Check out the newest additions to Flair!! We are so excited to have these beautiful gowns in the store. Make an appointment to come and try on these beauties!!
617.247.2828
Amy Kushel’s “Love Story”
Amy Kuschel’s “Lace Shrug”
Amy Kuschel’s “Rita”
Don’t forget about our Bridal Trunk Show this weekend 10% off all bridal gowns and 25% off all accessories!
XOXO
Lindsay & Stacey
Congratulations, your true love has finally popped the question and you said “YES”! First things first, pick a date and a venue!! Now onto fashion…..what will you wear and what will you choose for your bridal party!
We realize this an extremely exciting time in your life and believe us we are so excited for you and cannot wait to hear about all of your plans and ideas! Here are a few helpful hints before you come in for an appointment to keep in mind!
1. Book your appointment at least 2 weeks in advance!
If you have friends flying in from far off lands, you usually know pretty far in advance……so, as soon as you know, call us! 617.247.2828 We hate turning you away when you have your close friends in town but we are a small store and we need more than 2 days’ notice to book you an appointment especially for a late night or weekend!
2. Come in with some sort of vision!!
Lucky for us, we live in a society that is overloaded with information….sometimes completely over the top at all times. We have so many ways to find inspiration Pinterest, Bridal Magazines, Blogs, Facebook stalking(we know you do it!), and wedding planners! The problems arise when you come in and give your girls free reign of the entire store and don’t pick any kind of direction. You are just setting yourself up for disaster and a very disappointing appointment. Your friends do want to please you and help make your day as wonderful as possible so take this opportunity to at least give them a direction to go in!
3. Bring a select group of friends and family!
If you have been to Flair then you know that we are on the smaller side. If you haven’t, now you know! We are a small store..…you are probably thinking what does that mean for me? Well, it means bringing the entire bridal party or every aunt and cousin you have doesn’t not really work here! Unfortunately we are a small store and we only have two fitting rooms. On Saturday’s we double book so your large groups will be limited to one fitting room. So, our suggestion would be to pick your most trusted friends and family to come in and help you with your bridal gown or bridesmaid dress process. You do want some people to be surprised when they show up at the wedding right?
4. If you made an appointment, keep your appointment or cancel it!
So, you called ahead of time to make a special appointment to come in and look at bridal gowns or bridesmaid dresses! Congrats you were able to schedule the best possible time for you and your friends and your special appointment time rolls around……..and we are patiently waiting for you to arrive to show you all the beautiful gowns/dresses we have when……..we realize you are not coming.
Although I would like to say this happens hardly ever, that is not the case. Not only does this hurt us as a small business, it hurts our other customers that are on our waitlist hoping for a time to be able to get in and check out bridal gown or bridesmaid dresses with friends and family. So, if you can’t make it that is fine, just let us know so that we can fill in your time slot with the girls who can make it and are calling us non-stop to see if someone has cancelled.
So, now that you have all our pointers make plans with your girls, call early and get in here!! We are dying to hear about your wedding!!
XOXO
Stacey & Lindsay
Up Coming Events at Flair
March 9th-11th: Jenny Yoo Trunk Show
March 16th-17th: Coren Moore Trunk Show
March 23rd-25th: Anna Elyse Trunk Show/Bridal Trunk Show
The most exciting day in every girl’s life is the day that they get to stroll down the aisle with the man they love most. However, after all of the festivities have come to an end there is one important detail that most brides fail to remember: preserving their gorgeous gown. It might seem simple enough to toss your dress on a hanger, throw it on the closet, and move along with your day. However ladies, this may be the worst decision you could make. So, the ladies of Flair decided to save you the research, and gathered some simple rules for storing your dress properly.
Clearly it would be detrimental for your gown to be cleaned in the washing machine, so your first step should be to take a trip to a trusted dry cleaner. A professional should look over your dress with you when you drop it off, in order to point out any specific stains or damages. If the clerk feels as though they can not properly clean your gown, then they should tell you. In this instance you should call a local conservator. After the dry clean is complete, if your gown is hung then immediately take it off of the hanger. Also if it is wrapped in the notorious blue dry cleaner tissue paper, take it out right away as this can cause discoloration.
