David's Bridal

Hello DB Readers and Happy Trendy Tuesday! Since the release of The Great Gatsby, the romantic and vintage-y inspired fashions have been popping up everywhere- from bridal gowns to special occasion dresses to… headbands!  Our fashionista and Style Council Member Carmen Ordonez recently posted on her blog about great Vintage Inspired headbands that are affordable and shockingly under $50! Here is our great White by Vera Wang headband that you too can wear to channel your inner Daisy Buchanan!

Quinceañera season is officially upon us!  The invitations have gone out and now it’s time to pick the perfect dress.  But before you get overwhelmed, here are some of my favorite trends in Quinceañera fashion that will make you look fashion-forward, while still being the belle of the ball.

Black and White Trend

White has always been a traditional option for Quinceañera fashion, and this year it’s all about the black and white trend! You can easily translate this trend into your Quinceañera look by incorporating black accessories, such as a statement necklace or black heels with this gorgeous satin strapless beaded gown from David’s Bridal. The A-line silhouette is also figure flattering and would work great on any body type.

Bold, Bright Colors

As the weather gets warmer, we’re seeing a surge of bold colors and this summer it’s all about the “Lemon Zest.” It was spotted all over the fashion runways! This strapless taffeta ball gown is right on trend and budget-friendly for just $399. The inverted “V” empire waist will help accentuate your figure and the jewel details will make you sparkle as you make your grand entrance. It’s also available in other bold colors such as pink and blue.

Organza

This season it’s all about light and airy organza. This feminine fabric is truly fit for a princess and it is also lightweight – perfect for any outdoor Quinceañera parties.  The dramatic vertical ruffles on this David’s Bridal dress are absolutely breathtaking.

Leave the Crown and Consider a Headband

Instead of your traditional crown, consider using a headband inspired by the movie The Great Gatsby. Embellished headbands add a ton of glamour and are really in style right now. This White by Vera Wang horsehair headband with crystal embellishment is my favorite!

Billboard Latin Music Awards Red Carpet Looks for Less

By Carmen Ordonez

The stars brought the heat to the 2013 Billboard Latin Music Awards, which took place last week in sunny Miami, Florida. From bright bold colors such as Kika Rocha’s purple organza dress to America Sierra’s fuchsia strapless number – there were many favorites on my list. Luckily for us, we can mimic their style without breaking the bank with these budget-friendly alternatives from David’s Bridal.

America Sierra looked stunning in this tiered fuschia dress. Get a similar look with this strapless sequined bodice gown from David’s Bridal. The empire sash waist creates a flattering silhouette, while the sequined bodice adds the perfect amount of glam. This dress would be perfect for prom or even a black-tie wedding.

Venezuelan model, Natasha Dominguez, turned heads on the red carpet with this sequined long dress. You can easily recreate her look with this one-shouldered glitter mesh dress from David’s Bridal. It’s the perfect mix of feminine and sexy with the sweetheart neckline and side slit. Take a cue from the gorgeous model and keep your accessories to a minimum. You don’t want them to overpower your dress.

Kika Rocha flaunted her figure on the red carpet in this purple mermaid dress. Accentuate your own curves with this striking organza dress for just under $200. Finish off your look with this intricate beaded satin sash from David’s Bridal for only $39.

5 Amazing Bridesmaid Dresses for Under $100

BY CATEY HILL

You adore your bridesmaids – they’ve held your hand through breakups, shared their cutest outfits with you and kept your juiciest secrets for years – so it’s important to remember that they might get stressed out over the expense of being in a wedding. That’s because the average bridesmaid spends more than $1,600 to be part of your big day. Um, that’s a lot of money!  But don’t worry, you can find amazing dresses that won’t cost them a ton!

You want your big day to be perfect (I mean, you’ve only been waiting for it your entire life!), which means your bridesmaids need to look perfect too.  So to help you find amazing bridesmaid dresses that are inexpensive, I asked stylist Shahrnaz Shifteh – this is a woman who could accessorize a beige mumu and make it look chic! –  to pick the top five bridesmaid dresses for under $100.  Here are her budget-friendly picks:

1. For an outdoor wedding:

“This look is flowy and casual – a great complement to a garden or beach wedding,” says Shifteh. “Pick lighter,pastel colors in the spring or for a garden wedding, and bolder colors for a summer or beach wedding.” Bridesmaids should wear a simple pendant, a few bangles and flat sandals, ballet flats or wedges with this dress.

