Nice Day for a White Wedding - 2014

My post about current wedding dresses and trends that I published last year was really popular, so I thought it would be fun to do it again this year. I stumbled upon some fabulous dresses and some surprisingly un-fabulous gowns as well. Ultimately, I had two favorite collections, with a smattering of other dresses thrown in.

I was most shocked by how much I did not like Vera Wang's dresses. It's not so much the stark contrast of the black with the white, as it is the strange cut, materials and draping on many of them. They just don't say "wedding dress" to me.

Interesting for a dress, but not a wedding dress.

I think without the strap across the top I might actually like this one.

The crazy material used here reminds me too much of fish net!

I noticed that there were a lot of mermaid-shaped dresses and a lot of lace (which I have no argument against). Here are a smattering of my favorites:

I am totally in love with this 70's inspired gown!

The headpiece on this Sareh Nouri gown really makes this whole thing work! (I believe the 70's one is also by the same designer.)

The structure and detail of this Alexander McQueen dress leaves me utterly speechless!

I really like the Medieval lines and flow of these two Papilio dresses!

Now for my two favorites! First up, highlights from the collection of Krikor Jabotian (who I've never heard of before now). 

I must say, I am not usually a gold lover, but the usage of gold in this collection is so original and flawlessly used that it makes me rethink my previous opinions.

The cape-like flow of this is gorgeous!

This dress is so absolutely amazing! I love the flow and layering of the fabric on the side and how it still maintains the slim shape of the model. And the golden accents on the front and flowing down the back are pure magic!

Princess perfect!

And here is the Rosa Clara clara. Definitely more simple overall, but still stunning! I love the vintage influences and usage of gloves!

The use of art deco lines here is unexpected and fresh and beautiful!

The flowing sleeves on this give almost a delicate butterfly effect.

You can never have too much lace!

Another headpiece to die for!

Red Hot Valentino

I recently took a quick trip to the Las Vegas Strip. I got to stay at the Vdara hotel, which is connected to the "city center" area. Basically, it's a very up-scale, swanky corner of the Strip. So, I was able to do a lot of high-fashion window shopping. Most shops were lavish and swoon-worthy, some were a little boring, like Chanel's spring suits (gasp*). Some were a little gaudy, like everything I saw at the Versace store. But I was able to locate one store in particular where I basically wanted to set up camp and never leave. Red Valentino, located in the shops at Caesars Palace, was a little slice of (expensive) heaven.

The cape effect is fine, but I hate the lines and the overall color scheme.

These clothes were so fancy that they looked like they should be a costume for one of the local show girls.

I loved the Porsche Design store! Very simple, but not boring.

At first I was just going to show you their most current line, but when I saw all of their older collections, I simply couldn't omit some of my favorites. I love how playful and feminine the clothes are. One of my favorite things is the most excellent way they combine prints. I hope you all enjoy these pieces as much as I do!

AnnaSophia Robb looking flawless in Red Valentino.

I am crying over the perfection of this cape/coat ensemble!

Alexa Chung and Audrey Tautou, both looking fabulous in the same dress!

Kiernan Shipka, from "Mad Men."

Plaid and knee high socks. What more could a girl ask for?

I know many of these are somewhat girlish, but I feel a lot of these pieces could easily be converted to an older, more sophisticated look.

Touching the light, airy material of this rain coat was like touching clouds!

These blue floral and polka dot items were among my favorites (I couldn't find any better pictures for some reason). I'm simply crazy about that pattern and color combination!

These Foolish Things...

The song "These Foolish Things" from the 1930s is a classic love song. The lyrics are lovely and evoke a sense of longing for a lost love. This has been one of my favourite songs for years, and recently I looked it up online, and there's a story that goes with it. Apparently the man who wrote the lyrics had an affair with the actress Anna May Wong, and wrote this song about her after they had parted ways.

I've only seen Anna May Wong in one film (Shanghai Express, the film where Marlene Dietrich looks her most meltingly beautiful), but she was unique for being a Chinese film star in the 1920s and 1930s in an era of film-making when western folks would play asian folks. Bad idea, if you ask me, but that's how it often went.

So I thought it might be nice to write a post exploring the fashion of Anna May Wong, a beautiful Chinese film star.

A unique fringe.

Lovely Chinese dress!

Wearing a gown designed by Editih Head.

LOVE this hat!

A dress from the 1930s, similar to the one pictured above.

With Sid Graumann, Conrad Nagal and I think that's Norma Talmadge (it is, I checked).  

Whether wearing more traditional, Chinese-style fashion...

Or Western garb, she was always elegant and stunning.