Merry Christmas! Angela loves Kitty Chen Couture!

Merry Christmas!

And guess what!?  Angela is home!

Um.  Who is Angela?  Angela is Pam's middle daughter!!  And she's home for Christmas :)  So you all get to meet Angela!  And Angela got to meet this gown by Kitty Chen Couture...and then she fell in love.  But before I show you THAT gown, let us take a journey through Angela's gowns...

Casablanca Bridal 
("Pipa" - not it's real name but, SERIOUSLY? Looks like Pipa's dress.)

Gorgeous simple satin gown...cap sleeves and a beautiful silhouette!  I love the easy elegance.  And Angela has a great figure for this dress!

We paired an extra romantic double veil with a pencil edge to up the ante a little on this amazing dress.

We just recieved this gown today!

Look at those buttons all the way down...gah!  We love it!  And the detail around the neck and arms is so delicate...

LOVELOVELOVELOVELOVELOVE the scooping neck and the detailing around it!! SOSOSO pretty!

Angela is a pro model...clearly.  It's Vogue.

Next...

Crystal Couture

So, one of my room mates loves the strapless version of this dress and the more I see it the more I adore it...and when I saw it on the rack I really wanted to show it off on Angela's cute frame.

Frilly and lacey and uber feminine!  I could just hang it in my window and be happy.  Yeah...get two and use them as curtains.  It's perfect :)

SHE IS SO FREAKING CUTE.  I can't even handle it.  I die.

The veil is a two tier with widely spaced crystals on each edge.

BAM!  Rock it, Angela!  It's a corset back so it pulls your waist in beautifully.

Pearls!!! And organza!!  I am so excited about the detailing!

 

And now...

Bonnie Bridal

I liked this one for a winter wedding...

 Taffeta, rouching, buttons...delicious.

Buttons ALL THE WAY DOWN...

Look how it accents the badonk!  I ADORE it.  Literally.  Love.

 It's a sparkly notch top  and a rouched cap sleeve.  I wanted to put this veil with it since it's a relatively simple gown.  The detail is in the fabric and the veil adds oomph. 

BUTTONS!!  All the way :)

Pulling across the bodice like this minimizes your waist and accents your curves, which = yes please.  I really liked this little knot over here on the hip because it gives that little detail that makes the dress perfect!

Ok, remember how I told you about that cathedral veil...yeah...it's edged with THESE little bits of heaven!  Teeny tiny crystals for great big effect!

 We had fun ;)

Awwww!! Pam and her girl :)

And now for the GRANDE FINALE!!

Kitty Chen Couture

Angela fell so hard for this dress...

 GOR-JUS.  Like, this is her dress.  And also...look how cute her butt is in this gown.  Awwww!

 I just cannot get over how perfect this dress is on her.  FULL mermaid skirt, luscious rosettes, sha-blamin' booty, and a corset back!

Confession: I'm a little over the pick-up skirt thing but I LIKEITSOMUCH on this dress!

"Do you sell that spectacular fur wrap in the store" HECK YES WE DO!!  Not only amazing with your dress...but also with your jeans and heels :)

LOOK, just LOOK at that skirt with this jacket.  If this was a pizza I would be salivating.

 And some pretty amazing earrings  (awwww, and isn't she pretty!!)

Everyone, meet the waist flower, waist flower, meet everyone.  You guys are going to get along great because you make each other look SO GOOD.

It's like a cake of rosettes except you get to wear it and touch it without smooshing them.

So thank you Angela for being a PERFECT model and thank you Angela's family for letting me use her :)

We are all getting ready for Christmas right now and I am SO VERY EXCITED!  Eeeeee!  I watched Christmas movies all weekend and make cookies and gave gifts and I'm just READY for this.  Plus I get to see my family :)

So a very Merry Christmas to everyone and I look forward to seeing all of you newly engaged ladies as we launch into the New Year! 

A Re-Telling of "Cinderella" and "The Princess and the Frog" with Alfred Angelo

This is the next-to-last blog installment in the Disney Princess Gowns by Alfred Angelo!  Today I will tell you about Cinderella and Tiana - but you're in for an EXTRA treat because Claire did all the photography today and it's extra fabulous :)  Thank you, Claire!!

