Berta FW 2017 Makes Stateside Debut at Chic Parisien
Chic Parisien is proud to announce that the always-Chic Berta Bridal is debuting their FW 2017 Collection at our store. Trunk Show begins today.
Be the first brides in the country to try on these stunning, sexy gowns.
See the full collection at www.berta.com and make your appointment here.
Happy and Chic 2017!
Wishing all of you, brides past, present and future, a happy and chic new year!
Berta Evening Wear Coming Soon To Chic Parisien
Introducing, Berta Evening Wear.
Coming Soon to Chic Parisien.
See the full collection, as debuted at New York Fashion Week, here.
Christian and Christina's Storybook Wedding on Lake George
Tell us a bit about yourself and your now-husband.
Christian and I (yes we’re Christian and Christina haha) live in Rochester, NY and are starting a hard cider company called Oak & Apple. We featured some of our cider at the cocktail hour with an ice sculpture (in the photos)
Before we get to any of the wedding details, let's talk DRESS! That Romona Keveza looked like it was made for you! Did you know what you wanted? What was the processes of finding your perfect, chic wedding dress? How did you integrate your person style into your wedding day look?
Loved my dress!! I was in Miami for a vacation and stopped into Chic Parisien for my first dress search/experience! The Romona Keveza Couture was the second dress that I tried on. It was absolutely breathtaking so I had to buy it on the spot. It was such an easy decision for me. I wanted a timeless classic look which was strapless/fitted and with all the details you’d ever dream. I also love floral which fit in perfectly with the fashion for this year! The Romona Keveza veil matched perfectly to the details on the gown. Couture never goes out of style :) The dress had some blush undertones so I went with a blush colored bouquet to bring out those colors. The flowers in my bouquet were David Austin Juliet Roses.
How did you decide where and when the wedding would be?
Lake George is such a magical place! We had both gone there a couple times growing up. The Sagamore Resort is the most perfect wedding location we’ve ever seen. We knew this was the best place we were going to find within driving distance from home (Rochester, NY).
This is a wedding that looked seriously detail oriented. How was wedding planning for you and where did the ideas for all those beautiful details come from?
Christian and I had a long engagement so the wedding planning was a breeze! We hired David Michael Schmidt (owner) at Renaissance Floral Design for all of our wedding day rentals, florals and design. The look we were going for was timeless elegance with simple white and green florals. We loved the antique/french look for the tables and chairs. I planned the whole wedding and it was so much fun!
Was there a moment in the ceremony that you remember particularly clearly?
The most memorable part of the ceremony was walking down the aisle. I just couldn’t wait to get to Christian! We didn’t have a “first look” because we wanted that special moment. It was very emotional.
Where did you go on your honeymoon? Any stand-out recommendations?
We shipped our convertible to California and drove down Route 1! We went from San Francisco/Sausalito to Napa to Big Sur to Santa Barbara to Beverly Hills over the course of 2 weeks. Our absolute favorite stop on the trip was Napa. We went to some of the best wineries and had delicious meals at Redd Restaurant and French Laundry. We stayed at the Auberge de Soleil Resort which we highly recommend. Definitely going back! We also enjoyed our stay at Post Ranch Inn at Big Sur.
Hello World! We're On ¡Hola! TV
This was an exciting week around Chic Parisien, we wound up a stunning and successful Ines Di Santo trunk show, received some stunning new arrivals (check out @chicparisien onInstgramto see new gowns as they come in fresh off the runway) and we made an appearance on international television. Catherine visited the local studios of Hola TV to chat with the women of Lo Mejor De Mundo Hola to talk about wedding trends, showcase some of our current favorite gowns and answer questions about the wedding world.
A Jenny Packham, Gatsby-inspired gown, Monique Lhuillier dress fit for a princess, Yolan Cris dress for the boho-bride, colorful Hayley Paige number and sexy Mira Zwillinger made quite the splash on the set.
We'll be back soon with a link to the segment, so check in again and keep following us on social media for updates.
