brides and ballerinas

The latest issue of Metro Detroit Bride is on stands now, and this issue made one of my styling dreams come true. I love ballet - I love seeing it live in the theatre, I love taking class - and I have always wanted to do a fashion shoot that included ballet dancers. For this issue's gown shoot, I had the pleasure and privilege of shooting backstage and in the theatre at the Detroit Opera House, a truly spectacular venue. Shot by the wonderful Cybelle Codish, the spread features the incredibly talented students of Ballet Detroit. It was so inspiring to work with each of the dancers, from the adorable, earnest little girls to the elegant, exuberant advanced students. And of course the gowns aren't bad either - each one is fit for a prima ballerina. See all the looks from the gorgeous shoot below!

gift guide 2012: ballerina dreams

I have a serious love for ballet, so it goes without saying that one of my favorite holiday traditions is watching The Nutcracker. Lucky for me, my cable subscription includes Ovation TV, which broadcasts a "Battle of the Nutcrackers" every season. This year, that means seven different Nutcracker productions to enjoy. The music, the costumes, the sets - The Nutcracker is the ballet that makes thousands of little girls (ok, and grown women) dream of becoming a ballerina. So why not give the one you love a little piece of her dreams this Christmas? From haute fashion to a gorgeous book of ballet photography, these Nutcracker-inspired gifts will bring out the ballerina in anyone.

1/ Crate and Barrel King Nutcracker, $130. 2/ Alexander McQueen Blossom Pink Circle Mini Dress, $2,560. 3/ Bloch Amelie Pointe Shoes, $64. 4/ Repetto BB Strass Swarovski Crystal Embellished Leather Ballet Flats, $600. 5/ Lululemon Skinny Satin Pirouette Headband, $12. 6/ Ballet Beautiful Workout DVDs, $11-$13. 7/ Ballet: Photographs of the New York City Ballet by Henry Leutwyler, $88. 8/ Nutcracker Nation: How an Old World Ballet Became a Christmas Tradition in the New World, $22. 9/ Xhilaration Juniors Fashion Legwarmer, $7. 10/ La Mer Collections Crystal Ballerina Charm Watch, $165. 11/ Rebecca Taylor Perfect Fit Strapless Dress, $425.

small business saturday is november 24!

While there are literally thousands of people gearing up for the rat race that is Black Friday, I'm making plans for Small Business Saturday. Founded in 2010 to give small businesses more exposure on one of the biggest shopping weekends of the year, Small Business Saturday brings together shoppers who want to buy local and the independent designers, boutiques and specialty shops that give a community its unique flavor. From dance wear to home wares, here's a peek at the local shops I'll be visiting this Saturday.

keenan kampa is a doll

If there's anything I love more than fashion - ok, as much as fashion - it's ballet. I love watching it, I love doing it, I love reading about it, I just love it. So when I had the chance to interview Keenan Kampa, the gorgeous ballerina who recently became the first American to join the famed Mariinsky ballet, I did a happy dance of my own. Keenan is in town to dance at the third annual "Stars of Russian Ballet" gala at Ann Arbor's Power Center this Saturday, and I'm going with a few of the ladies from the studio where I take class. My favorite part of the interview was at the very end. I asked Keenan what pieces she would be dancing on Saturday, and after she told me, I said I couldn't wait to see her dance them. Her voice lit up, and she said, "Oh, you're going to come? That's so great!" So sweet, so genuine. I told her I wouldn't miss it.

Read my interview with Keenan here.

yves saint laurent: the shoes

One of the most exciting parts of a vacation - for me, anyways - is putting together the outfits that I'm bringing with me. I usually get a little carried away and pack way too many shoes, more than I could ever wear in the brief amount of time I'll be away, but my trip to Denver was different.

For Denver, I only needed to pack one pair of heels.

Generously gifted to me by Neiman Marcus (have you entered the amazing beauty giveaway they're sponsoring?), these nude leather Tribtoo pumps were the only heels I needed in Denver. The weather was warm, the sun shining, spring was in the air, and these shoes went with everything. I was so excited to honor the house of Saint Laurent throughout my stay in Denver - here's how I wore these gorgeous shoes throughout my trip: