Scenes from Strasbourg and Paris

Today I thought I'd share the highlights from my trip to France. I'll keep the text sparse and mostly let the photos speak for themselves.

Strasbourg calls itself the Capitol of Christmas, and boy do they mean it. 

These people take Christmas fucking seriously.

The awesome cathedral in Strasbourg.

This picture is a little blurry, but it gives you some idea to what extent the streets in Strasbourg are decorated for Christmas. 

If you think the exterior decorations are elaborate, try going inside some of these places.

One of the canals in Strasbourg.

Once I got to Paris, I spent my first evening and night just wandering around looking at the Christmas lights and window displays along the Rue Saint-Honoré and the Champs-Elysées.

My hotel was just one block from the Place Vendôme, which made a great starting point for my walk.

Each different area seemed to have its own unique Christmas decorations.

The window displays at John Galliano were absolutely magical.

Christmas lighting along the Champs-Elysées.

 I can't remember which store this was displayed in, but I thought that the shearling jacket, sequin dress 

and suede fedora was such a great combination. I can totally see myself wearing this outfit.

Clearly this was after my first shopping day, and as you can see I didn't waste any time wearing the new leather vest. This outfit was perfect for the cold weather but wasn't too bulky to go shopping in. I added a scarf and gloves when I was outdoors, and brought along a hat, which I put on after the sun went down. Rather than wearing tights I wore my thick ponte knit pants under the dress.

 I just had to take a look at all the beautiful designer clothes at Au Primtemps. 

Item that broke my heart by being out of my budget: a gorgeous little bag from Zadig et Voltaire.

 A beautiful day up at Monmartre. 

A guy was playing Pachelbel's Canon on the harp outside the Sacré Cœur. 

One of those magical Parisian moments.

 Sunset at the Place de la Concorde.

 A view from the Tuileries Gardens.

 The perfect end to my last evening: a nighttime stroll around Notre-Dame.

A very glamorous Vintage Wedding inspiration shoot

A very glamorous Vintage Wedding inspiration shoot! Enjoy :)

BROWSE VINTAGE WEDDING PRODUCTS AND IDEAS - CLICK HERE

Vintage Magnolias Wedding Invitation

Adorn your wedding invitations with an enchanting blend of vintage charm and sleek modern style with this elegant design from Cat Seto. It's sweet and whimsical look will give your event a chic and luxurious style.

Vintage Chiffon Ring Bearer Pillow

The look is rich and sophisticated with crushed ivory chiffon and a band of taupe beadwork. Our pillow is wonderfully neutral and plays beautifully against pastels or jewel tones. Each pillow measures 7" square.

Homemade Chocolate Wedding Favors - Easier Than You Think!

Homemade Chocolate Wedding Favors - Easier Than You Think!

By Jeanette Shinn



Crafting your own homemade chocolate wedding favors has become, in many circles, an integral part of the wedding planning process. For many this is a wonderful option for bridal shower favors, but homemade chocolate wedding favors are equally great for the wedding itself.

Regardless of when and where you make use of your homemade chocolate favors, the time spent making them is an event that the bride and her bridesmaids can look back on as a fun evening of laughter for years to come. It can be a wonderful time of crafting where the music was playing, the chocolate was plentiful, and the laughter was nearly endless.

But what options do you have if you want to create (or at least collect) your own chocolate wedding favors without giving in to the exhausted standby of Jordan Almonds wrapped in a sheer piece of organza tied closed with a ribbon?



One of the most popular options, though rarely attempted, is homemade truffles. These sinfully delicious treats are bound to please your guests. Nearly everyone loves the sinfully rich indulgence of truffles, but few realize how accessible recipes are - and they are really not that difficult to make for someone who knows their way around a kitchen.

As a result your guests might wonder if they had stumbled into Rachel Ray's wedding when they find they will be ending the wedding dinner with a homemade chocolate truffle. Present it as a wedding favor in any number of favor packaging options to match the decor of your wedding and they will be sure of it.

Another even simpler option, with the help of your local craft store, is the molding of chocolates. With a superior chocolate, some candy colors, a double boiler, candy molds, and a little bit of creativity you can create fun bite size candies that fit your wedding theme. For example, if you are having a Hawaiian themed wedding you could make orchid shaped chocolates in the colors of your wedding. Or perhaps, if you could find a mold, you could create chocolates in the shape of a hula dancer... or sea turtles... or palm trees. The possibilities in molding you own homemade chocolate wedding favors are nearly endless.

Fortunately there are plenty of options within the homemade chocolate wedding favor realm that lend themselves beautifully to such an endeavor. For example, chocolate covered strawberries, raspberries, mango, or any one of a number of other fruits are always a hit and once again easy to do with the help of your local craft store. Or if your circle loves it their coffee, why not try creating chocolate covered coffee beans? Fill a chest favor box with the treats and call it good, or you can intermingle them with an assortment of truffles and decorative molded chocolates in a clear Hexagon Favor Box. Or perhaps even choose some personalized ribbon and use it to adorn your hand crafted gift.



Chocolates and other edibles are not something you can make months in advance like a woodworker would be able to do with trivets or wooden puzzles they planned to present as wedding favors, but neither should you wait until the last moment. Depending on which recipe you use, chocolates will keep for a few days in a refrigerator and in some cases will last for as long as a month in the freezer so plan ahead. The experience of creating homemade chocolate wedding favors at the same time as keeping company with their closest girlfriends is one most brides treasure for a lifetime.

