The Best Way to Preserve Your Wedding Gown

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UPDATE: Blushing Bride is offering a $10 discount for all Marissa says... readers that place an order in October! Be sure to mention this blog when you place your order! 
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Have you ever wondered what people do with their wedding dresses after the wedding day? Let me tell you. They pay an insane amount of money for it to be cleaned, like hundreds of dollars... and then it gets bagged up and hung in a closet somewhere only to be pulled out someday when their daughter asks about it. Where's mine, you ask? Sitting in said closet, in said bag.

I know, I know some ladies pay an arm and a leg to have their dresses preserved, and where do those sit? In a closet or attic in their preservation boxes. If you're really crazy, you might do something like this. But honestly, that's a bit much. 

Well, I have a treat for you. Whether you're a bride who wants to remember her beautiful wedding day, or a special friend of a bride-to-be looking for a unique gift, these beautiful artistic creations from Brushing Bride are the perfect solution to capture your wedding dress in a timeless (and space-saving) way. I had the opportunity to talk to Krystina, owner and artist behind Brushing Bride and learn about how she started her business and what she loves most about creating these beautiful works of art. 

Made in America 2014 Style Guide

This is the third year the Made in America Festival is being held in Philadelphia and of course, I got my tickets nice and early. However, if you're anything like me, you wait until the very last moment to get your outfits together, so this weekend I'm headed out in search of some festival appropriate attire. Last year, I put together this 2013 MIA style guide, which I think is still appropriate, so check it out for some additional inspiration.

Wardrobe lessons learned over the past two years:

1. Wear comfortable shoes. This is not the time to try out knee-high gladiator sandals or your daintiest flip flops, for two reasons; one, your legs and feet are going to swell from standing and being in the heat (ouch) and two, the concert is dirty, really, really dirty. Protect your piggies and your pedicure and stick with close-toe, flat options with good support.
2. Leave your romper at home. I made the romper mistake last year. Think about it a romper is a one piece outfit with shorts...how do you think you go to the bathroom in that? I'll tell you. You either strip naked in the port-a-potty (so nasty) or you pull the shorts and your underwear to the side (also nasty, but faster.) Save the romper for another time!
3. Hands-free is key. Bring a back pack, cross body bag, fanny pack, whatever. You're just going to want to not have to worry about a shoulder purse/bag all day long.

2014 wedding guest style guide

Wedding season is upon us, my friends. It seems to get longer and longer each year. From May through October you can count on attending at least a few weddings each year, especially if you're in your mid-20s or 30s. I pulled together 11 options to serve as inspiration for your next soiree. My number one requirement when choosing a dress to wear to a wedding is comfort. Basically, I plan to be doing a lot of eating and dancing and therefore I need a dress that's going to hide my food baby, and not look risque on the dance floor. Keep reading to see my picks for 2014 wedding season. 

Vacation lust list

Vacation Wishlist by marissasays featuring La Roche-Posay

We are heading to Puerto Rico soon and I have a wish-list a mile long of things I'd like to buy for the warm weather. Do you do that too? Suddenly you literally have NOTHING to wear. I'm in that boat. 

I just purchased a few new wedge sandals, new Havaianas and a bathing suit last month but there are number of other things I'm on the lookout for in the next week: 

• A beachy hat - how cool and boho do you look in a casual hat like this? 
• New sunnies - I always admire how people look in aviators but they always look super weird on my face
• The perfect new beach tote - it needs to hold all my shit without being the size of a mini cooper. Is that too much to ask?
• Spray sunscreen with mega SPF - I'm more translucent than Casper over here. 
• Summery dresses that are day and evening appropriate
• A light-weight beach cover-up - that's not mesh or whorish, or too conservative... like a suburban mother of five. 
• A good beach hair product with sunscreen that doesn't make my hair greasy. Is that too much to ask?!?
• Cute flat sandals (not flip flops)
• Brown leather heels - I like the ones pictured above. But ideally, I'd find ones with a chunky heel instead of a wedge heel 
• A crisp white blazer. 'Nuff said. 
• A grey jersey maxi. I'd live in this all summer. 
• Bright jewelry like these mint studs

What's on your wish-list for summer or your next vacation? 

Obsessing over...

Ponchos, capes and cardis, oh my!

I just can't get enough of these cozy ponchos, capes and super soft and long cardigans. I think it's the cold weather, I just want to wrap myself in giant cashmere throw, grab a cup of tea and a good book, and never leave my couch. I'm particularly fond of that lavender/grey number on the bottom right, it would be the ideal transition piece to take me into spring. As you can see, the cold weather also has caused me to pick an essentially neutral palette. With the exception of Joseph's technicolor dream coat on the top row. 

