DREAMING OF :: DELPHINE MANIVET

If you every drifted off to sleep and dreamed of a whimsical place filled with lace, silk and tulle it might just look something like the world of Delphine Manivet.

A French {bein sur!} designer who opened up shop in 2004 Ms. Manivet’s gowns are seriously the hight of simplistic beauty. Is it possible to tire of her signature dreamy details? Open backs, lace overlays, sweet buttons and bows? I doubt it.

And guess what? She goes beyond the bridal gown with dreamy options for showers and brunches too! {Or a super chic, low key beach wedding}

What do you think of Delphine Manivet’s collection?

images:: junebug weddings // style me pretty // weddings illustrated //  un beau jour // delphine manivet

One response on “DREAMING OF :: DELPHINE MANIVET

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MID-CENTURY MUSE

Full confession – I’m mildly obsessed with Lana Del Rey. Not just her music, but her total look seems like it comes from another era. So when she gets herself in that vintage-retro-goodness mode, I kind of just want to be her. Like here…

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I’m not one to lean towards a mid-century modern vibe (there’s too much of it here on the west coast that’s done really really poorly), but when I saw this Lana editorial it did remind me of one vintage-inspired home that I would very happily call my own…

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I’m not sure how you wouldn’t be inspired to slip on a perfectly-fitted dress, don some kitten heels, and add a little heavy eye liner (à la Lana) when getting ready in this bedroom! Not to mention it’s so big I could do cartwheels around the bed.

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I think what I like about it is that it doesn’t feel overly done. Check out this insane patio too…

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Do you think maybe I could just sneak myself into the pool house? Pretty please?

images :: lana del rey // home designed by jamie bush

3 responses on “MID-CENTURY MUSE

  1. Dawna Jones

    I’m not a big fan of her music, but love her look totally suits her. I have always loved the midcentury look, but in small doses, I’m not big on one look done through an entire house, a little goes a long way in my books!

    Reply
  2. Patty

    There is something appealing about mid-century modern, maybe that there is so much available here in Dallas, but it just isn’t my choice, however, this pool house is amazing. Thanks, Patty

    Reply

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WHAT TO WEAR :: THE SEASIDE WEDDING

Returning today to our little wedding season-inspired What to Wear series, today’s recommended attire is all about the the beach!

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Normally for a beach wedding, I think easy breezy dresses – maybe even something a bit nautical – but when I saw this one, I knew it had to be my pick for a wedding by the sea…

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The lacy detail on the dress reminds me of seafoam, and the ruffles and pleats like waves. It’s such an unexpected, delicate look! The dress itself is still fairly casual, so I decided to amp things up a little with metallic details…

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Love the way this dress moves!! Perfect for some late-night dancing.

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I especially love a sexy sandal and edgy ring to offset the sweetness of the dress.

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Such beautiful textures, don’t you think? I think this dress is one that will be used again and again…

shop :: dress (mine is petite!) // earrings // necklace // ring // clutch // heels // bracelets from my personal collection

11 responses on “WHAT TO WEAR :: THE SEASIDE WEDDING

  1. melanie

    I used to love your blog, but lately you’ve been trying way too hard to model and you look ridiculous doing it. Not relate able at all anymore. So much for being an interiors blog.

    Reply
    1. Kristin

      I have never commented before but I just wanted to say I enjoy your blog and I enjoy the outfit posts. You DO NOT look ridiculous…keep doing what you’re doing!

      Reply
    2. Cassandra LaValle Post author

      Hi Melanie – I’m so sorry that you feel this way, and felt the need to be rude in getting your point across. I know that over the years my blog has grown and changed to reflect my own changing tastes and interests. It has, however, ALWAYS featured fashion as a source of inspiration. I don’t believe in focusing on just one topic of design when all of them influence me in so many ways – from interiors to entertaining to fashion. And I have always been clear in that goal.

      The point of doing these outfitting posts is not to make myself the center of attention, but to create original content beyond just posting images of clothing. They take hours to produce, and quite frankly, it took me a very long time to get to the point where I felt comfortable in doing them. It was only after encouragement from readers and friends that I decided to go for it. Our first attempt at this series was such a hit that I decided to a second one. (Did you note that? It’s only the SECOND time I’ve done this.) I like to show how someone who’s NOT a fashionista, who is NOT a size zero, and who is all of 5’2″ can still pull off some pretty looks.

      I will also fully admit that my blog is a business, and as such, we enjoy working with sponsors who come from the fashion world. Opening the blog up to opportunities to work with those sponsors in new ways – like outfitting posts – allows me to keep my job. Which, you know, is nice.

      I still have plenty of interior design inspiration, this month just happens to be a bit more focused on weddings. Next month will be a bit more focused on my travels to Africa. I hope that doesn’t offend you either. And if it does, please take your negativity elsewhere. There are plenty of gorgeous interior design blogs out there waiting for you to discover them.

