Category: Trend Watch

If you wouldn’t be caught dead wearing something from last season, why would you serve food that was as just as passé as those Ugg boots gathering dust in your closet? As Californians, our desire to stay in vogue is not limited to our wardrobe. Since we come from a state with an abundance of wine, cheese, organic produce and other goodies, we also tend to keep up with the “in” foods—while watching our fashionable figures, of course!

With soaring fuel and food costs, reining in your wedding budget is becoming increasingly important. In today’s Los Angeles Times, there’s a great article featuring ways to cure your own case of wedding sticker shock (check out the quotes from our own creative wedding diva, Jolene Rae Harrington!). Read on for some expert wedding tips.

The wedding team was wonderfully put together by the extraordinarily talented wedding coordinator, Jubilee Lau of Jubilee Lau Events. The lighting effects were customized to the client’s style by John Woods at Enhanced Lighting, who continues to amaze me with his ability to go the extra mile. Music was provided by the fabulous Carl Mindling of Reach Carl. Linens and Tabletop decor were provided by Classic Party Rentals, including the wonderful patterned dinner plates and the Black Chameleon chair with a rhinestone bucket. The Custom Thai silk runner was by yours truly. Cake and catering were provided by Four Seasons Hotel. Furniture and props were courtesy of Blueprint. Last—and certainly the hit of the party—was the fantastic Candy Bar designed by Laura Isom for Nancy Liu Chin Designs!

My copy of Elle magazine with Jessica Simpson on the cover came in the mail last week. After flipping through page after page of fashion spreads, I noticed that black is huge and I for one am glad. You will see black minimalism, black lace accents, black biker chic, black vintage detailing.

It was 8-8-08, and my friends Betty and Mark decided to make the 1-1/2 hour drive from LA for a weekend in Ojai, which is where I live. They wanted to take me to dinner “someplace peaceful and delicious.” So naturally, I chose the Ranch House, a lushly landscaped oasis at the edge of town. From our seat on the restaurant’s pretty patio, we spied a couple dining alone on the garden terrace, he in formal wear and she in a long white satin gown. They were obviously way past their prom days, and after discreet inquiries, we learned that they were indeed “just married.”

Flowers too frou-frou? Plain white too plain? For modern brides with a forward fashion sense, stripes on their wedding cake have a smart and sassy look that’s just right. In the same way that a clean, symmetrical pattern of alternating color lends contemporary dash to a well-decorated living room, so too can stripes spice things up for the reception’s grand finale.

Everyone’s talking about InStyle Weddings’ recent report of celebrity-driven wedding trends…but I have my own opinion!

As you may have already realized, finding a flattering wedding hairstyle is almost always easier said than done. My own wedding hair search involved me spending hours at my salon having my hair twisted, tugged, and curled into countless “almost perfect but not quite” styles. I’m not sure, but I may have even seen my stylist wield a crimping iron at one point (considering it was 2002, this was more than a little disturbing!). By the end of the day, both my hair and nerves were a bit fried. Sure, I found a style, but I also had to spend the next few days “resting” my hair and deep conditioning with pricey products.