Headlines This Week 12/4

• For her upcoming wedding to Tye Strickland, former Bachelor and Dancing with the Stars star Melissa Rycroft will walk down the aisle wearing an Alfred Angelo bridal gown. People.com
• The Wall Street Journal reports: “No one has ever purchased the Victoria’s Secret Fantasy Bra. Past bras — including the 2006 Hearts on Fire Diamond Fantasy Bra, worth $7 million — have all been dismantled.” FashionIndie.com

• Models Kasia Struss, Lara Stone, Natalia Vodianova, Christy Turlington, and Gisele Bundchen photographed themselves for Vogue Italia’s December 2009 Twitter Cover Story. FashionIndie.com
• Most blogs we look at wouldn’t use the word “ass” in a headline, so our curiosity was most piqued when we noticed it in big bold letters at the top of a Style.com post. NYMag.com

• It is a wonder that Tom Ford, the former creative director of Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent who turned louche sexuality into high fashion in the 1990s, didn’t try his hand at directing a movie sooner. NYTimes.com
• A gaggle of perfectly well behaved geese, prim as French schoolchildren, waddles down the catwalk, opening an over-the-top hallucinogenic circus parade to celebrate the “Sonia Rykiel pour H&M” collections (one lingerie, the other sweater dressing). Vogue.com

Ahhh! What Do I Wear to a Wedding?

It took one week, forty-something stores, and an unhealthy amount of caffeine to finally find an outfit. It was my friend Niki’s (a New York based interior designer with impeccable taste) wedding. Clearly, not just any outfit would do. I had to find the perfect dress. One that was unique, sexy, and figure-flattering—not an easy task.

After a treacherous (and I mean all weekend, all evening) search, I finally found this little green BCBG number from Nordstroms:

(Adorable, I know!)

When I showed up at the wedding I was a bit surprised. (I haven’t been to that many weddings.) Girls were wearing everything from your run of the mill Banana Republic casual dresses to officey skirts and blouses, and even slacks. I was shocked! Had I known this I could have easily dug something out of my closet and not had to endure the search from hell for the perfect cocktail dress. Even though Niki’s wedding was a formal, evening affair, people dressed rather casually. (Maybe that’s just Californian culture?!) Either way, I learned a thing or two about how to dress to impress at the next wedding I attend.

The three Never Ever Commandments of wedding wear are:

1. Do not wear white. It’s the bride’s day, don’t steal her thunder. There’s a rainbow of colors for you to choose from.
2. Don’t dress like a hoochie mama. Save your outfit that you wear to the club for the club.
3. Say no to jeans. It doesn’t matter if they are limited edition True Religion’s that cost you $500. It’s just inapropo.

First of all, take cue from the invite. Is it blaringly obvious that this is a formal, ballroom affair? Is it a casual backyard bbq? Is it a Cayman Island destination wedding? When in doubt don’t hesitate to call the couple, questions like this are expected.

While there are no hard and fast rules for wedding wear, here’s some basic tips to ensure you’re on the right track:

Daytime Wedding

Her: Floral cotton knee-length dress, knee-length skirt with blouse, tank, or sweater paired with heels, light colored pants with a dressy tank and heels
Him: Khakis and a button-down, light colored suit (linen is a great option), dress shirt with pants and a tie works too

Evening Wedding

Her: Tea-length cocktail dress (always your best bet in my opinion!), a dressy skirt and blouse with heels for added drama, accessories with your finest jewels
Him: Dark suit with tie (Remember to shave and brush your hair too!)

By and large, wear something that is your own style and that you feel comfortable in. Nobody is going to kick you out for being a little too casual, all eyes are on the bride anyways! When it doubt, overdress instead of underdressing. One thing I learned at Niki’s wedding was that the main purpose of a wedding is to drink, eat, dance, and be merry. Wear an outfit that’s conducive to all of the above (especially drinking and dancing!).

Headlines This Week 3/20

• If you’re the boss, you get to bring your dog to the office. Make that dogs plural. Valentino Garavani, the Italian fashion designer who reigned for 45 years before his retirement in September 2007, never went anywhere without his six adorable pet pugs. They, along with celebrity fans such as Gwyneth Paltrow, Anne Hathaway, Elizabeth Hurley and Sarah Jessica Parker, all turn up in Valentino: the Last Emperor, a fascinating new documentary about the designer. People.com
• Marc Jacobs and Lorenzo Martone are engaged. The designer and his ad executive boyfriend, who have been together for about a year, will go public with the news beginning Thursday, when they arrive in Brazil wearing rings. The couple is headed to Martone’s native Sao Paolo for a fete celebrating the Marc Jacobs multibrand store there, which opened in January. They have not set a wedding date. WWD.com
• I don’t need to be a bride to know the importance of wedding attire, and neither does Net-a-Porter. The site has just launched a cool wedding boutique and it’s filled with beautiful offerings for everyone in the bridal party. Each category — bridal, bridesmaid, mother of the bride, and guest — provides an in-depth selection of designer dresses and accessories. Think of it as an upscale online bridal salon minus the frumpy frocks. FabSugar.com
• An UPSIDE to the financial crisis: The auditor of Crocs has “substantial doubt” about the company’s ability to stay in business amid falling revenue. Praise! NYMag.com
• So you’re in Austin. Whether you’re there for South by Southwest, taking in the Star of Texas Fair and Rodeo or live there permanently, you might get a sudden itch to go Texas on your wardrobe. Statesman.com
• A Project Runway finalist is accused of using her cat as a weapon during a spat with her ex-fiance. Kenley Collins told the New York Post that the Brooklyn police report exaggerated the incident. She calls it “a miscommunication.” USAToday.com
• It’s amazing what a little contorted posing and photoshop (I’m assuming) can do for an overweight songbird. Adele is the latest chunk monster to get Voguefied. Annie Leibovitz shot this image of the recent Grammy winner, creating a shape that is a far, far cry for her normal build. FashionIndie.com