Seriously. I think the world just exploded. MAC, the mind-blowing cosmetic line that I wax poetic about has teemed up with my  girl Lilly Pulitzer, the “pink and green queen” of apparel, stationary and accessories “it” girl, to make magic at the makeup counter with MAC in Lillyland. I don’t really have words for this because I’m just that excited, so just go look around for yourself. My favorites, the Hot n’ Steamy Pink Nail Laquer, the Pearl matte eyeshadow, and the Lip Gelee in “Preppy”. Love, Love, Love. Listen up all you little Lilly Loving prepster with your popped collars. I ask one thing this January of a brand new year.  Put down the baby pink blush, and live a little in Lillyland with MAC. Just try it. You might like it.

It’s that time again… Salute your inner prepster. It’s summer. Why not? If you bestie frequently sports a string of pearls, a popped collar, madras flip flops and anything with a whale… this post is for you lady. Listen up.

A shower should be a reflection of all that the bride is, so if your bride-to-be is a seriously put together, pink and green model of preppy perfection make your life easy and follow suit for her bridal shower.

Here’s everything you need to know to plan a perfectly preppy bridal shower.

THE INVITATIONS
This is your first clue to guests that this shower is going to be pretty-in-prep. So shop around and set the tone here.

Preppy Stripe Invitation from MyGatsby.com

Andalucia Green Invitation by Bliss from Paper Buzz

Preppy Gingham, Plaid and Polka Dot Invitation by Polka Dot Paper Shop

THE DRESSES
I’m a pretty firm believer that bridal shower attire should always still remain a little bit on the dressy side. Not over the top evening wear obviously, as they used to say, your Sunday best. But if you’re a pretty little preppy I shouldn’t have to tell you that. You wear your pearls to sleep don’t you? What?   I do.

These fun new “Summer in the Vineyard” dresses from Kiel James Patrick are PERFECT for a preppy shower, whether it’s the bride, her maids or her lovely ladies in waiting, these sweet summer frocks are perfect for a preppy shower.

Lindy Mayfair Dress from Kiel James Patrick $68

Chartner Meadow Melon Dress from Kiel James Patrick $68

April Darling Dress from Kiel James Patrick $68

OR

go traditionally preppy and sport something in Lilly, and J.Crew or Vineyard Vines with looks like these…

Bowen Dress Solid Lace by Lilly- $248

Embossed Green Lorelei Dress $118

Vines Skylark Dress by Vineyard Vines $295

THE CENTERPIECES
If you were lucky enough to hit up the MacKenzie Childs Barn Sale last weekend (which was amazing) you can make use of the seriously discounted and seriously adorable planters they have to decorate tables. If not, you just have to dig a little deeper in your pocket. Plant adorably simple herbs like rosemary, basil, parsley and thyme and DIY your own adorable plant sticks with materials from your local craft store.

Courtly Check Planter $25 from MacKenzie- Childs

Pink & Yellow Stripe Planter $25 from MacKenzie-Childs

THE DECORATIONS
Keep it simple and in the same color scheme as your invites. Using varying shades of fewer colors is a good way to keep things interesting without going overboard. I love this faux rose kissing ball from Special Occasions Designs. Perfect for decorating outside the venue on iron stakes or on the doors.

Floral Kissing Balls $20 from Special Occasions Designs (Etsy)

Hang personalized tags on chairs as place cards instead of using table cards.

Personalized Hang Tags- $5.95 for set of 12 from paper Eclectiques (Etsy)

Buy up sets of fun and flirty party poms to hang from the ceiling from Etsy seller Party Poms or DIY with this easy tutorial from Martha over on In The Details Blog!

Girl Fun set of 5 from Party Poms on Etsy $25

Pom Pom Decor from Martha Stewart

THE FAVORS
Fill tiny monogrammed boxes with flower seeds for guest to take home and plant.  If you’re more of a traditionalist fill with small candies, nuts or dried fruits for guests to take on the way out, or place at each place setting.

Personalized Gift Boxes $2.50 each from Special Occasion Designs (Etsy)

Monogrammed Compact Mirror from The Preppy Polka Dot

GIFT GIVING
Distribute these adorably preppy recipe cards from Dabney Lee at Home with the invitations and have guests bring their favorite recipe for the bride to the shower.

Dabney Lee Recipe Box

Kate Spade Posy Vases are perfect to brighten up a room…

Kate Spade Posy vases $49 on Sale!

Monogrammed Candlepot from Pottery Barn

Don’t forget to say THANK YOU…
Mind your manners and get your thank you notes out pronto on some super preppy paper.

Preppy Polka Dot Thank You from Dainty Invites

Kate Spade Thank You Notes $25

More from the NYC Stationary Show. These AMAZING buckets and oval tins from the MacBeth Collection are perfect for beach weddings (Store flipflops for guests) and excellent for perfectly preppy welcome baskets /bins for out of town guests! I really do LOVE these, and the best part … you can design your own!