Most of my options are somewhat affordable but I gave you a couple of pricier ones if your pockets are deep (Why hello, Burberry cape!)

Which ones are you lusting after? 

Ponchos, capes, and cozy cardigans by marissasays featuring a zip front sweater

Holiday party style guide

'Tis the season of the holiday shindig. With weekends booking up like it's nobody's business, you're going to want some different options. Most have a bit of fanciness to them, I mean come on, it is the holidays after all, but all of them could easily be toned down. Plus the last option is SUPER comfortable. 

Which look is your favorite? Do tell. 

What to wear to Kanye's Yeezus concert

I'm heading to the Yeezus concert this Saturday and have been searching high and low for a little outfit inspiration. I wouldn't want to disappoint Ye, being that he's a creative fashion genius and all, with his leather jogging pants. With that being said, I think there's a few ways you can go with this, comfortable bad-ass, sexy video girl, urban glam, or an edgy punk look. 

Which look would you go with? 

I'm leaning towards outfit number one because I love my new leather jacket that was a birthday gift from Bry and I'm trying to wear it as much as possible, and I think this look will be the most comfortable and weather-appropriate. 

Hallowinning

Halloween was fun this year! We got a few adorable trick or treaters and attended a super fun costume party. I'm not one of those people that's particularly crazy about Halloween, I find the whole thing stressful -- trying to come up with a creative costume, spending way too much money on something you can't wear again. Plus, I have high standards for costumes, so I can't just buy one of those overpriced ones from a costume store that feel like they are going to disintegrate. 

This year I used a few things that I had lying around and bought a couple of accessories to complete my 20s flapper look. BryGuy decided to be a Dia de los Muertos guy so we bought some high quality face paint and a cool hat and then he just wore black clothes that he already owned (including his tuxedo jacket.) 

Guest post by BryGuy: Suit up

Sorry for taking so long mi gente. I am so proud of Marissa and all the hard work she has done since my last post. She really is doing a great job (+2 brownie points). But, in the words of the great Randy Quaid, from the film based on true events depicting why we celebrate our Independence Day...

As opposed to just dumping my random thoughts on to the page (like my last blog takeover), this post will have a sold, cohesive message...SUITS! So, I was feeling kind of down about my suits. I have this awesome custom-made tux that I can only wear after 6 p.m., but I didn't have an everyday suit that felt as good. So what is a man to do?!

Okay, enough of my favorite YouTube videos. To remedy this issue, I went over to Henry A. Davidsen to consult with my tailor. Before, I even get there, I send him some info of what I am looking for i.e. style, fit, color, budget. 

Fall fashion wish list

I have been itching to spend some cash on some new pieces for the fall. It's my most very favorite time of the year. The perfect fall day means waking up to a 55 degree crisp morning that warms up to the low 70s by the afternoon. Doesn't that sounds wonderful? It makes me want to grab a cider donut and some hot cider (spiked with rum of course) and go watch a football game.

Fall Fashion Must Haves by marissasays featuring a city bag

Made in America Festival: Fashion inspiration

The Budweiser Made in America is rapidly approaching. This is the second year the festival is being held on the Ben Franklin Parkway in Philly on Labor Day Weekend. I think this festival is kind of hard to dress for because the music selection and audience is so eclectic. There's also the issue of the weather. It's Philly, it could be cold, it could be hot, it could rain, you just never know. Forecast right now says 85 degrees and sunny both days, so I planned these style inspirations based on the warmer weather. Keep your fingers crossed! 

For all my suggested looks, I made sure to consider foot comfort and staying hands-free. This way you can hold on to your refreshing Bud Light while eating a sausage sandwich. Score! 

Rise of the backless and braless

It's no secret, open back tops and dresses are a thing right now. However, for those of us that are a little more endowed in the chestal region these pose a serious challenge. If you wear a bra with them, the entire back of your bra is exposed and it really takes away from the sexiness of the shirt in the first place. If you don't wear a bra, you're feeling a little "free" and unsupported. Plus, passersby may gawk at your magnificent boobs top. 

Posted by Skopje Casual on Tumblr

I know they have these weird stick-on bras but I highly doubt they offer any real support and if they have tape that wraps around the sides, it might show (and that's not cute either). 

So what's a girl to do? 

I've done both. Braless is definitely more comfortable and shows of the shirt's true potential, and it's really freeing to go out without straps and wires constricting your torso. This past weekend however, I wore a bra under one backless shirt because I knew I would be moving around a lot and didn't want to give anyone a free show.