For Fashion’s Night Out we celebrated the true craftsmanship of designer Reem Acra. The showroom was adorned with her most memorable red carpet moments from the past 5 years, showing the growing trend of Red Carpet Gowns translating to White Aisle moments for my Ever After Brides. To keep with our theme of Bridal here at Ever After we also dedicated the evening to bridal beauty and accessories, the finishing touches that every brides needs to complete her look. From the gown to the veil and, of course, the glass slipper, Ever After styles the bridal look from head to toe  which only made it fitting to feature the exquisite works of  Maria Elena Headpieces and Ana Mari Ortega custom jewelry.  It was a fantastic evening of fashion, beauty, and tasty treats!

Your wedding wardrobe is a selection of ensembles that reflect your personal style and also transition you into a completely new chapter of womanhood. It is the perfect time to play with clothes: color palettes, styles, and designers.  I have compiled My Top Tips For Your Wedding Wardrobe:

Define your style! Identify what pieces you relate to. In these days of social media and technology great sites like Polyvore, Lover.ly, and Pinterest allow you to collect looks and narrow down your selections until your board becomes a true road map to your wedding wardrobe.

Be adventurous with your selections. Don’t be afraid to breathe new life into your look by exploring new fits and silhouettes.

Create a detailed list of your wedding events:

1. Engagement Party
2. Bridal Shower
3. Bachelorette Party
4. Welcome Dinner
5. Rehearsal Dinner
6. Post Wedding Brunch

Be sure to include the season, time of day, and feel of each event.

Plan your Honeymoon wardrobe. Surprise your husband with exciting outfits that embrace the spirit of all the fun events you  have planned for the Honeymoon.

Go beyond your wardrobe; complete your looks with new make-up and hairstyles.

Accessorize to pull the entire look together. Create inspiration boards of earrings, bracelets, scarves, and handbags.

Choose shoes that are versatile and easily interchangeable with your looks.

Designate a budget!

Create a shopping schedule to spread out your buys. Identify categories and dedicate shopping excursions for each.

Last but not least, your lingerie for the boudoir on your wedding night and honeymoon AND the basics that complement your figure. Have fun, don’t be shy, and embrace becoming a Mrs.

This summer brought a resurgence of timeless elegance, delicate lace, feminine details, and figure hugging silhouettes. Majestic ball gowns also graced the showroom floor making this a summer to remember. Below were Ever After’s top gowns from this summer:

Vera Wang

Carolina Herrera

Ines Di Santo

Oscar de la Renta

Reem Acra

Rivini

From Paris we saw gorgeous couture gowns float down the runway! Enjoy some of my favorites from the couture shows. Which ones could be transformed to the white dress? Could the world of couture be your gateway to your bridal gown? History shows that the origination of what we know of fashion came from France and the couturier’s of the 1600′s   Let us look to the great artists of today and ask the question does your love affair with true couture still exists?

Armani Prive  Fall 2012 Couture

Armani Prive Fall 2012  Couture

Armani Prive Fall 2012  Couture

Dior Fall 2012  Couture

Dior Fall 2012  Couture

Chanel Fall 2012  Couture

Chanel Fall 2012  Couture

Chanel Fall 2012  Couture

Elie Saab Fall 2012  Couture

Elie Saab Fall 2012  Couture

Elie Saab Fall 2012  Couture

Jean Paul Gaultier Fall 2012  Couture

Jean Paul Gaultier Fall 2012  Couture

Jean Paul Gaultier Fall 2012  Couture

Giambattista Valli Fall 2012  Couture

Giambattista Valli Fall 2012  Couture

Giambattista Valli Fall 2012  Couture

Ulyana Sergeenko Fall 2012  Couture

Ulyana Sergeenko Fall 2012  Couture

Ulyana Sergeenko Fall 2012  Couture

Valentino Fall 2012  Couture

Valentino Fall 2012  Couture

Valentino Fall 2012  Couture

Recently, my daughter’s Girl Scout troop had an Ever After experience of a different kind.  The troop was invited to the boutique to create little white dresses for their American Girl dolls. These Girl Scouts are preparing to receive their first Holy Communion.  This was an opportunity for them to earn their sewing patches while creating some of life’s memorable moments.

We spoke about the white dress and the three times white is worn in the Christian faith: first at Baptism, second at Holy Communion, and third at the Wedding. We also discussed the significance of the color white, what it represents, and how special the dress is for each of us. It was incredible to see that the girls have a true understanding of the tradition of the white dress and the significance of the sacrament they were going to receive. Each seemed very excited to include her doll in this exciting time.

