Thankless Art

A few days ago, while clicking around the blog, I realized, to my pleasant surprise, that somehow I had gotten to the 1K reader mark at some point this year. This discovery made my heart skip a beat, naturally. So I wanted to take a quick moment to thank everyone who takes a few minutes off their lives to come read my rambling monologues, and participates by leaving words of support and encouragement. Thank you.

  

This also got me to thinking about how my life has changed since having started this little bloggy (ad)venture. Most obvious among its effects has been the fact that putting my sartorial habits out there for people to peruse has made me a more thoughtful dresser: I make an effort to put things together in more creative and unique ways than I did before, and am part of a community of other creative bloggers (and readers!) who provide me with constant inspiration and push me to try new things I never thought I would. I am more purposeful in what I put into my closet and on my body than I've ever been before. An unintended, surprising and very happy side benefit of fashion blogging Ball Gown Prom Dress in general, and of thoughtful dressing in particular, is that I now spend less- much less- on clothing than I used to before. I have a reasonable monthly budget and I stick to it ruthlessly, because just glancing at my blog reminds me of how much I already have. And because I spend less on clothes, I have more in hand, which allows me to, simply put, live better. I don't live like a queen, but I can allow myself little pleasures like giving to others.view mroe

I make pictures for a living. I know, right?! Leading the "OmgNoWay" parade is my poor, befuddled mother: It's difficult for her to understand why I would choose to give up (temporarily, she hopes) on a promising academic career in favor of something as trivial as taking pictures of strangers. Something so undemanding of my intellectual potential, so frivolous, so ignoble, that it is often referred to as my hobby. Why not go back to graduate school? Write a book? Do something other than spend hours in the sweltering heat, with sweat on my brow and bloodied feet, climbing down a sheer, rocky drop or wading waist-deep through muddy waters to get the perfect picture of the best day of someone else's life, only to have many of them never so much as acknowledge me with a smile or a "thank you" afterwards. So why do I do it? I'll tell you if you tell me.

     

Why do you do what you do for a living?view more

   

A-line One Shoulder Applique Chiffon Prom Dress

A-line one shoulder applique chiffon prom dress is crafted in elegant beaded chiffon, leading into a flowing dress! This

tri-stripped shoulder is defined by stones that highlight the bust. Be the envy of all your friends with this fabulous

daffodil color. It is a great selection for your prom or other formal occasion.

Fabric: Chiffon

Style: A-line style, one shoulder, high waist, beaded embellishment, applique detail, floor length

Washing: Hand wash/dry clean separately, hang dry, iron at low temperature, no chlorine bleaching, less than 10 minutes soak time.

Couture Fashion Week: Susannah Frankel's Report On Giambattista Valli's Spring 2013 Collection

Time for tea? For the third year running this summer is all about the Royals. With Kate Middleton's due date just days away, royal frenzy has reached fever pitch. How better to celebrate then than to indulge in the most English of undertakings - afternoon tea.

This year, why not give your classic coronation chicken - a staple of afternoon tea - a twist? Gizzi Erskine's new recipe - served with the Coronation Afternoon Tea at John Lewis

 on Oxford Street in London - adds mango salsa and watercress. Gizzi herself has said of the recipe; “This really is another exciting year for the UK and I can’t think of a better way to celebrate than to recreate the classic coronation chicken. I’ve tried everyone from Mrs. Beatons to Delia Smith’s recipes and it’s the ability to reflect on all of these that I feel has given me the best results; start with poaching chicken in a saffron scented stock, cook off aromatics and spices in a spice mix, use half Mayonnaise and half Greek yoghurt and then finish with fresh mango, chilli salsa and fresh watercress – the perfect recipe for the royal celebrations.”view more

If the spring/summer haute couture season opened with two blockbuster shows – Atelier Versace and Dior haute couture – then Giambattista Valli’s collection saw something of a return to the discipline’s old school good manners and restraint in terms of presentation at least.

This was held in the suitably grand salons of the Italian Embassy – think the most spectacular antique crystal chandeliers and elaborate gold plasterwork – with guests perched politely on the requisite gilt-edged chairs.

The clothes too spoke of couture’s mid-Twentieth Century glory days. Sack backs and balloon dresses (both Cristobal Balenciaga signatures), wasp waists and full skirts (Christian Dior) and – in particular – quite the most dramatic floor-sweeping trains. This, then, was about grand entrance dressing, no holds barred.view more

Lady Gaga might be the queen of outlandish costume changes but for her best friend’s wedding this week she totally toned it down by wearing a classic and traditional bridesmaid dress. The singer tweeted a picture of her and four fellow bridesmaids wearing ballgown style blush dresses by twobirds Bridesmaid. The company offers brides-to-be the option to customise their dresses in fifteen different ways – meaning picky bridesmaids can opt for a halterneck or Grecian style draping depending on their body.Pleated Prom Dress Lady Gaga went for the Grecian twist cross back (£250) – and in doing so managed to stick to the key bridesmaid rule: don’t upstage the bride. But other A-lister bridesmaids have been less successful. Here’s a look at the lessons we can learn from some very famous maids of honour…view more

After a difficult few months for Angelina Jolie, it seems the star is now concentrating on organising her wedding. We report on last week's whispers that she's been scouting for venues in Hawaii...

A new survey suggests that one-third of women in their twenties keep their maiden names when they get married, with some experts suggesting the main cause is feminism. But is taking your husband's surname really a backwards step? Two writers who married in their twenties explain why they did - and didn't - take theirs...

When Charles Saatchi said he was divorcing Nigella Lawson last week, her son and daughter joined the rising ranks of grown-up children affected by late-life divorces. We speak to a young woman who tells us that watching your parents break up as an adult can be just as devastating as when you're a child.view more

Talking to the Radio Times last week, Hall was talking about actors not speaking clearly in TV drama. Lots of news outlets picked up on the story. Lots of media outlets ran their own lists of top TV mumblers. None of the lists featured women.Princess Prom Dresses

I am a woman who has mumbled for the last 11 years. Prior to that, I had a mild stutter, which segued into the former when I was 16 or 17. Quite the bedfellows, although it’s the mumbling, a consistent hangover, which still hangs heavy over my everything. It makes socialising interesting. Repeating jokes three or four times, a highlight. I remember freezing during a work quiz when some tool shouted: ‘I’m sorry, Morwenna, I have no idea what you’re saying’ when I suggested the (right, incidentally) answer. Other choice responses include ‘What?’ and ‘nope. No idea what you said.’view more

We’re still reeling from the news that Simon Cowell is going to be a father so we would imagine that his harem may well be too. That’s right Lauren Silverman (the mother of his unborn child) isn’t the only woman to be party to Simon’s affections. He regularly holidays / attends events with / flirts with a whole series of women, here’s our guide to recognising them all (we've included pictures, as you may notice, they all look pretty similar?!).view more

Silhouette: A-line 

Neckline: Strapless 

Waist: Empire 

Hemline/Train: Floor-length 

Sleeve Length: Sleeveless 

Embellishments: Beading 

Fabric: Chiffon

Built-In Bra: Yes 

Fully Lined: Yes 

Shown Color: Purple, Watermelon, Yellow 

Body Shape: Hourglass, Inverted Triangle, Misses 

Occasion: Prom, Evening 

Season: Spring, Fall, Winter, Summer ,view more