Pants Week continues!

In case Pretty in Pants (or Bianca, helllllloooo) inspired any of you to go the wedding pants route, here's a round-up of some vintage pants I found on etsy + elsewhere around the internets....

1. 60's Three Piece Suit (yes, there's a skirt too!) from Coldfish
2. 80's Jumpsuit from Foxtail
3. 70's Gold Sequined VEST AND BELL BOTTOM PANT SET from tovasvintage
4. 80's Bernard Perris Jumpsuit from What Goes Around Comes Around
5. 70's Wide Leg Jumpsuit from viralthreads

Blog of the Week(ish): Wearing the Pants

Obviously.

Photos of Bianca Jagger (1975), Patti Smith + Robert Mapplethorpe (1969), and Katharine Hepburn (1950's) via this goldmine.

Not all the photos on the blog are vintage, but man do I love the vintage ones.

Thanks, Anon! All you anons are killing it today.

Oh Land

That's her name. Oh Land.

She's rocking a custom-made Stine Goya pantsuit "crawling with hundreds of metallic spiders." Take that, sequins.

Photo by Evan Sung courtesy of Vogue

Thanks Anon!

How will they know you're the bride if you're not wearing a dress?

Dear ESB,

I'm getting married this summer and I still don't know what I'm wearing. The wedding is casual, and I want something I can party in. I do not want to have to change clothes at any part of the thing and I detest wearing dresses or skirts. I need to feel comfortable, and that means wearing pants (but not a suit).

The idea of wearing pants to my wedding makes me happy, it makes the future hubs happy -- my family even gets a kick out of the idea. But I'm stuck. This outfit needs to be special without being overly dressy. Over and over I'm hearing from friends, "but how will they know you're the bride if you're not wearing a dress or a veil?" (oh yeah, I think veils look stupid). Me: "because they were invited to MY wedding & they KNOW who I am." It's not like there will be strangers rolling through who will get overly concerned upon themselves about who the hell the bride of the night is. I'll wear a name tag if I have to. Still, the question is starting to make me wonder -- will *I* feel special?

I'm not reconsidering my decision to wear pants. But my little 5 year old girl heart wants to feel special on our wedding day, and though I know it's a little silly, I want it dammit. It's the one thing I'm feeling inwardly fussy about. Those pants, and the rest of the outfit, need to be fabulous. So, I am trying to look for something that is edgy/fancy/flattering all in one. It's tricky because I am not a small person - I'm quite curvy. I love my curves, but it requires the outfit to have some sort of structure so I don't look like a baggy schlump on my wedding day. This is making my shopping trips turn out more annoying than successful.

All I have so far is a soft blue top similar to this.

This is why I'm writing to you. You & your readers have some crazy amazing skill at this online shopping deal, which I seem to fail at miserably. If you have time to help a girl out, I would be forever grateful.

-- Pretty in Pants

*****

Clearly you need SEQUINS.

Any chance you're a Size 10?

I managed to find this pair of "palazzo evening pants" on ebay.

These are pretty good too.

(Top photo: Kate Lanphear via StockholmStreetStyle via FEAR LANPHEAR via kidchamp's must-read pants-shopping primer)

welcome to PANTS WEEK on esb!

I have several pants-related Dear ESB's lined up, and I thought I'd also take the opportunity to post a few of my recent favorite photos of ladies wearing pants.

If you've got favorite pants photos, send em my way! (With photo credits pls, if possible.)

This one is Marion Cotillard by Christian Kettiger, via Ez Pudewa via Bethany D.

p.s. You should also feel free to email me submissions for the #kissmyBLANK contest. I hate to exclude those of you with private twitter accounts.

♥

I love these photos Christina Richards took of Gilly + Joe's Sonoma wedding.

I've said it before, but I'm such a fan of wedding photos that don't look like wedding photos. You know what I mean?

chilly reception

Dear ESB:

I got married in April and loved every minute of it -- from walking down the aisle to Tears for Fears to bucking tradition and having whoopie pies instead of cake. Sure, things went wrong (it not just rained, it POURED! I had SHINGLES! My wedding photos are of me with a paralyzed right side of my face [thanks shingles]) but I had a blast regardless and was glad to put the stress of planning behind me and become a normal person again.

