Top Five Ways to Repurpose your NYE Dress for Weddings

The asprin’s probably kicked in by now- you should be all recovered from New Year’s Eve and ready to take on 2015! Check out your calendar and look ahead at all the fun that’s coming up- the birthdays, the holidays, the weddings (our favorite, duh!). With all those fun dates in mind, we’ll give you the best ways to turn your NYE dress around and make it work all year long.

Blaze Up Your Outfit

If you have something bright (like a diamond) in a bold color, simply do a long straight cut blazer with a matte texture in a neutral color. Be sure to do contrasting colors though- if your dress is deep maroon or blue, pull a khaki or white blazer. If your dress is eye popping pink, pair it with slate gray or black. A long blazer instantly makes your look chic and slimming- plus you have pockets to stash your phone, keys, and camera to snap shots of the bride.

Hit the Hardware

If your NYE dress doesn’t have a lot of texture, add some to make for an interesting, unique look that will stand out at the reception. We love adding studs to pieces- they’re easy to apply and super cheap (buy a bag on ebay for just a few bucks!). If you want something more romantic, replace belts with soft satin ribbon. Get a little crafty and make your dress even more your own.

Give Em the Booties

If your dress is a little too formal for your friend’s beer garden wedding, pair it with some booties over regular heels to make your NYE dress more low maintenance and informal. It’ll be much easier on you, on your feet, and on the dancefloor. If you want to go super grunge, pair it with combat boots. If you want something flirtier, pick up some velvet booties with bows.

Super Tight

If your NYE dress was a little short (ahem- we’re not judging!), pair it with some deep toned or neutral tights. Tights will keep your legs covered, warm, and looking long and lean under your sparkly and fun NYE dress. For this look, skip the bright and bold colors. You want to save the 80’s throwbacks for the DJ, not your fashion choices.

Make Other Statements

If your NYE dress was a little more on the safe side (LBD anyone?) rather than the sparkly side, this is the time to pack on the sparkles. At weddings, you’re sure to find a ton of women in sort of basic, neutral, or non-sparkly dresses. You don’t want to blend in- you want to stand out so you can tag yourself in group photos! Pack on statement jewelry or a bold statement clutch to liven up a more basic outfit. You should wear clothes that make you comfortable and accessories that make you confident.

 

Top Five Places to Find Your New Year’s Eve Dress

We’re so heartbroken the holidays are all wrapped up! Our ornaments, lights, and trees are all packed up and put away. Our ugly sweaters are folded and tucked away for next year and our gingerbread houses are broken down into tupperware. As sad as it is to say goodbye to the holidays, we’re incredibly excited for New Year’s Eve! We’ve been so excited for the holidays that we almost forgot about New Year’s Eve (almost). If you’re going out for New Year’s Eve and need to put together an outfit, we can help you out with our favorite places to go get dolled up!

Ballin On a Budget

If you need a cute outfit and spent most of your money on your secret santa, we have a few favorite stores to hit up for cheap thrills. If you’re looking for something quick and cheap just for New Year’s Eve, hit up mall stores like Forever 21 or Charlotte Russe. Both stores have lines that are designed for a more mature audience that are flattering without screaming ‘spring break’. These outfits may not last for New Year’s Eves to come, but you’ll look great for the night and it won’t break the bank.

Go Old School

If you have an afternoon to kill today or tomorrow, go thrift store hopping (just be sure to drop it off at the cleaners really quick!). Thrift stores have a TON of fun outfits right now from people donating and cleaning out their houses while on break- it’s the perfect time to find some scores.

Sweat the Small Things

If you’re out near a big city or even a college town, you’re bound to have a small indie shopping district. In LA for example, you can shop tiny boutique shops up and down Melrose and get great outfits that are hard to find. This can be a great idea if you’re going out somewhere with a lot of people- you wouldn’t want to be seen in the same outfit as someone else! Since little fashion areas tend to be smaller designers and boutique shops, just be sure to try everything on. Sometimes pieces won’t fit the same measurements as mass produced pieces.

Second Changes

Are your bridesmaids dresses picked out? Surely you had a back up (or five!) that you were thinking about for your bridal party- why not give them a turn? Hit up the bridal shop and see if you can pick up one of your second choice dresses and dance around in it just for a night. Certain shops will let you borrow a dress for a night- and it can be cheap or free if you’ve already given or promised them enough business! It can be hard to pull off, but it’s not unheard of.

