RUN DON'T WALK to Rue La La For Their Nicole Miller Bridal Sale! Seriously, GO!

So, despite my previous run-in with a HORBS Nicole Miller "special evening gown" that I thought might make a dece wedding dress (I thought wrong), I tried on several ACTUAL Nicole Miller wedding dresses this weekend at Michelle in Brooklyn Heights. My Michelle experience was great, and I really liked two of the Nicole Miller dresses I tried on. I'm not going to go with either dress because they're too "big" and "cupcakey" on me, but they did feel wonderful on, and if I wanted a big dress, I'd go that route for sure, and I'd be happy to buy from Michelle.

BUT, actually I probably wouldn't because RueLaLa.com is having a Nicole Miller bridal sale for like the next few MINUTES or something, and one of the very dresses I tried on -- the silk faille mermaid with beaded details -- on is available. Originally $2600, available at RueLaLa in sizes 0 - 16 for $650 (!!!!!!!!). SERIOUSLY! GO! GO NOW! (You need an invite to log in -- lemme know in the comments if you need me to invite you!)

($650, Nicole Miller Bridal, RueLaLa.com)

Potential Wedding Dress Fail: Nicole Miller Strapless Silk Dress

($725, Nicole Miller, Nordstrom)

Oh Nicole Miller Strapless Two Tone Silk Gown with Train from Nordstrom. I had remotely high hopes for you. You were a perfectly silvery/ not purply color when I unboxed you. I thought my visions of being an edgy, not-boring, modern-yet-subtly '80s bride were about to come true. Except... Except. There's often an except, no? This dress looked like it was thrown together in 14 seconds using old thread and some remnant fabric. The side seams looked stretched out and appeared to be almost bursting (um, before I tried it on, okay?), and there were threads hanging off of the band at the waist. The bodice seemed to lose shape as I took it out of the bag. Also, I ordered a size 10 and I couldn't even zip it up my back, which made almost no sense because while it was big in other places, and while I could definitely stand to drop a few, I have a tiny back (my band size is 34). (HOW was that size 10? And this was a street size 10, not bizarro bridal size.)

Anyway, it was too bad because the train started in a spot that made my ass look great. Too bad the OTHER 80% OF THE DRESS WAS A COMPLETELY DISASTROUS SHIT SHOW. Truly, it had the feel of a knock-off prom dress. The fabric felt like one of those vaguely ethnic pillowcases you buy at a street fair for like $12.

$725 would've been considered a STEAL for a wedding dress, but for ANY dress at ANY price, this was made like an absolute raggy piece of garbage. (Seriously, was this a pre-worn sample? A mock-up?)

Anyway, back to Nordstrom it goes. Next?

Bridal Binge: Wedding Dress Also-Rans

I found it. The Dress. It took four separate shopping trips and innumerable visits to sites like preownedweddingdresses.com and Once Wed, but I found it. I wouldn't dare post it, of course, in case the other One happens to look here (he doesn't want to see it till I'm walking down the aisle -- cue awwwwwwws). I will say that I got a gorgeous Anne Barge dress at the Bridal Garden, a not-for-profit resale boutique that sells only samples and donated dresses at heavily discounted prices and gives the proceeds to a charity for New York City children. I was hoping I would succeed there, and I can't tell you how great it feels to support that instead of the money-grubbing, bloodsucking wedding industry. (Getting a crazy bargain feels pretty good, too.) Here are some of the other dresses I bookmarked, tried on, or otherwise drooled over in the course of my weeks-long quest for The Dress:

Watters "Monclova" dress, about $1400. This was one of the first dresses I tried on. I love love loved the folds and ruffles at the bust; it's exactly the kind of organic detailing I was after and had a hard time finding amid all the beading and bling. And it made my waist look small. Ultimately, however, I didn't think that cool bodice was enough, and I wasn't crazy about the huge skirt. Or the price (even though, in wedding land, that is considered one-dollar-sign).


