Bridal Expo

Please bear with me as I am still recovering from the Oscars. While I try to be concise with my fashion wrap-up, the best analogies and comparisons always come to me a couple of days later. So I thought I would share those with you, two days after the 2013 Academy awards…  in hopes that you might understand how my creative process works. Some people are more visual than others, we see things differently than most people, color is important to us.  We see repetition in shapes, designs, patterns and we can’t help comment. You want to take a visual person (like me) shopping with you because no matter how much it hurts, we will say to you, “Hey, Jennifer – don’t wear that purple gown with the ruffle thing in the back or you’ll wind up looking like Barney.”

Or in a kinder manner, delicatley let Nicole Kidman know that this dress is only a good idea if she plans on wearing it for Halloween as Cleopatra.  All she will need is a good headband. “Hello, Costume City?”

Or we may point out similarities bewteen fashion and architecture. In fact, it almost appears as if Stacy Keibler and Halle Berry were having a contest to see who could look  more like the Chrysler building. Or maybe the joke is on them and the designers planned this!

Even the sexiest mom alive is not immune to a little critique from a shopping pal like me. If I had gone in the fitting room with Heidi, I would have steered her more in this direction

and less in this direction. “No, Heidi, turn left  – that is the Forever 21 section”

Chubby, plump or (dare I say) fat women need to realize one thing: You are not a size 2 . A gown is not going to make you look any thinner or fatter than you already are. Lose weight or don’t – nobody cares…. we love your talent and charm.  It doesn’t have to be black but, it shouldn’t be this:

For the record, Melissa McCarthy ‘s hair and makeup – flawless.

If I were friends with Adele, I would tell her to do something about the creepy, pointy, vampira manicure and cut a smidge off her hair.  

Good vs. Not-so-much

For her dress, try to branch out a little because the 3/4 sleeve, black sparkly gown is starting to look like a uniform. Here is a clue: If drag queens can imitate all of your songs without a costume change, there might be a problem.

In the end, everyone needs a good friend to take shopping, someone to hold their purse and take a digital picture and to be the voice of reason. That person should be the most  discerning  person you know because they will make sure that your side-boob is not showing and that you do not look like a cartoon of  yourself (or anyone else).

-Penny Frulla for Bridal Expo Chicago

There were very few surprises at the 85th Academy Awards –  including the red carpet appearances leading up to the show itself! The only surprise (for me) came from the lack of any real standout on the red carpet, with the exception of  Helena Bonham Carter. That’s not a compliment, by the way.

I thought Seth Macfarlane was a very good host and  his Lincoln joke was hilarious. Well, played, Seth. Maybe the boob song was a bit much for some – but not for me.  FYI it was a spoof  on how the Academy sent out a ‘side-boob’ memo asking everyone not to show too much of the body part made famous [in part] by the creator of “Side-boob hour with Peter Griffin”. I also knew he would not be deemed the worst host EVER since there are two words to prevent that from happening: James Franco.

Seth looked appropriately Oscar-worthy in his well fitted tuxedo that was neither too shiny or too tight to do a little dance.

Charlize Theron- For me, this Dior gown was probably the most understated and under rated gown of the evening. Perfect, flawless and I am not even a fan of peplums (hello? 1984 called) But, this one is sweet, slightly beaded and not overpowering. My favorite gown of the entire evening – hands down!

Amy Adams looked beautiful in this Oscar de la Renta gown but, her hair was way disheveled. Perhaps a pre-Oscar party? Or maybe she was trying to match her hair to the jagged, scrunchy effect on the tulle?

Jennifer Lawrence was considered (by everyone except me) to be  the best dressed at the 2013 Oscars in this beautiful gown by Dior Haute Couture. But, the fit is all wrong and frankly the brocade made the whole thing look even bigger than it was. Sorry, this didn’t do it for me. The dress needs some serious alteration and  the backward necklace was all wrong. Jennifer is darling and can wear anything but, this was not herbest look.

Jane Fonda continues to look amazing. She looked flawless. Her gown was brought to you by Sprint.

Anne Hathaway won for Best Actress in a supporting nipple:

“It doesn’t matter how you get knocked down in life, all that matters is that you’ve got to get up!” – Powerful words, Ben… really powerful words.

