Royal wedding fever is alive and well — but this time around, it has nothing to do with Will or Kate.
A scrapbook from Prince Charles and Princess Diana’s 1981 wedding, which went up for sale on Wednesday, is expected to cause a bidding frenzy among royal family enthusiasts. According to experts, the memento could fetch as much as $8,080 (£5,000) in an online auction.
The scrapbook was created by Princess of Wales’ wedding dress designer, Elizabeth Emanuel, who fashioned the book out of lace and fabrics from Princess Diana’s wedding gown and her bridesmaid’s dresses.
The five-page scrapbook incorporates the specially commissioned Nottingham lace used on the bodice of Princess Diana’s bridal gown on the cover, and fragments of bridal tulle, ivory faille bow, pearl beads, lace used on the hem and two swatches of silk all taken from the late Princess of Wales’ bridal gown fabric, according to the auction website.
The memento also features an original watercolor sketch of the gown, press clippings from the wedding and an autograph from Emanuel herself.
Despite the fact that Prince Charles and Princess Diana’s nuptials were over three decades ago, the Princess of Wales’ famously pouffy wedding dress is still getting attention today. The gown, which features 10,000 mother-of-pearl sequins and pearls and a 25-foot train, recently debuted as part of the “Diana: A Celebration” exhibit at Minnesota’s Mall of America in February.
The traveling exhibit, which will run until June 10, also includes 28 of Diana’s designer dresses, family heirlooms and personal keepsakes.
Click through the slideshow below to see photos of the dress being unveiled at the Bloomington, Minn. mall.
Facebook has changed the way you plan your wedding. Here are five common social mishaps and how to avoid them from the moment you say “yes.”
1. Someone in your family found out on Facebook.
As soon as you change your status (woot!), there’s a family member or friend who’s mad they didn’t get the announcement via phone.Our advice: Before you officially change your Facebook status, call your immediate family and closest friends with the news. Other friends and not-so-close relatives might appreciate a heartfelt email with the good news and your engagement story.
2. A so-called friend left a snarky comment on your Facebook wall about your ring photos.
Those ring photos that you posted in postengagement bliss? Apparently, a sapphire is “just not their style.”Our advice: Take the high road and ignore the comment. This would be the perfect time to clean closet and hide this person from your feed. (PS: We think sapphires are stunning.)
3. People assume they’re invited to your wedding because you’re Facebook friends.
For some, it’s hard to draw the line between friend and Facebook friend. Those who aren’t invited will inevitably post on your wall about their wedding invitation that’s lost in the mail.Our advice: Refrain from sharing every detail of your wedding on Facebook. If (and when) you get the self-invited guest post on your wall, let them know that your venue and budget can only allow for a certain number of guests. (Hint: It’s not them.)
4. Some think that Facebook is the new RSVP card.
It’s hard to believe but we’ve heard of more than one couple who’s received a casual, “We’ll be there. And so will our four-plus guests,” Facebook message.Our advice: Respond by asking them to return their card (that one with the stamp). This would also be the perfect time to politely inform them that you’ve reserved two seats in their honor and can’t wait to party together on your wedding day.
5. Facebook has made prewedding party privacy a thing of the past.
The bridal shower photos that were posted by your maid of honor might have a third cousin peeved because she didn’t get an invite. And those bachelorette pics from your not-so-innocent Vegas trip gave everyone from your office a good laugh.Our advice: Everyone loves sharing photos from wedding events — you’ll have tons of fun ones throughout your engagement. Create a wedding group on Facebook from the beginning to avoid hurt feelings and oversharing.
Are you a bride who has been searching endlessly at local bridal shops and wedding salons for the perfect dress but just can’t seem to find exactly what you want? Have you discovered that you like the top of one dress and the bottom of another but the traditional bridal store you are working with is unable to create a custom piece that is exactly what you are wanting? If this is the case then you need to consider custom wedding dresses from Darius Cordell Fashion Ltd.