I took them through the process of creating a dress. We began in the showroom where I introduced the couture team to the girls. First we spoke about design and sketching, then we explained fabric and patterns. The girls were thrilled to follow along in their booklets and meet the ladies who would assist them in creating their dolls’ little white dresses.

It was a step by step process that each girl relished. We all sat around the cutting table and laid out the materials. Then, the girls were assigned their personal seamstress and began to snip, sew, and create their dresses. After the dresses were complete they moved onto the details and finishings. Each Girl Scout created her own sash and veil to go with her doll’s dress.

The event was a lot of fun and each Girl Scout came away with a beautiful First Communion dress for her very own American Girl doll. Most importantly, they had an experience they can carry with them forever. One of the girls commented, “I made a dress today from real fabric in a real sewing room like on Project Runway, now that’s cool!”

What I love most about Ever After is the role we play in creating moments of happiness in people’s lives. It was a very special moment for me to be able to host Girl Scout Troop 214 at the boutique.

The relationship between girls and their dolls has a rich and profound history.  Girls live out their dreams and their imagination through their dolls, foreshadowing what one day will become a reality.  Innocence and beauty is at its purest and most gorgeous form when a little girl is playing with her doll.

On a unseasonably warm weekend in the concrete jungles of Manhattan, beautiful white dresses paraded down the runways at leading Fashion Houses, bringing us the stories of art as gowns with endings for a lifetime of Happily Ever Afters.

When one thinks of a Fashion Show, what comes to Mind?

Designers, models, lights, runways, observers, and gorgeous garments perhaps?

The Pre-Show and Post-Show is seldom seen by the outside world and is a time when people gather to say hello and talk shop while photographers capture the images of fashion insiders eagerly awaiting the first look to grace the runway.

Here are some of my favorite moments shared before and after the runway shows during this Bridal Market for Spring 2013:

Mingling before the Carolina Herrera 2013 Bridal Fashion Show with Rachel Johnson, Jenine Howard, and Savannah Brinson

Visiting with Mrs. Herrera, Herve Pierre, and Caroline Brown CEO of Carolina Herrera

On the runway at Reem Acra chatting with Preston Bailey, Sylvia Weinstock, and Marcy Blum

Backstage after the show with Reem Acra and my guest Bride-to-be Savannah Brinson

Before the Ines Di Santo Fashion Show myself and my guests Savannah, Rachel, and Jenine visited with Grace Ormonde from Wedding Style Magazine

Congratulations to Veronica & Ines Di Santo on a Gorgeous Collection!

Mark Ingram, Luvi of Casa de Novias & I awaiting the Vera Wang Spring 2013 Fashion Show

With Erika Ann Arkin VP of Vera Wang and her amazing girls after the show

From The Ever After Experience to Say Yes to the Dress and the Conde Nast Brides Magazine Team we mingled while Tony Giancola greeted us before the debut of Rivni Spring 2013

Post show review at Rivini with my old friend Monte Durham!

Pre-Show at Anna Maier!

Post show at Anna Maier, congratulations Charles Brunstine III

Pre-Show at ODLR with Rachel Johnson

 Post Show at Oscar de la Renta congratulating CEO Alex Bolen, and his team as well as chatting with Darcy Miller from Martha Stewart Magazine. Mark and I share favorites with Shanna Chaityn Global Sales Director at ODLR !

Backstage after the Oscar de la Renta Spring 2013 Fashion Show with my guest Savannah Brinson

That’s a Wrap on Bridal Market Spring 2013 !

Breathtaking Embroideries and Lace at Carolina Herrera

Wardrobe for your Wedding Ensembles at Carolina Herrera

Stunning gowns from Reem Acra from the Red Carpet to the White Carpet Wedding Aisle

Lace, texture, and embroideries at Reem Acra. Her Spring 2013 collection is full of beautiful surprises!

Stunning silhouettes and artistry at Ines Di Santo Spring 2013 Bridal Fashion Show

Exquisite lace gowns at Ines Di Santo Spring 2013

The color red created the essence of love on the runway at Vera Wang

The contrast of black to white is tres chic at Vera Wang Spring 2013

Beauty was alive on the runway at Rivini 2013!

Beading adds a delicate feminine touch at Rivini Spring 2013

Timeless looks at Anna Maier- Ulla Maija Spring 2013

Duchess satin gowns at Anna Maier- Ulla Maija Spring 2013

Exquisitely designed lace gowns on the runway at Oscar de la Renta Spring 2013 Fashion Show

Floral feminine embroideries make for a romantic and timeless look at Oscar de la Renta Spring 2013