Dream a Little Dream

Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.
Harriet Tubman

There's so much going on with Rice Rafferty accessories right now.  Two years ago this was all a dream.  A dream is a great place to begin and spending all of your free time working diligently on that dream can only help you get there.  We're finishing up the custom tutu order for our customer in the UK, working on sample details for the custom bridal veil order, prepping items for the bridal fashion photo shoot this weekend (so excited to see everyone again!), teaching a paper making class next weekend, and working on our new line for the fashion show in April.  Busy busy, but I love it!

xoxo

VERA BRADLEY SPRING GIVEAWAYS

HAPPY FRIDAY EVERYONE!  I don't know about you, but I have spring fever.  The snow in Western New York is beginning to melt.  We actually saw grass today!  This warmer weather has as me giddy with joy craving days of sundresses and sunglasses.  I can't wait!

Until the nicer weather is here to stay I found this fun Spring giveaway for you.  In honor of Spring Break Vera Bradley is celebrating with 10 days of giveaways on Twitter. Follow @verabradley and answer the questions with #verabeach each day for a chance to win a Resort Tote, Beach Towel and Little Seashell. 

Good luck and have a great weekend!

Romantic Tutus

There are as many tutu styles as there are women.  Each tutu has its own personality and flare.  The television show Sex and the City brought the tutu concept back to life and created dynamic ways for women to strut around in tutus every day.  Rice Rafferty is designing a custom tutu right now for a lovely woman in the UK who intends to wear her tutu as an every day item by pairing it with a cute blazer.  Nothing is more eye catching than a glamorous tutu worn for a fun evening out.  Above are some photos of Carrie Bradshaw tutus (long and fluffy and a short sexy tutu) and our lovely model Laura wearing Rice Rafferty tutus (long with a  bustle in the back and short with silk elements and fiber optic lights.

www.ricerafferty.com
www.ricerafferty.etsy.com

I love the clothing company Anthropologie.  They have such unique clothing and accessories.  Anthropologie recently launched a sister company, BHLDN, specializing in bridal gowns and accessories.  Since my company Rice Rafferty Couture Accessories is branching into the wedding industry we decided to check it out.  The items are beautiful! 

If you like BHLDN you'll love Rice Rafferty too.  We're also a company of women for women.  We work with models, photographers, printers, and hair stylists in the Western New York area to boost our local economy.  We specialize in one of a kind items, so your wedding will be completely unique.

The photo above is our Tulle Trapeze dress with fiber optic lights and our feather hair accessory with pearls.

www.ricerafferty.etsy.com
www.ricerafferty.com

Light as a Feather

The big conceptual trend this year for fashion is birds.  I immediately think of the movie Black Swan with Natalie Portman.  Fashion accessories inspired by elegant birds is all the rage.  Feathery, airy looking material is the look we want.  Feathers are most commonly used in ballet/dancer costumes and wedding accessories/decor.  Imagine how graceful ballerinas look as they flutter across the stage on their point shoes.  Think of an exciting way to incorporate this trend.  Hair accessories, dresses, and scarves can all incorporate this idea to create a very chic look.

Happy Tuesday!!!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Today I have chocolate, bouquets, and pretty dresses on my mind.  Do something special today to show the people in your life how much you care.  Also, don't forget to add a little glamour!  I'm tutu crazy right now.  I love this classic photo of Marilyn Monroe in a tutu.  xoxo

A LACEY Valentine

With Valentine's Day around the corner my mind is on lace, tulle, and bridal accessories.  I was recently asked by a friend in Washington state to design her bridal veil.  I'm so honored and excited to design for her special day.  She's a strong and gorgeous woman AND she's a great person.  I'll keep you posted on the design progress! Check out www.ricerafferty.com for more information. 

Speaking of Valentine's...I'm seeing tons of lingerie ads EVERYWHERE.  I'm not a huge fan of Victoria Secret and Frederick's of Hollywood Lingerie.  They focus a little too much on objectifying women.  They focus on women with perfect bodies in their advertisements which perpetuates bad body images for women and the lingerie isn't very exciting.

I recently came across an independent Lingerie Designer on etsy - Ohhh Lulu Lingerie and Apparel.  I LOVE her vintage inspired lingerie and photographs.  To me these items are much sexier.  If you're looking to buy some special lingerie I strongly suggest something like this.  The vintage inspired look is so lovely!


Ohhh Lulu
http://www.etsy.com/shop/ohhhlulu?ref=seller_info

Victorian Valentine Hair Adornments

Are you ready for Valentine's Day?  We designed a line of beautiful hair accessories for Valentine's.  The line is called "Victorian Valentine."  Our designs are influenced by vintage and Victorian styles as well as modern day trends.  We have a different style for every woman.  We use up cycled materials, ribbons, lace, feathers, jewelry, tulle, paper mache, real pearls (in some), and hand dyed silks. 

www.ricerafferty.etsy.com

Happily Ever After

Over the weekend, our photographer Jessica Elizabeth attended her sister's wedding and wore one of our Rice Rafferty Silver Hair Clips.  Doesn't she look gorgeous?!  Jessica was a photographer at the wedding, she was a bridesmaid, AND she caught the bouquet.

I wanted to share these beautiful photographs with you.  Jessica - best wishes to your sister.  It looks like it was a lovely day.  I love the details Jessica's sister included in her wedding.  A wedding should be as unique as each bride and her wedding definitely included special touches that made it her own.  The bride wore royal blue shoes (a huge trend right now for 2011 weddings when choosing something blue), the bouquet included pink, lavender, and white roses with crystals (very valentines day inspired) surrounded by fluffy white feathers, the bridesmaids wore long strapless dark purple gowns.

Hair Clip - Silver Glitter Fabric Hair Clip
For more hair accessories visit
www.ricerafferty.etsy.com

METALLIC

One of the biggest trends right now is METALLICS.  You've seen metallics make a major appearance at the Golden Globe 2011 and now metallics are all the rage for prom and wedding accessories 2011.  Metallics vary from silver, gold, to bronze.  Choose your metallic according to hair and skin tone.  I suggest choosing a contrasting metallic to your hair color.  I really love silver on blondes and brunettes.  Bronze looks gorgeous on redheads. 

Question of the day:
What's your favorite metallic and what color is your hair?