Once your gown is all shiny and new again, there are a few simple rules to follow. The first thing you should do is order a preserving box and tissue paper which must both be un-buffered and acid free. This is because the chemicals that go into regular boxes and tissue do not react well with the chemicals in fabric, and therefore will eventually become extremely damaging. You can purchase preserving materials easily at Foster-Stephens.com. Another storage no-no is the cedar trunk, although this may seem like a logical place to keep your gown, its not. Cedar gives off gases as time progresses that will essentially eat away at your lovely fabric.
When your packing materials come in, you should store it as soon as possible. Ideally you will fold your gown in three ways. In between each fold you should place a piece of the non-acidic tissue paper, in order to avoid permanent fold creases or fabric fractures. You should then place the folded dress in the box with tissue underneath and on top. An important detail to remember is not to include plastic in the packing process, as it easily collects humidity and will leave stains and/or rust marks from any metal detail. Make sure to seal the box extremely well on the outside, using tape if necessary. An ideal place to store the box is in a cool and dry place, in which you clean often. Attics and basements are not a great idea, as they are often extreme in temperatures and tend to be very damp/dry.
You should repeat all of these steps about every two years, as the conservation materials always need to be refreshed. Although this process may seem tedious, trust us, its not that bad! It is totally worth it to take the steps, and be able to cherish it forever. Just think, your daughter may wish to wear your fabulous gown someday!
Preserve on!
aka “#1 intern at Flair”
Welcome to Boston ladies…..we are so happy to have you!
Features a lace bodice over a tulle and organza skirt!
Features a Point d’Esprit dotted fabric over Organza!
Features a ruches sweetheart neckline and can be work two-ways with or with out straps in silk crinkle chiffon.
Features a ruched crinkle chiffon coktail dress that can be worn two-ways with or without straps in silk crinkle chiffon.
Features a strapped sweetheart neckline with a starburst gathered bodice in Eastern Silk.
Set up an appointment to come see these new beauties!
617.247.2828
Jenny Yoo Trunk Show!
March 9th-11th
XOXO
Lindsay & Stacey
As most of you brides have probably discovered, you encounter alot of mysteries during the wedding planning process. For instance, why isn’t tip always included in the reception costs (no one wants to think about tipping a bunch of waiters on their actual wedding day!)? Are you obligated to invite your officiant to the reception? Who gets the invite to the rehearsal dinner? WHY are bridal gowns so expensive (well, most of them anyways)?? I think you can guess which one of those mysteries we’re going to attempt to solve today…
A great little magazine called “New England Bride” wrote an enlightening article on what exactly goes into bridal gown pricing. One of the most interesting things I took away from reading the article is that it’s what you don’t see that can increase the price of a gown. Well-made gowns have high quality lining and high quality built in structure (i.e. corseting) that contribute to your overall look, fit and comfort. Yes, that costs a little more but you’ll love the look/feel that much more. It can be easy to fall in love with a less expensive dress when you only stand in it for 5 minutes at a time; think about how you’ll feel in it all night long. You will be happy you paid a little more for comfy lining (no itchy fabrics here!) and boning to keep you looking and feeling good as you dance the night away! We’re not talking $5000 either. If you expand your budget to $2000 you’ll be surprised at how much more you’ll be able to get.
The other contributing factor to pricing is a little more obvious. It’s what elicits those oohs and aahs; bling! Not only do the actual crystals, pearls, etc. cost money but you have to remember, someone is taking hours and hours to stich each one on. The article stated that on average a seamstress will work 23 eight hour days working on a single gown. Amazing! Plus, you can be sure that a higher end designer is working with only high quality seamstresses. Sometimes the cheaper gowns are done by less experienced seamstresses, and it shows in the end result.
All that being said, we’d never dream of telling anyone how much they should spend on their wedding gown. Everyone’s situation/budget is different and we totally understand that. We’re here to help, not to jack up prices! Prices are set at what they are for a reason and we thought it was super helpful to have that explained a little better. Also, we just want everyone to be as informed as possible when beginning their gown search. Think about the lining, is it comfortable? Think about the interior structure, is it going to make you feel confident and secure over a long period of time? Don’t forget though, there are exceptions to every rule. There are amazing, high quality designers/gowns out there that won’t break the bank (we have alot of them here!). So, come in and see us, we think you’ll be happy with what your money can get you at Flair!!
