Looking Back
Just a couple snapshots of what's been going on #aroundtheboutique lately. If you're following us on Instagram you're seeing it all happen live - if you're a bride who's been shopping with us lately you might have been here while we took one of these pictures. Don't forget to send us your photos of shopping at the boutique and, of course, of your big day!
xx
Stay chic!
#RealChicBrides of Instagram (+ THANK YOU)
Just a quick recap of some #RealChicBride moments recently shared on our Instagram. We wanted to say thank you, thank you to all our brides and followers who helped us get to 24K today! TWENTY FOUR THOUSAND!
We can't believe that every time we press send so many of you follow along with what's going on #aroundtheboutique, our inspiration photos, dresses from our designers and all the rest of the daily chic inspiration we post on Instagram.
If you're a #RealChicBride who hasn't been featured, it's never too late to send us your photos!
XOXO we love you all!
-Chic Parisien
Real Chic Blushing Bride in Bliss By Monique Lhuillier
This beautiful #RealChicBride sent us her wedding day pictures and we wanted to instantly share them with all of you! Katharina is wearing Bliss by Monique Lhuillier.
Be sure you scroll all the way to the bottom for a glimpse of a totally swoon-worthy sweets table!
Photos by Andres Llopart
A Real Chic Mother Daughter Story
It takes a really chic bride to take her mother's dress from 34 years ago and make it look this good! Or maybe it takes a really chic dress? In this case, both are true. Real Chic Bride Johnette came back to Chic Parisien to shop for her wedding dress 34 years after her mother originally bought her gown with us. Not only did she find the perfect chic Lazaro dress for her own wedding, but she wore her mother's dress for her engagement photos - with no alterations! She even took some lace off the jacket sleeves to make the headpiece! How ultra-chic is it to buy a dress that suits your style but take your mom's dress and turn it into a family heirloom by making it a part of your wedding?
We hope Johnette's creative take on her mother's dress inspires other brides to revisit their mother's gowns!
Check back here soon for pictures of the actual wedding!
Such Style: A Styled Shoot with Berta, Manolo Doreste and More!
Sometimes it's fun to see our dresses styled in a whole new, totally chic and over the top way - this photoshoot proves it!
Credits Below:
Location: The Breakers, Palm Beach
Photographer: Manolo Doreste
Cinematography: Alan Button
Models: Evolution Model Management
Stylist: Erika Glocher
Hair & Make Up: Deborah Conception
Chic Parisien - Berta (Dress on Piano) https://www.facebook.com/ChicParisien | https://instagram.com/chicparisien
Berta Bridal (Dress on Piano) https://www.facebook.com/BertaBridal | https://instagram.com/bertabridal
J. Del Olmo (Dress in Suite) https://www.facebook.com/jdelolmobridal | https://instagram.com/jdelolmobridal
Badgley Mischka (Dress in Suite) https://www.facebook.com/BadgleyMischka | https://instagram.com/badgleymischka
Accessories: Maria Elena Headpieces
Flowers and Decor: The Breakers
Linens: Wildflower Linens
Chair Accessories: M The Collection
Berta's Chic In-Store Appearance!
Last week we were honored to host the chic, inimitable Berta of Berta Bridal. You probably recognize the name, she's the mastermind behind the gowns that have rethought what a wedding dress should look like. They're sexy, they're elegant and they're made entirely by hand with exquisite attention paid to even the finest of details. Berta herself oversees the process of each and every dress from her studio in Israel.
For her first US appearance (ever!) Berta chose to come visit Chic Parisien and spend some time in the store meeting past Chic Berta Brides and fitting future #RealChicBrides. What a treat it was for brides-to-be who came and had their dresses fitted by the designer herself.
In honor of her visit we threw, what else but a chic fete in her honor!? There was champagne, there were models showing off the latest designs and some of our long-term Berta favorites and there were, of course, brides!
Here's a look at the party, but don't forget to check back because we'll soon be posting an exclusive interview with Berta!
Photos By: Manolo Doreste.
Event Sponsors: Distinctive Details , Stephen Starr Events , Divine Delicacies , Elements & Accents.
Lazaro Trunk Show Featuring Personal Appearance
We love when Lazaro comes to visit! Yes, we love when the chic new collections come in (And boy are they chic! Wait till you see the photos below!), but we are so lucky to have Lazaro himself coming with the dresses for this trunk show. Starting tomorrow, brides will have the unique opportunity to work one-on-one with the designer himself. Lazaro will be #aroundtheboutique to provide his expert eye to brides trying on his designs.
What could be a more special way to shop for a gown than in the most qualified of hands?
Here's a look at some of the stand-out gowns in a truly stand-out collection:
#LuxeFeteAtVersace
When we had the chance to participate in a shoot at the Versace Mansion - we jumped for joy! Yes we would send over a dress! And of course, it should be Berta! The perfect fit for this iconic, glam venue.
We knew that with one of these chic gowns and the Versace Mansion as the backdrop, we'd see something special - but we could have never imagined something this beautiful, this luxe!
