Category: Wedding Dresses

We know who you are. You like a balance of the city and the natural world. You love the ocean, but you also love the mountains. You are chic, and you also care about your environment. So why not show off your good taste with a little Flair?

Not everyone has the luxury of shopping for their wedding dress in an upscale boutique, flattered and pampered by friends and admiring salespeople. You think trying to find a parking place within a mile of that chic downtown salon is tough? Read what former bride Lisa Haines (now Mrs. Haines-Betteinger) wrote to me:

My colleague Denise Auerbach dished with me about the successful wedding of a friend of hers—we’ll call her Debi—at the stunning Viansa Winery. “It was the second place I visited when I was planning the wedding,” reveals Debi, “and I knew right away it was perfect.”

The great thing about weddings is, it’s all about personal style. Take wedding dresses, for example. A bridal gown is the ultimate way to express yourself on your wedding day, and each year brides flock to California bridal salons like Kirstie Kelly Couture and L’Ezu to seek out that one gown that makes them feel stylish and special.

Calling all Southern California brides-to-be: what would you do for a Vera Wang wedding dress priced under $1000? What about a vampy Monique Lhuillier creation or a classic Carolina Herrera? If I’ve piqued your interest, clear your calendar on April 5 and 6.

During wedding season (like, now!) there are more opportunities than ever to meet with designers themselves or their skilled representatives for your personal wedding gown consultation. At a Trunk Show, designers bring their entire current collection to a salon…in trunks! During your private appointment, you’ll get valuable suggestions, and possibly even custom design changes to the wedding gowns. Salons often provide price incentives on wedding dresses purchased during the Trunk Show. Wedding accessories, veils and headpieces also have their own Trunk Shows, so even if you already have your wedding dress, there’s always room for a tiara or bracelet in your closet!

Some years the wedding fashion trends tell us to add colored ribbons to our white gowns, and other years big flowers or poufs are all the rage. The 2008 wedding dress runway buzz is all about the Return of the Sleeve. For years, strapless wedding gowns have ruled the wedding aisle. And why not? They’re sexy, chic and glam, and are the perfect excuse to accessorize with faux fur or wispy shawls

Hanna Hartnell, wedding dress and formal-wear fashion designer extraordinaire, has cooked up six red-hot gowns to fit the bill. Her special collection of attention-grabbing hues range from a deep rose to rich merlot. Hartnell, who is working with the Red Cross to help make the event a big success, is also donating a $3000 gown for their live auction.