BLOOM: FAITH, FASHION, AND BUSINESS EMPOWERMENT SERIES SPOTLIGHT: Rochelle Gaston Malone

BLOOM readers, today I would like to introduce Rochelle Gaston Malone.  Rochelle is a teacher, author, mother, motivational speaker, and Birmingham native.  She utilizes her extensive education and wealth of personal experience to create renewed attitudes with her clients.

I interviewed Rochelle and learned more about this dynamic woman of empowerment and purpose.  She is also the granddaughter of prominent businessman A.G. Gaston.

BLOOM SPOTLIGHT:  Rochelle Gaston Malone

·       When you think of the word “successful,” who’s the first person who comes to mind and why? 

 When I think of the word successful, the first person that comes to my mind is Dr. A. G. Gaston. This civil rights icon accomplished the impossible during impossible circumstances. As an entrepreneur and philanthropist, he established relationships, not competitions, changed lives for the better and create wealth. I believe that he knew the key to success, and it was displayed through his accomplishments and his life which was founded on filling the needs of others. Dr. A. G. Gaston was my grandfather.

·       What topic would you speak about if you were asked to give a TED talk on something outside of your main area of expertise? 

 I would speak about legacy. The importance of understanding the process of how to leave a legacy when building one. It’s impacting how each of our lives is intentionally designed to empower others by providing the foundation for our future.

·       What is the best or most worthwhile investment you’ve made? It could be an investment of money, time, energy, or other resources. How did you decide to make the investment?

 The most worthwhile investment I’ve made is launching my Talk Show, Casual Conversations, a component of my ministry. I made the decision to make this investment when I stopped running from my calling to minister and change my perspective of what that would look like.

·       Do you have a quote you live your life by or think of often? 

 Oh, wow, quotes are what drive me. With that said, there are so many quotes that come to my mind. Each season of my life seems to be empowered by different ones, however, the one I would say that remains consistent is “You must be the change you want to see in the world” Mahatma Gundi. I believe this speaks to the purpose of my being, making the necessary personal change so that I have what it takes to empower others to do the same, an agent of change here on earth.

·       What advice would you give to your 20-, 25-, or 30-year-old self? And please place where you were at the time, and what you were doing. 

The advice that I’d give my younger self, would be to the 20-year-old me, who was a sophomore in college desperate to establish a relationship with her father because of her need for validation of her being enough. Rochelle, you are more than enough. It’s not the expectations, actions or rejection from others that validate you. Your validation was given to you before you formed in your mother’s womb. You were born with greatness in your DNA. The very essence of what makes you more than enough is already on the inside of you. Don’t allow anyone’s lack of identification of who you are and lack of awareness in your level of greatness direct your thoughts toward yourself to be anything but the truth of who and how God made you, fearfully and wonderfully in the likeness of Christ.

·       How has a failure, or apparent failure, set you up for later success? Or, do you have a favorite failure of yours? 

 The failure or shall I say failures that have set me up for later success are my failed marriages. It was from the growth during my recovery from these failures that I gained the strength and the motivation I needed to become empowered by life and empowered by faith. I believe, and I quote myself: “In order to know your greatness, you must first embrace your identity, know who you are, and then you will be able to choose who you become.” “A loss is not a failure but the door of opportunity to your next victory” because “It’s the response to former losses that create future victories” and “It’s the “I” in fight that makes it what it is and brings it all together, but It’s the strength behind the hand within the glove that creates the power of the punch.” “Your success and the success of those assigned to your life is all about choice.”

·       What do you believe is true, even though you can’t prove it? 

I actually don’t believe anything is true unless it can be proven. Even when we are faced with life-altering circumstances that change our realities as we’ve come to know them, the better days ahead may not be visible which can lead one to think it can’t be proven. In actuality, the evidence was provided as we were brought through the previous circumstances that had no relation to the present, but it was a part of the strengthening, shaping and molding process that proves this life-altering circumstance will also pass and better can be “Again”.

