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Spoken by a Man, Written by Women: Don Draper's Wisdom

TresSugar — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 15:00:25 -0800

Mad Men's Don Draper spends a lot of time not talking, which does the rare double duty of adding to his appeal while reducing him to a total ass. But when he does talk, his words are elegant, philosophical, and - if you think about - really great advice! Even so, when they're all put together in this montage above, Don sounds more like a narcissist with a God complex than a wise man with a gift for language, reminding us where his words came from: women writers. With women filling the pool of writers on Mad Men, we'd be remiss to give Don all, or any, of the credit. So what's your favorite line?

DIY: Elegant and Rustic Wedding Decor

partysugar — Wed, 06 May 2009 07:50:38 -0700

A friend of mine recently got married at a San Francisco restaurant with 25 close guests in attendance. The ceremony was held in a private room, and afterward, everyone sat down at one big table for a three-course dinner.

Since the couple threw together the "elopement" on short notice, they recruited friends to help; a friend and I were asked to do the flowers. I was surprised by how cheaply we were able to fill the room with blooms. Since the restaurant has exposed brick walls and a rustic feel, we decided to go for the same look with the arrangements. To see my tips for achieving a similar scheme, read more.

Know the space. Get a feel for the room you'll be working in and talk to the restaurant about any decor (such as candles and tablecloths) they'll have on hand or any restrictions that may apply.
Become a jar collector. To echo the rustic modern vibe of the room, I rounded up mismatched glass jars from my cupboards and friends' kitchens. They're free of charge and oh-so-hip.
Go wholesale. Many cities have flower markets that are open to the public. If you can, find a wholesale card to get better prices; I borrowed one from an event coordinator at a local nonprofit. Even if you can't get a wholesalers' discount, you'll still be able to get better bulk deals than you would anywhere else.
Mix and match. Splurge on some pricier statement flowers to anchor the arrangements - we went with purple hydrangeas, white tulips, orchids, and dahlias. Then, fill them out with cheaper filler in complementary colors: try mums, alstromerias, and assorted greenery.
Light it up. Place votive candles in smaller jars and use them to surround the floral arrangements. This will give the flowers a grander appearance without actually needing more flowers.

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DIY: Elegant and Rustic Wedding Decor

YumSugar — Mon, 04 May 2009 16:21:47 -0700

It's surprisingly easy to do wedding flowers on the cheap.

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Details about Sophie Dahl's Wedding Revealed

FabSugarUK — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 01:30:19 -0700

Sophie Dahl has been busy building a career off the catwalk lately writing several books, including a cookbook and subsequently landing a cookery show. However, she has still managed to find time to arrange her upcoming nuptials to singer Jamie Cullum as they plan to marry next July. Jamie's professional commitments have meant things have been postponed from January, but a Summer wedding is surely more fun anyway?

The pair look likely to wed at Hunton Park’s Queen Anne mansion house with a relatively low key affair. Sophie wants no expense spared with silver service and Bentleys to transport the wedding party.

The couple are regularly discussed for their difference in height as she is 5'11" whilst he is just 5'4", but Sophie dismisses this as an issue. "We happen to be two people who met, fell madly in love and will probably produce fairly average-sized children, hopefully with his more elegant feet, not mine."

Come Party With Me: Anniversary - The Look

partysugar — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 09:15:27 -0700

The colors at my parents' wedding 33 years ago were pale green and pink. Thus, I'm incorporating these hues into the decor for their upcoming anniversary party. A picnic table looks sophisticated when covered with a frosty green tablecloth. Keep the servingware simple with white plates, unadorned Champagne flutes, and pink napkins. An elegant cocktail deserves a chic pitcher, so serve in a vase-shaped vessel. Display the carrot cake on a pretty cake stand. We'll arrange several beautiful bouquets of roses - they are my mom's favorite flowers. Printed pool towels add a punch of pattern to the look.

Link Time!

CasaSugar — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 13:00:08 -0700

Check out Caroline Lubbers' dreamy home.- Design*Sponge
Let's talk greenwashing.- Daily Danny
Buy furniture for you and match it to Fido's.- Shelterrific
Explore some smart ideas for decorating a nursery.- Making it Lovely
Create an elegant, kid-friendly garden.- AT:SF
Would you welcome a tattooed table to your home? - PointClickHome
Make your own wedding invitations.- Craft

Wedding Beauty 101: A Royal Makeover

BellaSugarUK — Thu, 14 May 2009 07:30:00 -0700

If you're a more conservative bride (not necessarily someone having a raging hen party), who's throwing the formal wedding of the century, then you're likely looking for a clean and ultrapolished makeup look. Take a cue from some of the gorgeous women that have been scooped up by the world's most eligible bachelors. These pretty princesses understand the need to look refined at all times. Being in the public eye means always having your face on and keeping up with a prim and proper appearance.

