why am i so tired on a friday night? shouldn't i be out dancing?

the week end review:

new bridesmaid dress order

3 mothers of the groom/bride

71 cup dresses on order

first wholesale shipment out to del ray beach fl

helped prom goers with bow ties

3 prom dresses

fit a bride for her wedding gown

first skype consolation

new fabric

make new pillows for the shop added to the to do list

friends birthday dinner,

girlie movies rented but not watched

went to denver

traveled 12 hours by plane

late night pizza

spent the night in the loft of an old church converted to condos

vail for a day of skying

tai valentines day lunch with reece and friends

had an elk taco

new respect for professional skiers

jl mclaughlin truck show.. converting a tunic into a dress

meeting with the factory

went without internet for 38 hrs at work

thought of painting my kitchen

started new book

ordered fall fabric

went to bed at 10 on a friday night...

is this a sign im getting old?

kelly and parker tie the knot and a day i wont forget

i am thankful that every day i go to a place that i love, a place that feels more like a living room than a place of business. a place where friends are made and lives are stitched together as we design and sew. intrinsic validation at its finest, to make a living off of your life. there is no greater reward to see someone happy in a dress i have created.

the days have gone by in the last five years, and i have no idea where they went. seasons bleed together and i can hardly believe this is our 5th spring. there are many days that i do not remember. parker and kelly's wedding day and the time that i spent with them will not be forgotten.

my relationship with kelly began with a top for her engagement pictures... what an honor in itself. a few months later we began to design and construct her wedding gown. simple and elegant with a pleat detail and small bow the dress just fit her personality and style. as we began to work on the bridesmaid dresses, mother of the bride, mother of the groom, flower girl and the soloist dress for the big day i knew this would be an event i wouldn't forget.

something changed in me seeing them. i known that love exist. but something happens when you see it. love that is giving and unselfish. where the other person is put first. i saw this in how kelly and parker talked to each each other, how the each mother worked with her daughters to find the style that best suited them for their bridesmaid dress. how dorothy bragged on and conversed with her grand children... when they were together at the shop, love was there too.

mother of the bride

mother of the groom

the 5th year of custom carolina cup dresses!

its hard to believe this is the fifth year.

there were a few flyers around campus, my kitchen table, a monogramed ribbon label and a group of girls who were willing the give a custom made carolina cup dress a try.

pick your fabric and your style, one dress per fabric, no two alike.

i remember that first year. my mom and aunt came at the last second to help me sew in the labels and finish the hems of the 78 dresses. i had no idea that five years later laroque would expand the way it has. never imagined we would be here on the 5th year of custom cup dresses and also be selling in shops all over the east coast. God is so good.

i am so grateful for all of you who have supported me over the years. it feels so good when you choose to wear larouqe to the cup ( or to any occasion really...) there are so many talented designers and fashion houses. thank you for choosing laroque. the intrinsic reward and these pictures are priceless.

here are some of my favorite cup photos from over the years....

if you are wondering how to have a custom made dress, here is the process,

1. pick your fabric and your style

2. we take your measurements

3. you decide what color.. do you want a ruffle? a pleat? a monogram on your sash? we will make your dress exactly how you wish.

3. two to three weeks later, you come in for a fitting.

at the point changes can be made and an alterations are noted

4. a week or so later your dress is ready to take home!

5. have a good time at the race and take photos!

we will stop taking orders in a few weeks...

hope to see you soon!

carolina cup! a few of my favorites this year....

and the fall line is complete!

well hello there. are there any of you left out there reading?

i know it has been some time. very busy january here at the shop! it has been petal to the metal since christmas...

the fall line will debut this thursday at the atlanta apparel market in the michael perry show room. this will be the second wholesale collection. can you believe its time to start thinking fall? i have just started to hang up the seersucker for spring!

here's where the samples are made...

the curtains and color scheme resemble what we have done for fall.

{ no, this wasn't planned. }

a preview of the new collection...

deep coral, deep aqua, black and white and texture...

the laura pleat skirt

can't wait for you to see this silk velvet dot in person... it is stunning.

our new tinsley dress.

im going to need this in a few prints....

well, you didn't think you were going to get to see everything, did you?

the fall line will be in the shop on devine street in august. {as well as other boutiques}

if you own a shop along the east cost or know someone who does, you can see the entire collection in the Michael Perry show room in the Atlanta Apparel Market this thursday- tuesday.

back to the cup dress....