Next up… Lifeguard Press which features loads of Lilly. Stationary in shades of pink and green with designs for every occasion. Their booth was adorable. Note the super cute poof garland a la Martha. Adorable.

I love the gift bags and their wedding stationary from Lilly…

Next up… Smock Paper. Based out of Syracuse- Love that. Seriously BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL Letterpress invitations. Their display was pretty wonderful as well. Here’s the great thing about Smock. All of their beautifully letter pressed invitations are eco-friendly. They are the first and only print shop in the U.S. to work on wholly sustainable bamboo paper. WE LOVE THAT!

Last but CERTAINLY not least… Linda and Harriet. My favorite upon favorites… Just go and look. It’s all fabuloso ladies.

Oh the ultra preppy, ultra fun and flirty color combo. Perfect for beach side, destination and tropical weddings that embrace the bright colors. 

Photos Courtesy of TheKnot.com

 Depending on your details you can substitute traditional wedding dresses with patterned Lilly dresses. I will caution you. Lilly is not a cheap brand. But you get what you pay for, and your bridesmaids… providing they like to pop their collar as much as you do…. will thank you for opting for a dress they WILL actually wear again. If you’re feeling extra sweet offer to pay for your bridesmaid dresses as a thank you for agreeing to make you their priority for the next 8 – 10 months.

Fitch Shift Dress in Grasshopper Green $348

Briere Dress Silk Chiffon $428

AND… Lilly has a great part of their online shop called “The Little White Dress” which might be a perfect bridal outfit change for a more casual wedding, a rehearsal dinner or an out fit to leave your giant party in. People still do that right? A fun new take on the “honeymoon suit.” Or keep with your own theme and don your own pink and green ensemble fit for traveling to someplace exotic, warm and honey-mooney.

Fiesta Dress Sateen $288

You can always opt for something a little bit more conservative and go with solid colored bridesmaid dresses from David’s Bridal in shades of pink or green with alternating colored flowers. Lime green dresses with bright pink flowers are beautiful! And a pale pink dress with a bouquets of green and white works too! Plus it’s a little less expensive for your ladies in waiting. You can always incorporate the patterned look with “Little Lilly” for your flower girls. They have adorable children’s dresses that are perfect for a preppy wedding.

Green Bridesmaid Dress from Jasmine Bridal

 I know I put this dress up a lot. It’s just so pretty. I can’t help it.

Cotton Candy Sydney Dress $225 J.Crew

Maren Dress $98

 Even the groom and his boys can get in on the action. Brides.com put together this look for a preppy chic wedding.

Photo Courtesy of Brides.com

Photo Credit: Three-button suit, Charles Tyrwhitt, ctskirts.co.uk. Pink-and-white striped shirt and tie with turtles, Vineyard Vines,vineyardvines.com.

Always Vineyard Vines Groomsmen ties. Always.

Photo Courtesy of Brides.com

Photo Credit: A clutch of peonies, roses, ranunculus and hydrangeas adds a jolt of color; about $275, Belle Fleur, NYC, bellefleurny.com.

Invitations can go one of two ways too. Pick a solid color and embellish with the other color, or use both in a more complex patterned invite.

Summer Fever Invitation from Custom Creations (Etsy)

Secret Garden Wedding Invitation by Tulaloo (Etsy)

Custom Invitations by Embellished by Tiffany (Etsy)

Greet your guests with this Pink and Green guest book and pen set from Etsy seller Creative Bridal Solutions.

Pink & Green Guest Book by Creative Bridal Solutions (Etsy)

I’m a big fan of the out of town bachelorette weekend. I’m a bigger fan of brides saying thanks to their bridesmaids as much as possible. Do you really have any idea how much money we are spending on you?? A lot. 

To say thank you, fill a monogrammed (obviously) bag from The Palm Gifts with adorable preppy treats like, flip flops from J.Crew or these adorable pink and green checked ones from The Palm Gifts, Notecards from Lilly Pulitzer, and maybe even a silver monogrammed ring or preppy bachelorette coozies from Preppy Monogrammed Gifts. Also just a quick note about J.Crew… if you still have your student discount lying around you can get 15% off in-store (varies) purchases. Definitely worth using.

Flip Flops by J.Crew $24.50

Lilly Circle Notes $16

Polka Dot Bridesmaid Glasses $15

Seriously. How cute are those glasses!? I am obsessed. I love them. They are from Etsy seller The Preppy Polka Dot.  They also have these adorable shot glasses with fun ribbon that would be adorable to carry around for a bachelorette party!

Preppy Polka Dot Shot Glasses $9 each

And for further inspiration… courtesy of Vineyard Vines… because they’re awesome. Here are some pink and green wedding parties to rock your world.

Pink and Green Wedding Inspiration

Pink and Green Wedding Inspiration

Pink and Green Wedding Inspiration

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