Swap with a Sister

Are you always jealous of your fashionista friend? Call her up and ask to borrow something you’ve been eyeing- just be prepared to trade her those shoes she’s been dying to borrow. You can play the bride card, say you’ve been too busy shopping for her Christmas present, or just that you needed an excuse to borrow it. Good girlfriends share everything- so be ready to offer up a temporary trade. And here’s a hint from us to you- get her some coffee or macaroons she’ll probably be more likely to trust you with her vintage pieces.

 

Top Five Trendy Fall Wedding Pieces

Fall fashion is always exciting- just check out any fashion magazine right now! This fall we’re seeing this beautiful blend of deep darker colors that we usually use mixed in with peachy neutrals and light colors to contrast. This Fall is sure to be a special one in the world of fashion, and we could not be more excited!

Long Sleeve Skaters

Skater dresses were super cute for Spring, held strong over the Summer, and have had the best update for Fall! Scoopneck longsleeve skater dresses are starting to hit the shelves and are perfect for more casual weddings. Dress it up with fancy jewelry to create a really dynamic contrast. You’ll look super on trend, stay warm, and be cute and comfortable out on the dancefloor!

Loose Lengthy Cardigans

If you’re heading somewhere not too sunny for the big day, grab a structured but loose cardigan to go over your dress. This especially works if you’re doing a dress that’s a little more tight or short. Pair the cardigan to contrast your dress so you don’t look too matchy-matchy. Aim for fitted sleeves so it doesn’t look too untailored. If it gets too warm, use it to mark where your chair and bag is while you’re dancing.

Large Clutches

Red carpets have been showing us a trend of large, envelope style clutches to pair with your outfit. This fall, grab a large one that you can fit your wallet, phone, keys, and back up beauty supplies in. Pick up this piece in a neutral color to pair with wedding outfits all season long!

Delicate Chains

This season we’re seeing a lot of this beautiful contrast of delicate and girly with rough and tough. Play this trend up with doing a delicate chain necklace. A light jewelry piece is girly and dainty, but the chain is edgy. Delicate pendants like arrows, anchors, or even a small gem create a beautiful look that is easy to pair with most wedding outfits. Bonus points if you can find a vintage piece as your something old!

Bad Girl Booties

If you’re intimidated by spending a day in stilettos, opt for some bad girl booties. This season we’ve been seeing lots of black, buckled booties paired with sweetheart dresses and girl outfits. Pick something you can really move in and can reuse for other outfits. Pick something that is pretty as a standalone (i.e., try it on with a skirt before you try it on with jeans) so you know they’ll still be dressy enough for a wedding.

 

Top Five Alternatives to the All White Wedding Dress

Happy Day-After-Labor Day! Did you have an awesome three day weekend? We sure did here at BHL. You may have heard of the old fashion rule to “not wear white after Labor Day”, haven’t you? It may seem a little silly, but it got us thinking about wearing white. Most brides wear white dresses to their weddings, but if that’s really not your style that’s totally fine! It’s your wedding, you shouldn’t have to wear anything you’re not 100% comfortable in. If you’re leaning against the white dress and Labor Day has nothing to do with it, don’t sweat it. We have our top five alternatives to the classic white dress right here!

Be the Bold Bride

Go forth and make a statement! You didn’t land your fiance by being boring, right? Look for a dress in a strong color, but keep it a classic color so you’ll look timeless. Aim for red, navy, or black, but keep the cut and fit formal. Look for long and elegant gowns. If you want to really stand out, put your bridesmaids in nude tones or earthy muted tones.

Lacy Lady

If you want to have a romantic dress but put a little white in there anyway, look for pieces that have white lace overlays. You could also find a dress that you love and go to a seamstress to have lace put over it. This creates the look of a romantic white bridal gown, but you get the added color palette to play with!

Down to Earth

If you like a classic tone but just aren’t into white, find a soft earthy tone that suits your skin and work with that. Keep your bridesmaids in a similar tone that is a little softer so your color looks that much more vibrant near them, while still being somewhat neutral. This is probably one of the easier ways to get away with not wearing white and still looking like a classic bride.

Pack a Punch

If you’re outgoing and fun, go for something LOUD. Wear a bold and bright color that looks great on you like a punchy pink or a fun fuchsia. Wear green if you want to- it’s your wedding! But break up that bold color with some white, like a white underlay or a white waist tie. Incorporate some elements of white into the dress as an homage to the classic all white wedding dress. It’s a cute twist on the white dress that’s fun and playful.

Crisp and Chic

Wear whatever dress makes you feel most beautiful and top it off with a crisp white blazer. Your dress can be whatever color or print you want- anything looks polished and put together with a white blazer over it! This may especially work for you if you’re planning on an outdoor wedding this fall or winter. Plus, if you invest in a beautiful fitted white blazer you’ll just have this amazing classic piece in your wardrobe!