Our company has been providing couture pieces to women for their special day since 1996. Our company began business in Norman Oklahoma. At that time we only sold our designs to retailers and stores at a wholesale cost for them to resell our product. Then in 1999 we relocated our design firm to the Dallas Apparel Market. That is when we began looking into offering our creations directly to the public but at a retail price. And now our operations are conveniently located in Frisco Texas. We now sell our merchandise to wholesale and retail buyers. We also work with both local as well as long distance clients. We have sold items to all types of buyers that are from all parts of the world. We have literally sold hundreds of dresses per season to many different countries. Some would think that specialized garments like these would have to be arranged in person but that is not necessarily the case. Our process for ordering custom bridal gowns is quite simple and pain free.
The first thing we determine is the cut of the clothing that the bride wants. A large number of consumers will say …”well I don’t know what I want” which is really not the case. We have found that they really do. For instance if we said do you want a long sleeve bridal gown with all lace they would have an opinion as to yes or no. So one of the first things we try and get each person to figure out is what part of their body they want to over and what part of their body they want to show. This really helps narrow down the possibilities quite a bit and helps us figure out what is in their head. The individual can communicate this to us in the form of a photo that they have found. It can be from another designer or any other website. Sometimes it is easier for a client to simply look at one of the cuts from our collection and then make changes to it. This usually is the easiest way to start the process. Or when the budget allows they can commission us to produce sketch work for them according to their preferences, likes and dislikes. Usually we provide about 3 sketches for the consumer to consider. We may wind up making changes to one of them to get it exactly as the person envisioned and then once we have the approval of the cut we then move on to the embellishments.
Most custom wedding gowns will have some type of adornment on them – be it lace, beading or some form or embroidery. Most of our Darius Cordell Designs are more simplistic and demur. So many of the pieces in our collection do not have an abundance of embellishments. However if we have a client that wants that sort of creation we have absolutely no problem in providing that to them.
Usually brides are not too particular in regards to fabrication. The main thing they want is for the item to look good, be comfortable and be affordable. Yet there are some that do have a strong preference in fabrics. If you are long distance and that is the case one of the easiest ways to address that point is to suggest for you to visit one of your local fabric stores. Let an employee there know that you are searching for bridal fabrics and they should be able to direct you in the proper location. From there you can see, touch and feel all of the fabrics to help you decide on the one you want for your bridal gown. Once you have figured out which one you like you can then either communicate to us the name of that fabric, you can submit a sample of that fabric to us or you can even send us the entire yardage that would be needed to make your wedding dress. We will then either resource or use that fabric upon your request.
Another main element to providing custom bridal dresses to a client long distance is making sure the garment fits as best as possible. This can sometimes be tricky if the client is planning on losing a great deal of weight between the time they order their dress and the time they wear it on their wedding day. Still, we provide a personal measurement form to all clients. We suggest they go to one of their local tailors or alterationist and have them fill out the form based on the diagram we provide on that form. We would then simply cut the garment in those exact measurements. One of the questions our brides normally ask us here is “what if I do change in size”. The answer to that is simple. You can very easily go right back to that same tailor or alteraionist who took your measurements and request them to tailor the garment on you in person accordingly. This is quite different than ordering a dress in a bridal salon in a certain size and then having multiple fitting to get the item to your size. The dress you purchase from Darius Designs has already been made to your dimensions so there is not a lot of tailoring or “fittings” that will be needed.
The very last thing we would need to complete the initial stages of this process would be to receive your signed order form and cutting fee deposit – which is normally just 50% of the base price that was quoted as your estimate. If your custom clothing ultimately is estimated to be over $3000 we will allow the good faith deposits to be as low as 30%. The balance payments are not due until your merchandise is completed. However if you prefer to make small payments during production you are more than welcome. The production time for most couture items is normally 8-12 weeks. If your gown is heavily beaded we would request you allow even more time since our clothing is beaded by hand. In some cases where the creation is not too incredibly detailed or ornate we can rush the order in approximately 4 weeks but the bride would need to pay a surcharge or rush fee for that speedy service.
