Oh my goodness! I am asleep at the wheel today- it’s nearly 5pM and I hadn’t yet posted the FANTASTIC winning inspiration boards for the 57 Grand Giveaway contest. This was such a fantastic contest, I truly was amazed at HOW re-wearable these great dresses can be. We received so many wonderful submissions, that I know that the ladies at 57 Grand had a challenging time making a decision. We were all absolutely WOWed by the not one, not two, but THREE fantastically personalized Re-Wear boards that these ladies pulled together. So, without further ado: The Winning Board(s):
December 18th, on my good friend Charlene’s 30th birthday and just days after she celebrated her 5 year anniversary with boyfriend Jon, I got the call. The late at night, I don’t care if you’re sleeping, you’ve got to hear the news, call. Jon got down on one knee and proposed to her. He did it. At last.
Their engagement has been just over a month. So many decisions have yet to be decided, including the when, where, how. Finding the right venue in Toronto for a dream Fall wedding has proven challenging. But there’s one thing that was clear very early on to Charlene – her three Bridesmaids.
I was invited to be her Maid of Honor (woo hoo!). Her other good friend, the person who would buy bridal magazines, cruise wedding shows, and browse wedding websites long long before the engagement – Patricia – was a Bridesmaid. And Jennifer – a close cousin, who despite a 12 inch height difference insisted that Charlene try on her 10 year old wedding dress – was another Bridesmaid. (We have the pictures to prove it).
I read about this contest at the end of December, and we went to work on the submission. We had so much fun finding accessories to “Re-Wear” these bridesmaid dresses that we couldn’t do just one. In the end, we created a Re-Wear Inspiration Board based on the styles of each bridesmaid. Not only will you get to know us a little better, but the three boards truly represents how each dress would fit into our lifestyles.
So more about each board:
Patricia – You can spot Patricia in the crowd of a bridal show not only by her vinyl record purse but her bright red hair. Not auburn or copper, bright fire engine red. Her fiery personality is perfectly suited to her job in advertising, but she would trade that to work at a record label any day. Hence the aforementioned purse. Her disposable income is spent on music, and MAC cosmetics in vibrant colors. Her Re-Wear look takes the Beekman Collection dress from reception to Rockn’Roll. We amped it up a notch with a Diesel leather jacket, fab sandals, a studded purse and silver detail jewelry. And Patricia wouldn’t leave home without her makeup, so we threw on coordinating purple nail polish.
Jennifer - Working mother of two, Jennifer, is our resident wedding expert. Although her wedding was ten years ago, she has endless advice, from finding the best photographer to all relevant wedding customs. Her love of wedding dresses can not be matched. We’re convinced that her daughter, while just in elementary school, has received enough wedding dress knowledge from watching “Say Yes to The Dress” to replace Randy. Her Re-Wear look is a more mature and conservative way to wear a Riverside Collection dress. We dressed it with a timeless blazer, Jimmy Choo pumps and leather bag big enough to stuff snacks and toys for the kids. The earrings, bracelet and watch finish the look.
Jenine (Me) – It’s quite possible that I went into PR for unusual reasons, like the schmoozing, swag and parties. But in what other career can events, meeting new people, learning about the latest products and trends, all be considered “research”. It’s no secrect that I have taken a personal interest in the wedding’s food, drink, decor and of course the bridesmaid dresses. I have an unapologetic girly style that translates into lots of color, sparkle and high high heels. My Re-Wear look adds all of those things to the make a Waverly Collection dress even more sweet and adorable. What’s not to love about a fabulous tan and “bling-incrusted” bolero, dangling earrings and a gold clutch. To make the look complete we added a wide belt, thin watch and strappy sandals.
I hope you enjoy all three of our Re-Wear Inspiration Boards. Look forward to hearing more about this amazing contest. We are all crossing our fingers.
All the best,
Jenine LaFayette