 

Top Five Tips for Saving on Your Wedding Dress

The dress you get married in is the most important dress you’ll ever buy. It’s worth taking the time to find! Unfortunately, it can also be quite costly. We understand that more people are on a budget now, so we’ve got some tips that’ll help you save on your dress.

Raid Closets

This one’s sure to make you feel nostalgic- go to your mom, grandma, or anyone else who’s been married in your family and still has their dress. There are some cultures that pass down wedding dresses from mother to daughter, why not give it a shot? If you’re able to recycle a family dress, the only expense you can expect is a good dry clean and some slight alterations. It’s a great way to save money, get some extra use out of another dress, and to honor the women in your life.

Go Big

You may already go shopping at H&M and Target- why not check out their wedding collection? More and more big brands like H&M and Target are releasing wedding lines for the more financially savvy bride, and they’re not bad! Frugal fashion is one great thing to come of the recent recession, why not take advantage? If an H&M or Target wedding dress doesn’t feel special enough, take it in to get some alterations to be more fitted or add some lace or beading for a special touch.

Try New-To-You

Go cruising at consignment stores for wedding dresses, just be sure to check them for stains first! Most people will only wear their wedding dress once, why not give it a new life? Don’t believe the hype or superstition that you can’t wear someone else’s wedding dress. If you wear it to your wedding, that makes it your wedding dress! Its’ history doesn’t matter as long as it looks good on you. If you can find the right dress and the right price, you can’t get hung up on where it originally came from. Just be sure to dry clean it no matter what, and seriously go over every inch of it for any tears, stains, or frays.

Go Short Term

Wedding dress rental businesses have been booming- why not try it out? There are tons of websites to check out in addition to actual brick and mortar stores. If the groomsmen are going to rent their tuxes just for the day, why not rent your dress? If you feel like you’re not going to wear it again after your wedding (and let’s face it- are you realistically going to wear your wedding dress again?), consider renting. Simply search ‘wedding dress rental’ and your zip code and presto! Wedding dresses by the day near you.

Try a “Non-Wedding” Wedding Dress

Are you married to the idea of the white dress? What matters most is that you feel as beautiful as possible. If that’s not in a white dress, don’t feel pressured into it! If you want to do something closer to a cocktail dress, check out the cocktail dresses! Not everyone feels comfortable in formal wear, and if that’s you it’s ok! Instead of shopping for the wedding shop for the bride (you!). Wedding dresses tend to be marked up, so if you find a dress that you love and isn’t a ‘traditional’ wedding dress, you may be able to save some money.

 

Top Five Tips for Picking Out a Wedding Dress

You said yes to the proposal, are you ready to say ‘yes’ to a dress? The wedding dress is the most important piece of clothing a woman can wear, so you need to go in prepared. Are you ready to go shopping for the best dress of your life? You will be with these five tips.

Start Lean

It may be tempting to not eat the morning of, but you’ll need to be sharp and have lots of energy! Getting in and out of dresses all day can take much more energy than you realize. We all get that same not-fun stress right before we have to try on lots of clothes, it’s totally normal. Try some greek yogurt with fruit in the morning to get energy that won’t weigh you down or make you feel sluggish. If you’re going for extra points, grab fruits like blueberries that help sharpen your brain power and help you focus.

Know your Body

Think about your favorite dresses that you own and what you like about them. Maybe you love flowy loose pieces that make you feel romantic and light. Maybe you love your legs and like to show them off. Figure out what you love about your body and what you love to wear, and go with that! Tell the store associates what you like to wear, and be firm about it.

Have a Vision

If you have an idea based on what kind of dresses you love, go for it! You may not find the perfect dream dress immediately, so hold out and be sure you find something that you love. Don’t settle and don’t give in and just buy the first dress that fits. When you’re tired and getting zipped into what feels like the hundredth dress and it’s not even 2PM, don’t give in! Narrow your search down to dresses that have the specific elements you’re looking for. Don’t just try on a dress to try it on- that’s a surefire way to get burnt out quickly.

Bring a Buddy

Your mom, your mother-in-law-to-be, your maid of honor, your bridesmaids, whomever (as long as it’s not the groom!) can go. Try to keep it to three or under so the store doesn’t get too crowded, but you really can’t buy a wedding dress alone. You’ll need someone to help you in and out of outfits, to give feedback, and to help keep you focused.

Take Pictures

Document the day! It’ll be great to look back on, plus you get the benefit of knowing how each dress you try on looks in photos. Sometimes a dress can feel great on, but looks like a dryer sheet in a photo. You absolutely don’t want that. Ever. Plus, if you don’t go home with your dream dress immediately, you can go through what you did try on to see what kinds of dresses and cuts you liked.