Tiana - "The Princess and the Frog"

"Tiana" by Alfred Angelo!  An edgy one-shoulder gown with a beautiful sweetheart neckline is accented by crystals and 3D flowers...

Once upon a time there was a young woman trying to hack it alone in the world.  She had brains, beauty, confidence, and a FABULOUS sense of humor.

A full skirt with pick ups and a bubble layer!  Taffeta and crystals make it light and sparkly...

It also just so happened that she was saving money to start a business of her own - her dream was to open a comedy club!  She had been saving and saving and saving and making connections her whole life to make this happen.

It's a little bit of a modified-A waist (lower than the natural waist) which shows your curve from waist to hip nicely...and the ruched side pull of the gown will make your waist look even teenier while the sweetheart accents your bust line.

One day she heard a story about a frog that would turn into a Prince when you kissed him!  She has absolutely no desire for the prince but she though, "Hey, a Prince has got MONEY so maybe if I offer him a joint venture he'll fund the club?!"  So the next order of business was to find that stinky frog prince!  Where do frogs hang out?!  Especially ones that need to be kissed in order to return to their previous form?!  Obviously outside a bridal store where single bridesmaids are walking in and out with brides all day.

One of our lovely brides actually had the front hem of the gown bustled for her reception continuing the bubbled layers and allowing her bright teal shoes to show!!!

So the lovely young woman began to search for the frog, hoping against hope that 1) she would find him 2) he would be very interested in her business plan.  As she searched through the bushes she heard some one approaching...it was a 30-something (very attractive) man in a business suit.

The detailing is well done and adds just the right amount of sass to this dress...

He asked her what she was doing and when she sheepishly explained he replied, "It just so happens that I have recently acquired a significant sum of money and want to invest!  And coincidentally I also happen to have experience in the entertainment industry and love comedy!"

Jazmyn is wearing a hoop petticoat under this skirt so that it's full without being hot

 
So together they started the most successful comedy club in southern California to this day!  And turns out, that frog got kissed and re-princed years ago.  And he may or may not have done jail time for fraud.  So glad she never found him.

Another fun dress from Alfred Angelo! AND reasonably priced!

Cinderella

Once Upon A Time...

There was a quirky young lady who loved things like "Star Wars", ballet, Led Zeppelin, and skateboarding.  She also really loved all of her friends, the lovely ladies she worked with, and her charming beau.

 A beautiful sparkling ball gown from Alfred Angelo in tulle and taffeta...

She also had a problem...she loved to dance so much that she was constantly dancing no matter where she was.  At Trader Joe's, at work, in the car, at restaurants, in parks, and in Starbucks she would suddenly start moving to whatever piped in music was playing.

 The neckline has crystals and the skirt has sparkles!  What more could a princess want?

She would smack nearby objects with her flailing armssuch as clothing racks in Target, and she has NEVER entered a public restroom without practicing her double pirouette.  The floors are really turn-y.

 The natural waist and large skirt make your waist look ITTY-BITTY!

Not only was this habit incredibly inappropriate but it was also embarrassing to anyone near her. One day she was dancing down the sidewalk on her longboard (62 inches thank you very much) and fell off into oncoming traffic and was almost crushed, but she did not stop dancing.

 I'm wearing the biggest poufiest petticoat that we have to show off this luscious skirt...

Another time in Trader Joe's she caused an orange avalanche because Micheal Jackson came on the radio.  Finally, she accidentally kicked her hilarious and adorable pet dog in the chin while doing a high kick in the living room.  It was time for intervention.

Her family and friends rallied around her and said, "No more!  You're hurting yourself and us!"  The young woman admitted her problem and entered a 12 step program. (DA) Soon she was able to control her obsessive compulsive dancing more easily.  She also made sure to be constantly enrolled in dance classes to channel her active energy.

 A sweeping train adds to the elegance...

In the end it all turned out alright, she ended up unintentionally choreographing a great piece in Lassen's that launched her into a successful career.  It helped to pad her bank account so she could go dance in places like Greece and Big Bear whenever she wanted to...and she lived quite happily ever after.

"I love dancing on cobbles in Rome"

Dancing Shoes.

Gowns Gone Wild

GOWNS GONE WILD!

Shelley teaches you how to pose like a bridal model.