Follow Rochelle Gaston Malone and learn more about her talk show Casual Conversations on social media:  Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

“EMPOWERED WOMEN, EMPOWER WOMEN!”

ESSENCE Centers Black Women’s Wellness; Brings #ESSENCEWellnessHouse to Atlanta

Today, ESSENCE Communications Inc., the leading media, technology and commerce company serving Black women, announced that it is bringing its signature ESSENCE Wellness House to Atlanta on March 7th.  The ESSENCE Wellness House – an immersive wellness experience designed to support Black women on their collective and individual health and wellness journeys – will convene a host of wellness practitioners and A-list fitness professionals for an exclusive day-long retreat. The retreat will take place at the W Hotel Atlanta Midtown.

ESSENCE Wellness House serves as an extension to the brand’s unwavering commitment to Black women’s health and livelihood, as well as cultivating spaces for healing.  With robust experiences – including energizing workout sessions, intimate conversations, interactive workshops, massages, reiki, meditation and group discussions with leading industry experts – this full day of ESSENCE-curated programming is designed to rejuvenate the mind, body, and soul.

“As the leading global destination for Black women, ESSENCE embraces our position as a premier resource for their wellness as well – and we take that very seriously,” said Michelle Ebanks, CEO, ESSENCE Communications, Inc. “We know that Black women tend to focus more on the care of others than herself, and as a result, they are disproportionately affected by almost all major health crises affecting women in the United States.  So, it is incumbent upon ESSENCE to use our platform to bring wellness practices to Black women, create a safe space to gather and connect with culturally-informed spiritual, health and wellness practices.”

Highlights of the ESSENCE Wellness House on March 7th include:

  • Heart Health Real Talk: A Conversation with AMA’s First Black Female President with Charli Penn, ESSENCE Relationship and Wellness Director and Patrice A. Harris, MD, MA, President of American Medical Association
  • Get Your Mind Right: A Mindfulness Exercise with OmNoire’s Christina Rice
  • Introduction to Breathwork with Yoga Instructor and Holistic Health Educator Ona Hawk
  • Dance Your Pounds Off with Celebrity Dance and Fitness Instructor, Dwight Holt, Jr.
  • Preventing Burnout by Reclaiming Your Boundaries led by Licensed Clinical Psychologist Dr. Ayanna Abrams
  • Top Tips for Relationship Wellness & Sustainability: A Conversation with Aaron Turpeau Ph.D. and Derrick Jaxn

Additional exciting wellness professionals and influencers who will participate include Beatrice Dixon, Founder, and CEO of The Honey Pot; Alex Elle, Author & Self-Care Facilitator, Egypt Sherrod, TV host and Celebrity Home Space Expert; Rashan Ali, Multimedia Personality and co-host on the syndicated show Sister Circle; and more.

For more information and to purchase tickets:

visit essence.com/wellnesshouse and follow #ESSENCEWELLNESSHOUSE

Beyonce’ Honors Kobe and Gianna Bryant: Bold Purple Nails #NailsonFleek

The tragedy that occurred between Kobe and Gianna Bryant was earth-shattering to the entire world.

Celebrities and fans both searched for an opportunity to show their respect to the legend and his daughter.  Some wore Kobe’s basketball jersey while others created a poster, highlighting his name.

During the memorial, Beyoncé was seen dressed in purple and gold.  She even took it one step further by coordinating her manicure with her outfit.

This was a creative tribute to one of the greatest athletes of our time!  What are your thoughts about Beyoncé’s bold purple nails?

Photo Credit: @bey_world_ on Instagram

 

New Service Propels Bossy Cosmetics Customers to Reach Professional and Personal Goals

Bossy Cosmetics, makers of beautiful cruelty-free cosmetics for empowered women, and wiseHer, the platform that provides professional expert advice for women, announce “Beauty Meets Wisdom” an innovative collaboration empowering women to take a major step toward leveling up in their business, life, or career goals, by connecting with an experienced group of experts.

Beauty Meets Wisdom is open to Bossy Cosmetics customers, who spend a minimum of $50 on cosmetics. The customers will be able to select an experienced wiseHer expert and request a complimentary one-hour session.

