i found your wedding booties

dieppa restrepo at bona drag

don't they look so buttery soft?

the black version is pretty jammin too

Bona Drag Does Weddings (Again!)

Bona Drag just launched the long-awaited (were you awaiting? I was awaiting) second installment of their ceremonial collection.

I smell a new it dress. I'm just not sure which one it is.

Pictured above: Mara Hoffman Coiled Snake Gown ($1400), Lindsey Thornburg Courtney Love Gown (made in NYC, $1400), With Hearts In My Eyes Lace Bias Cut Gown (handmade in Milwaukee! $450) + The Sway Byron Cropped Leather Jacket ($460)

Check out the whole collection, then shop here.

What do I wear to a wedding in TOFINO?

dear esb,

I'm heading out to Tofino, British Columbia for a wedding this September. I'm super excited about the location (right on the beach), but all the guests were told to expect anything when it comes to the weather. 

I'm left feeling completely unsure and hopeless about what to wear for a beach wedding where we could be hot, cold, or soaked from rain, or perhaps some combo of all three. Can you or your lovely readers offer some help? I was thinking something long and in a natural fabric, but can't get much further than that (I did mention I'm hopeless, right?). 

Also - thanks to you and the lovely ladies at Bona Drag I scored my dream wedding dress in the Mara Hoffman all seeing bridal gown for our cottage wedding next year. But, until I can rock that hot number, I need some help with my current dress dilemma. 

many thanks....

p.s. I probably should have said I've got a budget of about 300 to work with...

*****

TEVAS!!

just kidding.



How bout you do this Mara Hoffman snake braided maxi* + jean jacket + booties. (Though you really could rock Tevas, and you'd blend right in with the natives....)


*If you happen to wear a size large, it's on sale over here.

I really want to like this Mara Hoffman....

It's $312. It's 100% cotton.

And yet.... Is that weird upper-stomach region really a place that anyone wants to show off?

Alexa Chung's little lace dress

Love the dress, love the hair, love the little gold flats (and bare legs)..... She could be on her way to the courthouse to get married, no?

Via Vogue Paris

Shop Bona Drag (obvs)

HOLY SHIT I FOUND YOUR WEDDING EARRINGS

Elegant with just a hint of fuck-off-mom-i'll-do-what-i-want.

Handmade in Italy by Iosselliani at Bona Drag

While you all are shopping....

Dear ESB, 

Okay, so I never thought I'd be writing into a wedding advice column, but then I discovered you and got engaged and am slowly losing my mind. I guess that's just the way it is---once the ring hits the finger, your mind sorta implodes with girl fairy tales and calligraphy.  

Anyhooo.... So, I saw this dress on your site and I fell in love. But, it's sold out in my size! I'm a 6/8 and the largest they have is a 2! My friends, who think it's very me, say I should buy it and try and get it taken out. But, I'm nervous that would ruin the dress. 

Do you think I should try that? Or do you have any other dress suggestions that might be sorta similar? 

Thanks! 

*****

Sadly, you can't let out a size 2 to a size 6. At BEST you'd get a couple of inches, but then the beading would be effed.

Has anyone seen anything similar? Or similarly fantastic?



It really is a fantastic dress.

(Check out Bona Drag's entire ceremonial collection over here.)

Bona Drag Does Weddings

I've been recommending them for eons, but it is now OFFICIAL.

Check out the whole ceremonial collection, and shop here.

I WANNABE USCHI

dear esb.

i love the golden rolling stones era and would like to go for a look a la anita pallenberg [image 1], bianca jagger, uschi obermaier [image 2] with a modern twist. in reality, I have no clue where to look. I don't seem to be able to find something I like.

maybe genius esb or her adorable readers have some ideas ?

I attached some photos. I am a medium size if that matters, like my legs and decollete - my waist not so much, have blonde wavy hair. we're going to elope (with family) and surprise our friends with an invitation to a wild party afterwards.

THANK YOU <3
Wannabe-Uschi ;)

PS, feel free to correct my bad english

*****

Here's hoping you are SMOKING HOT, my dear wannabe.* That is going to be the key ingredient.

A few ideas for dresses

Clockwise: Vintage Josefina Gauze Gown, Lover Ivory Wiccan Dress (also avail here), Vintage 70s Halson, Erin Fetherston Wrap Dress. 

Two of these were reader suggestions over here -- you might want to check out all the comments.

______________________________

*Have you read/listened to the Keith Richards book? Speaking of men with SMOKING HOT taste in women.

Introducing the MOHAWK of wedding dresses

(I mean, if this one is the mullet.)

Ivory Serpent Dress by Lover at Bona Drag

omg i love you guys.

CROWNS IT IS!!

And the winner of the Bona Drag contest is Galerie, of the Racerback + Silver Fringe!

That Lauren Manoogian Cotter Fringe Necklace was THE most popular item you guys included in your outfits, and she really did work it the best.

Update: Photo by Kate Daigneault (thanks, Maddie!) via The Lane.

p.s. Galerie, email me!!