Happy Shopping!
XOXO
Linds
Well, 2012 brides do we have some exciting news for you…..Amy Kuschel’s dresses have finally arrived and they are quite beautiful. Check them out….. and then give us a call to set your appointment up!!
They are such a gorgeous addition to our already fabulous selection of bridal gowns. Priced between $1800-$3000!
{Elle}
{Eureka}
{Juniper}
{Kennedy}
{Lux}
We hope you LOVE them as much as we do! We can not wait to see you in them.
617.247.2828
XOXO
Lindsay & Stacey
Here at Flair, we are constantly learning about new things; wedding related and otherwise. Siri for the iPhone, HeyTell, and guest trunk shows, for example. What’s a guest trunk show you ask? It’s when a designer who we do not normally carry hosts a trunk show (i.e. they loan us tons of gowns) in our store. I know, news to us too! We are soso excited to announce one such trunk show featuring Junko Yoshioka!
We were introduced to Junko when we went to bridal market in NYC a few weeks ago. We fell in love with their gowns and we know you will too! They are whimsical yet formal at the same time and their wide variety of silhouettes will flatter all figures. The trunk show will be February 4th and 5th, which I know feels light years away, but we think it’s going to be a HUGE hit so book your appointments early!
Give us a call to book your appointment for the Junko Yoshioka Trunk Show February 4th-5th!!
XOXO
Linds & Stace
We are on a roll with some seriously gorgeous weddings!! We are so lucky to be a part of so many wonderful bride’s weddings, and Katie is no exception. Every time she graced us with her presence at Flair we all left with a smile on our face!! She is warm, sweet and extremely kind! Her wedding was infused with pink and complimented her venue in the Adirondacks Mountains. Enjoy her perfectly pink wedding.
What was your inspiration for your wedding?
The color pink and the Adirondacks!
How did you tie that inspiration in to what you choose for your bridesmaid dresses/bridal gown?
Our bridesmaids wore Coren Moore silk shantung azalea (light pink) dresses, I wore an azalea Coren Moore bridal sash for the reception and the groom and groomsmen wore pink Vineyard Vines ties. The Coren Moore dresses and my gown were a perfect fit for a day wedding in the Adirondack Mountains.
What were you looking for in your bridesmaid dresses?
I wanted our bridesmaids to look and feel great in their dresses! Two of our bridesmaids helped me select a handful of different styles from Coren Moore’s bridesmaid collection for each of them to choose from. Though I did not let our bridesmiads decide on the color of their dresses, I wanted them to be able to pick a style of dress that they felt great in. When you look and feel good in what you are wearing the day is always more fun!
How was Stacey/Lindsay/Brooke most helpful?
Stacey, Lindsay and Brooke were all very helpful! Brooke helped me each time I visited Flair, she had wonderful suggestions and ideas for outfitting our bridal party. All three girls assisted with placing orders and notifying me when anything arrived at the store. Everyone at Flair was incredibly friendly, accommodating and responsive.
What did you choose for your bridal gown?
Coren Moore’s Chloe Gown in ivory silk shantung. I wore an ivory bridal sash and my mother’s veil for the ceremony and an azalea bridal sash for the reception.
How was your experience at Flair?
Fantastic! I highly recommend Flair to any bride for both her bridal gown and bridesmaid dresses.
Where did you get married?
We were married at Sacred Heart Church in Lake George, NY. Our Reception was at The Sagamore Resort on Lake George in Bolton Landing, NY.
What was your favorite part of the Wedding?
All of it!
Where did you go on your honeymoon?
For our honeymoon we vacationed at the Four Seasons Resort Lana’i at Manele Bay. We highly recommend this location to any couples looking to honeymoon in Hawaii, it was so much fun!
List of Vendors?
Bridal Gown: Coren Moore from Flair
Veil: My Mothers!
Shoes: Kate Spade
Bridal Alterations: Newbury Tailoring Company
Bridesmaids: Coren Moore from Flair
Groom and Groomsmen: Vineyard Vines, Smathers & Branson, Brooks Brothers
Flowers: Finishing Touches
Band: Total Soul Party, this band is perfect for Weddings!
