Fashion

Gap Nautical Maxi Dress

Just last night, I picked up this gem at Gap. It is a bit more than I’d normally spend on a maxi dress, but it was my birthday so I thought I’d go ahead and treat myself! I’m already thinking of all of the different ways to wear this dress and the possibilities are endless! Maxi dresses look great on their own, but can take on a whole new life when paired with the right accessories.

Pair it with your favorite colorful, cropped jacket and a bold statement necklace and you can tackle a day out on the town or a date night! Check the dress out at Gap here.

Gap Nautical Maxi Dress

Gap Nautical Maxi Dress by kerrychannon featuring Jane Norman jackets

Chloé blazer
£1,255 – harveynichols.com

Matthew Williamson jacket
£650 – flannelsfashion.com

Jane Norman jacket
£55 – janenorman.co.uk

Gap
$75 – gap.com

Amanda Pearl necklace
$225 – maxandchloe.com

Chanel bracelet
€1.289 – lindestore.com

Lancôme lip gloss
$18 – lancome-usa.com

Rhodes Acid Washed Frame
$42 – artgalleryframes.com
 

A Few of My Favorite DC Venues

I have been planning (and attending) events for a while here in the District and without a doubt have a few favorite venues. As I mentioned, there are several defining criteria for a venue. With regards to size, here are two of my absolute favorite DC venues for very, very large events (more than 500):

The Mellon Auditorium

This hidden gem is located off of Constitution Avenue features romantic, classical architecture complete with marble and columns. The auditorium is colossal and the building can seem intimidating from the outside, but the detailed structure and open floor plan provide a beautiful blank canvas. The building was constructed in 1934, so there are some issues that are familiar to older venues (most events will require additional power voltage, all A/V will have to be outsourced; the third floor balcony seating is not usable and in pretty shabby condition) but despite all of that the venue is a perfect choice for a large-scale event, social event.


The National Building Museum

This is my absolute favorite large-scale venue in DC. Just walking into the building takes your breath away! This is another traditional event space – after all, this is DC – featuring marble and columns. The architectural designs make the space feel less expansive than the Mellon Auditorium, but it still is an extremely large space. The neutral but warm color palate is favorable for all color schemes and the location is great for Metro-ers and city dwellers. There are a few smaller scale event spaces within the venue, but the Great Hall is by far the most impressive selection. To do it right at this venue, you will need more lighting and decorations than some other venues, but if you have the budget for a large event and venue – don’t miss seeing this option!

*Photos courtesy of Event Emissary – http://www.eventemissary.com and the National Building Museum – http://www.nbm.org.

 

Wedding Inspiration from Unveiled 2012!

A few weeks ago, I posted about Washingtonian Bride and Groom’s Unveiled Event on January 22nd at the Mandarin Oriental. Having gone to my fair share of wedding planning events and perused plenty of wedding mags, I’ve seen enough to the know that Washingtonian Bride and Groom is a cut above the rest.  And, by the looks of the vendor booth pictures they recently released, boy was I right!

How absolutely stunning is this booth from Amaryllis Designs? If you are dreaming of a rustic theme, here is your inspiration – and your florist!

Amaryllis' booth at Washingtonian's 2012 Unveiled Bridal Showcase. Photos courtesy of Holland Photo Arts.

Does your dream wedding exit involve a vintage car? How about a 1933 white Rolls Royce from Linder & Associates?

Linder & Associates booth at Washingtonian's Unveiled event. Photos courtesy of Holland Photo Arts.

Searching for more of a modern decor for your wedding day? Multiflor is right up your alley with these orchid lamp centerpieces.

Multiflor's original orchid centerpieces - Photos courtesy of Holland Photo Arts.

Every girl dreams of Vera! Vera Wang, that is! The Bridal Salon at Saks Jandel has a gorgeous selection which they had on display at their booth. Vera has something for every bride with gowns ranging from traditional white and ivory, to non-traditional blush, champagne, caramel and even black!

gorgeous dresses from The Bridal Salon at Saks Jandel - Photo Courtesy of Holland Photo Arts

Searching for a great party favor idea? Candy buffets have been a big hit since they arrived on the scene a few years ago. Show off you and your sweethearts’ style with your favorite candies and sugary treats in your wedding colors. Ridgewells catering set up a gorgeous, and yummy, spread!

Ridgewells candy buffet at Unveiled - photo courtesy of Holland Photo Arts.

Your invitations set the stage for your wedding. Check out all of the latest and greatest trends from the Dandelion Patch. They have such a wide range of invitation lines to choose from that you can find anything you want; and plenty of things you didn’t even know you wanted! They had some options on display at their booth:

Dandelion Patch shows off some of their invitations at Unveiled 2012 - Photo courtesy of Holland Photo Arts

Spend a few minutes clicking through Washingtonian Bride and Groom’s entire slideshow from the event to see more. All of the gorgeous pics from the event were shot by Holland Photo Arts, a couple based out of Charlottesville, VA. Who better than a happily married couple to document your love story? They call themselves “love junkies” – really, see how adorable they are on the “Meet A&B” section of their website.

