Just a few things...

You may remember Rebecca from when she was voted one of the best of Maid Marian's Wardrobe Event. She runs a wonderful fashiony and sewing blog and has recently announced that she will be having a new event...

Be sure to click the button and get all the details! Rebecca has asked me to be a judge for the event and I am really looking forward to it...

I also added a widget in right-hand the sidebar (just below the subscription info) with my fave fashiony picks from Amazon.com. It's another way you can shop some great fashion while supporting the blog - take a look! :)

Lastly, there is a new Haiti banner up top. You can click it and make a donation through Compassion International, a Christian charity I support. Just because the shock of the tragic event may have worn off for some of us, it has not done so for the people of Haiti. They will need our long-term giving and support, as well as our prayers. Prayer is truly the most powerful thing we can do.

Thanks for reading the updates! Have a blessed weekend... :)

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Romantic Gowns from Elizabeth Dye

Pretty much any girl on the planet just loves a gorgeous dress. Whether it's retro style with a full, flouncy hemline or long, wispy and ethereal, an amazing gown captures the imagination and makes turns you into a princess. It makes us feel beautiful, feminine and on top of the world. And that's a very nice feeling. :)

On no other day is that amazing dress and the wonderful feeling it gives you more important than at your wedding. Today I'm going to be showing a few of the gowns from the wonderfully talented Elizabeth Dye's gorgeous Spring 2010 wedding collection, and using them for fashion inspiration (I'll be sharing more on this fabulous designer later).

Total icing on the cake... The collection is called Heroines and each design's name references a favorite literary lady. How amazing it that? ;)

 

This collection appears to be all about simplicity and subtlety, two things that are so important in fashion. So often clothing (especially from high end designers) is overdone, chaotic and distracting. I believe that the dress should be a palette for the woman wearing it, not the other way around. We are not mannequins!

These two designs (Eventide and Storyville) showcase true subtlety and real beauty. Each design is so simple, made from ivory silk shantung and enhanced with chiffon to create a fabric blossom. This allows the superb craftsmanship to stand out. When a gown is so very simple, the work must be perfect. These ones are.

 

A shorter dress can be just as lovely and romantic as a full length one, and more suited to less formal events. I love how old-fashioned and yet up-to-date these two designs are (Oysters and Pearls and Ghost). The former has a beautifully decorated bodice, made up of tiny chiffon ruffles, high quality lace and pearls. The wide ribbon cinches pulls the full skirt and bodice pieces together beautifully and adds a "party" touch.

The later gown has cascading layers of English tulle, which creates a wonderful uneven hemline. The bodice is pleated and tucked and accented just below the bust by a piece of flowery trim. The shoulder straps on both dresses are so pretty - just pleated pieces of fabric. This is a great way to add straps to a sleeveless design.

 

This first gown (Honeychurch) has to be my favorite in the collection - it's so sleek and flattering. The ruching over the bust enhances the sweetheart neckline and the skirt is made up of lovely, sheer layers. The lace attached to the shoulder straps and the gorgeous buckle at the ribbon-sash waistline add the perfect touches.

Although I am usually not a fan of lace dresses, this sweet little number (Beatrix) really gets it right. The tulle has lovely little flowers sprinkled all over it. At the bodice, they are embroidered with gold thread and accented with pearls. The teeny-tiny straps finish the dress off and the chiffon flower is a fabulous accessory. Amazing how simple and yet stunning a dress can be.

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Elizabeth Dye runs a lovely blog (featuring photos of many of her brides) as well as a boutique in Portland, Oregon called the The English Dept. You can purchase some of her gorgeous designs in her Etsy shop. Be sure to check it out!

I don't know about you, but I would wear any of these dresses (with a few modifications ;) for any occasion. There are events throughout each year that warrant a pretty dress - these fashions deserve to be worn more than just once for a wedding! How about Valentine's day? It's coming up! (Is anyone planning on buying or making something special for that holiday? I would love to hear your plans!)


P.S. Just as the usual disclaimer... I know that the gowns featured in this post do not meet most people's standards of modesty. However, I believe they serve as some lovely inspiration and can provide us lots of ideas we can apply to purchasing or creating our own modest wardrobes. :)

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Cold Weather Accessories: Part 4 - Legwear

{By Amy Elizabeth}

Winter is half over! I hope you’ve enjoyed reading the Cold Weather Accessories series as much as I’ve enjoyed writing for it! For this last legwear article, I wanted to include information that will take you into Spring.