Photography: Goldman Studio
Reception and Catering: The Sagamore Resort (for New England Brides to be, The Sagamore is a sister Resort to The Samoset Resort and Wentworth by the Sea). The service at The Sagamore was truly exceptional!
Congratulations to one of the sweetest brides of all time!
XOXO
Lindsay & Stacey
Saturday October 15th – Day 1
9:30 AM – Lindsay and Stacey board the Amtrak to NYC! A few episodes of Glee on our computers and we’re there!
1:30 PM – Struggle to catch a cab at Penn Station and Lindsay’s watch goes missing…not a good start…
2:00 – We check into the fabulous Omni Berkshire Hotel in Midtown, thanks to our friends at the Omni in Boston. Seriously, if there is an Omni wherever you are traveling, STAY THERE! They are all so classy and gorgeous, we were in heaven!
3:00 – Explore Midtown a little…we search for a Starbucks that the concierge told us was a block away, but never find it (more on that later) and end up getting sandwiches nearby.
4:00 – Make ourselves pretty and presentable (takes longer than you’d think).
4:30 – Wind ruins our hair as we wait for a cab outside of the hotel…Stacey and Lindsay are NOT happy.
5:00 – Check into Pier 94 (where bridal market is held) and have our first meeting with Anna Elyse, yay! We don’t want to give too much away but let’s just say we are SO excited about her new bridal line. We absolutely fell in love with one gown with a textured skirt…stay tuned! She is expanding and growing her bridesmaids’ line as well and added two new fabrics, chiffon and charmuese. Go Annie!
6:30 – Lindsay and Stacey struggle to figure out where to go to dinner. They end up at the hotel restaurant (Fireside) like major losers. The salad in the parmesan bowl was fab though!
7:30 – Conference call with Flair’s owner Christine to discuss what we’ve seen so far. We are so excited already!
8:30 – Asleep…not kidding. The beds at the Omni were too amazing to resist for too long and poor Stacey is under the weather. Such a trooper!
Sunday October 16th – Day 2
6:00 AM – Time to wake up and get ready! We are sure to use ample Rave hairspray to avoid yesterday’s windy fiasco. P.S. Stacey confirms that the Omni has the best hotel shower EVER. Bonus!
7:30 – We’re out the door and immediately go looking for Starbucks…which we again did not find. Eventually we stumbled across one several blocks away (with the help of our smart phones – seriously, what did we do before those things?!). A fabulous man in a morning coat compliments Lindsay’s trench and sunglasses (the glasses are forever 21, he thought Tom Ford). Her day is made. Then, a turn for the worse: our lovely cab driver starts to drive away with Stacey still half way out the door. She swung her way in though, crisis averted.
9:00 – Appointment to see a potential new bridal designer, Junko Yoshioka. Such nice guys and gorgeous dresses! We have the best job ever!
10:00 – Time to meet with the Jenny Yoo ladies! We love them! Let us start by saying that Jenny has such a good idea for a bridesmaid’s dress that she is in the process of patenting it. Yes, you heard us, a patent. Can’t wait to show you ladies when the samples come in!
11:00 – Meeting with Coren Moore and her team. They are THE sweetest ever and we love hanging out with them, and of course seeing their new styles! We love their new chiffon pieces, which we’ll have in the store in the coming WEEKS! Eeek, so excited!! Plus, later in the season we’ll have a gorgeous bridesmaid’s dress with a ruffle detail and you know how we love us a ruffle!
12:00 PM – Quick trip to see our accessories designer, A.B. Ellie. Ashley is a true genius when it comes to bridal and bridesmaids’ belts. They really add SO much detail to our dresses. We added a few new pieces for the store and we know our girls are going to L-O-V-E them! Plus, we love seeing Ashley and her sister, they are so down to earth and fabulous!
12:30 – Off to Nicole Miller! Her dresses are so much fun, we love seeing them on the gorgeous models. Plus, she has A-MAZING party dresses that are really well priced!
1:30 – MUCH needed lunch break! Stacey and Lindsay wander the waterfront area for awhile and stumble upon a cute little pub. Slow service but great food, just the pick me up we needed!