I know you are drooling with anticipation! Find your inspiration – and start gearing up for Unveiled 2013!

 

Warehouse Sales Galore!

In an effort to save some cash, I didn’t shop the entire month of January. Ok, this isn’t entirely true…I did purchase a dress at Nordstrom Rack for a friends wedding. BUT it was only $20 and a necessity – you wouldn’t have me go to a wedding without a dress would you? I didn’t think so. Plus, when you compare this one measly purchase to my typical monthly shopping bill, well, let’s just say I’m saving a small fortune.

Yes, it has crossed my mind that I might have a small, but manageable addiction to shopping. Hi everyone, my name is Kerry, I am addicted to shopping. There, we’ve got that overwith. So, back to the original point of this post, after being deprived for a month, here comes February teasing me with not one, but TWO warehouse sales in the DC-metro area! Yes – TWO!

This weekend, mosey on over to Old Town Alexandria for the Alexandria Boutique Warehouse sale put on by the Old Town Boutique District! On Saturday, February 4th from 9 am – 4 pm, 15 of Alexandria’s best boutiques and another half a dozen designers will be featuring droolworthy merchandise at discounted prices. Head on over to the George Washington Masonic Memorial – walkable from the King Street Metro, to check out the steals from Apple SeedDivaGossypiaHysteriaLa CuisineLawrence Miller & Co., The Little Monogram ShopMint ConditionMystiquePeriwinklePink & BrownRed Barn MercantileStanton GalleryThe Shoe Hive and Treat.  Now I have a busy weekend coming up…I’ll have to plan my trips to Old Town and to Luckett’s! Phew, my bank account may be just a faint memory after this weekend!

If you don’t blow your entire paycheck at the Alexandria Warehouse sale, then you can add yourself to the waitlist for GiltCity’s Gilt Groupe Warehouse Sale at Long View Gallery. On Saturday February 11, you can peruse “be racks stocked with dresses, blouses, suit jackets, denim, cardigans and polos for men, women and children. For your home, think bedding, blankets and decorative accessories. And, of course, you can expect hundreds of top brands, from both lesser-known designers and veritable fashion houses.” Always the pioneer of luxury on a budget, Gilt’s Warehouse sale will also treat shoppers to mini manicures, blow outs and cocktails while you browse.

I thought I acted quickly, attempting to buy tickets within just a few hours but, to my horror, the event was sold out! However, ye of little faith, I added myself to the waitlist and am now the proud owner of TWO tickets! I consider myself blessed by the shopping gods. However, don’t get too disheartened! You can still add yourself to the waitlist here. The full day pass is sold out, so you’ll have to choose a time of arrival (12pm, 2pm, 4pm). What are you waiting for? Hurry up and get on the list! Hopefully, I’ll see you there!

 

Is Your Man a Dapper Dresser?

Men and fashion is kind of like going to the dentist. Things either go really well and you leave with a perfectly bright white smile; or they go horribly wrong and you’re left facing a root canal.

However, whether the wardrobe of the man in your life needs just a routine cleaning or some major surgery, you should have him check out Trunk Club.

Trunk Club: there should be a better way for men to find great clothes

This ingenious company has found a way around the major deterrents which keep men from embracing some wardrobe rejuvenation. Trunk Club does everything for their clients. The man in question just simply has to fill out a profile, either online or on the phone, to help the expert stylists understand a bit more about his likes and dislikes. Then Trunk Club packs a literal trunk full of clothes for him and mails it to his house. He chooses what he wants and sends the rest back in said trunk with a pre-paid FedEx label.

It really can’t get easier or more fail-proof than this, ladies! Before you start asking,  what’s the catch, here is some more info:

  • Members only pay for the clothes they keep
  • There is no membership fee
  • Wardrobe selection is classified as upscale casual wear; think jeans, chinos, shirts, sweaters, etc. – no suits!
  • Prices range from $70 (for shirts) to $250 (for pants and denim)
  • Trunk Club buys clothes wholesale and then charges retail prices, the same you’d find at the Nordstroms of the world, which is how they make their money
  • ….allowing the service and shipping to remain entirely free of cost

Like the sound of it? Buy your man (whether it’s your significant other, dad, uncle, brother – any man in your life!) a gift card for him to try it out for himself!

 

Royally Fashionable

I fully admit that I was one of those crazy girls who woke up at the crack of dawn to watch the Royal Wedding. Kate Middleton is the picture of glamour and perfection every time she steps out. Whether she is attending a Royal function or going to shoot some birds, she looks fabulous. What I love about her is that she doesn’t always play to trends because she knows what works for her and what fits her style, a style which she has managed to define during the last few years. She stepped out at the London premier of Steven Spielberg’s War Horse wearing a gorgeous nude and black Temperley dress. It is just reminiscent enough of her wedding dress to remind us of how perfect she looked as a bride. 