The full credits are listed below the images. Each and every one of them a talented vendor as these photos show. If you want to see more images, and who wouldn't, head over to Luxe Fête - that's the creative mind that literally had a dream of this bride and then made it all happen in real life. Enjoy!
Planning and Design: @LuxeFete
Photographer: @_dianalupu
Cake: Dominque Couture Cakes
Florals: @sproutmiami
Berta Wedding Gown and Veil: @chicparisien
Jewelry: @mariaelenaheadpieces
Bridal Styling: @dressvoyage
Make Up: @natashagrossmakeupartist
Hair: @braid_queen
Furniture and Linens: @nuagedesignsinc
Tableware: @zgallerie
Paper Suite: Letter Heads
Aventura Magazine Features Chic, Chic, Chic Parisien Gowns
Aventura Magazine did us the great honor of featuring our gowns in their very beautiful Bridal Issue. Monique Lhuillier (Posh Gown) and Inbal Dror (BR-13-23) take center stage with Miami's iconic Cuban architecture as a backdrop and Maria Elena Headpieces as accessories.
Photos by @gioalmapics and styling by @marcelopolis.
A Showroom Viewing with Monique Lhuillier Spring 2016
Here's an inside look at our showroom viewing of the Monique Lhuillier Spring 2016 Collection. Just after the magnificent runway show, we got some time alone with these beauties so that we could inspect them up close, ask questions and make our buying decisions.
Now, they're coming to the store and you can see them in person too! We're the very first store to host a trunk show with Monique's Spring 2016 Collection (and isn't it just amazing?!). Appointments are limited, so call now and reserve some time to come in and try these on before anyone else!
Monique Lhuillier Spring 2016 Collection Debuts at Chic Parisien
Be among the first in the world to see the Monique Lhuillier Spring 2016 Collection in person.
This week (Thursday - Saturday), Chic Parisien is proud to debut this stunning collection just weeks after the Bridal Market runway show. We are the very first store to host this collection, so make your appointment now and be the first brides to place your orders on these very fresh, very, very chic gowns.
All images courtesy of Monique Lhuillier.
Bridal Market Recap Part I
There's nothing like a trip to New York. It's the city of Carrie Bradshaw, of Fifth Avenue, of Fashion Week - and then, there's Bridal Market. Bridal Market is the Fashion Week of the bridal world. Twice a year, the industry, and the Chic Parisien team, descends on the city for a few days of non-stop appointments, runway shows, presentations and showroom visits. It's an overload of tulle, lace, beading, trends and all things wedding, but we aren't complaining; there's nothing better than spending time around beautiful things and we are so lucky to spend our work days surrounded by beautiful designer dreams.
We're happy to report that we're back in the store, as inspired as ever, and have brought with us all the trends that we'll see throughout the rest of 2015 and 2016.
We'll be sharing some of the hundreds of photos that we snapped over the course of the trip - seriously, we couldn't help ourselves, there was just so much beauty! But first, we wanted to talk about the big trend at Market: sexy dresses.
Over the past few years we've seen a swing towards a sexy wedding dress and we took note that it isn't stopping. Low back, unlined bodices and plunging necklines were some of the ways designers are vamping up the wedding gown.
ABOVE: MIRA ZWILLINGER
INES DI SANTO
MONIQUE LHUILLIER
images via WWD.COM
I Love You More Than Pizza
#RealChicBride Ashley is half of the couple behind Brickell's Stanzione87 - a pizzeria serving the most authentic pizza Napoletana in town. This long-time couple finally tied the knot in a beautiful ceremony at The Kampong, a hidden botanical garden in Coconut Grove. The bride wore a chic Monique Lhuillier and held a simple, and striking bouquet of tiny white flowers. And what a handsome groom! We are positively swooning over these amazing photos captured by the endlessly talented Katie Lopez. Don't they look so in love!?
They didn't serve pizza at the wedding, but quality food was clearly a priority for this foodie couple - they started with oysters and ended with a family style Italian meal followed by a polenta cake!
A #RealChicBride's Cancun Wedding
Do you have a few minutes? Good. Because you'll want to take your time to soak up these beautiful images of #RealChicBride Andrea's wedding in Cancun. Andrea visited us in Coral Gables from Ecuador and was then wed in Cancun, Mexico wearing Marissa Bridal. We love the beachy, fun spirit in these amazing snapshots of her big day.
Are you a #RealChicBride? Share your photos with us! We love sharing photos of our dresses on your special day! Email - info@cpbride.com. Xoxo.
Ballet Is In For Spring
Ocean Drive Magazine featured a Jenny Packham headdress from Chic Parisien in a beautiful photo shoot featuring ballet inspired accessories for spring. If a ballerina-inspired wardrobe is in for Spring, we'll go ahead and say it - we've been ahead of the trend! Come by the boutique for more on pointe accessories.
See the full photo shoot here.
Photography by Jeff Crawford Styling by Faye Power
Around The Boutique: A Chat With Lazaro of Lazaro Bridal
Last week we hosted a Lazaro trunk show that was extra special because Lazaro himself was here at the boutique!
