Irish Wedding Traditions

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Since March 17 is Saint Patrick Day, in this month’s post I thought it would be a good time to discuss the wedding traditions of Ireland.  Maybe a destination wedding is planned to a magical castle in Ireland or maybe the bride or the groom have an Irish ancestors in the family tree and which to honor their heritage, here are a few ideas and suggestions for incorporating Irish wedding traditions.

Handfasting

Perhaps one of the oldest Celtic wedding traditions is handfasting which is when a bridal couple join hands and a rope or cord is tied around their wrists to represent that they are united in marriage.  Handfasting has recently become popular for modern weddings and the ritual can be performed at any time during the wedding ceremony.  Today, an easy search on Goggle will result in numerous websites explaining handfasting and also sources for purchasing customized ropes and cords. 

Claddagh ring

Another Irish tradition is the Claddagh ring and, although there are many myths and legends pertaining to the ring, it has been said that it was originally produced in the small village of Claddagh near Galway located on the west coast of Ireland since the 1700s (hence the name).  The ring has come to traditionally symbolizes love, loyalty and friendship; it features two hands holding a heart with a crown.

Although the Claddagh ring can be sometimes given to someone in friendship, it is most often given as an engagement or wedding ring.  Sometimes an Irish mother will pass on the ring when their daughter reaches a significant age, such as a 21st birthday.  If used for an engagement or wedding, in the case on an engagement the ring is worn with the heart facing away and after the wedding it usually changed to face towards the wearer indicating that their heart is taken in marriage.

The Claddagh design can also be incorporated into other items for a wedding and shown below is a photo of a unique wedding cake topper;
this idea would be a great way to honor an Irish heritage

Shamrock

The shamrock, besides bringing good luck to those that find one, has become a symbol of Ireland and in fact it is considered the national flower.  The shamrock (trifolium dubium) it is a type of clover with a very distinctive three leaves and it has been said that St. Patrick (the patron saint of Ireland) used a shamrock in his Christian teachings as a symbol to represent the Holy Trinity.

The photos below show shamrocks used for a bridal bouquet and a boutonniere

Shamrocks in a variety of forms could be used for a wedding and shown below is a shamrock necklace which would be perfect for a bridesmaids or flower girl gift but a shamrock charm could also be attached to a bridal bouquet or a bridal garter in a lucky shade of green.

The photo below shows a wedding cake decorated with shamrocks
(maybe the toasting glasses are from Waterford,
a glassware company long associated with Ireland)

Irish linen and lace

Speaking of table linens, Ireland is known for their fine linen and lace products.  The cloth for the table linens is made from flax which had been initially grown exclusively in Ireland but in recent years much of the flax has been sourced from Europe or Asia.  Regardless of where the yarn is produced, if the linen product is woven in Ireland from 100% flax fibres it warrants the Irish Linen Guild trademark to signify that is a genuine Irish Linen brand.    

Shown below is an Irish table linen that incorporates a shamrock motif
and it would be perfect for a cake table

Irish lace is another product associated with Ireland, although the industry started in Dublin, there are several different variations of lace patterns that are manufactured in various parts of the country.

A bridal veil made of Irish lace would be lovely to wear with a wedding dress,
it could be another sentimental heirloom to pass onto future generations.

An Irish linen handkerchief trimmed with Irish lace would be a lovely heirloom item to pass onto generations.  A very sentimental idea is for the parents of the bride to purchase an Irish linen handkerchief for her to carry on her wedding day, then saved for later use as a Christening or Baptismal bonnet (converted with a few folds and stiches).

The Irish linen and lace handkerchief shown below
is beautifully embroidered with the bride’s monogram and the Claddagh symbol

Another idea for an Irish linen and lace handkerchief would be as a gift to the mothers of the bride and groom (to wipe away those happy tears!) or for the father of the bride to carry in his suit pocket as her walks his daughter down the aisle.  An Irish linen and lace handkerchief would also make a great gift for the bridesmaids, maybe embroidered with their initials. 

Celtic symbols

The following Celtic symbols are replicated in many different forms that being most often jewelry items.  Any of these items would make a great gift for the bride and the groom or the bridesmaids and ushers. 

Celtic cross

The Celtic cross has its origins during the Middle Ages in Ireland as well as Great Britain and France.  Today, the Celtic cross is often decorated with an interlaced design and features a ringed center.

Shown below is an example of a Celtic cross necklace
that would make a great gift for a bride to wear on her wedding day.

Celtic trinity knot

The Celtic trinity knot is designed in such a way that there is seemingly no beginning or end symbolizes eternity.  The three sections of the knot have been known to represent the Holy Trinity, it is sometimes called the Triquetra. 

Shown below is a pair of Celtic knot cufflinks
that would make a great gift from a bride for her groom to wear on the wedding day.

Celtic heart

The Celtic heart, an example is shown below,
is a stylized version of the Celtic knot and would make a great gift for the bridesmaids.

Shown below is another version of the Celtic heart
is a lovely wedding cake topper

A British Royal Bride – Princess Alexandra of Denmark

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Previously on this blog I featured a post about the British Royal wedding of Prince Albert and Princess Alexandra which took place on March 10, 1863 at St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle.    Princess Alexandra of Denmark was statuesque in height, slim in weight and very beautiful with an outward dignified appearance.  Later, as Princess of Wales and then Queen Alexandra, she would ultimately influence the fashion style for England during the late Victorian and Edwardian period.  This week’s post will be about Princess Alexandra as a Royal bride and I will discuss what she wore on her wedding day including all the items of her bridal ensemble and jewelry.

Princess Alexandra’s wedding dress and bridal accessories

At the time of the wedding of Prince Albert and Princess Alexandra, the Royal court was still in mourning after the unexpected death of Queen Victoria’s husband, Prince Albert the Prince Consort, in December 1861. Although the wedding of the heir apparent to the English throne was a grand occasion that normally called for colorful and elaborate dresses to be wore by the women in attendance, the invited guests wore somber clothing.  The strict rules that dictated the mourning customs of the time meant that the royal court was initially required to wear black and then after a period of time shades of grey, lilac or mauve.  Queen Victoria wore a black dress for the wedding and she continued to wear black for the remainder of her life to honor her deceased husband.

One exception to the mourning custom would be the elaborate white wedding gown worn by the eighteen year old bride, Princess Alexandra of Denmark, which was made by Mrs. James of Belgravia from the finest Spitafields silk satin.  The full skirt had an overlay of four Honiton lace flounces that featured a design that incorporated the symbols of England (roses), Ireland (shamrocks) and Scotland (thistles).  The lace was designed and manufactured by John Tucker and Company of Branscombe near Sidmouth.  Attached to the skirt was a 21 foot train of antique silver moiré which was carried by the bridesmaids on the wedding day.  The dress was also trimmed with orange blossoms and the Princess also wore a white Honiton lace veil that was secured on her head by a wreath of additional orange blossoms and myrtle.  The bridegroom, Prince Albert, wore the uniform of an army general under his Order of the Garter robe on the wedding day.  (Special Note:  Princess Alexandra had originally received a gift of Belgium lace from King Leopold of Belgium which was intended to be used for her wedding dress but Queen Victoria preferred that all the materials for the future bride of the Prince of Wales should be manufactured in Britain)

         

Princess Alexandra and Prince Albert

Princess Alexandra’s wedding dress

Princess Alexandra’s eight bridesmaids wore white silk dresses trimmed with tulle and floral roses; they also wore floral wreaths of roses in their hair.  The British novelist William Thackeray, who attended the wedding, later remarked that the Princess and her bridesmaids reminded him of a fairy tale in which a group of beautiful young ladies were changed into graceful swans.

