such amazing, vegetabular dresses

On sale! (Thx, my anonymous German reader!)

Sadly, they're only available in Europe.

SEEKING: this Dolce for 2K or less

Dear ESB,

Terrified by the thought of wearing a white poofy/strapless/sweat heart/trumpet/cupcake gown, I have been looking and looking for a unique gown that still reads wedding. I've seen great alt bridal at Stone Fox, Bona Drag, etc. but I'm 5'8'', size 6 with a lot of T (34DD) and A so a drop-waist, plunging neck, backless, slip something isn't going to cut it. 

I stalked this Dolce number online and knew it would be love. I tried it on and it was PERFECT. The floral print practically became my vision for my September farm wedding in Maine. The ruching was really flattering. It was the perfect amount of sexy and everything was contained.

Coming back to Earth -- this dress is 5,000. My budget is 2,000 or less. I can't spend the champagne money on this dress. I'm back on the hunt, but not sure I'll find anything as unique. I'm also in a bit of time crunch (wedding is end of Sept 2013). 

Thoughts??

thnx a mill!

*****

WHO FEELS LIKE SHOPPING??


I'm busy obsessing about tables. We marked it out on the floor, and it seems my perfect perfect perfect table is too deep for the space. (Not too long, but too DEEP.) Sadface. I'm thinking we might have to go the custom route...

Dear ESB: Since you're on a shoe kick...

Since you're obviously enjoying this spring's amazing shoes, I was wondering if you have an opinion (I'm guessing yes) about what kind of shoe to wear with this Dolce and Gabbana sun dress that I will be wearing to my wedding at my mother's apartment, and then two days later at a larger party for friends and family.

I've been eyeing the Emerson Fry Pharaoh heels but not sure about the chunkiness. I can do the shopping myself, just curious what you think about shape and color. 

I've been reading you forever, trust your judge more or less without question :)

xo

*****

Oh because that sounds fun. I tell you what SHAPE AND COLOR and you go shopping??

How do I know until I see it????????

Chunky = good
Rose = too matchy-matchy. I'd maybe go with something nude.

OH BUT WHEN I SHOP FOR NUDE/CHUNKY LOOK WHAT I JUST FOUND:

Roanne Mignon Sandal by Loeffler Randall

You asked for shoes, and I DID NOT DELIVER

Jun 1, 2011

Dear ESB,

I'm shoeless and it is a problem. I'm getting married to the best guy ever in October and I'm wearing a re-fashioned vintage gown. My dressmaker -- a superbly talented woman who specializes in vintage textiles -- is remaking an amazing peachy-lace 1930's form fitting gown for me by using parts of the lace from my mother's and grandmother's wedding dresses. The dress is sweet and sexy all at the same time.

The problem is I need to buy shoes now. The bottom of the dress is going to be very intricate and my dressmaker needs to know exactly how high my shoes will be before she starts creating this amazing, layered, lace-y gradated-peach waterfall.

At first I was thinking low heels, some sort of suede. But then I went shoe shopping yesterday and all I was attracted to were these gorgeous sky high pumps.

Can you help me find something vintage-inspired, sexy but not vixen, preferably not white (if the dress ain't white why should the shoes be?) and comfortable?

I remain in awe of your style,
Shoeless in Brooklyn.

*****

Aug 2, 2011

i am such an a*hole. did you find shoes??

****

Aug 25

You rock for following up. I did find shoes! Magically after searching every freaking store in New York City -- clearly an exaggeration but it felt like that -- at Century 21. I hate the place. It makes my skin crawl but I was desperate. In the sale section of the shoe department (that lawless area underground) I found a lonely pair of Dolce and Gabbana champagne colored peep toe pumps.

Then by a stroke of luck while at the Brimfield Antique Fair looking for some vintage rhinestone clip on earrings to spruce them up a bit I found shoe clips. Who knew they existed? They're perfect.

*****

(some more back and forth I won't bore you with)

*****

Dec 3, 2011

Voilá, photos of the shoes, with the dress, on my wedding day.

It was by far the best day of my life. I included a photo of Elm Court, the Vanderbilt Estate where we were lucky enough to have our weekend-long celebration. Now you see what I was up against, shoes to fit this place - not an easy task. 

What I ended up with went perfectly with my husband's navy tux and pink bow tie. Isn't he cute?

Everything about the day was amazing. The party got going early and the dance floor lasted for seven hours -- credit that to our rad DJ shipped up from NYC to Lenox, MA, our groovy friends and family and the many kegs of my husband's organic beer. Photos are by our photographer friends and family -- I'm a video journalist by trade and I'm lucky enough to have many pro-photo friends who snapped beautiful photos all night long. Love was most certainly in the air that day, it was a whirlwind of awesome. 

The day was perfectly us. I wish I could do it more than once -- with the same guy of course.

all the guys standing up there are BEYOND CUTE.

did anyone even notice the shoes??

Photos by Jon D'Auria, Jacob Krupnick, Jon Mancuso and Youngna Park