Top Three Winter Bridal Gown Trends

Bridal trends fluctuate over the years, but there are still certain styles that are classic to certain times of the year. Winter weddings are especially very classic and magical, as a lot of them can take place in a snowy winter wonderland. Even if you aren’t getting married in a place that snows, you can always visualize a winter wedding with cold, snowflakes, and shimmery things of the sort. Of course any wedding dress style can be worn at any time during the year, but the following three styles are the perfect dresses for the winter time.

1. BEADS: Beads, bling, glitter and sparkle. Anything with a heavily beaded belt or bodice is a perfect complement to a plain ball gown, which is the ideal snow queen look. Beading will also reflect nicely off of the sun and will glisten along with the snow if you are taking pictures in a snowy location. A plain ball gown is big and fluffy, and fits well for a wintery setting. The important thing is to keep the ball gown plain, and choose one made of either tulle or satin to keep a soft look. Adding a bit of bling will make the plain dress glisten, and will make the dress the perfect prop for the naturally gorgeous backdrop.

2. LACE: Lace is timeless and always a crowd pleaser, but for the winter time, Chantilly lace is the best way to go. It is very soft, yet exquisite in its design compared to other types of lace. Its’ soft appearance reflects the delicateness of snowfall and is just mesmerizing. Because Chantilly lace is so soft, it falls nicely on the body, and lies gently on the train behind for the audience to see. Also, a Chantilly lace dress with hints of bling will add a nice shimmery touch.

3. ROSETTES: Organza is a soft and fabric that flows nicely and that works well on a classic fitted dress. The perfect fit and flare gown for the winter time though, will have medium sized organza rosettes on the skirt. These rosettes will give the dress a light and airy feel that will liven up any chilly wintery wedding day. They give the dress life and pizazz while still being soft and gentle and elegant. Truly, the key to any wintery trend is to keep the dress looking soft.

Five Tips on Who to Bring to the Bridal Appointment

Selecting your bridal gown is one of the key elements in your whole wedding. In fact, most decorations and themes are centered around the wedding gown itself! So it is important to choose the right one. This decision is so important, that people often want to bring their whole family to help them select one. But with these five tips, you’ll be better equipped to choose the select few to witness your gown selection process.

1. Yourself: This tip of bringing yourself may sound redundant, but it has a point. Remember that your gown choice is ultimately your own and not everyone else’s. Even though you would like to please everyone, it will be impossible to do so. With that being said, bring pictures of gowns you like to the appointment to ensure that you get to try on what you want to try on. Bring an open mind, and resolve in yourself to stand your ground if you end up finding a gown that doesn’t meet everyone’s approval. Bring yourself, your opinion, your likes, and your voice. Remember that you are the most important one on this special day, so don’t let anyone deter you from your vision.

2. Mom: For most girls, it is important for them to bring their mothers along when they try on dresses. It is a very special bonding moment, and you want to be able to share that with her. If you are unable to bring your mom, then bring the closest person to her; the motherly figure that you have in your life. She will greatly appreciate you wanting her to be a part of the occasion, and it will strengthen your relationship.

3. The Buyer: Often times, a good family friend, great aunt, or someone else will offer to purchase the dress for you or to contribute to the overall cost. It is courteous to invite the person who is going to pay for your gown along to your bridal appointment. It will help them to feel a part of the process, and feel more confident in contributing financially.

4. Friend: Shopping in general is always a lot of fun with your girlfriends, and trying on wedding dresses should be the most fun of all. Bring your best friend to the appointment, as she will be honest with you while still having your best interests at heart. Often times your best friend is your maid of honor, so you are still incorporating someone from the bridal party.

5. Limits: Trying on dresses is one of the things that most girls look forward to, and they want to make sure that they enjoy that experience. The bridal appointment can be really fun, as a long as you set limits. Do not feel obligated to invite your whole bridal party, or all of your cousins. Trying on dresses should be an intimate occasion with you and the few people that matter most. Less people will allow for less overwhelming opinions, and the focus will be on you and not on pleasing everyone. You want to walk down the aisle and surprise everyone in attendance, so don’t give too many people the full sneak peek.

Top Three Tips for Shopping for a Bridesmaid Dress

After you’ve bought your bridal gown, the very next step is to look for the bridesmaid dresses to complete your bridal party look. Following these three tips will help make your shopping experience easier for you and all of your bridesmaids.

