As all of you know, I live for bridal fashion, fashion shows, fashion weeks and new and different fashion designers. I recently conceptualized and styled Maddison Row and Bella Bridesmaid’s fashion show at Charleston Fashion Week’s Spring Bridal Show. This year, I teamed up once again with Allison Long of Bella Bridesmaid for a golden goddess, sunset color themed show. I love to go for the wow factor in anything I do so I challenge myself to find what is new and different yet practical that I can showcase in Charleston that has not been done before. Charlotte Hess, the winner of the CFW’s Emerging Competition in 2011 and I teamed up to create this one of a kind knitted bridal coat for our finale piece of the show. Last year, I worked with my good friend and talented designer Carol Hannah Whitfield to bring you the black dress that rocked the runway. SO what went into making this one of a kind gown? Months of planning and lots of time hand knitting and crafting this fabulous item went into this showstopper.

Back in August I contacted Charlotte about the possibility of collaborating on a finale look for the Spring Bridal Show. She was more than accomodating and was very excited to be stepping in to the bridal scene and when I explained our theme she went right to work on sketching. I received quite a few sketches in November and was so excited! Charlotte sent several over with knit swatches and different techniques she could do for the coat. We decided ivory would be the best color ( since it is bridal) and it would look in tune with our overall theme and golden headpieces we were working on. From there, we had 2 separate conference calls ( she lives in Rhode Island) about the general idea of what the coat should be like. I also wanted Charlotte to be as creative as she wanted to, so we had no idea what it would look like exactly until it arrived.

initial sketches of the coat

We had one more conference call touch base in the beginning of March to see how the coat was coming along and to talk about when it would be here and who would be wearing it. Charlotte was also in the process of showing her collection at CFW’s Finale Night as well so in addition to creating our coat she was also making over a 20 piece collection! She is one busy lady! Before we knew it, CFW was here. Charlotte flew in late Wednesday night and we scheduled  a first fitting on Thursday afternoon. It would be the first time I saw the coat, ever. I was so excited I could barely contain myself. We chose Nikki, one of our models, to wear the coat. She was tall, skinny, had amazing long brown hair and was perfect for the overall look we were going for ( and she won the Rock the Runway model competition as well…icing on the cake) We first put Nikki in a silk jersey knit sheath gown with her custom gold leaf headpiece, gold coined necklace and then the coat. It was perfect. The length was great, the fit dead on and the overall look came together just as I had hoped back in August when I first called Charlotte. After a couple excited  “yeah’s “Charlotte pinned a couple “tweeks” here and there and then we anxiously waited until Saturday.

CFW Bridal Show morning we were ready to roll. We had a driver pick Charlotte up at the last minute right before the shows started to help put Nikki in the coat. Since Charlotte was still putting the finishing touches on her collection for CFW that night, this was so AWESOME of her to take time out of her busy day to come to the tents and be there to see her creation rock the runway. Nikki was the last model to get dressed then it was time for the lineup and before we knew it the show started. We all were dancing backstage and having a great time, Charlotte was just as excited as we were about the overall look and feel of the show. It was so great that she was just as excited as we were!

I am really excited I got to share this amazing coat and experience with you all! You know how much I love to “step out of the box.” Charlotte is already working on her first custom bridal knit piece for a client so I would expect to see more looks like this in the future. Next up on the blog, bridal market! I can’t believe it is here again, so be on the lookout for my fashion adventures in the Big Apple. Until then!

~Lindsey

Lindsey@kristinnewmandesigns.com

For more of Charlotte’s work please visit her website:

www.isobelandcleo.com

Photos: Corbin Gurkin

www.corbingurkin.com

Hello all! It has been awhile since Behind the Seams has had something new on it and I apologize. First quarter wedding season is in full effect so while my blog has been collecting cobwebs I have been helping countless brides find their dream dress, so I have found inspiration once again to bring to you today.

I have found out/ learned that the second hardest if not the hardest thing to decide on or find after you have picked your gown is wedding shoes. I usually tell my brides to start looking right after they find their gown because they can get a bit tricky to find the right pair. I have recently done a TON of research scoping out some of my favorite “go-to” websites such as: Nordstrom.com, zappos, Kate Spade and My Glass Slipper. I have found a couple shoes I am in LOVE with. I thought I would share some of my favorites while searching for shoes for some of the brides I have been working with…I mean what girl does not love looking for shoes??!?

