Keeping your holiday face fresh

I can’t believe that it’s the holidays already.  Seems like it was just September and now, I can actually see the New Year just a few days away. So I know that you will be partying, some of you may receive a little something “shiny” and in your excitement, may forget that taking care of your skin is an ‘every-day-kind-of-thing’ especially as you begin to plan for your wedding.  So here are some tips that I hope will help you.

The Night Before:

Take the easy way out: Reach for KORRES^® Natural Products Milk Proteins Makeup Removal Wipes.  These soft wipes gently and effectively remove all traces of face and eye makeup.  Rich in essential amino acids, milk proteins offer nourishing and moisturizing benefits, while Aloe and pro-vitamin B5 soothe the skin and reduce redness and irritation.



Go on the defensive: If you wear contact lenses, opt for a daily disposable lens you can throw out at the end of the night.  Your eyes will look and feel better with a clean, fresh lens the next day. New 1-DAY ACUVUE^® TruEye^TM combines the gold standard in comfort (silicone hydrogel) with the flexibility and freshness of a daily disposable.  (Complimentary contact lens fittings available.)


In The AM:
Perform a vanishing act: Whiten your peepers with VISINE^® Maximum Redness Relief Formula so no one knows how much fun you had last night.  This amazing long-lasting HYDROBLEND^® Formula acts like natural tears to provide up to 10 hours of comfort.  I would also recommend that you give your eyes a break.  Leave your contacts out for the day and break out your old eyeglasses.  Trust me, your eyes will thank you. (You can find at your local drug store)

Makeup is your new BFF: You can read a party all over your face – puffy, patchy, wrinkly, and splotchy – it’s so not pretty.  Create a bright, polished palette with KORRES^® Natural Products Quercetin and Oak Face Primer.  This silicone-free skin-perfecting primer treats wrinkles to provide a smooth, even surface for long-lasting makeup.

IF you don’t want to go full make-up, fake a healthy flush: Dust the apples of your cheeks with KORRES^® Natural Products Zea Mays Powder Blush in Peach.  Your dry skin will benefit from the botanical blend, including zea mays (corn), soy and licorice, all while sporting a smooth, long-lasting glow.


Bring on the light: Apply a shimmery light shadow to the inner corners of the eyes to reflect light and instantly brighten eyes. KORRES^® Antioxidant Sunflower & Hydrating Evening Primrose “Cool” Eye Palette offers both a white and a silver option to choose from.



Give yourself a lift: Pull your hair up into a youthful ponytail, which will give your facial features a “mini-lift”.  Goody has great and “safe for hair” ouchless hair products in so many different colors, you can find one to match yours. (You can find at your local drug store)


Ok so Happy Holidays to you and more importantly may all your wishes come true.
(All products can be purchased at at korresusa.com and SEPHORA unless otherwise noted.)

2011 Claire Pettibone collection

For Claire Pettibone, there hasn’t been a time when she didn’t believe in fairies.  This idea comes from her childhood when she imagined leaves were dresses and flower petals were winged sprites. It was a time when everything was magical and her imagination could roam this magical world freely.  The 2011 collection reflects this belief that every bride should be equally luminous and magical on her wedding day.

Greeted by hostess fairies and instead of pixie-dust, there were chocolate and cocktails.  Looks like today’s modern fairytale has really grown up. As each model made her way down the isle, one couldn’t help but notice the luminescent sleeves, the light almost dewdrop roses and sequins’, beads and pearls to add to the sparkle.

 For this season, the Claire Pettibone bride is nestled between reality and fantasy, moonlit gold and spurn silver, day and night.  However in the place where bridal dreams are made, the moon rises and fairies come out to dance and play.

If you are a fan, you’ll be happy to know that “The enchanted Atelier for Claire Pettibone” collection of jeweled headpieces will be available spring 2011.

Color Trends:  White, Silver, Opalescent Paillette, Grey, Champaign, Ivory, Soft Pink, Rose, Celadon, Smoke, Olive, Platinum and Gold

Fabric Trends: Lace, Sequin, Silk Chiffon, Tulle,

Style Trends: Crystals, Jeweled Straps, Moonstone beads, Appliqué Leaves, Embellishments, Draped Tulle, Lace Bodice, Bubble skirt, and Bolero

Jenny Packham bridal collection 2011 beautiful for brides worldwide

What a lucky person am I to have had the pleasure and privilege to see Jenny Packham twice in a 4-week time span?  From her New York City Fashion Week début to her 2011 bridal collection, I am a total fan.

This 2011 collection is inspired by the Ballet Russes, a Midsummer Night’s Dream, and 1930’s Paris.  It is all about unbridled decadence, sculptured femininity and fluid movement.  There are luxurious layers of Cascading tulle, soft and dreamy silhouettes and romantically sexy pleated tulle corsetry.

You may have seen but not known her designs.  From ‘Sex and the City’, ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ to ‘James Bonds Casino Royal’ and ‘Die Another Day‘, she designs clothes that make you drool! As if she didn’t have enough to do, she has also created an accessories (bejeweled headdresses, bracelets and earrings) and lingerie line.  Both capture Jenny’s glamorous philosophy.

