Can I (how can I) tell my guests what to wear?

I wanted to suggest "barn dance attire" on the invitation. I pictured guests in western shirts and gingham sundresses... (And it would be our little ode to David Shrigley.) But I got mixed reactions when I threw the idea out to my friends.

Things have changed a little now that I have a new dress. Barn dance attire might feel too casual. But I'm having trouble letting it go.

What the f* is the attire for a (stylish) wedding on a farm in the forest? Help! (And how closely do the guests really have to match the bride and groom?!)

(Image courtesy of jchamp54)

Wedding invitation by David Shrigley (I wish)

Deep down, this is what we would like our invitation to look like. Seriously. David Shrigley is an icon around our house. (Peonies, why are you Scots so effing cool?)

It might be a hair too casual/psychotic for a wedding invitation. But there will be an influence, people.

(Image by David Shrigley, courtesy of smooth noodle maps)

Enough F'n Sex and the City

Okay, I'm going to the movie this weekend. I've got to see that wedding. But then I'd prefer not to see SJP's face for a lo-ong while.

Check out the love-hate saga at Time Out New York.

(Image courtesy of Time Out New York)

If You Stop Buying $800 Shoes, Their Price Will Lower

In honor of the Sex and the City premiere, I had to repost this piece from New York Magazine. It made me laugh. And then wince.

Ever wonder why Christian Louboutin's sequined ballet flats retail for $880? It's simple: because you keep buying them. (Click here to read the full article)

(Image: Christian Louboutin courtesy of net-a-porter.com)

I want to live in the House of Dagmar

I want these clothes. I also want to live in a house with no junk mail. And no computer, apparently. That might be okay.

Or is she bored out of her skull??

(Images courtesy of House of Dagmar)

Groom Style: Patrick

The Thoughtful Day wedding pics have hit the blogs, and Erica's groom looks killer. I love the skinny tie with the slim fit suit. And the pale yellow pocket hankerchief/sock combo are coordinated without being too match-y.

Via A Cup of Jo.

(Images courtesy of Thoughtful Day)

F* the wedding industry

I'm already planning the wardrobe for my road trip honeymoon!

(Okay, yes, planning the wardrobe. But I'm a clever shopper, people.)

Via A Practical Wedding.

feeling wifey today

FH found a washer and dryer for me on craiglist. He heaved them into the Volvo and hauled them all the way up the stairs and down the path...

The dryer's not hooked up yet (she's gonna need her own little shed) but I am washing everything in sight and hanging it on the line! It's amazing, actually, how quickly laundry dries the old-fashioned way.

When I was a teenager, I remember feeling sorry for old married ladies who got excited about things like washing machines. What can I tell you? I'm thrilled.

(Image from here)

Groom Style: Rocking the bow tie

Honestly, I'd always been dubious about bow ties. I thought they ought to be reserved for school boys or science teachers. But these work.

Moschino Fall 2008. (See Nibs for Martha B's picks for Spring/Summer.)

(Images courtesy of men.style.com)

Groom Style: F* the belt

I've been obsessing about a belt for FH. All of the dress belts I've looked at are too fussy or too bulky. But I just came across this excellent piece of advice:

GQ's Style Guy says: I never wear a belt with a suit. I don’t have belt loops. My trousers are held up by adjustable side tabs, which provide a reasonable amount of adjustment to allow for seasonal feasting and fasting. A good tailor can probably replace your belt loops with side tabs for a nominal fee, or remove your belt loops and install buttons for suspenders.

Yippee!

(Image courtesy of men.style.com)

Groomsmen Style: Beware

Please don't force your groomsmen to relive regrettable style moments from a cappella history. Controlling the color palette is cool. 12 men in red blazers is ridiculous.

And as The Upgrader points out, the only people who should be wearing white gloves with black tie are the help. Don't dress your groomsmen (or yikes! the groom) like members of the catering staff.

(Images courtesy of men.style.com)

Groom Style: Thom

Nothing fussy, just a great suit that fits. And the custom converse are the perfect touch. (When they work, they work. Note only the groom's have the red tongue!)

Check out Jesse & Thom's day-after shoot and wedding pics on perfect bound.

Photos by of Our Labor of Love.

New York Style

Just got back from 10 days in nyc. Wore my wide-leg jeans to death.

