Thoughts on BHLDN

Nuptials of Yesteryear inspiration slideshow from BHLDN.com

The Anthro-centric Blogosphere is buzzing with anticipation over BHLDN, the new wedding themed online retailer. And because I recently planned my own nuptials, I count myself among those impatiently awaiting the website launch, timed strategically with Valentine's Day. Like Roxy of Effortless Anthropologie said, this development seems to be an intelligent and logical extension of the Anthropologie wing of Urban Outfitters Corporate. Even if it is clearly separate from Anthro, the saccharine sweet, intrinsically quirky influence is omnipresent. Anyone vaguely familiar with the DIY-influenced, "indie-bride" wing of the wedding industrial complex (as championed through Style My Pretty, Once Wed, Project Wedding, Real Simple Weddings, Martha Stewart Weddings, etc.) can see how close a fit that trend is with Anthropologie's lifestyle branded aesthetics. And with competitor J. Crew in the wedding game for some time now, it isn't surprising that Anthropologie/UO would hope to score a piece of the profit action. After all, anything with the word "wedding" in front of it comes with a major up-charge.
 

bhldn.com

Although BHLDN was not on the menu of options for my own wedding planning, I was excited to see the dresses, accessories, and decor photographs released this week. Kim of Anthroholic had a three part series on her blog during which she documented extensively the exclusive preview (to which a select group of bloggers were invited). Since Kim is planning her own wedding and is by her own admission the Anthroholic, the launch seems to be very serendipitous for her! I definitely will be among the people scrolling through the pages of BHLDN today for its Valentine's Day launch. I am also excited to keep tabs on what Kim ends up choosing for her wedding, BHLDN or not.

Nuptials of Yesterday family photo I featured at my reception

I am sure even the most dedicated anthro-philes will not (pun intended) feel beholden to buy from this new site. Competition and choices are GOOD things for consumers. But the price points for the undeniably lovely dresses are pretty high for your average "indiebride" (spanning $1000-4000). Though that puts them in square competition with J. Crew's wedding line, there are also tons of dress options from bridal and formal gown boutiques and vintage dealers available for that or less. I really like the vintage-inspired aesthetics of BHLDN but from what I've seen so far, I could not have personally afforded my favorites on the budget I set.  I am intrigued by the guest/occasion dress offerings, accessories, and the beautiful shoes which seem to be available for lower prices (though they're priced higher than the fascinator that I modified from Etsy and my wedding Louboutins).

Nuptials of Yesterday family photo I featured at my reception

This is not to rain of the parade of BHLDN but to merely contextualize it. I encourage brides-to-be to enjoy having one more item on the menu, without feeling confined to or by it. And that is for as many sentimental reasons as practical. One of my fondest planning memories was dress shopping with my mother and sister. Being helped in and out of the dresses by the expert staff at Anne Gregory for the Bride was such a wonderful experience. For me it was also important to go to a local business. I liked having the staff's input, in addition to the people who I brought with me that day. I rarely shy away from shopping online, but buying a wedding dress online is difficult even with free return shipping. Trying on a shipped dress at home without the benefits of a well lit showroom and full length mirrors makes the decision harder. Wedding dresses are the sort of purchase where you want the option to evaluate all angles.

Nuptials of Yesterday family photo I featured at my reception

The highly curated collection from BHLDN likely will be a wonderful addition to the wedding and formal dress shopping industry. And BHLDN has assured potential shoppers that their stock is both exclusive and low volume. That is a great thing for indie/diy brides. But even with that claim, there will be a lot of people viewing the website just for the eye candy. I know I will be!

Favorite Buys of 2010

Plenty of my favorite blogs have done year in (usually outfits) posts. To name a few:

Roxy of Effortless Anthropologie
Rosa from Love at First Shop
Anjali from Golden Means
Marianne and Adrien of Looks Good From the Back
La Historiadora de Moda of Fashionable Academics
Carol and Kathryn of In Pursuit of Pretty Things

And because my own blog began primarily as a place to reflect and analyze my habits of consumption, here I will overview my top ten (mostly sartorial) purchases of the year. A favorite outfit recap will follow.

10. My stockpile of Havaianas bought in Brazil. I choose these recent buys because in addition to wearing them everywhere, they made great Brazilian themed gifts to give to loved ones. I learned quickly why they're inescapable because they are by far the most comfortable of their genre.

