Real Chic Bride Emma in Monique Lhuillier
Real Chic Bride Emma was featured on SmashingTheGlass.com in her stunning Monique Lhuillier "Forever" dress and Maria Elena accessories. We love, love, love the details on this tropical affair held at the Boca Raton Resort & Club - just look at that flamingo/sprinkles cake!
Luckily, you can read all about it on here - where Emma spills all her secrets for creating this elegant and fun wedding style with a beachy touch.
photos by Justin DeMutiis as featured on SmashingTheGlass.com
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"!
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!
Chic Parisien To Host U.S. Debut Of Berta 2015
We are very excited to be amongst the first to have the new 2015 Berta Bridal collection - and it is amazing. All the elements that you already love about the Berta brand shine just as bright as always; it's a sexy, modern take on traditional bridal silhouettes and fabrics. If you aren't afraid to show some skin, but still want to be an elegant bride, you probably have already been following Berta.
The new collection includes stunning spins on illusion necklines, back-baring gowns, and intricate beaded details.
If you don't already have an appointment for the extra-long, Wednesday - Saturday, trunk show, you should make one now. Space is limited even with the additional time.
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."
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.
Real Chic Bride Eliana Featured on Style Me Pretty - And Boy Is This Wedding Pretty!
When something is beautiful, you know it right away. It hits you hard and you fall fast - that's how we felt about Eliana's beautiful Italian inspired wedding. She found her Lazaro dress with us and topped it off with a Monique Lhuillier tulle skirt also from our boutique. We have lots to say about this Fisher Island wedding, but we'll let the bride tell you about it herself. Here's what Eliana told Style Me Pretty:
My vision for my wedding was an intimate affair that was reminiscent of my family’s lake house on Lago Maggiore, Italy. We chose the Vanderbilt Mansion on Fisher Island to exude the charm and romance of Italy. With Miami Beach as our backdrop we embraced the city that raised us and where we met. We incorporated lace, candelabras and lots of candles to set the tone. Our focus of the evening was family as we embraced Jared’s family history during the ceremony and my family history with opera singer during the reception. We had personal touches by using hydrangeas that are in the garden at my home in Italy, serving oysters which are Jared’s favorite food during cocktail hour, Affogato for dessert which is a traditional italian treat, and our favors were maple cookies from where we lived in Toronto. The toasts were long, the dance floor was sweaty and the champagne was endless. We would not have had it any other way!
Photography: Shea Christine Photography
Real Chic Bride Agueda Lopez Graces The Cover Of People En Español (and married Luis Fonsi!)
Dressed in a beautiful Inbal Dror dress and looking happily in love - not to mention crazy beautiful - Spanish model Agueda Lopez married singer Luis Fonsi. The stunning bride opted to accessorize the mermaid dress with a modern ponytail, chandelier earrings and a smokey eye look. But we'll stop all the talking and get to the photos that stole the cover of People en Español and a multi-page spread:
Meet The Chic Team: Alana
Hi Alana! Before we get to talking about dresses, weddings and all that good stuff, tell me a bit about yourself like where you're from, how long you've been at Chic Parisien and what you do at the store....
I'm from San Juan Puerto Rico. Been at Chic Parisien since 2007. I am bridal gown sales consultant.
Did you always imagine yourself working in the wedding industry?
Never in my wildest dream.
What's the very first thing you tell a customer when she comes in to shop for a dress?
After welcoming them to the store my first question is usually, have you shopped before and if so if they think they have might found "The Dress."
Not to play favorites, but what kind of dress is your personal favorite?
My preference is simple, ethereal, bohemian.
How have dresses changed from when you started working at Chic Parisien until now?
Dresses now are much more sexier!
Is there a trend in the bridal industry that you can't get enough of?
Open backs, illusion necklines
Do you have a go-to piece of advice for a bride who's nervous about dress shopping?
Once you have found "The Dress" you will take a weight off your shoulders and then you can concentrate on the other details you need for your wedding.
All brides are different, how do you help a bride find her personal style in her wedding gown?
I ask if they have a vision of how would they like to look on their wedding day.
What kind of research do you think is best for a bride to do before coming to visit you? Or do you think it's best to come in very open to being surprised?
I ask for them to search our website and the websites of our designers since they have pictures of their entire collection and make a note of the ones she would like to try on.
Do you have a favorite memory in the store that you can share with us?
I had a bride once, after trying on a few dresses found one she loved, but could not decide cause she was in love with a dress she had seen in a magazine. She went to the car for that picture and when I looked at it it was the dress she had just tried on with me, and then she said yes to the dress.
Lastly, what song are you listening to on repeat nowadays?
Three Things to Avoid On Your Wedding Day
A few weeks ago we chatted with Catherine about "Three Do's For Brides On Their Wedding Day," who better to give some tips and tricks she's picked up after years of talking to brides? Today, she's telling us three things she things bride's shouldn't do on their wedding day. We won't call them "don'ts" because every girl has her own way, but we will say that if you follow this advice you'll make your day just that extra bit less stressful - don't say we didn't warn you!
