First Fitting
After trying on over 60 wedding dresses, and not finding the perfect dress, I found the perfect opportunity to design my own dress with a head seamstress from a well-known design house in town. Our communication began in March but she really only started my dress in July (and we got married August 20th - needless to say I was certainly a very worried bride). However, she is an exceptional seamstress, listened to everything I was looking for in a dress and created the most perfect dress for me. It was a brilliant collaboration and she kept telling me how it was all me, and all my own design, which made me very proud. I had a total of four fittings , of which I went to with my mom, before bringing the dress home. She was fantastic in snapping shots left, right and centre, which was so great because with each fitting, so much progress was made.
click photos to enlarge
The first fitting had me putting on a a super raw version of the dress, it was strapless (as the top was a seperate piece) and the bottom of the dress would be nothing like it would be in the end. The bodice was formed, but the bustier was not in the dress yet. She pinned and nipped me to give me an idea of what the top of the dress would look like once complete.
Second Fitting
For the second fitting, you can see the skirt is now somewhat attached, as is the top of the dress, and the zipper and half the buttons has been put in.
Unfortunately for my second fitting, my camera battery was dead so we used my iPhone.
Memories captured, at the very least.
Third Fitting
For the third fitting, my dress was super close to being done. It was about two weeks before the wedding and I still didn't have my wedding shoes yet. She had put the bustier in the dress, the crinoline under the skirt, my sash was made and I brought along my veil and various pieces of jewelery to try out as I wasn't sure what I'd wear on the big day. I remember being in the dress for at least half an hour and noticed one of the shoulder straps was pulling down and making me uncomfortable. I also needed the bustier tightened and promised I'd bring the shoes for the next and final fitting and she'd hem the dress.
Final Fitting
My fourth and final fitting was the Tuesday of the week we got married (and we got married on a Friday). Everything was perfect, I brought along my shoes (which I surprised my mom with that very fitting - she laughed at how neon orange they were) and was so anxious and excited to bring my dress home (well, to my parent's house, as that's where I kept it until the night before our wedding, when I picked it up). I must have tried my dress on and off about five times while she made all the last-minute adjustments (the hem, the shoulder strap, again, the bustier) to make it perfect. I left that evening with my wedding dress, ready to walk down the aisle.
{ bagged and ready to go! }
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Ricki's jacket (last seen here), Old Navy button-down, Club Monaco jeans,
Mossimo flats, H&M belt (last seen here) & Aldo necklace
I went and did some Christmas shopping last night and this is what I wore. I was lazing around the house all day long and with husband working later on, I wanted to put on 'real' clothes (and make up!) and get out of there for a bit. I ended up only returning a few things (the impulse boots I mentioned), wandering around aimlessly, taking a break on a mall bench before eventually heading home. First, though, I picked up ingredients so I could make Caesars, pizza and a cheese plate for my hubs. When he got home, it was the first time he'd seen my hair since I got it done on Thursday evening (both nights I was already sleeping when he got home and in the mornings I was up and off before he was) and he was loving it. He immediately whipped out his iPhone and started snapping pictures of me, non stop (so cute). The outfit was a bit hit too as he couldn't stop raving about how much he liked it (score!).
Asos dress, Stitches cardigan (last seen here), Seduction skirt, Qupid heels (last seen here),
Ardene fishnets, Bijoux Terner necklace & H&M bangle
{ acting a fool }
Before After
So you want to bleach your denim? Cool. Do you have patience? Even better. I bought this Gap denim jacket at the thrift store in the spring with the intent of doing this DIY, however, when I got it home I decided I really liked it and didn't want to change it. Then, when I saw the photo above on the left from an outfit post, I realized I really didn't like this jacket as much as I thought and so it went to the DIY pile. I finally have gotten around to posting this, so sorry for the delay.
Submerge the denim in water until it's wet all over. Wring out and place on a flat surface.
Using an old Windex bottle, I filled it with bleach and sprayed the jacket. A lot. And when I say a lot, I really mean I ended up pouring bleach onto the jacket because spraying wasn't doing jack squat.
I used an old toothbrush to spread out the bleach I poured onto the jacket and brush it into areas.
I really focused on the seams. Once dry, I washed and dried the jacket.
Ta-dah! (more pictures here)
Ashley B jacket (last seen here), H&M top (last seen here) & tank dress, Sirens knee-patch leggings, Le Chateau boots (last seen here), Club Monaco scarf, Mexx necklace, Mexican bracelet & unknown bangle
I got home on Tuesday night and immediately undressed and climbed into bed. I was exhausted. Sometimes I just do that, get into bed as soon as I get home (and we're talking late afternoon here, it's not like I'm working till 9pm). Last night was no exception. Fortunately, husband was home and he made me dinner and snacks which we ate together in bed while watching Sunday's episode of Dexter. So enjoyable and just what I needed.
