2012 Collections Around the Corner!

The 2012 collections are almost ready to debut and we are so excited to see them! We are attending Enzoani's Fashion Event next week in LA and we can't wait to see their new prom collection called Love 16. I hope to post photos of the event next month. Also, we have started to get in some of the Fall 2011 Belsoie, B2, Jade and Jade Couture dresses! The Jades are just in time for our Jade Trunk Show August 26th-28th to give our customers even more choices. Make your appointment today, space is limited!

K4482 Jasmine Couture-Just arrived!

Aire Barcelona 2012

I was at market in New York last month and got to see some of the new and exciting 2012 collections. More specifically the Aire Barcelona 2012 Collection. This season all their styles start with the letter "P". We were able to snap a few photos of the new styles for a sneak peek for our brides. They were still showing a lot of ruffles, pleats, crinkle and texture for the new year. They also had their signature lace, but not as many because the cost of lace has gone up dramatically over the last year so they focused more on organzas, chiffons, and the hot new fabric gazar that is showing up on everyones runways and including Kate Middleton's royal wedding dress! 

We LOVED this Polanco style from Aire and can't wait for it to come in!

Another angle of Polanco

This was one of the lace A-line gowns that we loved!

  

Pandora with jacket

We hope to start getting the collection in July and have all of it by the end of August. We'd love to have you come in to see the new dresses this summer!

Prom Flashback

The ladies of The Dress by Nicole thought it would be fun to do a blog post about our proms. I know to some people reading this, we're not that old, but it is amazing how fast fashion trends can change from the style to the colors. Another thing we noticed was that some traditions were the same and some where different depending on what high school you went to. Most schools still use a garter, a tradition borrowed from weddings but is now mainly a keepsake from the big night. I found an interesting article about the history of garters.
I also found a great article on the history of proms. They evolved from the debutant balls with white dresses and long gloves and started in the 1800's but was more of a college event until the 1930's when it became a high school coming-of-age event.

Some schools do a "post prom" activity or after party. A lot of the schools around Wheaton do a party through the park district so all the kids are safe and stay out of trouble. What's great about it is, that it's actually "cool" to go to. They do a great job about making it fun for them!

Brittany on the left

Brittany on the left

Our first blast from the past is Brittany's prom at Waubonsie High School in the Aurora/Naperville area. Her proms were held at Drury Lane in Oak Brook.

Brittany second from the right

Danielle and her date

Next is Danielle's prom at Wheaton Academy that was held at the school. The theme is a surprise that the junior class puts together. Then they transform the cafeteria and the sophomores serve the dinner and clean up after the upper classmen! Then Danielle spent post prom at a friend's party.

Danielle is second from the right

Next is our newlywed, Kelly, at her prom when she lived in Las Vegas. They had it at a swanky country club in the area followed by fun on the Las Vegas strip! We all voted that Kelly must have had the ultimate prom!

Then we have Chrystl, our soon-to-be bride, at her Wheaton North prom in her poufy fuchsia ballgown! Her prom was held at The Abbington in Glen Ellyn.

Chrystl on the right

My junior prom

Senior year

Our "official" prom photo at the dance

Finally we have my prom! I went to Schaumburg High School and to both my junior and senior year proms.  My junior year prom I did a royal blue dress that I had my eye on as soon as we got it in at work (I worked in a bridal store...go figure). Prom was held at the Woodfield Hyatt across the street from the mall like it was ever year for Schaumburg. My senior prom I started shopping early, working in several bridal stores by this time, I knew the drill of special ordering already in my teens. Turns out I didn't have to order anything, I bought one off-the-rack downtown. You can't tell from the photos but it was actually a seafoam or mint green. Prom was moved that year because the Woodfield Hyatt had booked a wedding. So it was held at the O'Hare Hyatt. I was glad they did because it was fun to have it somewhere different and the O'Hare Hyatt was one of the hotels I liked for my wedding someday. I was always planning my wedding! Oh, and I still talk to my senior year prom date...I ended up marrying him :)

SNOWmageddon!