      Reply
  2. Haylie

    I think this look is absolutely gorgeous, however I don’t think it is practical for a seaside wedding. I did a post recently on wedding attire too and also did a beach wedding. I am from the Oregon Coast and I know from experience of working at beach weddings and attending that anything short and flowy is a bad idea unless you want to be holding down your dress all night and flashing everyone when the wind happens, and it will on the beach!

    Reply
    1. Cassandra LaValle Post author

      Hi Haylie! Point taken – some seaside weddings can definitely be a bit breezy. I’ve certainly attended quite a few, and find that most of the time the guests head inside after the ceremony for that very reason! So, for me, this pick doesn’t seem too unpractical, but I do suppose it depends on the exact location and agenda for the evening!

      Reply
  3. Tiffany

    I just wanted to say that I absolutely love and follow your blog religiously. Being a blogger myself I find it a real source of inspiration. Quite frankly in the blogging industry it is hard to not have different themes overlap, it’s all part of the business, and no matter what you do as a blogger you can’t satisfy everybody. That being said though, I think Cassandra has done a great job pleasing her audience and actually turned her dream into a business which only a handful of bloggers are realistically able to fulfill. I don’t consider your outfit posts to be ridiculous at all. In fact you resemble what an average, beautiful, and successful woman looks like by staying true to who you are as a person, which is hard to do in a society that is constantly forcing most women to follow the industry “norm” and is waiting for the next opportune moment to tear her image apart. Personally kudos to you, you look beautiful! And if people have a problem with the direction your blog has taken, then no one is forcing them from moving on to finding a new source of inspiration.

    Reply

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RETURN FROM WINE COUNTRY…

Mondays are always a little harder during the summer, but man are they even harder when returning from this!

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If you’re keeping track, yes, this is my second wedding this summer where I’ve had to spend an extended weekend in wine country. This time, in Napa (last time was Sonoma!). Which, meant that I also got to spend a little time in one of my favorite cities – San Francisco.

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A long late lunch with miss Caitlin (of Sacramento Street) at Piccino and a bit of sightseeing around the bay was the perfect way to kick off the weekend…

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We spent all day on Friday wine-tasting, but Saturday may have been my favorite. We settled in on the porch at Frog’s Leap, and enjoyed a leisurely few hours of tasting, nibbling, and catching up with good friends.

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It reminded me how rare it is to get a group of bloggers together for a weekend that doesn’t involve work! Instead, we were there to celebrate the nuptials of one miss Crystal Gentilello! And what a stunning wedding it was…

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A huge congrats to the beautiful couple. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen two people more in love! And thank you for giving us all the excuse for a long weekend together. It was the perfect little getaway!

Sidenote – does anyone carry real cameras with them anymore? I captured the entire weekend with my iphone, and every one of these photos were pilfered from my instagram. It was so fun to wake up Sunday morning and scroll through my feed to see all the photos from the wedding!

7 responses on “RETURN FROM WINE COUNTRY…

  1. Karena

    Cassandra what a fabulous trip; I love visiting the vineyards!
    A huge congratulations to Crystal!! Beautiful setting for her wedding!

    xoxo
    Karena
    Art by Karena

    Reply
  2. Kerri

    Looks gorgeous and wonderful! I am filled with envy as I also love San Francisco! Thank you for sharing!

    Kerri xxx

    Reply
  3. Michaela

    Ah! I would except nothing less than that gorgeous table scape from Crystal :) ) What a gorgeous day I’m sure it was! Glad you had fun in San Francisco! Can’t wait to move back there on Wednesday :)

    Reply

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GET THE LOOK :: LITTLE WHITE DRESS

Keira could have worn a show-stopping gown of epic proportions for her nuptials in the South of France (imagine the options!), but she surprised us all when she wed in a short tulle number with flats! Cristina here, and I totally get that floor-length lace is not for everyone, so on today’s Get the Look we’re sharing inspiration for the low-key brides.

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When choosing your little white dress, one with a bit of volume below the waist will elevate the look. Plus an A-line silhouette flatters most body shapes. I kept this look simple and modern for our non-traditional bride with a short silk frock and a minimal nude sandal. A couple contemporary touches like succulents in the bouquet and turquoise in the wedding ring (something blue!) give this look a fun twist.

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shop :: dress lanvin // headband rosantica // bouquet anette gomez via bustle blog // shoes zara // wedding band with turquoise mociun // knot ring mary john // perfume MCMC fragrances

*images via 1 just jared // 2 karlas closet // 3 tuula vintage

4 responses on “GET THE LOOK :: LITTLE WHITE DRESS

  1. Dawna Jones

    If I had to do it all over again, this is exactly how I would go. I love that it is playful and fun, but still wedding appropriate, thanks for the share!

