Bridesmaid Dress Change Up

Hello ladies!

We want to talk about those ladies that you pick to be your bridesmaids.

Those women that you have been friends with either since you were little girls, or your sorority sister, or even future sister in law. You have picked them to be the women to keep you sane along the way.

You get to boss them around and make them do things throughout your engagement. How fun can that be ;) They will help you books appointments, help you make decisions, pick things up for you, like that pint of Ben and Jerry's you really needed after one of those days! They go through a lot to help you out. So do you really need to add onto that with a tacky bridesmaid dress? Everyone knows the bride does this so she is the most beautiful person in the room that day.

But ladies... YOU DON'T NEED TO PROVE THIS! 

You are absolutely gorgeous and you are the only one your new hubby sees in the room. Trust us! So let's ditch the horrifying dresses for the women that you drive crazy and give them something beautiful to wear! After all, don't you want your pictures to look perfect and original?!

The Classic Look



Keeping it classic and traditional with all your bridesmaids in the same dress and color. But, instead of going for the short strapless satin dresses or the long organza dresses with dull colors like eggplant and pea green. Out with the boring and in with a vibrant color with a simple silhouette and delicate flower accents! And your bridesmaids can reuse this dress too! They'll really love that!

The Preppy Look



All of you ladies that were in a sorority in college all know what designer your bridesmaids will be wearing in this section. And that's Lilly Pulitzer! Any of you who are throwing a preppy summer wedding, you will be sure to have your ladies dolled up in Lilly's fun prints and conservative cuts! Have flower girls? You can dress them in the same print dress as well! And for the groomsmen, they can wear matching ties!

The Glam Look



Who says that glitter is just for prom?! These dresses are wonderful for the bride who wants her wedding to sparkle!! What's great about these dresses is they come in different styles for different shapes and sizes of your maids. They are also a soft nude/grey color. This doesn't make these dresses over the top, and really shows off all the beading! Any of you going to a Gatsby look? Sparkles are where it's at!

The Ombre Look

For any of you brides that want to try the new craze of mismatched wedding dresses but nervous that your pictures with your ladies will make it just look awkward, then the ombre look is the way to go! Pick out the same silhouette for all of your bridesmaids, and then choose shades of your favorite color. Hues of blues, pinks, purples, even neutrals or whites if you're not wearing a white gown! This will give you that fun look but keep it traditional as well!

The Mismatched Look

This is for the non traditional bride! Having all different silhouettes, lengths, fabrics and colors will give your wedding party its very own look that no one else can have. Picking these out can be a lot of fun too! you and your true few can go out together for the day and  have them all pick out their favorite dress! Or to make it even more interesting, have your ladies pick out their gowns together without you. And surprise you on your wedding day! I mean you're already not the traditional bride, why not make things even more interesting!








I hope you've gotten some inspiration to change things up at your wedding and ditch the old, tacky bridesmaids dresses we've seen for far too long!

xoxo, SKL

Take Me to Tahiti Sweetie

Ahh the Honey moon.

After all of the crazy lady moments every bride has been having like making sure the flowers are the right shade of pink, the hors d'oeurves are on point, and not gaining any weight so your dress will fit, you have the most beautiful day of your life. Then.. the fun begins! You and your hubby get to share time together far away from everyone that has been driving you crazy for months. But the question is... where to go? Here are some choices all over the World!

Mexico

For the fun

 Tahiti

For the privacy

Paris

For the romance 

Disney

For the kid in you

Maui

For the quiet beauty

PS. We have all of your honeymoon apparel needs here at SKL!! Instore and online :)

xoxo, SKL

Designer Spotlight: Elie Saab

Did someone say bling?

Elie Saab is a Lebanese fashion designer. Even as a child he knew he would end up in the fashion world. He taught himself at a young age how to sew, and at 9 years old he was already creating his own garments, cutting patterns out of newspaper and used his mother mothers lace for his designs.

At the young age of 18, Saab launched his fashion label based out of Beirut, Lebanon and had 15 employees working for him. Saab started specializing in bridal first with his haute couture designs using lush fabrics like silk, lace, organza, taffeta and a lot of embroidery work made of pearls and crystals. Word began spreading about this up and coming designer and women of higher society began wearing his work.