First of all, let’s discuss leggings. Mid-calf length leggings are out – they stop right at the widest part of your leg, so longer ankle length is better. In warmer weather, pick cropped leggings that fall right below the knee for a more flattering look.

 

Leggings with interesting details, like shirring or studs, are fun and practical. The solid colors work well with your wardrobe, and the fabric manipulation adds interest.

 

Bright opaque tights are always a great choice. Some newer trends for the Spring season include bright, abstract painterly prints and florals. Look for colors that compliment your wardrobe, and pair with a solid skirt or dress.

  

Another popular trend are the weightless and romantic laces. Black lace is still classic, while soft whites are a fun, modern twist. Look for lace tights that are delicate and fine – open, fishnet styles can easily look trashy. Pair with a print dress or a full, gathered skirt.

  

Most importantly, have fun with your legwear! Don’t be afraid to experiment! As the Winter season comes to an end, a lot of stores will be clearing out their tights, so keep an eye out for deals!
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Amy Elizabeth is currently studying fashion design in Illinois, with a special interest in Bridal and historical costuming.  Her style changes depending on her mood, but vintage-bohemian-romance kind of gives you an idea of her favourite look!  Accessories are her specialty!



Image Credits: Foottraffic.com / KateSpade.com / Accessorize.co.uk / Piperlime.com / Gap.com

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Coming March 28 - April 3: Secondhand Fashion Week

I don't know about you, but I think it's about time that we had a new online event up and running at AmandaBeth! I've held off on posting this for a while because I didn't know what my schedule was going to be for the next few months, but I think it's finally safe to announce... Secondhand Fashion Week!!!

What is this event all about?

The purpose behind this event is to celebrate frugal fashionistas and their awesome creativity. In the whole fashion world there is this mindset that in order to be really fashionable, we need to pick up high end pieces, brand new, and spend a fortune on our wardrobes so that we can somehow be accepted as a fashionista. I don't know about you, ladies, but I'm not buying into it. In fact, I can't afford to buy into it. I believe that God has commissioned us to be good stewards of what he has given us and breaking our budget (especially in shopping for something as frivolous as clothes ;) is not a good thing.

Over the years, I have collected a whole lot of clothes secondhand; either by shopping my favorite thrift stores or by receiving cast offs and hand-me-downs. Some people might have a problem with wearing an item that had formerly belonged to someone else, but I say that if it looks good on you, don't worry about who wore it beforehand. If you can take secondhand pieces and reinvent them to make them your own, you are a true fashionista. :)

How do I participate?

The format of this event will be very similar to Summer Fashion Week and Maid Marian's Wardrobe. From March 28 - April 3, the goal is to dig through our closets for the awesome secondhand pieces and wear a series of outfits throughout the week based around those items. (Of course, not everything you wear has to be secondhand  - for example, I have like all of one pair of used shoes :P -  but the main statement pieces in your ensemble, or what everything else is based around, should be something that was purchased or given secondhand.)

Take pictures of your outfits and post them to your blog each day of the event. (You can also shoot outfits in advance if that fits your schedule the best.) You may include other family members who are participating in the challenge. Be sure to include the brand names of what you are wearing and where/how you got the different pieces.

Each day of the week, there will be a post featuring what I am wearing and a box in which you can include the link of your secondhand fashion blog post for the day. (P.S. If you don't have a blog, it is super easy to set one up and post pictures using Blogger.com - give it a try! :) I will also set up a special album on Flickr.com where you can upload your pictures, if you'd rather not use your own blog.

As well as participating in the secondhand fashion photos challenge, I would love to see any other sorts of frugal fashion related blog posts. Especially awesome would be DIY (do it yourself) REfashioned projects, in which you take an item and remake or revamp it. I will have a separate box in which you can post any links that fit into this category.

Of course, I will also try to include some fun giveaways over the week long event. If anyone would like some publicity for their home business/Etsy shop or cetera by donating an item for the giveaway, please email me at amandabethboutique{at}gmail.com - I'd love to work in publicizing your business through the event in exchange for an item!

