Those of you who know me, KNOW that I love me some froof. Ya know… oversize flower pins, a touch of feather in the hair, big satin flowers on the shoes a la Carrie Bradshaw. I love it. I think it stems from wearing too many bows as a child…Either way, I seriously cannot get enough of it. It’s everywhere this season, from tank tops and headbands to slingbacks and dresses. So go out and make a statement. Whether it’s at the shower, out on the town, or strutting down the aisle… go big or go home.

Etsy is a fabulous place to find all things froof. The stuff out there is so fun! If you’ve never been… you’re missing out. They have Hairpieces, headbands and flowers….

Etsy Seller NevaPlume- $36

AOKI feather headpiece- $49 Etsy Seller Portobello

Etsy Seller $10 PierogiPicnic

The White Collection- Etsy Seller calexandra $8.95

The Sophie Headband from Etsy Seller theLittleOak $20

Anthropologie also has some really fun and flirty headbands with loads of froof! 

Brooches and pins…

Etsy Seller- $22 Jilliann's Pink Rose Brooch

Pale Beauty brooch $12.95

And other fun things…

Etsy Seller- $25 Star Selection

This is so great. This is a 5 satin rosette piece that detaches and can be added to any garmet! How much do you love that! Imagine adding it to the top of a simple little black dress! Not simple anymore… LOVE THIS!

Old Navy had some really great tanks in-store. They’re not available online, but they come in a whole bunch of colors with giant ribbon bows on the top left shoulder. It’s a nice little twist to the household beater.

And then there are Shoes…..

J.crew has these fabulous sandals that I would honestly kill for in every color. And they’re not $300+ like the rest of their shoes.

Satin Rosette metallic capri sandals- $78

Matisse Black & Yellow Sandals- $118 Shoes.com

Steve Madden

And on to the dresses… Seriously. Lela Rose is FANTASTIC. There’s froof everywhere. 

Lela Rose Spring 2009

Lela Rose Spring 2009

Lela Rose Spring 2009

Here are some of my favorite new party dresses of ’09 that will carry you through the any kind of throwdown this season. Whether it’s laid back cheap chic, or high profile glitz and glam, these dresses are sure to impress.  

Of course there are some of my go-to favorites like Anthro and Banana, but I threw in one of my new favorites. CMarchuska is a fabulous new line by a fabulous and very lovely lady. Her dresses, tees and clothing is sexy and get this…it’s eco-friendly. I’ll tell you all about them in another post. For now just ogle “the sylvia dress.”

Casual, Laid Back Afternoon Shin-Digs…

Purling Stream Dress $298- Anthropologie

Water Garden Dress $148- Anthropologie

Floral Neck-Split Shift Dress $168- Gap

Saucy Night Time Numbers that Turn Heads…

BR Monogram Silk Bow Dress- $250- Banana Republic

ABS by Allen Schwartz Ruffle Sheath Dress $288- Nordstrom

Sylvia Dress $135- CMarchuska Signature Collection

 Mid-Morning Brunching Frocks that totally trump a hangover…

Cap- Sleeve Shift Dress $130- Banana Republic

Betsey Dress by Lilly $268

Hailstones Shirtdress $158- Anthropologie

Photo Courtesy of Bravo TV

HOORAY! for Project Runway and their fanciful bridesmaid dress challenge in last night’s part I Season Finale! Personally, I’m a Runway whore and I love everything there is to love about Tim Gunn and Heidi Klum. Here’s my recap for those of you that missed it.

Photo Courtesy of Bravo TV

Photo Courtesy of Bravo TV

I happen to love Leanne and her pretty little architectural wave design collection. I liked her initial wedding dress, but with a little editing… HEYYYY now THAT my friends is a wedding dress. Watching that dress come down the aisle was perfection, and the thing had pockets. How great is that.   Her bridesmaid dress was magical and I would wear it to anything and everything always and forever.  WINNA. Hands down.

  

Photo Courtesy of Bravo TV

Photo Courtesy of Bravo TV

Jerell and Korto, ehh. I gotta say I was not a fan of either. Jerell’s bridesmaid dress looked like a cheap velour dress I wore to homecoming in 9^th grade, and the “ I wanna be couture please let me” wedding dress was looking a little haphazard.  Plus the girl had a flower pot growing out of her head. I mean come on…

Korto, I liked her wedding dress upon first glance back in Arkansas, but after her editing, unlike Leanne’s, I was less impressed, it was overworked as the judges claimed and the bridesmaid dress looked like it was cut from the exact same fabric, but whipped up in 20 minutes. Meh. Which, is sad because I have consistently loved her designs. I hope she can reach the wow factor place at Bryant Park.

