A Bastille Day Party

A Bastille Day Party

Jetting to Paris for the honeymoon?
Get in the mood early, enjoy French bliss at the wedding shower.
Pop real champagne, forget calories and think melt in the mouth pastries and the creamiest brie.



Get the Look
Going French at a bridal shower is the next best thing to getting on the Air France jet.
Luckily talented French style pastry chefs have opened pâtiss'eries far and wide so it’s one stop shopping for the most delightful nibbles.



Made in France
Search for inexpensive gifts that were Made in France, they are easy to find in cookware specialists, cosmetics stores and wine shops.



Faire un tabac
(be successful, go over well, be a hit)
Although those girls in Ab Fab knew a thing or two about delicious Bollinger, you don’t have to turn into Patsy to get into the mood; just a flute of pricey real French bubbles is worth every penny.
For the Parisian mood, invest in French music, the superstars like Edith Piaf, Charles Aznevour and Vanessa Paradis will set the scene. Run a Jacques Tati classic film on your plasma with the sound turned down as wallpaper.



Enjoy the Day - Eat Lean Tomorrow
Fromage is French for cheese and the French have cheese all sorted. A collection of delightful creaminess will be a treat to turn into a memory.



We have reduced the price of our archived 2007 magazines. You can download 2007 Issue 1 to Issue 4 (instant access) for $1.95 each or purchase the printed magazines Issue 1 and 4 only (2 and 3 are sold out) for $4.95 each plus postage (Australia Only). Click here for more information.


HOW TO BUILD A FRENCH CHEESEBOARD

•Go to a specialised cheese shop or deli, always buy from a round, not pre cut.

•Allow about 60g of cheese per guest.

•Offer contrasting tastes and textures, soft cheese, hard cheese and blue vein.

•Take the cheese out of the fridge a couple of hours before serving so that it’s at room temperature.

•Put a knife out for each cheese so the flavours don’t mix.

•Add nuts or fruit (fresh or dried) to complement the cheeses.

•Serve with a variety of breads and crackers.

The Tradition of a Trousseau

The tradition of a trousseau is age-old, when a woman began sewing clothes at an early age in anticipation of her marriage. 
The word ‘trousseau’ comes from the French word ‘trousse’ meaning ‘little bundle’. 

While the concept of a trousseau is no longer practical, the idea of shopping for your wedding night and honeymoon is still enduring and relevant. The implication is timeless! New clothes for a new life!

Depending on where your honeymoon is, you might be packing bikinis for the beach or evening dresses for a European escape. Combine fabrics – cashmere, cotton, silk and lace – to create versatility.

Neutral-toned
Pashmina Shawl

For any trousseau and any destination, a few pieces are essential; a lightweight cotton robe, a cashmere twin set, a little black dress with high-heels and a neutral-toned pashmina shawl and black leggings for comfort ease and practicality.


A trousseau encompasses the going away outfit, honeymoon attire and those special pieces of lingerie you may have purchased for your wedding. 


Although it’s unseen by most, your lingerie is actually a very significant part of your trousseau, and should be carefully chosen.

Lingere Shower Invitation
www.polkadotdesign.com

You may like to hold a “Lingerie Party” or “Lingerie Shower” with your friends in the lead up to your wedding. Many Lingerie companies will come to you with a full range and create an evening of entertainment for you and your friends. This can be a fun way to browse lingerie and ensure correct sizing. In most cases the Lingerie company will give the host free goods in return for holding the party!

Have your lingerie fitted
by an expert

Working with experienced Lingerie fitters (plus your friend’s input) can ensure that you find the right lingerie for you. Lingerie can flatter your figure or give you a cleavage that suits your wedding gown, smooth your stomach, back or hips.



It is important to take into account if the lingerie can be seen through your wedding gown as some fabrics can be clingy so something plain but made of silky fabric is a good choice. You should take colour into consideration as well. Neutral colours like apricot or flesh coloured lingerie are less obtrusive under a white wedding gown.

Choose the right bra for your gown!

Depending on the bodice of your wedding gown your choice of bra will be important as you do not want to be adjusting straps all day. Strapped or strapless it is a good idea to wear the bra for a day prior to your wedding to make sure you are comfortable. Taking it to all your fittings can also ensure you have the right lingerie for the day. Most Lingerie fitters are experienced with advising you on the right style for your dress.
 

Another part of your trousseau is the Going Away Outfit. Choose an outfit that looks glamorous and can be worn again, plus matches jewellery and accessories that you may already have. You won’t be able to wear your wedding dress again but your Going Away Outfit can be a reminder of the special day for months or years to come. 