From that point on, Elie Saab flourished all over the world. In 1997, Saab was the first non-Italian designer to become a member of Italian Camera Nazionale della Moda. He showed his collection for the first time outside of Lebanon in Rome and began creating his ready-to-wear line in Milan. Saab even dressed Queen Rania of Jordan for her enthronement. The dress was reportedly sold for $2.4 million dollars!

Queen Rania wearing her Elie Saab and again 10 years later!

Elie Saab has become an international name. In 2010, 102 celebrities all over the World had worn Elie Saab for global events. His designs can be seen on the red carpet and on tv! Some celebs that have been seen in his designer to name a few would be Beyonce, Halle Berry, Mila Kunis, Katy Perry, Taylor Swift and Sandra Bullock. So for you brides out there that want the ultimate red carpet look at your wedding, consider it done because you will wear an Elie Saab gown. Bling Bling!

Here are some other celebs wearing more Elie Saab and runway looks as well! Enjoy looking at the beautiful beading and the shape of each dress! Caution: you might drool.

Enjoy!

xoxo, SKL

Blair Waldorf wearing blue
to her wedding to Chuck Bass!

Off the runway!

Beyonce looking gorgeous
in a nude Elie Saab!

Off the runway!

Happy Spring!

It's so nice to see blue skies and feel the warm sun. ESPECIALLY after this horrific winter! Only a couple months left until the grand summer time! And I think we all deserve it after all the snow we've seen this past winter!

To get us all in the spring mood, this post is all about flowers. How springy!

The neat thing about flowers is they all bloom at different times of the year. They don't all just decide to bloom on one day, even though that would be the most beautiful day ever. So knowing what flowers are in bloom during the season of your wedding is really helpful. So the ladies that will be having a spring wedding, here are some great options of flowers to have in arrangements and your bouquet!

Calla Lily

 Colors: light green, orange, pink, white, yellow, purple

Why you want them: These traditional wedding flowers have a showy trumpet shape, creating simple yet elegant arrangement for those classy modern brides.

Daffodil 

Colors: Yellow, white, orange

Why you want them: Perfect for the rustic bride and one that's on a budget. These are very inexpensive. Pair them with burlap and mason jars for the perfect rustic centerpiece!

Hyacinth 

Colors: Pink, blue, purple, white

Why you want them: These flowers are big, perfect for those brides that want a large bouquet or a full centerpiece. They also are fun, pretty colors that will pop against a white dress or table.

Lily of the Valley

Colors: White, light pink, purple

Why you want them: Although expensive, these delicate flowers have been seen in Princess Kate Middleton's bouquet and Grace Kelly. For those of you that want a royal wedding, this is your flower.

Peony 

Colors: Light pink, white, purple, hot pink, orange

Why you want them: They scream romance. These beautiful fluffy flowers in delicate colors make these flowers so lush. You don't even need to add another type of flower to your bouquet if you have these.

 Ranunculus 

Colors: Pinks, yellow, orange, white, violet

Why you want them: If you're looking for a bouquet with lots of color, look no further. The shades of pinks, orange and yellows these flowers come in are so sweet and simple. 

I hope this post get us all in a happy spring mood! Flower power!

xoxo, SKL

Wedding White Pearly Whites

What happens all throughout your perfect day?

Picture taking.

We all want to capture every little piece of our weddings. Whether its candids, the arrangements, the dress. But in most pictures, the bride and grooms lovely faces are in the pictures. Now this is one
important day in someones life, so looking your best is a must. Who wants to look bad at their wedding?!

Most pictures contain what in them? Smiles. And smiles consist of lips and teeth. It's a big focal point in a picture, so we want all you beautiful ladies to have the best smiles on your wedding day. So here are some tips in creating that perfect pearly white smile everyone wants.

Tip No. 1 Brush em

Yes brushing your teeth is a no brainer, but what are you brushing them with? Ditch that old toothbrush you've been using for the past year and pick up a new one. Dentists recommend changing a toothbrush every 3 months.

Tip No. 2 Whiten

There are so many ways now a days to whiten your teeth ranging from all different price points. If you've got the money to spend, visit your local dentist for a whitening treatment. Or, head to CVS and pick up some whitening products. Crest is known for their great whitening strips that have lasting results of 12 months! You can find the link here. Colgate recently came out with a toothbrush set that comes with a toothbrush and a teeth whitening pen! This is great for those of us who are on the run all the time.You can find the link here. There are also many different toothpastes that contain whitening effects that with adding a whitening tool will really help.

DIY! There is also a DIY option for us ladies who love to be crafty and like to save money!

