Borrowed & Bleu » Advice & DIY

Choosing a Wedding Dress to Flatter Your Figure

Erika — Fri, 03 May 2013 13:09:11 +0000

Here’s a handy little guide to five of the most common wedding dress silhouettes and what body types they’re good for!

Please feel free to share! All we ask is that you kindly link back to us.

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Take Your Scalpel and Shove It: Why I Don’t Believe in Bridal Perfection

Erika — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 17:20:01 +0000

I now bring you this brief interruption from our daily inspiration to share something that’s really been bothering me. I don’t normally write controversial opinion pieces, so try to be gentle – I’m actually quite squishy on the inside.

So, here goes nothing. Lately, I’ve been receiving PR pitches about getting plastic surgery before the wedding. And I have to tell you, the implication of that message really ticks me off.

In the months before the wedding, plastic surgeons are advocating brides receive treatments including breast augmentation, liposuction, BOTOX®, nose jobs and laser resurfacing! What does this say to brides? That you won’t look beautiful at your wedding if you don’t surgically change things about yourself? That you should mold yourself to fit some generic aesthetic?

I call bull. That’s simply ridiculous. Most women have physical features they’re not particularly fond of (I, for example, don’t like my upper arms), but to suggest that a bride doesn’t have a wedding worthy look without plastic surgery is just offensive.

This is sending the wrong message to women everywhere, plain and simple. You’ll look beautiful on your wedding day no matter what. Why? Because it’s the happiest day of your life, and that happiness will make you glow with the kind of beauty that can’t be faked.

This concept is clearly nothing new: A few years ago, E! had a reality TV show in which 12 women competed to win a dream wedding and plastic surgery procedure. GMA reported last year that one bride-to-be spent as much on her plastic surgery ($20K) as she did on her entire wedding. A survey by the Daily Mail (UK) indicated that 10% of brides polled would undergo surgery or injections of BOTOX® or fillers before their weddings.

I can’t help but feel that the plastic surgery industry is selling brides a negative self-image and exploiting them at a time in their lives when they feel pressured to live up to societal standards of beauty when they walk down the aisle.

Does plastic surgery really make you more confident? Is an invasive procedure really an equal trade for a little wedding day stress about photos? Should your quest for the “perfect dress” serve as a reason to alter your body that way? Personally, I’d prefer to find a flattering dress for my existing figure and an extra glass or two of champagne to calm my nerves, but that’s just me.

Every day, we’re bombarded with images of “perfection” – TV, movies, music videos, and hell, even wedding blogs – but why should you have to be “perfect” on your wedding day? Isn’t that what marriage is all about – sharing your life with someone who loves you, proverbial warts and all?

I’m not saying you shouldn’t do what makes you happy, or try to look your best on your wedding day. Going to the gym, following a healthy routine of exercise and a nutritious diet, trying out a new hair color, getting a spray tan – they are all cosmetic choices. But they’re about feeling good about the way you look, not achieving some unattainable standard of perfection.

That said, to each her own: if you want plastic surgery, I’m not casting aspersions. There’s nothing wrong with it when it’s done for the right reasons (i.e. not to fit into one specific dress for one specific day).

My issue lies with an industry selling the idea that plastic perfection is a bridal necessity, or to imply that a bride isn’t ready to walk down the aisle without thousands of dollars worth of procedures.

I say they can take their scalpels and shove ‘em.

What do you think of “bridalplasty” and the notion of bridal “perfection”? Feel free to argue with me about it – just keep it civil!

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What’s In Season: Spring Wedding Flowers Part I

Erika — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 05:01:13 +0000

Last year, we covered seasonal flowers for autumn and winter, and today we’ll go over some of the flowers that are in season for spring weddings!

Spring Flowers~

Lily of the Valley: This poisonous woodland flowering plant with tiny white bell-shaped flowers is also known as “Our Lady’s Tears” from Christian stories in which it sprang from where Mary was weeping during the crucifixion. In the “language of the flowers,” Lily of the Valley signifies the return of happiness, and the flower became popular after it was featured in Kate Middleton’s bridal bouquet.
Peony: This lovely flower is named after a student of the Greek god of medicine and healing. It’s also one of the longest-used flowers in Eastern culture and is a traditional floral symbol of China.
Hyacinth: In Greek mythology, Apollo made a flower from Hyacinth’s spilled blood. Hyacinths are sometimes symbolic of rebirth and as such are used in the Haftseen table setting for the Persian New Year celebration. The plant has a single dense spike of fragrant flowers in shades of violet, red, blue, white, orange, pink and yellow.
Tulip: Most commonly associated with the Netherlands, tulips date all the way back to the Ottoman Empire. These spring-blooming perennials grow from bulbs, and most only produce one flower per stem. They come in a huge range of colors. In Persia, a red tulip was a declaration of love.