Also, if any business/shop/site/et cetera is interested in becoming a paid sponsor for the event, they can contact me - amandabethboutique{at}gmail.com . For a flat fee, your business/site banner can be displayed and promoted throughout the week as an official sponsor. Any way that I can give you some publicity, I'll try my best to do it! :)

Last thoughts...

Walking hand in hand with all of this is our desire to be modest as well as fashionable. I'm not going to  set a strict rule or standard for what you should or should not wear, but just keep modesty and class in mind throughout the event and we should turn out all right. :) Of course, I reserve the right to refuse any submissions to the event if I feel that they do not meet the standards of this site.

At the end of the week, I and a small panel of judges will select a number of finalists for the event, choosing those that we thought were the most creative and stylish secondhand fashionistas. Then, for one week, a poll will go up so that you all can vote for your favorite! If we receiving a fair amount of other frugal fashion or DIY related posts, we may also vote for a "best of" in that category.

If you plan on participating in the event, please consider saving one of the banners in this post to your computer and then uploading it to your blog with a link to http://amandabethonline.blogspot.com . Thanks! I appreciate it. :)

Any thoughts, questions or concerns? Please leave a comment and I will try to address them! As always, there are usually some bugs to work out in the early stages, but I try and keep things as simple as possible. Should be fun! :)

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US Figure Skating Championships - Fashion Recap (Part 2)

Sasha Cohen may not have been able to deliver when the time was right, but she definitely put on an interesting show on Saturday evening. Although her program had some major flaws, she never once looked as though she had lost control; in fact, she smiled at the audience and seemed to be thoroughly enjoying herself and the moment. It was a beautiful thing to see and I applaud her brave comeback. Although she might not have made it where she wanted to go, she certainly didn't disappoint.

 

While Sasha only finished fourth in the competition, she totally won a gold medal when it came to the fashion department. I was so thrilled to see a beautiful and classy dress after the short program design failed to impress me. First of all, the fabric choices are perfect - the shades of grey/blue suit her better than anything else. The ruched bandeau top is set off by a sparkly rhinestone "brooch" and the cut-outs around the neck and wrists are similarly accented.

I think that this design would make a gorgeous full-length evening gown. Isn't it just lovely?

The rest of the ladies competition was rather lacking in pretty fashion, although Alissa Czisny and Caroline Zhang had a couple of show stoppers. Unfortunately neither of them could rally in the free skate and they finished 10th and 11th, respectively.

Meryl Davis and Charlie White nailed their entire competition and came away with the gold medal for the second year in a row. They are such an adorable couple and perform with lots of energy and passion - so fun to watch! Their free dance was set to selections from The Phantom of the Opera and their costumes reflected it perfectly. Charlie is wearing an off-white ruffled poet's shirt and Meryl's dress looks like it is clearly inspired by a gown from the 2005 film adaptation of the musical.

 

The lace overlayed bodice is ruched, ruffled and set with an oval brooch. The middle part of the dress is made from a maroon velvet/velour fabric and has a beautiful center "stomacher" design created with rhinestones. The back of the bodice has dramatic dark lacing. The skirt of the dress appears to be made from a few layers of chiffon. (I love the longer skirts they wear in Ice Dancing! :)

Runners up in the best dressed department were Madison Chock and Greg Zuerlein. They performed a beautiful waltz and their outfits looked like something out of a costume drama. Greg is wearing a gold shirt and vest with a dark blue, beautifully embellished coat. Madison's dress is a gorgeous purple color and the bodice is wonderfully beaded all over with flowers and accented with dark ribbons and ruffled lace. Such a lovely design!

 

Meryl and Charlie also carried off the award in the Original Dance competition, wearing fun and gorgeous costumes in their Bollywood inspired number. Meryl's dress - like traditional Indian costumes - is two separate pieces (although bare skin is almost always covered with nude colored fabric in figure skating) but I absolutely adore the fabric, colors and all of the embellishments. Gorgeous details! Charlie's tunic has some equally amazing beading around the neckline and front.

Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto's Moldavian Folk Dance costumes were also very charming, made in snow white and accented with lots of black, gold and red. Ben's costume is trimmed with wide, dramatic braid and Tanith's dress is embroidered with lots of pretty flowers, braid and ruffled lace. I just love the boots! Too cool. :)

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To sum up, it was a very exciting championship over all and it looks like there will be a strong Team USA heading into the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver. I'm certainly looking forward to it...