Say what you will, but the style in New York is just better. There is constant inspiration walking down the street.

I can't resist posting this pic from The Sartorialist, and my favorite bits of Julie Ragolia's style profile:

Personal Style quirks?
As much as I shop, I don’t like when my clothes feel too new

Never caught wearing?
The season’s identifiable “it” item...

Dress to impress who?
Myself. Admirers can only come after that.

Here's to dressing for yourself! That's the way to feel killer when you leave the house, whether you're wearing Karl Lagerfeld or thrift-store or Target.

(Image courtesy of The Sartorialist)

mmm felted vase

I'm having a bit of a felted fetish. Wouldn't these be super cool centerpieces with the single tree peony?

By Patty of Papaver Vert on Rose and Radish.

Groom Style: Florals

Hey, why not? I kind of dig the rose breastplate, or whatever that is.

From the new issue of British GQ Style, via the Cut.

Organic Cotton Wedding Dress

I saw this long Phillip Lim dress at Barneys Coop yesterday, and I thought it would be fabulous for a casual-chic wedding. It's got the ease of a J. Crew wedding dress, but more... Style. There. I said it.

And it's organic cotton with a sustainable silk lining!

(Image courtesy of Platinum Blonde Life)

Dream wedding shoes (again)

Sent my intrepid bridesman to the Sigerson Morrison warehouse sale today to hunt down my new wedding shoes. My dream wedding shoes. (Note: not shoes pictured.)

Of course my shoes are not on sale. So I must ask myself, how much is too much to spend on DREAM wedding shoes? I'm only planning on doing this once, people.

(Image courtesy of Sigerson Morrison)

Groom Style: Laid back (or is he...?)

Manitique is based in Denmark, but I would've guessed Southern California. I guess we don't have a monopoly on aviators and cacti...

Via notcouture.com

(Images courtesy of Manitique)

Bad bad bride

You guys, I'm trying to plan a green wedding. We did a save-the-date website instead of mailing paper. We're serving my uncle's grass-fed beef and local organic vegetables. Picking wildflowers to arrange in recycled glass bottles for the centerpieces.

But last week I officially fell out of love with my dress. It was an $80 sample I found at Meg, my favorite dress shop, and it was perfect for the spontaneous Vegas wedding I wanted to be prepared for. (Can you prepare for spontaneity? There's my first problem.) But it just didn't fit the bohemian forest wedding we're planning now.

Yesterday I bought a new dress. It's by indie designers from the east side (hooray!) and it's f*n fabulous.

I have to confess, though, I'm racked with guilt about the waste (and the money I've spent). One Meg dress, two pairs of pink shoes (that will no way in hell go with the new get-up), one pair of vintage fuchsia earrings. I've decided to donate the unworn dress here. That feels better than just plunking it on ebay. I have to decide whether to ebay the shoes. I don't wear much pink, it turns out.

(Images courtesy of John Michael Cooper)

Speaking of groom style...

Robert Downey Jr. wears the sh*t out of a suit in Iron Man. And the movie is great. (I don't even like action movies.)

(Image courtesy of Marvel)

Groom Style: Spring/Summer

Feels like cheating when I swipe them straight off men.style.com but f*ck it.

I think this lightweight grey suit by Black Fleece by Brooks Brothers ($2,700) and seersucker suit by Polo by Ralph Lauren ($1,395 for three-piece) are great.

(Images courtesy of GQ)

Ruffles and red shoes

From Akira Isogawa. Loving the red shoes. Hmmm...

Via All Things Bright and Beautiful.

(Images courtesy of Akira Isogawa)

Beautiful bands

I love the imperfection of these. Kaoru Silver Stardust Ring and Silver Sparkle Ring, Lauren Wolf Sea Urchin Stack Ring. All from auto.

I can't wait to wear a band on my finger...

(Images courtesy of auto)

Hip Hop bride?

Laura Kranitz headpiece worn by Lily Allen. (Who is fabulous, b/t/w. I hate to endorse myspace, but there's more music on her page.)

Via The Style File.

(LA Times photo via Laura Kranitz)

Somebody stole my secret

The trick is not to think about it.

Via PostSecret.

Wild Brides

I love the sexy, unbridled spirit of these photographs by Annabel Mehran.

Via Emma Cassi.

(Images courtesy of Annabel Mehran)