Ines Di Santo and Maria Elena Appearance Weekend
It was such a treat to have the very talented Ines di Santo and Maria Elena in store last week. We kicked off the week with a cocktail party with A Joy Wallace in their honor where the champagne flowed, A Joy Wallace served up tiny, edible art pieces that were almost too pretty too eat (but it turned out they tasted even better!) and we mixed, mingled, caught-up, laughed and even helped a few brides find their Ines dresses during the party! Can you think of a better way to spend a rainy Thursday evening? We certainly can't!
We had two beautiful models in store trying on a rotation of Ines Di Santo dresses with Maria Elena Accessories because it just doesn't do justice to have those gorgeous dresses on the hangers all night.
Ines, the talented designer behind so many memorable #realchicbride looks, visited us with her daughter Veronica all the way from Toronto to show us the latest collection. We all agreed that the dresses were timeless, chic and each beautiful and artful in their own way, but it was the lace pantsuit that had us really dreaming of a funky, cool bride that would pull it off. We know you're out there - come visit Chic Parisien!
Maria Elena was in store with the inimitable Gisele Del Busto. They accessorized brides all night long and then all weekend long! Maria Elena was kind enough to give away quite a few of her signed books to brides who can take it home as a reminder of the day they said yes to the dress and the accessories! The Maria Elena showstoppers were the crowns - because no one can resist the urge to play princess for a night (and why should you?!). They range in size from queen sized to more delicate tiaras.
We also had the very talented Ray Santana join us. Not only is he one of Miami's most sought-after photographers, he's an old friend of Ines and he even shot Veronica's wedding! All the images in this post are by Ray, we're so grateful he came to lend an expert eye and document the night for us!
This was such a special weekend, we're sad to see it end. But, the chicness isn't over, it's just beginning as we continue our 2016 Trunk Shows with Berta next weekend and Monique Lhuillier right after. If you're a bride looking for your perfect wedding dress, January is the month to shop, so make you appointments now!
Stay chic!
xoxo
Looking Back at Lazaro's Chic Parisien Appearance
January has been busy, busy, busy around the boutique. Between holiday engagements, Valentine's Day right around the corner and wedding season about to kick off, we have an event scheduled for every weekend of the month - and then some!
We couldn't have been happier to kick off 2016 with the very talented, uber chic Lazaro. We invited our very beautiful friend Adrienne to come and try on the new Lazaro collection. With the help of Lazaro himself, we picked these few dresses to showcase as our favorites, but really who can pick just a few when they're all so chic! You'll have to come in and decide which is your favorite.
A Busy Week Ahead with Ines Di Santo and Maria Elena In Store
There's a lot in store this week! We'll have Ines di Santo and Maria Elena of Maria Elena Accessories visiting the boutique for a week of special events and trunk shows. Everyone is invited to celebrate with us as we welcome them into Chic Parisien for a few days that are sure to be chic, chic, chic!
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
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!
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.
Wynwood Love: #RealChicBride in Naeem Khan
Here's a long overdue post, but trust on this one, it's better late than never - the Wynwood Love wedding of Danielle and Frankie. Danielle was a radiant bride in Naeem Khan with a backdrop of a Wynwood venue transformed for this modern and sophisticated wedding.
You can check out the whole amazing wedding gallery by Kane and Social here.
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
#RealChicBride Nicole in Naeem Tells Us Her Story
The Photographer: Jonathan Connolly (www.jonathanconnolly.com)
The Venue: The Caribbean Resort in Islamorada
Florist: Floral Fantasy
Caterers: Construction Catering & Caribbean Catering
About Us:
Ian and I live in Brooklyn. Ian is a software engineer and I'm starting as a creative strategist at Facebook on Monday (woohoo!) before that I was an associate creative director at Genuine, a digital ad agency.