Personally, I’ve been a fan of Lily of the Valley since I was a little girl, and we had some growing in our backyard up North. The delicate fragrance always reminds me of my childhood.

What’s your favorite spring flower? Stay tuned for Part II and more spring blooms!

The post What’s In Season: Spring Wedding Flowers Part I appeared first on Borrowed & Bleu - Inspiration for One-of-a-Kind Weddings.

How to Tie the Perfect Bow

Erika — Wed, 24 Oct 2012 14:05:19 +0000

I‘ll be the first to admit that while I’m relatively crafty, I’m absolutely terrible when it comes to tying bows. Seriously awful.

So while tying the perfect bow might come easily to some of us, I thought I’d share these instructions from Beau-coup on how to tie a ribbon around a gift box.

There’s a technique to tying ribbon around a gift box and giving it a flat bottom so that it sits evenly on a table. The trick is to twist the ribbon at the top instead of at the bottom to avoid having a bump at the bottom of the box that causes it to wobble on the surface.

It’s much easier if you watch the short video first, and then you can refer to the instructions below!

Start by determining how much ribbon you want to leave for the bow.
Hold the ribbon down at the top of the box, leaving a piece hanging.
Take the long piece and wrap it round the box in one direction.
When you get back to the top, fold the shorter hanging piece over, turn the box and pull on both ends.
Now take the long end and wrap it around the other side of the box.
When you get back up to the top, tuck the end of the ribbon underneath the twist.
Now pull it tight and you’re ready to tie your bow!

Now you have a perfect bow with a flat bottom that will sit evenly on your table.

With the holidays coming up, I might actually be able to pull off a decent bow. Plus, for any of you ladies making your own wedding favor boxes, this could come in handy. Many thanks to Beau-coup for sharing the video and instructions and saving me the embarrassment of my hideous bows!

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What’s In Season: Winter Wedding Flowers

Erika — Wed, 17 Oct 2012 11:19:09 +0000

About a week ago, I shared a guide to in-season fall flowers, so today we’re going to talk about what’s blooming for winter! This list reflects a small portion of the flowers that are in season for December through February.

Winter Flowers ~

Amaryllis: aka belladonna lily, even though it is only distantly related to the lily family; commonly seen during the holidays in brilliant shades of red; popular for growing indoors
Anemone: aka “windflower” (the Greek word anemone means “daughter of the wind”); there are about 150 species
Camellia: native to eastern and southern Asia, commonly known as “tea flower” in Chinese and is in fact used to produce tea; flowers vary in color from white to pink to red
Ranunculus: aka buttercup; in Late Latin, the name means “little frog;” all species (approximately 600) are poisonous to certain animals

Winter flowers are some of the most striking and vibrant, in my opinion. If you’re going to include shades of red and/or ivory in your wedding colors, I think any of these varieties would be great choices.

Orchids and roses are also popular choices for winter weddings, as they come in such a broad palette of colors. You can really make these flowers stand out with the addition of non-floral elements like feathers, Dusty Miller leaves or even berries.

Are you planning a winter wedding? What flowers have you chosen?

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What’s In Season: Fall Wedding Flowers

Erika — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 15:26:49 +0000

As many of you know, choosing flowers is a lot simpler and more budget friendly if you stick to flowers that are in season at the time of your wedding. Here’s a quick little guide to some of my favorite flowers that are in season for fall weddings! This isn’t an all-inclusive list, so be sure to ask your florist what’s in season for more ideas.

Fall Flowers ~

Chrysanthemum (aka “mums”): flower’s name comes from the Greek words for “gold” and “flower” but grows in a variety of colors besides yellow
Dahlia: larger blooms in rich colors, featuring lots of small, delicate petals
Marigold: most often found in intense shades of orange
Zinnia: blooms in different shapes and petal configurations, i.e. a single row of rounded petals or multiple rows of elongated petals

Fall blooms are some of my favorites because they pair beautifully with other natural seasonal elements like autumn leaves, pumpkins and more.

Are you planning a fall wedding? What flowers have you chosen?

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Serve Up Drinks & Dessert with a Double-Duty Bar

Erika — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 13:09:45 +0000

Guest post by Canard, Inc.

For brides who want to mix things up at their wedding receptions with drinks and desserts, a double-duty bar does the trick and offers guests the ultimate dining experience!

First, start with a larger bar for pre-dinner cocktails. This will give your bartenders/mixologists and guests plenty of room for mixing and mingling and will also give your guests a chance to inquire about the specialty cocktail options.

Here are two creative specialty cocktails you can ask your mixologist to serve at your wedding!