Princess Alexandra’s eight bridesmaids

Princess Alexandra’s wedding bouquet holder

On her wedding day Princess Alexandra carried a bridal bouquet of white roses, lilies of the valley, orchids and the traditional sprig of myrtle.  The elaborate bouquet holder featured an upper section of rock crystal carved into a cone shape to hold the flowers.  The crystal cone was embellished with diamonds, emeralds, pink coral and pearls.  In honor of the Princess’ royal status, the middle section featured a coronet with a gold chain decorated with pearls and a gold and pearl studded ring to wear on the hand.  Below the coronet is the symbolic trio of white feathers for the Prince of Wales created in diamonds and a monogram “A” for Alexandra made of rubies.  At the bottom of the holder was a small crystal sphere set with more rubies.

The wedding bouquet holder of Princess Alexandra

Princess Alexandra’s wedding jewelry

Princess of Wales diamond and pearl wedding set –

Prince Albert gave his bride a spectacular jewelry set that was presented to the Princess Alexandra on the wedding day.  The wedding set made by Garrard the Royal Jewelers included the diamond Rundell tiara, a diamond and pearl necklace with a matching set of earrings and brooch. The lovely Princess of Wales pearl and diamond necklace features seven medallions featuring large pearls surrounded by diamonds with another pearl and diamond medallion used as a clasp, the three center medallions with pearl drop pendants can be detached and wore as brooches.  The necklace medallions are connected with double rows of diamonds that gently drape when wore around the neck.  After the death of Princess Alexandra (later known as Queen Alexandra) the necklace was inherited by Queen Mary, who passed it onto Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother and then Queen Elizabeth II. The matching earrings of the wedding set featured two large pearls surrounded by diamonds, the earrings are currently known as Queen Alexander’s Cluster Earrings.   The matching brooch features one large pearl in the center and two smaller pearls on either side, diamonds surrounded the pearls and three pearl pendants accented with large diamonds can be detached.  The brooch is now known as the Queen Alexandra Triple-drop Brooch and it was passed onto Queen Mary and then later to Queen Elizabeth II.

Princess of Wales diamond and pearl wedding set

The final item in the wedding set is the diamond Rundell Tiara.  The name is something of a curiosity because despite the fact that it was made by Garrard, the Royal Jewelers, Rundell was the name of a former jewelry company that had a Royal Warrant but closed in 1843 twenty years before the Royal wedding of the Prince and Princess of Wales.  The other misnomer is that the piece is not a tiara but by definition a coronet because it forms a closed circle.  The base of the piece has two rows of diamonds with ten large pear-shaped diamonds connected with smaller diamonds forming a scroll pattern.  The different components of the piece can be removed, the large diamonds can be worn as brooches, the base can be worn alone or Queen Alexandra sometimes added several diamond star brooches.  After the death of the Queen, the Rundell Tiara was passed to her daughter Princess Victoria and it is possible that the jewels were removed and repurposed into other pieces of jewelry.

Princess Alexandra wearing the complete Rundell Tiara
in a Jubilee portrait by Bassano dated 1887

Princess Alexandra wearing the Rundell Tiara without the diamond scrolls

Princess Alexandra’s opal and diamond set –

Queen Victoria gave her new daughter-in-law, Princess Alexandra, an opal and diamond set as a wedding gift.  The set was made by Garrard and included a cross pendant with three oval-shaped opals, three matching brooches, earrings and a bracelet.  The Princess wore the opal and diamond bracelet on her left arm on her wedding day and on her right arm she wore another opal and diamond bracelet which was a wedding gift from the ladies of Manchester.  (Special Note: During the Victorian Era, opals were thought to be a symbol of bad luck and later the Princess possibly had the set repurposed into other pieces of jewelry but the fate of those items is unknown)

Princess Alexandra’s opal and diamond set
received as a wedding gift from Queen Victoria

Princess Alexandra’s opal and diamond bracelet wore on her wedding day

Princess Alexandra’s bridesmaids bracelet –

Another item that Princess Alexandra received as a wedding gift was a lovely gold bracelet from her bridesmaids that performed as her train bearers.  The bracelet, made by Garrard, featured eight linked blue enameled hinged lockets set with diamond initials for the first name of each bridesmaid.  The lockets opened to reveal hand-painted miniature portraits of each of the eight bridesmaids. (Special Note: Later, on the silver wedding anniversary of the Prince and Princess of Wales, the bridesmaids presented a beautiful silver box to hold the bracelet when it was not being worn)

Princess Alexandra’s Dagmar necklace –

The last item of jewelry that I will discuss was actually one of the first gifts that Princess Alexandra had received shortly after the official announcement of the engagement and before the wedding day.  The Dragmar necklace was a gift from King Frederick VII, the Princess’ grandfather, that she received before leaving Denmark to travel to England.  The magnificent necklace made by the Danish court jeweler, Julius Dideriksen, featured 118 pearls and 2000 diamonds set in gold and arranged in medallions with a large diamond in the center surrounded by scroll work created with more diamonds and connected with jeweled swags.  The Dagmar cross was placed in the center of the necklace and two large pearls on either side of the cross were so valuable they were exhibited at the Great Exhibition in Crystal Palace in 1851.(Historical Note: King Frederick who gave Princess Alexandra the Dragmar necklace would later die in November 1863 a few months after her wedding and Princess Alexandra’s father would become King Christian IX)

The source of the necklace’s name and the most remarkable element of the elaborate necklace is the Dagmar Cross.  The story behind the necklace is that Queen Dagmar was the wife of King Waldermar of Denmark and when she died in 1212 she was buried with a pectoral cross on her chest.  When the tomb was opened in 1690, the cross was removed and is now one of the most precious relics of Denmark.  For centuries it had become a tradition that when a Danish Princess is married she is given a duplicate of the Dagmar Cross.

The centerpiece of the necklace created for Prince Alexandra is a cloisonné enameled Byzantine gold cross that is a duplicate of Queen Dagmar’s cross and it has been documented that the cross held a small piece from the original cross and a piece of silk fabric from King Canute’s grave.

Princess Alexandra’s Dagmar Necklace

The Dagmar Cross

The Dagmar necklace was a very difficult piece of jewelry to wear because the diamond and pearl swags did not always lay flat.  Princess Alexandra (later Queen Alexandra) was known for layering on her jewelry and more was … well, more!!  Shown in the photo below Queen Alexandra dressed on the coronation day of her husband in 1902, who became known as King Edward VII.  The Dagmar necklace is seen attached to the lower portion of the bodice’s dress.

After the death of Queen Alexandra in 1925, the necklace was passed onto Queen Mary, then Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother and eventually to Queen Elizabeth II in 1952.  After it had been passed to Queen Elizabeth II she wore it on a handful of occasions in the 1950s and early 1960s, including during her 1957 state visit to Denmark, each time using it with the two largest pearl pendants and the Dagmar Cross removed.

For more information regarding Princess Alexandra – A Fashion Icon, Please click on the link.

 

TV Weddings – Bridgerton

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Since the premiere on Netflix in 2020, the Bridgerton television series has been very popular and in this post I will focus on the wedding of the two of the main characters, Simon Basset and Daphne Bridgerton (hence the title of the episode in which they get married, “The Duke and I”).  But first I would like to briefly discuss the Bridgerton television series which is based on the historical romance books of Julia Quinn.    

The Bridgerton television series

The Bridgerton television series on Netflix premiered on December 25, 2020 and it was created by Chirs Van Dusen and produced by Shonda Rhimes.  It is a Regency period drama based on the books by American author Julia Quinn, a collection of eight books that featured the children of Viscount Edmund and Violet Bridgerton – Anthony, Benedict, Colin, Daphne, Eloise, Francesca, Gregory and Hyacinth.  The Bridgerton television series featured eight episodes in the first season which were based on Quinn’s first book in the Bridgerton series, “The Duke and I”, which was first published in 2015.