As we mentioned we have been providing custom wedding dresses to women in this manner for well over a decade with great success. So we are certain we can assist you as well. The process is really far less complicated and simple than one would normally imagine.
You can see some of our Darius Cordell Couture by visiting our main website at www.DariusCordell.com
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Are you a bride who has been searching endlessly at local bridal shops and wedding salons for the perfect dress but just can’t seem to find exactly what you want? Have you discovered that you like the top of one dress and the bottom of another but the traditional bridal store you are working with is unable to create a custom piece that is exactly what you are wanting? If this is the case then you need to consider custom wedding dresses from Darius Cordell Fashion Ltd.
Our company has been providing couture pieces to women for their special day since 1996. Our company began business in Norman Oklahoma. At that time we only sold our designs to retailers and stores at a wholesale cost for them to resell our product. Then in 1999 we relocated our design firm to the Dallas Apparel Market. That is when we began looking into offering our creations directly to the public but at a retail price. And now our operations are conveniently located in Frisco Texas. We now sell our merchandise to wholesale and retail buyers. We also work with both local as well as long distance clients. We have sold items to all types of buyers that are from all parts of the world. We have literally sold hundreds of dresses per season to many different countries. Some would think that specialized garments like these would have to be arranged in person but that is not necessarily the case. Our process for ordering custom bridal gowns is quite simple and pain free.
The first thing we determine is the cut of the clothing that the bride wants. A large number of consumers will say …”well I don’t know what I want” which is really not the case. We have found that they really do. For instance if we said do you want a long sleeve bridal gown with all lace they would have an opinion as to yes or no. So one of the first things we try and get each person to figure out is what part of their body they want to over and what part of their body they want to show. This really helps narrow down the possibilities quite a bit and helps us figure out what is in their head. The individual can communicate this to us in the form of a photo that they have found. It can be from another designer or any other website. Sometimes it is easier for a client to simply look at one of the cuts from our collection and then make changes to it. This usually is the easiest way to start the process. Or when the budget allows they can commission us to produce sketch work for them according to their preferences, likes and dislikes. Usually we provide about 3 sketches for the consumer to consider. We may wind up making changes to one of them to get it exactly as the person envisioned and then once we have the approval of the cut we then move on to the embellishments.
Most custom wedding gowns will have some type of adornment on them – be it lace, beading or some form or embroidery. Most of our Darius Cordell Designs are more simplistic and demur. So many of the pieces in our collection do not have an abundance of embellishments. However if we have a client that wants that sort of creation we have absolutely no problem in providing that to them.
Usually brides are not too particular in regards to fabrication. The main thing they want is for the item to look good, be comfortable and be affordable. Yet there are some that do have a strong preference in fabrics. If you are long distance and that is the case one of the easiest ways to address that point is to suggest for you to visit one of your local fabric stores. Let an employee there know that you are searching for bridal fabrics and they should be able to direct you in the proper location. From there you can see, touch and feel all of the fabrics to help you decide on the one you want for your bridal gown. Once you have figured out which one you like you can then either communicate to us the name of that fabric, you can submit a sample of that fabric to us or you can even send us the entire yardage that would be needed to make your wedding dress. We will then either resource or use that fabric upon your request.
Another main element to providing custom bridal dresses to a client long distance is making sure the garment fits as best as possible. This can sometimes be tricky if the client is planning on losing a great deal of weight between the time they order their dress and the time they wear it on their wedding day. Still, we provide a personal measurement form to all clients. We suggest they go to one of their local tailors or alterationist and have them fill out the form based on the diagram we provide on that form. We would then simply cut the garment in those exact measurements. One of the questions our brides normally ask us here is “what if I do change in size”. The answer to that is simple. You can very easily go right back to that same tailor or alteraionist who took your measurements and request them to tailor the garment on you in person accordingly. This is quite different than ordering a dress in a bridal salon in a certain size and then having multiple fitting to get the item to your size. The dress you purchase from Darius Designs has already been made to your dimensions so there is not a lot of tailoring or “fittings” that will be needed.