Rose Gimlet (pictured left)

1-1/4 oz rosehip-infused gin*
1/2 oz simple syrup
1/2 oz fresh lime juice (or substitute 1 oz Rose’s lime juice for simple syrup and fresh lime juice)
3 drops rose water
Edible rose petals (for garnish)

Shake infused gin, simple syrup, lime juice, and rose water with ice and strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with edible rose petals.

For the infused gin ~

1/2 cup dried rosehips
1L bottle of your favorite gin

Pour gin in a large pitcher, add dried rose hips and cover pitcher. Leave in a warm place (on the counter should work) overnight. The infused gin can then be returned to the bottle and kept for future use, or can be strained and used immediately.

Cape Cod Caviar (pictured right, created by Ryan Maerz of Canard, Inc.)

3 oz sparkling vodka
1-1/2 oz triple sec
Splash of white cranberry
Lime wedges (for garnish)
5 grams sodium alginate
500 grams cranberry juice
10 grams calcium chloride
1500 grams cold water
1 syringe

To make Cranberry Caviar, mix sodium alginate and cranberry juice and blend well with hand blender. Let liquid sit for 3-4 hours to release any gasses. Whisk together calcium chloride and water in large bowl until well combined. Fill the syringe with the cranberry mixture. Begin to push droplets from the syringe into the calcium-water bath. Keep in mind, the longer the droplets sit the less juicy the “caviar” will be. Gently remove caviar from bath with slotted spoon, and place in another dish/bowl filled with cold water to gently rinse them off. Combine vodka, triple sec, and white cranberry and shake with ice to chill. Pour into a martini glass, garnish with cranberry caviar and lime twist, and serve straight up.

While everyone is seated during dinner, re-configure the bar to include a dessert buffet of your favorite sweets! When guests come back to the bar for another cocktail, they will be delighted by the visual display showcasing fun and various dessert items for them to try!

Another great aspect of the double-duty bar is that the guests will already be familiar with the bartenders and will feel completely comfortable lingering at the bar to chat and ask questions about the array of assorted treats in front of them.

The bartenders/mixologists can also offer cordials to pair with each guests’ dessert selections, thus topping things off with a memorable and personal touch. With your guests feeling great, the double-duty bar will be a sure way to keep the party going long after dinner!

Photos, tips and recipes courtesy of Canard, Inc., an award-winning luxury catering company in New York City with a reputation for creatively serving NYC’s top events.

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Bridal Beauty: Long-Lasting Hair & Makeup from Day to Night

Erika — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 04:00:29 +0000

By Ashley Stone, Beauty Entourage

You can spend an infinite amount of money on products and still leave the party with frizzy hair and little to no makeup left on your face. How do you make your hair and makeup last? It’s all in knowing the tricks professionals use to combat the hair and makeup disappearing act. There are simple tips that can make your look last for more than just a few hours.

Consider what you are up against: In order to know what will work best with your skin and hair, know what you are up against – your problem areas. Faced with frizzy hair or an oily nose? To make your look last, work with it. You may consider changing your hairstyle to a similar variation of the desired look to make it last. Pay particular attention to your problem areas and use products to treat it or refrain from using products that will further draw attention to the area. But it doesn’t end there. It’s not just your personal problem areas you should consider – be mindful of your environment. Weather can make a big difference in your appearance. If you are getting prepped for a destination wedding and don’t typically have frizzy hair, be prepared.

Long-lasting Makeup Tips

Face: Use moisturizer only where necessary. Avoid oily areas. Let your moisturizer sink in for a couple minutes prior to any makeup application. To make flawless-looking skin last, use oil-free products. And powder works better than cream, as cream tends to slide off. When it comes to your cheeks, try a cheek stain. It will last the longest. If you prefer to use a cream blush, layer it! Start off with a cream-based blush and top it off with a complimentary powder blush.

Eyes: Apply an eye primer to prevent your eye makeup from migrating down your face. When it comes to your eyes, use water-proof products to make your look last. Liquid eye liner or gel will work better than a pencil. Consider purchasing an eyeliner sealant for a long-lasting line. This liquid product is mixed with powdered eyeliner and applied with an eyeliner brush. When it comes to your mascara, water-proof products are key. Humidity, tears or sweat will cause mascara to drip. Be sure to apply your mascara once. Reapplying once dry will result in clumping.

Lips: For long-lasting lips, have a lip liner handy! Line and fill in your lips with your liner. This will make your color last for more than a few hours. Apply one layer of lipstick or gloss. Throw your gloss in your bag to refresh throughout the night. If you don’t like lip liners, try a creamy matte lipstick for long-lasting color.