The eldest daughter, Daphne (played by Phoebe Dynevor), is making her debut into London society and at one of the balls she meets Simon Bassett, (played by Regé-Jean Page), the handsome friend of her brother.  Much like every debutante, the beautiful Daphne’s goal is to find a suitable husband and together the two devise a plan to attract more suitors for Daphne and deflect the unwanted attention the pushy debutante mothers away from Simon, who due to his unhappy childhood has no desire to marry.  They pretend an innocent courtship but things become complicated when they start to fall in love.  After a seemingly unfortunate scene in the garden at one of the balls, Daphne’s reputation is compromised and the two are forced into marriage. 

The wedding of Simon Bassett and Daphne Bridgerton

It is in the fifth episode of the television series that the wedding of Simon and Daphne. There are there are many details to accomplish with only a few short days to prepare for the wedding. So, Daphne and her mother visit the mantua (a French word used for a dressmaker in the late 17th century and 18th century) to make not only the wedding dress but also the bridal trousseau. 

Special Note: all the photos shown in this post are from the Bridgerton series on Netflix

With no time to wait the household staff of Bridgerton also set about preparing for the wedding.  Decisions pertaining to the wedding flowers and the reception menu are quickly decided and the massive wedding cake will take days to prepare.

Despite the haste of the wedding, the church is beautifully decorated with an abundance of white flowers and greenery with several large arrangements, floral displays covering the end of the pews and draping down from the upper level and white rose petals lining the aisle.  (Special Note: St Mary’s Church in Twickenham, England was used for the interior scene of the wedding ceremony)

Only Daphne’s family, Lady Danbury and Simon’s friends are in attendance for the small wedding ceremony.  Since her father had died several years earlier Daphne is escorted down the aisle by her eldest brother as Simon, the reluctant groom, waits at the front of the church. 

For her wedding day Daphne is wearing a beautiful flowing silk white dress featuring embroidered flowers and swirls. The dress has an empire waistline, puffed sleeves and a train, she is wearing a veil attached with a glittering tiara and long white gloves.  (Special Note: The material for the dress was sourced in Madrid, Spain by the Bridgerton costume designer, Ellen Mirojnick and she knew instantly that the lovely silk would be used for Daphne’s wedding)

Simon is wearing a black waistcoat, black pants, his customary boots, a white vest, white cravat and his mother’s unique green enamel diamond and emerald brooch which Simon wears throughout the series.  (Special Note: Wearing a sentimental piece of jewelry from a departed relative, be it a mother or father or grandparent, would be a wonderful way to honor them on a wedding day)   

The actual wedding ceremony shown on screen is very short in duration with a brief glimpse as the couple exchanges vows and the ring is placed on Daphne’s hand. 

Special Note: In the Georgian era, the betrothal ring signified the couple’s engagement indicating that the couple was committed to each other in the time leading up to the actual wedding, as referenced in the Julia Quinn book “The Duke and I”.  For the television series this was changed and the ring was given during the ceremony to add a modern or contemporary element.      

The gold wedding ring is very simple in design and features four pearls with a small diamond in the center and flanked by several red gemstones, perhaps rubies or garnets.  Shown below is a photo from episode seven which gives a good look at the ring as Daphne plays the piano.    

After the brief ceremony a small reception is held at the Bridgerton family home, seen in the opening scene of the series the house is beautifully draped with pale purple wisteria making it the perfect setting for a wedding.  (Special Note: The location used for the exterior of the Bridgerton house is the Ranger’s House located in Greenwich, previously known as Chesterfield House it dates back to 1720)

The wedding reception is shown taking place in the Bridgerton House Grand Hall, not a formal sit down dinner but food was laid out on tables covered with white linens and drinks were served by staff on silver trays.  The room is decorated with white floral arrangements and there is an impressive chandelier suspended from the high ceiling.  (Special Note: The interior scenes of the wedding were filmed on the Royal Air Force Station near Aylesbury in Buckinhamshire.  Halton House is a late 19th century county home that once belong to a member of the Rothschild family)   

The multi-tiered wedding cake for Daphne and Simon was the centerpiece of the reception and was displayed on a round table covered with white linen.  It was 4.5 feet tall with white icing and embellished with white chocolate figurines, floral accents and both the Bridgerton and Hasting crests to honor the bride and the groom.    

We catch a glimpse of the Bridgerton House Grand Staircase as Daphne exits the reception to change into her going away outfit.  While in her bedroom  her mother comes to have a brief and awkward talk regarding what to expect on the wedding night.      

At the end of the reception the Hasting carriage arrives to take Simon and Daphne to their honeymoon. 

The Bridgerton family has gathered in front of the house to say goodbye to Daphne and Simon.  (Notice that the third daughter, Eloise, is not there … she has mysteriously left London unbeknown to her family, but we will need to wait for another season of the series to find out what has happened to her or we can read the book, “To Sir Phillip, With Love” by Julia Quinn)

* Photos used in this post are credited to NetFlix.

Helen Rose – An American Movie Costume Designer

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To continue this blog’s ongoing series on fashion and costume designers, in this post I will discuss the career of Helen Rose who was an American costume designer at the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film studio during the 1940s to the 1960s.  She created costumes for some of the most glamorous film stars, such as Grace Kelly and Elizabeth Taylor.  In fact they love her designs so much that on their wedding days both ladies wore bridal gowns made by Helen Rose.   (Special Note: In keeping with the theme of An Elegant Bride blog, the classic Helen Rose movie costume designs detailed in this post would be a great inspiration for a classic wedding style for either a bride and/or bridesmaid dresses)

A brief history of the life and career of Helen Rose

Helen (Bromberg) Rose was born on February 2, 1904 in Chicago, Illinois; her parents were William Bromberg and Ray Bobbs.  Perhaps because her father was part owner of an art reproduction company and her mother was a seamstress, at a young age Helen showed an artistic talent for drawing and fashion design and she convinced her parents to enroll her in the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts.  She would be hired by the Lester Costume Company to create costumes for vaudeville shows and when her family moved in 1929 she went with them to Los Angeles, California.

Eventually Helen went to work for Fanchon and Marco which was a company that designed costumes for theatrical shows.  After that work experience she was quickly hired to design costumes for the Ice Follies, a touring ice show founded in 1936 which featured elaborate production numbers.      

In the early 1940s Helen worked briefly for 20th Century Fox designing movie costumes mainly for the studio’s musical productions.  Then, in 1943 she was hired by MGM where she would eventually be promoted to the chief designer, she worked at the studio for over forty years. She created costumes for over 200 films for some the most famous movie stars at MGM, including Grace Kelly, Elizabeth Taylor, Deborah Kerr, Lana Turner, and Esther Williams.  Helen was nominated ten times for an Academy Award for Best Costume Design, she won twice for “The Bad and the Beautiful” in 1952 and “I’ll Cry Tomorrow” in 1955.

Helen Rose receiving her Oscar for “The Bad and the Beautiful”

Helen’s influence on the bridal industry was noted when she designed the movie wedding dress for Elizabeth Taylor in “Father of the Bride” (as well her real life 1950 wedding)  Helen also received international attention when she designed the bridal dress for Grace Kelly’s wedding in 1956. 

In 1958 Helen opened her own ready-to-wear line of clothing and she sold her designs to upscale department stores such as Bonwit Teller, Marchall Fields and Joseph Magnin. She also licensed her designs to be sold through Spadea and Advance patterns during the 1950s. 