How We Met:
We met at Wall, the club at the W, on Super Bowl weekend in 2010. I was there with two of my best single (at the time) friends. A friend in New York needed "filler girls" for some celebrity-filled, brand-sponsored party so we happily obliged (Just setting the scene here! Haha). It was a very unlikely night to meet the man you're gonna marry.
So we're inside the club, and I decide to do a loser lap because - all sorts of famous people everywhere - and I bumped into Ian.
Ian was in town for the Super Bowl and was at Wall because his friend was the manager of the W.
Back then, when I'd meet a random guy at a club I'd speak Portuguese to them (the little I know from living in Brazil) just to mess with them. But...when we ran into each other, and I spoke to him in Portuguese - he responded in Portuguese! He's from Rhode Island and his mom is Portuguese, and had also lived in Brazil. This is why we went to Brazil on our honeymoon!
Anyway, we were making out within 10 minutes and speaking Portuguese to each other. Then his brother came up to us and said "Can I get you guys a drink?" And I said "You speak English?!". We got each other's numbers at the end of the night and he put his name in my phone as "Ian o meu amor possivel". We were so intense! And we've basically spoken on the phone every day since.
After we met I was leaving to New York for school in a couple weeks. We did long distance NYC to RI for a little while, and then I moved to Newport for the summer with him and well the rest is history!
The Dress: My experience with Naeem Khan was also pretty fortuitous. I Googled where to find his designs in Miami and he was having a trunk show at Chic Parisien that day! So, I rushed over with my mom and I fell in love with the dress almost as quickly as I did with my husband. Cheesy, I know! But I know a good thing when I see it!
How amazing is this picture of Ian getting a first look at Nicole? Swoon!
All images by the very talented Jonathan Connolly (www.jonathanconnolly.com).
Real Chic Bride Sends a Real Chic Thank You!
We hear the nicest things from brides in thank you notes. They come in all shapes and sizes, on beautiful stationary and on handcrafted notes made with love. Unfortunately, we can't share them all on here (although we do post some of them in one of the fitting rooms in the boutique - maybe you've spotted them?) but we just received a lovely little email from a Real Chic Bride who wore Berta Bridal for her wedding in Puerto Rico that we thought we'd take the opportunity to share her kind words right here on the blog.
Lucianne writes:
My name is Lucianne Rivera and I am a lucky Chic Parisien and Berta Bride. My wedding was on December 27,2014 and even though I don't have my professional photos yet I wanted to share some of the pictures I have of my special day. A weekend like this up coming weekend one year ago I flew to Miami with my mom and my mother in law for a day to try on the dresses I'd followed for over a year on Pinterest. We were on a mission! Alana was there on that day to help me in finding the perfect dress. Can I just say she is wonderful! She really understood what I wanted, she made us feel welcomed and cared for at all times. Gracias Alana por todo! Gracias por hacer de este momento tan especial uno inolvidable para mi y mi familia!
Everything about my experience in your store was perfect! I loved everything about my dress. If you could please extend my message to Berta... On my special day I felt absolutely beautiful, elegant, feminine, and classy. She is an amazingly talented designer and I felt honored to have worn one of her beautiful pieces of art! I just love her work!
Thank you to Lucianne for forwarding us her pictures so quickly and including this adorable one of her pup Toffee looking incredibly chic!
We just wrapped up our Berta Bridal Trunk Show and it was wonderful! We saw more than a few brides find The Dress in the boutique over the past few days. But, time to move on!
This week is the Lazaro Trunk Show and Lazaro himself, the gown's designer extraordinaire, will be at Chic Parisien. What a treat! You can try on Lazaro gowns with the expert eye and opinion of their creator there to help you put together the whole look and pick the perfect gown for you!
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
#RealChicBrides of Instagram
Today, we're taking a look back at the #RealChicBrides that we've featured on our Instagram - because once just wasn't enough for these stunning brides in their ultra chic gowns. If you aren't following us on Instagram (@ChicParisien), you're missing out on daily posts of bridal inspiration, around the boutique shots, new inventory and trunk show announcements.
The Key West wedding of @Beetrizz in Lazaro.
