- Catanna Berger for Jenniferbehr.com

Le Gaga rockin' a Jennifer Behr headwear, Anti-Bride style

I’ve been a fan of Jennifer Behr, former accessories designer for Frederic Fekkai ever since she put her exquisite hair jewelry on the web. I have worn her handiwork to some of our Anti-Bride and Destination I Do events, such as Operation Aisle Style at the W Hotel. I am an unabashed fan girl, watching her steady rise, and have always been a huge advocate of veil alternatives: hair pieces,  jewelry, feathers and hats. Veils can be pretty and quaint, but lack the glam and drama quotient for me.

Jennifer offers a multitude of hair accoutrements in feathers, headbands, combs and tiaras. One particular style setter that can’t be ignored is Lady Gaga. When Jennifer sent me photos of her latest bit of handiwork, the Standing Lace Tiara, festooning The Gaga at the Rainforest Foundation Gala in NYC, I was smitten: it’s glam, with a shot of 40s, theatrical but not too much, modern, timeless and futuristic. It’s kind of Anti-Bride, Bladerunner, and bridal rock star, all rolled up into a stage-worthy, aisle style piece of headgear, what’s not to love?

So before you strap on that veil, let your fingers click their way to a fantasy world of feathers, leathers, and lace and channel the rock star that you are on W-day at Jennifer Behr.

Lady Gaga at the Rainforest Foundation Gala

Only May 13th, Lady Gaga performed with legendary musicians Elton John, Sting and Bruce Springsteen at the 21st Rainforest Foundation Gala at Carnegie Hall. The Rainforest Foundation helps “support indigenous peoples and traditional populations” of the rainforest as they fight to “conserve their land and defend their rights.”During her performance she dressed all in white and finished off her outfit with the Jennifer Behr Standing Lace Tiara. This piece will be available for purchase through our website, at www.jenniferbehr.com starting this weekend!

Available through http://www.jenniferbehr.com and select boutiques worldwide.”

Tonight: O’Reillys, San Francisco 3.17.10

It’s noon on St. Patrick’s Day, you are getting a myriad of emails from your friends, many who are leaving the office not to return until the next day:

“Duuuude…..meet you at the Irish Bank at 4, it’s going to be EPIC! [lol!!!]“

You conjure up a quick visual: a Marina-infused emporium of the Financial District’s Phi Kappa Sigma set, spilled pints, and speakers blaring U2, a  line that goes for miles just to get a drink. Irish whiskey in a plastic cup. Girls squealing OH MY GOD!!!!!  You have a chat with yourself, your Irish ancestors, and your conscience, and wonder why you can’t turn back the clock to a more heartfelt St. Patrick’s Day when you were growing up:  With set dancing and jigs, Irish tenors in the back ground, corned beef and cabbage, little kids running around screaming bloody murder and flogging each other senseless, Jameson’s Irish coffees and Guinness all around, and everyone belting out off key tunes. Great uncles talking about WW2 stuff. A green cake with a leprechaun on it, shamrocks on the front door. Your grandfather in a Glen Plaid Pendleton with a green carnation singing Danny Boy. You ask yourself if you can really brave this Irish Bank business as you hang your head in nostalgia recalling family St. Patrick’s day celebrations of yore, and then PING! Another email hits your In Box.

Okay, let’s look at this new social opportunity:

“Hey, gal, let’s do St. Patrick’s Day a little differently: Proud sons of Sligo, and SF’s own, The Hooks, joined by Colm O’ Riain at O’Reilly’s in North Beach promises to be a Celtic Caelie of the highest order. Let’s go!”

Going, going, gone. SOLD! To the girl who was on the fence about going out into the nefarious and commercial world of St. Patrick’s Day in San Francisco.

The Deets:

The Hooks play at 8 pm in what promises to be the ultimate date night blitz of rock, punk, and Irish Trad. See Colm O’Riain at 430pm (meet you there!) and have a nice pint of Guinness while listening to  haunting traditional fiddle. Admission is free before 5 pm and $10 after 5 pm. There will be traditional set dancing and music, and O’Reilly’s is blocking off the street, so it promises to be more of a Caelie than a booze fest (although for those who desire that, there is a well appointed bar and restaurant). The O’Reilly family puts on the famed SF Oyster fest and had a lovely after party following the Pogues show last Oct. and are indeed a class act. Thank you O’Reilly’s for offering us an alternative!