Helen left the MGM in 1966, by that time studios were using store-bought clothing for their movies and long term contracts were no longer given to studio designers

On a personal note, Helen married Harry Rose on December 28, 1929 and had a daughter named Judy.  She died at the age of 81 in Palm Springs, California on November 9, 1985.

Movie costume designs of Helen Rose

During her forty years working for the studio Helen was especially known for creating lovely costumes made with chiffon which was known to be a very difficult fabric to work with but she liked it because it moved beautifully and would photograph well as it picked up the lights on the studio sets.

So, starting in chronological order I will focused on two very different actresses that Helen designed costumes for, the elegant Grace Kelly and the sexy Elizabeth Taylor. 

Helen created perhaps one of the most iconic wedding dresses of the 1950s for Elizabeth Taylor in the “Father of the Bride” film (1950).  The dress featured elaborate layers of satin fabric creating a full skirt which was tapered to a tiny waistline and a high neck finished with a rounded collar and bodice of beautiful lace. (Special Note: This original wedding dress style was made available to the public through the Alfred Angelo bridal store during the 1950s)  

By 1956 Helen had worked with Grace Kelly on many of the actress’ films for MGM, the 1956 film “High Society” would be one on Grace’s last films for the studio.  She had recently become engage to Prince Rainer and she would be leaving her acting career behing in the United States to start a new life as a Princess in Monaco.  As a funny coincidence, “High Society” was a film in which Grace played a spolied rich girl who was about to be married. Shown in the photo below is one of the dresses designed by Helen and it was a light gray and pink evening chiffon evening gown beautifully embellished with floral embroidery and beading cascading from the shoulder to the hem.      

The second dress worn by Grace that Helen designed for the film was for the wedding scene, the dress was made of silk organza worn over a white underdress.  It featured a full skirt with bellowing sheer sleeves and a pink ribbon tied at the waist and accented with fabric florals that matched the embroidered flowers on the bodice and skirt.  To complete the look, Grace wore a wide brimmed white hat covered with layers of fabric and tulle and a pair of white wrist length gloves. 

Just like Grace, throughout Helen’s years at MGM she worked with Elizabeth Taylor on numerous movies.  In the beginning she created modest dresses for the young ingénue who was at the start of her longer film career but later when Elizabeth began taking on more mature roles in her films her style changed dramatically. 

The movie costume created by Helen for Elizabeth Taylor for “Cat on a Hot Tin” (1958) was a sexy white chiffon dress with a plunging neckline shown in the photo below.  (Special Note: This dress would become a best seller for the Helen Rose clothing line which she started in 1958.  I’m sure many husbands were happy that their wives could dress just like the sultry Elizabeth Taylor!)

Famous wedding dresses designed by Helen Rose

Helen Rose set the bridal trends for generations to come with her movie costume designs for Elizabeth Taylor and Grace Kelly as well as the bridal gown designs for their real life weddings in the 1950s. 

Elizabeth Taylor had finished filming the “Father of the Bride” but just before the movie was officially released she married Conrad “Nicky” Hilton on May 6, 1950 in Beverly Hills, California.  As a wedding gift to the bride MGM had Helen Rose make the bridal gown, it took fifteen seamstresses and embroiders three months to complete at the cost of $1,5000.

The bridal gown used 25 yards of ivory silk satin and featured a full skirt with an illusion bodice embellished with beads and pearls.  The veil was made of 10 yards of silk net and was attached to a Juliet cap covered in pearls.  (Special Note: The dress sold for $188,000 at a Christie’s auction in 2013)

Unfortunately the couple divorce after a year and it would be the first of Elizabeth’s 8 weddings over the next 40 years, she had 7 different husbands but she married Richard Burton twice. 

After her short marriage to Hilton, Elizabeth married Michael Wilding on February 21, 1952 in London, England.  (Special Note: Elizabeth actually held dual citizenship because she was born in London and moved with her parents to California in 1939, both her parents were originally from Kansas and had lived in England for 10 years)

Helen Rose also designed Elizabeth’s wedding dress for her second wedding, it was a jacket with a white collar and cuffs and three-quarter sleeves worn with a matching flared skirt. 

Helen Rose designed the movie costumes worn by Grace Kelly for the four MGM films she starred in and they had developed a great friendship.  When Grace became engaged to Prince Rainer of Monaco she entrusted Helen to create not one but two wedding dresses!  She designed one for the civil ceremony that took place on April 18, 1956 in the Throne Room at the Prince’s Palace and one for the religious ceremony which took place the next day at the Saint Nicholas Cathedral in Monaco.  (Special Note: Both wedding dresses were a special gift to the bride from the MGM Studio)

Grace’s civil ceremony wedding dress was made with a pale pink taffeta with a ivory French Alencon lace overlay which was further embellished with pink embroidery and featured a round collar jacket and a full skirt, to complete her ensemble Grace wore a Juliet cap and gloves.       

For the religious ceremony, which took place on April 19, 1956, Helen Rose created a beautiful wedding dress made with 25 yards of vintage Brussels rose point lace and silk faille taffeta that featured a fitted bodice, high neckline, long sleeves and a full skirt.  The chapel length veil was made of tulle and attached to a Juliet cap embellished with pearls and fabric orange blossoms.  (Special Note:  The iconic wedding dress and accessories were donated by Grace Kelly to the Philadelphia Museum of Art) 

For more information on the wedding of Grace Kelly and Prince Rainer of Monaco, please click on the link.

First Ladies Inauguration Ball Gowns

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One of the most popular exhibits in the Smithsonian National Museum of American History located in Washington D.C. is the First Ladies Inauguration Ball Gown exhibit.  (Now my husband would argue this point by saying that any of the exhibits at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum are much more exciting!)  In this post I will discuss several of the First Ladies Inauguration Ball Gowns concentrating on the last 60 years with twelve First Ladies and starting in 1961 with Mrs. Jaqueline Kennedy to the most recent in 2021 with Mrs. Jill Biden.  Fashion Note: Any of these First Ladies Inauguration Ball gowns would be a great inspiration for a mother of the bride/groom dress for a formal evening wedding. 

But first, here is some information of how and when the collection of the First Ladies Inauguration Ball Gowns was started.  The collection started in 1912 when the Smithsonian began to accumulate dresses donated from past the First Ladies.   As the collection grew throughout the years, it has been determined that every administration since President Washington is represented, although some of the dresses were not specifically worn for an Inauguration.

Today it has become customary for a former First Lady to donate her Inauguration Ball Gown, occasionally with accessories such as shoes or a purse, to the Smithsonian after the end of a President’s term in office.   In case you were wondering, if a President serves multiple terms, the First Lady will customarily donate the Inauguration Ball gown from the first term and a dress worn for a subsequent term usually goes to her husband’s Presidential library.   

The young and fashionable Jacqueline Kennedy, wife of President John Kennedy (1961 to 1963, wore a custom designed gown by Ethel Frankau of Bergdorf for her husband’s 1961 Inauguration Ball.  The strapless gown was made of peau d’ange fabric embellished with crystals and embroidered with silver thread with a bodice overlay made of silk chiffon.

1961 Inauguration Ball gown worn by Jacqueline Kennedy

For the 1965 Inauguration Ball of President Lyndon Johnson (1963 to 1969) his wife, Lady Bird Johnson, wore a simple yellow silk satin gown designed by John Moore.  The dress had cap sleeve and the matching long coat had sable trimmed sleeves.

1965 Inauguration Ball gown and matching coat worn by Lady Bird Johnson

Pat Nixon, wife of President Richard Nixon (1969 to 1974), wore a gown designed by Karen Berin for her husband’s 1969 Inauguration Ball. The gown was made of yellow mimosa silk satin with gold and silver embroidery and embellished with Austrian crystal.