Best  Picture, Best Speech (ever), Worst tie – Ben Affleck.

But, seriously - where did you get this tie? It’s too square, it’s crooked, it’s awful.  Next time use a clip on – or have George or Bradley pick one out for you.

Jack Nickolson used to dress like this:

Now he dresses like this:

What is with the baggy, puffy suit that looks like it fit the ‘before’ picture of   weight watchers? You are super wealthy and super famous  so there is no excuse – get a stylist, and a decent suit…. now.

Did Reese Witherspoon’s gown come from the Prom Outlet?

Because  Helen Hunt’s gown came from H&M !

Of course, $700,000 worth of jewelry doesn’t hurt!

Overall, nothing for me was overwhelming. There was no standout, there was no showstopper and no one really made any kind of fashion statement other than the same lack of  ” Fabulous” we have seen over and over. For me – I think we may have jumped the shark with the pageant beading. Most of the women over 30 looked like they had just hopped off the plane from Atlantic City. Not mentioning any names. ( Catherine, Kristen, Heidi)

 …oops, looks like Heidi didn’t get the ‘booby’ memo!

-Penny Frulla for Bridal Expo Chicago

Hemp is a controversial topic but, don’t confuse Marijuana with Hemp!  They both come from the same plant species (Cannabis) but they could not be more different: Hemp is legal to grow, Marijuana is not. No one grows Hemp for smoking or ingesting any other way. Hemp is grown specifically for the fibers, oils and seeds it produces. So you can use the Hemp guilt free!

It is also one of the world’s  greatest untapped resources. According to Hemp USA, “Hemp can be used to produce a very large variety of products from clothing to paper to building supplies to cars to fuels to food products to much, much more.  Hemp is an environmental, renewable, reusable and recyclable resource.” Okay, I’m sold. But, how does that help  with your wedding?

If you are one of the millions of engaged couples who have decided to go “Green’ with your wedding,  Hemp is great place to start. It is probably one of the most misunderstood products and the punch line for many a joke.   It is the strongest  natural fiber in the world and has been used to make paper and cloth for over ten thousand years. Below are a few of the many ways Hemp can cure your “Green Wedding” blues.

Designers  are using hemp in conjunction with silk, cotton and linen because it  makes a more attractive, durable, and softer fabric.  Hemp is grown quite well without the use of pesticides or other chemicals  and therefore wins the nod of environmentalists everywhere. Look for gowns made from Hemp – they are not the hippie creations you would imagine. Still not sure? Consider these gorgeous gowns made from Hemp/Silk blends.

Hemp paper is not only beautiful - it  doesn’t yellow and accepts ink better than most papers. The retailers of Hemp paper boast that the end result will also provide a smear & smudge free copy that is crisp, clear and easier to read, especially if you are able to use  Hemp ink.

Leave it to Woody Harrelson to find a Hemp Tuxedo. Menswear has finally found its place in the world of eco-conscious celebrities so it only makes since that our favorite cannibis celeb would wear this dashing tux on the red carpet. Burberry made this one but, Giorgio Armani has thrown their “Hemp Hat” into the Organic Tuxedo ring as well.

Treat your attendants to a Hemp gift basket.  Hemp oils, lotions, bath wash, beauty items, jewelry are all readily available and make a gift so organic that your bridesmaids will be green without the envy.

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-Penny Frulla for Bridal Expo Chicago

A whopping 10% of all engagements occur on Valentine’s Day. That translates into millions of couples across the U.S, a lot of diamond rings, a lot of romantic dinners and a lot of proposals.  The pressure of proposing on this particular holiday is unbelievable, which begs the question, “Why Valentine’s Day?” There are lot of pros and cons to consider before you decide this will be the anniversary of your proposal ….. as long as you both shall live.

Pro: Because so many people propose on Valentine’s Day, there are a wide variety of  ‘packages’ which remove a lot of the work from you.

Con: Some restaurants and florists hike up their prices for Valentine’s Day, and many special discounts are not available on that date.

Pro: It will be an easy date to remember, especially if you are both inclined to celebrate this holiday in really romantic fashion!