Romwe X Fashionzen New Year´s giveaway

For this New Year's giveaway, I am collaborating with Romwe again! This time 3 lucky readers will win 3 pairs of tights from Romwe, plus a $30 gift voucher to use on the site!

What do you need to do to? Well, it is really easy:

1) Register on Romwe.
2) Follow Fashionzen with Google friend and like fashionzenvintage on facebook.
3) Leave a comment here with your emailaddress that you used to register on Romwe so I can contact you if you are one of the winners.

The giveaway is open for national and international readers. You have until the 15th of January to enter this giveaway. Good luck and have a great start of the New Year!!

Making it Count

I didn't do a TON of shopping while I was in Paris, but I made the shopping I did do really count. This gorgeous leather vest was an instant must-have; I first spotted it in a shop window the first night I got into town, and although the store was closed at the time, I knew I'd eventually make my way over there when it was open. As it turned out, I came across a second store location early into my first shopping day, and I didn't waste any time making this beauty mine. 

One of the things I love about shopping in Paris is the attentiveness of the salespeople. When I tried this vest on I zipped it all the way up and tied the belt in the center, but the lady who was helping me showed me how to leave the zipper down partway and adjust the alignment of the belt just so. Thank you for increasing my chic factor, Parisian sales lady!

The ring and bracelet are also from my weekend in Paris, and I've already worn both of them several times. It's a good thing  there will be more trips to France in my near future, because I'm regretting not bringing back more items from the wonderful shop where I found them (they have some items available online, but it's not nearly as fun as bringing something home from a shop in Paris, right?). Before work sends me back to France I'll be saving my pennies for one of their amazing chunky necklaces.

Dress: Desigual
Vest: Cotélac
Skirt, tights: Noa Noa
Boots: All Black
Jewelry: Metal Pointu's

Tents For Weddings, Some Helpful Tips And Advice

Tents For Weddings, Some Helpful Tips And Advice

SEARCH WEDDING VENUES IN YOUR AREA - CLICK HERE

by: Carl Walker

Renting a good tent is important when planning an outdoor wedding. While tents provide a cozy and personal touch to the whole outdoor wedding décor, they also shield you and your guests from unfavorable weather conditions. Tents are also more flexible than existing facilities because you have more options regarding where and how you want to have your wedding. However, they are more expensive and can cost you around $3,000 to $6,000 without the extras such as lighting, flooring, and the cost of delivery, setup, and removal.

Types of Wedding Tents:

These are some of the popular tents that you may want to check out before making a decision.

Party Canopy: This is a lightweight tent designed to protect from sun and rain. Installation is easy, and inexpensive to rent in comparison to other types.

Pop-up Canopy: Another lightweight tent with collapsible-frame fabric. Installation is also easy.

Frame Tent: A tent with a metal frame having no center poles. The rental company usually installs it.

Tension tent: This type is built with high center poles, a steeply sloped ceiling, with a more open feeling inside of the tent.

Pole Tent: This type has poles around the perimeter and in the center, which is very practical for harsher weather conditions. The rental company will install it.

Location and Flooring:

The best location for setting up the wedding tent is on an even high ground, and should be free of overhead utility lines. If the site has uneven terrain or experiences high rainfall, try to include plywood or plastic flooring. Plywood can be expensive but it will provide a durable raised floor and is suitable for almost any type of terrain. Plastic floor is ideal for paved surfaces and is much cheaper than plywood floors. Also consider parquet-wood floor which can be used as the dance floor.

Size of the Tent:

There’s no harm in renting a tent that’s a little larger than actually required. Think of a tent size in which your guests can be comfortably seated. Here’s how you should estimate tent seating specifications:

All chairs in rows: 6 square feet per person
Round tables: 12 square feet per person
Rectangular tables: 8 square feet per person
Cocktails and receptions: 8 square feet per person

Along with these specifications, figure in the bar area, cake table, band area buffet tables, and dance floor.

Color of the Tent:

The traditional color for tents is white but you can choose from a wide variety and combinations, depending on the theme and mood of your wedding. For example, if you want a romantic starlit night sky to be part of your wedding, rent a tent with a translucent ceiling. Sidewalls can be solid white for more private affairs, clear vinyl to let in natural light, and cathedral-window walls for a more decorative touch.

Optional:

Remember that every rental firm also provides optional accessories which can really underscore the décor of your wedding and the tent. Choose those that will fit in to the theme and tone of the wedding. Other accessories that you can’t do without may include air-conditioning (for areas with extreme climates), carpeting, portable bars, decorative lighting etc.

New years Cinderella

Happy New year every one!!

I spent my night in Dalston and my friend Klara and I were captured by the thexoxokids

Someone took my shoes or they got misplaced at the New Years party I went to. So I wore a pair of gigantic trainers provided by a Scottish guy who lived where the party was.  I must have been a scary sight with this pale pink coat and sparkle dress with HUGE shoes clomping down the street!!!!!  RIP shoes!  Haha I should do a RIP post for all the items I have left for the world!

A look into last year's outfits:

When I feel more alive I promise to kick off the new year posting regularly!