With a new year and new decade upon us, customers shared that picking makeup looks was only one facet of their confidence-building story. In addition to wanting to look and feel “bossy”, they were equally focused on personal and career development – to be “bossy”.

Meeting Kathryn Rose, founder of wiseHer, during the Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center’s acclaimed Milestone Makers Program, and learning about her mission to propel women further and faster was exactly the partner Bossy Cosmetics founder and Chief Executive Officer, Aishetu Fatima Dozie, was looking for and a collaboration was born! wiseHer connects women with top consultants, mentors, coaches, and executives ready to support their ambitious life goals.

Beauty Meets Wisdom connects Bossy Cosmetics customers with wiseHer experts in all areas of business, including, but not limited to:

Career Planning

Marketing and Sales

Business Strategy

Leadership

Scaling A  Business

Branding

Conflict Management

Social Media

Work Life Integration and so much more.

Beauty Meets Wisdom launches February 10, 2020, in advance of International Women’s Day, (March 8, 2020), which also happens to be the 1st year anniversary of Bossy Cosmetics founding, because “every day is Women’s Day as far as we are concerned,” says Dozie.

Together, Bossy Cosmetics and wiseHer will embark on this program that encourages women at every stage of life or career to skill up or accelerate progress on the paths that they are on in order to build sustainable businesses, careers, families, and lives of their dreams. “With entrepreneurship, especially women-driven, and working mothers on the rise, (75 percent of full time working mothers have children under age 18), we are excited to partner with Bossy Cosmetics and offer women the expertise they seek to drive their lives and businesses forward,” says Kathryn Rose, CEO, wiseHer.  Information on Beauty Meets Wisdom may be found at: https://services.bossybeauty.com/coaching

About Bossy Cosmetics Inc. Bossy Cosmetics’ goal is to ignite confidence in ambitious working women through cruelty-free cosmetics, topical content, and essential services. Being a mission-driven company is an integral part of our DNA by selling and making gorgeous, ethically-made color cosmetics for people of all hues and partnering with non-profit organizations that actively promote social change for women and girls around the world.  Learn more about Bossy Cosmetics at https://bossybeauty.com or info@bossy.design

ESSENCE AND FREEFORM ANNOUNCE “GROWN-ISH AND BROKE”, STUDENT LOAN PAYOUT OPPORTUNITY

ESSENCE, the number one media, technology, and commerce company serving Black women, and Freeform, Walt Disney Television’s young adult television network, announce the launch of grown-ish and Broke—a debt payout program for students with undergraduate and student loans. ESSENCE and Freeform launched this innovative program to give students a financial head start so that they can focus on their future. Student loan debt is now the second-highest consumer debt category, with more than 45 million borrowers owing nearly $1.6 trillion in the United States and nearly 85% of Black bachelor’s degree recipients carrying student debt.

Submissions for grown-ish and Broke will be accepted from February 20-April 30th. Entrants should upload a: 60-second video or 300-word essay detailing how paying off their loans would be a dream come true. Award categories include a grand prize up to $75,000; first prize up to $50,000; and second prize up to $25,000.  In addition, all winners will receive an amazing trip with a guest to the 2020 ESSENCE Festival of Culture in New Orleans (July 3-5).

Currently airing on THURSDAYS AT 8 P.M. (ET)/(PT) on Freeform, the junior year season of grown-ish follows the gang as they return as confident, eager and seasoned upper-classmen. With new living dynamics, shocking life changes, daunting repercussions, and reality kicking in, they quickly realize that they have been mistaken about the disillusionment of adulthood. The series continues to dive into challenges facing real-life students including student loans, work/life balance, mental health, self-care, and of course, messy breakups.

“The ESSENCE and Freeform grown-ish and Broke partnership is helping to raise awareness of the serious issue of student loan debt that affects so many people—especially within the Black community,” said Michelle Ebanks, CEO of ESSENCE Communications, Inc. “It is critical that more opportunities and programs that address the alleviation of this financial hardship be created so that our next generation can focus on making their dreams come true.”