I found the most amazing boots from Aldo that I have begged husband to buy me (for Christmas). These are not them. These are my second place pair. The ones I reeeeeally want are a tad more expensive (and up until about two seconds ago when I checked, they were sold out in my size - but are now back in stock, I'm having a small heart attack right now!). I've dropped every hint in the book to husband about them, and by hint, I mean blatantly telling him how badly I want them, every other second and showing him numerous pictures. I don't think I'm going to get them, I just have a feeling. In other shoe news, I totally impulse purchased these on Monday. Such a great price now and I need a new commute boot (aka what I like to call the boot I wear to and from work while I carry my four inch heels in a pretty little bag... or simply in my hands). Bonus, they are over the knee which is fantastic since I live in skirts even when it's 30 below and the knee-high commute boots I've been rockin' the past two years just are cutting it, as far as keeping the space between my skirt and top of my boots, warm.
Givenchy tights, Joe Fresh gloves, unknown necklace & Suzy headband
Winter is officially here... well, for us it is. I know many of you have had piles of snow for a while now (or, if you're lucky, in my books, don't get snow) but we have not. Now this not to be confused with thinking this is normal for us, it's not. Normally we have piles of snow by now, we just got 'lucky' this year (seriously, I've been in the best moods seeing green grass into December, which is just unheard of). If you don't believe me, let me remind you with this post. I'm talking several feet of snow, and by several, I mean like eight feet of snow last year... or maybe that was the year before, I think last year wasn't as bad... oh who can remember?! The point is, we get a ton of snow every year and for those of you who don't, count your lucky stars because after Christmas, it's not as merry as you'd think! Ha!
In other news, I wore this to my Grammy's senior residence's Christmas party yesterday (and can I just add that I have no Christmas parties to go to this year? Sad, I know, so I really took this opportunity to rise to the occasion and dress up). When I left the house, it was cloudy, cold, but dry - there was not a flake of snow. I thought I was fortunate when I found flats in the backseat of my car as I had to park, and walk, four blocks to the party (the parking lot was full, and so was the party, I discovered when I finally got there). However, I was much more thankful for those flats when we left the party and it was a snowstorm! Can you imagine teetering four blocks in the snow in these heels to get to my car? Me neither, and I wouldn't have had to anyways because my parents parked close and they drove me. Regardless, I had errands to run after the fact and that would not have happened without those flats (go me for being messy and leaving shoes in my car). Rest assure though, I slipped these heels back on my feet just for you guys and this little photo shoot with hubs (and almost wiped out, again).
An old friend contacted me as she'd seen the chiffon ruffle top I made and she wanted to get something similar. I ended up embellishing a black tank top she already had with a huge ruffled flower. It turned out so nice I'm debating what colour I'm going to do for myself!
Suzy belt, Jacob necklace, Givenchy fishnets & H&M headband
I was saving this dress for a special occasion, some exciting holiday party, a wedding, something ... other than work. Then I remembered my before-New-Years-resolution and decided to make it work for work. I put a black tee underneath, which I think 90% of the people who saw me thought it was part of the dress, including hubs. Mainly though, the dress got tons of love from coworkers, friends and strangers and I didn't feel so bad about wearing it on an ordinary day.
Click pictures to enlarge
We finished decorating our tree and living room a few nights ago, and I'm so excited to share the photos with you! I'm not really one to do a different colour scheme each year, but I love adding to the collection we already have and enjoy collecting trees and reindeer. The accent colour in our house, on the main floor at least, is orange (sound familiar?), so I like to keep things flowing with that. We don't do a 'theme' tree, and while this surprises most people (thinking I of all people would have a matchy-matchy tree) we love the mish-mash of our tree with all our unique, sentimental ornaments we've collected over the years. Take a look.
{ I used a large jar from our wedding candy buffet and filled it with extra Christmas balls }
{ our living room }
{ favourite ornaments & silver glittery trees in our front foyer }
One of my favourite bloggers, Lena, gave me the 'Stylish Blogger Award' a few days ago and I couldn't be more flattered. The fact that she picked me (and six others) is super sweet and so appreciated, I'm pretty excited. So, the rules go something like this, list seven things about yourself and spread the love. Here we go:
1. When I like a song, I really like it. And by really like it, I mean I play it over and over and over again until I'm sick of it. My hubby tells me I'm, 'killing the track'. Oops.
2. I don't mind cooking, but hubs isn't a huge fan of my cooking. We have completely different cooking styles. He uses a lot of oil and cream (which tastes delicious but...) and often forgets to cook vegetables with meat and I'm all about whole grains, the more veggies the merrier, etc. However, don't get me wrong, I love dessert.
3. Every year I do a Christmas craft with my mother-in-law. We've done this for six years now.
4. I'm the clean freak here, but my side of our bedroom is always the messiest. Coming home to a mess frustrates the hell out of me, but I can't seem to get my act together and dress in the mornings in an organized, neat fashion (aka I throw clothes all over the place).
5. My favourite treat is pie. I love it so much that sometimes, even if it's 10pm at night, I will drive to the grocery store to feed my craving. Strawberry-rhubarb, pumpkin, blueberry, coconut cream and bumbleberry crumble.
6. I prefer to shower at night.
7. I'm really into cars and take great pride in taking care of mine. My Dad is a mechanic and has taught me a lot and cars are just something that sticks. I could stand on the street and name off every passing car because I know my cars like that.
Your turn...
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