Strapless Chiffon Short Dress Style F12284

2. For a formal wedding:

“Floor length gowns are ideal for a formal wedding,” Shifteh explains.  Bridesmaids should pair the dress with neutral or metallic, open-toe stiletto sandals and get it hemmed so that it lightly brushes the floor.  Because of the beautiful shoulder detailing, bridesmaids don’t need to wear a necklace with this look, she says.

Flower One Shoulder Mesh Gown Style 8420Y033

3. For a trendy wedding:

“This is very runway – a Sarah Jessica Parker in ‘Sex and the City’ look,” Shifteh says.  She recommends that bridesmaids accessorize with a fun cocktail ring and high-heeled pumps or sandals that don’t have crystals or embellishments on them since “the dress is the statement in this outfit.”

Short Draped Satin Dress with Sash Style VW360017

4. For modern-meets-elegant wedding:

“This dress is elegant with a twist – the slit gives it a very modern edge,” says Shifteh.  She says that bridesmaids should wear this look with statement earrings and a stiletto sandal.

Strapless Long Charmeuse Dress with SlitStyle F44447

5. For a country club-style wedding:

“This dress is a great mix of preppy meets casual,” says Shifteh.  She recommends bridesmaids wear this look with a simple strand of pearls and kitten heels.

Cotton Sateen Short Strapless Ruched DressStyle 83312

Bottom line: “Brides should not be afraid to mix and match dresses at their wedding,” says Shifteh.  “Color and fabric should be similar, but beyond that, have fun,” she says.

Galina Gown Meets Old Hollywood: A Dream Marriage Proposal

By Sarah Pease

After each awards show in Hollywood there is no shortage of magazines and websites splashed with photos of starlets donning gorgeous gowns, and season after season some of the best dressed women are those that channeled Old Hollywood glamour. The figure-hugging shape and sweetheart neckline of this demure yet sultry Galina Signature wedding gown served as the inspiration for a marriage proposal fit for a 1940’s screen siren or a modern starlet.

Your future-fiancée will think she is having a girl’s day spent shopping and going to the spa with her best friend, but the day has actually been planned down to the last detail to be the day of her dreams.  Everything begins as your sweetheart and friend set off for one of the chicest shopping streets in Hollywood, Rodeo Drive.  As they meander and peer into the ornately decorated window displays, her friend will suggest venturing into one of the well-known boutiques where they’ll try on some of the to-die-for dresses and shoes, but what your future-fiancée does not know is that you secretly contacted the store prior to her visit and arranged for her favorite pieces to be delivered to the spa.  After visiting some of Hollywood’s most famous boutiques, the women will head to the spa for an afternoon of starlet-worthy pampering.  As their spa trip comes to an end, she’ll be surprised when an exquisitely-wrapped garment bag from the store she visited earlier greets her at the spa. A classic car will whisk her to one of Hollywood’s most iconic spots, the Beverly Hills Hotel, where she’s shown to a dream suite and says goodbye to her friend and hello to her beauty team.  They’ll create the perfect hair & makeup look and as she changes into her glamorous, red-carpet ready outfit, she is transformed into a vintage screen siren. An impeccably dressed butler will show her to the hotel’s terrace bar that overlooks the pool, where a “red carpet” rose petal path will lead you to an intimate table-for-two hidden amongst the palm trees.  You’ll be waiting for her at the end of the red carpet with an envelope with her name on it. The outside reads “The Academy Award for Best Leading Lady” and on the inside is her name.  You drop to one knee and share that you would truly be the winner, for the rest of your lives, if she says yes!

Like the classic and glamorous Galina Signature gown, this marriage proposal idea is reminiscent of the Golden Age of Hollywood and will be remembered forever.

Sarah Pease, The Proposal Planner ™ is recognized as the foremost expert on marriage proposals and is the pioneer of Marriage Proposal Planning. Based in New York City, Sarah and her team at Brilliant Event Planning have designed and produced dream engagements for countless lucky couples from across the world and are the go-to source for all things regarding “Will You Marry Me?”

Beverly HIlls Hotel

Bar Nineteen12

Lana Turner

Rodeo Drive

Rose Petal Path

The Perfect Mother-of-the-Bride Dress

By Carmen Ordonez

You probably pictured your daughter’s wedding dress since she broke the news that she was engaged. But now it’s time to pick your own dress and you might be feeling at a loss. Sure it’s your daughter’s big day, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still look fabulous yourself. Gone are the days of frumpy Mother-of-the-Bride dresses, here are some tips and dresses to help you look stylish on the big day.