“As ‘grown-ish’ continues to dive into these relatable topics on the show, we’re so excited to be able to help bring a small contribution to those facing them in real-life,” said Jamila Hunter, SVP, Current Series and Alternative Programming, Freeform. “We hope that ‘grown-ish’ fans and students everywhere will find this opportunity as a way to kickstart their futures, with the help of our partners at ESSENCE.”

The topic of student debt will be a featured storyline in an upcoming episode of “grown-ish” airing THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20 (8:00 P.M. EST), as one of the show’s characters, Aaron, played by Trevor Jackson, comes face-to-face with his looming student loans.

For more details on how to enter, visit Essence.com/grownish.

Freeform’s “grown-ish” is produced by ABC Signature Studios, a part of Disney Television Studios, and executive produced by Kenya Barris, Julie Bean, Jenifer Rice-Genzuk Henry, Craig Doyle, Anthony Anderson, Laurence Fishburne, Helen Sugland and E. Brian Dobbins. In the 2019/20 TV season to-date, grown-ish ranks as the #1 live action cable comedy series among women 18-34 and women 18-49. “grown-ish” is also the #1 live action cable comedy series of the season to-date among African American adults 18-34 and adults 18-49.

ABOUT FREEFORM

Freeform connects to audiences with bold original programming and immersive social engagement that moves the cultural conversation a little forward. As Walt Disney Television’s young adult television network, Freeform channels the force and momentum of its audience in its quest for progress with authentic, groundbreaking original series such as “grown-ish,” “The Bold Type,” “Good Trouble,” “Siren,” “Party of Five,” “Motherland: Fort Salem” and “Everything’s Gonna Be Okay.” The network also programs tentpole events such as “31 Nights of Halloween,” “Kick Off to Christmas” and “25 Days of Christmas.”

Source: The Nielsen Company, Live+7 Day U.S. Program Ratings for linear TV; grown-ish S3 premiere on 1/16/20; cable series ranks based on 9/30/19-1/26/20.  Total viewership (linear and digital) based on internal multiplatform ratings (1/16-1/23/20).

 

ABOUT ESSENCE COMMUNICATIONS INC. 

Essence Communications is the number one media, technology and commerce company dedicated to Black women and inspires a global audience of more than 20.2 million through diverse storytelling and immersive original content. With a multi-platform presence in publishing, experiential and online, ESSENCE encompasses its signature magazine; digital, video and social platforms; television specials; books; as well as live events, including Black Women in Music, Black Women in Hollywood, Street Style and the ESSENCE Festival. Essence Communications is owned by Essence Ventures, an independent Black-owned consumer technology company focused on merging content, community and commerce to meet the evolving cultural and lifestyle needs of people of color.

Sally Beauty’s Search for Inaugural #SallyCrew Continues, and the Competition is Fierce

Sally Beauty Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: SBH) has entered the next phase of its nationwide search for the first-ever #SallyCrew. Participating influencers will share a video on Instagram between February 17 and March 13, detailing why they are the perfect fit to represent Sally Beauty as an official brand ambassador. Beauty enthusiasts are encouraged to shout out their favorite influencers on Instagram using the hashtags #SallyCrew and #SallyBeauty. Sally will then select 25 semi-finalists from the 1,157 applicant submissions received. The inaugural #SallyCrew members will be announced in May 2020.

“Encouraging self-expression and inspiring at-home pros are at the core of the new Sally Beauty. For these Instagram videos, we encourage influencers to show us how they embody our new mission to help consumers ‘Unleash their PROtential,'” said Carolyne Guss, group vice president of marketing at Sally Beauty. “We’re excited to see how these content creators engage their followers to secure one of the coveted positions.”

Once the 25 semi-finalists are selected, they will promote special category products on their social platforms to showcase how they can bring the “power of pro” to their followers. Fans will be able to support their favorite semi-finalists by voting, in addition to shopping their curated product picks at sallybeauty.com.

Sally Beauty’s search for inaugural #SallyCrew continues.

