Barbie's Dream Wedding Album

Between singing for weddings, attending weddings, having photographer friends, wearing the old bridesmaid dress, and also having had my own Big Fat Catholic Wedding, I've seen and/or posed for plenty of wedding photos, and I've noticed that there are always some key stock poses scattered throughout the sets. It's inevitable. See, even though every couple is different, most weddings aren't. Sure, the venues and themes change, but I think we can agree that you're more than likely going to have the kiss, the cake (or dessert of some sort. I hear pie is coming into fashion), the first dance, the bouquet toss, and the couple's exit. According to Rock n Roll Bride,

"There are certain photo set-ups that you see all over wedding photography (the shoe shot, the dress shot, the bridal portraits just after she’s got ready, the groom getting ready with his boys etc…)"  

You know, key ingredients. Hence the key stock poses. This is not a lack of creativity on anyone's part. It's just documentation. Can you name one bride who wouldn't be completely miffed not to have a picture of herself in her wedding gown, or with her new husband in those first few minutes of marital bliss? 

Of course, good photogs know how to spice things up with personalized shots based on the couple's tastes and personalities, and the wedding's location, theme, etc. Really good ones can even grab those sparkling candids that become so precious to us. I have a couple of fantastic shots of the bouquet toss, when some kidlets ran in and snapped up the flowers before any of the single ladies knew what hit them. I also know that somewhere, floating around, there's an awesome shot of just my heels coming out from underneath a friend's bridal gown, when I had to crawl under her skirt to adjust her inner lacings. It's probably, like my photos, wedged between a photo of the pearls on her veil, and one with the bridesmaids holding out their bouquets. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

French photographer Beatrice de Guigne understands the situation, and decided to have a little fun with one of her couples: Barbie and Ken. Really. In this, believe it or not, beautifully shot album, the photographer explores all those stock poses we've come to expect, and shows us why they're so loved. It's witty, artful, and surprisingly sweet. See below for a taste. More photos are available at Glamour.com (or click the above link). 

Photo Credit (All): Glamour

Well, Stick a Bow On My Head and Toss Me a Slushee

I miss Sanrio Surprise. It was this little store in the mall that sold Hello Kitty...well, everything. Umbrellas, folders, t-shirts, makeup, candy...pretty much anything they could slap a character on. I lived there in middle school. If I'm not mistaken, I think I even had a frequent buyer card. The store went under years ago, and a few feeble attempts have been made at opening similar shops, but it's just not the same. The Kitty has left the building.

 

Until now. Granted, there's still not an entire store dedicated to the bow-bedecked feline, but Sephora is turning over a chunk of sales space to Hello Kitty-themed merchandise. For a limited time (read: until they run out), you can get eyeshadows, blushes, lipglosses, and a host of other goodies in Kitty-inspired packaging.

 

Photo Credit: Sephora

Now, personally, I think the packaging is cute. It's a little kiddie, but in a sweet, nostalgic, kitschy way. Of course, I think $49 for a crystal encrusted purse-sized mirror in the shape of Hello Kitty is positively obscene, but for the most part, the prices for the actual makeup items are on par with other department store and specialty brands.

 

I have not had the opportunity to try any of the items myself, but going off of user reviews on Sephora, I'd say it'd be best to skip the Say Hello eyeshadow/lipgloss palettes ($35), and give the Apple Cheeks cream blush ($22) a shot. The shade Peachy seems to be the most popular, but if I had my choice, I'd go for the luminizing shade, Cottonball. It looks amazing in the photographs I've seen, and adds a pretty wash of highlighting shimmer to your cheekbones.

 

Photo Credit: Sephora

Now, for a confession: I've never watched Glee. Well, at least not an entire episode. I did manage to see Rachel get nailed with a Slurpee in the pilot, and my cousin had me watch Kristin Chenowith perform at the end of another episode (he's so sweet. He thinks I sound like her. Bless him), but that's it. Seriously. Didn't watch the Rocky Horror homage. Even missed Idina Menzel, and I saw Wicked on Broadway! I am a bad theatre geek. 

 

However, I think I may be able to atone. See, in addition to the cutesy, sweetsy Hello Kitty happies, Sephora by has also teamed up with Fox to unveil a whole line of Glee-themed Sephora by O.P.I. nail polishes! With summer-friendly shades of chartreuse, peacock green, and super hot pinks, and names like Miss Bossy Pants and Slushied, you can Gleek out your mani-pedi all season long. Happy painting, and have a fabulous weekend!