Con: Because so many couples get engaged on Valentine’s Day, you may feel that your engagement date is contrived.

Pro: No romantic gesture is too large for Valentine’s Day. You can pull out all the stops and go for it!

Con: If your partner is not used to this kind of grand gesture, you may be met with some cynicism.

The day you decide to propose is very personal and very special, it should reflect both of your personalities. If you decide to pop the question on this day when everyone is expressing their love, remember –  it doesn’t have to be public and it doesn’t have to be as historically significant as dropping the engagement ring in a champagne glass. It can be sweet, personal and very sentimental.  Valentine’s Day is a wonderful day to embrace the love you found with the person who makes you the happiest and if you add another layer to that (your engagement)  it is an even better reason to celebrate!

-Penny Frulla for Bridal Expo Chicago

It’s January and you know what that means: the Hollywood Awards Season is in full swing! Aside from the occasional censored part of an acceptance speech or a wardrobe malfunction, my favorite part is the red carpet arrivals. Many years ago you used to have to watch the entire show to see what everyone was wearing. Now (like magic) there are half a dozen entertainment reporters stationed outside the venue, stopping every entertainer,  giving us a play by play of who is wearing what.  Sunday evening’s Screen Actor’s Guild Awards was a  star-studded evening filled with surprises, disappointments and more of the same.

Surprise: Michelle Williams redeemed herself from her last awards show appearance in a gorgeous red asymmetrical Valentino gown. Everything about this dress is right; the fit, the color and the design. Although demure , this look is also completely glamorous and stunning on her.

More of the same – Remember how great Meryl Streep looked in ‘The Devil Wears Prada’? She needs to put the costumer from that movie on speed dial because this Vivienne Westwood gown was completely unflattering in every single way possible. Sorry, I can’t find one good thing to say about this…. the worst part:  that gigantic leather (?) belt that looks like it belongs to a construction worker.

Even more of the same -Lea Michele showed up in her signature color (grey-ish) wearing an uber-sexy Versace gown.  The gown was beautiful but I would loved to have seen it in a more exciting color.

Disappointing  – Funny lady Jane Krakowski in a gown by Antonio Berardi that flops. If the center portion was beaded on sheer black instead of nude, it would make more sense.  It is a nice fit, though.

The Worst gown of the night belonged to Busy Phillips. I can’t even begin to imagine why she thought a boho-caftan was worthy of the red carpet. This belongs at a backyard barbeque. Busy? You bet!

The Best – Emily Blunt’s choice of  a jade-hued Oscar de La Renta gown was a refreshing change. Everything about this gown reeked class from the  slit (which was just the right height) to  the fit of the asymmetrical bodice. This gown was spectacular and the color really brought out the vibrant green in her eyes.

Of course this is just a sampling of the 70+ red carpet arrivals, the ones that really stuck out in my mind.  What were your favorites?

-Penny Frulla for Bridal Expo Chicago

As hard as it may seem to believe,  a lot of companies get their online reviews from within. If you have read this blog before, you know that I am the ultimate skeptic and that an online review to me means about as much to me as the paper on which I will never print it. In this case, my skepticism pays off.  A September report by the Pew Research Institute indicates that 58% of consumers purchase goods and services from the internet based in their online reviews. This was right about the same time the New York Times uncovered the truth about online reviews, exposing several companies who admitted to reviewing themselves repeatedly. Oddly enough one such company actual gave their company scathing reviews in order to improve their Google search results, and it worked.

As hard as it seems,  fake online reviews have gotten so out of control that the government is about to step in and figure out how to handle this growing problem. Until then, here are some guidelines to help you figure out how to spot a fake review when selecting professionals to service your wedding:

Name – Including the first and last name of the reviewer are not a guarantee that it is an actual person but, it greatly increases the odds. Generally online names like Bob234 are either automated programs or insiders trying to hide their identity. More information about the reviewer means more credibility.  Also check to see if this one name has several reviews on the same site or on other sites. Multiple postings is a sign that something is not right.

Date and Number – Check to see if there are swarms of reviews around the same date and for the same product or service. Clever marketers hire people to do product reviews based on a number of things like seasonal purchasing and promotional dates. 