Flats: I do have girls that need to wear flats. Many brides wear it for comfort but others do it so they will not be towering over guests or even the groom. Flats are tricky, you want them to have some sort of “bridal” feel to them without being just a ready to wear shoe. Here is my favorite flat courtesy of Miss Kate Spade herself. This is the flash flat in gold that has a satin bow. I love it paired with an ivory color gown. Also in the flat category are sandals. For a beach or garden wedding a sandal is a quick way to bring comfort and femininity to your feet.

This Dolce Vita “Felice” Sandal is light leather sandal with light pink chiffon flower detail on the strap. This would pair perfectly with a long chiffon gown or even a bridesmaid dress.

Wedge: Wedges are a great way to give brides height yet allow for stability and even weight placement on your feet. I personally recommend wedges for brides who are getting married outside. A wedge has an extended base so the heel of the shoe will not sink in grass if the ceremony is outside. These Nina peep toe wedges are great for a bride who wants to stay in the ivory/cream color scheme for her shoes and for who is getting married outside.

This BP “Sonja” wedge is also a great options for brides who want some height but want more of a kitten heel. This is a 2 inch heel, a wedge and a peep toe. This would also be a great option for bridesmaids.

Peep-Toe Pumps: I love a great pump! for the fun and flirty bride the peep-toe pump is the way to go. This Kate Spade Charm pump is a sling back 3 inch heel with navy glitter with a bow on the top. This is a great shoe for the bride who wants her something blue. Also, this style has many options so if the all over glitter is too much you can opt to have it only on the heel.

This Badgley Mischka Randall pump is a great option for brides who want the pump, the peep toe and the height but don’t want to feel the need to change their shoe or want to throw them away from hurting so bad by the end of the night. This shoe has a platform, as you can see that really works. They are such a comfy shoe you could wear it for rehearsal dinner, ceremony, reception and send off/after party!

The BIG Pump: As I’m sure you all can tell I love anything that is “out of the box.” I am obsessed with brides who want to take risks and some of my brides truly do! These are actually shoes that some of my brides and I have found. I like to put these two shoes in the go big or go home category because they are a whopping 4 to 4 and 1/2 inch heels. This black lace Valentino pump is stunning, I have seen it in person and about died it was so fab! To incorporate the black lace, the bride is wearing a black sash with her tulle gown.

This Brian Atwood purple and yellow python shoe is so fabulous for a shorty for the reception. For the daring bride who has a little edge to her, this would be such a fun shoe to wear so everyone could see it! A little out of the box yes, but how fab would pictures be in this??

So there are some of my top pics this season. From ivory to dark indigo, wedding shoes come in every style and color. My advice to all brides is go with something you love, that is comfortable for you but still shows your personality. I have so much luck on the websites I listed earlier, so brides once you get your dress start your shoe shopping!
Until then

~Lindsey

lindsey@kristinnewmandesigns.com

This is probably my favorite time of year. The end of December to the end of March is the busiest time of the year for the wedding industry. Right off the heels of the holiday season, I love when the facebook status are flooded with engagement announcements, ring pictures and how he did it stories. Every wedding magazine is double the size for those newly engaged brides to enjoy and help aid in figuring out color scheme, flowers, reception ideas, etc. Bridal websites are swamped with a gazillion hits, bloggers are blogging twice a day about the new trends for 2012 and Say Yes to the Dress has to hit their peak viewer numbers. All the excitement with getting engaged also comes with the inevitable number one respsonse to announcing one’s engagement… “When is the wedding?” This is the most stressful part. I think that once the brides get the ring then the games begin. Finding a date, venue, wedding planner, band photographer and caterer can all be extrememly overwhelming. Here in Charleston, you have zero time to waiver back and forth. Being the number two wedding destination in the country, when you see a venue, decide on a date, and find a wedding planner you love you go for it. This is the same with dress shopping. Finding  THE dress can be extremely overwhelming and stressful. I have seen brides lose sleep, lose weight, gain weight, drive themselves crazy trying to find the perfect dress for the big day. I promise you, its out there. As big as this industry is with the hundreds of designers, thousands of dresses there is a dress for every bride.  I figured to kick off 2012 I would give you newly engaged brides out there some helpful hints I have found over the past 6 years in wedding dress shopping.

