Wear What When

Vera Wang Suits Up for Men’s Wearhouse

The gown designer launches a tuxedo rental line this spring.

Posted by: Laura Cassidy on Dec 21, 2011 at 06:45AM 0 Comments

Oh, Vera. Rentals? Really?

Women’s Wear Daily reported on Friday (subscription required to read full article) that Black by Vera Wang, the designer’s first menswear collection, will launch this spring. The line consists of black and gray tuxedos that will be offered for rent at Men’s Wearhouse. We have so far been unable to confirm that Seattle’s outposts will carry Black.

Last year the previously high-end gown designer announced a diffusion line with David’s Bridal; Men’s Wearhouse, as noted in the WWD report, is the tuxedo partner for David’s Bridal. That’s the aha moment.

Here’s what Doug Ewert of the budget suiting chain had to say about the tie-in. “Eighty-five percent of the rental market is weddings and the bride is the decision maker,” he told WWD. “The first thing that a girl does when she gets engaged is start shopping for a dress. And we will get in front of her very early in the process.” Meaning, one supposes, Black by Vera Wang signage all over David’s Bridal.

The CEO’s statement that “The bride is the decision maker,” conjures up old school images of dictators in white tulle and guys who will do anything just to get to the other side of the ceremony and all the planning that comes before it. We don’t see many grooms like that at Seattle Met Bride & Groom. The couples we intersect with work as a team, and like most grown adults, each decides what he or she would like to wear.

Of course, we always counsel gentlemen to consider a custom-made suit for the big day. Alternately: something off the rack that’s been hemmed and tucked as needed, but hopefully something that was cut for his body and fits him as well as the bride’s dress fits her. Picture an average wedding gathering of 150 people or so. Does it make any sense that the only five or six folks in someone else’s ill-fitting attire are the groom and his groomsmen?

Even if Vera Wang designed the narrow, 2.5 inch collar?

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Tags: Rentals, Seattle Vera Wang

Where to Find It: Cake Pedestals, Part II

Posted by: Laura Cassidy on May 19, 2010 at 07:30AM 0 Comments

Photo: Courtesy Tallant House

Slideshow: Mosser cake pedestals, available at Totally Tabletops, and cakes from Tallant House

View Slideshow » Photo: Courtesy Tallant House

Slideshow: Mosser cake pedestals, available at Totally Tabletops, and cakes from Tallant House

View Slideshow » Photo: Courtesy Tallant House
View Slideshow » Photo: Courtesy Tallant House
View Slideshow » Photo: Courtesy Tallant House
View Slideshow » Photo: Courtesy Tallant House

If, three years ago when we launched Seattle Met Bride & Groom, you had told me that I’d be spending a lot of time talking to people about cake platters, you would have been met with a pretty blank stare. As it turns out, the topic does come up a lot, so I’ve learned to focus my gaze a little.

I think the thing is that most people don’t spend a lot of time looking at or for cake pedestals until they need one — like, for a five-tier fresh raspberry-stripped chocolate ganache dream — and all those Amy Atlas dessert buffets make them feel that their union won’t even be legal if they don’t have a five-some of cakes on pretty strands strewn just-so on a long, perfect-color-palette spread.

Furthermore, they assume that after the DJ cues or the band approximates that terrible and seemingly irresistible Average White Band song, they’ll never need one again. And a headache ensues.

Cake pedestals, as we found out here, are not that hard to find. But if you’re imagining something clean-lined and stylishly classic, maybe in a haute shade of neon or a vintage jade hue, just call Sheena Kalso at Totally Tabletops.

Kalso rents great modern pieces to couples who aren’t looking for overly precious or expensively bland, and she’s excited to have recently added a huge pile of Mosser brand pedestals courtesy of Judy Tallant of Tallant House. Totally Tabletops serving pieces are pictured here; check them out.

More and more couples are doing the multiple cake thing, for sure. It makes so much sense, and it makes for such a pretty spread. Browsing the Totally-Tabletop-by-way-of-Tallant-House collection, you can just imagine how the blue milk glass Mosser would look next to a white milk glass Mosser surrounded by couple of shorter, ruffled-edge clear platters. That is: adorable. Good enough to eat. (Though it should be noted, the pedestals work just as well under a single, stacked cake or piled with cupcakes, donuts, cookies, or whatever else.)

So go ahead and dream, and browse the images here, courtesy Tallant House, knowing that you can make it all happen without spending a bunch of money (the Mossers are loaned for between $10 and $20 bucks), and without a single headache.

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Tags: Home Decor, Desserts, Seattle Wedding Details, Rentals, Where to Find It