This stunning, artistic photo puts the chic in #RealChicBride!
Yarelys in Monique Lhuillier.
Nothing is more chic than a real smile!
A Chic Parisien wedding in Paris! This Ines Di Santo dress traveled all the way to Paris to outfit Yainee on her wedding day.
And last, but certainly not least - this Berta gown on a Real Chic Bride is the perfect way to remind you that this weekend is the Berta Trunk Show. Make your appointment now to come by on Friday and Saturday and find "The Dress."
Meet The Chic Team: Keidy
Hi Keidy, you’re the very to be interviewed for our new blog feature where we’re talking to our very chic staff members. Can you tell us a bit about yourself, like how long you’ve been at CP and what you do at the store?
I've been at Chic Parisien for a little over 5 years now. I would have to say the most important part of this career is being a stylist to my brides. A wedding day is such a meaningful and memorable moment in a woman's life - I love being a part of it. I also like to dabble in all parts of the business, from sitting in on bridal alterations to dealing with designer reps and setting up trunk shows. For the past two years, I've been honored to attend Bridal Market in New York City. It's a great experience searching for the perfect dresses to be eventually sold in our store.
What’s your favorite part of the bridal gown selection process?
I enjoy sitting with my brides for our original "pow wow" as I like to call it. This is where I really get to know my brides and what bridal look they are dreaming of. And who doesn't enjoy the moment when it just clicks and you see the bride light up in her gown? I get just as excited as they do!
On TV they make it look like a bride puts on THE gown and she just knows it’s the ONE. Do you see brides have this experience? Or would you say that only happens on-screen?
I'd have to say that yes, brides do experience this moment. However not all brides experience it the same way. I feel TV may over-dramatize the moment. Some brides cry, some don't. Some brides get very excited, some get giddy and even say they feel like they have the butterflies. Everyone experiences it differently. Not all brides feel that a-ha moment.
Do you have a tip for newly engaged, future-brides before they start the process of looking for a dress?
A feel a few tips are important. Do a little research of some styles that you may like, print photos and bring them to your stylist. Also, have your venue location set. It's so important to have your gown and venue flow together. Last but definitely not least, have your budget already decided before you begin your shopping process. This will help make your selection process smoother.
Do you have a favorite bridal dress cut, color and look?
Working in bridal gives me the opportunity to explore all different styles so choosing one would be particularly difficult. I am enjoying the play on color that I'm seeing from some designers. Its a fresh approach for today's brides.
Favorite designer?
Just like in styles, I couldn't possibly pick just one designer. I relate to each one for what each represents. They all have elements that are uniquely theirs. For instance, Monique Lhuillier always remains true to her aesthetic; light, airy, romantic yet modern. Lazaro really understands a woman's curves and his designs are always extravagant and glamorous. Inbal Dror has such a soft feminine and sultry look. Romona Keveza is a modern approach to the classic bride.
How would you describe your personal style?
Let me see... what day is it today???? My style.. hmmm... I would have to say I flirt with styles from classic and modern to bohemian luxe but always with a twist.
Any advice for the Mother of the Bride?
This is your daughters most important day. Be supportive. She needs you now more than ever to help her find her very own signature look.
What do you think is the secret to proper bridal gown accessorizing? I think it probably seems like that part is easy and shopping for the dress is the hardest part, but I have a feeling the accessories are just as important and maybe harder to shop for….
The accessories are just as important. They are what complete the bridal look. Once you have selected your gown play with a few accessories. If you find it too hard to decide at that time, set up an appointment for an accessories appointment or trunk show. These are actually a lot of fun. We put on your gown, do your hair and style you from head to toe. It's a great way to revisit your gown and pamper yourself with a little more bridal beauty.
Last but not least, describe your perfect day.
My perfect day consists of a good workout to get the day started in a positive way. That followed by making a girls dream come true by finding her dress. Topping it off would be relaxing at home with my two little ones by reading them a book and giving them some yummy kisses.