03.29.08
CA Basics: Getting dress-ed.
Formals, semi-formals, proms.
This is the one occasion where guys seriously miss out. Seriously. Going through racks of dresses, caressing silky fabrics, delighting over the colour nuances as a dress hits different spots of lights? It’s beauty to a different level.
Yet so many people get it wrong. I think there is where the phrase ‘hot mess’ was derived.
Because black-tie formals already imply classy and elegant and, utterly redundant as it may be, formal attire. Leopard print skin tight mini dresses of a crass material with a v-slit down to your navel do not apply, no matter how thin you look in it. Seriously.
That snobbish tendency aside, CA loves dresses. CA, however, cannot afford to buy every dress under the sun, but here are some recommendations so that perhaps one or two of you lovelies out there can.
(See? Classy Action does its part to encourage productivity in the economy.)
Three current classy favourites
The red dress.
We love red dresses, but we hate red dresses gone wrong. And that happens much too often. Here’s the thing: red speaks for itself. But to look timeless and elegant, go for a rich coloured red in a beautiful material, as opposed to a bright garish creation with beads in a rough and cheap textured material. Below, a beautiful Nicole Miller creation.
Note: the Nicole Miller dress is gorgeous in deep jewel tones. But in other colours, it could resemble an expensively constructed towel.
eDressMe
What an amazing website as a) a resource to look at dresses and b) a great place to get more inexpensive pieces that you can wear once or twice without completely breaking your budget.
A trendy piece this season will be that dratted rosette and flowers and tiered dresses. I hated it, but when done correctly, it can be gorgeous and flattering. See below.
All yours for the low, low price of under $100 at eDressMe. Do it, do it, you know you want to…
And while you’re at it, buying cheap doesn’t have to mean looking cheap. See below for a perfectly elegant black dress, complete with gorgeous lace overpanels and a beautifully tidy bow at the back, so you look gorgeous from front and back pictures.
So go on, break the bank. With pretty styles this season, there’s no better time to do it.
02.13.08
Review: Disney Fairy Tale Weddings
Disney movies set brides up for unrealistic expectations, or so they say.
(Actually, the only unrealistic expectation was for blushing brides to think that their beastly counterparts would miraculously transform into princes the instant they kiss, but that’s not the point.)
Yet for those who have met and are content with the visages of their respective others, Disney is stepping it up and providing yet another opportunity to get one step close to your fairy tale wedding.
The Disney Fairy Tale Wedding Collection
Seriously. This ain’t no joke.
With a collection designed around three of the most popular princesses: Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, Beauty, Jasmine, and Ariel – each collection contains Disney-inspired wedding gowns and accompanying bridesmaid and flower girl outfits.
Designed by Kirstie Kelly, fret not: it’s tasteful art, however(and in some cases, utterly mundane and generic with any other wedding dress).
Clam shell bras need not apply.
The Disney Collection can be viewed at http://disneybridal.com/.
02.07.08
Doubting Thomas? 27 Dresses
Sometimes we have to see it to believe it. 27 dresses? Really?
Really. But sometimes we see it, believe it, but just want to do a fake proof to showcase dresses.
Sometimes CA just wants an excuse to post gratuitous pictures.
Truth? CA doesn’t particularly admire Katherine Heigl, but CA does admire James Marsden enough to watch 27 Dresses. If not for the sake of him, for the dresses. So in their hideous glory – all 27 of the ugly beauties.
This post can be printed out and mailed off with a short, accompanying letter along the lines of:
Please watch 27 Dresses. Do not follow by example.
Love, your bridesmaids.
02.04.08
Trend Spotting: Ombre (feat. Jennifer vs Angelina)
Decisions, decisions.
Skinny or flared? Belted or loose? Heels or flats?
In a world filled with fashion choices – one dilemma which ladies won’t need to worry their pretty little heads about is soon to be colours.
This season, CA senses that ombre, that beautiful French word, is gradually creeping into our colour palettes. Ombre is a beautiful wash of shades and shadows that carries a subtle flood of colour throughout material, letting you play with a kaleidoscope of colour, while still retaining a soupçon of elegance.
Theoretically. CA has yet to see a truly gorgeous ombre creation that doesn’t scream high school prom, but time will tell. After all, skinny jeans never really won full marks in this book, but that doesn’t stop the trend from barrelling on.
From Angelina Jolie’s appearance at the SAG red carpet with everyone’s favourite accessory – Brad Pitt – to Jennifer Esposito’s sadly hideous getup – mark my words! Prom season will be awash with the colourful schemes. But as with every pattern, there’s a right way and a wrong way.
So fashion match-up with everyone’s favourite dueling names: Jenn or Angelina?
Not that Jenn, in this case.
CA prays you can tell the good from the not-so-good.
The colours? Lovely.
Having your bra showing? Tacky as hell.
Brad Pitt? Beautiful.
Classy Advantage: Angelina, 1. Jennifer, 0.
CA Sources: GettyImages
