Oct

30

Runway Inspired Haute Halloween!

Filed Under Aisle Style, Holidays | 9 Comments

Once again we are inspired by the runways and pages of fashion magazines. From bejeweled pumpkins to captivating hair and makeup tips from the pros, these ideas will ensure a couture and HAUTE Halloween!

Recreate a Vogue Halloween with step by step instructions on recreating Eddie Borgo’s jeweled pumpkin: “Last Halloween, jeweler Eddie Borgo (yes, he of coveted pyramid spike bracelets) decided he needed a housewarming gift for his friend designer Victor Glemaud’s annual downtown get-together. Flowers didn’t seem appropriate, so he opted to create a festive custom-made centerpiece: a bejeweled pumpkin.” Style.com

Find the step by step bejeweled pumpkin instructions and supplies needed via Style.com! If the project seems too overwhelming, Borgo can even make you one!

These fashion editorial photos are awe inspiring and prove that for last minute couture costumes you can just wear a fabulous frock straight out of your closet! Top it with an over-the-top handmade headpiece made from butterflies or florals. For a finishing touch, cover your face with dramatic makeup for a captivating look! If you are not feeling up to par with your make-up skills, schedule an appointment with your favorite make-up counter. Photos by Carl Bengtsson

Halloween hair trend: Wickedly Crimped strands! Mimic Erin Fetherston’s fall 2009 runway hair. “It’s a bit wicked and more sinister than Erin’s usual fairytale look. The girls are a bit Tim Burton-esque.” via Elle.com

Haunting runway looks will be sure to captivate this Halloween! Wear black lipstick (with a touch of red), powdery pale skin, and darkly rimmed eyes or bright purple eyeshadows similar to the models of Marc Jacob’s fall 2009 show! via Elle.com

HAUTE HALLOWEEN TIPS FROM AROUND THE WEB (cobweb that is!): Get Halloween hair tips from top stylist Moulay Yacoubi via Teen Vogue.

See haunting runway beauty looks with spooky hair and makeup to inspire for Halloween via Elle

Give your hair locks a Tim Burton-esque makeover with expert hair tips

From catwalk queens to beautiful bloodsuckers, find out what the top costumes are this year! via Teen Vogue

What are you dressing up as this Halloween? Do you have any creative Halloween recipe or decor tips?

Oct

29

Moulin Rouge, Broken Birdcages and Brick Walls

Filed Under Sweet Dreams: Inspiration Boards | 5 Comments

Turn your wedding into a Moulin Rouge musical with bright colored feathers, and sparkling lit up cabaret style signage. Add unexpected elements of rustic textures, chandeliers of broken birdcages and brick walls for a stark contrast to flower feathered fascinators, bright bow headbands and ballgowns. Dress tables with one long dramatic arrangement of flowers made of amnesia roses, Cafe au Lait dahlias, and faded grey hydrangeas surrounded by tall dripping candles.

Carl Bengtsson via Ada and Darcy, chandelier via Sebastian Tumblr, Flowers via Concrete and Honey, bird cages via missawallflower, gold birdcage via Lolla Loves, Tablescape via In Style WeddingsR

TO BUY: Roxie Rosette shoe clips coupled with feathers and vintage rhinestones by House of Tesla; $67.00

Give each of your bridesmaids dupioni silk fascinators coupled with feathers, vintage alencon lace, pearl detailing, and vintage rhinestones by House of Tesla; $75.00

Instead of a birdcage veil or flower pinned to your coif, opt instead for a decadent bow headband made in lush velvet! by House of Tesla; $48.00

Oct

28

Delicous Fall Foodie Recipes!

Filed Under Dinner Parties, Food and Drinks, Holidays, Weddings | 3 Comments

It seems like Fall just finally crept up on us and with blustery winds and gorgeous falling leaves. Sweaters get to come out of the back of the closet, you finally have to shut your windows at night and cozy socks sound like a welcomed treat. With the brisk temperatures and changing lights, brings memories and cravings of warm cups of chai tea, pumpkin scones, hearty stews and plenty of reasons to stay home with the ones you love. Being an avid foodie, relating food with memories, places and seasons always go hand in hand.

Why not embrace the flavors of the season and celebrate it in deliciously memorable ways? From a cozy dinner party to a Fall wedding, bringing in some of these seasonal classic and new comfort foods will be surefire ways to impress your guests! Here are a few of our favorite recipes and catering ideas.

Top Row: Crab and Scallop Soup Second Row: Prosciutto Wrapped Grissini Third Row: Fresh Figs with Bacon and Goat Cheese Fourth Row: Roast Chicken with Vegetables Fifth Row: Seckel Pear Tart with Poire William Cream Sixth Row: Warm Bishop Cocktail, Palmyra Cocktail

PUMPKIN, PUMPKIN & PUMPKIN!!!!!

Waste not want not with this years Jack-o-Lanterns. Not only for desserts, pumpkin can be a delicious and nutritious fall dinner solution!