The very last thing we would need to complete the initial stages of this process would be to receive your signed order form and cutting fee deposit – which is normally just 50% of the base price that was quoted as your estimate. If your custom clothing ultimately is estimated to be over $3000 we will allow the good faith deposits to be as low as 30%. The balance payments are not due until your merchandise is completed. However if you prefer to make small payments during production you are more than welcome. The production time for most couture items is normally 8-12 weeks. If your gown is heavily beaded we would request you allow even more time since our clothing is beaded by hand. In some cases where the creation is not too incredibly detailed or ornate we can rush the order in approximately 4 weeks but the bride would need to pay a surcharge or rush fee for that speedy service.
As we mentioned we have been providing custom wedding dresses to women in this manner for well over a decade with great success. So we are certain we can assist you as well. The process is really far less complicated and simple than one would normally imagine.
You can see some of our Darius Cordell Couture by visiting our main website at www.DariusCordell.com
Beyond the basics (dinner, dress, flowers) there are so many different ways to spend your wedding dollars — from custom postage stamps to monogrammed toilet paper (seriously, it exists!). But one of the biggest mistakes you can make is blowing your budget on a detail that you end up regretting (when no one notices it). That’s not going to happen to you, though. Here’s a few of the most get-noticed totally-worth-it wedding details that’ll add serious impact to your wedding day.1. Lighting
The right reception lighting can help camouflage sore spots like less-than-stellar windows or even shabby ballroom curtains, and highlight your favorite details (such as the incredible centerpieces or your cake table). Have a lighting designer use colored lights to punch up a drab hallway and pick a different, complementary hue for the rest of the reception area. Decorative hanging lights, lamps with patterned shades or crystal chandeliers are also ways to transform a space from plain to standout exceptional.
The Upgrade:
Order a custom-made gobo light of your monogram, or project a design from your invitation over the dance floor.2. Ceremony Decor
First impressions matter. A personalized ceremony space will make your guests feel at home immediately. If you’re having an outdoor summer wedding, hang orchid leis, colorful ribbon streamers or sun-catching glass ornaments on surrounding trees. For church nuptials, have your florist create arrangements for the pews as well as the door. (Hint: Those arrangements can all be reused at the reception on the tables, at the bar and in the bathrooms.)
The Upgrade:
Ask your florist to cover a canopy with lush flowers and hanging votive candles or blossom-bedecked lanterns to really create focal points. Your guests’ jaws will drop.3. The Entryway
Often overlooked by wedding planners, the entryway can be given a little attention to create an unexpected wow. It doesn’t take much, either; even the slightest bit of decor will personalize it. Hire your florist to create an impressive display for the escort card table. Right outside the reception hall entry, place a tall Manzanita tree decorated with hanging candles and flowers or a grouping of mix-and-match vases filled with rich flowers of various textures to match the rest of the space.
The Upgrade:
Ask servers to greet guests with glasses of champagne or a signature cocktail so that they feel taken care of from the moment they stroll into the room.4. The Photo Booth
This is one of those nuptial ideas that made its way from totally niche concept to wedding reception standby. The reason: It works double duty. Your guests will take a whirl in the photo booth at least once in the evening (providing a perfect opportunity for mingling), and they’ll get to take home their photo booth pics as favors at the night’s end. Rent a photo booth that also provides an online gallery or a CD full of images, and that way you’ve taken care of your guest book.
The Upgrade:
With some rental packages, you can get projections of pictures from the photo booth. So while your guests snap shots inside the booth, the images will appear over the dance floor for everyone to see — providing a great way to illuminate the room!5. A Lounge Area
Give guests a place to mingle during dance breaks by having a lounge area at your reception. Look into renting couches, chairs and other furniture that you can then stage with pillows and votive candles in your wedding colors. It’s the perfect way to involve everyone in the party even when they’re resting.
