Reperti

My beautiful mother.

A long time I mentioned a photo of my mother in a wedding dress, I promised I was going to post it because it was an inspiration for me for ages. I still haven't done so. The photo is still at my parents house and I haven't managed to scan it.

A few days ago my dad emailed me a bunch of photos. The email was titled reperti (findings). Some pictures showed my brother and I as kids, our usual pose of me leaning on his shoulder, the rubicond little girl next to the lanky young boy (there is a 7 year difference between the two of us). Other pictures, the more interesting ones, depicted the daily life of my mom and her brothers and sisters, as children. A carnival party, the day of first communion, a day at the amusement park.

I particularly like one photo, the one of my mother sitting on a horse of a carousel, looking at the photographer, with her sweet and modest smile, the dress identical to the one of her younger sister (for some reason cut out of the picture) probably made by my grandma. Her eyes are smiling of the same joy I see in her eyes today.

I love this photo, and I think this is my new inspiration for the wedding. Grazie mamma.

smooth sailing

Bags in a cage

I love the new widows at LV in St. Germain.

Save the Date

In Paris, making Save the Date cards. I love all the planning and organizing..but I still don't have a dress!

Exciting, exciting news!!

Well, first of all, I just got an invite from Max Mara to go see their new Bridal collection!
They are promoting the new line with special events in the various flagship stores across Italy.
On Dec 3 I will go try some dresses and talk to one of the style consultants from the shop.

Even more exciting..I was having coffee with a friend, who also happen to own my favorite shop in Rome. he has great taste, knows me and my taste well and knows fashion in the wider sense.
We talked about various dresses, designers, fabrics ( he killed my shantung silk idea), styles and...HE OFFERED TO DESIGN SOMETHING FOR ME!!!
I am terribly excited about the idea of having a B's original design. For now, I quite like these sketches by Minnesota designer Katherine Gerdes.

Will keep you posted!

The perfect dress

The perfect dress is impossible to find.

I keep flipping through magazines, browsing the net, talking to people, going into design stores, but so far, nothing seems to scream : pick me!
Is it so hard for everyone? I want something simple, classy, not too revealing, but flattering. I want green shoes, high heels, especially if the dress is going to be plain.
I looked at Vera Wang, J Crew, Pronovias, Armani, but still, nothing works for me.
I am now 99% convinced that I am going to have a tailor do the dress, but I still need to know what style, fabric, cut, length to go.

I wish my genius grandma was still alive. She always had the perfect suggestion when it came to dresses. She had the knowledge of the material, of how it would wrap and fall, hug and fold on a person's body.
She was strangely less conservative than my mother, and would always have great ideas for outfits. I really miss her.

On the other hand, I am truly enjoying the constant discussions with every female member of my family, trying to give a suggestion on the dress. V neck in the front, or V neck in the back, pleats in the front or flower in the back, empire waist or cinched at the waist. In a way, I think this is a big part of what weddings do. They bring people together.

Thanks to all the people, friends and relatives that are coming together for this special day!




The dress in the picture is by Pronovia

Inspirational Boards Anyone?

I keep looking at websites full of pictures, ideas, photos, possible arrangements.

The other day I spent about 2 hours staring at pictures from a Nigerian wedding. Is this what wedmin (as my lovely friend at The Spice Spoon calls it) does to you?
It mushes your brain into something that is only turned on by white dresses, flowers and catering plans??

So now it is time to start saving ideas, images and create my own ideal wedding plan, so when the times comes (sooner than I think) to pick colors, decorations, centerpieces and of course dresses, I will be more prepared. For now, I have attempted a digital Inspirational Board (thanks Jessica for showing me the way) but I know I will just end up piling lots and lots of magazines, fabric scraps, menus, more magazines and endless pieces of paper.