9. Two Paths Trenchcoat by Idra (from Anthropologie). When I was sorting through outfits, I noticed this trench carried me through Spring, Summer, and Fall. Now that tiered jackets are everywhere, I am sure it will look very obviously dated from 2010 in a few years. But I'm going to wear it and enjoy it while I can!

8. My Vintage Coach Satchel. I bought this little bag off ebay in March of 2010 and I've carried it constantly since. Any time I want a no nonsense, small sling bag I reach for this. It is so practical but also so cute and it cost very little.

7. Similarly to above, my two map printed satchels from Alviero Martini (also bought from ebay). They're smaller in size than I normally carry which makes them great on the go bags. I throw in my wallet, keys, phone, and lipgloss and I'm ready. They get tons of compliments despite being so 90s (or perhaps because of it!). And they match everything and nothing simultaneously.

5. My Burberry Trench. It is a shorter length but still so classic and unlike anything else I own. As much as I love the Two-Paths trench, I know this Burberry won't look dated in a few years. I will be able to wear this decades from now.

4. This is sort of cheating cause it was a gift but one I picked out and received from my parents. My Dyson vacuum. It is seriously a quality of life changer if you have hardwood and throw rugs (and need to transition quickly and easily between them). It is a quality of life changer if you have an adorable shedding dog. It is a quality of life changer if you are a little ocd about stuff. It is worth the money which is easier to say when it was a gift. haha But I adore it and had to put it in the top five. Even if it isn't sartorial, it outfits my home so beautifully that it gets a mention.

3. Ferragamo Varina flats and Valentino rehearsal dinner dress. Tied because of similar fanciness.

2. Chloé and See by Chloé everything. This year I noticed a shift. Not only did I buy more Anthropologie, but I replaced my brand obsession. My ebay searching and sale stalking used to be colonized by Marc Jacobs. Though I still love the pieces I have, I definitely coveted more Chloé than ever this year. I specifically expanded my selection of shoes and dresses.

 

1. My wedding dress. I must be honest. I truly dreaded shopping for wedding attire to the extent that I postponed it for as long as possible. I presumed the genre to be confining and largely uniform. It isn't that I don't find all brides to be beautiful, but I feared deeply the way that a wedding dress could erase or supplant my own personal style. I wanted to still be me and not merely "bride." Some of the shops I visited confirmed my anxieties by imposing the tyranny of the majority on me and ignoring my plea for sleeves. But then I visited Anne Gregory for the Bride and found a dress that was as me as I could have fathomed. And by the end of the night, I was so sad to take it off, knowing I'd likely never wear it again.

All in all, 2010 has been a very good year for my closet. In 2011 I resolve to sort through what I have and donate/sell those lesser worn items. Focus on pieces that transcend trends and seasons. And as always, fight the lure of sale goggles, try to buy less, etc. Happy New Year!

A few more wedding shots (taken by family)

I'm too tired to do a lot of recapping right now. But it was really wonderful. And although these aren't the official photos, they exude a different type of happiness and love because they were taken by loved ones.

I do want to give props to a few vendors. Anne Gregory for the Bride (who were so nice to me despite my low budget and sale dress purchase), Smart Form Pittsburgh (who were total pros and really kind), the Renaissance Hotel (who saw my white garment bag and immediately upgraded me from a priceline.com lowball bid special to a corner suite with huge windows, overlooking the Allegheny river... they also gave us a huge bottle of Cava and chocolate truffles for our wedding night), Erin of Erin's Fine Foods, my friend who made our cake (who is not a professional but executed a beautiful, delicious, professional caliber cake), The Great Hall and their DJs/Event Coordinator, and all the cookie makers who's delicious contributions were the hit of the party!

Unfortunately, few people could hear our friend Zack during the ceremony so I can't give props to the beautiful but pricey Heinz Chapel because they didn't really manage the problem in the manner that I would have wanted. We had a self uniting ceremony so there were no religious figures or seasoned officiants involved. But still, Zack is a professor and speaks for a living. And we just think there was an equipment malfunction though Heinz Chapel will not take any blame beyond speculating the possibility of an error. That is pretty disappointing.

Not everything was perfect but I didn't expect it to be. It was a great time and a great day and I still well up with tears when I think too much about everything.

