Not just a novelty anymore, retro inspired styles are not just chic but very much in demand within the world of fashion.  We all know that Gatsby  inspired elements are having their moment right now, but the 1950′s/1960′s Man Men infused styles are very much here to stay for quite some time.  These throw back threads speak to a certain polish, a refinement & essence of a well put together woman.  All the better for bride’s willing to look back at the dresses that came before them for their perfect bridal style!  Vintage boutiques are a treasure trove of fashion history and believe it or not, there are ones specific to bridal: gowns, gloves, veils, purses, you name it!  Why not stroll down the aisle in a piece of history thats likely to be one heck of a deal too!  Angela Bartunek of aster & olive photography teamed up with the amazing folks of Miranda’s Vintage Bridal to put together a sweet little shoot highlighting a few lovely retro fashions, including the most covet worthy pair of kitten gloves you’ll ever see!  Please please ladies, bring the kitten gloves back!  {Dying to see some modern brides rockin the gloves!} Regardless of your fashion tastes, dipping into the vintage closet can unearth some mega finds that set the stage for greatness!

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Dress Boutique: Miranda’s Vintage Bridal | Dress: Bianchi {Vintage} *No longer creates | Photographer: aster & olive photography

Bridal style is always a hot topic as it is the fashion world’s best friend dressed in white!  Ok maybe not always white, especially these days, but you get my point!  Seriously though, the most brilliant way now a days to deliver anything but a cookie cutter wedding is by starting with expressing yourself through what you wear before anything else.  Your complete wedding day look can set the tone for your fete and is the physical manifest of the buzzwords that you use to craft your day.  Ethereal, sophisticated, vintage, boho, whimsical, along with every other wedding description, can be represented in not only your gown, but in your accessories & styling.

Headpieces as a whole are a huge trend in weddings right now, everything from over the top fascinators to boho inspired floral crowns.  When I ventured over to Limn & Lovely’s Valentine’s Day styled shoot, I found a gorgeous representation in bridal form of a mix of sophisticated style with whimsical boho feel which I thought was perfect for WIWW!  The look that we are spotlighting  has a solid foundation in classic bridal turned up a big notch with modern lines, a dash of sparkle, & a soft feminine feel!

 *Photograph by Alea Lovely 

There are 4 big elements at play in this complete look: The Dress, The Bouquet {you better believe this is part of your look!}, lace headpiece along with Hair & Makeup.

The Dress…

We’ll start with the base of the look, the gown, from Anna Maier Ulla-Maija, which has a lochrosen and silver thread embroidered bodice with a full tulle skirt.  By design, this gown has a very classic clean crisp  silhouette.  The modern touch is the well fitted embroidered bodice which projects youth & light bringing a fresh feel to the face.  The full tulle skirt is also modernized, opting for construction that is far less dense then most tulle skirts, again, giving a more fresh take on a ball gown style.  The dress is the perfect choice for a bride that wants to have a bit of fun in their styling.  The sparkle on the bodice is just the right pop while leaving the door open for wonderful accessories!  Be careful when choosing your dresses ladies, if you know you’re going to want bold & gorgeous accessories, make sure your dress isn’t competing for the attention.

The Bouquet…

With something like a full tulle skirt, your going to want a floral arrangement that has a bit of size to it, otherwise it might simply get lost in the sauce if you will.  This arrangement is a terrific size, its the Goldilocks of bouquets if you will, not too big and not too small, juuuuusssst right!  The beauty of this particular arrangement however is the over all tone range of the colors which beautifully mimic to some degree the tone of the bodice in the dress while being different enough that it stands out.  There is a soft gorgeous romantic feel to the flowers all while being super feminine.  The injection of the eucalyptus as a finishing element gives the arrangement a touch of whimsy & lends itself to a boho chic feel, which….. wonderfully jives with the headpiece & hair!

Lace Headpiece, Hair & Makeup…

The idea here is simple enough yet wonderfully executed & there in lays the success.  The headpiece is a simple elegant piece of lace, tightly wrapped around her ever so gently tumbling barrel curled locks.  The lace headpiece serves to bring a touch of drama & style to our gals face all the while giving the hair a formal shape by keeping the crown of her locks close while allowing the rest to sway freely.  It gives the overall look a sense of refinement & freedom all in the same breath.  I really appreciate that the hair has just the right touch of body, texture, even a slight tussled look to it.  They didn’t over fuss, didn’t over fix, allowing a true boho chic feel to emerge.  Wonderfully supporting the hair & lace is the eloquently done makeup.  You might not think much of whats going on with it, but that’s truly the point and a testament to how well it is done.  Here again just the right amount is given to make our bride to keep true to her youth, look fresh, bright, and very much in love I’d say!