1969 Inauguration Ball gown worn by Pat Nixon

The next gown in the First Ladies collection was worn for a White House State Dinner by Betty Ford, her husband was President Gerald Ford (1974-1977).  Ford became President after the resignation of Nixon and served out the term but did not win the election in 1976. Special Note: This is an example of a First Ladies dress that was not worn for an Inauguration Ball.  

The pale green sequined chiffon gown embroidered in a chrysanthemum pattern was designed by Frankie Welch.  Mrs. Ford wore the dress twice for a State Dinner, once in 1975 State Dinner for the Shah of Iran and again in 1976 for the State Dinner for King Juan Carlos of Spain.     

1969 Inauguration Ball gown worn by Pat Nixon

For the 1977 Inauguration Ball for President Jimmy Carter (1977-1981) his wife, Rosalynn Carter, wore a gown designed by Mary Matise which she had previously worn for the 1971 Gubernatorial Ball when her husband was elected as the Governor of Georgia.  The blue chiffon gown was trimmed with gold embroidery and worn with a matching sleeveless coat.   

1977 Inauguration Ball gown worn by Rosalynn Carter

Four years later, for the1981 Inauguration Ball of President Ronald Reagan (1981-1989) his wife Nancy Reagan wore a gown designed by James Galanos.  The glamourous First Lady wore a white one shouldered gown of silk satin heavily beaded gown.  Mrs. Reagan had worked with Galanos previously and had worn a different one shouldered gown for the Gubernatorial Ball in 1967 when husband was elected Governor of California.  Fashion Note: I believe this would be the first time that a First Lady had worn a one shouldered gown for an Inaugural Ball.         

1981 Inauguration Ball gown worn by Nancy Reagan

For the 1989 Inauguration Ball of President George H.W. Bush (1989 to 1993) his wife, Barbara Bush, wore a gown designed by Arnold Scaasi.  The long sleeve gown was made of royal blue velvet and silk satin and featured an asymmetrical skirt; of course she wore the gown with her iconic pearl necklace.   

1989 Inauguration Ball gown worn by Barbara Bush

For the 1993 Inauguration Ball of President Bill Clinton (1993 to 2001) his wife, Hillary Rodham Clinton, wore a gown designed by Sarah Phillips and made by Barbara Matera Ltd. who was a New York theatrical costume maker.  The gown was made of a lovely violet beaded lace gown with an iridescent blue velvet silk mousseline overskirt. 

1993 Inauguration Ball gown worn by Hillary Rodham Clinton

Eight years later, for the 2001 Inauguration Ball of President George W. Bush (2001-2009) his wife Laura Bush wore a gown designed by Michael Faircloth.  The gown was made in a red crystal embroidered Chantilly lace over silk georgette. 

2001 Inauguration Ball gown worn by Laura Bush

For the 2009 Inauguration Ball of President Barack Obama (2009 to 2017) his wife, Michelle Obama, wore a gown designed by Jason Wu.  The elegant one shouldered white silk chiffon gown is embellished with organza flowers with Swarovski crystal centers.   

2009 Inauguration Ball gown worn by Michelle Obama

For the 2017 Inauguration Ball of President Donald Trump (2017 to 2021) his wife, Melania Trump, wore a gown designed by Herve Pierre. The off the shoulder ivory   crepe gown features a slit skirt, a ruffled trim from the neckline to the hem and a thin red ribbon at the waist. 

2017 Inauguration Ball gown worn by Melania Trump

The next dress may look like an unusual choice, but due to Covid-19 restrictions the Inauguration of President Joe Biden (2021 to present) was very different than any previous administrations.  The swearing-in ceremony had limited capacity and there was no Inauguration Ball but a virtual concert was broadcast in the evening. 

For these reasons First Lady Jill Biden did not wear a formal gown but instead worn a coat and dress ensemble by designer Gabriela Hearst. The knee length dress was made of silk wool with an organza neckline and sleeves which featured floral embroidery that incorporated the flowers from every state and territory of the United States (what a great idea!)  Mrs Biden thoughtfully had the state flower of Delaware embroidered on the bodice positioned on the left side over her heart. 

The matching coat was made of a white cashmere that also had floral embroidery at the hem.  In another sentimental gesture inside the coat Mrs. Biden has a Benjamin Franklin quote embroidered into the lining to honor her career as a college professor which says, “Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn”.

2021 dress and matching coat worn by Jill Biden
on the evening of her husband’s Inauguration

So, as previously mentioned, any of the gowns worn by the First Ladies shown above would be a wonderful inspiration for a dress for a mother of the bride/groom. 

A Yellow and Gray Wedding – Ideas and Suggestions

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In the ongoing series about the annual Pantone color of the year, this post will be about the colors selected for 2021.  Every year the Pantone Color Institute selects a color that will set the trend for home decorations, fashion and also weddings for that year.  For this year Pantone has selected two colors, Illuminating 13-0647 which is a sunny and bright yellow and Ultimate Gray 17-5104 which complements as well as contrasts.     

The Pantone colors of Illuminating and Ultimate gray can work together to create a wedding palette that would be lovely used for a Spring wedding.  Think about yellow roses for a bridal bouquet, yellow bridesmaids/flower girl dresses and gray suits for the groomsmen.  Using these colors as inspiration, in this post I will include ideas and suggestions for creating yellow and gray wedding decorations for the ceremony and reception as well as bridal accessories and other items that could be incorporated into the wedding design.     

Ceremony decorations

The yellow and gray color combination could be used for either an indoor or outdoor wedding ceremony and reception.  My suggestion would be to use the yellow as the dominate color and the gray as an accent color. 

The first idea, shown in the photo below, is a beautiful floral arch with yellow roses, white roses and eucalyptus leaves on a white wood fame that would be the perfect backdrop for an outdoor wedding ceremony.  This arch could also be used for an indoor ceremony but the height of the ceiling and any other venue restrictions need to be taken into consideration.    

Gray chairs, such as the chiavari shown in the photo below, could be used for seating at the ceremony.

Yellow roses and ivy could be used as chair decorations, as shown in the photo below, which would coordinate beautifully with the floral arch and look great on the end chairs of each row for a beautiful aisle decoration.

Reception decorations

Yellow and gray decorations would look beautiful for a wedding reception in an outdoor garden but would also look great indoors for a grand ballroom reception.  Shown below are two different styles of floral centerpieces for the guest tables.  The first shows a simple low arrangement of yellow roses, white flowers and greenery in a glass bowl. 

The second style is a tall floral centerpiece using an arrangement of yellow roses and orchids placed atop a glass vase.

White table linens and gray chiavari chairs could be used for the guest tables.  Silverware, crystal stemware and silver plate chargers could also be used to create a simple and elegant style incorporating the yellow and gray theme.

The next yellow and gray wedding ideas pertain to food items.  The first wedding cake shown below features a classic white cake with yellow roses cascading down the multiple tiers.  A beautiful silver cake stand is used for a lovely finishing touch. 

The second example shown below is of a gray and white frosted wedding cake accented with yellow roses. 

Another idea shown below features yellow and gray macarons stacked on a simple white plate for an additional desert that could be served at the wedding reception.

Bridal accessories and other wedding items

The next few items are wedding accessories and other wedding items for the bride, groom, bridesmaids, flower girl and groomsmen that feature the colors of yellow and gray.

Shown below is an example of a bridal bouquet that beautifully combines yellow roses and a gray satin wrap with rhinestones used for the handle. 

