Wednesday, December 29, 2010

DIY Wonderland Decorations



Hi, ladies! Did you notice the backgrounds in our winter lookbook? Here's how we created our wonderland atmosphere, with the collaboration of Summer from Grey Likes Weddings and art direction/photography by Stephanie Williams. We hope you can use these ideas or find inspiration for your wedding or birthday photo booths, engagement photo shoots, holiday cards, party decor, or whatever else your creative heart desires.

Yarn Balls




1. Blow up balloons to different sizes, and try to mold them into spheres as you blow them up. We used regular party balloons that you can find at the store, but you can search online for larger balloons as well. Tie the balloons instead of knotting them.

2. Mix Elmers Glue (the basic white glue) with water in a bowl. We recommend adding a little bit of water at a time so prevent the mixture from becoming too thin. The end result should be similar to the consistency of paint.

3. This next step is just like paper mache. Pick out any yarn of your choice and dip the yarn into the glue mixture. Wrap the yarn around the balloons until you've reached your desired look.

4. Hang the wrapped balloons from the knot to dry. It may take a day or two for them to dry completely. Once dry, the balloons will fill stiff.

5. Try to separate the balloon from the yarn by pushing the balloon. Slowly let the air out of the balloons by untying the tie (rather than popping them) and continue to gently separate the yarn from the balloon's surface.

Tah-dah! You now have amazing and unique decorations.

Mixed Media Streamers





For this background we hung parchment paper and rolled it down to the floor. In front of it, we hung tulle, cotton fabric, coffee filters, and confetti streamers.

1. Cut the tulle into strips varying thickness. Hang the strips as they are or tie random knots to add interest. To add volume, string fishing line through the tulle, tie a knot, scrunch up the fabric, and tie another knot to keep the tulle puffy and in place.

2. Here's the easiest step! Cut any cotton fabric of your choice into strips. Mix it up with patterns and textured fabric.

3. String fishing line through the coffee filters and tie a knot in the line wherever you want filters to stop. Play around with the spacing for interest.

4. The confetti streamers can be found in any party supply section. You can twist, scrunch, or leave the streamers as they are. Let your creativity soar with this step.




And that's it! You've created your own wonderland atmosphere. We'd love to see photos if you end up trying out any of these tips!

Love,
Ruche

Friday, December 17, 2010

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

The Search for the Perfect Dress


We all have holiday parties and events to go to this season and know what it's like to search for the perfect dress. Problem is, we don't all have the same body shape! Lucky for you, Ruche understands the importance of flattering your specific figure. That's why we've created a holiday shape guide for finding the right dress! First find your closest body type, and then browse our best fits for you!



Petite- Short and small all over.

Boyish- Tall and thin. Bust, waist, and hips are all about the same size.

Pear- Small on top, smaller waist and larger hips.

Curvy- Larger through the bust and hips, smaller in the waist.


Here are your results!

Petite
Flatter your cute figure rather than overwhelm it! Clothes can often overwhelm your figure, which makes you look shorter or like you're playing dress-up your big sister's hand-me-downs. The best dresses for you are those that have detailing to add the appearance of curves. It is important, however, to make sure your hemline is not too long and that the details aren't bigger than you are! Solid colors ensure that the clothes won't overpower your small frame.

Your Dresses:



Boyish
You can dress this body shape with almost anything! Both short, shapeless swing dresses and longer streamline dresses with detailing at the hip and bust to add curves look great on you! You can also play with the silhouette by adding volume in top.

Your Dresses:


Pear
Highlight your figure's fabulous attributes! As a pear shape, show off your smaller top half and waist by having a well-fitted waist line and a flowy bottom half to accentuate (but not emphasize) your hips.

Your Dresses:



Curvy
Fun holiday dresses can be frustrating to find when you have a sexy curvaceous body shape. Highlight your favorite attribute by showing off your arms, legs, chest, or back, but avoid revealing everything together. Also, accentuate your smallest point (often your true waistline or just under the bust). Shapeless dresses can make you look big all over instead of giving you the hourglass shape everybody envies.

Your Dresses:


While you search for your perfect dress, we hope this guide helps! Finding the right look for your body shape will simply enhance your beauty. We already know you're beautiful.

xo,
Ruche

Monday, December 6, 2010

All I want for winter...

Let's create the perfect outfit for sophisticated champagne toasts. Let's sparkle and shine in everlasting photographs. Reinvent your wonderland wardrobe with textured layers and a touch of shimmer. Add polish and charming details for those special moments and future memories. Reflect, celebrate, and look forward, ladies. Here's to you, the new year, and your vision of beauty.

With love,
Ruche

PS. Lookbook Contest and DIY coming soon!

Photography by Stephanie Williams, Set Design by Summer Watkins from Grey Likes Weddings, Styling by Ruche, Makeup and Hair by KC Witkamp, Braids by Ting Lan