RI Beauty Insider: Wedding Guest Chic
Saturday, May 31, 2014
Donna Macdonald, GoLocalProv Beauty Expert
The Royals are regular guests on the society wedding circuit and set the sartorial bar high with their formal suits and flamboyant millinery. We could learn something from them even if we are a bit more relaxed here in the states. We still want to show respect for the nuptials and look put-together - but without a goofy hat. Read on:
Country club setting
This wedding is made for a lovely cocktail dress. Colored lace is a big trend right now and looks beautiful in a shift with demure short sleeves. Lacey sherbet colors coordinated with a neat clutch bag and neutral heels is an elegant modern take for a traditional wedding. This time of year the stores are loaded with sophisticated dresses. Try Macy’s, Nordstrom.
City hotel
Urbane settings can handle a bit of refined edginess. Digital graphic prints can be posh but only in simply shaped dresses. An outside zipper is also on-trend and looks youthful and up-to-date. Accessories should be minimal so as not to clash with the striking motifs. A local boutique is where you’ll find these unusual frocks. Also, on-line sources like Bloomingdales and Saks.
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Seaside
Summer is perfect for the long bohemian maxi skirt and if the beach wedding is easy-going, this is the place to trot one out. They look great with flat sandals but to dress them up, try a stone or crystal statement necklace peeking out from a white shirt. It’s casual chic at its best but only if the wedding is truly laid-back. Add some arm candy with scads of shiny bangles. TJ Maxx has the maxi skirt in a plethora of prints and colors.
Woodland Inn
Pretty inns are dreamy settings that inspire romantic feminine expressions. Be pretty as a picture in swishy silk or floaty chiffon. Look for dresses that have delicate embroidery or go for a bold floral in a 50’s style full skirt. If you have the confidence, add some vintage white gloves for ultimate charm. Resale and vintage shops may have this look or if you’re lucky, Grandma’s closet.
Today’s weddings are happy affairs that remove us from the mundane and the ordinary. Allow yourself to dress with flair but still be mindful of the setting and venue. There are so many ways to express yourself but unlike the Royals, you don’t need a silly bird cage on your head to do it!
Donna Macdonald is a freelance writer who enjoys covering topics of interest to women, especially fragrance, style, beauty. She has also written marketing material for a women's book that hit the New York Times Bestseller list and netted her an up close and personal discussion on the Oprah Winfrey Show. Donna currently writes her own personal blog, alovelyinconsequence.blogspot.com where she also writes about issues close to a woman's heart. Donna believes that when a woman finds beauty in the world, she will find beauty in herself.
Related Slideshow: Newport’s Wyndham Estate in Photos
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Wyndham Estate
Constructed in 1890, Wyndham Estate is a 2 1/2 story ashlar stone Baronial home designed by architect William Ralph Emerson, cousin of Ralph Waldo Emerson.
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History
Wyndham Estate celebrates its 125th anniversary next year. The mansion was designed and built for its original owner, Rose Anne Grosvenor, a philanthropist from Providence.
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Room to Grow
The home boasts 12,175 square feet of living space, with 7 bedrooms, 7 bathrooms, and 9 fireplaces, on nearly 12 acres of property.
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Bedrooms
With a spacious Master Bedroom, large circular Turret and East bedrooms, plus four guest bedrooms; hosting overnight guests is never likely to be problematic in this mansion.
* Master Bedroom - 22'8" by 14'
* Turret Bedroom - 17'10" circular
* East Bedroom - 17'2" by 17'5"
* Guest Bedroom - 12'4" by 11'6"
* Guest Bedroom - 18'6" by 14'10"
* Guest Bedroom - 11'3" by 11'3"
* Guest Bedroom - 12'5" by 8'2"
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Location, Location...
Wyndham Estate lies in the heart of Newport, only one half mile from both the New York Yacht Club and Newport Country Club, and one mile from Fort Adams State Park.
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Grand Ballroom
Whether it is a wedding, holiday party, or family function, Wyndham Estate's 1200 square foot Grand Ballroom makes for a perfect space for entertaining guests.
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Music Room
Outfitted with beautiful artwork and a grand piano, the mansion's music room is a great place to hide away and tickle the ivories. In fact, at 475 square feet, you could probably fit most of an orchestra in this room.
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On Top of the World
(Or top of the island, at least)
Wyndham Estate sits atop the highest point of Newport - and has the views to prove it.
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Kitchen
Wyndham Estate boasts a large 320 square foot kitchen (with service area) on the first level, making for great dinner parties. There is an additional galley kitchen on the home's top level.
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Landscape
The large, 11.76 acre property is well-manicured with several custom landscaping features including at three-tier waterfall with a private sitting area, and a manmade pond
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Bathrooms
With 2 1/2 bathrooms on the first floor, and 4 on the second level, finding a place to quickly powder your nose will rarely be an issue.
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Library
If you are looking for a quiet place to read or study, the mansion features a home library...try not to become distracted by the view.
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Roof Deck
Perfect for summertime entertainment, the mansion features a 47' by 27' open air observation deck with stunning views.
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Hot Tub
What better way to relax after a long day than climbing up to the 18' circular roof top hot tub?
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Attention to Detail
When William Ralph Emerson designed Wyndham Estate, no detail was spared, evidenced by the intricate wood-carved moldings found throughout the mansion.
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Renovation
Wyndham Estate underwent major renovation and restoration a few years ago, but much of the much of the home's original essence remains intact.
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Walk-in Closet
More like live-in closet!
At 12'10" by11'10", the closet attached to the Master Bedroom is bigger than many bedrooms... no need to trim down your wardrobe here!
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Grand Staircase
The mansion's Grand Staircase allows one to enter the room with style. There is also a separate servant's staircase to access the second floor.
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Dining Room
Just off the Grand Ballroom sits the home's formal dining room, perfect for intimate dinners.
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The Grounds
Wyndham Estate is comprised of three separate lots of record, with the mansion itself sitting on Lot B (4.05 Acres). Lots A and C are each just under 4 acres apiece.
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Fireplaces
There is little better on a cold New England winter night than cozying up to a warm fire. Wyndham Estate, has 9 different fireplaces to choose from.
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Newport Mansions
Newport is known for its landscape of mansions spanning from Ocean Drive to Bellevue Avenue. From Rosecliff to Vanderbilt's The Breakers, and dozens in-between, Newport has a rich history of wealth, and the lifestyle that comes with it.
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Cliff Walk
Want to experience a different view of the Newport Mansions? Try the Newport Cliff Walk. The 3.5 mile long public access pathway pairs the beauty of the Newport coastline with some of the island's historic mansions -- including Beechwood, Rosecliff, Marble House, The Breakers, Ochre Court, and Rough Point
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