FRENCH KISS - South Coast Plaza Unveils Its Fall Fashion Portfolio

Every year, the luxury shopping center South Coast Plaza produces their Fall Fashion Portfolio featuring the top fall fashion trends of their retailers. This year, the catalog was shot in Paris by the New York based, London born photographer Sharif Hamza and is filled with drool worthy images of CHANEL, Versace, Fendi, Chloé, Balenciaga, and Barbara Bui, just to name a few. Some of the gorgeous images are below, but you can view the entire Fall Fashion Portfolio Catalog HERE.

We were honored to design some of the brand identity, couture stationery and event collateral to celebrate this special event again this year. After all, who wouldn't be inspired by the classic elegance overflowing in Paris? In true French fashion, we took inspiration from the ornate ironwork found in The City of Lights juxtaposed against the chic, classic Black & White color palette and No. graphics that remain a signature look for CHANEL fashions, scents, and accessories.

Donna Karan New York Dress / Stuart Weitzman boots /  Chanel inspired florals by Lilla Bello.

Our couture invitations to the dinner celebrating the catalog launch were as decorative as the ironwork in Paris, yet as classic as a CHANEL suit. Letterpressed, die-cut and foil stamped with Gold, these beauties were held in the pocket of a little black folder and tied with a striped Black & White grosgrain ribbon. Complete with gold scrollwork corners, these invites were Ooh La La...and oh so French!

The "Supersized Coats" fashion trend for fall was featured in the invitation suite with this winter white oversized cape by Barbara Bui.

The press kit carried through the Black, White and Gold Chanel inspired design and also featured 

letterpress business cards with gold foil stamping as well as a beautiful black folder with foil stamping.

All event branding, stationery, and marketing collateral by Figmint Design.

The VIP dinner celebration was held at Lucques in West Hollywood where no detail was spared. 

The table was set to French perfection with lush creamy florals by White Lilac Inc. 

and glamorous Black, White & Gold place settings by Casa dePerrin. 

Editors from Vogue, C Magazine, Vanity Fair, WWD, Angeleno, Fashion Trends Daily,

Racked LA(who featured an article on the evening here), and Apparel News, 

just to name a few, enjoyed a lavish dinner prepared by the culinary masters

in the kitchen while toasting to South Coast Plaza.

Cheers to another beautiful Fall Portfolio event and a prosperous year to come!

URBAN UNVEILED L.A.

When we were invited to partake in a luxurious bridal show inspired by The Great Gatsby, we didn't have to think twice. A big thanks to the incredible Good Gracious! Events for inviting us and Lilla Bello to "DecoRate" their table with couture 1920's branding for the fabulous Urban Unveiled LA show hosted by California Wedding Day and held at the historic Vibiana in downtown Los Angeles. 

  

 

Special thanks to Duke Photography and Isabel Lawrence Photographers for capturing these amazing images (as credited) while our own camera was sometimes off. Apparently, we were too busy drooling over all the deco decadence, being swept away into the roaring 20's, meeting some great new people, and perhaps having a deco cocktail or 2....Shhh!! Oh what a night! 

 

Our Flapper Girl inspired Escort Cards and chair treatments were all dressed up for the party, complete with hand strung metallic Silver "headband" with pearls and feathers. Gorgeous Deco gown by Caprice Bridal Boutique worn by Jessica Paterson.

Fabulous deco forals by Lilla Bello with earthy greens, succulents, orchids, feathers and metallic accents were definitely a show stopper of a "showgirl" dancing on the table all night long!

Our Metallic Mint Leather Menu cards (yes....Leather!!!!!!) enjoyed an evening of being stroked by brides-to-be and industry professionals, and being called "sexy". We may have even seen them blushing!

Fresh Mint custom linens by Designer Specialty Linens laid the foundation for delicious bites by the Good Gracious! Events catering team. Fabulous glossy White furnishings by Rrivre Works Event Design and Rentals.

  More images can be seen on our Facebook page or California Wedding Day's Facebook page.

EMERALD Entertaining - Feast Meets West

We can barely contain our excitement over the just announced Pantone Color of the Year 2013: EMERALD. This has always been one of our favorite colors since it evokes thoughts of Old Hollywood Glamour, Art Deco architecture, and gleaming Green gemstones. What better way to give a nod to Emerald than to show you how we recently incorporated this fantastic shade into a luxe dinner party? So, cheers to a little inspiration for how you can weave this color into your next gathering, and perhaps "DECOrate" for the holidays. 

