Bridal Fashion Week is the Valentine's Day of fashion. It's the market exception; the only time a woman who typically shops at Banana Republic will splurge on a designer garment. That said, it's a booming industry and one that is, season after season, receiving increasing attention from the industry. Bridal Fashion Week is a sort of informal menagerie of those that have the atelier manpower to turn out Couture for the masses (an oxymoron, another reason we cringe at this spectacle). That said, here's our obligatory recap of notable collections being turned out for blushing brides-to-be. No matter our instinct to shun the charade, the designers themselves, are those we respect.


Oscar de la Renta: For his bridal collection Oscar de la Renta turned out, as typical of the designer, a dress for every type of wedding. There was the prairie inspired (complete with straw hat), the Japanese inspired, the CEO turned, er, wife inspired. There was a dress, and one pantsuit, for every type of gal. Each were stunning, if some were more palpable than others. Click to see the collection.


Carolina Herrera: Remember that equestrian overdose from Fall 08? Yes, those hats made a surprise reappearance. Looks like the interns went nuts with a can of spray paint while Herrera was busy designing the classic (not trendy nor avant garde--thank you anyway for the hats) gowns she is known for. We appreciate Herrera's wherewithal in designing for garments for cold weather brides. The white fur trimmed coat was something that you might actually wear beyond the 'big day'. Click to see the collection.


Badgley Mischka: Dear, Badgley Mischka. That was a really bad idea. First of all, please do not let the hair stylists tell you that long, waves, 'very L.A. Confidential' will turn out all right. The models look like cheerleaders. They look like they're from, gasp, L.A. Also, please do not do that 'princess dress' thing we remember from our high school prom. It makes us look fat and stupid. Lastly, we are willing to forgive you if you promise not to use that ugly backdrop again. Love, Women of The World. Click to see the collection.


Monique Lhuillier: Baaaam! You know when your teacher tells you that you're going to be learning about the judicial system and you get all psyched 'cause your mom is a court stenographer? Yeah, that's how Monique Lhuillier must feel during Bridal Week. The woman knows how to make a super glamorous frock. She knows the 'I want to look like a movie star' song and dance and damn if she didn't drive the point home this week. It's all in the details and, finally, the big white frocks that still make your derriere look good. Click to see the collection.

A well coordinated makeup palette is all a gal needs the Spring. Find great fashion, beauty, and handbag options in today's Must Reads posts from:

Raging Rouge reviews an illuminationg palette that has everything you need.

Hope Robertson dares you to compare a Theory sweater with a Victoria's Secret sweater.

Trash Bag Aesthetics discovers a sneaker release that would make Jem and The Holograms proud.

Perfume Posse hosts a Sniffapalooza.

What's Haute falls in love with a Devi Kroell Spring/Summer 2008 handbag.

Some look books just don't do fashion justice. When we saw these Fratelli Rossetti Python Open Pumps in Geranium, we were literally unable to concentrate on the preview of the company's Fall collection (the woman who was wearing this gift to fashion was the one showing us around). This sounds silly to say but the color, hard to pick up on in the picture, is truly Geranium. That is, it's red with a slightly coral or orange tint. The woman whom we saw in these heels was wearing a slim black suit and damn if that wasn't the eff-ing right choice. She looked, well, unbelievable. This, indeed, is where the eternal 'look for less' issue comes into play. Without the uncommon color, the real pythonskin, and the craftsmanship of a decades-old Italian shoe company--what are we left with? We're left with blisters and lipstick-red heels that make us look like our outfit is an homage to the movie Pretty Woman. Oh yeah, and the other color option, Cedar, is right on target with Spring's acid green trend.


Click for more Immaterial

LVMH and Burberry both announce double-digit increases in the first quarter. That is, 14 and 19 percent respectively. As for LVMH, the company sites the Richard Prince/Louis Vuitton collaboration, among other things, to have been particularly successful. Too bad LVMH can't celebrate this growth in the face of a recession; their wine and spirits sector fell seven percent this quarter.


If it ever came down to it, Oscar de la Renta would be left to design every last wedding dress on this planet (would that lower divorce rates?). His Spring 09 fashion show, featuring wedding dresses he imagined for different destinations, to no surprise, wowed buyers. Bridal Fashion Week runs in April and October but Oscar de la Renta shows but once a year.


Santo Versace, head of the Versace design house with Donatella Versace, decided to run for Italy's parliament and, it has just been announced, has won. Er, been elected. When Versace was running for a seat in parliament, he was quoted as saying, “My father always predicted I would go into politics but when I had the chance to break into fashion with Gianni \ I gave up the idea”.


Buyers at the Los Angeles trade show, California Market Center, reported that teens are greatly influenced by celebrity endorsements (intentional or not). If so-and-so's wearing skull scarves or leopard print mini-skirts, apparently, so is your twelve-year-old. This is not news so much as a reaffirmation that we should all move to Paris as soon as possible.