Bridal Shower 102

When you wake up on a gloomy Saturday morning and know you're in for a day of small talk, massive quantities of champagne and pulled cheek muscles (yes, I'm referring to a bridal shower), the blues starts to set in--the blues of, "I have nothing to wear!" What follows is the unavoidable series of panic-inducing questions: "Will I be too overdressed?" and my favorite, "what can I wear so I'm comfortable once I'm bloated from way too much brunch and bubbly?"

Four simple words, girls, "reach for a dress!" And not a tight, bandage-like hoochie coochie piece of a tin foil; a feminine, flowy, floral number. Then, listen carefully, because this next part is very important...add a hint of punk rock with the easy solution of some studded, shit kicking shoes. I can't guarantee you'll look like the Marie Claire model pictured above, but trust me, anyone can pull it off.

I tested this fool-proof "dress to prevent a mess" method out this weekend and it worked like a charm. I had to venture out to Palos Verdes and then to Van Nuys for back-to-back showers in two very different locations with two very different groups of people and I felt great, especially at 10:00 PM that night when I literally wanted to keel over from too much starch, not enough water and an overdose of bridal bliss.

Below are some fantastic dresses paired with wild shoes for the perfect balance of girly and edgy. I've copied InStyle's technique a bit, as there's an outfit for every age range just to prove how easy this look is to pull off.

And, if you're the hostess who could care less what you wear because your too stressed and panicked, here's some help for you too and a recipe for Strata, a melt-in-your-mouth egg casserole dish that has a multitude of preparations. One of the hostesses flawlessly executed a mushroom-sausage variation this weekend. I was very impressed! And for all you ladies who have never set foot in a kitchen, it's the dish Sarah Jessica Parker spilled all over the floor in The Family Stone.

Calm yourself with the following looks (from top to bottom):
Pins and Needles' Dropwaist Dress with B&D's black studded leather 'Austin' platform booties; Patterson J. Kincaid's Pocket Belted Dress with Givenchy's Studded Sandals; Anna Sui's Medallion Floral Scarf Print Dress with Bess' Studded Lace Up Sandals; French Connection's Floral Jersey Dress with Christian Louboutin's Studded Zipper Ballet Flats.

20-30's


30-40's


40-50's


50-60's


PROSCIUTTO AND GOAT CHEESE STRATA (Recipe from Bon Apetit)

18 slices firm white bread (such as English muffin bread), crusts removed
6 ounces prosciutto, thinly sliced
8 ounces goat cheese, crumbled
4 ounces provolone, grated (about 1½ cups)
¼ cup chopped green onions
6 tablespoons thinly sliced fresh basil
5 large eggs
2 cups whole milk
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
½ teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons butter, melted

Line bottom of 13x9x2-inch glass baking dish completely with 1 layer of bread, cutting some slices to fit. Arrange half of prosciutto evenly over bread. Sprinkle half of goat cheese and half of provolone over. Sprinkle with half of green onions and half of basil. Top with second layer of bread. Layer remaining prosciutto, goat cheese, provolone, green onions, and basil atop bread. Cut remaining bread into ¼-inch cubes. Sprinkle over top.

Whisk eggs, milk, mustard, and salt in bowl. Season with pepper. Pour egg mixture over strata; press down on bread with spatula. Drizzle melted butter over strata. Cover and refrigerate overnight.

Preheat oven to 350°F. Uncover strata and let stand at room temperature 30 minutes. Bake until center is set, about 1 hour. Remove from oven. Preheat broiler. Place strata under broiler until top is golden, about 30 seconds. Cut into large squares and serve.