There's just one last thing I just want to reiterate here (because of a comment I received). Once again, I am commentating on the figure skating fashion because I love the sport and I believe we can get fun, fashiony ideas from it. I am not holding these designs up as modest "what you should wear" material, but I believe that truly beautiful looks and details can give us inspiration on how to include some new or pretty things into our own wardrobes. While this blog does focus on modest fashion, not everything shown is explicitly so. I hope that makes sense. :)

How was everyone's weekend? Thanks to everyone who prayed for me. I am still fighting some sickness, but I think it's going to surrender soon... ;)


Images: Passport to Gold / Zimbio / Icenetwork.com

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US Figure Skating Championships - Fashion Recap (Part 1)

If you've been following my Tweets or "Ooo... I Like It!" you've probably figured out that I am a huge figure skating fan. My sisters and I first began following the sport in 2005, and since then it's become a very fun thing to enjoy together. Figure skating is a culmination of athleticism, artistry, fashion, dance and music - all things that we thoroughly enjoy. That said, it is my intention to continue to cover the major figure skating events for this blog (click here to see my posts from last season), focusing, of course, mainly on the fashion side of things.

Obviously, everyone has opinions on whether or not even the most conservative figure skating costumes are "modest", but I am not going to get into that whole thing right now. :) As with my coverage of the red carpet fashion, I show my favorite photos to hopefully inspire and give you pretty, fashiony ideas... and I leave the yucky ones out of it.

 

The pairs championship was full of drama, with two time national champions Keauna McLaughlin and Rockne Brubaker fighting through a disastrous short program and placing 5th in the final standings. It was sad to see such an graceful and classy team do so badly when it counted, but in my opinion, they did manage to carry off the award for the best dressed team in the competition.

During the short program, Keauna wore a beautifully made burgundy gown, with a ribbed knit waist and rhinestone straps. The split skirt is made of layers of chiffon and dusted with glittery spangles. Rockne's outfit consisted of a simple grey tee shirt and pants - and I thought the costumes worked perfectly together.

For the free skate, they matched a bit too much for my taste, but Keauna once again choose a dress that suited her well and had a lot of lovely details. One-sleeved - in a brilliant burnt orange shade - it is full of nice touches, from the choker neckline all the way to the contrasting skirt drapery. I love the studded accents and the large gold pins. Keauna also wore a flower hair accent during both programs... so pretty!

The pairs competition is one of my lesser favorites and was rather lacking in the awesome fashion department. Gold medalists Caydee Denney and Jeremy Barrett turned in incredible performances but their costumes weren't so pretty. Caydee's short program "firebird" look was interesting, but nothing special. None of the other medalists provided real fashion interest (the pairs category can be so "matchy-matchy" and too bright and garish :P) - seventh place finishers Amanda Dobbs and Joseph Jacobsen probably wearing the best in the competition.

 

The ice dance competition is one of our favorites to watch and looks to be very exciting, with former training mates Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto (5 time US champions and Olympic silver medalists) and Meryl Davis and Charlie White (reigning US champions and 2009 Grand Prix Final champions) vying for the gold. The latter came out on top in the Compulsory Dance (by a mere .40) and were also my top pic in the fashion department.

Meryl took to the ice in a brilliant purple dress (what a way to showcase a big trend! ;) - ruched around the waist and accented all over with sequins - with a flared skirt in layers of chiffon. The collar and straps across the back are ornately beaded with rhinestones and Meryl's wearing a matching "bracelet" and exquisite hair piece. Of course, Charlie looks very nice in his tux. ;)

 

Runners up in the fashion category of the compulsory dance were the popular team of Kimberly Navarro and Brent Bommentre. Of course, Brent is just wearing the traditional nice tux, popular for performing the Golden Waltz, but Kim's dress is really pretty. I love the color transition from neck to hemline - yellow to orange - the sparkly rhinestones and the bejeweled neckline. Such a striking look!