Her style is classic, effortless beauty, but I am waiting patiently for her to do something surprising and daring! Some color or even just an updo perhaps? Either way, she is gorgeous! Happy 30th! 
 

Wedding Fashion on a Budget

I know firsthand that a wedding budget can get out of hand as fast as you can say “I do.” Floral, catering, hair, makeup, favors, photographer, videographer, the list goes on and seems to never end. Your big day fashion moment can also eat up your cash flow pretty quickly if you don’t make an effort to manage it.

Don’t get me wrong, I believe that a woman’s wedding day is the one time it is ok to splurge on ostentatious, luxurious items in which she would never otherwise indulge. Manolos? Go for it! Monique Lhuillier? Of course, darling! Oscar de la Renta jewels? Do it up, bride! This is IF you have the budget. If you splurge on your wedding day wardrobe, then cut somewhere else. The key is to pick one item to splurge on and save on all of the rest! Where can you save on all of your wedding day fashion items?

Amsale Arianna Gown

The Aisle New York! An online, members only site that provides you access to high-end bridal fashion and accessories at a fraction of the price. Dresses, shoes, jewelry, accessories and more from the industry’s top designers can be found online at The Aisle. Amsale, Thread, Monique Lhuillier, Angel Sanchez, Rivini, Anne Barge, Lela Rose, Isaac Mizrahi are just a few of the designers featured on The Aisle’s weekly sales and the prices are typically half of what you’d expect to pay at a bridal salon.

A few tips if you want to try out The Aisle for your wedding day:

Angel Sanchez Silk Gazar
Trumpet Gown
  • Do your research. Go to at least a few bridal salons and figure out what type of fabric, shape, style, color and designer you like the best and looks best on you. The same goes for accessories. If you’ve already selected your dress, don’t click buy unless you’ve tried on something similar to see how it looks. How much you save is irrelevant if you can’t wear it!
  • Buy The Aisle’s return insurance. For $200, you can return your dress for a full refund within five days. When saving thousands, a few hundred is worth it!
  • Are you working with a short timeline? Most dresses take 2-4 months to arrive once you order but many of the dresses on The Aisle are ready to ship same day!
  • Find an amazing tailor. Your odds of needing some serious alterations to your gown are as good as getting a regift from a distant cousin. 
  • Do you have a dream dress and a long engagement? Find it at a local salon and keep an eye out for it on the site. Watch the designers on The Aisle too as they tend to have some favorites. 
  • Are you the charitable type? Well good news, ladies! You can feel good about your purchases because 2% of all dress sales go to a charity of the designers’ choice. 
The site is members-only, so find someone you know who is a member who can invite you OR request an invitation. Take some time to peruse the site, familiarize yourself with their merchandise and more importantly, make sure you know what YOU want before taking the plunge – for the dress, of course! 
 

The Cat’s Meow, Dahling

Sunglasses in December? Why, yes, I will! During a recent two hour delay in the Orlando Airport, I found myself in terminal’s Sunglass Hut pondering the benefits of Aviators vs. Wayfarers. Lo and behold – move over 2011 eyewear and say hello to the 50s again! I moseyed on over to a pair of Tory Burch’s new cateye frames and viola – instantly chic!

Cateye frames have been out for a few months now, a trend that has be catapulted by Ms. Kourtney Kardashian herself. However, the exaggerated versions seem to have some sort of clause denoting them only fit for gorgeous celebrities because I’ve never seen them work on anyone else…except for this non-discriminating version from Tory! 

Check them out on Tory Burch’s site here. Not a fan of the cateye look? Check out the Rounded Aviator Sunnies – another one of my favorites! 

 

Purse Alert

LuckyBrand is one of those stores that I don’t frequent often, but I am always pleasantly surprised when I do. On the day after Christmas last year, I found the most perfect pair of black skinny pants at LuckyBrand that always seem to look good with everything and now wish I had bought 10 pairs! Keeping the tradition going, I went to LuckyBrand a few days ago, secretly hoping I’d find these magical black pants again. I didn’t find black pants, but I did find a great pair of red skinny cords and fawned over this trendy piece of arm candy. It was on sale and I would have nabbed it had I not just made a recent Coach acquisition just a few months ago. This bag has the flexibility to wear it cross-body, over the shoulder or handheld; it has space galore for all of a lady’s favorite knickknacks and the color is just snazzy enough to make a statement without screaming. Plus the faded gold works as neutral so you can wear it with virtually any color. Check it out here!

 

New Years Eve Glamour

New Year’s Eve provides the perfect opportunity to take some daring fashion risks. I have been dying for an occasion to wear a gold sequined dress – maybe this is the year!

This Milly number is my favorite! Pair it with some cute black tights and sassy booties and I’ll be in business!

 

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