The ultimate #SallyCrew will comprise experts in the categories of hair color, hair care, textured hair care, cosmetics, and nails. Each will receive a contract worth up to $150,000, which includes professional business coaching, access to free products prior to public launch, spokesperson opportunities with the brand and more. A strong candidate embodies the “Unleash Your PROtential” motto by using knowledge of the beauty industry to offer inspiration and instill confidence in Sally customers to achieve professional results at home.

Fans can vote for their favorite influencers by following the hashtag #SallyCrew, which will be featured at www.sallybeauty.com/sallycrew.

 

About Sally Beauty Holdings, Inc.
Sally Beauty Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: SBH) is an international specialty retailer and distributor of professional beauty supplies with revenues of approximately $3.9 billion annually. Through the Sally Beauty Supply and Beauty Systems Group businesses, the Company sells and distributes through 5,089 stores, including 179 franchised units, and has operations throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, Canada, Mexico, Chile, Peru, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Spain, and Germany. Sally Beauty Supply stores offer up to 8,000 products for hair color, haircare, skincare, and nails through proprietary brands such as Ion®, Generic Value Products®, Beyond the Zone® and Silk Elements® as well as professional lines such as Wella®, Clairol®, OPI®, Conair®, and Hot Shot Tools®. Beauty Systems Group stores, branded as Cosmo Prof® or Armstrong McCall® stores, along with its outside sales consultants, sell up to 10,500 professionally branded products including Paul Mitchell®, Wella®, Matrix®, Schwarzkopf®, Kenra®, Goldwell®, Joico®, and CHI®, intended for use in salons and for resale by salons to retail consumers. For more information about Sally Beauty Holdings, Inc., please visit https://www.sallybeautyholdings.com/.

Style 101: Dress According To Your Profession #OOTD or #WIW

As a creative professional, I am often called into meetings that require a stylish flair.  Long gone are the days of wearing the boring, basic black suit.  In this day and age, women are seen wearing pink pencil skirts and vinyl pointy heels.

Back to the post!  I was scheduled for a consultation and needed an upbeat look.  One way to achieve a fashionable but yet professional outfit is to pair traditional clothing pieces with an on-trend pattern or accessory.  For example, wear a striped blazer with a lace camisole.

In the look below, I’m wearing a leopard button-down blouse, high-waisted dress pants, and denim jacket.  To elevate this outfit, I wore my favorite tassel earrings.

Style 101:  Dress according to your individualized profession!

A few additional stylish business dress tips include:

  1.  Wear a wrap dress.
  2.  Select blazers in bold colors or neutral tones such as camel or red.
  3. Purchase a crisp white shirt but select various styles such as puff sleeves.
  4. Great professional accessories include wearing a logo belt or a vintage scarf.
  5. Keep up with the time by wearing a statement watch.

Denim Jacket:  America’s Consignment and Thrift | Leopard Shirt & Tassel Earrings:  Express | Crossbody Handbag:  Louis Vuitton similar

If you like this post click here:  TENTH STREET TRIPOLI FISHERMAN HAT: CASUAL SHOPPING OUTFIT

 

February Fab Finds Checklist: Pastel Suits, Asymmetrical Shawl, Plaid Dress, and Leather Pants

Real fashion starts on the streets.  To better explain, there’s something about a woman that can mix pieces in her closet and create a magazine-worthy look.

Having a great sense of style doesn’t require an endless bank account.  It’s merely training the eye to select quality clothing and accessories.

Die-hard fashionista’s share endless wardrobe inspiration on both Instagram and Pinterest.

ESSENCE CONTINUES ITS 50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION WITH THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF GRAMMY-AWARD WINNING MEGASTAR AND FIRST-TIME FESTIVAL PERFORMER BRUNO MARS

ESSENCE, the number one media, technology and commerce company dedicated to Black women globally, is continuing the year-long celebration of its 50th anniversary with the announcement of GRAMMY-award winning artists Bruno Mars and Janet Jackson as mainstage headliners for the 2020 ESSENCE Festival of Culture™ presented by Coca-Cola. This will be the first-ever ESSENCE Festival appearance and the only 2020 U.S. festival performance for Mars, a celebrated singer, songwriter, producer and musician who has sold over 200 million singles worldwide. Jackson’s performance will mark her third appearance at the Festival, which will take place during her newly-announced Black Diamond World Tour.