It's truly extra-special to work with the designer to pick out your dream dress. It's not everyday that a bride get's to have the expert eye of the visionary behind the gowns give a look over for just the right fit, the perfect complimentary accessories and the right silhouette - but some brides-to-be had this extra-special opportunity at the Lazaro trunk show last weekend.
We took a minute to chat with Lazaro between fittings and meetings about this collection, his thoughts on bridal trends and more:
L: This collection for the Spring 2015 there was a lot of color! We’re starting to bring the color back into bridal. We did a lot of ivory and rose, cashmere and wisteria, which is the blue. You can order the dresses in all cashmere, at ivory or with the wisteria beading.
We also did champagne. We’ve done it before and it’s done very well for us. We added a little bit of sparkle tulle in it – there’s always that layering, the very soft deconstructed skirts really work for me.
CP: What would you call this big beautiful kind of dress.
L: A full ball gown.
CP: Right now, I’m into these big beautiful ball gowns. The fuller the better, right?
L: Exactly, just do it if you can! It has a spectacular train. It’s very dramatic. It looks extremely dramatic, but it’s extremely light – the hanger probably weighs more!
CP: You’re right!
L: Again, the beading; beaded straps, which are really in right now and can be worn off the shoulder or on the shoulder.
CP: Is this collection inspired by a specific era?
L: What I try to do is try to expand it and look at my whole collection and think about what my customers need. I do a lot of these trunk shows and I see “What am I missing?” It’s more about how can I make my collection more extensive and make the brand larger. Who is out there that I’m missing?
This collection was very evening-ish. It’s very slinky, very eveningwear. That’s why I try to get people from the red carpet and people who want that feeling translated into the bridal gown.
I’m doing a lot of laces. Not just plain laces but with gold or silver threading going through and capturing the Swarovski crystals.
CP: Right it doesn’t only shine in one part.
L: It has a glimmer through the whole dress.
Crepe is really big now. We did it in a few colors, a light blue. Crepe is really nice and forms to the body really beautifully. It’s really lush.
Every collection I do a textured skirt.
CP: Fun!
L: We did it in blush for the runway.
CP: I love the blush. Do you feel like people are scared of the color or increasingly open to it?
L: You know, people are more open to color. I’m doing very well with color. People are loving it. I do very well with a color called “Sorbet” it’s a peachy with a little bit of yellow tone, very warm and soft and beautiful.
Chantilly was very big so I brought it back. I do a lot of layering, so there’s lacy underneath the beading and more and more layers or a net with sparkle underneath. This way when she walks it catches the light.
We always do one or two with feathers! You have sparkle you have to have feathers. They have a lot of movement.
CP: Do you feel people are more inclined to a red carpet vibe right now?
L: Definitely. I think the stars have a big influence. They see something on the red carpet and think – I want that in white for my wedding gown.
CP: So many of these can be worn to any special event.
L: Yes, definitely. Some of the collection tends to go towards the vintage glamour.
There’s a little bit for everybody.
Real Chic Bride Laura Makes "The Knot" Best Dressed Brides In 2014
We love January for so many reasons! One, so many couples get engaged over the holidays that January is always buzzing around the store (even more than usual!). Two, the whole month all our favorite websites are posting recaps of the best weddings and wedding trends of last year and predictions for the coming year and we can't get enough of these inspiring lists.
Imagine our delight when we found out a Real Chic Bride Laura was featured in The Knot's "The Best Dressed Brides of 2014"!
Maria Elena Headpieces Trunk Show + Gisele Del Bustos Magic
We love a good Maria Elena Headpieces Trunk Show. Why? Because not only does a Maria Elena Headpiece really complete a chic wedding look but the trunk show usually comes with the very talented Gisele Del Busto - such a treat for our brides. Gisele has both an infectious energy and a skilled eye for matching brides to their perfect headpieces. If you're a bride who hasn't decided on your wedding day hair and accessories you should plan on stopping by this Friday and Satuday, January 9th and 10th, to meet Gisele and have her work her magic on you.
images via Maria Elena Headpieces
Bring It Back
Sure, the first impression is usually the front of the wedding dress, but isn't the back just as important? If your wedding includes a ceremony and an aisle, it's likely that your guests will be looking at the back of your dress for most of the ceremony. When you're looking in the mirror, you're probably focused on the front - but your guests (and your photos!) are looking from all angles - so don't forget to think about the back!
Over the past few years, dresses have plunged dramatically in the back; it's a way to give a traditional dress an element of surprise or feel sexy by tastefully showing some skin. Designers have been experimenting with taking dresses of all shapes and styles for a dip in the back. You can find everything with a low or exposed back - short, long, traditional, bold, classic, modern, sleeveless, sparkly or simple.
Are you shopping for a dress, considering a low back? Or are you a bride who opted for a sexy back? We'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments or on our Facebook at facebook.com/ChicParisien.
Photos taken at Chic Parisien.