Halloween is Full of Surprises

Four Years Ago Today I met Mark.  Let me tell you how we got there.

In high school my fall midterms always conveniently fell right on Halloween, so my teenage Halloweens were spent at the dining table in my parent's house with text books and loose leaf paper.  

Then I went to college.

I was very lucky to be matched (fate has a weird way of finding you the right roommates) with girls who would plan, and seek out the most perfect Halloween/Holiday/Tuesday night.  Freshman year we were all still getting our footing and typically went out in a pack of 8+ girls, so the costumes were a bit "home sewn" as Tim Gunn might say.  That year I was a flapper, with a top from Loehmann's, a skirt borrowed from a girl on dorm floor, and a boa that I was magnetically pulled towards.

Sophomore year I was home for a wedding, no costume, but a great dress none the less.

Junior year.  This is is where it really begins.  There were just the four of us (Jaci, Cara, Liz) and we decided we'd make more impact together than we would apart.  We all had our own motives for a Halloween costume; and I won't out anyone else, but I personally set out to look cute in a costume, the scary and funny is not for me.

We bought this:

Ghostbuster Costume via Dressy Costumes

We made this: 

You can't tell but those jumpsuits were taken apart, taken in, and hemmed into very chic Halloween Couture dresses.

It's Senior Year.  Time to go out strong.  We all four live together for the first time.  We have become more than just roommates and friends, we became a troupe.

A troupe with a friend who is a Disco Alien

We went out for a bar crawl starting at Ozio, a bar I had never been to before and have only since been back during my bachelorette party).

Ozio - 18th and M Street

And that's where I met Mark.  I was with my best friends, in costume, in a bar that I would never normally go to.  He was with his best friend, in costume, in a bar that he had never been to before. I think looking back we were both a bit anti-Halloween that year.  I definitely put up a fight on the costume, and the plans.  But, again, fate has a funny way of making the right matches.

I asked him what he was supposed to be.  (He looked like Tony Montana (Scarface) but was actually dressed as Pablo Eskobar, if you do a little research you'll see the costume is fairly universal.)  He asked me if I was dressed as Winnie Cooper (Wonder Years).  

 

I told him I was a "rock star" - and that was the "hook".   He left his friends and joined our party and that night we changed numbers, shared dances and shared a kiss.

Since then we have dressed up as the Dukes of Hazzard and Olympians, (last year we were in South Beach for wedding planning).

 

I am lucky for friends who pushed me to embrace the night, and I am very lucky for a partner, best friend and husband who pushes me to embrace everything in life.

I hope your Halloween provides as many treats as mine did, and continues to do.

Happy Halloween and Happy Anniversary to my Husband, I love you.

 

 

Couples in Costume

Halloween is just four days away!  Oh you didn't get a costume yet?  Maybe you forgot that Halloween is always on October 31, maybe you got busy, maybe you just couldn't decide what you wanted to be this year.

It is too late to order something online, and all that is left in the stores is a witch's hat and a sexy nurse's outfit - boring!  If you and your love are dressing up this year for Halloween here are five easy to execute on a budget ideas.  The couple that dresses together stays together!

All of these costume ideas are built off of items that you probably already own, and every piece is less than $30.00, and able to be worn again - score!

Since it is "Wedding Wednesday" we had to start with a Vegas Bride and Groom.  This costume just screams wedded bliss on the fly, and this time what happens in Vegas comes home with you.

Tees at Kohl's
Hair Accessories by Forever 21

 What couple is more recognizable than Brad and Angelina?  You and your beau can pull from your own wardrobe, lots of gray and black, but these accessories put it own the top.  If you're baby-free don't forget the Brangelina babydoll.

Hats by Old Navy
Gloves & Scarves by Topman

Maybe you and your beau are complete opposites, but together you're the perfect match.  Just like Danny and Sandy.  Layer on the black, add some Grease, and get dancing!

Tees by Gap
Brushes & Combs by Swissco

Are you ready to go back in time?  All the way back to Bedrock?  This costume is a bit more DIY; take the togas you made in college and grab your Sharpie marker to make up the perfect Fred and Wilma.