Photo Courtesy of Bravo TV

Photo Courtesy of Bravo TV

 I could live without Kenley and her nasty little attitude forever, but I have to give the girl credit for her whimsical little “Alice” collection. I especially loved that featherific wedding dress, which, is so out there it’s just awesome. (Although the fact that she may or may not have yanked the idea from the Alexander McQueen runway show, bugs me a bit) I didn’t love the bridesmaid dress. Maybe it was the length that threw me off.  I don’t think that hemline would fly in god’s house. It just wasn’t my favorite. And I happen to love navy, I just don’t like Kenley and her eye rolling, and snide remarks to Heidi of all people. It’s not the Kenley show darling. Respect your fashion elders.

So Jerell gets the boot and the ladies take Bryant Park. Hurrah Hurrah. I hope Kenley can keep her attitude in check long enough to get some clothes made. 

I myself have never been much a bag whore, a purse moocher or a handbag hooker. No, no, dresses and shoes are my vices.  But my cousin, now she’s a girl who likes a good bag, and to an extent she’s right. A bag can totally make or break an outfit. (This, is where I’m kind of lying because I had the same black Nine West bag for about 6 years and just recently splurged on a Longchamp bag, which some not-so-hot suburbian housewife in my childhood hometown TJ Maxx referred to as an oversize diaper bag. Seriously? Bite me bitch. That’s half my paycheck.) I digress.

However for the Sara’s in all of us…I give you my bag post. Some of the best of the best this season from the shower satchel to the bachelorette party clutch. And for those of you who are really looking for a steal I suggest you start at the website Bag, Borrow or Steal, which is an instant fashion fix for anyone who can’t afford to buy a designer bag but wouldn’t mind carrying one around for a week or two.  Here, you can essentially “rent” or borrow a bag to match your latest look and if you so choose, steal it (you do have to pay for it) and never give it back. Kind of awesome.

I also want to mention that vintage shops, second hand stores and good will are really great for fabulous vintage finds. They can be very rare, but definitely worth looking for. I have a white beaded bag that belonged to my grandmother that I literally have carried to every wedding I’ve ever been to and I have gotten rave reviews time and again. That said, raid your grandmothers and maybe even mother’s closets. You never know what you’ll find behind the shoe boxes on the top shelf.

But some more of my favorites this season.

Sabina Quilted Clutch from South Moon Under for $148

Whiting & Davis Small Mesh Bag from South Moon Under ( I love this because someone in my childhood hand one and it’s so vintage and fabulous to ever come across as gaudy. Also available in Silver.) $54

Leather Fold Over Clutch from Nine West now on sale for $119.99

Printed Fabric Clutch from Talbots $48. ( Ok, I know. I totally get made fun of on occasion for perusing the online and sometimes in store goods of Talbots- because it’s “where my friends mom’s shop” BUT…lately they have been “oh so lilly” and a little prep can go a long way in my world. So… deal.)

Latico Satchel from Piperlime for $175

Beirn Large Envelope Clutch from Piper Lime for $298

Big Buddha Kayla Clutch from Piper Lime for $35

Salmon Cove is offering the readers of Be My Bridesmaid a discount on online order before July 19th! Just type the word “bridal” into the coupon code box and receive a 20 % discount on your order! Salmon Cove is offering this code exclusively to the readers of Be My Bridesmaid before July 19th, so jump on this ladies, and tell your friends.

This is a great line of super cute super prep clothing that’s great for bachelorette weekends, groomsmen gifts and welcome baskets. Pick your own outfit instead of being told what you’re supposed to wear and outfit the bridal party for any wedding weekend events.

Enjoy!

Fun new clothes to share!

Although I live in New York and sometimes feel that I must abide by the city-wide uniform of black and well… really just black , I do love a little color in my world. And really… a popped collar never killed anyone.

Salmon Cove is a fabulous line of super prep clothing that is super, super cute.

Ryan Vesce and Ben Wallace, a pair of wicked smaaart, and wicked talented hockey boys from Cornell launched Salmon Cove because they got tired of waiting for something wonderful to happen and decided to make it happen on their terms.

Vaguely reminiscent of the Murray boys over at Vineyard Vines, Salmon Cove products center around the oh so famous polo- here with fabulous color combos and jackets for men and women. They even have a custom shop, and who doesn’t love a little monogramming from time to time.

I gotta say that A) I am super impressed and B) Having met 1/2 of the pair this weekend…something tells me it’s probably pretty fun to go to work every day.

Check them out online and click on the store locator to get a list of retailers.

Happy Shopping!

So in addition to all of the weddings I have to attend, this year and next, I have some supplemental events: rehearsal dinners, showers and bachelorette parties to attend too. I’ve been dress shopping for a few months now for fun, flirty little spring dresses that will make me appear a) incredibly happy for the couple I’ve traveled so far to bestow my well wishes upon and b) super hot to every hot single groomsman at the party.

Here are some of my favorites:

GAP - Tropical-print Flounce Dress $69.50

CK Bradley – Lally Dress $358

J.Crew – Polka -dot rosette dress $168

Anthropologie- Yellow Cloud Dress $178

Boden – Pretty Applique Dress $168

Keep a lookout for a post on cute shoes to match tomorrow. Who doesn’t love shoes… come on.