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Salvatore Ferragamo: Shoemaker to the Stars
How many people can say that they found their professional calling at the age of 9? We hear of musical or math prodigies, but who knew that a young boy could be a prodigy of footwear? Fortunately for all those with an appreciation of high style,...
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Alternative Wedding Ceremony Vows and Readings
Most wedding ceremonies are very traditional and feature the same Biblical readings and standard vows. While the old customs can be beautiful, for some couples, they simply are not original enough. Your wedding is one of the very few occasions in...
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Gracious Thank You Notes for Wedding Gifts
With so much of our communication being electronic these days, many people have lost the knowledge of how to hand write a personal note. While a phone call, text, or email might be fine for most of our everyday messages, when it comes to thanking...
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The Bridal Party: Roles, Responsibilities, and Choosing the Right People
Ensure that your special day goes smoothing by choosing the best suited people to support you.
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Emily Post: Society, Scandal, and Etiquette
"Manners are a sensitive awareness of the feelings of others. If you have that awareness, you have good manners, no matter what fork you use." Those who assume that the first lady of etiquette was a proper person from a privileged background would...
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How to Create Professional Looking DIY Wedding Centerpieces
Do it yourself wedding projects are more popular than ever these days. Whether the bride is trying to work within a tight budget or simply wants to put her personal stamp on her reception, many are opting to craft their own wedding centerpieces. Not...
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The Guys' Guide to Engagement Ring Shopping
The four little words that will change everything: "Will you marry me?". Few things in life are more intimidating than shopping for an engagement ring. There is the discomfort with buying something about which you may know very little, the nagging...
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Katharine Hepburn: A True Yankee Original
If there was ever an American actress who personified the spirit of individualism, it would have to be Katharine Houghton Hepburn. Mayflower descendant, daughter of a suffragette, and an athlete, Katharine Hepburn was a true original. Perhaps almost...
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Irish Wedding Customs, Superstitions, and Lucky Traditions
We have all heard the expression “the luck of the Irish”. When a bride begins planning a wedding based on Irish customs, it is very true that much of what she does will be based on trying to bring good luck to the marriage and to shun bad luck...
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The Long and Short of It: History of Hair
Gimme head with hair Long beautiful hair Shining, gleaming, Streaming, flaxen, waxen You can tell a lot about a society by the way the women and men in it wear their hair. Far beyond mere fashion trends, hairstyles often convey political...
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Modern Dating Etiquette
For as long as there have been men and women, there has been the desire to meet that special someone. Dating has been around forever, and in every society there have been unwritten (and sometimes written) rules that spelled out the right and wrong...
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Legendary Photographer Richard Avedon
“There is no such thing as inaccuracy in a photograph. All photographs are accurate. None of them is the truth.” So said legendary photographer Richard Avedon, the New York native whose artistic vision forever changed the way fashion was...
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German Wedding Customs
Traditional wedding customs are an important part of weddings around the globe. Each culture has their own unique customs which make weddings meaningful and enjoyable. German weddings are rich with numerous customs which would make a wonderful...
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Planning a Catholic Wedding
In the Roman Catholic faith, a wedding is about much more than marrying two people; it is a celebration of their love for God and each other. The engagement period is not only for nailing down the details of a beautiful wedding, but also for...
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Platinum History, Jewelry, and Prices
When you hear the world “platinum”, what comes to mind? Platinum weddings, platinum albums, platinum credit cards, and of course platinum jewelry. In other words, platinum symbolizes the ultimate in luxury and status. An extremely rare metal,...
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The Roaring 20s: Jazz, Flappers, and the Charleston
At the end of World War I, society experienced a dramatic shift. Shaking off the misery and shell-shock, young people broke with traditional values and embraced all things modern. Women cast off their corsets, literally and figuratively, bobbed...
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Etiquette: Origins, Misconceptions, and Modern Forms
To many people, etiquette is nothing more than the art of trying to catch someone using the incorrect fork at a dinner party. They are mistaken, however, as etiquette has served as a code of social behavior for centuries, and a very useful one, at...
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Tropical Destination Weddings
The beach wedding is the ultimate in romance and relaxation. Beaches are among the world's most romantic locales for weddings. Imagine exchanging your vows on a beautiful white sand beach with the sun sparkling on the ocean in the background and...
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Grace Kelly: American Royalty
If there was ever an icon of elegance, style, and refinement, it would have to be Grace Kelly. The third child in a family of a self-made Philadelphia millionaire, Miss Kelly went on to have a brief, but spectacular career as an actress, followed by...
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Hitchcock Blondes: Cool, Platinum, and Daring
Learn about some of the actresses in this famous director's films.