1. STYLE: When you go into a bridal boutique, ask what the popular dress styles are. Consultants can help you find a dress that flatters a range of body types since bridesmaids always vary in sizes. Chiffon is usually the ideal fabric for a bridesmaid dress, as it flows nicely and gives a soft look. You also want the dress to compliment your gown in minute details. If you have a strapless sweetheart top, then match their dresses with the same neckline. If your gown has lace on it, then pick their dresses with a sheer lace top, or one that has subtle lace appliqués. These little details and tie-ins will make the look flow smoothly together.

2. COLOR: Color options for dresses were originally limited to the bridesmaids. Nowadays, brides too can wear different color gowns such as white, ivory, blush, light gold, alabaster, and so on. With that being said, the color choices for bridesmaids can be difficult. Wait to pick your colors after you’ve bought your dress, so that you can match them accordingly. Also keep in mind that every manufacturer has their own names and shades for their colors. When looking at dresses, ask your consultant for the appropriate color swatches, and ask if they apply to all of the sample dresses. Certain manufacturers only make a few dresses in a certain color or fabric, so it is good to be aware. They will usually change the fabric for an additional fee, so be sure to ask your consultant what your options are so that there aren’t any surprises at checkout.

3. TIME: Believe it or not, bridesmaids dresses may take as long to come in (and sometimes longer) than your wedding dress. Most manufacturers take three to four months to get dresses sent out, but they will also accommodate quick weddings for additional rush fees. It is important to start looking at bridesmaid dresses right after you buy your gown to insure everything will come in on time. You want to avoid rush fees if possible, and you want to allow ample time for your girls to receive alterations if needed. Keep in mind too that most bridal salons won’t place your order until all of your bridesmaids have paid and gotten measured. Be sure that all of your girls are aware of the stores policies to avoid fees or additional stressors.

Five Tips for a Successful Bridal Shopping Experience

Searching for your dream dress should be one of the most enjoyable times of your whole wedding experience. Sometimes though, the experience may seem to be a little overwhelming. These five tips will help to alleviate any stress you may encounter, and make the event more memorable and pleasurable for you and everyone else involved.

1. Research: It is always beneficial to do some research prior to going to your bridal appointment. Search on different designer websites or Pinterest in order to familiarize yourself with the different styles that are available. Then, narrow down your style choices to a select few and bring supporting pictures to your appointment. This gives your consultant a better idea as to what style you are looking for, and will enable them to suggest similar styles for you.

2. Time: Be sure to give yourself enough time to look for a wedding gown; and by time, I mean months! There are a few manufacturers that can accommodate quick weddings, but most designers need at least 3-6 months. If you do any custom or length changes, you can expect your gown to take even longer. You will also need to plan ahead for having alterations and steaming done on your gown – all which take a few weeks or more depending on the store. You want to be sure to get a dress that you love, so give yourself enough time to find the perfect dress for you.

3. Company: The more people you bring to an appointment, the more opinions you will have to deal with. As a consultant, I suggest that you bring 2-3 people at the most with you. Dress shopping is an exciting experience, but it can take a detour when you try to include everyone and have their approval. It isn’t possible to please every single person, so do not try to do so. It is best to surprise everyone on the day of your wedding. When you are walking down that aisle, people won’t be wondering what your other dress options were. Instead, they will be focused on you and how happy you look. They will see how your dress compliments you, your personality, and your theme. I’ve noticed that most brides are able to express their likes and dislikes better when they bring a few people to their appointment.

4. Shopping: Visiting a few different stores allows brides to see what types of gowns are available to them. With that being said, you want to stay balanced and not try to go to every store possible. Going to numerous dress stores in a short period of time will make you feel overwhelmed and confused. Designers are constantly coming out with new gowns and designs, so you could essentially look for a dress forever. Visit a few different stores to formulate what it is that you like and then narrow those choices down. It would be best to space out your appointments instead of visiting three different shops in one day. Doing so can overwhelm you as a bride and prevent you from wanting to make a decision.

5. Open-Minded: Even though I recommend doing some personal research, I highly recommend that you keep an open-mind at your appointment. I have found that the majority of brides leave our store with a gown that was the complete opposite of what they had originally envisioned. Bridal consultants know the dresses in their store and know what looks good on certain body types. Just be open to suggestions and be willing to try something on that you normally would not have picked yourself. If your consultant suggests a gown, at least try it on. You may be surprised! It is always a fun experience when the consultant ends up choosing the bride’s gown. You are still entitled to your opinion though, so it is fine if you do not like their pick. Your experience will flow a lot better as long as you are open to suggestions. Consultants love their job, and they want to ensure that you look your absolute best on the most important day of your life!