Bring your sweetie to a barn burner with The Hooks. Great at parties, pre-events or even your wedding (they dominated Operation Aisle Style Alterna-Bridal Fashion Event) – and have a hot date with The Hooks.

Lá Fhéile Pádraig Sona dár gcairde agus teaghlach!

The brothers Mullligan: adopted by Anti-Bride

About

The Hooks New Album - ‘Everything Is Golden’

The Hooks new album ‘Everything Is Golden’ is a maelstrom of sound. Low-fi gritty garage band punk blends modern rock with with a dash of traditional Irish folk sensibilities.

‘Everything is Golden’ mashes up influences from many countries: Ireland’s famous sense of black humor and literary exploits, America’s rock n’ roll roots to Russia’s Bolshevik trad.

‘The Commuter’ is an anthem for the working class hero who knows all too well the drudgery of heading every day to a cubicle forming a cycle of banality that never ends for the wage slave. ‘So May Questions’ has been described as ‘a song Tarantino would use in a bank heist scene.’

‘Everything Is Golden’s’ folky cadence starts off in Moscow and moves and ends up on a rollicking joy ride straight to hell.

Album release is slated for May 2010.

WEB:
www.thehooksmusic.com
www.myspace.com/thehooks
http://thehooks.fanbridge.com

BLOG:
http://twitter.com/THEHOOKS
www.facebook.com Search: The Hooks
http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/TheHooks
http://www.interpunk.com/item.cfm?Item=64578&
http://thehooks.bandcamp.com/

Mysterious and capivating Retro Bride...

Retro Bride: I began wearing Vintage clothing at the age of 13. It was after a particular time in history when people started wearing old clothing as a fashion statement of sorts.  I attribute the “acceptance” of vintage dressing to the very group of people who changed the face of fashion – the Hippies. My predecessors, the Hippies made it fashionable to be unfashionable, when fashion meant au current with rather strict rules and levels of acceptability.  With their social revolution came a fashion revolution. For most it was not subscribing to social dictates. For me it meant a way paved for a young girl to dress differently.

Buy the time I was old enough to create my own fashion style, beyond my daily kiltie shoes, maroon cashmere sweaters, knee sox and prep school kilts with blazers, (Oh, that’s where Ralph Lauren got it!)  I started wearing Victorian blouses with my jeans purchased for a quarter. I then started wearing 1920s raccoon coats, cast offs from my classmates grandfather’s – vododeedodo! I wore 1920s cloches to look like Ali Mac Graw, or 1940s jackets with my prep school kilts, or 1930s gowns, with Frye boots.  It wasn’t until the 1980s that I bought modern couture. I had always preferred the styles of old movies to what was in fashion.  Even the Couture didn’t make me happy. Then, one day I discovered a large subculture of Retro people – and it was like finding my TRIBE, my home, my way.

After that blessed day I cultivated my personal style, and it became my life style. I married a man whom I met through the Rockabilly scene; he has a great personal style complete with the best 1930s matinee star mustache this side of the Pecos.

Together we have created a retro home. As an Interior Decorator (I specialize in creating my clients dreams-their dreams, not mine) I often help with historic restoration, or Vintage/Retro styled rooms or homes.

We travel retro, wear our Vintage to England, Yosemite, New York, Safeway….
It’s a personal style in a sea of flannel and denim.  So many people want to live La Vita Retro, but are timid.  I say to them, be Fearless!