    Reply
  2. Karena

    Stunning white dresses for a wedding ! I would keep the length at the knee though; otherwise it looks to me like a party dress.

    xoxo
    Karena
    Art by Karena
    Giveaway by Splendid Sass

    Reply

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COOKING FOR A CROWD :: RHUBARB CLAFOUTIS

True confession; I am not a big dessert person. In fact, I rarely indulge in dessert! (Though, I make up for the calories in bourbon consumption, so there’s that.) Sweet tooth or not, desserts are lovely additions to any meal and most people like to cap off the evening with a pleasurable nibble.

Amy Pennington - RhubarbClafoutis is a French dessert made up of an eggy batter and traditionally cherries, though I see no good reason to stick that that fruity formula. Rhubarb is in season now, and offers a tangy edge to sweet desserts that is perfectly delicious, allowing for a few bites of satiating sweetness after a meal. I added this humble dessert to the Rhubarb line up in my recently released eBook Fresh Pantry: Rhubarb.

Here, eggs are cooked into a thick, custard-like tart along with bits of rhubarb and sugar making this a super easy dessert to make. In essence, rhubarb is tossed with sugar and placed on the bottom of a baking tin. From there, eggs are whipped together with some flour and cream and poured over the rhubarb, then baked. VOILA – dessert is done!

Amy Pennington - Rhubarb

The extra bonus with rhubarb clafoutis comes not only in its ease, but also in the low cost of ingredients needed. Check with friends to see if anyone has a rhubarb plant growing – I bet you’d be surprised! A few notes for party planning – this dessert can be assembled and baked before guests arrive – either the morning of your party or the night before. That moist, rich pudding-like center allows for an extended stay at room temperature without any of the usual staleness associated with baked goods.

Warm the clafoutis slightly in the oven before serving. And, I know I’m going to sound like an old lady here, but please trust me (because both of these beverages offer a floral note that play off the rhubarb for a fabulous pairing) when I say to serve the clafoutis along with a cup of hot herbal tea OR a small nip of sherry. So good!

Amy Pennington - Rhubarb

Rhubarb Clafoutis // makes one 8-inch tart

  • 5 ounces rhubarb (about 1 thin stalk), trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
  • ¾ cup sugar, divided
  • 3 eggs
  • ⅓ cup all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup milk
  • ½ cup heavy cream
  • ½ vanilla bean pod, seeds scraped

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Add the rhubarb and ¼ cup of the sugar to the bottom of an 8-inch tart pan and toss until evenly distributed. Set aside. In a medium-sized bowl, whisk the eggsuntil well beaten. Sift the flour into the bowl and whisk to combine well. (Sifting flour minimizes the occurrence of lumps in the batter.) Add the remaining ½ cup of the sugar, milk, heavy cream, and the vanilla bean seeds to the bowl, whisking until well combined and thickened.

Pour the batter over the rhubarb-sugar mixture and place the tart pan in the oven. Bake until the edges pull away from sides of the tart pan and the top is golden brown, about 25 to 30 minutes. Serve warm.

Pantry Note: Leftover clafoutis can be stored in the fridge, well covered,  for up to three days. Save the vanilla bean pod for making vanilla sugar, or if you can’t find a vanilla pod, add a spoonful of vanilla extract to the batter, instead.

Excerpted from Fresh Pantry: Rhubarb – Cook Seasonally, Eat Smart & Learn to Love Your Rhubarb, Skipstone Books 2013

 

5 responses on “COOKING FOR A CROWD :: RHUBARB CLAFOUTIS

  1. Corbin

    I was trying to find rhubarb the other weekend to put it in muffins and couldn’t find any! It seems to be a hot item at the moment.

    Reply

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WHAT TO WEAR :: THE TRADITIONAL WEDDING

While not quite on the level of a black-tie affair, there are plenty of weddings these days that are still traditionalists at heart. They’re the ones whose receptions are likely to be found in country clubs, hotel ballrooms and private estates. And while these somewhat formal affairs require a bit more of a traditional dress – who says that dress can’t have a bit of a twist?

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And if that twist happens to come in the form of a giant white ruffle… well, that’s even better, right?

coco+kelley what to wear traditional wedding3If ever there was a year for going back to basic black and white for weddings, this would be it. This classic couple has been all over the red carpets lately, and that means it’s more than wedding appropriate! 
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I love when I get the chance to glam up a dress, and this one calls for some striking accessories – go bold with earrings and bag alike!

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Of course, a fabulous pair of sunnies and catching the bride’s bouquet will just be ruffled icing on the cake! And, in case you’re wondering, this dress is now in my permanent collection – I can’t wait to wear it this weekend to what’s sure to be a fabulous wedding!

shop :: dress // earrings // ring personal collection (similar one here) // heels 

7 responses on “WHAT TO WEAR :: THE TRADITIONAL WEDDING

  1. Beth

    Oh my gosh, at first glance I thought that second photo was one of a severely miss-shapen person, the way that ruffle blends in with the white background. Kinda freaky-looking.

    Reply
  2. Laura @ the shorehouse

    I adore this photo set! I love, love your hair and styling, especially in the close-up side view. Simply gorgeous,

    Reply

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