What you need:
toothpaste
baking soda
hydrogen peroxide
water

Directions:
In a small bowl, or container with lid so you can save it, take a little toothpaste and mix 1 teaspoon of baking soda. Then mix 1 teaspoon of hydrogen peroxide and a half teaspoon of water. Put the paste on toothbrush and brush for 2 minutes. You can do this once a week until you have gotten results you wanted, then limit to brushing with the paste to once a month.

Tip No. 3 Wear lipstick

Now that your teeth a perfectly white, all you need a bright color to make them pop in those pictures. Truly in any situation that you will be photographed, wearing lipstick is a must. The flash and light will wash out your smile, not giving your face much color. Now if you're not the type to go bold with a red, then don't. Wear a color that makes you feel like yourself. (But if you will wear red, do it!) And shade of pink or purple will give your lips and teeth that wow factor. These are our favorites with links below!

Red: MAC Lipstick in MAC Red $16

Pink: Clinique Butter Shine in Pinkaboo $15

Plum: Tom Ford Lip Color in Bruised Plum $49

These colors will look good on any skin tone! And department stores will let you try out different shades so you can find the perfect one! These tips will give us all the pearly whites we want on our wedding day, so start brushing!

xoxo, SKL

Mason Jar Fun!

Do you love mason jars? Are you looking to learn about the best, most creative mason jar ideas for your handmade wedding? Well you have come to the right place! SKL has a bunch of new and fun ways to decorate mason jars to give your wedding that handmade touch!



Here is one of the many mason jar ideas: 
DIY Fabric Mason Jar Votives

 

Let's get started! Just follow these steps!

First you will need to get the supplies:

1. Measure the height and circumference of your jar, and cut strips of fabric to roughly fit (approx. 1cm wide – doesn’t have to be perfect).

2. In your small cup, pour in some glue and dilute it with a bit of water (about 1:2), mix well. It should be the consistency of slightly thicker water.. yes, I know I’m being vague but it shouldn’t make much difference to the end result.

 3. Submerge your first strip of fabric in the glue. Once soaked, lightly run your thumb and forefinger down the strip to get rid of any excess glue.
4. Place the strip into your jar (pattern side facing the jar) and position it. Use your paintbrush to push any air bubbles out from between the fabric and the jar.

5. Repeat with the rest of your fabric. Allow to dry overnight before using.

Once you have finished adding the desired fabric to your jars you can insert tea-lights or real candles. However, if you decide to use real candles just make sure that there is enough room for the flame to breathe.

Happy DIY!!

xoxo, SKL

Designer Spotlight: Vera Wang

The epitome of the perfect wedding dress.

So classic, timeless. 

Just beautiful.

Vera Wang knows how to make every bride's heart fill with joy when she sees one.

Vera Wang

Vera Wang's designs are all over the World. She has created her own empire and has been the "it" designer in the bridal industry for years. A New York native, Wang attended The University of Paris and earned a degree in art history at Sarah Lawrence College in 1967. After college, she tried to make it big in figure skating, but unfortunately didn't make the Olympic team. But all worked out, and Wang decided then it was time to head into the fashion industry.

During the early 70's Wang worked for Vogue as the senior fashion editor, but left when she didn't get the editor in chief position. She then worked for Ralph Lauren for two years as the design director.

Vera in an episode of Gossip Girl!

Vera Wang began creating her own line, consisting of costume work for figure skaters, wedding, bridesmaid, evening wear and haute couture. Not to mention her affordable clothing line at Kohls! Her work has been seen everywhere. Many stars are seen on the red carpet wearing Wang's designs. Her work has appeared on many TV shows, especially Sex and the City.

She even created Kim K's one of a kind wedding dresses for her previous wedding to basketball player, Kris Humphries.

(Maybe Kim will wear another Vera when she marrys Kanye!)

Kim and her sisters in Vera Wang designs

Many of us cannot afford her haute couture styles, but she does make wedding gowns that many non-celebrities can afford (which we sell!) Our Vera Wang gowns range between $2,000 and $7,000.

 How happy are newlyweds  Kaley Cuoco and Ryan Sweeting! Kaley looks stunning in her pink Vera Wang wedding gown!

These pictures just capture the pure beauty and romance of Vera Wang's gowns! 

No matter what you spend on a Vera doesn't matter because it's a Vera.

Check up on our blog to see who 

the designer spotlight is on next!

xoxo, SKL