RETRO CHIC

Gowns by Amy-Jo Tatum
Photos by ejones photography

Incorporating touches of vintage into your look? You probably have that love of ‘things past’. I adore designing gowns that are retro-inspired and the look just happens to be hot right now: Think 1920’s chemises, Jean Harlow body hugging silhouettes in white satin, 50s halter tops with full skirts . . . Go for it!

This lace chiffon evokes 1930s chic. Chantilly lace and silk chiffon pair up in this evening gown silhouette with a sweep train and Chantilly lace wrap.

Marilyn . . . .My 1950s ‘Going Away’ bride is headed for a drive up the coast to that country inn in her crepe halter dress and silk chiffon scarf. A casual and elegant look.

Does the idea of a teatime wedding intrigue you? Go Gatsby in this hand beaded Chantilly lace chemise with layers of silk chiffon handkerchief skirts. Perfect for the outdoor garden wedding and reception.

This empire waist echoes early 19th century design. Silk dupion with a gauze sash and hand rolled floral has both a past as well as contemporary feeling to it.

All photos by Erika Jones of ejones photography, All Rights Reserved

KID CHIC

Bartone Photography--All Rights Reserved

In light of today's subject, I couldn't resist posting this awesome photo by Laurence Bartone http://bartonephotography.com. Why am I seeing more kids in my design studio these days? In the tradition of European weddings, clients are starting to coordinate bridal parties made up primarily of kids. My own wedding was a good case in point. We had one adult attendant (maid of honor) and six kids swathed in tulle and floral wreaths ranging in age from twelve to two.
To read more on kid chic, go to http://www.pashweddings.com/content/articles/112/1/Kid-Couture-Dressing-Your-Little-Attendants/Page1.html

WHAT'S NEW IN THE GOWN GALLERY?

Rosalee is an updated version of a gown we had in the collection a couple seasons back called 'Rosemary'. Revised, Rosalee is trimmed in gray satin ribbon on both the top and skirt. This design is actually two pieces: a silk shantung strapless A-line underneath a tulle detachable overskirt. The skirt is dappled with small silk rosettes and has a sweep train. Inspiration for this gown came from the photo below of who else but chic Audrey Hepburn starring in Sabrina.

REAL WEDDINGS

photography by Amy Perl/All Rights Reserved

Congratulations Marite and Chris!

May 17, 2008
Olema, California

This is the space where I get to show and tell you all about my client's big day and a few of the wedding professionals we work with. The best thing I can say about working with Marite: she didn't stress out and has a positive attitude that's contagious. Marite and Chris knew from the start they wanted their wedding at The Olema Inn and restaurant below. It is a West Marin landmark, a few miles from The Point Reyes National Seashore and Stinson Beach, ideal for those smaller, more intimate gatherings.

Periwinkles, lavender, green and orange were colors Marite and Chris worked into their day through florals, the food everyone ate and accents in their clothing. Looking at these magnificent arrangements from Verde Flowers, I think of nature enhanced.

Orange tulips and mixed foilage.

Sweet peas, Lillies of the Valley and Hyacinth make a beautiful bouquet.

A vanilla confection by Fat Angel Bakery, tastes as delicious as it looks. Inside: strawberries and whipped cream.

Here's one shot of Marite's gown, a body-hugging silk crepe, lined in habotai. The hand-rolled florals on her side drape and in her hair were handmade out of the same fabric as her gown. Here she's modeling an embossed chiffon stole. She's truly gorgeous here, her joy so apparent.

Kid chic!

Ain't she sweet? Daughter Natalia's dress is a cotton/silk blend. The lavender underskirt and sash are made of linen. She is carrying a handmade basket by Cindy Brooks of Brass Paper Clip.

Kudos to Amy Perl who showed such sensitivity photographing Marite, Chris and Natalia in their most intimate moments here.

I'll be quiet now; brilliant photography needs no words . . .

And we couldn't have done it all without . . . .

Photography: Amy Perl Photography www.amyperl.com/

Gown and Dresses: Amy-Jo Tatum Bridal Couture www.amyjotatum.com/

Site and Catering: The Olema Inn http://www.theolemainn.com/

Flowers: Verde Flowers http://www.verde-flowers.com/

Cake: The Fat Angel Bakery http://www.fatangelbakery.com/

Hair: Gayle Parker http://www.realbizz.com/

Baskets: The Brass Paper Clip brasspaperclip@aol.com

SHOPPING 101: Exploring Salons

Many emails this month from brides asking when they should start the custom design process. My answer is always, as soon as you know you're engaged. So what's the first thing the typical bride does when the engagement is set? She heads out for the salons with hopes of finding the right dress. First off salons vary. Some feature apparel solely for brides . . .read this article . . . http://amyjotatum.googlepages.com/bridechicblog

SEX AND THE CITY: All About the Chic

Twenty years back if you even proposed getting married in this gown it would have been considered indecent. Times have changed. Carrie Bradshaw may be fictional but we've gone through too much with her--men, career, relationships--not to deem her real in her own way to each of us. For me she's what 2008 bridal fashion is all about: brides who are willing to take a chance with their look, (her ready-for-take-off headpiece is a good case in point). What would have once been considered too theatrical or gauche for a proper wedding is not only becoming fashion norm, it's changing the bridal scene entirely.

Here's Carrie's Ivory silk taffeta confection again. It's actually one of the finale pieces from Vivienne Westwood's 2007 "Wake Up Cave Girl" Collection. Hand picked by Sex in the City stylist, Patricia Field, personally, I was surprised Sara Jessica didn't rate a custom designed gown for her role in the film. I mean heck! Didn't Audrey Hepburn have a one-of-a-kind-designed-to-fit-her-character Givenchy tulle wedding dress in Funny Face?

This flick is more eye candy for fashionistas, especially those in love with bridal design. And Westwood's uber-pouf isn't the only Big White Dress you get to see. Carrie gets to model for a big bridal spread in Vogue all decked out in Wang, Lacroix and Dior to name a few.

Admit it, the Westwood gown is brilliant in its own bizarre way; you can never go wrong with taffeta, speaking of which, twenty years down the road, might we look at Westwood's creation with the same amusement we do The Diana Dress today? Already the chat rooms and leave- your-comment sections on news sites are overloaded with mixed reactions--from the raves and praises to some hard core trolling over this dress.

I'm not going to say much more about the film. Giving the story away, even subliminally is bad form. I will say some of the fashion montage sequences remind me of fashion shoot and runway shows in past chick movies like, Funny Face, and, going even further back, Cover Girl and Vogues of 1938, Deco extravaganzas where plot was incidental, a showcase really for some wowzer Adrian and Sharaff gowns.

For Sex in the City fans used to following Carrie and her girlfriends lives in half-hour bites, unlike the series, the movie does have some static moments. Overall for a rom-com its a pretty good flick; for measuring out now chic, magnificent. And, yes, its all about the chic . . . . .

Amy-Jo Tatum

Bride Chic

HAIR BLING

Following up on yesterday's veil subject here's another angle of head chic to consider. I've always been a fan of unique hair jewelry and ornaments for brides. When I found The Flirty Bride I just had to share this designer's rare pieces below.

All these pieces crafted by Stacie Tamaki would look awesome with just about any silhouette: sheath, A-line or ball gown. But this is only a sampling. Go to Stacie's website for more treats http://www.stacietamaki.com/