3:00 – Lynn Lugo time! We are SOSO excited about Lynn’s new styles! In particular, there are three new tops with ruffle details that we fell in LOVE with. They are super cute and wearable, trust us! Plus, she came out with some great soft colors that we think will be very popular this year. Lynn and her husband Pete are the cutest couple ever, so we just love to chat and catch up with them. Plus, they gave us these amazing cups with her logo on them which we now use every day!
4:00 – Definitely time to grab a coffee in the buyer’s lounge area. We are starting to fade!
4:30 – Quick stop at Dessy. Theirs is always an easy one, we know we’re getting everything! We figured out what colors we wanted and were on our way!
5:00 – Our last meeting of the day is with 57 Grand. We love these ladies, definitely be on the lookout for them. They get the best magazine exposure ever and landed another Martha Stewart editorial just recently! They have a super cool bridal style with a removeable tulle skirt, so cool!
6:00 – Headed back to the Omni!
6:30 – Hour and a half conference call with Christine, we have SO much to discuss!
8:00 – Stacey and Lindsay get brave and venture out for dinner! Watch out NYC here we come! We went to this adorable Italian restaurant with THE fastest service ever. The entrees were there literally 2 minutes after we ordered, crazy! Plus, our waiter had a crush on us and gave us a glass of wine on the house. Not gonna lie, we needed it!
9:00 – Back to the Omni, we laugh and watch The Proposal and fall asleep by 11:00 (such rebels after last night).
Monday October 17th – Day 3
6:30 AM – Wake up time! We were ready super early yesterday so we slept a little later.
7:45 – Out the door, we try yet again to find the “close” Starbucks but again end up at the farther one we went to yesterday. Whatever, we’d travel miles and miles for the bucks.
9:00 – Meeting another new designer, Amy Kuschel. She is THE perfect fit for Flair! Her bridal gowns are definitely going to be a step up for us and we KNOW our girls are going to love them! Plus, former Flair girl Leah works with them at her new bridal boutique so we got to catch up with her there. We miss her! Ladies, you are going to DIE over these dresses, we are counting down the days until we can start showing them to you!!
10:00 – Travel to the Intercontinental Hotel where Siri is showing. She got the presidential suite there, go Siri!!
11:00 – Meeting with Siri. She has an absolutely adorable rouched sweetheart style that we know will KILL at Flair.
12:00 PM – Last stop of the trip, Badgley Mischka in Times Square! No new styles but it was still so nice to see their showroom, it’s gorgeous!
12:30 – Quick change into scrubby, train clothes in the Omni bathroom. We ask the concierge yet again where the closer Starbucks is…and still don’t find it. We are convinced it doesn’t exist.
1:00 – Quick lunch in Midtown. We get to eat outside because it is so gorgeous out!
2:00 – Amtrak home! A man and woman behind us refuse to stop talking even though the train is supposed to be quiet. We give a few mean glances, to no avail. On the brighter side, Stacey meets a new man (in the form of an adorable 7 month old baby, who was a major flirt).
Tuesday October 18th – Back to Flair!!! We only wish we had all of those new styles with us, but we should have a lot of them soon after the new year! Stay tuned brides and maids!
We had the best time at Bridal Market this year and we are so excited to share all the new gems!
Here’s to a happy, successful, beautifully dressed and healthy 2012!
XOXO
Lindsay & Stacey
What is a “Flair-y Tail” wedding you ask?
Once upon a time on a hot day in July after months and months of planning and thinking about her big day, the manager at Flair finally got married! Although it was one of the hottest days of the year…..hovering around 90 degrees all day….it was a beautiful clear summer day for Lindsay and Jay to tie the knot, and as a guest at the wedding, it truly was a magical and gorgeous day! Here is what our esteemed manager had to say about her big day! XOXO
What was your inspiration for your wedding?
This is going to sound bad coming from someone in the wedding industry but I really didn’t have a theme or any one thing that inspired the wedding. As I got to each to each item (stationary, cake, dresses, etc) I really just chose what appealed to me most visually and hoped that everything looked great together in the end (which it did!). Personally, I am not a huge fan of theme weddings but every bride is different! One theme that did sort of creep out after we made a few decisions is that most everything was black, white and gray, so we ended up with a very neutral wedding. We really only had pops of color in the pink flowers and some pale pink in the cake. Brides, I encourage you to not get too caught up in a theme. Yes, sailboats are adorable on your personalized cocktail napkins, but you don’t necessarily need them on your cake, men’s ties, etc. This is your one chance to just choose things that you love and make it all about you, so go for it!
