metro detroit bride winter/spring 2015

The new issue of Metro Detroit Bride is out now, and as always, putting it together was a labor of love. I styled more shoots than usual this issue, taking on two fashion shoots and a food shoot featuring cake and cheese (but not together - that would be weird). I also curated the registry section, finding homewares that would satisfy mates with completely opposite tastes. All in all, it was tons of fun - I mean, there's a real live penguin on the cover! So cute!

Our cover story, photographed by Jenny Risher, was shot on location at The Detroit Zoo and starred some of the zoo's incredible animals. The concept was to take animal-inspired sayings - for example, "The cat's pajamas" - and apply them to wedding to attire. See below for images from the cover shoot and more highlights from the issue!

hour december 2014

Life has been moving full speed ahead lately. Graydon is already one, walking all over with talking surely to follow very soon. I'm so happy that I've been able to focus so much of my time on him over the past year - he'll only be a baby once, and I can already feel that stage melting away as he transitions into toddlerhood.

Over the past year it seems like I've also been working non-stop (at least since I came back from maternity leave in January). Case in point - the December issue of Hour features two shoots styled by yours truly. The first, photographed by Jenny Risher, combined two of my favorite things ever - sparkle and animals. What's not to love about glittering party dresses and jewels modeled with pretty pooches and glamorous kitties? Check out the full shoot below, and keep scrolling down to see my second shoot, our gorgeous holiday gift guide!

where the wild things are

Ralph Lauren cardigan; Tea Collection dress.

I'm so excited to share this shoot with everyone. Not only was it the first time I got to style a children's clothing shoot, but it was also Graydon's debut as a model! Before you jump to conclusions and think I'm some sort of crazy stage mom, the idea for this shoot was actually Hour's new art director, Valerie's, idea. But of course I didn't hesitate to volunteer Graydon for baby modeling duties. ;)

While Graydon is certainly the star of the shoot in my totally biased eyes, it was really little Addison that stole the show. For an eight year old she was a consummate professional, and even tolerated wearing actual deer antlers in her hair. Thanks, Addie!

I also love this shoot because I got to work with some of my fave people - photographer Jenny Risher, prop stylist Stephanie Potts, and hair/makeup artist Monica Jadan. I also loved working with Valerie for the first time. It was such a whimsical, sweet shoot concept, and she also opened my eyes to just how useful a fanny pack really is.

Check out the full shoot below and in the September 2014 issue of Hour Detroit, on stands now!

the hunt: fashion. function. fanny pack!

My latest shoot for Hour was in the middle of nowhere, literally in a field surrounded by woods. In a stroke of genius that had me and prop stylist Stephanie Potts wishing we had thought of it first, our new art director, Valerie, was stowing all of her photo shoot essentials in a fanny pack. Yes - a fanny pack. Scissors, pens, string, phone, bug spray - everything was in there, yet both of her hands were free during the entire shoot.

And then this showed up on the internet:

Matthew McConaughey, photo via HuffPo

That is one sexy ass fanny pack.

Now that I've seen how useful - and heartthrob approved - they are, I think it's time to jump on the fanny pack bandwagon. Here are some of my functional-yet-fashionable favorites:

1/ Pins and Needles, $69 - so rock 'n' roll! 2/ Alexander Wang, $495 - spendy, but so cool. 3 & 4/ Herschel Supply Co.,  $25-$45 - so many great prints! 5/ Rebecca Minkoff, $195 - can also be worn as a shoulder bag. 6/ Leibeskind, $198 - so many pockets! 7/ Cleobella, $245 - meow! 8/ DKNY, $108 - classic black and white colorblocking.

mirror mirror on the wall

Ivy & Aster gown, The Gown Shop.

The new issue of Metro Detroit Bride is on newsstands now (and online here!), and I'm so excited to share it with all of you! There are so many beautiful stories in this issue, from Rebecca and Ben's gorgeous wedding (her Marchesa gown - swoon!), photographed by Jess + Nate Studios, to the exquisite jewelry story. I hope our readers are as inspired by this issue as I am!

I'm also, of course, in love with our cover shoot, photographed by the amazing Jenny Risher. My bestie wore a midnight blue gown on her wedding day, and it was so fun to channel a bit of her energy while pulling together the looks for this shoot. From barely-there blush to sparkling black sequins, the gowns all break the traditional white dress mold. Check out all of the looks below. Which one is your favorite? Would you wear a colored gown for your wedding?

lovely lingerie by cake

Graydon is almost eight months old (OMG the time is passing so quickly!), and we're still going strong with breastfeeding. Some of my favorite moments with him are when we're snuggled together in the rocking chair in his room, nursing him as he slowly drifts off to sleep. Most of the time I'm still wearing my trusty basic nursing bras, but when I want to wear something a little more special, I slip into something from Cake Lingerie.

Made in luxe fabrics with beautiful details, Cake's nursing bras are not only dreamy looking but so comfortable. The lovely ladies at Cake recently sent me a couple bras to try out (so nice of them, right?), and I love them! The Toffee Convertible Maternity Bra is perfect for every day, but the French Vanilla Maternity Lingerie Bra (above) is my favorite - the light blue lace is so delicate and romantic!

Cake also has sports bras, underwear and sleepwear designed especially for pregnant and nursing mothers. It's so nice to have options that make you feel beautiful, no matter what stage of pregnancy or motherhood you're in. Because let's face it - 3 a.m. feedings are way easier when you're wearing something pretty.

Check out Cake's full collection of lingerie here: www.cakelingerie.com

into the deep

I'm so in love with this shoot. Not only did the images turn out beautifully, but it is the last shoot our amazing art director, Cassidy, dreamed up for Hour. She's moved on to greener pastures, making this, our last shoot together for the magazine, bittersweet. I've absolutely loved working with her - we have an amazing creative rapport - and I'm truly going to miss working with her (at least for now - I'm sure our creative paths will cross again in the future!).

This was also a fun shoot from a styling perspective - everything had to work with that amazing tail! That meant blouses that could be tied high at the waist, jewelry that looked like seaglass, and bags in blues, greens and sandy neutrals. The accessories shots weren't in the original shoot plan, but I'm so glad we ended up including them. I think they add to the overall story, and it's always nice to see some pieces up close and personal. Check out the full shoot below and in the April issue of Hour Detroit, on stands now!