I cried most during the dance with my dad (who was singing the song, "Turn Around Look at Me" by the Vogues, and has a great voice so how couldn't I cry?) and when I was making my statement to Chris before our vows. But I managed to keep it together most of the night. So yay!

Store review of Anne Gregory for the Bride: Updated with photo and comments

In April 2010, with the help of my sister's input and my parents' intense generosity, I bought my wedding dress. Below was my initial review of the experience with an update and included dress photograph.

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Last weekend, I became a consumer and patron of here:

Although I will not share what I selected, I am relieved to have completed this particular shopping task. I attempted to pay for the purchase myself, but my parents were insistent/persistent. I felt epically spoiled, to the point where I actually cried a little bit from excitement, guilt, and overwhelm. Who knew that I would succumb so swiftly to cliché?! But I hadn't thought it possible to be thrilled by something I will wear just once... 

The workers at Anne Gregory in Mt Lebanon, PA were helpful and understanding of both my budget and my aesthetics. I was assisted by one of the owners, Mary Anne who was particularly kind and professional. I knew that this store was among the fanciest in the greater Pittsburgh area so my hopes were both high and low. I knew their selection would be incredible. I also believed they would be far too expensive.

They are in the process of relocating to a larger space in Dormont but before doing so they're clearing out past-season stock. I benefited from this clearing, directly. The retail on my dress exceeded the down-payment for our house but it was marked down to a fraction of that original price. If you are in need of evening or wedding attire, I would recommend visiting the store and being honest/unashamed about your budgetary limitations. Although it is likely that we would have received a different level of service if our last name was "Rockefeller" and we had stated no price ceiling, the quality of their selection is unrivaled. Eventually the garments that linger must be marked down and moved to make room for new stock so sales do happen and values are to be found.
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UPDATE on the new space: It is GORGEOUS! Amazing lighting, big windows, and pretty mirrors. I liked the old space but this new one is magnificent. (Now that the wedding day has come and gone, I can even post a photo to show you how nice the lighting is!).
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Edited to add: Here is a photo from Heinz Chapel (where we wedded at 4:30pm, 10-9-10) on the big day!

My dress was a concoction of beading, lace, tiers, and chiffon. It couldn't have been further from what I *thought* I wanted but when I saw it hanging in the store, I knew. It was a weird palpable feeling that I didn't believe to exist. I thought it was the stuff of fictive wedding industrial complex media. The designer's name is Stephen Yearick who I had never heard of prior to that day.

I was so pleased with the Anne Gregory team and my alterations were done with extensive skill and care. I cannot recommend this place highly enough! You can see my dress in action here, here (scroll to the bottom), and here (wherein you can see alterations in progress as they looked in the new naturally lit, beautiful Anne Gregory space in Dormont). I also highly recommend Smartform Pittsburgh for bridal undergarments! They fit and alter specifically to you. Their prices are reasonable, their alterations are swift and inexpensive, and they are exceedingly professional. My shoes were by Christian Louboutin.

My stylish hair stylist friend Erin did my hair. And the fine folks at MCN salon did my make up.

Thanks for reading and if you are a Pittsburgher who found my blog via google, I wish you the best of luck in finding your dress!

Modern Love: Gets Me to the Church on Time

Can't stop singing David Bowie in my head... no matter how cognitively dissonant the lyrics... Anyway by the time this is posted, I will be at the church. Figured I would share one of my fitting photos from before the beadwork was finished. Thanks for reading!

Recent Outfit Post: Curled Zinnias and Precious Metals

I was so excited when the Precious Metals cardigan went on a quick sale. The big bow was so fun but the price tag was too high at retail. I wore the above to my most recent dress fitting for the wedding. Precious Metals cardigan from Anthropologie; Leifsdottir dress via Gilt; Chie Mihara Lumi flats; Spanx tights; and my Larrimor's Burberry score.

My future mother-in-law came with me and got to see the dress in person for the first time. I was excited to show her the beautiful space and selection at Anne Gregory. And I was thrilled that she loved my dress as much as I do! Afterwards, we had cocktails at Mitchell's in the Galleria and stopped by Anthropologie. It was a very fun afternoon! I don't have a lot of time to update with the wedding fast approaching but I hope to do an entry this week that is wedding-focused.  And write a bit more than just a fast snapshot and outfit description. We'll see if I can find the spare time.