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The New York Times Newspaper Wedding Announcements
Once called the “Plaza of newspaper wedding announcements”, for brides to be, there is nothing more prestigious than being featured in The New York Times wedding announcements in the Sunday Styles section. With roughly only one in five...
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The Rise and Fall of the Supermodel
According to Claudia Schiffer, “In order to become a supermodel one must be on all the covers all over the world at the same time so that people can recognize the girls.” And she would know; the beautiful Schiffer at one time earned $12 million...
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Emeralds: Facts, History, and Legendary Gems
The spectacular Seringapatam Jewels on display in the V&A Museum Did you know that diamonds are not the world's most valuable gems? There is another gemstone, which in its most fine form, can be even more rare and costly than a fine diamond of the...
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Arranged Marriages, Past and Present
"The Arranged Marriage", 1862 painting by Vasili Pukirev An arranged marriage is the union of a man and a woman which is brought about by someone other than the bride and groom. Historically, it was the primary way in which future spouses were...
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The 7 Most Influential Bridal Gown Designers
Every season, the bridal designers debut their latest collections in New York. There are numerous designers, but from those, there are a select few whose collections are always eagerly anticipated, much sought after by brides, and often imitated by...
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Five Wardrobe Essentials Every Woman Should Own
Every woman wants to be chic and stylish, yet many do not know how to begin planning their wardrobe. The key to looking polished and appropriate in any situation is not spending a fortune on designer clothing or jewelry, but building your wardrobe...
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The Iconic Audrey Hepburn
Audrey Hepburn in her most iconic role, Holly Golightly in "Breakfast at Tiffany's" Consult any list of the most famous style icons of all time, and at the very top will be Audrey Hepburn. Known for her elegance and chic simplicity, Hepburn has...
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Art Deco Style
The Art Deco movement was a glamorous new style that captured the excitement of the Machine Age and the sophistication of the Roaring 20s. Art Deco was officially launched in Paris in 1925, and rapidly took hold throughout the rest of Europe and in...
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A Brief History of Wedding Cakes - Traditional to Contemporary
The wedding cake is the showpiece of any modern wedding. Elaborately decorated and often costing thousands of dollars, the bride's cake is one of the key features of the wedding reception. For as long as people have celebrated special occasions,...
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Truman Capote's Black And White Ball
The great celebrity party of 1966.
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History of Lace Making
Lace has long been a treasured decorative element for fashion, especially bridal fashion. Cherished for its delicate workmanship and airy patterns, lace has been worn as an adornment since the 15th Century. This is a look at the history of lace, its...
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Language of Wedding Flowers
The flowers are one of the most important decorative elements in a wedding. They add color, scent, and convey a specific tone, depending on the type of flower chosen. But did you know that flowers can say much more than that? Dating back to...
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Tiffany & Co: Most Famous Jewelry Store
A brief history of America's most beloved and iconic name in jewelry.
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Body Adornment Throughout History
For as long as human beings have existed, they have sought to adorn themselves with symbols of status, membership, and beauty. Dating back before recorded history, people have used movable ornaments such as jewelry and permanent markings like...
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Life And Style Of Coco Chanel
Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel once said that, "Simplicity is the keynote of all true elegance." This one statement eloquently sums up the philosophy of the designer who revolutionized the way that women dressed. Coco Chanel rose from humble origins to...
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Second Weddings
There was a time when most marriages were expected to last a lifetime and to be divorced was a shameful condition, especially for a woman. As times have changed, though, divorce has become much more common. This in no way means that Americans have...
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The Legends, Histories, and Superstitions of the World's Most Famous Gems
Gemstones have captured the imagination of people since ancient times. They have been used as declarations of love, the spoils of war, gifts to show reverence, and especially as symbols of wealth and royal power. The most renowned, impressive, and...
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Pearl Jewelry Throughout History
Pearls have been treasured since antiquity. They have been revered for their iridescence, their radiance, their luster, and elegant beauty. People have crushed pearls into their makeup, ingested them as medicine, and worn them as protective amulets....
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Summer Solstice Weddings - A Midsummer Night's Dream
The summer solstice falls on Friday, June 20th at 23:59 this year. June has long been a favorite month for weddings, and being married on the summer solstice is especially auspicious. The month of June was named for Juno, the Roman goddess of...
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Why Swarovski Crystals Are So Popular
The Swarovski Company is well-known for their lines of sparking jewelry, that creates a web of rainbow-hued light. The crystal beads that make up Swarovski crystal jewelry contain approximately 32% lead to maximize refraction are perfectly cut, and...