Showing posts with label 1950's. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 1950's. Show all posts

Friday, June 4, 2010

Style Icon Inspiration: Marilyn Monroe

Very few women have had the level of style influence that Marilyn Monroe has had over the last six decades.  Her bombshell looks and magnetic personality combined with the gorgeous, figure hugging styles of the 1950's are why she has remained so influencial over the last half century.  However, proceed with a little caution when using Ms. Monroe as a starting point for styling your wedding.  Because she had so much sex appeal, it is very easy to cross over from glam and elegant into trashy territory and that is probably not necessarily what you want.  The best way to avoid crossing the kitsch line is to not think too literally about it.  Maybe incorporate a bright saturated color palette, similar to the colors of her Travilla gowns she wore in her films.  Or wear a figure hugging gown and a sophisitcated birdcage veil.  Or dress your bridesmaids in richly colored gowns made of elegant fabrics and in classic 1950's silhouettes.  Basically you want to hint at Ms. Monroe, not look like a Marilyn inpersonator. 
A 16 year old Norma Jeane at her wedding to her first husband, James Dougherty

Saturday, May 8, 2010

Real Vintage Wedding: Robert and Ann 1952

For my first "real vintage wedding", I've decided to feature my grandparents, Bob and Ann, and their August 1952 wedding.  Although I don't have any of their formal wedding photos, I do have a few candids that I'm guessing were shot by a guest at the wedding.  I am also fortunate to have the newspaper clipping from the Sterling-Rock Falls Daily Gazette featuring their wedding, so I have all of the details about the day.  Enjoy!

Photo of the bride, taken from the newspaper clipping


Her gown was a "a jonquil design in a nylon lace jacket with long sleeves and Peter Pan collar over a strapless ballerina length dress. A full nylon net over satin skirt had an apron effect edged in nylon pleating. Her bridal veil of fingertip length nylon illusion was attached to a starched lace bonnet trimmed with satin and sequins."


"She carried a shower bouquet of Aristocrat roses and stephanotis tied with lover’s knots."


"A wedding dinner was served to the bridal party in the bride’s home, followed by a reception from two to four o’clock in the afternoon for 125 guests in the home. Arrangements of beautiful gladioli and asters and other fall flowers formed the background for the reception."


"Gowns worn by the maid of honor and bridesmaids were beautiful in drifts of nylon net and lace. Short all lace jackets covered the close fitting strapless lace bodices which were trimmed with pleated nylon net. Panels of pleated nylon tulle, tier upon tier, have bouffance to the all net ballerina length skirts. The maid of honor’s gown was bittersweet pink and the bridesmaid’s gowns were plumage green. Nylon pleated bonnets worn by the attendants matched their gowns in color."
In photo: both bridesmaids- friend of the bride (on left) and sister of the groom (on right), the maid of honor, center, was the sister of the bride


"The maid of honor carried pale green carnations with white daisies in a colonial arrangement. For the bridesmaids their colonial bouquets were of pink carnations and white daisies."
In photo: a bridesmaid and the best man, brother of the groom 


"The mother of the bride chose a black sheer dress"


"The bridegroom’s mother was in navy sheer. White carnations were in their corsages."
In photo: the groom's parents and sister


Relatives of the groom came all the way from Chicago to Sterling, IL to attend the wedding.  Along with the groom's parents, they were originally from Italy.


"For a honemoon trip to Wisconsin the bride donned a grey and white dressmaker suit with black velvet accessories. The corsage of pink roses from her bouquet was at her shoulder... The new Mr. and Mrs. Campangolo will reside in Chicago where he will enter the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts to study commercial art and illustrations."


Couple: Robert, 24, and Ann, 17, Campagnolo
Ceremony Location: Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Sterling, IL
Reception Location: The bride's home in Sterling, IL
Date: August 23, 1952



Want to submit a vintage wedding? Check out the "wedding submissions" section for details!!

-Alessandra

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Saturday, May 1, 2010

Style Icon Inspiration: Grace Kelly

I've decided to start a series of inspiration boards based on various style icons.  To kick off the series, I've chosen Grace Kelly, an Oscar winning actress who then became Her Serene Highness Grace, Princess of Monaco when she married Rainier III, Prince of Monaco in April 1956.  She was born in Philadelphia to self-made millionaire parents and starred in some of the 1950's biggest movies including Hitchcock's Rear Window, The Country Girl (for which she won her Oscar), and High Society, a musical remake of The Philadelphia Story.  Some of her most memorable fashion moments were created by the remarkable Edith Head, including her black top and full tulle skirt from Rear Window and the aquamarine silk satin confection worn on the night of her Oscar win.  Her style was so influential that Hermès re-named a bag after her (the Kelly bag) because she was photographed with it.  Her wedding gown, designed by Helen Rose of MGM, included a rounded collar, a full skirt made of ivory peau de soie, and a fitted bodice made from Brussels lace embroidered with seed pearls. The lace was over a century old and had flower designs in it. Twenty five yards of silk taffeta and 100 yards of silk net were used in the construction of the dress.  Her patrician looks and timeless style are still relevant inspiration for brides and fashionistas today. 

Grace Kelly, in a publicity from Rear Window, wearing a quintessential 1950's look; designed by Edith Head

 Grace wearing her aquamarine silk satin Oscar gown.  The fabric alone cost over $4000! 
;also designed by Edith Head

Princess Grace on her wedding day.

click to enlarge

Channel classic Grace Kelly elegance on your wedding day by using a clean color palette of pale blue and white, with a splash of champagne.  Incorporate rich fabrics like silk satin, taffeta, or shantung and old-fashioned lace and bead-work with traditional 1950's silhouettes.  Pearl jewelry and simple makeup complete the look.

 {images of Grace Kelly via Grace Kelly Online}

Inspiration Board Photo Credits
Top left wedding gown: Platinum for Priscilla of Boston; style # PL300
Bottom row, middle wedding gown: Stephanie James Couture; style "Josephine"
Bottom row, far right wedding gown: Enzoani style "Emily"
Bottom right bridesmaid dress: After Six by Dessy; style # 6553
Top row, middle bridesmaid dress: Wtoo; style # 759
Flower girl dress: US Angels; style # 130
Earrings:  Ti Adoro
 All other images via The Knot

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