Don’t wait until the last minute to start looking for your dress. Give yourself at least three to four months in case your dress needs to be altered. Also keep in mind the location of the wedding.  If it’s an outdoor wedding, look for easy breezy styles made out of breathable fabrics. This long jersey dress from David’s Bridal is the perfect choice. The fabric will allow you to move comfortably, and you’ll definitely make a statement when you leave the room with this open back detail. It’s absolutely stunning and a steal for only $119.

Peplums made their way into the fashion scene last year and they’re not going away anytime soon. This peplum dress manages to combine both style and sophistication in one piece. The knee length skirt makes it age appropriate, while the all-over lace adds a nice chic touch. This particular silhouette is also great for those with a straight shape, since the peplum flare gives the illusion of an hourglass figure.

This Cross Over Bodice Gown from David’s Bridal is elegance at its best. It’s ideal for a formal black-tie affair. The rushing detail in the waist highlights the shape, while the ¾ sleeves gives just the right amount of coverage.

This short satin dress is a perfect Mother-of-the-Bride dress. The royal blue goes great with almost any skin tone and the satin jacket provides coverage for those chilly spring nights. It can also be removed, for a dress that can easily be worn time and time again.

Save vs. Splurge, Wedding Edition: Where to Spend, Where to Scrimp

BY CATEY HILL

From the white flowy dress to the candlelit aisle, the five-tiered cake to the gorgeous bouquets, you’ve probably imagined your wedding day since you were a little girl. But now that you’re actually planning it, reality is setting in.  Of course you want the fairytale — I mean, who doesn’t?! — but you can only spend so much, so it’s important to figure out where you’ll splurge, and where you’ll cut costs.

To figure this out, first, you’ll need to make a wedding budget (I know, you hate that word, but I swear it’s not that bad – use the David’s Bridal MyEvent wedding planner site and it’s super-easy to do it!). Then, look at the list of all the things you will spend money on for your wedding.  Check out the budget I created to help you figure this out.  Now, rank that list in terms of what’s most important to you and what’s least important; spend the most on what’s most important to you and the least on what’s not.

OK, so that might have seemed a little overwhelming.  I mean, where do you rank all those things?! You probably really want to know what married people and wedding planners say is great to splurge on and worth it so scrimp on. Don’t worry, I talked to them and got some advice.  Here’s the scoop:
Where to save
It used to be that to get an amazing dress you had to go to a boutique or super high-end department store. Not anymore.  David’s Bridal has Vera Wang dresses - yes, the Vera Wang! – for under $1,700, some even under $1,000, plus other amazing luxe designers like Melissa Sweet and Oleg Cassini (hello, he dressed Jackie O — one of the most timeless style icons ever!). Another big way to save is on food and the bar (if this isn’t the top of your priority list).  Don’t have a fancy sit-down dinner — your guests will have just as much fun with a simple buffet or passed around tapas– and serve beer, wine and one signature cocktail (you and your soon-to-be bubby can pick it together!) rather than a full-on open bar.

Where to splurge

Don’t scrimp on the photos and video of the wedding (these are things you’ll have in frames in your home for rest of your life and give to your grandchildren!).  So hire a reliable photographer and maybe even a videographer so you can make sure that perfect moment is captured … in high def of course!  Added bonus: Your friends and family can snap more pics of your day for free so you have even more keepsakes!  The other thing you should splurge on — at least for one night — is your honeymoon. Spend time with your new hubby in an amazing setting, even if it’s just for a night or two.

Clean Out Your Closet for Ca$h
BY CATEY HILL

If you’re anything like most girls I know, your closet is literally overflowing with clothes, shoes and accessories that you don’t wear anymore. (Who hasn’t gotten just a little too caught up in one trend or another?!). But rather than let all those goodies sit there collecting dust, why not clean out your closet and sell that stuff for cash?

To do this, first you’ll need to take an inventory of your closet.  Anything you haven’t worn in the past year or so, consider selling. Next, learn which items will fetch more cash than others (but don’t throw anything out yet as almost everything you own can probably fetch at least some money). Here are a few things to look for:

• Brand: Obviously, high-end designer names like Louis Vuitton and Chanel are going to fetch top dollar on the resale market, but slightly less pricey — but still popular — designer brands like Tory Burch, Marc by Marc Jacobs and White by Vera Wang will score you some cash as well. Even if you don’t have those kinds of clothes in your wardrobe, designer collaborations with department stores (think Jimmy Choo for H&M or Missoni for Target) can fetch a pretty penny, as can clothes from retailers like J.Crew and Anthropologie.
• Style: Even if you don’t have many name-brand clothes, you can get a decent amount of money for clothes that are in style right now, such as leather or leather-accented items, and clothes that are black and white, striped or floral.  Also, be sure to remember the things that almost never go out of style, like the little black dress and the simple blazer. And think seasonally: Since summer is fast approaching, you can get money for cocktail dresses and old bridesmaids dresses that people can wear to weddings.
• Condition: The clothes need to be in good condition — few if any stains, tears or discolorations — if you expect to get top dollar for them.  It’s smart to wash and iron clothes or fix a fallen hem or pocket before trying to sell them.  Even clothes that are from a big-box budget store — if they’re in good condition — may fetch you some money.