The idea of two dresses for your wedding day is SO appealing...but you fell in love with the look of your wedding dress so how do you part with it for the reception!?!?

SOLUTION:  You find a reception dress that is just like your wedding gown!  Easy.

Presto Change-o

For our first example I bring you this Alfred Angelo gown from the Disney Princess collection!

It's uber feminine with tulle and flowers!  Sweet and simply girly all the way around.  The entire skirt is detailed with these beautiful appliques that bring dimension to the skirt.

See.

And there is a pretty bow that ties in the back for that extra little bit of Princess...

So WHY IN THE WORLD you ever change out of this dress for your reception?  Well...you might consider it if the reception gown looks like THIS:

TA-DA!!

It's like a miniature version!  So cute!! AND you have room for dancing!  Similar bodices:

Bodice #1:

Bodice #2:

Super similar, equally pretty, and BAM easy dancing.

Get some extra sparkly shoes, and you're ready for the party to start...and holy crap I have another surprise.

So while we're sitting there taking photos Shelley says, "Oh!  This would be so cute with a colored slip underneath because you can see it when you sit down!".  Oh Lord, it's so good.

Insert fuchsia petticoat!!

Voila!

Our next example...here is a more couture gown that I think is FABULOUS for a modern summer wedding.

A taffeta bodice and organza skirt is layered and accented with taffeta edging.   It's a beautifully modern gown that makes your waist look TEENY.

There are the sweetest buttons the the back of this low back!  I love low backs.  And the tiers are slightly a-symmetrical which is what gives it that couture feel.  A short sweep train that barely trails behind is less drama and more fun :)

So why would you change out of this head turner??  Because I have this little number to stop the show...

HOT!! And SUUUPER cute!!  Image this with a colorful shoe!  The short skirt mimics the full gown!  I love how breezy and effortlessly pretty this is...just like the full dress.  It's simplistically modern and clean.

"Hello, my name is Perfect."

Abra-cadabra!

Our third and final example is my absolute FAVORITE.  I am literally IN LOVE with both of these dresses. Like, if I had to get married this winter, THESE are the dresses that I would wear.  I'm not even kidding.

This is a brand new gown for us from Kathy Ireland by Mon Cheri.

GAH!! I FREAKING LOVE IT!!  We added this great belt to up the ante a bit.  It's a taffeta gown that is tightly fitted to the thigh where it flows simply and elegantly.  All of the detail of this gown is int he fabric which is great because you're not adding anything ON TOP of the gown...it's all part of it.  So then it's totally up to you if you want to add anything to the gown to personalize it on your day.

Check out how it shows off those curves. LOOOOOVEEE ITTTT.  The side of the skirt pulls up at a slight angle to allow the fabric to flow down to the train.

See how it hugs all your curves?!  Shows the assets. ;)  

Again,  why would you change out of this dress??  It's perfect?!?  I mean I LOVE this dress, I just don't want to take it off.  Except then I saw THIS...

 Photobomb

SHABAM!  Short and sweet!!  Same belt, same neckline, same pulling and wrapping of the fabric around the body...exceeeept...sassy sexy legs showing!  I cannot stop loving this.  And again, to make it uniquely you change the accessories because the beautiful detailing is still here in this dress!

No joke.  I would buy this RIGHT NOW if I was getting married this winter.

Let's talk more about changing:

So, WHEN do you change the dress??  Directly after the ceremony?  When you get to the reception?

Answer: it's totally up to you.  Here is how I personally would do it:

I would wear my full gown for all of the wedding prep photos, all pre-ceremony photos, the entire ceremony (duh), all of the post-ceremony photos with family, friends, and my new husband.  I would wear it through the grand entrance and first dance at the reception, the toasts, and through the initial photos of the reception.  

AND THEN, I would slip away quick like a bunny to change in to my SLAMMIN' party dress!!  So then the rest of dinner, the cake cutting, the garter toss, AND the dancing are all in a a manageable gown.  Yes.  I can just SEE the super cute photos now!  Also: Shelley and I just agreed that the garter toss with a little dress would be way hot. True facts.

I will leave you with that and also with a small tidbit of info:  Two of these reception gowns are under $300!!  Jus' sayin'.  So You can TOTALLY have two gowns for under $1400.  YES.  That's what's up.  DREAMS SO COME TRUE!!!