Pre Fall 2012 Collection
www.oscardelarenta.com

Purchasing your Going Away Outfit is a great opportunity to buy something from a designer range such as Oscar De La Renta. Check out all the great outfits from him in his Pre Fall 2012 Collection below:

Good Cause

We received an email from Details Details about these printable tea party invitations that have been created by top Australian stationery designers (including Alannah Rose) for Ava's Tea Party which remembers Ava Rosemeyer 2003-2007. 100% of proceeds will go to Paradise Kids which supports families experiencing illness and loss. Below are some of my favourites which could be used for engagement parties, kitchen teas or hens parties with a tea party theme. They are all $10 and are supplied as printable files over email, so you can print as many as you like.

Rally the Girls - SATC 2 is nearly here!

I have a confession to make. I am completely and utterly excited about the release of Sex and the City 2. OMG! I think I've already watched the trailer at least 3 times. For many women SATC is the ultimate ladies night, myself included. The hours spent watching the series on DVD is seriously begining to stack up so another installment is just what the doctor ordered. If you so happen to be having, or planning for that matter, a hen's or girls night for early June consider cosmopolitans, your favourite pair of heels, your most chic bunch of friends and head to the movies. Many cinemas and organisations host preview nights to raise money for a variety of different charities so do your bit. To view the trailer visit www.sexandthecitymovie.com. I must also confess I'm super duper excited to hear Australian artist Ricky-Lee's song Can't Touch It featuring loud and clear in the trailer. I couldn't have thought of a more suitable theme song if I tried. SATC 2 will be released Australia wide on the 3rd June. Double click on the below image to view the trailer!


Double click on the above video link to view full size

Posted by Emilie Harrison

Sparkling Cupcakes

If you are looking for a glam take on the popular cupcake for your wedding then head to Sparkle Cupcakery in Surry Hills. They offer a delicious range of flavours that are beautifully styled including old favourites vanilla and chocolate and some new and interesting ones like Green Tea and Bubbles (maccha cake filled with tapioca bubbles with lime frosting) and Oriental Flower (lychee and rose cake with sweet rose petal topping). Also on offer in their amazing looking store are their T parties for 2 - 20 people where they serve sandwich slithers, strawberries with melted chocolate for dipping, sparkle cookies, cupcakes of course and Tea or coffee. Yum!











Chic white silver mirror boxes are available for quests to take a cupcake home with them

Posted by Emma Henderson

Tea Time
Yesterday I received an invite to a friends high tea hens party which I think is such a great idea. I have noticed that high tea is starting to become more and more popular. Girls who dont want the big night out are prefering to go out for a stylish high tea instead. It's also a great way to include the older family members as part of a kitchen tea. One of my most favourite high tea experiences was when I was in London earlier this year at The Lanesborough. On previous trips to London I had tried high tea at Claridges which was fantastic, but The Lanesborough took high tea to another level. It won best Afternoon Tea in London awarded by the UK Tea Council and was absolutely divine, they even employ a tea sommelier!

High Tea at The Lanesborough




Some great venues for high tea in Australia are:
The Tea Room QVB in Sydney
Aria at The Langham in Melbourne
The Apothecary 1878 in Adelaide
The Hyatt in Perth
The Sofitel in Brisbane

Posted by Emma Henderson

The Queen Of Theme
Queen of Theme is an event styling business in Perth owned by Jane Fordham. Jane specialises in weddings and themed hen's parties with an orignal mix of vintage furniture. See below pics of some of the beautiful weddings that Jane has styled.

The themed hen's parties sound like lots of fun with 3 themes to choose from: Marie Antoinette, Sex and the City and Moulin Rouge. Wigs, costumes, makeup, French Champagne, cosmopolitans, canapes and petis fours are all included. Have a look at the website for more pics.













Posted by Emma Henderson

Follow the Yellow Brick Road
As more and more stores are beginning to stock their shelves with the autumn/winter offerings one thing is becomming clear. Black and yellow is back. My favourite piece of clothing is the LBD (little black dress for those unaware) but it's nice to see it in a new light. Donna Karan got the idea quick smart with the DKNY Ikat print strapless dress. I couldn't resist putting together a Polyvore (my new addiction) to give your a head start in sprinkling your wardrobe with some sunny love.


Black & Yellow - by EmHarrison on Polyvore.com
Click on the Polyvore to find out more about the pieces.

Posted by Emilie Harrison