Now that you’ve taken inventory in your closet, it’s time to sell your stuff.  There are a variety of ways to do this.

• Online: Everyone knows about eBay already, but that doesn’t change the fact that it’s a great place to sell clothes, especially name brand items, since often a bunch of people bid on them and drive up the price. With eBay the key is to have great photos (show those designer tags or receipts if you have them, and make sure the photos are well lit) and a good seller rating.I also like these sites/apps for selling clothes: Storenvy.com, Threadflip.com and the iPhone app Poshmark.  All of these sites are easy to use and can help you earn cash for your old clothes.

• Consignment: Offering up your clothes to a local consignment shop is another good way to get paid.  Typically, you’ll get 40 – 50% of the total price that the consignment shop sells your stuff for.  If you can, get these terms in writing.  And before you go into a consignment shop, do some research online about what similar items are selling for — often you can get more money by selling your stuff online.

• Garage sale: Garage sales are often best for those clothes that aren’t from a well-respected brand, aren’t that fashion-forward and/or aren’t in great condition that you just want to get rid of.  Hold a garage sale and try to sell what you can.  Towards the end of the sale, if you haven’t sold the items, put a bunch of the clothes in a box together and then sell the “bundle” for a few bucks.  Hey, it’s better than getting nothing!

What to Wear to a Spring Wedding

By Carmen Ordonez

Spring wedding season has arrived and it’s time to shed the winter coats and break out the fun spring hues. For those of you with spring weddings on the horizon, here are a couple options for what to wear to a spring wedding.

Prints and Patterns

Prints and patterns are all the rage this spring. Look for prints in some of this spring’s hottest colors such as green and blue. You’ll be sure to make a fashion statement. I’m loving this green charmeuse printed dress from David’s Bridal.

Low-High Hem Lines

Can’t decide whether to go long or short, then a high-low hemline is you’re perfect solution.  It’s great for a spring weddings, whether indoors or outdoors. David’s Bridal has some great options that are right on trend this spring like this pastel chiffon dress or this printed empire waisted dress.

Bold Bright Colors

Nothing says spring like bold, bright colors. This spring it’s all about the oranges, yellows and pinks. If you’re feeling a bit daring, you can also try color-blocking and pair any of these dresses with another bold color. For example, this pink tulle dress from David’s Bridal would go great with a yellow pump.

Amazing Prom Advice From The British Bardot You NEED To Read!

By Nikki Pennie

Prom is coming up soon for you lovely ladies!  Being British I am sad to say that I was never able to attend prom as we don’t have them back home .

So, I’m putting my own British spin on three prom dresses I absolutely love!  Part of the “London Look” is to mix up an outfit and give it your own edge. Fashion is about having fun and being original!  I found this FAB David’s bridal prom dress and it is under $100 dollars style 21323, in fact it is on sale right now so it is an amazing bargain!  It is gorgeous, fun and flirty.  I also love the color as it would complement every skin tone and hair color. It is young, fresh and modern and a great length if you prefer to wear short and not long.

Strapless Glitter Mesh Dress with Tiered Skirt Style 21323

Another great option is this ivory princess gown, style G145!  It is a bit more expensive but it is such a Cinderella number…Just don’t forget to be home by midnight .

Strapless Heavily Sequin Prom DressStyle G145

Last but not least, I adore this beauty as it is effortless and chic! Style 8420DW4B is a gorgeous blue hue that will make you feel like a million dollars on your big night!

Beaded Chiffon Halter Prom Dress with Empire Waist Style 8420DW4B

The way in which I would style these Promtastic Prom dresses is by giving them a bit of a “Rock n roll” twist, in the mode of my favorite British Bardot; Kate Moss.  I would pair each dress with a cool leather biker jacket.  You can get great options from Topshop, Zara, Forever 21 and some cool and simple nude or black pumps from Shoemint. If you are feeling really adventurous you could even wear some uber cool rocker ankle boots.

I would keep jewelry to a minimum as less is always more when you are wearing a gorgeous dress with a lot of detail.  I would go for an evening clutch that is also quite simple and a block color that compliments the dress.  You could even try a metallic, I am crazy for metallic leather bags in fun colors!