a huge splash on the prom/semi scene, but secretly I also want to see a bride do the white/pale pink version as a leaving or afterparty dress. That would be a last dance to remember! A really showstopping bride could probably pull this off for a fancy bachelorette (I’m thinking weekend in Las Vegas). I also like the fact that this dress would work on a variety of ages, and perfectly bridges that gap between sweet and sassy without showing oodles of skin. I don’t actually care WHERE this dress gets worn, it’s just begging to be put on and twirled around in. Find an excuse.

Now in Print...

Now, I could be all mysterious about this and tell you that my secret undercover Prom Trendspotter is feeding me secret information, but the truth is it doesn’t take very much sleuthing to figure out what the ‘big trend’ is in prom gowns this year. It’s prints. Tons of prints, all kinds of prints, we’ve seen everything from delicate climbing florals to a full-on depiction of an underwater reef (It was just like going snorkeling). My personal taste runs a little bit less Nature Channel then that. Here are some staff picks out of the newest collections:



This dress is by BG Haute. It’s made of a really beautiful silk, which makes it a wee bit pricier than some of the others, but we at the shop are swooning over the blue flowers at the bottom which remind us of an Impressionist painting. There’s some really delicate folding going on at the bodice which plays perfectly off the light, airy feel of the gown. And as a bonus, they’ve already accessorized for you with the lovely blue crystals on the waistband. You can just say your stylist did it…



And here’s a new take on animal prints from Faviana:

Rar!! I don’t know what kind of animal this print is based on, but it’s pretty wild. A rare blue Leopardgiraffesnake, perhaps? Something that escaped from the set of Avatar? Whatever, I love it. And what the picture really doesn’t show is that the beadwork on the black waistband of this dress is exquisite and really compliments the strong print on this dress. The print is not for the faint of heart - this is definitely a dress that you wear to be noticed. Which is fine by me. The design of the bodice was actually inspired by a dress worn by pop star Ciara on the red carpet. Hers was silver, but I’m sure if she knew there was a blue jungle print version out there she would have rocked it…

And in case you thought prints couldn’t be sweet, here’s one by Jovani that totally made us go ‘awwww’…

Could this dress be any lovelier? It doesn’t hurt that the model is obviously having her prom somewhere in the greater St Kitts/Aruba area, but the floral vines that trail from the top and bottom of this dress are so delicate and so beautifully printed that you may want to steer clear of anyone with a watering can while wearing it. The empire waist and floaty chiffon skirt are balanced by a daring little dip in the middle of the neckline (okay, maybe not so ‘little’, but that’s what two sided tape is for). In the middle of February, this dress is like a warm spring breeze. For events happening in a few months, the airy design will be right on point. For now, we’ll just have to use this dress to remind us that warm breezes and wisteria are on the way soon…

Can I Please be Your Bridesmaid?

So, I came into work today and was immediately floored by this sample from the Jim Hjelm Spring 2010 collection:

How many ways do I love this dress? Let me count. First, this dress is made of Jim Hjelm’s NEW silky taffeta, which is now among my top five favorite fabrics in the store. It’s lightweight enough to keep some movement and drape in the dress, but has a sheen and texture which remind me of a rich silk Dupioni. Best of both worlds!

I’m also pretty excited that this fabric comes together with some of the most beautifully draped rouching I’ve seen on a dress like this.

I’m very picky about rouching, which is the fancy name for the folded effect around the middle of this dress. I hate when ruching adds any extra bulk in the middle of a dress because I have enough bulk of my own and if I’m in eveningwear, I want to look as teeny as possible. The beauty of this fabric and this design together is that the lightness of the taffeta allows the ruching to lay nice and flat against the body and keep the whole silhouette very sleek. In addition, the asymmetrical sweep of the folds creates even more of an hourglass effect which is complimented by the modified sweetheart neckline. My only regret about this dress is that it wasn’t designed in time for MY wedding. I might order it anyway, because I suspect it would be stunning in black with some blingy accessories added to it. Although I do love the raspberry color that our sample arrived in – I can picture it working beautifully in a fall, spring or summer wedding. It has just the right amount of ‘pop’, and would be such a breath of fresh air in the midst of the Chocolate Brown Tidal Wave we’ve seen over the past few seasons. (I mean, I still love chocolate brown, but it has had a huge moment recently and it’s always nice to be ahead of the curve…)

Incidentally, some genius who works here put this dress up next to Paloma Blanca’s sweet “Cindy” gown, which is in a lightweight Dupioni with pearls and Alencon lace, and the combination is SO elegant. I immediately wanted to be a bridesmaid at that wedding, and that says a LOT…

(Link to these images and more information at http://www.jlmcouture.com/Jim-Hjelm-Occasions/Bridesmaid/Spring/2010/Style-5030 and http://www.palomablanca.com/)