Here at Figmint Design, we strongly believe that nothing gets guests more excited about a party than receiving an impressive invitation that evokes conversation and "brands your event" by giving a taste of what the fete will be like. So, when we joined forces with the wildly talented florist Toby Kassoy of Lilla Bello, we decided to throw an intimate yet luxe dinner party called "Feast Meets West". The dinner party was held at her gorgeous and lofty design studio in the legendary art complex Bergamot Station in Santa Monica. Lilla Bello provided the lush floral artistry and event styling for the evening, and we provided the custom stationery and event branding for the overall vision and vibe. 

Designed to be a gathering of the top event artists in Los Angeles, each vendor was invited to put their creative brushstroke on the evening as a host. Hosts included: Jamaica's Cakes, Two Sparrows Photography, La Tavola Fine Linens / Beverly Hills, Classic Party Rentals / El Segundo, Great Taste Catering. We then invited a handful of the city's most talented planners and movers & shakers in the event industry as guests of honor to indulge in our feast and see the talents of each vendor as a collective. Guests included: Harmonie Krieger of Modern Luxury, Cassandra Unruh Santor of Cassandra & Company Weddings, Beth Helmstetter, Charley Izabella King of Bluebell Events, and Tamalin Srisook of Presence Entertainment.

It all began with the custom invitation by yours truly, Figmint Design. Inspired by the Art Deco vibe of the color palette, we decided to use a round invite to play up the geometric shapes often found in the design from that time period. We thought it would be fun to "serve" each guest their invitation on a vintage Emerald plate via Etsy shop  Willow Tree Antiques. We letterpress printed each invite in Black and Gold and then carefully hand strung (with Emerald string, of course!) a Black vintage bead found via Etsy shop Vintage Lizzy to each invite. After each invite was printed, strung, and plated, it was placed on a bed of moss and fresh florals and placed in a White box. The outside of each box was tied with ribbon and decorated further with fresh florals and hand delivered to each guest!

Glamorous Gold leather table linens, Gold flatware, Black goblets, and geometric White china DECOrated the tabletops (provided by La Tavola Fine Linens and Classic Party Rentals). Stunning blooms dripped from vintage Emerald glass vases (provided by Lilla Bello).  Menus and place cards were hand strung with Emerald string (provided by Figmint Design).

Mouthwatering morsels were served by caterer Josh Jackson of Great Taste Catering and delectable desserts by Jamaica Crist of Jamaica's Cakes. 

PETAL PUSHER

How gorgeous is Mila Kunis (the newest face of Dior) in this Temperley London Top? I just love the soft organic shapes of the petals and the graphic quality of the black edges. Something this soft and elegant paired with shiny hard metallic accents is so interesting. Wouldn't this be a fantastic vibe for a wedding? LOVE!!!!

Source: Mila Kunis in Temperley London Top / Photo via Couture Courier

Source: , Noritamy necklace image via Pinterest, Kitchen by Dunlin Home via Apartment Therapy, Red smoke image via Pinterest

Source: Erica O'Brien wedding cake via Pinterest

HAPPY NEW YEAR

It's hard to believe that another year has passed and we've already begun 2012. Let's remember that the power is in our hands to create, cultivate, and care for our dreams. So be thoughtful of what you pick up, bring into your life to nurture, and blow back out into the world. 

Wishing you a healthy, happy, and prosperous year filed with love and everything your heart desires. Make it shine!!!!!

Image via Pinterest

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

Whatever holiday you are celebrating, may it be filled with love, laughter, and light. Enjoy every moment. Happy Holidays!

Sources: Olivier Chomienne hair Stylist with Raimondo Chesa via Design Dautore

BOHEMIAN DREAMIN'

I have always loved the materials, colors, and symbolism of Dream Catchers. This season, I designed a Bohemian inspired holiday collection. A Dream Catcher seemed to be the prefect muse for the collection using gorgeous gold letterpress, hand painted feathers, lots of wood grains, beads, and leather! This concept would also translate beautifully for any special occasion: weddings, birthdays, New Year's, etc.... Contact Figmint Design to order your custom designed Bohemian collection for your next event! The Holiday Dream Catcher Collection is available at Lilla Bello Studio and on Etsy.

Sources: Wood & Feather Hang Tags by Figmint Design, Letterpress & Hand Painted Dream Catcher Holiday Card by Figmint Design, 

Wood Hand Painted Menu Card by Figmint Design (available via custom order) / photos by: Maria Valentin

Sources: Dessert Table feature via Hostess with the Mostess,  design by Jesi Hack Weddings, dessert by Sweet and Saucy Shop, 

photography by Gabriel Ryan