When I got engaged, I had just started a new job, so I decided to invite my boss and my office mate only since we were trying to keep our numbers down since my family is huge and we were stretching our budget. My husband invited no one from work b/c there simply wasn't room. I have many friends at work who were incredibly supportive and receptive to my message that i love them and I wish I could have invited everyone but financially wasn't able to.

My one friend in particular was incredibly supportive throughout the planning process and checked up on me daily during my be-shingled, painful week before the wedding. Once i return to work post-honeymoon -- POOF! He REFUSES to speak to me. I came back and he ignores me. Like, if i walk into a room, he walks out. It is making things awkward because he's on my immediate team and even my boss has been like "um, what did YOU do?"

I've tried talking to him and he shuts the conversation down immediately and continues to ignore me. I think he's basically waiting for me to come graveling and apologize. On one hand, i feel badly i hurt his feelings and value our friendship so I'd like to apologize for his feelings being hurt. On the other, i am not apologizing for my decision and am disappointed in his attitude. i just want to put this behind me-- much like the shingles!

WWESBD?

*****

Ha. That's such a MALE apology, right? "I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings."

But that's exactly what you should say. You don't owe this friend an apology for not inviting him, but you do need things between the two of you to be civil.

Who knows? Maybe something else is going on. Maybe his boyfriend dumped him while you were on your honeymoon but you never found out because you didn't bother to ask "How are you?"

How to Become a Millionaire in 100 Days by Jen Stark via cevd

Catalina Brenes

I am infuckinglove with this ring. I'm not sure how one would get one's hands on it. But Ms. Brenes does have her email address rather prominently displayed on her website....

(Via PourPorter)

while we're still in the blazer mood........

Would this EmersonMade Black + Cream Tuxedo Jacket not be KILLER with a wedding dress?

Or, you know, a pair of cutoffs. If you don't happen to be getting married.

(Via cevd + Melanie)

Should I dye my wedding dress??

Hi

I have been married for just over two years, and it’s all good! I LOVE my dress still – it was perfect and not at all what I planned but it turned out it was me!! But I have been contemplating dyeing the dress and I want some feedback... actually I always planned to dye it but 2 years later still haven’t got the balls!

Leaving my dress in all its white perfect splendour, hanging in my wardrobe zipped up in its bag with a few mothballs –seems like a depressive end to a wedding dress. I dream of wearing this dress (morphed from white to gentle dove grey, or striking royal blue) on my (as yet unconceived (and not yet trying but...)) child’s welcoming shower, or at my 5th wedding anniversary, but dying the most significant, symbolic and expensive item of clothing I’ve ever own scares the bejesus out of me...

What if it goes go horribly wrong! What if I ruin the afore mentioned most important item of clothing I possess!

Would you do it?

Do your readers know of places in Melbourne who will do it for me? (cause a home job scares me more)?

(Ps just so you know I’m not completely insane this is the dress)

*****

First things first: Give it the chop.

(Our lady Artemis in her newly-hemmed wedding dress.)

And then I say GO FOR IT.

Melbourne-based Polka Dot Bride added:

I honestly think most people would do it in their own washing machine...

However, as your lovely bride is so worried about the outcome and so adamant on the colour she wants- I vote she goes professional...

Beaver Clothing & Denim Doctor, Carlton
Brown Gouge Drycleaners
Cullachange (Sydney but do postal service)
True Blue Sunhill Dyers

Cullachange seems to have the best recommendations!

For the bold, I found this dip-dye how-to. Pretty FABULOUS, am I right?

(Top image via Facehunter, Madrid)

the bucket tree

Um. So this beautiful little vintage shop is run by the very same lady behind Rust.

I think her amazing wedding might have given her a teensy bit of a wedding obsession. (Not that I can relate or anything.)

I'm just saying. The bucket tree has a pretty great wedding section.

Rust Weddings

For the gent seeking a wedding band to go with his lady's vintage ring....

Here are a couple of gorg options from Rust UK,* hand engraved in 18ct white gold and palladium. 

*Delivery available within the UK, Europe, USA and everywhere else except Japan

Help! Sparkly wedding blazer dilemma!

Dear ESB:

I'm getting married in Austria at the end of August, outdoor ceremony, & reception in the courtyard of a winery. Ivy covered walls, awesome giant wine press, beautiful, romantic, bla bla bla....

I am all over the outdoor element, but this is Austria and not California, so I'm assuming it's going to be a bit chilly later on in the evening. Normally I would throw on a leather jacket or giant wooly cardigan, but neither of those options are super appropriate for "the big day."