For step by step instructions on how you can give yourself your own royal makeup treatment at home for your wedding day, read more.

FACE: Begin with a clean, well moisturised face and apply a primer all over. Then, use a brush to apply a medium-coverage foundation, paying special attention around your nose and mouth. So that you can ensure your photos are perfect, also apply the foundation (with a lighter hand of course) to your neck and decollatage and blend evenly using a sponge. Set with a light dusting of translucent powder.
CHEEKS: Since your goal is to look timeless and elegant, you'll want to choose a neutral-coloured blusher in the tawny, medium pink and peach family. Use an angled, contour brush, start by gently blending a little bit of blusher on the apples of your cheeks and then pulling the brush outwards along your cheekbones towards the top of your ear. Add more blush if necessary. Then, use a large, clean fluffy brush to buff out any streaks. No bronzer is needed for this look.
EYES: You'll want to choose a natural colour palette to create a classic eye. Begin by sweeping a cream-coloured shadow all over your lid and then blend a matte, taupe shade into the crease. You can darken the crease with a touch of steel grey or dark brown, but remember to blend well. Next, line your upper and lower lashes with a black powder shadow. You can do this by wetting your liner brush, dipping it into the shadow and then tapping off the excess product. Press the brush into your lash line and then wiggle it slightly to create a thin, yet defined line. Repeat until both your uppper and lower lashes are lined. Finish with two coats of black waterproof mascara (yes, even royalty cries at weddings!)
LIPS: As a finishing touch, apply a warm, creamy shade of lipstick to your lips using a lipbrush. Since this is more of a traditional look, there's no need for gloss, however, I would avoid a matte texture because you want your lips to look soft and delicate, not chalky. When choosing colours, pick something two to three shades darker than your skin tone in a nuetral range, (meaning nothing too red, pink or orange).

The Card Shop: Hello! Lucky Wedding Invitations by Joel Dewberry and EIEIO

CasaSugar — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 08:00:40 -0700

As if weddings weren't exciting enough, one of my favorite stationery companies, Hello!Lucky, has just launched two new collections of wedding invitations designed by the talented textile designer Joel Dewberry and decorative paper studio EIEIO. Each collection includes an average of six different designs, with varying colorways and the option to order the works: RSVP cards, save the dates, wedding announcements, thank-you cards, accommodations cards, reception cards, directions cards, menus, place cards, and seating cards.

Additionally, all of the materials can be printed either digitally or by letterpress - I'd go with the latter if I were you! My favorites are Sparrows by Joel Dewberry and Chandelier by EIEIO, each $97.50 for 25. So chic and elegant, but a bit contemporary, too. Check out all of the Sugar network's wedding coverage here!

The Card Shop: Papeterie Bridal Shower Invites

CasaSugar — Wed, 06 May 2009 09:00:44 -0700

At home, I'm a modern woman with the décor to match. But when it comes to weddings, I'm a traditionalist. No matter how laid-back (or wild and crazy) a girl may be, I'm all for elegance and sophistication on the big day. That notion applies to the bridal shower as well. Papeterie's Bridal Shower Invitations ($33.75-37.50 for 25) fit the bill when it comes to elegant stationery. Choose from an array of beautiful designs inspired by textile patterns, including antique roses, flower toile, garland, scroll, Moroccan patterns, and more. Beyond that, you can choose from 18 different colorways to fit your gal pal's personality. Since they're digitally printed, you won't pay the price of letterpress, but you'll still get the look, and that's key!

The Card Shop: Cynthia Warren Wedding Invitations

CasaSugar — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 15:00:19 -0700

When it comes time to plan your wedding, Cynthia Warren may be the perfect woman to design stunning, bespoke invitations for your big day. The Bay Area-based artist has designed for events of all sizes, from small, intimate weddings to gala fundraisers for Alice Waters's renowned restaurant Chez Panisse. Warren will work closely with you to translate your story into an artful design that's not only elegant but memorably unique, and one that reflects your personality and taste. Leave it up to this Jill-of-all-trades to design everything from invitations and menus to individualized keepsakes and candy boxes for your event. With a background in illustration, calligraphy, and typography, her hand-drawn lettering and imagery give your wedding a sense of history, before your marriage even begins! See more of her work when you read more.

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