Carmel Pumpkin Pie

Pumpkin Ginger Rice Pudding

Spiced Pumpkin Souffles with Bourbon Molasses Sauce

Pumpkin Stuffed with Vegetable Stew

Sweet Potato Gnocchi with Fried Sage and Shaved Chestnuts

Top Row: Pumpkin Cupcakes & other sweets via Sweet & Saucy Second Row: Cappuccino’s make for a perfectly frothy canvas! Use a toothpick to make your own custom designs! Here are some tips how. Third Row: Pumpkin Cupcakes via Sweet & Saucy Fourth Row: Brandied Hot Chocolate & Red Date Sticky Toffee Pudding Fifth Row: Crisp Chocolate Marshmallow Squares

Rich Chocolate Mousse

Snickerdoodle Duo

Red Wind Carmel Apples

Maple Pecan Popcorn

These were just too cute for a spooky supper side dish! Potato Ghosts

Oct

27

Costume Couture, Wicked Wines & Spirits

Filed Under Cocktail Recipes, Dinner Parties, Food and Drinks, Holidays | 10 Comments

Halloween is around the corner! These last minute tips will ensure a gothic glam event. Go costume couture with a vampire victorian Transylvanian vibe or glamorous masks and serve wicked wine and spirits. Our inspiration starts with these hauntingly high fashion photos.

Carl Bengtsson via Ada & Darcy

You don’t need to spend a fortune to attain these ‘costume couture’ statements. Wear a simple black dress with gothic vamp makeup and top it with vintage velvet hats, feathered masks and leather cuffs. Men can dress in simple suits accented by vampire makeup to attain a creepy ‘I just traveled from Transylvania look’.

TO WEAR: Gothic vamp vintage top hat; $17.00

Feather mask; Urban Outfitters, $18.00

Leather love wrist cuff by Love at First Blush; $75.00

Ostrich feather & vintage fabric headband by Estelle Annabelle; $285.00

Fallen angel mini top hat by Rag Dollies Madhouse; $74.00

Cream white tulle Elizabethan ruff by Rag Dollies Madhouse; $45.00

Silver venetian style mask by Lady in the Tower; $39.00

TO DECORATE: Vintage china shoe with anatomical illustrations; $22.00

Anatomical print on vintage book; $9.00

Anatomical mortar and pestle; $22.00

Midnight black candle holders; Grandin Road $6.00

Black lace window swag; Grandin Road $9.00

Black baroque wall clock and cakestand; dotcom gift shop

Venetian gold mask ornament by Lady in the Tower; $12.00

DIY! Gothic plates via Design Mom and nail head decorative studded pumpkins!!!!

TO SERVE: Wicked wines & Spirits with labels that SCREAM Halloween! Halloween can be glammed up with a variety of creep wine served in gothic goblets!

“The wine to die for”, Poizin wine by Armida winery. a reserve Zinfandel that even comes in a screen printed coffin!

Gnarly Head Wines with orange and dark labels of twisted trees. There is something for everyone from Cabernets, Chards, Merlots and Zins.

Orin Swift 2007 Prisoner and Orin Swifts cult wine Bordeaux-style blend ‘Papillion’, Dracula Syrah by Vampire Vineyards, Drink the inky black and blue wine of Napa Valley’s True Blood Syrah, Vampire Merlot by Vampire Vineyards,

For guests that prefer liquor serve ‘Black Devil Martinis’ in a midnight hue and pour basic vodka cocktails from a Crystal skull, a delightfully eery shape; $54.00

Serve all your varietals in black gothic goblets!

Oct

26

Love Story: Caleb & Tiffany

Filed Under Weddings | 4 Comments

From the proposal to the intimate wedding, we adore the storybook photos sent to us from Lifework Images. Thank you for sharing this beautiful love story!

“Caleb arranged for Tiffany, her mom and sister to have a ‘Girls Weekend’ a few minutes north of Cannon Beach. It was arranged that promptly at 10:30 her sister would suggest ‘we should all go for a walk on the beach. Around 11:30 am the girls were in sight through my telephoto lens and butterflies started fluttering around in my stomach!”

“The 3 women strolled along when, ‘what’s this?’ A message in a beautiful green bottle! As planned she picks the bottle up and pulls out and image of her and Caleb taken at that exact spot just weeks before. The message ‘I’m here!” is written on the photo. Tiffany laughs and starts looking around the beach.”

“Caleb started walking towards her and they meet half way. They hug and she just laughs and keeps asking ‘what are you doing here?’ until Caleb gets down on one knee in front of the rolling Oregon waves. She says ‘YES’ and then the two newly-engaged joined me for a fun, sunny engagement session!” – Lifework Images

“Tiffany wanted the beauty of her uncle’s rustic, lake-side property in the Northwest to set the tone. The historic property on Hayden Lake Idaho still holds the first cabin to be built on the lake which was built by Matthew Hayden in the 1870’s.”

“Caleb and Tiffany went above and beyond planning their wedding with amazing personal touches and did it all themselves down to every little detail. Caleb is a designer and created a gorgeous monogram which was included on their hand-made invitations and sprinkled throughout all of their decorations and wedding favors. The couple chose a simple color palette of black and white with a touch of purple throughout. Keeping it fun and with their personalities, the groomsmen wore comfortable black-on-black Vans while Tiffany kicked it in her wedding dress and purple Vans!”