Bona Drag Shopping Contest: THE VOTE!

So, I challenged you guys to put together an outfit for the Philly Bride featuring a dress for under $250 and at least one item from the Bona Drag online store. 

I also said I'd give extra points to anyone who found a way to incorporate small dogs/cats/bunnies. No idea what I was thinking.

Anyhoo. You guys did really well. And some of you made me look like a complete photoshop amateur, but I tried not to hold it against you (TONIA).

from Johnna (pictured above): This dress. These shoes. This bracelet. This ring. <-- jaguars count as cats.. right?

from Galerie: amazing acne naia dress with braided racer back, silver fringe necklace, grey suede platform sandals, and to splurge, a fabulous lace cape

from Tonia: The dress is here, the shoes here, the bracelet here and the DOG CHARM (!!!) here (hopefully I am not the only one in-love with wiener dogs.)

from Aimee: hello lovely! ($216), with this necklace ($545, i knooow), and these shoes ($398) and if there is a chill this jacket ($98)

from Melissa: Alright, the reformation dress, with these gorg pearls and the highest, comfiest heels or wedges you can find.

Pls use your vote wisely. The winner will receive a $200 gift certificate from Bona Drag.

Wedding? Yes! Rehearsal? NO.

I am having the super funsiest time perusing your Shopping Contest entries. Nicole almost stole my heart for doing the above layout herself in Polyvore.

But you guys should know better than to suggest any kind of dress in white/ivory/blush for a rehearsal dinner.

DON'T BLOW YOUR WHITE-DRESS WAD THE NIGHT BEFORE THE DAMN WEDDING.

I'll give you til Monday afternoon-ish PST to post more entries/redeem yourselves.

Erin Fetherston dress on The Outnet ($195), Big Bunny Ring by Digby & Iona at Catbird ($180), Rabbit's Foot Necklace from Cities In Dust Inc. ($60), Jeffrey Campbell Rose Floral Platforms from Bona Drag ($130)

don't want to look skanky at my rehearsal... (It's a SHOPPING CONTEST, you guys!)

Dear ESB,

First, your website rocks.

Second, I need some advice. I'm getting married to the best man ever in the suburbs of Philadelphia in November. The wedding itself is a bit more rustic/chic. To satisfy our urban/chic sides, we've opted to have the rehearsal dinner in the penthouse of a steakhouse in the city with a sick view of the Philadelphia skyline (yes, there is one).

My wedding dress is pretty traditional, all lace, strapless, corset back, beautiful, etc. So for the rehearsal, I want to wear something a bit edgy/sexy/urban. I'm having trouble finding the right dress in my budget (less than $250 please!) that isn't total skank or total bo-ring. I'm slender, nearly 5'11'', and not afraid to wear some serious heels. Got anything for me?

Your help would be, well, awesome.

Philly Bride

*****

All right you guys, here's the challenge:

Put together an outfit for our Philly Bride featuring a dress for under $250 (obv) and one item from the Bona Drag online store. Bona Drag has a rad selection of edgy/sexy/urban dresses, but feel free to shop their shoes and/or jewelry if you find a kickass dress elsewhere.

Extra points for ppl who find a way to incorporate small dogs/cats/bunnies into their ensembles. (Or would that not be edgy?? I'm losing perspective.)

Paste as many entries as you can dream up in the comments below (one entry per comment), and PULEEZE use this little bit of html to create links:

<a href="http://lewebsite.com/">Le Website</a>

or

<a href="PASTE THE LINK HERE">WHAT DO YOU WANT TO CALL THE LINK?</a>

(Get it? Blogger very thoughtfully offers a preview, so you can see if the link worked before you publish your comment.)

I'll do like with the Country Club Wedding Crisis, and post my favorite outfits for you guys to vote on.

My lady at Bona Drag is offering a $200 gift certificate to the winner. WOOT UP!

Pictured: Pamela Love Single Porcupine Needle Pendant (I die) + Society for Rational Dress Blue Stripe Open Back Maxi
______________________________

This is not a paid post.

engagement rings under $100

Hello ESB!

I've just recently found your site, and loooove it. Needless to say, I'm also truly looking forward to more posts on MMOHIAC. Hope I don't get in trouble for reading that one online at work. :D

Here's a question, and lord knows, there may not be an answer. Have you seen any rings online that would do super-duty as engagement rings, that any girl would be out of her mind to not love, that are under $100? We're poor/in love out of our minds, and want to get engaged asap. I showed the Love of my Life the catbird heart ring for $88 and he said he loved it, but in all due respect, he couldn't ask for my hand with it.

Ideas?

All my love,
Lady X

*****

Here are my picks.

Erika Weiner Mini Hermiker Solitaire from Bona Drag

Snake Bone Ring from Macha

Pyrite and Sterling Silver Ring by Markhed (first posted here by Pour Porter)

Spanish Almandine Garnet from Rich Ruby Red (this one is $100 even, but I figured I'd sneak it in)