Description – A description that sounds too good to be true probably is. Glowing recommendations are fine but, sometimes they go a bit too far and seem (what’s the word?) … phony. Also be careful of descriptions that are too technical to be from an average consumer point of view, they are probably not.

Links – If there is a link in the review, it is a fake. It is being used to drive you back to the original site.

Negative – Be careful of a negative review even if it seems legitimate since disgruntled ex-employees are notorious for going online; ranting and raving within the confines of a pseudonym. You could be passing up the best bridal salon in Chicago based on a sketchy review you read online.

When in doubt, check it out. The best and only reliable way to ensure that your wedding vendors are A+ or D- is to do your own research. Meet face-to-face  with each and every vendor and when you do, ask them for referrals. Ask for samples or examples of their work. Call previous customers who have used this service and find out firsthand about their experience. If you want to take it a step further, ask if you can attend one of their events and then you can decide for yourself.  When it comes to your wedding, you only have one shot to make it right and leaving your decision-making to reviews posted online is risky, at best.

-Penny Frulla for Bridal Expo Chicago

 Nearly 80% of all weddings take place in a church, synagogue or other place of religious worship. I found this shocking. Mainly because, I thought that it would be the opposite, that  more weddings were civil ceremonies held at reception sites, officiated by individuals licensed by the state rather than performed by ordained members of various religious institutions in a house of worship.  In fact, ‘church’ weddings are on the rise. However,  it is technically not the signature of the priest or rabbi  that makes your marriage legally binding, it is the stamp by the state. So, the thing that  makes the marriage legal has nothing to do with religious affiliation or lack thereof.  If you are keeping score, this means that technically ALL marriages are ‘civil unions’ but, not all ‘civil unions’ are marriages.

Of course that takes us into the whole same sex marriage debate.  Miriam Webster defines civil unions as: “the legal status that ensures to same-sex couples specified rights and responsibilities of married couples“. However, aboutcivilliberties.com states: “Civil unions are legal contracts between partners that are recognized by a state or government as conferring all or some of the rights conferred by marriage, but without the implicit historical and religious meaning associated with the word ‘marriage’.” No mention of same or opposite sex. I was married in the Cook County Courthouse in a civil ceremony… no priest, no rabbi, no minister. Therefore, although I am legally ‘married’ to my husband, by definition it is still a civil union. However, technically it is referred to as a ‘civil marriage’ . You see, because we have different chromosomal makeup, we are allowed to be legally married.  Are you still with me?

If you are confused, welcome to my world. But, lets get back to the church for just a second.  Centuries ago, people who wanted to be joined together for life simply set up house together (mutual consent), no questions asked. No ceremony, no gown, no DJ or flowers. Somewhere around the middle ages, things got confusing. Some countries required the government to sanction marriage, some required sanctioning by the ‘church’. Realistically, this was done to document, track and control marriages and probably to make a profit somehow.  To this day, some states still recognize common-law marriage which is based on  length of co-habitation and mutual consent.

Without getting into a detailed  history of marriage , let’s fast forward to the year 1999.  Bombarded by requests for marriage licenses by same sex couples, Vermont lawmakers took matters into their own hands and decided to create a parallel license (equal to marriage in everything except name) to issue to same sex couples wishing to be afforded marital rights. Thanks a lot, Vermont…. Whiskey Tango Foxtrot! If I understand this properly  (please correct  me if I don’t), “Civil Union” licenses were created to appease some voters  without offending the other voters along the way. In order to be completely politically correct, perhaps it should be called a “Duplicate  Chromosome Union” license. This way individuals with gender re-assignment wouldn’t have to have an additional parallel license.

This brings us to 2012 where  you can have a civil ceremony and civil marriaige  but, it isn’t considered a civil union.  You can have a civil ceremony which can be a civil union but not a civil marriage. Fortunately more churches are accepting of all kinds of marriage, unions and cermonies and are willing to accept the religious and cultural differences of couples everywhere. Perhaps that is why ‘church’ weddings are on the rise. Stilil shocking to me but, then again, I’m still trying to figure out who came up with the idea of a  ‘parallel’  license.

-Penny Frulla for Bridal Expo Chicago