Are you guys up for another shoe challenge?

(7 days ago)

Hey ESB,

I come to you with a conundrum. 

I have been unable to find decent looking low wedge or chunky heeled shoes. I say decent because, so far, I haven't even found decent options. I'm getting married in the great outdoors and need something that won't cause me to sink into the ground- so please no high heels. And I don't want to be towering over my groom, so no higher than three inches.  

Can you and your readers help me out?

Many thanks!

Here is my dress [pictured above], only imagine a pinkish color under the lace. 

I bought these shoes on a whim but I'm undecided.

*****

(2 days ago)

Dear ESB, 

I emailed you last week when I at least had one potential option. Now anthropologie has emailed me to let me know the mini wedges aren't ever going to be available- and now I'm down to zero options.

Help me, ESB-kenobi, you're my only hope

*****

I'm stumped.

ESB-kenobi fail :/

Still waiting for a bride to rock Helmut Lang.

Will someone PLEASE get married in this ensemble?

In related news, Shopbop is launching a bridal boutique in a couple of weeks. (I know, right? Join the club.)

I have to admit I'm a little bit excited. Expecially after BHLDN turned out to be a big fat meh.

Dear ESB: Can I combine classy and funky?

so here's my dilemma.

I want to wear some brightly colored, oversized, bordering on clunky jewelry for our upcoming june wedding.  I was looking for a very simple dress (had to seek outside help on that one too), and figured they would compliment each other.

on sunday I bought this:

(mine will be cotton, not silk, and does not have that blingy brooch at the shoulder)

I love it, and it is still very simple, but is it too much of a classy-type dress for big and bright jewelry?

(background: fashion has never been my forte. I have been known to leave the house wearing outfits that would make gay men cry. figured I'd seek outside opinion before any major faux pas are committed.)

even though the dress seems a bit formal, the wedding totally is not. it's in the mountains of new hampshire and we will be splitting our time between dancing, drinking beers, eating delicious food and playing lawn games.

I am hoping to keep the whole ensemble very casual/non-bridal like. I'm not wearing a veil, am currently on the hunt for bright yellow shoes, (which apparently also are difficult to find. I am hoping when the spring kicks in so will the colorful shoes) and am seriously thinking of hemming up the dress to mid-calf to give it that audry hepburn vintage-y feel. 

so in my mind you say "hells yeah it works! go for it!" all is right with the world and I spend the rest of the day on etsy.

but if you say "ummmmm, no." your superior fashion sense will be deferred to.

my extended family thank you in advance

*****

show me the jewelry. etsy makes me nervous.

*****

haven't set my heart on any one piece yet, but maybe something along the lines of these?

(both anthro)

or this?

(the green is my fav elva fields, but I don't think it's available anymore...) 

there were a few others that I know I have seen somewhere, though couldn't find, and etsy was taking too long to sort through, but that should give you a rough idea.

I hadn't been looking too specifically as I didn't want to fall in love with something, and then not have it work with the dress. (my way around that was going to be just buy it anyways and wear it every other day but the wedding. but then I would still be looking for the wedding, so problem still not solved).

anywho, does that help?

*****

hells yeah it works! go for it!

(But you realize nothing for sale at Anthro is actually funky, right?)

Candace Ang

Shop here. (Srsly. Put down the Anthro catalogue.)

Via The Blah, Blah, Blahg...

What is with all the ANTHROPOLOGIE themed weddings?!

I don't care how well-photographed the catalog is. It's a fucking catalog.

I do think the Anthro windows are amazing. I'll admit to you right now that I tried (and failed) to make these for our wedding. Fortunately, I ordered extra paper lanterns in anticipation of that failure. DIY and I don't get along very well.

But all of a sudden everyone is taking inspiration from Anthropologie??

Go ahead and buy their shit if you want to. Some of it is pretty good. But can we just please acknowledge that Anthro didn't invent jam jar glassware and shabby-chic china and mismatched table cloths? They were just smart enough to capitalize on what cool girls have been doing forever.

I mean, I dig Alexander McQueen, but I know he didn't invent punk rock.

This post is brought to you with a nod to a couple of private tweeters.

s p a r k l e

I'm officially obsessed.

But f*ck Free People. And Anthropologie. And Urban Outfitters. I won't give my money to Yes on 8, even retroactively.

Via Le Fashion

the scarf is the new shrug

I think you should rock this at your wedding.

I wanted a shrug. I really did. I bought vintage knitting patterns on ebay and I nagged my bridesman to make me one until he finally told me he was too busy. (I can't hold it against him. He was testing recipes for our cake.) I put in an Etsy Alchemy request. BAD IDEA.

On our way up to the wedding, I made H-town drive all over Portland looking for the indie crafters. Where were the indie crafters?? I finally found a shrug at yes, Anthropologie, bought it, and did not wear it. Turns out I am not a shrug person.

Via NOTCouture.

Coffee Filter Clouds

Another Anthropologie display via a $10,000 wedding. Originally posted on daisy chain.

I've got to try this.

Green Decor

Photo by JEBirch (flickr) found on Craving Anthropologie.