The next idea is an example yellow pump to add a surprising pop of color for the bride to wear under her wedding dress. (maybe a yellow sating ribbon could be added at the waist of the wedding dress)                                            

For a very comfortable choice for shoes, the bride and her attendants can change into a pair of yellow Converse.  Another idea to add some fun would be for the groomsmen to wear yellow high top Converse. (let’s be honest, formal wedding shoes can hurt after wearing them for several hours so why not change into some more comfortable for the wedding reception)

In keeping with the topic of footwear, another more subtle way to add a pop of yellow and gray tartan socks for the groom and his attendants.

Shown below is an example of a pretty yellow dress for the bridesmaids and perfect for a Spring wedding.

Shown below is an example of flowergirl dress (I love a flower girl in a white dress and the yellow sash and fabric flower at the waist is the perfect way to add yellow!)

A great way to incorporate yellow and gray for a groom and his attendants is a gray suit and a yellow tie which would coordinate beautifully with bridesmaids wearing yellow dresses.

The next few items are jewlery for the bride, groom and their attendants.  The first is yellow diamond earrings for a bride.

Not to be left out, shown below are a pair of yellow diamond cuff links for the groom to wear on his special day. 

A great gift idea would be a yellow stone necklace for the bridesmaids, the one shown below is from the Kendra Scott collection.

Of course other accessories items could include a yellow bridal garter, a yellow clutch to carry those essential items on a wedding day or a yellow scarf to wear for a chilly evening wedding.

The last item is just a fun idea and it would be a yellow nail polish, the example shown below is from OPI. (if you are not daring enough to use it for your fingernails you can you it for your toenails but be sure to take a group photo of the bride and attendants showing off the polish!)

So, as you can see from the numerous examples given in this post there are is a large variety of items that can be used to create a beautiful yellow and gray wedding. 

English Christmas Traditions for a December Wedding

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English Christmas Traditions for a December Wedding

Many of the Christmas traditions that we celebrate here in the United States started centuries ago in England.  In this post I will discuss some of those traditions and ways to incorporate them into a December wedding during the holiday season. 

Christmas Cards

The tradition of Christmas cards started in England when children would often write letters to Father Christmas with their wishes for toys or other items.  Traditionally, these letters would be “delivered” to Father Christmas by putting them in the fireplace so that the ashes from the burnt letters would fly up the chimney because (as everyone knows, right?) Father Christmas can read the messages in the smoke!!  Since the Victorian times, sending Christmas cards in England has become a very important tradition and a wonderful way to send “Happy Christmas” wishes to family and friends.  English families would make their own Christmas cards to send and the ones that were received were often used as decorations within the home during the holiday season and displayed on fireplace mantles or shelves located near the Christmas tree.

Today, children in the United States have been known to sometimes mail their Christmas requests to Santa Claus in the North Pole.  Of course, there are other ways to get a message to Santa, sometimes children wait to give Santa their gift wish lists when they go to have their picture taken with him at the mall or sometimes they will write a special letter to him on Christmas Eve with their list and set it out with a plate a cookies and glass of milk for him and a couple of carrots for the reindeer.  (Magically, I have been able to save these letters to Santa that my children have written over the years!)

December wedding idea –

In regards to incorporating the idea of Christmas Cards into a December wedding would be to send invitations with a beautiful winter scene, as shown in the photo below. 

This second example shown below has a very clever wording

For the bride and groom’s first Christmas, they could send out a special Christmas card maybe enclosing their engagement or wedding photo.  I would suggest that they could keep one card for every year that they send out their Christmas cards.  Gathers the cards into a special box or another idea for a home decoration would be to display them as a framed collage which could be used every year for the holiday season.

Christmas dinner

In England, on Christmas day a special meal is served usually in the afternoon.  Traditionally, the meal consists of a roasted goose, duck or pheasant.  Side dishes could possibly include cranberry sauce or currant jelly, potatoes, brussel sprouts or parsnips and for dessert a Christmas pudding or English trifle.  This meal is very similar to one served to the British Royal Family when they gather together at Sandringham in Norfolk to celebrate during the holiday season.  (For more information regarding the traditions associated with the annual British Royal Family Christmas at Sandringham, please clink on the link)

A traditional English Christmas dinner table is usually set with the home’s finest dishes, flatware, glasses and table linens.  Also placed at each of the place settings is a very special item known as a Christmas cracker.  A Christmas cracker is a paper tube filled with three items usually small treats such as a spinning top or simple puzzle, a special joke or humorous limerick and finally a paper crown.  The filled paper tube is then covered with foil that is twisted at both ends to seal.  Traditionally, the crackers are usually opened at the Christmas dinner; each cracker is held between two people and pulled.  As the Christmas cracker is opened there is a small device inside which makes a loud pop sound.  The custom of the English Christmas Cracker is a wonderful idea to add fun and excitement to a Christmas dinner.

December wedding idea –

Any of the dinner entrees and side dishes mentioned above would be delicious to serve at a December wedding reception, turkey or roast beef would be a great alternative if something different than poultry is desired.  Maybe the menu could be served “family style” and all the mea

The guest tables could be decorated beautiful china, silver or gold flatware, crystal stemware and lovely table linens in white, burgundy red or forest green.  (The reason I suggested those colors is that they are less Christmassy than a bright red or green)

The next example shown below is a Christmas cracker

Christmas Tree

The tradition of the Christmas tree became very popular in England when Prince Albert, the husband of Queen Victoria, brought the custom from his native Germany.  Christmas trees during that time where decorated very differently from the ones seen in the United States today.  In Victorian England, Christmas tree were cut from the nearby woods and brought indoors to be decorated with natural items such as nuts, berries, apples or possibly oranges and illuminated with candles clipped to the branches of the tree.

Things have changed considerably over the years, lite candles on Christmas trees have been proven to be a fire hazard and it was determined that cutting down trees was not good for the environment.  Today, artificial Christmas trees have become popular and there are a variety of light styles and colors to string on the trees (our Christmas tree was bought pre-lite so my husband doesn’t have to spend hours un-tangling the lights to put on the tree!)  The decorations for the Christmas tree have also changed throughout the years, during the 1940s-1960s my mother used glass ornaments and shiny silver tinsel and I have been purchasing Hallmark ornaments for over forty years now for our Christmas tree.

December wedding idea –

Simple white light Christmas trees would look lovely flanking a ceremony site or set in a group in the corners of a reception venue, shown below are two examples of Christmas trees used for a wedding reception.  

(For additional inspiration for more decorations for a December wedding winter theme, click on the link to “A Rehearsal Dinner Theme – Harry Potter Yule Ball”)

In keeping with the Christmas tree idea, another item for the bridal couple to purchase is a special First Christmas ornament to hang on their Christmas tree, this would make a great tradition to start and an ornament could be added every year throughout their married life.   

Christmas stockings –

In England, the custom of hanging stockings above the fireplace started centuries ago mainly out of necessity because this was generally the way for the children to dry them overnight.  Of course, Father Christmas used this as an opportunity to leave small presents of fruit, nuts, candy or other small gifts for the good little boys and girls.  Traditionally, on Christmas Eve the children would leave a snack of cookies or small meat pies for Father Christmas near the fireplace.

In the United States, the custom of hanging Christmas stockings is a wonderful tradition to celebrate during the holiday season.  Christmas stockings can be bought in a variety of retail stores and are available in styles ranging from inexpensive simple ones to expensive and elaborate ones.  For those that wish to make their own Christmas stockings they are several sewing patterns available in different styles that could be used to create special ones in fabrics ranging from inexpensive felt and denim material to expensive silk or satin material.  There are also embroidery and needlepoint kits that can be purchased at craft stores that can be used to create custom Christmas stockings.  The gift of a custom Christmas stocking makes a wonderful gift for a child’s first Christmas, my son received one these and I am planning on having it framed.

December wedding idea –

A custom Christmas stocking would make a wonderful gift for a couple’s first Christmas; of course it can be personalized with their names.

