More gorgeous dresses! It’s dresses like these that make me feel like if I weren’t doing graphic design, I would have to be dedicating myself to fashion. I’m not kidding you, these beauties actually tug on my heart strings a little bit. Swan Lake anyone?

Check out the MLH online shop for party dresses, accessories and more stunning looks. I just wish I had an event to go to for all of them. Thanks to this Creature Comforts post for introducing me to such a lovely collection!

{images from the Maria Lucia Hohan online luxury shop}

Another friend recently got engaged – whoo hoo! Congrats Lila! She asked for a little dress help so for the next few weeks I’m going to be featuring the work of some of my favourite dress designers, starting with Monique Lhuillier’s 2011 Spring line.

I’m usually not a sucker for bead work, but these pieces are gla-mor-ous! This spring collection brings everything to the table: elegance, romance, and drama. I wish I was daring enough to wear that short little ‘Vegas-style’ number below. Browse through the entire collection at moniquelhuillier.com to find something that suits you.

{all images from moniquelhuillier.com}

I wanted to take a moment to talk about one of my favourite companies: LUSH.

Although you may find their products to be a bit pricier than some drugstore beauty products, there’s good reason for it, and no doubt – you’re worth it!

To begin with, LUSH products are made from fresh, organic fruit and vegetables, fine essential oils and safe synthetics. They also make them all fresh by hand using little or no preservative or packaging, using only vegetarian ingredients, and with indication of when the products were made. Testing on animals is also a big no-no for them.

So I picked out a few of my faves for you:

1. Ocean Salt. Why I like it: Like? No, LOVE. Because it’s the best scrub I’ve ever encountered, with vodka infused lime, grapefruit and sea salt, balanced with moisturizing fresh avocado butter and coconut fat. Leaves me smelling like a delicious summer drink and an afternoon on the beach.
2. Mange Too Massage Bar. Why I like it: Mouth-watering white chocolate, honey, banana, and subtle peppermint. What more can I say? I’ve been slightly tempted at times to take a bite from this bar, but better to start with a massage first. Then who knows? You might end up tasting a bit for yourself later… if you get what I’m saying. ;) So if you’re looking to spruce things up a bit – this is the ticket.
3. Think Pink Bath Bomb. Why I like it: This what I like to call “girls night in”… but for one. A hot, fizzing, pink bath makes me feel relaxed and feminine. And the money for these pretties goes towards fighting Breast Cancer. So you can feel really good about taking a bath with this bomb… except don’t eat the little flower candies. They’re just for fun.

{images from MAZE blog, LUSH and TheBeauty2U}

These romantic, structural dresses by Russian designer Anna Miminoshvili just scream ’spring’, with textured layers that bloom confidently. And I just love the photos from this shoot too. They are whimsical, yet mysterious, like something out of Alice in Wonderland. I want to see more!

{photos via Merci (New York)}

{photo from =anja= on Flickr}

Over the past week we stumbled upon Johanna Johnson’s work on a few popular wedding blogs, and we couldn’t resist raving about it too. The 2010 Zepphora collection is inspired by 1920s and 30s romance and glamour, decked out in Swarovski crystals, heavy platinum tones, and Parisian bead-work. Be in awe here. I can see the sleek vintage-style dresses being show-stoppers at ritzy receptions, and the flowy ethereal designs shining best at garden-themed weddings. How does one choose?

{images from JohannaJohnson.com}

Links of London has always brought eclectic charms, bracelets and cufflinks in sterling silver and 18k gold since they first started in 1990. Their fine jewelery is classic, but also modern enough to pair with a casual outfit. Their charms especially are easy to match, and come in so many designs :) The heart-sheaped charms alone range from a plump round one, to my favourite thumbprint one, to the sapphire-embellished Lovestruck one.

For Valentine’s day, Links of London has a limited edition, Love Collection, by their creative director, Elizabeth Galton. Each piece is exquisite and would make a great gift for a lovely lady.

{image from Butter Boom}

I am in love with the wide selection of modern and fashionable fine jewelery on Kabiri! The pieces are by many UK designers and there are many styles and price ranges to choose from :)

If you want a unique piece with character, this site will have something for you!

{images from Kabiri}

You may wonder how an absurdly bright photo with an unproportional bed and peculiar bed dressing may inspire such a cute and fun colour template. As I drew the colours from the photos, it was obvious that these were bubbly and childish colours…and that is because, this photo comes directly from the drawing of a child!

Yeondoo Jung has a series of Wonderland photography, inspired by real drawings by real children. Sometimes the subjects are silly, sometimes impossible but they are always imaginative. A child’s creativity is not restricted, and therefore a great inspiration for adults like us that are often have ideas that are stiff, repetitive or mundane :) Children are really the richest source of inspiration!

Yeondoo does a great job of translating these innocent scribbles and drawings into believable worlds, showing us the possibilities from a child’s perspective. I absolutely love this project, as it shows inspiration can be drawn from anywhere.

{images from Yeondee Jung}

This cute solid perfume is packaged in a lovely hand carved African Blackwood case. It’s perfectly compact, and suitable for touchups :) My favourite part is how sustainable it is. The case is a made of a natural wood while the perfume scent is infused into an organic beeswax.

With lovely perfumes and packages by Tammy Frazer, it would make a cute bridesmaids gift, no?

{image from The Die Line}