Watters "Torrean" dress, $1300-ish, I think. I started off against strapless but ended up liking a few of them anyway. And I discovered I liked lace, although in retrospect I think it might have been more that I just preferred lace to beading. I'd done my research and put this one on my radar, but it was a little too sparkly in person.


Mary L. Couture bias-cut gown, sadly unavailable. This would have fulfilled one of my major requirements: boob-flatteringness. I wanted something like that: sexy but not slutty. My mom and I might have disagreed on whether this dress falls into that category, but it's worth noting that she, a proper Englishwoman, opined without prompting that I would want something "sexy" and seemed to agree that that was okay. I do not believe I ever heard my mother utter that word before in my life, and I was mildly scandalized. Moving on...


Alfred Angelo style 1127, price unknown, but you can get it on discount sites for a couple hundred bucks. Another boobalicious style. Loved the top, wasn't crazy about the length. Would be perfect for someone who wants a shorter dress but prefers something more modern than the whole vintage/tea-length look, though.


Nicole Miller aqua one-shoulder gown, $620. Not technically a wedding dress, but who cares? I love the one-shoulder look and the crinkliness, and this definitely has a wow factor. Nicole Miller has a ton of sleek, elegant, white wedding dresses in addition to this series of stretch metal ones, too.


BCBG one-shoulder silk gown, $358. So elegant. Hilariously listed as a "mother of the bride" gown.


Jessica McClintock "Charleze" dress, $167. Before I got my dress, I was thinking how fun it would be to have a costume change and be able to dance freely, in a short dress, at the reception. Now, I just can't imagine taking off my dress for anything.


I even think it's better than this Oscar de la Renta embroidered number, a heartbreaking $10,500...


...which sort of reminds me of this Kelima K gown. We saw a whole bunch of their pretty dresses this weekend at the New York Wedding Workshop Signature Event this weekend, and by we I mean Tamar and me, not me and my betrothed, although there were plenty of couples walking around sipping the cocktails and tasting the cupcakes and sitting on the rented white furniture. Only one person, who shall remain unnamed, was blithely tossing piping-hot crab poppers hither and yon. Good times!


But I digress. There were a few dreses I ripped out of magazines more than once (note: I LOVE wedding magazines! weird!), so that I now have multiples taped into my all-important wedding binder. This Melissa Sweet Cosimma dress is one of them. God, I love floral appliqués.


This crazy Betsey Johnson gown also appears several times. I just love the ruffly ridiculousness!

Another heavy hitter in the bridal world is Lela Rose, whose feminine dresses are so pretty and unusual (for bridal). I saw a couple of her dresses at the Bridal Garden, but unfortunately, they were too small. Some examples of her work:







Finally, there is a Seattle designer who makes some truly amazing nontraditional gowns. Tamar, you must get one of these Wai Ching dresses! It's a little scary ordering a custom gown over the Internet, but if they did it right, how awesome would some of these gowns be? The color, the detailing, the sheer fun!

Live Blogging From The Office: My Co-Worker's Amazorz Vintage Nicole Miller Heels

One of my VERY fave people here at work is Hilary, who I like to refer to Hilzorz or The Hilz. Today she rolled in these amazing vintage Nicole Miller silk rainbow heels that she rescued from Beacon's Closet in Williamsburg for $40:

SCORE!

And then just LOOK at how cute and unexpectedly modest the whole thing is with her prepster look -- total 9-5 (or 10:30 - 8:30 'round these parts) on top, secret raging party girl on the bottom! Not that The Hilz is. But the look totally suggests it. Wee!

Anyway, if you, like I, want 'em, you're SOL, unless you know Hilary and you can convince her to sell them to you. Otherwise, check out eBay's limited selection of vintage Nicole Miller heels, or hit up your local thrift store.

PS: My co-worker Sarah would like everyone to know that SHE picked them out and gave them to Hilary only because they weren't her size. And now you know.

Also, here's me and The Hilz LOLzin' in our spare time.
Yes, those are unicorn earrings, and they're from Etsy seller I'm Your Present. Just $10!

