Tuesday February 26, 2013 | 0 Comments
We hear you. Enough of those skinny 14 year old models in fashion. The average American woman is a size 14 and getting married in her late twenties. We sent a few questions to Diana of Maggie Sottero addressing this concern that you all have. We were also trying to find out why Maggie Sottero is brides with curves favorite brand. Here is our exclusive Maggie Sottero interview.
Lots of women with real bodies pick a Maggie Sottero dress on their wedding day. Why is that?
We believe it’s because of the impeccable styling and incomparable fit of our gowns, a result of meticulous attention to the details of construction including the pattern design which determines where seams, boning, and embellishments are placed (you’d be surprised how easily a ½ inch to the left or right can add pounds to the unsuspecting bride), the quality of the boning material and fabrications, the integration of the lace-up corset back closure, and the minimum five-fittings-per-gown approval process. Simply put, Maggie Sottero will not compromise to hurry a new design out the door. It’s the secret to our success and the reputation we’ve earned. It creates the “Maggie Magic”.
Real bride in Florencia by Maggie Sottero
Why do you think the fashion and bridal industry still uses unrealistic models for ads and runway shows, when the average American woman is a size 14?
It’s simply what sells on the runway and in the magazines. Buyers look for designs that will accommodate all sizes, but actually write orders for more gowns when they’re displayed on smaller models. And the media gives editorial preference to smaller size models because, for all the talk of real size women, consumers typically respond more favorably to ads featuring smaller sizes.
Lena Dunham is this one woman’s revolution who dares to show a realistic body-shape on TV. We love her. She is pear-shaped, which wedding dress would you recommend for her?
For Lena, our fashion-forward Samantha gown would be stunning! The illusion sweetheart neckline would accentuate the bust while the ribbon detail at the natural waist and the soft ball gown skirt would convince the eye her figure is a perfect hourglass silhouette. Lena has shown she’s willing to take risks and show leg, thus, the frothy layered organza skirt and the daring slit.
We also love Melissa McCarthy. She is a gorgeous plus size role model. She is married yet which dress would you recommend for her body-shape?
Fiona would be stunning on Melissa. She seems to favor V-necklines and A-line silhouettes which are exactly the choices we’d advise for her body shape. The beautiful lace bodice of the Fiona gown would not only flatter, but provide support for Melissa’s bust while the ruched waist and soft asymmetrical draping in the skirt would gently slenderize her curves.
Adele is very tall with gorgeous curves. She got secretly married last year. If you had dressed her, which Maggie Sottero dress would look the best on her?
Our Keilani dress would be a fabulous choice for Adele. The A-line silhouette would flatter her curvy figure and accentuate her waist, while the sweetheart neckline would draw the eye to her lovely décolleté. The gorgeous, vintage motif at the hip is perfect for Adele’s classic-vintage style slant.
Our readers are complaining that most bridal stores only carry a size 6 or 8 for them to try on. Why is that?
This isn’t the case at most authorized Maggie Sottero retailers. While brides may find size 6 samples during a trunk show (keep in mind trunk show samples are the same samples used in the runway shows), our retailers typically carry a variety of sample sizes from 6 to 16. They understand brides of all sizes are walking through their doors and naturally, their best opportunity to sell a dress is to display it in a size that accommodates the greatest number of brides. A size 14 Maggie Sottero gown can accommodate almost any bride. A sales associate simply tightens the lace-up back closure for a smaller bride or, if necessary, loosens the lace-up closure to allow a fuller bride to slip in. One of our retailers orders all of their samples in size 14 and is experiencing tremendous success.
Real bride in Geneva by Maggie Sottero
They also complain that they can’t see themselves in dresses featured on ads with models, even if the dress they see is available in their size. Any tips for them?
We invite brides to visit the Maggie Brides page of our website where they can see brides of all sizes wearing Maggie Sottero gowns in every silhouette and stylization. Through Maggie Brides we celebrate all that’s unique about every beautiful bride.
Any Maggie Sottero news for girls with curves?
Yes, both our Spring 2013 collection and our newest designs, yet to be unveiled, tout more ball gowns and A-line silhouettes than we’ve featured during the past two years. This is exciting news for girls with curves. Of course, for those curvy brides who wish to show-off their fuller figure, there’s plenty of body-hugging silhouettes to choose from, as well.
Photo courtesy of maggiesottero.com
Lena Dunham: Photo courtesy of HBO
Melissa McCarthy: Photo courtesy of CBS
Adele: Photo courtesy of HufffingtonPost
Thursday February 21, 2013 | 0 Comments
It’s your wedding day, and you know exactly what you’d like to look like in your professional photos, right? Even though you may have mastered the art of applying your own makeup after so many years of practice, you might not be translating your style accurately when it comes to your makeup trial. Getting across the look you think you like to the experts can be tricky! Avoid the common makeup trial mistakes with these easy tips and tricks from Kimara Ahnert – leaving you and your makeup artist satisfied.