I love this look of a nod to the classics with wonderful injection of boho chic, high on the chic, don’t you!?  I am very much a fan of the headpiece movement and can’t wait to see what truly wonderfully styling comes out way.  Are you a fan of the floral crowns or are you more a lace girl yourself?  If there is ever anything that you would love to see design explained, please send it in…. you never know, it just might be our next Why It Works Wednesday!

Be sure to head over to Limn & Lovely to view the full post, it really is a treat and there are a few other looks that they worked with on the day as well!

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Photography: Alea Lovely / Venue: Longview Mansion / Flowers: Amy Cason of Victorian Gardens / Cakes and sweets: Classic Cakes / Dresses: Gown with high, beaded neckline >Amsale, short wedding dress > Ivy & Aster, strapless gown with embroidered bodice > Anna Maier~Ulla-Maija / Dress retailer: Altar Bridal / Makeup artist: Jolie Artistry

Not every girl dreams of being down up to a T on her wedding day.  The idea of a big bulky dress, tightly pinned hair, heels as tall as sky scrapers, is enough to send many sweet ladies running in fear!  Some gals prefer the KISS method, Keep It Simple Stupid!  Our wonderfully ethereal styled bridal session  today has two lovely looks which will truly inspire ladies looking to keep things more simple on their big day, shoes optional even!  Softly tumbling barrel curl locks, a delicate strapless blush 50′s dress, or a lace vintage dress with pinched 3/4 sleeves, elements that are equally relaxed and laid back as they are elegant & beautiful.  Being ones true lovely self comes in many many forms, and for some, feeling the grass between her toes, while her sways in the wind, dressed in a simple yet beautiful dress, is all  she needs!

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Florist: Valle Wholesale Flowers | Makeup Artist: Flawless Team | Photographer: Lucy Munoz Photography

There is a particular board that I keep on Pinterest that is quite possibly my favorite board of all, Bridal Inspirationsensation.  The focus of the board is an eclectic collection of bridal looks, styles & accessories that are much more fashion forward then your typical fare. I utterly adore this board for so many reasons, the most important of which to me being its total departure from the conventional ‘cookie cutter’ styled bride.  Fashion is indeed a genius all its own, clothing, the art form it becomes.  For the right bride, one who is more adventurous, stylish, and most importantly, comfortable in her own skin, there is a mind blowing world of looks that defy classic ways of tradition, turn up the whimsy, bring forth the elegance, highlight everything magical about design.  Today’s styled bridal session certainly is not for your cookie cutter bride.  Wonderfully over sized floral fascinators, strips of lace running through braided hair, black corset gowns with sophisticated lace veils, fashion embodied.  There is an air of good & bad here, romantic vs mysteriously regal if you will.  Bridal fashion can be a dream world just like any other, if you let it….

So which look is your favorite?  Do you lean more toward the softer feminine & romantic style or are you as in love as I am with the bold black lace look?  The mystery in the black lace veil is simply beyond with such an intense sense of sophistication don’t you think?  What are some of your more fashion forward bridal looks, I’d love to hear!

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Corset: Fredrick’s of Hollywood | Pink Gown: H&M | Floral Fascinator & Black Veil: Meo Baaklini | Hair & Make-up: Meo Baaklini | Photographer: Meo Baaklini

Styled inspiration shoots come and go, but they so rarely feature our wonderful military in their smart dress finest!  This early spring woodsy shoot features a sweet homegrown picnic!  Early strawberries, plush oranges, even a little guardian owl add an organic touch of earthiness and simplicity to the table.  While our groom is indeed sharply dressed in his Navy finest, our sweet bride dons an Allure gown with a simple single row of pearls on her neck & wrist for a spot of elegance.  Not one to stray to far from her down home roots, our bride added a dash of country to this rustic fete, wearing a pair of splendid cowboy boots!  Simple natural touches can easily transform any environment into a rustic playground!

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Dress: Allure – Bridals by Jodi| Table Decor : Sugar and Spice Photography & ModMoxieStudios
Photographer: Sugar and Spice Photography and Design Studio & Tracy Kin of TDK Photography