“This is a milestone year for ESSENCE and our community as we celebrate 50 years of creating opportunities for our culture to shine and the role of Black women in making it possible for us to do what no other brand has done,” said Michelle Ebanks, CEO of ESSENCE Communications, Inc. “To be able to say that at 50 years, we are Black-owned, diversified across media, technology, commerce and live events, and impacting our culture in new and even deeper ways than ever before is a blessing – and one that comes with a tremendous responsibility to our community to continue to evolve, innovate and transform. That remains our focus and commitment as we work to ensure that we are here serving Black women deeply and advancing Black culture, economic ownership and inclusion globally for the next 50 years.”

Ebanks continued, “In this celebration year, ESSENCE could not be more excited to welcome Bruno Mars for the first time and to have Janet Jackson return to headline the mainstage during the 2020 ESSENCE Festival of Culture. These two powerhouses, along with our robust slate of programming, performances and tributes, will continue our legacy of cultural excellence and dynamic, only-at-ESSENCE experiences that excite, elevate and inspire. To Bruno, Janet and all our ESSENCE Festival artists we say, ‘Welcome home.’”

As the world’s largest cultural, music, entertainment and empowerment experience and the global epicenter of Black culture, the ESSENCE Festival of Culture has created a home for Black artists and communities around the world for 26 years and routinely attracts more than half a million international attendees over July 4th weekend. In honor of the brand’s 50th anniversary and marking one day for each decade, the Festival will be extended for the first time from three

days to five days and will take place July 1-5 in New Orleans, LA.  This year’s theme, “Own Our Power,” will be at the center of performances, conversations and activations that span arts, entertainment, music, beauty, fashion, technology, film, food, wellness, advocacy, civic engagement, entrepreneurship and economic empowerment.

The Festival’s three-night concert series at the Louisiana Superdome—featuring an eclectic global mix of R&B, Hip-Hop, Reggaeton, Afrobeats and more—includes:

Mainstage:

Bruno Mars, Janet Jackson (headliners); Ari Lennox; Janelle Monae; Patti LaBelle; Raphael Saadiq (Performing songs across his entire career from Tony! Toni! Tone! through his solo albums, including Jimmy Lee); Estelle Presents Reggae & Afrobeats Link Up featuring Afro B, Chronnix, Elephant Man, Kranium, Max Glazer, Maxi Priest, Shenseea and more; Summer Walker; Swizz Beatz Presents In the Zone featuring guest artists; and more. Hosted by Loni Love. Music by D-Nice. In addition, the Mainstage will feature rousing tributes to music icons each night, including a special anniversary celebration on July 4th

 

Superlounges:

Casmé, D Smoke; Demi Grace; Doug E. Fresh Presents The Real Hip-Hop and R&B Party; Elah Hale; Goldlink; Jac Ross; Jamesdavis; Jidenna; June’s Diary; Kiana Lede; Kitty Cash; Leikeli47; Masego; Mr Eazi; Oswin Benjamin; Rapsody; Saweetie; SiR; Smino; Stokley; Tamia; Tank and the Bangas; Teamarrr; The New Respects; Umi.

Weekend ticket packages are on sale now with prices starting at $180. For information about ticket sales, accommodations recently launched exhibitor applications and VIP travel packages,  and the latest news about the ESSENCE Festival of Culture,  visit Essence.com/festival. Join the festival community: Follow us on Twitter @essencefest #EssenceFest and become a fan of Festival on Facebook.

Sponsors for the 2020 ESSENCE Festival of Culture™ include Coca-Cola and State Farm. The ESSENCE Festival is produced by ESSENCE Communications, Inc.