About Retro Bride

Kimberly Manning Aker is an Interior Decorator in the San Francisco Bay area. She, along with her 2 partners are show producers for the annual Vintage Clothing and Style Festival.
Kimberly adores restoring vintage clothing, and vintage furniture. She has lived La Vita Retro since the early 80s and has produced many Retro themed events and gives tours and lectures on fashion history and the art and architect of the Bay Area. A former world traveling Gypsy, who once lived in England, the Bahamas, Singapore, France, Hong Kong and New York City she has settled comfortably in the flat lands of Oakland California and is renovating a 1912 house.  She and her husband had a retro wedding and share their passion for La Vita Retro with her many friends and acquaintances (who can be spotted all over the Bay area- and indeed the world!) She does not view La Vita Retro as a “sub culture” but as a life style choice.

www.kmacreate.com
www.vintageclothingstylefestival.com

Heavy Metal Glamour Puss

If you are bone tired of those red carpet girls dripping with their predictable Harry Winston Queen Mum gems, (valued at 10 years wages) cast your eyes on Rock Candy Design.

Reinterpreting what “fine jewelry” is, and truly pushing the envelope, Sheryl Gould takes jawbreaker sized “gem shapes” and casts ‘em out of sterling silver (in a send up of traditional boutique ateliers) rendered in a classy, modern and ironic way. What’s not to adore about wearable glamour puss day-to-dinner dazzlers, that deliver you from the cubicle to cocktail party effortlessly? What’s not to love about friends and foes alike asking where on earth did you get that big hunk of glam hanging around your neck?? Blessedly, not at Tiffanys, because if you’re reading this, we’re pretty certain that you’re a little hipper than the girls who shop there anyway….

This hunk of gorge will be taking up residence in my jewelry box.

Sheryl so impressed us here at Antibride.com, that she rocked our runway at the Operation Aisle Style event at the W Hotel SF this past March. Our runway models who wore her creations had everyone drooling….and scrambling to get their orders in tout suite….

Extra Credit: If I were a bridesmaid, and I was given this Rock of Love necklace, pictured left, I would forgive any bridesmaids dress transgressions upon receipt of gift….

You can’t get it at Barney’s, Harry Winston, or any chain store. To own and adore this under-the-radar artistry and rock your own runway go here:

with http://rockcandydesign.com

Rock Candy Design is a sexy jewelry collection, ranging from raw & chunky to refined & chic. Designer Sheryl Gould, inspired by past & present pop culture, rock n roll & fashion, combines sterling silver, original cast designs, semi precious stones & vintage finds, to create unique “unisexy” necklaces, bracelets, rings & earrings.?? In the spirit of rebellion, ignoring norms, morals, & design rules, delicate items are turned heavy, common goods are turned precious. The collection pairs seemingly unrelated elements, resulting in the pleasantly unexpected. Dubbed “elegant rock ‘n’ roll” by an adoring client, the edgy, glam line has attitude, beauty & style.

No safety pins required: a fabric mashup makes for a hip corset and skirt combo

Okay, there isn’t a hint of leather, lace, safety pins or plaid, but we’re still in love with Punk Rock Brides interesting new collection with comfortable silky fabrics, natural fibers, no itchy lace, and clean lines, resulting in easy and wearable dresses you can practically sleep in (says some of their clients). With all the boning, tulle, bows, bustles, and extraneous surface noise on more Vera-type gowns, it’s refreshing to see designers that actually consider the girl: it’s going to be a long damned day, and you’d better be comfortable (in equal measure with being beautiful…).

Being from Washington, DC, widely considered to be a fashion void (until Michelle Obama moved in anyway), I am heartened to see a design firm that rejected the predictable New York/LA fashion industry trajectory and pitched their tent here. I love them even more because some of the best punk rock bands ever came out of DC, so to have Punk Rock Brides new offices next to the ghosts of some of my favorite punk clubs brings a tear to my eye. I salute them for having the courage to stay the course in a fashion challenged city (which they will soon rule). So to quote Nancy Reagan, Just Say NO! to the wedding industrial complex with Punk Rock Bride.

An added bonus: how badass are you, when queried at the water cooler by the girls in the office:

Office Girls: So where are you getting your wedding dress?
You: PUNK ROCK BRIDE, that’s where!

Grab your coffee, and watch their jaws drop as you head back to your corner office….victorious….