- Avoid making a drastic change to your appearance right before the wedding. If you're going to try a new look for your wedding, go for it way in advance. You don't want to chop off your signature long locks a week before the wedding and then go into a panic because you don't look like you.
- Try to avoid salty foods the day before. Salty foods can be comforting if you're nerves are running a bit wild, we know the power of a bag of chips, but avoid salty food because you'll retain water and be a bit bloated.
- Make all your accessory decisions in advance. Avoid leaving yourself accessory options to decide on the last minute. Have your details picked out in advance so that you can sit back and enjoy the day without worrying over your earring choice in your precious few hours.
Join us this weekend for the Romona Keveza Trunk Show at Chic Parisien.
An Exclusive Look At The Next Trends In Bridal: Chic Parisien Goes To Bridal Market In NYC
The Chic Parisien team visited New York for market last week, the bridal equivalent to Fashion Week, where all the new trends are strutted down the runway. We made big decisions about what will make for the perfect bridal looks for our future Chic Parisien brides, visited with friends, designers and collaborators and, mostly, swooned over all the beautiful bridal looks we got to see up close. Catherine kept her well trained eyes out for trends that were emerging as they hopped from show to show and showroom to showroom and here are the four big trends you should know:
Crop Tops Are Cropping Up
Hayley Paige and Yolan Cris showed looks with a little bit of surprise skin.
Hayley Paige
Color Me Mine, New and Unexpected Bridal Gown Hues
A slew of fun, infectious new colors came down the runway - especially at Monique Lhuillier.
Lazaro
Monique Lhuillier
The Cold Shoulder, Off-The-Shoulder Dresses Are All In
We saw loads of off-the-shoulder dresses like this Lazaro number:
Inbal Dror
Power Suit, A New Meaning To The Term "Bridal Gown"
According to Naeem Khan, pants are having a moment.
Naeem Khan
A Chic Parisien Monique Lhuillier Dress Makes it All The Way To A Dubai Wedding: Real Chic Bride Mariana Silva Abubakar Weds in A Stunning International Affair
When a wedding story starts with a proposal in Thailand and ends with a happily ever after - we're instantly hooked. When said wedding includes a Monique Lhuillier dress with beautiful bright blue embroidery and a seamless blend of cultural tradition and breaking in down on the dance floor - it's going to make our top weddings ever list.
Mariana Silva and Abba Atiku Abubakar, the son of the former vice president of Nigeria, wed in a Dubai affair that was equal parts modern elegance and traditional. Scroll down for more images via Udim EE Photography.
New Berta Bridal Style At Chic Parisien, A First Look
On Friday, we played a bit of dress-up with a lovely Brazilian beauty named Bianca, who happily donned the latest styles by Berta Bridal and some of our other ultra-chic designers.We thought it would be fun to share some of the beautiful, glamorous gowns from our Berta trunk show with those of you who couldn't come see them in person. As our brides-to-be found their future dresses tucked away in private in our dressing rooms, we used the rest of the store as our backdrop and snapped some pictures of Bianca showing off these Berta beauties.
Come back soon, we'll be sharing more images of our photo shoot next week and on our Facebook page (Facebook.com/ChicParisien) and on Instagram (@chicparisien). Xoxo.
Real Chic Brides of Instagram
If you aren't following us on Instagram you're missing out on daily inspiration and a community of Real Chic Brides bringing their dresses to life on their wedding days. Here's a little snippet of what's going on at @chicparisien.
This Real Chic Bride lounges in her Lazaro in a quiet moment before her wedding.
Another Lazaro bride! Real Chic Bride Kristen and her husband take off in a vintage car towards their happily ever after.
A Real Chic Bride in Inbal Dror gets a twirl on the dance floor.
A close up look at a detail on a Real Chic Bride's Romona Keveza gown.
A sweet moment between a Real Chic Bride in Monique Lhuillier and her groom.
How To Take Care of Your Wedding Dress Before and After Your Wedding
We know that a wedding dress is an investment, albeit a beautiful investment that you get to wear, celebrate love and dance in, but an investment nonetheless. Like any investment it requires a bit of care, patience and attention to maintain it. Brides ask us all the time the best way to care for the dress before the wedding and what to do to preserve it after, so we thought we'd round up a few basic tips that apply to almost every dress and share them here:
- When you buy your dress we'll give it to you prepped and wrapped up so that you can just hang it up safely.
- If you're traveling to your wedding destination be sure you hang it up as soon as you arrive. Ideally, the dress will be able to hang for a few days before the wedding and rest on the rack.
- While it may seem like the right thing to do is steam the dress, usually that's a gentler way to get the wrinkles out, it's not what you want to do with most dresses. You should press the dress with a new iron on a silk setting and use a clean pillowcase in between the iron and the dress to minimize the direct heat.
- After the wedding, when you've danced, hugged, kissed and are through with the big day - take it to be dry cleaned immediately after. Don't waste any time.
Don't forget our Monique Lhuillier trunk show is this weekend (September 19-20). It's not too late to book an appointment and come try these dresses on in person. And then take care of them after of course.
images via Monique Lhuillier
Three "Do's" For Brides On Their Wedding Day
Hello our chic brides-to-be! We were thinking a bit about what information might be helpful for you as you start to prep for your big day. Once you've gotten the big, obvious things checked of your list - like shopping for a dress! - and your wedding date is getting closer there are a few tips to keep in mind that we've collected over 45 years of helping brides.
