sneak peek: bridal amazingness

Last week's decades-inspired Metro Detroit Bride shoot was SO GOOD!!! I couldn't be happier with how everything came together, from the gorgeous hair and makeup to the vintage props. The entire crew was amazing, and photographer Joe Vaughn captured some truly beautiful images. I wish I could share the whole thing with you right now, but until the magazine hits this summer, this tantalizing little glimpse will have to do. Seriously, how incredible is this Oscar de la Renta necklace from Roma Sposa? So gorgeous!

here comes the (metro detroit) bride!

Bridal inspirations (clockwise from top left): Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, The Great Gatsby, Madonna, Vera Wang Bridal Spring 2013, a mod wedding, bohemian chic, Veronica Lake, and Princess Grace

I have a big bridal shoot for Metro Detroit Bride this week, and I am so beyond excited for this one. Each look is inspired by a different decade, styled with a mix of current and vintage fashion, jewelry and accessories, as well as vintage props courtesy of my favorite co-stylist, Stephanie Potts. From iconic brides like Grace Kelly and Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy to legends like Madonna and Veronica Lake, I'm drawing inspiration from some pretty glamorous places. Be sure to check out the issue when it hits newsstands this summer!

oh baby!

Holy moly, there's a baby in there!

I've been a little distracted lately because, well, I'm having a baby! I'm about five months along, due this October, and I've had baby on the brain since that test came back with two pink lines. Of course I'm still preoccupied with fashion, but now it's mostly about how to dress my growing bump and obsessing over adorable baby clothes. So if I occasionally get caught up and post about strollers, diaper bags, maternity dresses and the like, just know that there will still be plenty of non-baby related fashion goodness in between. :)

the hunt: must-have maxis

A painterly floral print and delicate details make this maxi dress a summer wardrobe must-have.
Greylin Blooming Silk Maxi Dress, $198 at Anthropologie

Now that the weather has finally, gloriously decided it's spring, all I want to wear is dresses. I'll be honest, I don't discriminate when it comes to dress hem length, but I have a soft spot in my sartorial heart for maxi dresses. They're so effortlessly chic - you can easily dress them up or down with the right accessories - and is there anything more comfortable on a warm spring day? Here are a few of my favorites, culled from two of the season's best trends:

Stripes

Stripes were all over the recent runways, from Marc Jacobs' mod tour de force to Kelly Lynne's killer high-waisted pants and striped skirt. Both collections - and these fab maxis - prove that stripes look best in bold black and white.

1. I'm nuts for the subtle nautical details - that's an anchor on the chest!!! - and ombre stripes on this Emma Cook dress. Seriously, I want this in my wardrobe NOW.
Emma Cook maxi dress, $352 at Net-A-Porter

2. Bold and flowing, BCBG's high-low striped dress is perfect for showing off a sexy summer sandal. If the voluminous silhouette isn't for you, try belting it at the waist.
BCBGMAXAZRIA Gia Silk High-Low Striped Dress, $548 at BCBG

3. Want something on-trend that won't break the bank? Mossimo's graphic maxi is as chic as it is easy on the wallet.
Mossimo knit maxi dress, $30 at Target

The Blues

From Tiffany to navy, sky to ocean, shades of blue are one of the key colors of the season (lucky for me - blue is one of my all-time favorite colors).

1. A watercolor print, floaty layers and barely-there straps make this dress perfect for indulging in a little summer romance.
Theyskens' Theory Dressa Marble Print Maxi Dress, $907.50 at My Wardrobe

2. She's the queen of Maxi Dressing, so it's no wonder Rachel Zoe's minty snake print wrap dress is a must-have.
Rachel Zoe Celine Print High-Low Silk Gown, $495 at Nordstrom

3. This gorgeous crochet maxi just makes you long to be on a yacht touring the Greek Isles, doesn't it? So dreamy.
Missoni Crochet Knit Ombre Dress, $3,630 at Mytheresa

the hour of enchantment

Sometimes a photoshoot just doesn't go the way you think it will. That was certainly the case when the cast and crew - including an army of hair and makeup artists, six little people, a male model named Fabio, a ram, and a pony - arrived at Goldner Walsh Nursery on a snowy morning in late February.

We were all there for the men's and women's spring fashion shoot for the April issue of Hour Detroit. As we unloaded the clothing and accessories, arranged props on the set, and started on hair and makeup for the extras, Hour's art director Cassidy came to me with a shocking revelation - our female model was a no show, and her agent couldn't get in touch with her. We were already running behind schedule, and with a shoot this massive, we couldn't just reschedule. Basically, our backs were against a wall.

That's when Cassidy asked me a question: "Can you fit into the clothes?"

I am definitely not a model, and I am 100 percent more comfortable behind the camera than in front of it, but since I would fit into the clothes, I told her that yes, I could do it if that was our only option. (But I did tell her the skimpy Herve Leger dress we had planned for one of the looks probably wouldn't happen if I was the only girl around to wear it. We all have our limits.)

Within minutes, I found myself in a hair and makeup chair, getting all dolled up for the first look, a gorgeous ruffled sleeve Gucci gown. Luckily, we were able to call in a real model, and by the time we shot my second look, she was done with hair and makeup and ready to slip into that Herve Leger dress. Her dark hair and eyes were a great contrast to my blonde, blue-eyed paleness, and we started thinking of our characters and the "good witch" and the "bad witch."

In the end, the shoot was a success, the animals and extras all did a fantastic job, and our male model was a dream throughout the shoot. It was definitely a make-it-work moment if there ever was one. Check out all the images from the shoot below, and for full cast, crew, and clothing credits, visit hourdetroit.com.

spring has sprung?

Although it certainly doesn't feel like it here in Michigan (brrrrr, it is cold outside!), today is the first day of spring. It's not quite time to break out the sundresses and open-toe shoes, but there are other ways to celebrate winter's end - like this super cool chandelier by Pani Jurek. Made of test tubes and inspired by Nobel Prize-winning chemist Marie Curie, it's a whimsical mix of nature and science.
$175, Etsy.com

boys' night out

One of the things that I absolutely love about working with Hour is that it has given me the opportunity to style more menswear than I ever have in my career. I used to find men's a little intimidating, but now I adore it and look forward to dressing the guys as much as the girls. For the March issue, the fashion story focused exclusively on men's, and our group of guys were a riot to work with. Their personalities were as bold as the bright colors I dressed them in, and everyone had a blast on set. Check out the full shoot below, and for all the details on the fly threads, pick up the March issue of Hour Detroit or visit HourDetroit.com.