How did you tie that in to what you choose for your bridesmaid dresses/bridal gown?
After months of cutting out wedding gown photos from magazines, I found that all of the ones I loved had a few things in common: mermaid, strapless, ruffles. Turns out, I had a very specific style! I found just that at Kleinfeld in NYC; it was a great experience, though I would have loved the ease of purchasing my gown at Flair!!
I felt a lot of pressure when it came to the bridesmaids’ dresses. First things first, I wanted to make sure my girls loved their dress. Secondly, I work so close to the bridesmaids’ process that I really felt pressure to do something unique. This lead me to my two tone dresses. I am madly in love with them! A big thanks to Lynn Lugo for doing the two tone for me, I highly recommend it to brides looking to set their dresses apart a little.
What did you choose?
I chose the Tate dress by Lynn Lugo; gorgeous! Yes, I went with a trendier style with the one shoulder, but that truly didn’t bother me. It was my favorite and the girls’ favorite so that’s what we went with. Don’t overthink it brides! If you find one that everyone (or most everyone) likes by all means STOP LOOKING and go for it!
What color(s)?
Keeping with the neutral theme that developed, I went with a silver top and a gunmetal skirt. My sister/MOH had a black crystal A.B. Ellie belt to set her apart a little (more like a lot…she had more bling than me…). I love neutrals, it makes it much easier for the girls to rewear (fingers crossed) and you can always add color in the flowers, shoes, etc.
Tips for brides when selecting their BM dresses? Bridal Gowns?
1) Don’t overthink it! Brides are constantly asking themselves “Is this too trendy” “Does this go with the table linens?” “What will soandso think?” If you like it, don’t question it, go for it! You don’t want to look back and wish you’d gone another way.
2) When you find a dress you love, stop looking! There are lots of pretty dresses out there so you could torture yourself and keep looking but you’ll just end up stressed and tried.
3) Know from the start that you may not make all of your bridesmaids’ happy. Pretty self-explanatory, but it’s true. If they’re your good friends they’ll wear whatever you want them to. You’re the one that has to look at the photos for forever, so make sure YOU like how it looks first and foremost!
4) Be ready to do some tailoring, every dress needs some. I had some and all of my bridesmaids did too. So, even the “experts” aren’t immune. It’s just a fact of bridal life so get used to it!
When and where was your wedding?
I knew from the start that I wanted a chic, downtown wedding. We were married in St. Cecilia’s Catholic Church in Back Bay with the reception at the Skywalk at the top of the Prudential Center. Great views for our out of town guests!
What was your favorite part of the wedding?
Our first dance! In the last two weeks before the wedding we decided to add 6 dance lessons to our already packed schedule; certifiable but was worth EVERY minute. It was nice to escape and take the lessons together and then wow our guests with an amazing choreographed dance. I will never forget their reactions!
Where did you go on your honeymoon?
We are waiting to honeymoon until the winter. It’s so nice in New England right now but we’ll be glad to escape the snow in a few months! We’re thinking Hawaii or the Atlantis in the Bahamas.
List of Vendors
Bridal gown: Alita Graham exclusive for Kleinfeld
Bridal Alterations: Newbury Tailoring Company (we wouldn’t send you a place we wouldn’t use too!)
Bridesmaids: Lynn Lugo from Flair (duh)
Veil: etsy!!!!
Shoes: Christian Louboutin
Flowers: Rob from Twig in the South End = genius!
Hair/makeup: Wedding Tresses (they are amazing!!)
DJ: DJ ACT1 (nicest guy ever!)
Ceremony Music: Intermezzo Chamber Players (Coldplay and Journey on the strings? Yes please!)
Photography: Mary Paulk for The Pros Photography (best deal around!)
Cake: Konditor Meister
So nice to finally be able to celebrate Lindsay and Jay’s wedding….she truly deserved such a beautiful and special day, especially after dressing hundreds of other bridal parties in and around New England!
Congrats to Lindsay & Jay!
May you live happily ever after……..
xoxo
Stacey 🙂