Check out the collection and recent ink:

Punk Rock Bride Takes a Vow

(VOWS MAGAZINE, JULY/AUGUST 2009): For the bride looking for a less traditional wedding dress, Punk Rock Bride has launched five new designs for its 2009 Collection. The new collection is a continuation of the last in its use of classic, simple silhouettes and lighter, softer, more non-traditional fabrics. Designer Stephanie Ward has introduced separates into the mix this year, as well as some unexpected details, including pockets and belts.

“We’re reaching out to a more fashion-forward bride who is looking for something unique and comfortable, but still bridal and still affordable,” Ward said.  “We’ve found that, to a new generation of young, urban brides, personal style has become increasingly important and something they don’t want to sacrifice on their wedding day.  We’re here to give them more options.”

To view the complete collection, visit www.punkrockbride.com.
For more information, contact info@punkrockbride.com or 202-506-3126.

A feather in your cap - Headgear for those who lack fear

Do not let the title of this post scare you away– this is not my junior high school seven-minutes-in-heaven highlight reel. It is, in fact, a celebration of wonderful things to put on your head, inspired by this past weekend’s Sunset Junction outing.

Braving Sunset Junction in my fave vintage leopard hat

Whether you are heading to a day fest, & need glamorous but functional head protection, or planning a trip down the aisle, don’t let the thought of dressing your head frighten you. I know, I know, head wardrobe brings to mind memories of Aunt Gert– she of the braying hyena laugh, holiday sherry overload, & crochet octopus cozies. You are NOT Aunt Gert, but you do possess tidbits of her DNA, so channel her eclectic & adventurous spirit, & leave the cat-a-holism for the other side of the family.

I say, if ya gotta protect yourself from free radicals & garden variety nutjobs, go for glamour. That’s just me. There are plenty of options.

Allesa makes a wide variety of accessories, some more feathery than others

This same logic applies to your wedding–LOTS of options to dress the head! We found an AMAZING ARTIST at Sunset Junction who makes headbands that are truly works of art. Before you snark a Gossip Girl joke– humor me & take a look. You will thank me later.

For more info, contact Allesa Willis at:
Allesawillis@yahoo.com
323 833 4513

*She promises to have her site up soon!

Hot Date

Hey, stop planning your wedding for a nanosecond and go on a date! Yeah, that means you: put down the wedding magazine, look at your sweetie, put on a cute sundress and some slammin shades, grab your mister and go on a real, honest to goodness date! Dating is how you two started out as a couple, and our Hot Date section will remind you periodically that to keep the heat on in a relationship, you need explore new haunts, try new things, and get your groove on together no matter where you live. Today, we’re looking for fun in the City of Lost Angels. There is no better place to do that than CHAVOLOT this weekend FREE Saturday + Sunday. Come on down to a neighborhood oasis during the Sunset Junction Street Festival!

CHAVOLOT “Conjunction Junction”
is this weekend 8/22-8/23 4pm-10p
Enter through pedestrian gate at 4441 Sunset Boulevard, LA 90027

FREE ADMISSION ALL DAY
Shade! Wading Pools! Sandbox!
Taco Cart! Lets Be Frank Hot Dog Truck!
Coolhaus Ice Cream Truck! Beer and Sangria $4
Margaritas and Cocktails $5

MUSICAL ENTERTAINMENT ALL DAY
Delicious Selection of DJs Both Days!

AND “everyone’s very be favorite” Cumbia band on Saturday
In the parking lot of El Chavo Restaurant
+++21 and over only. Please enter from pedestrian gate on Sunset Street. Walking distance from the Sunset Junction St. Festival

Festival lineup: http://www.sunsetjunction.org/streetfair_schedule.html

http://www.sunsetjunction.org/streetfair_schedule.html

HOPE TO SEE YOU ALL THERE……

As an added attraction, our beloved Rocker Bride, Ms. Heidi Richman, featured here in the SF Examiner, will be a Muy Caliente Mixologist, adding her pixie dust to her fab Wente Sangria recipe. Read on for more reasons to get up and go to Chavolot: http://bit.ly/WenteJunctionSangria