Of course, the big news of the competition has been Sasha Cohen, the 2006 US national champion and Olympic silver medalist. Her comeback has been the talk of the figure skating world and, with this her first competition in nearly four years, there was quite a handful of skeptics. But Sasha proved in Thursday night's short program that she is indeed "back" - finishing less than half a point from first place. Unfortunately, her costume was a disappointment. I thought it was ugly (lace and gloves being "bleh") and not so modest. :P So, I won't share photos, but you can see a complete  gallery of her program by clicking here.

 

As far as the best dressed of the ladies competition, I think I would give the award to Ashley Wagner (currently in 4th place). Her costume is not only lovely, but it suits Ashley, her music and her program perfectly. I love the misty greyish blues and the delicate white flowers "blooming" up the side of the dress. So elegant!

Mirai Nagasu - the leader after the short program - wore a black and gold dress with two beaded sunbursts, sequins and a split skirt. It was fun and quirky, just like her personality.

 

Last year's champion, Alissa Czisny - currently sitting in a disappointing 7th place - also chose a beautiful skating dress. Made in beautiful shades of grey, blue and purple, it laces up the front beneath a ruched bodice and tiny puffed sleeves - enhanced by bold sequined trim.

Caroline Zhang, another favorite skater of mine, looked as beautiful as always in an ethereal black and red chiffon dress, with delicate, shimmering leaves sweeping up over the bodice - and a beautiful hairpiece. Unfortunately, this talented young skater has been hampered by injury this season and sits in 11th place going into Saturday's free program...

As for the men's event, I only saw bits and pieces but it looked very exciting. The fashion side of things... not so much. Which is why I don't cover it on the blog. (There! I've said it! Now no one ask me when the Olympic games come around next month. ;)

I'll be posting Part 2 of this series next Tuesday, after the Ladies and Ice Dance competitions conclude. Meanwhile, who's fashion is you favorite? And who are you cheering for in the upcoming Olympics?


Images: Passport to Gold / Zimbio / Icenetwork.com

P.S. So sorry that the post is up late today. Sickness and family obligations delayed me. Now I'm off to take a nap so I can get better! :)

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Golden Girls of 2010 - The Red Carpet Fashion Report

I am trying to decide whether this Golden Globe Awards was better or worse than last year... in the fashion department anyway. While there seemed to be less complete disasters, there were also less amazing "show stopping" designs. That said, there was a great deal of fashiony inspiration and lovely dress designs to browse through, and I'm attempting to break down the top trends and looks for your reading pleasure.

Just as a disclaimer, I do not watch the awards, nor do I support or endorse any of the actors, films or et cetera (unless specifically recommended). My focus in covering the awards is to give interesting and hopefully informative thoughts and opinions on the fashion. :)

So, without further ado, let's dive into the top evening gown trends for the new decade...

Colors
Black remained the classic staple, as always, and over all colors remained deep and muted. Perhaps this is a reflection of the economy. I personally found the bright, vibrant colors (which were heavily prevalent last year) to be refreshing and lovely. Red remained a popular choice right - on Maria Menounos), as well as deep plum shades. Silver and Gold also stood out in the crowd, with many women opting for shimmering, metallic fabrics.


Shapes and Sizes 
Of course, the norm is long, floor-sweeping gowns, but there was a sweet handful of shorter, just-as-classy dresses on hand. I tend not to be a huge fan of these, but was very impressed by both Kristen Bell (shown up top) and the always adorable Amy Adams (left - who is expecting, BTW. Isn't she cute? :). Sleek, fitted "mermaid" style gowns continued to be popular this year, with full-skirted hemlines, but simple a-line styles were in the majority. The trend for glamorous, vintage inspired gowns continues to be a hot one... and most of it was lovely.

The assymmetrical one-shoulder style (which I love) continued to make it's mark on the awards, but it definitely seemed that the strapless look is returning to dominate the evening gown world. Oh, well...

Details 
Ruffles reigned supreme (and were in many cases completely overused), adding drama and "poof" to hemlines, waistbands and just all over. This is certainly an area in which many dresses went completely overboard and landed in the "fashion disaster" category. Fortunately, Zoe Saldana (right) got it right in a romantic (almost victorian-inspired), droopy and beruffled and beribboned wine colored gown. So lovely!

Lots of interesting details were showcased on the red carpet, including a huge trend for draping, pleating and tucking the fabric over the bust and around the waistline. Sometimes this doesn't work so well, but as shown here on Dianna Agron (below, left) it's absolutely beautiful.

