Indie brides, rejoice: Your favorite Jeffrey Campbell platforms can be now worn down the aisle thanks to designer’s new bridal line. Cold Feet by Jeffrey Campbell features the Project Runway alum’s popular styles, such as “Lita” and “Damsel,” in wedding-day colors and feminine patterns. Designed with nontraditional brides in mind—those who, according to Campbell, “choos[e] to get hitched in backyards, urban gardens, on beaches and mountainsides, and on the steps of City Hall”—the line includes sky-high booties, studded brogues, quilted sneakers (with the words “I Do” engraved on them), and flat sandals all in the $89.95 to $179.95 price range. Wear the ultra-versatile styles on your wedding day and happily ever after.
Betsey Johnson can now add bridal designer to her fashion résumé with the launch of
a new line of party-inspired shoes, geared specifically toward the wedding market.
Johnson, who last spring declared bankruptcy and shuttered her eponymous stores, has
been making a slow and steady return to the fashion industry, with a lower-priced
dress line and a collection of activewear. A new reality show featuring Johnson and
her daughter, Lulu, also debuts this month on the Style Network.
The new bridal shoe collection, dubbed Blue by Betsey Johnson, is another step in
the designer’s comeback. The shoes go on sale to the public starting in April. With
designs from scalloped ballerina flats to ankle-strap stilettos and embellished pumps,
each with a signature baby blue sole, the collection ranges from $79 to $199. If something
strikes your footwear fancy, find it next month on Zappos or on Betsey Johnson’s site.
A beaded midi dress and the potential of turning stunning brooches into hair accessories were among the highlights of our Alexandria antiques shopping. Photographs by Yelena Moroz Alpert.
The historic charm of Old Town Alexandria provides fantastic inspiration for planning a vintage-themed wedding. The King Street neighborhood is home to more than a dozen antiques stores, all stocked with hundreds of one-of-a-kind pieces. Whether you’re shopping for yourself, your bridesmaids, or the reception, exploring the memorabilia-filled rooms is only half the fun. The other half comes when you realize that you’ve given a once-forgotten treasure new life and purpose.
We spent an afternoon rummaging through Alexandria’s delightful antiques shops. Here’s what we found.
The Jewelry Mecca
BW Art, Antiques & Jewelry features rows of cabinets containing hundreds of pieces of jewelry. You’ll want to allocate at least an hour to go through the drawers, which are categorized by material, style, or color. A search for “something blue” yielded these gorgeous crystal clips ($32) circled with a gold feather. Rhinestone brooches pinned to a satin ribbon create a sash for under $50. (For a more elaborate design, play around with different sizes.) A simpler pin can be fastened in a chignon for an eye-catching hair accessory.
BW Art, Antiques & Jewelry. 108 N. Fayette St., Alexandria; 703-518-8464.
Time to (Cocktail) Party
The Hour specializes in vintage glassware for all your cocktail party needs—such as these gilded Art Deco glasses ($400 for six). Unless you plan on starting married life with ramen dinners, we suggest adding these shiny beauties to the Hour’s Wedding Wish List, then passing along the store’s business card to your wealthy aunts and uncles. Couldn’t hurt!
The Hour. 1015 King St., Alexandria; 703-224-4687.
Dress the Part
Anyone who has shopped for wedding dresses knows the gowns aren’t cheap—unless you shop at Pretty People Vintage. The boutique carries a small collection of vintage wedding dresses, circa 1950s and ’60s, all under $300 on the day we visited. A beaded midi dress ($125) works for an older bride who is looking for some glamour. And a romantic jacquard sheath ($165) with a pinhole center is ideal for a garden soiree. Since sizes and cuts aren’t standard, it’s a good idea to work with a good tailor once you buy the dress. Owner Annie Lee suggests buying one or two sizes up.
Pretty People Vintage. 108 N. Patrick St., Alexandria; 703-739-2522.
A Mark Patterson diamond engagement ring with eternity band.
December officially launches the holiday season with loads of celebration and cheer. And if you’re on the cusp of cementing your relationship with some jewelry, this might be the month. According to the Wedding Report, 40 percent of all engagements happen between November and February, with the bulk of proposals over Christmas.
Almost a third of couples buy the ring one to three months before getting down on one knee. (If you haven’t already, now is the time to activate the engagement-ring slideshow as your screen saver—hints never hurt.)
Only you and your fiancé know what the “right” ring looks like, but you can keep an eye out for this season’s trends. “While you want a ring that is timeless,” says Adam Gorman, owner of I. Gorman Jewelers, “there is something to be said for a unique ring she’ll be wearing for years to come.”
Before you or your guy set foot in a jewelry store, get acquainted with the four Cs: color, clarity, cut, and carat. The Gemological Institute of America site is a good place to start.
By Kate Bennett
A vintage white-gold and diamond ring, $8,600. All rings from Tiny Jewel Box. All photographs courtesy of Tiny Jewel Box.
When it comes to shopping for the perfect vintage engagement ring, Matthew Rosenheim is one of our area’s go-to jewelers. As president of Tiny Jewel Box, the multi-story, family-run jewelry emporium and upscale gift shop on Connecticut Avenue in downtown DC, Rosenheim sources the largest selection of vintage jewels and unique antique engagement rings in town. (As for the “Tiny,” in the shop’s name? Even though the current incarnation is anything but small, the original storefront was a mere 600 square feet.) For Rosenheim and his team of retail specialists, working with a couple to find that ideal ring is as important as breathing new life into a time-treasured piece of sparkling history. However, shopping vintage isn’t the same as shopping new; there are several factors to consider, such as condition, style and fake vs. real. Rosenheim breaks it down:
Obviously, vintage rings aren’t mass-produced, so what are the odds of finding our perfect piece?
Shop often. Vintage rings are typically one-of-a-kind and tend to sell quickly. Communicate with your jeweler about what you’re looking for, and check back often.