- Do - Try our your hair and makeup in advance. All brides, regardless of how clear a vision they have of their hair and makeup styles, should schedule a trial run with both the hairstylist and makeup artist who will be helping you make your vision a reality. If you are wearing any special headpiece or statement jewelry you should be sure to include them in your test. No one wants a surprise on their wedding day or to feel like they look any less than perfect - a trial run can help you iron out all the details that you might not have considered in advance.
- Do - Buy a signature fragrance and start wearing it the day of your wedding. If you've ever bought a new perfume on vacation you know how much pleasure it can bring you to remember walking on the beach or exploring the streets of Paris every time you put that scent on. A perfume that you tie to your wedding day will remind you every time you spritz it on of the sensory memories of that night.
- Do - Have an extra, more comfortable pair of shoes handy that are about the same height as your "real" shoes. The trend right now is to wear big, beautiful designer heels - which is stunning - in a photo. The reality is you won't want to fret over your aching feet on your wedding day, so come prepared with an extra pair that will still suit the dress' hem, but will comfortably keep you on the dance floor as long as you'd like.
photo by ktmerry of a real chic bride in monique lluillier
Mira Zwillinger's 2014/2015 Collection Trunk Show and Notes on Personal Style
Next week is our Mira Zwillinger Trunk Show (September 5-6) and in preparation/to get you as excited as we are, we wanted to share these photos from her 2014 - 2015 collection. We love the bold and edgy unexpected choices for styling these very beautiful and feminine gowns; instead of seeing them in a traditional bridal style, we're seeing these chic and feminine gowns styled with a bit of edge. Replace the flowing locks with a short cropped hair cut and a bit of sly ink peeking out from under sheer overlays and swap the chandelier earrings for studs on the upper cartilage. The dresses themselves still feature styles that everyone loves and traditional, flattering cuts made of the most sumptuous fabrics you can imagine.
Designer Mira Zwillinger sites snowflakes as the inspiration for this collection, as no two dresses are exactly alike - remind of all of you. This photo shoot is a pleasant reminder of how a traditional gown can be styled to suit a bride's personal style.
Whether you decide to style one of these gowns, or whatever gown you pick, with a bit of your own flair and style you're sure to make it feel like it was made for you. Call and schedule your appointment now to come in and feel these Mira Zwillinger for yourself!
Why Shop A Trunk Show?
If you follow us on any of our social media outlets (and you should!) you’ve probably noticed that we are always promoting an exciting upcoming trunk show. These specialty events sometimes they have obvious additional perks, but we know that with so much to learn and navigate in the world of being newly engaged, brides-to-be sometimes aren’t clear on why to shop a trunk show. We’re here to clear it up.
Additional Perks
A trunk show is a little mini-takeover of a bridal boutique of a single designer and that designer. The designer and the boutique come together to bring you some bonuses, ranging from little to big, to incentivize you to join in on the fun and get to know the brand. Think: free veils, extra train or a discount like 10% off.
Get Up Close And Personal
If you’re attending a trunk show because you know you’re drawn to that designer’s aesthetic, you’ll be in for a treat; trunk shows usually showcase the featured designer’s entire collection instead of just the pieces that store has chosen to stock from that collection. Usually, a store tailor picks what dresses they think will appeal to their clientele, which might work just fine for you, but if you want to see the whole runway collection in the flesh, a trunk show is really the only way to go. You’ll get a look at each and every piece from that season, most of the time, before it’s in stores at all.
Our upcoming trunk show featuring Bliss by Monique Lhuillier will feature the whole range of gowns a few months before you’ll see them in stores (featured in these images). And you don’t want to miss these latte, blush and silk white beautiful gowns for the modern bride – they are positively lovely.
Make A Request
Thinking of coming into a trunk show because you’re a fan of that designer’s past work? If you’re pining over a dress you saw a Pinterest or in an editorial from a few months or years ago, but can’t find it in stores anymore, a trunk show is a great way to make a special request for a specific gown. The store and the brand’s team are working closely together and usually have a personal relationship, so you can start a conversation with a brand and make a request for a dress from past seasons.
Meet and Greet
The biggest reason to shop a trunk show for your bridal gown is if the designer is there in person. What better way to get an expert’s opinion than from the person who knows that gown inside and out, who has a true vision for how to style it, fit it and make sure it’s just right? If a designer is scheduled to be at a trunk show and meeting with brides, like our recent trunk show with Lazaro, you should make an appointment as soon as possible – it’s truly a once in a lifetime opportunity made all the more special.
A designer appearance is pretty rare at a trunk show, but it’s more common that the brand will send a brand representative like a stylist or creative director.
We hope to see you at one of our upcoming trunk shows – be sure to follow us on Instagram @chicparisien for up to the minute information on events and daily bridal inspiration.
see the full Bliss by Monique Lhuillier collection here and call us now to make your appointment for the trunk show!