This is my dress, and I'm wearing those Vivienne Westwood rubber/gold heart shoes, the ones that everyone wears. (PS. they are bubblegum scented, which makes me love them even more...)

So my questions is, what the hell should I throw on later in the evening if it gets cold? Something that is not a god-awful pashmina. I like this [Zara blazer pictured above] in gold, but when I showed my mother she threw her hands up in exasperation, wondering why it is impossible for me to pick something 'chic' and 'normal.' Her words were something along the lines of "You're already wearing weird shoes, isn't that enough..."

Now I'm unsure. Is she right? Will the gold-sequin blazer make me look like some florida retiree getting dolled up for bingo night? What could I wear instead?

*****

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

That jacket is fabulous. Tell your mom I said so.

p.s. I'm running out of effusive words that don't make me gag: RAD, AMAZING, FABULOUS… Would someone throw me a few new ones?

kiss my [BLANK]

I'm super excited to announce ESB's first annual #kissmyBLANK contest, sponsored by Juice Beauty.

Here's how it works:

You guys submit original photos via Twitter depicting the single most annoying thing about wedding planning. Or marriage. OR LIFE IN GENERAL.

Just tweet your photo with the hashtag #kissmyBLANK. Images hosted on any platform, including YFrog, TwitPic, Flickr and Instagram, are acceptable.

Feel free to submit as many photos as you like. (Because the single most annoying thing changes from moment-to-moment, obviously.)

The prize, a basket of Juice Beauty goods including Stem Cellular Repair Moisturizer, Eye Treatment and Green Apple Peel, will go to the person who best expresses her (or his!) particular frustration. And the four runners-up will receive Juice Beauty's Organic Kisses.

The contest starts...... NOW!

Two weeks from today, on Tuesday, June 28, I'll post my top ten picks so you guys can vote for the winner.

Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

p.s. Because I blathered on and on about how I'm such a faithful Juice Beauty user (I am! I've been using the Green Apple products for almost three years!) they hooked us up with a really great deal. With a minimum order of $30, you get a free (FULL SIZE) Hydrating Mist. I made a special request for this item because it's one of my faves and plus I figured you might need to cool down after snapping all those snarky photos. The promo will last until June 30 -- enter code ESB at checkout. 

p.p.s. There seem to be a lot of exclamation points in this post. My sincere apologies. 

*Update: We can only mail prizes within the US + Canada, but please, we'd love you to submit photos from EVERYWHERE. You could win a prize for your cousin in Topeka, yes?*

is it tuesday ALREADY?

There's a new post for you up on 100 Layer Cake, inspired by one of my very favorite red-shoe weddings.

(Photo by Ashley Maclean and Traci Matlock via Once Wed) 

What would a gent from the 20's wear?

Hey East Side Bride,

I'm a groom, not a bride, and I have a question for you.

My gal's wedding band is a vintage ring from the 1920's. It is white gold with gorgeous, high filigree work and is a classy, ornate heirloom piece.

My question is, if I was trying to match her band, what would a gent from the 20's wear to compliment his lady? A vintage or a modern update/spin are both options for me. I like to keep an open mind.

*****

Erie Basin just this instant put up a new stash of vintage men's wedding bands. Apparently they're hard to find.

I dig the Decorated 18K White Band, twelfth from the left. It's from 1935, but close enough right?

Any chance you're a size 8??

(HOP ON IT. That sh*t sells fast.)

meet my summer wardrobe

I've been talking about buying white jeans for years. This cropped pair from the Gap (via Refinery29) might actually work for me.

"with the granny sandals" says Rob.

EXACTLY, Rob. Exactly.

With the (ahem) vintage Famolares I bought for $24 at Wasteland. No Urban Outfitters grannies for me.

p.s. I finally got a look at the Bass sandals (or a version of them) at the outlet mall the other day. UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGLY. No idea why I was obsessed.

Nobody wants to go to this shower

Dear ESB,

My cousin is getting married in a few months, and her sister has announced plans to throw her a personal shower "for just the ladies of the family." The back story is it is a family of women - 6 aunts, 4 granddaughters, and a sassy yet passive-aggressive matriarch, my grandmother. My mother and aunts are split down the middle after an argument that began over a year ago, and at the moment their relationship is about as good as it will probably ever be - everyone is civil or ignores each other as works best for their respective roles in the hierarchy. I am very close to the cousin who is getting married, as well as her sister (the one planning the shower), but our mothers are on opposite sides of the family split. So far we have managed to rise above that. 