Shown below is an example of a stocking hanger

Father Christmas/Santa Claus –

Across the world Santa Claus is known by many different names and in England he goes by the name of Father Christmas, in Ireland it is Daidi na Nollag, in Italy it is Babbo Natale, in Spain it is Papa Noel and in France it is Pere Noel.

In 16th century England, the feast day of Saint Nicholas was no longer celebrated due to King Henry VIII’s break with the Catholic Church centered in Rome.  Centuries later, the Father Christmas character, normally associated with the feast of Saint Nicholas, was revived during the reign of Queen Victoria and generally pictured as a large man wearing a crimson robe lined with fur.

Today in America, the character known by Kris Kringle or more commonly by the name Santa Claus became famous in the 1823 poem, “A Visit From St. Nicholas” and later by an 1897 editorial in the New York Sun newspaper that answered the important question of his existence with the response, “Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus”.  The popular character which has become a major part of Christmas in the United is usually depicted as a large man with a white beard wearing a red coat trimmed with a white collar and cuffs matching red trousers also trimmed in white and a black leather belt and black leather boots.  The story of Santa Claus was written in the famous 1934 song, “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” is said to have a list of children throughout the world, the naughty ones get a piece of coal in their stockings and the nice ones receive wonderful gifts of toys and candy on Christmas Eve.  Santa lives far away in the North Pole and the elves help to make the toys and the presents are loaded onto Santa’s sleigh which is pulled by eight reindeer that fly.

Christmas wedding idea – A wonderful way to end a wedding reception (for old and young guests!) would be the appearance of jolly Santa Claus.  He could give out a candy canes and of course be available for photos. 

Repurposed Wedding Dress

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One of the most important personal decisions that a bride will make when planning her special day will be the selection of her wedding dress.  After the wedding some brides will want to have their dress preserved in a special acid-free box lined with tissue to prevent it from discoloration, shown below is an example.    

Other brides will want to display their wedding dress in a shadowbox as a decorative piece for the couple’s home, the example in the photo below shows a wedding dress encased in a large frame and displayed with the bridal bouquet.

Sometimes, a more practical and sentimental bride might want to repurpose their wedding dress and below are some ideas and suggestions.

Wedding dress repurposed into heirloom clothing or jewlery

The most obvious choice would be to preserve a bride’s wedding dress and pass it onto their future daughter as a cherished heirloom, in a similar way some brides have chosen to wear their mother or grandmother’s wedding dress.  This is the most practical way of repurposing because the dress is usually preserved as a whole garment with only a few alterations needed to fit the new bride. 

Special Note:  For a bride, husband or other family member – before repurposing a bride’s wedding dress, especially for a gift item in which the dress would be cut-up into material, ALWAYS check with the bride BEFORE!!  

Since there are usually yards of beautiful fabric, trim and lace used to create a wedding dress and veil, one idea is to repurpose the material into a baptismal or christening gown for the couple’s future children, as shown in the photo below.  In this manner the garment is not gender specific and can continue to be used for any additional children and becomes a sentimental family heirloom.

Another idea would be to repurpose the wedding dress into a first communion dress
for the couple’s future daughter, an example is shown in the photo below. 

The next two ideas would be to repurpose the wedding dress into items of personal clothing that can be worn by the bride in the future, perhaps for special events such as an anniversary dinner, a baptism or christening ceremony or a family wedding. 

the first item is purse or clutch made from the wedding dress material

the second item is a scarf made from a bridal veil

The next idea is not an item of clothing but a sentimental item of jewelry that can be worn after the wedding as a reminder of a bride’s special day.  A pendant necklace or locket can hold a small piece of material from a wedding dress as shown in the photo below.  

Home decorations or other items

Here are two ideas for home decorative items that would have a direct connection to the wedding day.  The first item would be a great idea for the repurpose of a wedding dress isfor a wedding photo using the material for a frame mat, as shown below.

The second idea would be use the material from a wedding dress
to cover a wedding photo album, as shown below. 

Another great idea for repurposing a wedding dress would be for a home decoration and the material could be used to cover a lamp shade, as shown in the photo below. This could be used in the couple’s bedroom or perhaps a baby nursery.

The next idea would be a very sentimental item for a first baby and the wedding dress material could be to used as a covering for a baby bassinet, as shown in the photo below.

Toys or Doll items

Any of the items listed in this section would make a wonderful gift idea for a child.  The first would be to use the material from a wedding dress to create a teddy bear; it would make an especially sentimental gift for a child’s first birthday.

The next two ideas would be to create clothing to dress a doll from a wedding dress material, shown below are examples for a Barbie doll and an American Girl doll.

Holiday decorations

The next ideas for repurposing a wedding dress would be to create holiday decorations, any of the items shown below would be great for a couple’s first Christmas. 

an angel tree topper made from a repurposed wedding dress

a Christmas tree skirt made from a repurposed wedding dress

a Christmas stocking made from material from a repurposed wedding dress

shown below is an example of Christmas ornament
using material from a repurposed wedding dress

The Tradition of a Coral Necklace

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Last week I posted about the costumes from the 2020 film Emma which is based on the Jane Austen book.  I know everyone talks about the topaz necklaces of Jane Austen and her sister, Cassandra, and in fact the character of Emma in the film wears a topaz cross necklace several times. 

But, in keeping with the Regency Era in England in which Jane Austen lived, this post will be about a different necklace.   Shown in the photo below from the film, Emma is wearing a double strand coral necklace as well as coral earrings and a hair comb.   

The coral necklace became popular during the Georgian and Regency periods and was often worn not only for the beauty of the gemstone but as a talisman of protection since coral has long been associated to have mystical as well as medicinal properties.  Coral necklaces were often worn by children or young women for this reason because it was thought that they were most vulnerable to illness.   

Red coral from the Mediterranean Sea was manufactured into smooth beads and strung into a necklace; sometimes the beads are matched to be similar in color and size to create a necklace.  Red was the most often used color of coral for jewelry during the Georgian and Regency periods but later other colors were also used ranging from white to pink.

Special Note: The demand for coral throughout the centuries has depleted the world’s coral reefs and for this reason the use of natural coral harvested from the seas has been greatly diminished.  Antique red coral jewelry is still available but has become very expensive and increasingly had to find. 

Centuries ago a coral necklace was often passed on from parent to child and would sometimes be given as a gift for a special birthday.  Within the British Royal family the tradition of the coral necklace has continued for generations.  The earliest photographic evidence I found of a British Royal wearing a coral necklace was of Princess Victoria (later to become Queen Victoria), shown below as an infant in a miniature portrait by Anthony Stewart.  She is wearing a white dress trimmed in lace, a white bonnet and a coral necklace; her parents were Prince Edward the Duke of Kent and Victoria of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld.     

Princess Victoria (later Queen Victoria) from the Royal Collection Trust

The next photo shows Princess Victoria with her mother in an oil painting by William Beechery dated 1821.  The Princess is wearing the same coral necklace and is holding a miniature portrait of her father who had sadly died before she was a year old.    

Princess Victoria with her mother, Victoria of Saxe-Cobrug-Saalfield
from the Royal Collection Trust

Later, Queen Victoria continued the tradition of the coral necklace for her children.  The photo shown below shows Princess Beatrice, she was the fifth daughter and last of the nine children of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert and she later married Prince Henry of Battenberg.  The miniature portrait on enamel is by William Bell is dated 1858 and depicts a young Princess Beatrice wearing a coral necklace.      

Princess Beatrice from the Royal Collection Trust

Into the 19th century there was a tradition in Scotland that coral would bring beauty and prosperity to little girls.  This holds true for the next British Royal who was Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, she was the youngest daughter of Claude Bowes-Lyon the Earl of Strathmore and Cecilia Cavendish-Bentinck.  Lady Elizabeth later married Prince Albert who became King George VI in 1936, she became his Queen Consort and after his death in 1952 she became the beloved Queen Mother.  