Long-Lasting Hair Tips

For stunning locks that will last through the night, try an easy messy updo or go for a polished pony look. A look that lasts doesn’t need to be so complicated. If you are not a professional stylist, don’t try to be one! It is as simple as pulling your hair back into a pony tail and securing it with an ornate hair accessory – a dressed up look for the evening. Clean and dry your hair and don’t overdo with products. If you’re faced with flat hair, apply extra volumizer before and after styling. Be sure to use volumizing shampoo and conditioner. Products are key to making any look last.

Quick Fix

An emergency kit is essential. You don’t need your whole makeup bag – a few items will suffice. Make sure to keep the following in your bag: makeup sponge, blotting paper, small bottle of hairspray and lip gloss. Use your makeup sponge to even out any creases that form on your face at any point. Use blotting papers to sop up oil, without wiping off your meticulously applied makeup. A small bottle of hairspray will help you manage any fly-aways and lip gloss will refresh your luscious lips.

About Ashley: Inspired by fashion runway and red carpet trends, Beauty Entourage founder Ashley Stone and her team translate avant-garde makeup and hairstyles to timeless looks for clients and brides alike. With over a decade of beauty experience, and as the owner of Salon Alexander, Ashley’s quest to create a beauty dream team was brought to life in 2005 through Beauty Entourage, a mobile beauty team comprising veteran hairstylists and makeup artists. With a focus on the latest techniques and trends in formal styling and makeup artistry, Ashley’s team is specially trained to create looks best fit for film.

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Three Unique Wedding Bands for Men

Erika — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 04:00:45 +0000

By Marissa Olson, Mens-Wedding-Rings.com

Men today no longer have to settle for the traditional plain gold band for their wedding ring. Those seeking an offbeat ring that reflects their individual personality and taste are sure to find their perfect match with a little research and comparative shopping. Don’t know where to start? Here are three ideas for unique wedding bands for men that still have enough style to last a lifetime.

Alternative and Contemporary Materials

While the term “alternative materials” may sound obscure, don’t let the name fool you; wedding bands for men in alternative materials are easily located and can even closely resemble precious metals. These contemporary materials also offer additional benefits not always found in precious materials, like substantially lower price tags, superior strength and hypoallergenic properties. Some of the most frequently seen alternative materials currently on the market include cobalt chrome, titanium, tungsten and ceramic.

An alloy of cobalt and chromium, cobalt chrome has the lustrous white metal look of platinum at a fraction of the price. Cobalt chrome is durable, crack-resistant and re-sizeable (the latter is especially significant as it is not true of all alternative materials).

Titanium is one of the most popular alternative materials, largely due to its ultra light weight and crack resistance. Titanium has an attractive natural gunmetal grey color that makes it ideal as a more unique wedding band for men, particularly for guys who have a tough time wearing jewelry on a regular basis as its near weightlessness makes it extremely pleasant to wear.

Along with titanium, tungsten or tungsten carbide is one of the most sought-after options for unique wedding bands for men. Tungsten carbide is made from equal parts of the rare metal tungsten and carbon atoms and is one of the hardest materials in existence (bested only by a diamond). Tungsten shares titanium’s cool industrial grey hue, though it can also commonly be found in black and white, which replicates the classic look of white gold or platinum. Unlike titanium, tungsten has a significantly weighty feel and is scratch resistant, though not entirely crack resistant.

Ceramic wedding bands combine elements of both titanium and tungsten carbide, which is not entirely surprising given that they are usually made of titanium carbide. Scratch-resistant and lightweight, these unique rings are most often seen in black, though finishes can range from matte to highly polished.

Black Rings

One of the hottest trends in wedding bands for men right now is black rings. We’ve already mentioned black ceramic and black tungsten rings, but black wedding rings can also be found in titanium, sterling silver, stainless steel and even gold. While black is a more unusual color for a wedding ring, it still is a versatile and neutral hue that will match to nearly any outfit. Not ready to commit to a fully black band? Try looking for bands with blackened or oxidized accents, or for a more luxurious touch, rings with black diamonds.

Inlay Rings

Adding an inlay is a great way to incorporate a special or interesting element without having it dominate the entire ring. Some of the most popular types of inlays seen on the market today include carbon fiber, wood, shell and leather, though simply using a contrast metal or material for an inlay is always a timeless choice.

Another option is mokume gane, an eye-catching design that can be seen as either an inlay or across the entire band. Made of layered metals using an ancient technique originally utilized in the production of samurai swords, the result is a natural swirling pattern that renders every mokume gane ring as individual as a snowflake.

When shopping for wedding bands for men, don’t think that you need to constrain yourself to traditional options that may not suit your personal style or taste. Your wedding ring is meant to last a lifetime, and there’s no reason why it shouldn’t be as unique as you.

Marissa Olson writes for Mens Wedding Rings, an online shop that offers a wide selection of unique men’s wedding bands, traditional rings and many alternative styles.

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