The Upgrade:
Really want to wow ‘em? Close off the area with curtains, draping and special lighting to create a VIP vibe.6. Welcome Bags
Fill baskets or canvas totes with water bottles, wine or locally brewed beer, something salty, something sweet and a piece of fruit. Don’t forget to include a welcome letter as well as a detailed itinerary for where the guest needs to be and when. Leave the whole thing with the hotel concierge for guests to pick up when they check in. And be sure to provide maps and lists of local restaurants, museums and other attractions in case they want to explore on their own.
The Upgrade:
Hire a videographer to create a welcome video of the two of you traipsing around the city showcasing all your favorite places — edited with a soundtrack of your favorite dance songs.7. Special Entertainment
Sometimes the best parts of a reception are the elements guests don’t see coming. Surprise them with a jazz trio or a Spanish guitar player. To get the party going during the cocktail hour, hire a mariachi group, a bluegrass band or even a barbershop quartet to perform some seriously memorable melodies.
The Upgrade:
You’ll blow everyone away with a marching band that leads them all from the ceremony to the reception on foot (if possible); belly dancers during the cocktail hour; or even break dancers to get things started on the dance floor.8. Late-Night Snacks
Just when your guests think the fun is winding down, liven up the party with late-night nibbles to prepare everyone for an after-party. If you want to ensure the festivities will last all night, arrange for the caterers to bring out trays of late-night munchies like crinkle-cut French fries or fresh chocolate-chip cookies and milk shooters. If you provide low-key comfort foods, the guests will wish the party would never end. Another great idea: Offer a hot coffee bar complete with special syrups and toppings to keep folks caffeinated.
The Upgrade:
Jump on the latest cuisine craze with a fully loaded food truck arriving on the scene to dole out bites to guests. Think about it: Add a waffle truck, a taco truck or a Korean barbecue truck. The options are endless!9. Draping
This is a pricey detail, but after you’ve draped your reception space, you won’t even be able to tell it’s the same room. The technique works for indoor and outdoor spaces: Create an intimate vibe beneath an open-air tent or lend some serious drama to an already cozy dining room.
The Upgrade:
Drape the reception entryway with gauzy white fabric or deep-red curtains to create the ultimate dramatic walkway.©The Knot
When veteran Illinois U.S. Rep. Tim Johnson dropped his re-election bid earlier this month, a slew of area politicians and businessmen threw their hats into the ring — hoping to avoid giving the seat to Democrats in 2012.
Now, an Ivy League-educated former beauty queen is looking to join the crowded Republican field.
Erika Harold, 32, won Miss America in 2003, and now works as a lawyer in Chicago, the State Journal-Register reports. The Harvard Law School graduate grew up in Urbana, Ill., however, which is in Johnson’s 13th District.
Harold, a Republican, told the News-Gazette that she is currently “exploring the possibility” of a House bid.
“I have spoken with some county chairmen,” she told the paper. “This is not a decision that I take lightly. I would consider it an incredible honor and privilege to represent the area in which I grew up. I will be assessing in my own heart whether I felt that I was the best person to represent the 13th District. If I did I would likely put my name forth.”
If Harold does decide to run, she will have some company. The News-Democrat in southwestern Illinois gave a rundown of the other locals looking to replace Johnson in Washington:
… real estate developer David Paul Blumenshine, of Bloomington; state Rep. Dan Brady, R-Bloomington; state Rep. Mike Tate, R-Springfield; Jerry Clarke, Johnson’s former chief of staff; Rodney Davis, of Taylorville, aide to U.S. Rep. John Shimkus, R-Collinsville; former state Rep. Mike Tate, CEO of Independent Insurance Agents of Illinois; former state agriculture director Becky Doyle, of Gillespie …
Harold won the Miss America crown on a platform of preventing youth violence and bullying, and told SJ-R she was “pro-life and pro-Second Amendment.”
“I’m a Republican because I believe that the Republican principles of fiscal conservatism and free-market economics creates the greatest amount of good for the greatest number of people,” she told the paper.