Shown below is a 1902 photo of a two year old Lady Elizabeth wearing a coral necklace wearing a white dress and sitting precariously on a wooden chair.  It is not known if she received the necklace as a family heirloom or if it was a gift specifically bought for her but later the short necklace was lengthened and pearls were added which enabled her to wear the necklace as she grew older.  

Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon (later Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother)

With the birth of their first daughter in 1926, Princess Elizabeth (later to become Queen Elizabeth II) was given her mother’s coral necklace.  The photo below was taken in 1917 on the occasion of her first birthday and she is wearing a simple white dress and the necklace.

Princess Elizabeth (later Queen Elizabeth II)

In 1950 the daughter of Princess Elizabeth and her husband, Prince Philip the Duke of Edinburgh was born.  Princess Anne and her mother are shown in the 1951 photo below on the occasion of her first birthday, she is wearing the same coral necklace that her grandmother and mother also wore.

Princess Elizabeth and her daughter Princess Anne

Wedding Tip: A coral necklace would make a great gift for a flower girl. For more ideas and suggestions for a Coral Wedding, please click on the link.

Movie costumes – Emma 2020

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In honor of the beloved English author Jane Austen’s birthday I would like to discuss the movie costumes of the most recent film adaption of Emma which was released earlier this year.  Although the film’s Regency period costumes may appear to be dated in the historic past, any of these dresses could be an inspiration for a modern wedding.  But before we look at those costumes, let me give you a brief biography of Jane Austen and some information about the 2020 film, Emma.  

Jane Austen (born December 16, 1775 and died July 18, 1817) wrote a total of six novels.  Her first book, Sense and Sensibility was published in 1811, followed by Pride and Prejudice in 1813, Mansfield Park in 1814 and Emma in 1816.  Two additional books were published posthumously in 1818, Northanger Abbey and Persuasion.  Austen had started a third book, Sanditon, but it was not finished before her death.

Austen’s books were based on the society in which she lived and she wrote with a touch of humor and drama about her female characters as they find romance, love and occasional heartbreak during the Regency period in England.  Originally the first four books were published anonymously which brought Austen a degree of moderate success that afforded her some financial independence, keep in mind that female authors were rare at this time and in general women socially and financially relied on their husbands.  In 1833, several years after her death, the novels were republished as a set with illustrations by Ferdinand Pickering.  The novels continued to gain commercial success throughout years and have rarely gone out of print. 

Now, let’s briefly discuss the 2020 film adaption of Austen’s fourth book, Emma, which features Anya Taylor-Joy in the starring role of Emma Woodhouse with costars Johnny Flynn as George Knightley, Mia Goth as Harriet Smith and Bill Nighy as Mr. Woodhouse.   The film, directed by Autumn de Wilde, received good reviews and went on to gain two Academy Awards nominations for Best Costume Design and Best Make-up and Hair Styling.  The plot of the Regency period comedy-drama tells the story of Emma who is living with her father in the country; she is a wealthy and elegant young lady who can’t seem to stop herself from meddling in the lives of her neighbors and especially attempting to make a love match for her friend Harriet.  Meanwhile she is unaware that her childhood friend, Mr. Knightley, is in love with her. 

Next, I will discuss the costumes from the 2020 Emma film which were designed by Alexandra Bryne.  Before I start, I would just like to preference that I am NOT an expert on Regency fashions but I will do my best when describing the Emma movie costumes.

Regency fashion for women was based on a style known as the Empire silhouette; the name most probably came from Empress Josephine who was Napoleon Bonaparte’s first wife.  This term generally refers to a dress that is fitted across the bodice and then just below the bust line falls loosely into a gathered long skirt.

A Regency lady would wear various styles of dresses throughout the day; such as a morning dress worn at home, a dress for visiting neighbors or shopping in town, a dress worn for traveling or a riding habit and finally a dinner dress worn in the evening or perhaps a ball gown for a special occasion.  In the film, due to her father’s wealth and status, Emma wardrobe has more fashionable dresses or accessories made in higher-quality fabrics especially when compared to her friend Harriet’s dresses.

Basic white cotton or muslin dress

The main item of a Regency lady’s wardrobe was often made in a white cotton or muslin fabric sometimes embellished with white embroidery or other trimmings.  The simplicity of the white dress allowed versatility and could be accessorized with a chemisette (an undergarment made of cotton or lace to be worn beneath an open-necked dress) or a canezou (a short overgrament usually made of cotton or lace).  To add color to the simple white dress an overbodice, sometime made of silk or velvet, or a colored slip can be worn underneath to create a soft muted tone.  Shown below are several examples of these types of accessories.

an example of the white dress worn with a lace chemisette

an example of an overbodice in pink velvet

an overbodice with beautiful cap sleeves and trim

Historical note:  In the three photos shown above the character of Emma is wearing a topaz cross, in fact Jane Austen owned a similar piece of jewelry which she received as a gift from her brother.

Evening dress or ballgown

A Regency lady, especially one that is as socially prominent as Emma, would have a few evening dresses or ballgowns to wear on special occasions.  Usually these types of dresses would be made of more luxurious fabrics, such as silk or satin often in richer colors that the white or pastel day dresses.  Frequently worn over a white underdress would be sheer overdress made of silk organza or netting with trim and embellishments such as embroidery, beadwork or fabric flowers. 

The first example of an evening dress worn by the character of Emma during the dinner scene at Christmas and it is a beautiful ivory silk organza worn over an ivory satin underdress and the overlay that features silver leaves with an addition layer with silver stars, as shown in the photos below.

Fashion Note: This dress would be a lovely inspiration for a bridal dress for a candlelight evening ceremony and the silver embellishments would shine beautifully. 

The second evening dress worn by Emma in the film is actually a close copy of an antique dress now in the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, England.  In the photo from the film shown below, the dress is accessorized with long white gloves and a black and white striped shawl.

shown in the photos below from the Victoria and Albert Museum
is the original red silk net evening dress worn over a simple white underdress

the bodice, sleeves and hem are embellished with an embroidered design
of rosebud garlands in pink, red and green chenille

Emma’s wedding dress

At the end of the film, in one of the final scenes, Emma is married to her Mr. Knightley.  In the photos from the film shown below, Emma and her father are ready to walk down the aisle in the small village church.  She is wearing a taupe silk under dress with an overdress of silk organza, the bodice crosses in the front with lace trim at the neckline and puffed sleeves.  

Fashion Note:  Keep in mind that a white wedding dress was not popularized in England until the Victorian period after Queen Victoria wore one when she married Prince Albert.  A lady of Emma’s social status during the Regency period would probably have a new dress custom made for her wedding while a bride of the lower working class would just wear her “best dress” on her wedding day.   

shown below is another photo of Emma wearing a very tall stovepipe hat
with an attached embroidered bridal veil

Finally, before closing out this post, I need to mention perhaps one of my favorite clothing items of this version of the film Emma.  It would be the pink spencer worn by the character of Emma several times during the film, shown below is the scene when she is in the village with Frank Churchill (played by Callum Turner).  The film costume is actually a close copy of a circa 1817 antique jacket now in the Chertsey Museum located southwest of London.     

the pink spencer in the film features beautiful cording and sleeve details,
as shown in the close-up photos below

shown in the photo below from the Chertsey Museum
is the circa 1817 pink spencer which has a much more detailed collar
 

As previously mentioned, although the film’s Regency period costumes may appear to be dated in the historic past, any of these dresses could be an inspiration for a modern wedding.