LOOKIE THERE

It's the lacy white Lover this reader was searching for back in October.

$1,150 at Intermix and avail for international shipping!


(thanks MA!) (Here's hoping she held out for spring....)

Wedding dress halp!

Dear ESB,

I'm getting married next summer in my fiance's hometown and it will be a small ceremony in his parent's backyard and then a dinner reception at a great restaurant downtown. I would like to look classic and not too made up or bridal-y because it's an intimate affair and we're not particularly traditional. I would like to look great though, because it's a special celebration! :)

I'm very sure that I would like to wear a short white lacy dress from Lover's amazing collection (this, this or this, plus several other options I'm still considering) and my amazing sister and her husband will be graciously buying my dress for me as the raddest wedding gift ever. However, their dresses are hard to come by in Canada or online which makes trying on several dresses really difficult! I do also like this Zara dress (which I can easily purchase to try on and return for free if I don't like it) and a Lauren Moffatt dress [pictured above] but I feel like they may not look special enough for my wedding.

While I'm going to keep trying to get the Lover dress of my dreams, I feel like I need to look at alternatives too in case that doesn't work out. 

Do you have any suggestions for a lacy short dress with a similar look to the Lover, Lauren Moffatt and Zara dresses? I'm also open to a nice top and skirt combo too. I have a budget of CAD800, but if you have cheaper options all the better! I am 5'5" and hourglass shaped if that helps.

Excited Bride To Be!

*****

STOP IT WITH HOW CUTE THAT DRESS IS

I LOVE THE LAUREN MOFFATT

My one concern is that 100% silk (esp with long sleeves) might be a little warm for summer.... But I had to post it for someone else to buy.

Hold out for spring collections. Your dress is coming. I know it is.

what if you can only decide on the shoes?

We are eloping. In Austin. You may decide that I can't be helped after you read this.

I can't decide on a ring. I can't decide on a dress. I can't decide on my hair or if I'll carry any flowers. I haven't even thought about setting or an officiant. I can only decide on these shoes (in either color). I'm surprised I can decide on that! The thing with all the other stuff is I don't have a precedent. I don't wear white or dresses much (NY. black. and yes I know I don't have to wear white, and I don't have to wear a dress, but I'd like to give it a shot since we are eloping and I think FH [and our families, if they were privy at this stage] would like us to keep a few things traditional) and I never wear rings. I'm a bracelet girl. I would love help with both because I'm at the point where the internet has swallowed my perception and intuition up and everything looks the same. or bad. and just not me. but I'll take whatever seems most fun to y'all.

Budget under $700, and something around $400 or less would be sooo great. My instinct says on the shorter side is the way to go because I don't want it to feel over the top. I'm not into the ball gown elopements. And I'd probably feel more comfortable in less-than-head-to-toe-white. And I wanna see the shoes! I'm 5'3", 32C-24"-34". I like interesting shapes, architectural details, and a modern clean feel, because it's more flattering to my midget body but I'm not opposed to a little lace, and a touch of gothy feel. I do not do bohemian. I do not do bling. Even subtle bling. I wanted to love this LOVER and this Manivet (with a slightly opened up neckline) before we were eloping, when we were having a tiny wedding, and a normal-ish one respectively. Of course the LOVER is not available in the US and it does not go with the shoes. There is this LOVER which is over budget and while I love it on the model, I'm not sold that it's for me.

Rings. I love Anna Sheffield. My favorite one was this. Then when my dear friend got engaged in November, she had her jeweler uncle make her a replica. What can I say. We have similar taste. So that's out. Other things: I like black. I'm not sold on diamonds (ethics, and said hesitation regarding over-blinginess). I like herkimers but I don't want the setting to look too crafty. I want it to look modern and polished and I haven't seen any that cut it. I also like rutilated quartz. I'm not sure that I want two rings, and so am also open to a stone laden band. I've thought about Mociun, Alex and Chloe, Macha, and everything on Catbird. There was this ring which is so out of character for me but it is also my birth stone. I also like Bario Neal but none of them sing to me. I'm open to stacking and I like the idea of mixing metals because I do that in my other jewelry. Oh budget on the ring(s)... under $2k and I do have my mom's setting from her first marriage (with my dad) to mine for stones if i somehow go blingy.

phew. After reading this it's probably easier to just help me with the dress even though the ring should come first. or neither. jeez.

thaaaaaanks.

eloping-naked-in jeffrey-campbell-shoes

*****

I found your dress.

It's from H&M's Conscious Exclusive collection, which will be in stores April 4.

You're welcome, FUSSYPANTS.


p.s. What about a wedding bracelet? Just throwin it out there. Nobody says you have to have a ring.

Seeking: A couple of ballgowns. nbd.

ESB

I'm going on the Queen Mary 2 transatlantic cruise this coming July with my husband, parents, in-laws and brother and his gf. My Dad did it once before and adored it, and wanted to do it again so my hubby and I jumped on it cause a) he was paying for part of it (you'd do it too) and b) we love traveling and when the hell else are we going to sail across the Atlantic and sing the Titanic theme non-stop?

The QM2 has several balls - one of which is a black and white ball, the other a "Royal Ascot" ball (I'm not kidding). There are gonna be lots of old folks, I'm already prepared for that. So I'd really like to look modern (eff those old folks) but also glamorous, since I will likely never have the occasion in any future years to wear an evening gown three times in one week. I'm a size 2 or 4 - small boobs, nice butt, and a normal sized stomach. My budget (here's the part where you get bitchy on me) is $1,000 and under for each dress. Oh, and my husband and I actually do dance so I need to move.

I don't expect you to find me multiple modern evening gowns, but any advice on websites or stores to check out would be much appreciated. And yes, I've been stalking gilt and other online sales.

Thank you.

Yours truly,
Rose Dawson
(I will move the hell over and let my husband up on that piece of driftwood if shit hits the fan)

*****

WHO'S IN THE MOOD TO SHOP BALLGOWNS?

I keep wanting to suggest this Lover, but it may not be ball worthy.

And I still like the Alice + Olivia leather bustier gown [pictured above]. Only available in a 2, but returnable.

As for websites/stores to check out..... UM. Search dresses and click on all the links and then search dresses some more. And search the comments on the dress posts. That's what I do.

p.s. Who's your pick for best-dressed at the Oscars? I only ask so that I can point out I have to go with Quentin's mystery date. Again!

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)

Hello, Lover.

This White Magick capsule collection is only available at Lover's Sydney flagship store.

Is that too far to travel from Queensland?

I mean, American brides make the trip cross-country to visit stupid Kleinfeld, amirite?

(Thank you to Emma for the hot tip.)