1. Take it one appointment at a time. Most brides think they want to schedule 6 appointments all in one day. Not only is that extremely exhausting, it is also confusing. At the end of the day it would be really hard to remember what you have tried on or even liked. I would spread out appointments over a day or two and max out at 3 appointments per day if you can. Most boutiques and salons are by appointment early and Saturday is the busiest day of the week so schedule ahead of time ( 2-3 weeks out) and make sure you alot time for traveling and lunch.

2. Set a budget. This is a big one. I cannot tell you how many times I ask the budget and the bride says one thing and the MOB says another. It makes for one uncomfortable and awkward situtation for you, the bride, your mom or whoever is handing over the charge card, and your bridal consultant. I have brides that fall in love with a dress within the “bride” budget but when come to find out the brides’ budget in her mind was double what the MOB was willing to pay….it makes it hard. I hate not being able for a bride to have the dress of her dreams because of miscommunication.  It is always a good idea to know what price range you want to work within before you go into your first appointment. There are PLENTY of dresses that fit into any budget.

2. Less is more. Some brides want to bring an entourage that you need to hire a van to drive around which is totally fine and up to them. I always tell girls, the more people who come the more opinions you will get. Dress shopping is already overwhelming…it is not like shopping for a dress for an upcoming event. Buying a dress is a huge emotional purchase. I have found that the less people you bring, the better. When brides bring someone like their mom or close family member and a friend you trust very well or sibling  they can really enjoy the experience. They have the luxury of really seeing what dress fits their personality, body type and ultimately what they envisioned wearing on their wedding day makes all the difference in the overall dress shopping experience.

3. Be ready to shop. Like I said before, you would not think it but wedding dress shopping is hard work. You are in and out of dresses, trying to make decide on whether or not you like ballgowns vs. trumpet, lace vs. beading, strapless vs. sleeves….by the end of the day you are shot. It is a good idea to come well rested and hydrated for your appointments. Sometimes dresses are hot and if you haven’t eaten or had any water you could pass out….no lie it’s happened. Make sure you go into the day with a positive attitude, energized and ready to shop!

4.  Be in the right time frame. Wedding dresses are not ready to wear gown you buy off the rack unless it is consigment or sample sale. It is usually a good idea to start wedding dress shopping about 8 months out. On average a wedding gown takes about 4 to  4 1/2 months to be ordered, made and come in. After your dress comes in, then you will do a series of fittings that can take up to 3 months.  If you are planning a wedding within 6 months or less, yes you can do rushes on some gowns if available and also can purchase off of the rack. Trust your bridal consultant. Make sure you have your wedding date at the time of your appointment so your consultant can make sure you can get you dress in on time and avoid any additional stresses that come with wedding planning.

5. Go for it. If you have tried on 3 dresses or 300 dresses, when you know that this is the dress and you are 120% in then go for it. Most brides think they need to have the crying, the “this is it” moment and sometimes that does not happen. Most of the time it does not. I can tell when a girl loves her dress because it is in the immediate first reaction when she comes out of the dressing room. If you feel like a million dollars and do not want to take off the dress then that’s a huge sign. You need to listen to yourself. Sometimes it isn’t the dress that does it, we add the veil or sash or belt and that’s what makes the dress THE one. Once you have found your dress, stop looking. There is no reason to keep shopping or looking at different designer collections online or in magazines….it never ends up good. Be confident in yourself and your decision.

Every bride goes at her own speed. If you have only 8 months or if you’re wedding is a year and a half away you obviously will go about things at a  different pace. Just remember to take your time, listen to yourself and enjoy it! Wedding dress shopping is so fun, when else do you have the opportunity to try on a ton of fabulous designer gowns that make you feel amazing? Have great time and have fun with it! For all you newly engaged couples out there ( one especially close to the KND family) I look forward to working with you on finding your dress in 2012! ( photo credit: Juliet Elizabeth)

~Lindsey

Lindsey@kristinnewmandesigns.com