Honestly if Jenny had re-run her ready-to-wear collection from a few weeks ago, I would have been just as happy.  Her 2011 Spring RTW collection was breathtaking and could have easily been a bridal collection as well.  In my opinion, it was flawless and perfect for a night on the town or your wedding day.  I can honestly say that Jenny Packham is my can of Pringles.  I don’t want just one.

If you care to see all 40 pieces in her collection, please check out the photos in on my FB page "Yours in bridal"

2011 Angel Sanchez bridal couture

This season Angel Sánchez gave me a gift.  What was it? The gift of a photographers’ angel.  I caught a glimpse of the models backstage as well as an understandably nervous Angel peeking out from behind the partition looking into the crowd. Of course you don’t expect a man who has created countless collections would still get nervous but I think it simply shows his humility and charm.  Angel Sánchez is a designer who is passionate about his designs, a superstar in the industry yet extremely humble and modest.

So who is the Angel Sánchez bride?  She is confident in her own skin.  She loves being a woman and her femininity shows in everything she wears.  Most importantly, she is a woman who wears the dress, not the other way around.

Modified ball gowns and trumpet skirts with detailed accents ruled the collection. The banded skirt and a beautiful keyhole neckline is my personal favorite.  Angel spoke at an event just two nights prior and wondered aloud what the reaction of this collection would be.  I can say, at least for me…Perfection.

Color Trends:  Ivory, Off-White, Nude, and Dusty Rose

 Fabric Trends: Torchon Embroidered, Screen printed Silk,Triplex Gazar, Tulle, Lace, Crepe, Lace Overlay, Sequins, Organza

Style Trends: Trumpet gown, Flare Bottom, Banded Skirt and Keyhole at neckline (too dreamy!!), Bateau Illusion neckline, Corseted bodice, Scallop edging on skirt, Lace bow detail at neckline and Ribbon detail at natural waist

The 2011 Farah Angsana collection

Hi Everyone!!  I feel so badly that I've been craaaazed with Fashion Week.  Have you been following my tweets:  @bridalease.  It's been a great experience but with writing for a magazine in London (yes, I've officially gone international) tweeting the shows, writing...I'm pooped.

I don't want you to miss Farah because she is one of my fav bridal designers.  Honestly one of the sweetest, kindest ladies on the planet....AND...well, in a few weeks, I'll be able to share some GREAT NEWS about her and her 2011 Bridal collection.

In the mean time, if you would like to see her RTW collection (which hints as to what's coming for bridal), then please click this link. The new company "Yours In Bridal" will continue to be the 'editorial' page...and this one...Bridalease will begin to cover what's happening in your local area.  So tell me what's going on with you.


So if you're not already...follow me on twitter.  The coverage of the shows has been getting pretty great reviews :-)  @bridalease #NYFW

Thanks - Off to Vera Wang...

NY Fashion Week: Christian Siriano is BACK and just as fierce

I think when you’ve won “Project Runway” and lauded as one of the best designers of your time, the pressure might be just a bit high. Not for Christian Siriano whose 2011 collection is inspired by Africa, Indian and Chinese influences mixed with a dash of elegant opulence for good measure.

From wide-legged trousers, safari shorts and jacket (which looked fresh and not dated!), to structured cocktail dresses and the lightest floating evening gowns (even though they look like they weigh a ton – they don’t) that had the entire room cheering. There was brilliance in using Asian fabric prints based on digital photographs of Chinese and Buddhist temples and combining multi-layered Indian beading accents. Once simply couldn’t take your eyes away from the patterns because they were truly captivating.

Of course, we can’t forget the shoes. Sky-high on models who were already tall, just made his cloths more statuesque. The four styles were from:
Shanghai (with it’s strong Chinese influences)
Mumbai (which is powerful with a feminine Goddess vibe)
Nairobi (which reflects the neckpieces worn by women of the Padaung tribe of Southeast Asia) and
Zanzi (a bootie) from Africa and included a unique heel designed to look like an African hand-carved piece emulating a tool.

This is the Christian Siriano from Project Runway. Last season, he was FIERCE, but safe. This season, it’s all him, all the time and the crowd loved it! I keep asking Christian (ok, so this is only the second time), when he’s going to come out with a bridal line. I never get a straight answer but I think his finale pieces could easily become bridal pieces. Hey Christian, at least create some shoes in white ok?

Fabric trends: Leather, Cotton Bateau, Metallic Tweed, Brocade, Silk Chiffon, Silk Crepe, Silk Charmeuse, Satin, Silk Organza, Taffeta, Silk Croc Embossed, Snake Embossed and Tulle

Color trends: Metallic, Cognac White, White, Champagne, Ivory, Chocolate/Tan, Turquoise Giraffe, Amber Giraffe, Gold Stone, Black, Red, Dark Temple Print/Light Temple Print, Bone and Paprika

Style trends: Leather belted safari jacket, kimono shirt dress, long and flowing back on dress/shirt, wing sleeve blouse, scalloped bust, bubble gown, one-shoulder with beaded trim, Trench coat with pencil skirt (LOVED IT!!) and beaded empire waist. 
For a full slide-show please click here.