Pillowcases & Shams by Bed Bath & Beyond
Necklaces by Old Navy

Or, go for glamour as the ultimate glamour girl with her ultimate boy toy: Barbie and Ken.  Load on the color and the 80's makeup to become the Queen and King of Pink.

Polos by Sean John
Pumps by Forever 21

Happy Halloween!

Madonna, The Mother of Reinvention, an Icon

Madonna has never been my icon, but there is absolutely no denying that the Mother of Pop Music is also the Mother of Reinvention.  In the span of her career no other artist has transformed their look so seamlessly, and stayed so true to their personal style.  Who would A Virgin could become a Geisha and then a Disco Cowgirl.  That is Madonna.

There is a ton of inspiration to be found in Madonna, and not just for Halloween.  Certain signature staples like a structured corset black dress, sequins, and fishnet stockings have always been Madonna. 

In the 80's Madonna rocks leggings, layered jewelry, virginal white and then bold neons, oversized hair accessories and lace.  Watch out for the lace, it becomes a signature.

Madonna in the 80's

Madonna in the 80's by dailybatch featuring lace socks

 

In the Mid 90's Madonna identifies with another platinum icon, Marilyn and then she finds Tom Ford.  It is almost safe to assume that in the 1990's Madonna saves Gucci from financial peril.  Nearly fully covered in a shirt and pants, she still oozes Madonna.  She also begins to infuse a vintage aesthetic to her wardrobe as she films and later promotes Evita.

 

Madonna in Gucci in 1995

Madonna 90's by dailybatch featuring high heel shoes

Madonna discovers Kabballah and Yoga.  Brittney and Christina want to also be like a Virgin and thus Madonna goes back in time and back to the gym to look the youngest and be the most fit.  Her wardrobe in the early 2000s is inspired by disco glamour (color, sequin), and fitness (track suits, leggings, leotards).

Madonna in 2005

Madonna 2000's by dailybatch featuring an asymmetrical jacket

Today, at 52 years old, she is Mother Madonna.  She is still a rock star, but she has added to her resume fashion designer with daughter Lola, humanitarian, and she continues to be a filmmaker.  Her wardrobe today is a sophisticated representation of the past three decades.  She still favors body conscious fits, sexy details, ultra feminine pieces but it has a more practical presentation to keep up with her travels and life.

Madonna and Lourdes

Madonna Today by dailybatch featuring tweed pants

"The history of women in popular music can, pretty much, be divided into before and after Madonna."  - Susan Sarandon

An All Hallow's Eve Wedding

I am not the first in line for the "theme wedding fan club".  It is just not for me.  With that said, I do appreciate a well though out and executed inspiration for a wedding.  What is the difference between a theme and inspiration?  Perhaps you've watched an episode or two of David Tutera's "My Fair Wedding" in which you've seen excited brides-to-be express their interest in a butterfly themed wedding with rainbows and butterflies and rhinestones and Tutera turns out a wedding filled with color, spring's best flowers and crystal.  That's the difference between a theme and inspiration.

With that said and with Halloween just around the corner I was inspired by these shoes:

Alexander McQueen Skull Peep Toe Pump

I thought to myself, "could they inspire a wedding?"  And so they have...

Halloween Wedding Day and Night by dailybatch featuring black shoes

I thought really carefully about this inspiration board.  First, I think a wedding ceremony is just that, it's ceremonial, special, and so I liked the idea of keeping the ceremony unique and inspired by the season.  The dress is romantic, and I love the warm embroidery throughout.  The flowers, lights, intricately carved pumpkins say autumn inspired, without screaming trick or treat.

For the reception I was thinking of a complete makeover.  The bride who gets married on Halloween may embrace the grandeur of Halloween, the sexiness, the mystery, and the glamour.  I think those attitudes can be conveyed without black and orange or even dark smoky red which is often used for impact.  I love the black Phillip Stark Ghost Chairs, the black glassware, chandeliers and candleholders.  And of course the bride can change into a more festive, glamorous ensemble with a lace dress, those Alexander McQueen pumps and black and gold bangles.

For most the wedding day is the party of a lifetime, why not make it all treats - no tricks?