Regardless, thank you for bearing with me while I try to keep things active around here even though I lack the time to write more thoughtful and involved posts.

Silver Lamé for a Late Summer Wedding

Yesterday Chris and I attended the very beautiful and very personal wedding of two friends of ours, Jay and Michelle. Knowing it was an evening wedding, I seized the opportunity to wear something shiny. I paired my Marc by Marc Jacobs Kaleigh print dress in muted gray paisley with silver lamé dots with MBMJ seafoam satin mary janes and a vintage silver bag. Chris looks a little deer in headlights here, but he wore his Rag and Bone cotton suit with a Steven Alan gingham shirt, a black skinny Penguin tie, and gray Heutchy derbys.

Their ceremony space was modern and contemporary, decorated with tasteful paper pom poms. It suited the couple so nicely.

Close friends who participated in the ceremony spoke of Jay and Michelle's courtship and interests with such warmth. I teared up upon first sight of the beautiful and glamorous bride in her Stephen Yearick gown (from Anne Gregory for the Bride). And I couldn't hide my emotional overwhelm upon hearing the couple's self-authored and truthful vows.

The reception was held in the freshly renovated and hotly anticipated new Pittsburgh restaurant space, Salt of the Earth. Salt's awesome website was designed by the groom.

A soul food-inspired menu sated every appetite. And thankfully, much like me and Chris, the guests at our table weren't shy about wanting to try a bit of everything. 

At the end of the night I felt a pang of yearning over the intimacy that they managed to cultivate through the help of their very close-knit guests. I wonder how/if Chris and I can pull off that feeling despite an ever-lengthening invite list? We're at nearly 300 invitees so it will be a challenge. Regardless, it was a beautiful wedding and I feel so lucky to have shared in Jay and Michelle's special day! Congratulations and best wishes to them!

Wedding Shoes, a Sneak Dress Peek, and Store Review Followup

Sorry for the silence yesterday. On the way to my dress fitting at Anne Gregory For the Bride, I ran into some car trouble. Afterwards I decided to trek to my parents' house so I could take my car to their trusted mechanic and found myself sans bathing suit, pajamas, laptop, glasses, phone charger, and everything else. But I had a blast during my impromptu visit home and am back with a working car!

While at Anne Gregory I was able to finalize my shoe choice with the help of the commenters on this post, my mom, my sister, and Gregory who, despite some mixed reviews here and regardless of my (relatively) inexpensive closeout dress purchase, was supportive and warm throughout my appointment. And we decided together that the Louboutin's were the most glamorous and comfortable option to wear with my gown. I love the purple Caparros too and might wear them to my rehearsal dinner (since I might have picked out a different outfit for that too) but the Stuart Weitzmans are going back. They're gorgeous and fancy but too high for me to realistically wear and too expensive for me to justify as a new purchase.

I also learned my long line Le Mystére Bridal Bustier was a little bulky for my dress. I brought it along with my shoe options to test with my dress during the fitting appointment and am now glad I kept the tags attached. I might take the advice of the Saks Pittsburgh bra magician (aka the intimates sales associate who knows bra sizes even when women are wearing winter coats!) and wear a regular bra with shapewear. It isn't glamorous but it seems most practical and supportive. I am going to try a downtown Pittsburgh store the seamstress recommended called Smart Form Inc.

I know wedding chatter has increased here but that is mostly related to how I've been consuming lately. My consumption has been dominated by wedding business and it is hard to shop for other things when my budget is tied up in this particular looming occasion. BTW, I know from the photo the gown looks a little over the top. I promise it is tasteful in person when you see all of it. Have a great weekend, everyone!

Wedding Consumption: The Decorative Bird Cage

While visiting family, I bought this little bird cage at TJ Maxx to help decorate and provide a functional card space for wedding well-wishers. I planned to find a vintage one at a thrift shop but stumbled upon this while browsing with my mom. It was probably more than a thrift store one would have cost but certainly not more than an antique and I like it enough to use for decoration in the future.

As a side note, I'm trying my best not to post too much about wedding stuff here, since I know that can get sort of old* but I did schedule my first fitting appointment with Anne Gregory for the Bride. The end of this month I will get to see and feel and wear my dress again and I would be lying if I claimed that didn't thrill me! 

*I even started a wedding blog that I sort of abandoned along the way after I made it private/invite only.