Dressing Up In Heavy Metals

I spent the weekend in Richmond, Virginia, where I window-drooled at Pink, which is a VERY New York-esque shop at PARIS prices. Needless to say, I walked out empty handed, but I can't stop dreaming of these two metallic dresses:

($396, Lauren Moffatt, Activeendeavors.com)

Okay, this chick's Kelly LeBrock in "Weird Science" hair is totally ruinous to this amazing dress. You'll just have to trust me that in real life, this piece is absolutely stunning. The sleeves are far more delicate looking. You can almost start to tell more in this photo from Lauren Moffatt's site, but I think you'd mostly be able to tell if this dress were on ME.

($308, Graham & Spencer, Activeendeavors.com)

This dress also completely blew me away. They had it paired with a little jacket on top, which is a perfect way to wear it. I actually think this dress, aside from being perfect for all skin shades (it'd even complement pasty peeps like myself, and I can only imagine it'd look radiant on Asian and Black skin shades too), I actually think this dress would flatter just about every body shape and chest types. It's roomy enough to cover tums but fitted enough so that it doesn't look like camping equipment. And, like I said, this looked so great with a jacket on top, that if you were having a chunky tricep day, this dress still looks amazing with something on top.


After seeing those two pieces, I went on a hunt for more gorgeous, dressy metallics and a few greys...

($297, Walter, eDressme.com)

This would absolutely rule with black opaque tights and black heels -- even strappy ones (with a closed toes). Especially for holiday parties. I love the '50-ishness of the beaded detailing.

($430, Nicole Miller, eDressme.com)

I know I shouldn't like this dress, but I love the updated retro-ness of it -- this is totally what I imagine rich ladies in the '60s wearing when they went off with their well-dressed, heavily pomaded dudes to see lounge singers belt out standards in Miami Beach nightclubs. That shit ruled. Expect for the racism, of course.

($374, Mint, ElevenBoutique.com)

Simple but lovely. This could be boring if it were cotton, but the fact that its silk makes it far
more interesting, as does the strap across the back.

($185, Madison Marcus, RonHerman.com)

This fun silk top rules because it needs just about nothing else -- except maybe hair. A pair of dark slim jeans or maybe a black denim skirt and black tights and black flats and you're done.

($275, Mint, Shoptwigs.com)

Another all-in-one outfit piece -- you really need little else with a top that's as elegantly outspoken as this one.

($480, Anya Hindmarch, Ronherman.com)

Simply wonderful. Slim dark jeans, tight black sweater = heavenly. Sexy, not slutty!

($295, Rafe, Shoptwigs.com)

Nothing's worse than one of those metallic bags that are so shiny they're practically reflective (I know, because I've been there). This is the perfect shade -- and size -- to bag it all up!

Penney's Takes Manhattan

JC Penney's, a store I haven't stepped foot in in possibly 20+ years, is dropping anchor in MAN.HA.TTAN. Seriously. In one of the sorriest shopping spots in the city, the Manhattan Mall, no less. I say sorry, but I'm not above it. Especially now that it'll probably have a Sephora (news byte TWO for those keeping track), since many Penneys now rock their very own cosmetics nirvana! (Wha??) I had no clue. A department store I expected to either get swallowed up in a McMerger or go down the tubes completely is actually swinging in the opposite direction and thriving against all odds. And they teamed up with Sephora last year (who knew!? Not me!) Again, while I haven't seen the inside of one a Penney's since I could fit into Buster Browns (which my mom probably bought me from a Penneys sometime during the early Reagan admin), apparently they've gotten cute and have some Nicole Miller specialty lines and stuff. Is this not totally cute?

($90, Nicole Miller fer JCP, Reported by InStyle.com)
Regardless of the above evidence, The Budget Fashionista is NOT feeling the Nicole Miller.


Anyway, I'm not above much -- (hell, I've bought shoes in that scary Square 1 establishment) certainly not checking out the JC to the P when its doors swing open. I just hope there's a photo studio.

Giraffes & Guns & Colorblocks, Oh My!