The great blizzard of 2011 hit us early this afternoon, and we decided to close early. We're also going to go ahead and call it a snow day tomorrow. Right now, we're planning on being open at the usual time on Thursday.

At 3:00 Tuesday the snow drift in our back yard was already 3 feet high!

Please contact us through our website if you need to get in touch with us during the severe weather. Be safe and warm everyone, and watch out for abominable snowmen!

The Ultimate Wedding Dress

Last week one of my brides casually mentioned that Princess Diana's wedding dress is on display in Grand Rapids, Michigan. WHAT?! I was shocked that it was so close and I hadn't heard anything about the exhibit in Chicago! I missed the opportunity to see it years ago in Florida, so I was really excited to hear it was nearby this time. Apparently the exhibit has been open since November.

Tickets are selling out fast because the exhibit is coming to a close around Valentine's Day. So I took a road trip this past weekend to view the gown. 

The exhibit is at the Grand Rapids Art Museum and it was well worth the trip! You can't take any photos inside but I was able to find a few images online. The first room featured the Spencer family history and jewels. Diamonds, rubies, emeralds and pearls in gorgeous antique brooches, necklaces, and earrings were scattered around the room. An amazing crown (pictured, sparkling away) is front and center greeting you when you walk in  ...stunning! They also had portraits and the entire family history including a huge family tree dating back to the 1300's.

The next room was Diana's childhood. They had home movies playing on a screen along with her personal articles like toys, school books, school papers, baby portraits etc...

The museum curators unpacking the dress when it arrived in November.

The next hallway featured her engagement at the young age of 19, with engagement photos and painted portraits. As I rounded the corner to the next room...there it was! THE dress!

It was in a grand security case that displayed the entire 25 foot train. They also had her shoes, a parasol and a flower girl dress. There are huge photos of the wedding day and a looping video of the wedding ceremony which was the most watched TV event in history, 750 million people! It may not be the prettiest wedding gown by today's standards (it was the 80's, after all) but the fact that it was hers is what makes it special. 

The next room's theme was her charity work. Featured were letters and hand written speeches she had given, along with video clips of her charity work.

You then walk into a dimly lit room where they had the largest screen of all playing clips of her funeral with the famous Elton John song. There were music sheets with Elton John's hand written notes detailing the changes he made to the lyrics. They also had Diana's brother's touching eulogy that he gave at her funeral enlarged and mounted on the wall. 

From that room you walked into a fabulous room filled with different outfits she had worn through the years. Famous suits, dresses and evening gowns with photos and the history behind each one...seeing these dresses was such a bonus! We thought we were just going to see the wedding gown!

They had a small gift shop as you made your way to the exit through the final hall where there were cases and shelves filled with books of condolences from all over the world. 

We also found out that Diana and Charles's wedding cake replica was on display at a nearby hotel so we ventured out to find it! The cake was a fruit cake with apples, grapes and other fruits topped with cream cheese frosting. You could get samples at the hotel restaurant but I decided to pass since I am chocolate lover. :) It was quite the exhibit and it was such a unique experience that I will always remember!

New 2011 Dresses!

We are receiving more and more new dresses every week! We have a great new selection of Aire Barcelona, Enzoani and Amy Kuschel. We're excited with our upcoming trunk shows this spring starting the end of January with KittyChen Couture and three shows in February. Check out our website for our trunk show list and be sure to make your appointment early, they are booking fast! Our prom dresses will be out the second week in February but we are taking Prom Dresser applications now!

The Dress by Nicole is also receiving a lot of new accessories including hair jewelry, belts and beaded trims! Looking for the perfect shoe? We have a new collection of shoes that have peacock feathers, crystals, flower petals and can be dyed in almost any color. Stop by today and see our exciting new goodies!

It's Time for Prom!

With the holidays quickly coming and going it will be prom season before we know it! As we did last year The Dress by Nicole is looking for young ladies that would like to become Prom Dressers for the 2011 season. There are all sorts of incentives for our Prom Dressers where they could potentially earn a free prom dress! Check out our website today for details and apply quickly! Only a few Prom Dressers can be chosen.