Anyway, my cousin-the-bride has already had a shower, attended primarily by her aunts and cousins, as well as the bridesmaids. So this second shower would have pretty much the same guest list, minus 5 or 6 people. My grandmother thinks it is extravagant and unnecessary to throw a second shower for a 29-year-old who already owns a house and has a very nice career, and (apparently) said as much to the mother of the bride. However, knowing my gran, she probably didn't out and out say that. I do know that she told her daughter that she didn't have anything to give the bride, and the reply was simply, "Oh, I can run out and get something for you to give her." My mother and two other aunts and the remaining cousin (not the bride's sister) aren't too keen on attending a shower as a group since everyone is BARELY talking to each other, and since this family is the type to not actually be honest and upfront, they are all quietly making plans to be busy on the day of the shower (but are all planning in sending gifts anyway). The best part of this whole situation is that most people consider the mother of the bride to be the instigator of all the unrelated family drama that created this rift in the first place.

So here's the recap - no one wants to hang out at a party with each other, 90% of the guest list thinks it's tacky to ask them to provide another gift, and at this point I'm the only person prepared to show up for this shindig.

At this point, I'm worried that instead of the shower being cancelled, as most of my family is hoping, that the date will simply be moved. Whether it is cancelled or not, since no one has the balls to tell the bride, her sister, or her mother what they really think, it seems that the drama is probably going to erupt again. I'm also worried that in a way, the sisters are being punished for the feelings most people feel toward their mother, though I'm also not keen on going to another awkward-as-fuck shower. 

I'm in a difficult position... do I say something to the cousin who is planning the shower? Suggest that she just have a cousin outing, maybe dinner or drinks? I already suggested that it might be more fun if the guest list was expanded, since both cousins acknowledged the fact that "it might get a big awkward" (their solution was to invite our other cousin's newborn baby to distract everyone from the tension... what?) but apparently the bride only wants family. Do I try to convince my grandmother to talk to the bride or her sister? Should I try to convince everyone to buck up and attend? Do I keep out of it completely and just wait to see what happens, as my husband suggested? My other cousin is happily staying out of it, but she's not close to the bride. It doesn't help that I'm usually painfully candid and I'm trying to learn to shut my trap once in a while.

So Glad I Don't Have A Sister

*****

Butt right on in there and tell [the bride, her sister, WHOEVER] that the shower's gonna be a fiasco.

Clearly, you cousins should all go out for drinks instead and bitch about your crazy mothers.

Photo of Masha Tyelna by Tim Walker for I.D. Magazine, November 2007 via PAPERFASHION + GREY/BLACK/MATTER

I think I might be watching too much TV

Okay, I KNOW I'm watching too much TV.

I had dinner with a friend and her little girl last night, and I embarrassed myself by referencing Extreme Couponing and/or The Nanny no fewer than five times.

My excuse is that I just finished my script. (I'm unwinding before i start the next one...? Or making myself so stir crazy that I will have no choice but to start the next one??)

And plus H has been out of town for the past week.

But yeah, I've kind of gone off the deep end. THERE'S NOT EVEN ANYTHING GOOD ON.

Photo by Emily Keegin via woolgathering & miscellany

Pls help me accessorize a CIRCUS DRESS

dear esb,

i am going to wear a very colorful dress for my wedding-picnic.

i've come to refer to it as my circus tent dress and it makes me enormously happy. but before i came upon this dress, i figured i'd wear jewelry of some kind since i also like jewelry--but i'm kind of at a loss. nothing i own works, that's for sure--which, to add to the challenge, means my budget is extremely limited. do any ideas strike you?

if it matters, i'm a lot shorter than the model, so on me, the dress grazes my ankles. i'll probably put my hair up in a clip as well, hence the intensified desire for some neck/ear adornment.

thanks for any thoughts or ideas you might have!

all best,
twirling in my circus tent

*****

is this a fabulous combination, or have i lost my mind???

via Oh Joy! + Marc by Marc Jacobs Multi-Stripe Dress (still available in size S, size L, and XS in pastel)

you might be better off with this simple silver necklace from Favor.*

(Top image: Erma Ward by H. A. Atwell Studio via Laughing Squid)
_____________________________

*great necklace, terrible name.