Sparkle
Beading, crystals and glitz galore were showered over almost every single red carpet look. As well as heavily embellished bodices, some gowns seemed practically weighed down by bling and were a sight to behold. Jewelry, while maybe not so over-the-top as last year (also a reflection of the economy?) was still very striking. Wide, collar necklaces, cuff bracelets, and long, tasseled earrings were standard fare, although some ladies went without jewels completely (and looked just as lovely). I also saw a few pretty sparkly headbands. Just love those!

As far as the best dressed goes... it was hard to choose a top four. Keep in mind that not only do I select these based off of pretty and fairly modest styles (I hate overly immodest gowns - bleh!), but I also take into consideration the colors selected and how the overall look suits the wearer. It's about an overall look and style harmony as much as an individually amazing dress. :)

The Best Dressed (IMHO)

 

Sandra Bullock

This woman won more than just a Golden Globe Award on Sunday evening - she was unanimously declared a stunner on the red carpet. Dressed in brilliant purple organza, she certainly didn't let it rain on her parade. I just love the simple, ruched bodice and the slightly poofy skirt, which is an unusual choice for anything other than a very young starlet. But it was absolutely perfect. (Even the slight sheerness works overall without looking sleazy.) The earrings are classy and the soft, almost "undone" hair suits her wonderfully. A fine choice for the awards!

 

Jennifer Garner

In my opinion, she looked absolutely radiant on the red carpet, and her dress couldn't have been more perfect if her fairy godmother had picked it out for her. Here's a woman who knows her colors and her body really well, and enhances them in a way that seems completely effortless (either that or she's got one killer stylist! :). The amazing, shimmering silver suits her skin tone perfectly (I'd guess that she's a "winter") and the drape-y asymmetrical style works beautifully on her figure. I really love the neckline and the angles of the pieces - so very flattering. Her half up/half down hair is pretty and romantic - and I adore the jewelry!

 

Lea Michelle

My only complaint about this dress is that it looks very much like the one Amy Adams wore to the Golden Globes last year. But while that dress was way too harsh on the red-headed actress, this sweeping black design is absolutely made to be worn by this young woman. She looks like an absolute princess, her dark hair matching the black of the gown and making her even more regal. The fitted bodice is beautifully draped and pleated in airy chiffon and the full skirt is absolutely covered in layers of ruching. It's all finished off by large, but subtle green earrings. Perfect.

 

Kate Winslet

Well, she may have been presenting instead of receiving awards this year, but the gorgeous girl definitely gets a best-dressed award. She's another one who knows and embraces her curves - and chooses gowns that fit and suit her impeccably. This one is completely understated and completely stunning, in a dark navy blue with minute and detailed gold beading up the side and over the one shoulder strap. It's simplicity is deceiving - if you look close you will see incredible shaped seams, providing a gorgeous fit and finish. It's also nice to see that she's wearing small, pretty earrings, instead of the huge ones the rest of the world was sporting.  She let's the wide metallic cuff bracelet do the talking...

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Other peronsal favorites of the evening (that were not shown here) included Ginnifer Goodwin, January Jones, Drew Barrymore, Julia Roberts and Kate Hudson. Oh yes, and George Clooney, Colin Firth and Harrison Ford. Awesome. :)

Disappointments would be Emily Blunt, Rose Byrne and Diane Kruger. And plain bad fashion? That belonged to Julianne Moore, Anna Paquin, Tina Fey, Chloe Sevigny, Jennifer Morrison and Perry Reeves (among others :P).

You can read more of my thoughts on the red carpet fashion by checking out my 2nd annual "live" report on the AmandaBeth Online Facebook Page. And be sure to leave your comments here and share your favorite gowns, thoughts on trends and whether or not you agree with me. ;)

Images: JustJared.com

P.S. Because I forgot to mention it in my post yesterday... our own Amy Elizabeth is holding a poll in which you can vote for your favorite heroine - over at her Historical Hairstyles Blog. She's been growing the site over the past year, adding images, resources and step by step photo instructions on how to do movie hair (including Marian from the BBC Robin Hood show!). Be sure to vote in the poll on which movie heroine you want to see covered in the month of February! Should be lots fun! :)

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