 

Additional details for ESSENCE 50th Anniversary celebration activities throughout the year will be announced soon.

 

Bridal Style: Wedding Dress Shopping Do’s and Don’ts

A wedding is one of the most important events for any woman across the world. It’s the culmination of an important relationship after potentially many years of anticipation. You’ve probably pictured yourself walking down the aisle since you were young, and now that the day is near, you want to look your best.

Featured Photo from Martha Stewart Weddings

While you can theme the wedding however you and your partner would like, what matters more is choosing a dress that not only looks beautiful but also has quality put into it. For those who feel confused or overwhelmed by browsing through the multitude of styles and assortment of wedding dress, here are some do’s and don’ts you should follow when you’re shopping:

Do’s:

Go to Wedding Dress Specialty Shops

While you might have a small group of local dress shops in mind, this is the time to expand your horizons. Don’t try to pass off a dress that’s not specifically intended for weddings on your big day. Some local stores probably won’t have huge selection of wedding dress styles available, so it’s best to find shops that specialize in gowns made how you envision them. These specialty stores are usually found in larger cities or malls. If you want, you can also search for wedding dress stores online so you won’t have to be limited looking for the perfect wedding dress based on where you live.

Check Over Different Sizes

You’ll never know how well a dress will fit on you unless you’re trying out ones with slightly different sizes. While your clothes may fit you just fine with the size you usually use, a wedding dress may require a different size as its fitting requirements could work differently from that of regular clothing. Be sure that your wedding dress options are just as comfortable as they are attractive. Some wedding dresses could look gorgeous yet may be so uncomfortable that it’s not worth it.

Buy a Quality Dress

Everyone loves the adventure of finding a good bargain these days. Does this mean you should do the same with a wedding dress? While there are many great dresses on sale, they usually come with a drawback, whether it’s out of season, an awkward color, or the wrong fit. As hard as it could be to stomach paying a higher price for a dress, it’s best to use your full budget. You’ll generally get better quality, fresher styles, and nicer fabrics. To combat paying a higher price tag, you can use membership points or gift cards to get a better deal, though you shouldn’t always wait for a special sale to pop up when your wedding’s close.

Don’ts:

Shop at the Last Minute

Procrastination is never a good thing, especially when deadlines are near. This doesn’t always happen to brides and grooms, but searching for a wedding dress should be a high priority when the event’s date comes closer. Sure, it can be unpleasant when you have to go through different dresses to put on, especially if your progress seems to go nowhere. Still, it’s easier to devote time to searching for a dress without having to be buried under multiple errands. However long you want to spend searching for a wedding dress, don’t wait until the wedding’s super close, and don’t even think of rushing your way through the shops when there are only a few days left.

Changing Up Your Wedding Dress

They say that less is more, which can also apply to wedding dresses in some ways. It’s perfectly fine to change up the looks of a simple dress with extra decorations. Still, there are instances where the twists can go a little farther than they need to be — for example, wearing symbols that either clash with the aesthetics of a marriage or look inappropriate would be best to avoid. Additionally, make sure that your dress doesn’t have too much added onto it, especially if you want to avoid getting comparisons with the more ridiculous outfits of many celebrities. The beauty of a wedding dress is probably best left alone, so it’s best not to change it up too much when there’s nothing that looks wrong.

Rely on Hand-me-downs, Renting, or Borrowing from a Friend

Let’s get the first part of this “don’t” out of the way. A hand-me-down could only be recommended if it’s part of family heritage or as a gift that your mother would give you to continue growing your family’s legacy. Otherwise, avoid asking your mother or relatives if you can use their old, possibly unpreserved wedding dress. Renting a wedding dress may seem like a good idea, though you might have to pay more if it gets stained or suffers any rips. It’s best to buy a wedding dress to avoid worrying about any damage. You’ve already got so much on your mind. Finally, borrowing a wedding dress is another idea that sounds convincing on paper but not in its execution. Your friend’s wedding dress may not be your size, or its look may not be what you’re going for. Plus, everyone wants their own big day to have a unique style.

Collaborative Post