1. Be Specific
“You may say natural but want false individual lashes at the same time,” says Upper East Side’s favorite makeup artist, Kimara Ahnert. Rather than describing what you want as “smoky” or “natural” and using words that might be interpreted differently by the expert, you should start by telling the artist which features you want to accentuate and/or play down. For example, you can say that you want your eyes to pop and she may recommend a more dramatic eye and neutral face and lips. Try to be as specific as possible in your verbal descriptions.
2. Bring the Goods
Provide as many props and visuals as possible including makeup you love as well as magazine tear outs of your favorite looks. Better yet, Kimara gives this recommendation: “Apply your own makeup like you would for going out, and wear it to your trial. It is the best way for me to see what you usually do and improve upon it.”
3. Take Notes
So now that you’ve completed your first pre-wedding makeup trial, how will you remember everything that she applied to your glowing new face? Kimara vetoes the traditional method of picture-taking and instead will jot down notes during your trial. “Brides often say to me…’You don’t take a picture? How do remember months from now on my day what we did at the trial?’ That is why I write down notes of what I used on the contract to reference the day of the wedding. I also suggest to my brides that they buy the lipstick or lip gloss we used at the trial, so they can have it for touch-ups on the day and also to see if they like it outside the studio lighting.”
Tuesday February 12, 2013 | 0 Comments
Bridal Reflections has been one large family affair for owner Tony Micari who formed the company with his wife, Maria, forty years ago. Opening the doors on February 3, 1973 to the first Bridal Reflections salon location in Long Island, The Micari’s have dedicated countless hours building the salon’s name and impeccable reputation from the ground up.
Today, Bridal Reflections has expanded from a small salon run by a husband and wife team, carrying a handful of designer gowns to three spacious locations in New York City and on Long Island carrying over a thousand designer gowns offering a wide variety of fashion for every taste and style. With a dedicated staff of over 125 professionals who share a passion to exceed every customer’s expectations, Bridal Reflections’ three New York locations also offer an extra convenience, in that brides can purchase in one salon and have their fitting in whichever salon is most convenient.
To celebrate Bridal Reflections 40 year anniversary, Tony Micari answered a few questions for us.
What was the exact day the first Bridal Reflections store was open? Where and why? How did you pick the name?
The Massapequa salon opened on February 3, 1973. When we first opened we were actually a franchise and decided several years later to go at it alone.
Do you remember the first wedding dress that was sold then?
The first gown we ever sold was by Charmante Bridals.
Who is the bridal designer that you have worked with for the longest?
We’ve worked with Eve Muscio of Eve of Milady for 40 years, as long as we have been in business!
What can you say about bridal fashion then and now?
The Fashion today is a light year beyond what it was in 1973. New techniques and technology have allowed fashion to really evolve. Of course you will always have those classic and timeless styles.
Have brides themselves changes?
Brides today have so many choices when it comes to designers and styles of gowns. As a result the brides themselves are much more demanding.
Who are your most popular designers now?
Some of our popular designers now are Ines Di Santo, Romona Keveza, Lazaro, Stephen Yearick, and Victor Harper just to name a few.
What are your plans for the next 40 years?
We are always looking to improve the business and exceed our client’s expectations. We have some exciting plans in the works that will greatly change the dynamics for Bridal Reflections. We have nothing but high hopes and expectations for the next 40+ years!
About Tony Micari
For the last 40 years, being the owner and president of Bridal Reflections, one of New York’s most premiere bridal boutiques that caters to worldwide clientele, has been one big family affair for Tony Micari. “If there’s any gift that I gave my children and my employees, it was an adherence to work ethic that’s a cut above.”
Photo credit: Bridal Reflections
Wednesday January 30, 2013 | 0 Comments
Kleinfeld, the leader in bridal fashion, is expanding their wedding reach to the online Wedding Stationary Market with the launch of Kleinfeld Paper. Internet-based, special occasion stationery provider LookLoveSend, LLC and Manhattan-based wedding gown salon Kleinfeld Bridal, have teamed up to launch Kleinfeld Paper, a luxury line of personalized wedding invitations and stationery. The partnership blends LookLoveSend’s diverse design talent, proprietary web technology, and state-of-the-art, in-house printing with the legendary acclaimed Kleinfeld Bridal customer experience.
Kleinfeld Paper will provide brides with unique print designs, (some exclusively inspired by the most popular Kleinfeld gowns), hundreds of font choices, the highest quality paper and print techniques, personalization and embellishments. “We want brides to have a magical shopping experience with us, whatever they buy,” says Ronnie Rothstein, Kleinfeld Co-Owner. “Our wedding stationery will offer the level of design, detail, and personalized service that brides will feel is a natural continuation of their experience in our salon.”
Online live help is available seven days a week and direct customer service is available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. toll-free at (866) 399-6265.
Thursday January 24, 2013 | 0 Comments
You know how sometimes dome dresses are so big you wonder if anything is hidden under there? Here’s an idea coming from the Paris runway! This Jean Paul Gaultier wedding dress looks so wide, but guess what’s under it? Four flower girls in bright colors!
