Kleinfeld Bridal Fashion Show


Currently, about 5 episodes of Say Yes to the Dress are clogging up my DVR (as are Four Weddings, My Fair Wedding, Rich Bride Poor Bride and Bridalplasty).  Can you tell I’m a little wedding-show-obsessed?  Before you jump to conclusions,  let me defend myself.  I’m not a Bridezilla in the making.  I’m just an event planner by trade who also happens to be a bride-to-be.  So these event planning bridal shows are right up my alley and often a source of inspiration (not to mention laughter, envy and ridicule).

So when I heard that Kleinfeld was doing a live fashion show at the NY Palace Hotel (my wedding venue) I just had to say yes to the event.   Besides, how can a “Say Yes to the Dress” fan turn down the opportunity to see Randy and the Kleinfeld clan?  Here are my pictures!

As you can see, even though I arrived late and the open seating was half-full by the time I arrived, I still managed to snag a decent center aisle seat.  I attribute this to being in a room full of amateur fashion show go-ers who mistakenly took any seat near the stage.  (real pros know to take the coveted center aisle seat for best viewing pleasure!)

As you can see, the opening look was a fashion-forward stunner.  You could literally hear the audience audibly gasp when the swarvoski crystals flickered towards them.  What can I say?  We girls are suckers for the shiny shiny.The off-white bejewled lace tank featured delicate cap sleeves and an organza ruffled skirt with feathered detail.  I love feathers so that’s what caught my eye.  Thing is this Pnina Tornai dress retails for $19,200.  It made the complimentary Kleinfeld $400 coupon seem like pennies in comparison which made me wonder how many brides-to-be gave up their Kleinfeld dreams at this point and hastily threw their coupon favors away. 

This ivory scoop neck sheath by Koscanyo Couture confused me.  It had a matronly silhouette and conservative cut which reminded me of something an older bride might wear for her 2nd wedding but then upon closer inspection, you realize that it would have to be a slutty older bride.  Check out the see-through lace!

This Olivia Couture simple ivory strapless A-line gown was made of tulle and sparkled with its bow bling.  It’s great for that simple, girly bride who just so happens to have $3600 to spare.

If you like the romantic look and want to incorporate lace, then something like the below ivory strapless, dropped-waist trumpet gown might be a pretty purchase.
To me, this look is just too saccharine.  But here’s a close-up for all you sweet brides.

That’s a velvet bow that you’re looking at.  The whole Johanna Hehir dress is $5900 which to me sounds like a lot, given I’ve never heard of that designer before.

When this blondie came out, I couldn’t help staring at the beautiful necklace.  So much so that I didn’t even notice she was wearing pants!  It was only after I checked our event program, and I read “white strapless chiffon over silk satin skinny pant by Le Spose Di Gio $4100” that I had to take a double-take.  What do you think of this unusual bridal getup?  Are pants the new wave of the future?  I think not… that is unless maybe you’re Ellen DeGeneres.  Here’s a better shot of that necklace.  I love statement jewelry!

The fashionista in me is drawn to asymmetrical shoulders but this one pictured below just didn’t excite me.   Look at the model.  The dress even makes her sleepy.  I certainly got a shockwave of excitement though when I saw that the Amarildine dress costed$4200.  $4200 for this organza piece?  Really?

Next came an unexpected surprise that both delighted and fascinated me.  Check out this blue and white seersucker sweetheart neckline ballgown.Have you ever seen such a thing?  I mean a seersucker blue/white gown – who does this?  The concept seemed borderline outrageous but I loved the fresh take.  Take a closer look.

The guy wore a white linen suit with blue and white seersucker dress shirt.  And they both looked absolutely adorable together.  I can see this looking perfect at a summer southern wedding.  You can be sure to cross off “something blue” with this dress!

It doesn’t hurt that the model was flawlessly beautiful, right?  And look below.  the back is beautiful and elegant.  I just love the draping.  It reminds me of some Maggie Sottero and Kenneth Pool gowns that I’ve tried on.

If you’re not sick of bridal gowns, then read on tomorrow when I upload the rest of the pictures from the 2nd half of the show.  Say yes to tomorrow’s post!

Fashion’s Newest Faces

Fashion is fickle.  It’s constantly changing and so the same goes for fashion’s faces.  Kate Moss who just turned 37 by the way, famously became the face of Calvin Klein, Burberry, Chanel, Dior, Topshop, Rimmel London and many more.  And with the change in times (and with Kate’s erratic behavior), brands have both run towards and away from her when carefully considering who would best represent them.

Kate Moss

The fashion front has some exciting updates.  Firstly, Leighton Meester is now officially one of the faces of Missoni.  Check out her adorable photo here proving once again that nerds are in vogue.

Though she is not the sole star of the campaign, ( Margherita Missoni, Camilla Al Fayed, Eugenie Niarchos, Tatiana Santo Domingo, Charlotte Dellal and Jacquetta Wheeler were also photographed for the ad campaign), she certainly looks like she is enjoying her model moment.

Another queen B from gossip girl that is the new face of fashion is Blake Lively.  Possibly, the luckiest of all fashion faces, she just got appointed as Chanel’s ambassador for their new Mademoiselle handbag! 

I think Karl made a fabulous choice.  She is as he praised, the “American Dream Girl” with her effortlessly sexy locks, model figure and charming smile.

Following the trend of using celebrities as the new faces for fashion, Ann Taylor, a brand that I’m currently intrigued with, chose Katie Holmes to debut their Spring 2011 collection.  I barely recognized those steely eyes in this photo.  And who would have guessed that figure came from a recent boy-jean wearing mom?

Lastly, I’m excited to see that finally, an Asian model has signed such a high-profile cosmetics contract with Estee Lauder.  This is sort of old news (2010) but I can’t help celebrating Liu Wen, who is the first-ever Asian to land the EL contract and also the first Asian to also walk the Victoria’s Secret runway.

Who is your favorite model of the moment or fresh face of fashion?

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