Many more things that I want, and a few I definitely don't.


($395, Tory Burch, Shoptwigs.com)
Soooo fun. Sooo out of my price range.



($90, Toss Designs, Yknotshop.com)
Cheaper, but less cute. If any of you savvy shoppers come across any under-$100 giraffe bags, holla at a Jew.



($298, AKA New York, ActiveEndeavors.com)
Sigh. Just another reason to love AKA New York. And those wider straps -- yay! Conceals necessary bra straps! I love this so much that I started singing "Colorblock, colorblock" to the tune of "Lollipop." I'm an idiot.



(Apprx $293 USD, Marc By Marc Jacobs, LuisaViaRoma.com)
This is terrible. The colors rule, but the pilgrim-esque tie and ruffle sleeves are a total shanda.



(Apprx $1,222 USD, Clare Tough, LuisaViaRoma.com)
But of course, not as much of a fashion fuck-up as this. There are just no words...



(Apprx $289 USD, See By Chloe, LuisaViaRoma.com)
What Would Mischa Barton Do? Probably wear this. Doesn't mean you need to make the same mistake too.



($131, Nicole Miller, Bluefly)
Yeowch. Bad news bears. That lime green is blinding. These colors are best left to boys' swim trunks. Did Baby Spice not wear this in that one Spice Girls video where they were hooking around in the desert??



($147, Nicole Miller, Bluefly)
MUCH better, Nicole. This looks like a great year-round piece.



($88, Max & Cleo, Dillards)
I actually like this, for some reason, though I think it'd look better on you darker-skinned laydays.



($120, Donna Morgan, Dillards)
This actually looks like it'd be super flattering. Yay!



(Apprx $407 USD, Marc By Marc Jacobs, LuisaViaRoma.com)
I sorta like these. Someone, please, knock 'em off soon! (Lookin' in your direction, Forever 21!)



($600, Campise, RonHerman.com)
I Heart That reported that Lindsay Lohan likes this. So do I. Now, Lindsay also probably likes licking cocaine off the back of a dirty toilet in the Lower East Side. That's where our similarities end. But, despite the tragedy at Tech (eek! I found this beforehand, I swear!), I do enjoy this necklace. And lucky you, turns out I made one like that MONTHS ago:

($24, TotesTamron.etsy.com)
Look at me, saving YOU $576!!

Nicole Miller, No.

Nicole Miller: Hells. To. The. No on the silk pants!!!

($79, Nicole Miller, SmartBargains.com)
You could officially be the mayor of Shitty Cheese Town in these horrifying pantalones. Worst.

Walk of Shame

Today's the day! Tee! Naomi Campbell reports for dirty duty cleaning out the rat-, garbage- and poopy-infested NYC Public Transit System due to lack of self-restraint. I mean CAN YOU BLAME HER? I'd be pissed if MY lowly maid stole MY Stellas! That bitch is lucky she only walked away a black eye!

Oh... I kid, I kid. I mean, as difficult as it might be for N.C. to figure out that a broom is a cleaning device and not a body type goal, this is still just a token gesture. Like when celebrities go to "fancy jail." Why couldn't she have just paid a super whopping fine and then gone about her bratty way instead of clogging up NYC police resources as cops stand stationed outside the building the whole time she's in it. What a waste. I wonder if this walk of shame was more or less embarrassing than when she ate it on the runway back in 1993. I call bullshit on the whole situation AND the ridiculous spiky boots she wore to the gig.


Speaking of boots...

($125, Nicole, Lulu's Fashion Lounge)
I wuv these Dafne boots by Nicole, especially in red, as seen here (though ANNOYING only in sizes 7 and 9.5)...


($129.56, Nicole, Zappos)
And I really love 'em in white too. Nordstrom has some too, including some boring browns and not the reds.


And to complete this Naomi- and Nicole-related post... here are two ADORABLE Nicole Miller silk print dresses, one in a tres Pucci pattern and the other in a very Deco design:

($300, Nordstrom)


($300, Nordstrom)