Johnson was first elected to Congress in 2000 after serving in the state General Assembly since 1976, the Associated Press reports. Before that he was a member of the Urbana City Council.
Among the positions Johnson has sometimes taken against his party colleagues are his call last year for an end to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. He endorsed Ron Paul in the presidential race.
MILAN (Reuters) – Luciano Benetton will hand over the helm of the Italian fashion clothing company he helped found 47 years ago to his son this week, he said in an interview published on Sunday.
Benetton and his family turned the company into one of Italy’s best known brands with more than 6,500 stores in 120 countries and a reputation for controversial advertising and bold colors, but it has struggled against new competitors.
“The baton passes to my son Alessandro, who will become chairman,” Benetton, who turns 77 in May, said in an interview published in Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera.
“After a run of 47 years, on Tuesday I will resign from the duties I hold in the company I founded with my siblings.”
A company spokesman confirmed the remarks made in the interview. Alessandro is currently deputy chairman.
Benetton has suffered from the emergence of more-flexible rivals such as Inditex’s Zara and Sweden’s H&M . In January the family announced it would delist the company after a buyout of minority shareholders.
An industry source told Reuters in February that Alessandro was set to take charge and that the buy-out would give him room for possible asset disposals or alliances and help revamp the group to accommodate other family members.
In the interview, Benetton said his 48-year-old son had shown in the two years as deputy chairman he had the passion needed to run the group, now more than 90 percent controlled by the family.
Benetton scrapped its 2011 dividend after sluggish consumer demand in Southern Europe and the rising cost of raw materials such as cotton led to an almost 30 percent fall in net profit.
While his latest fragrance Marc Jacobs Dot is set for release this spring, the US designer and Louis Vuitton creative director is the latest designer to announce he is branching into the realm of color cosmetics.
The designer already has a large fragrance empire, and he’s now set to follow in the footsteps of the likes of Tom Ford, who launched his first full color cosmetics collection last September at Tom Ford stores and high-end department stores.
There are very few details on Jacobs’ collection at the moment and a target launch date has not yet been decided. However, the creator revealed to WWD April 3 that he’s working with international beauty giant Sephora on the line and had his first meeting for the color collection last week.
“I see makeup, fragrance — everything, really — as an opportunity. The idea of choosing a color for your lip, or an eyeliner — it’s just such a delight. The ritual of waking up and making those choices is something people really enjoy,” said the designer.
“We currently are working on defining what Marc Jacobs cosmetics will be, what they’ll say, what makes them distinctive. I think that will take some time, but the first meeting was good.”
Other top fashion houses to have expanded their beauty portfolios in the past 12 months include Dolce & Gabbana and Burberry, while Italian designer Roberto Cavalli revealed his cosmetic line ambitions earlier this year.
“I’d like to make many, many things with color and cosmetics — even color for the hair,” said Cavalli.
Are you a mother of the groom or bride? And have you waited until the last minute to begin shopping for your formal dress for the occasion? If so note this is quite common. many mothers like to wait. Some say it is because they think the wedding is not going to take place so why waste the money. Others put it off because they dont want to admit they wear a size larger than what they do so they try to loose weight before they go shopping. Whatever your reason for putting it off there is no need to fret. There are many fashion designers our there today that cater to this buyer. For instance you can have a couture mother of the groom dress made new in about 4 weeks or less if you work directly with the dress designer. And as you know from looking around on the internet there are tones of sites that will sell those traditional mother of the bride dresses that they have hanging on the rack that are on sale. We are even seeing more and more women decide to opt out of that more older lady looking MOB dress and leaning more towards black tie evening wear garments so that they can wear the item again for another special occasion. This opens your options up quite a bit more. Even here at Darius Cordell Fashion Ltd we keep a number of evening wear pieces on hand in alot of different sizes for that buyer who does not have time to have a dress made new. So if you are one of those buyers who has waited and the June wedding is fast approaching know that you do have options.
