[Updated] Upscale bridal consignment store to open in West Los Angeles

A new boutique is opening in West Los Angeles for brides-to-be with champagne tastes on a Budweiser budget.

White Magnolia, a consignment bridal boutique featuring gowns from swanky brands such as Monique Lhuillier, Anne Barge, Stephen Yearick and Jim Hjelm, will launch this Saturday at 2500 S. Sepulveda Blvd.

All the dresses set to debut at the boutique have either been donated (with proceeds on the sale promised to charitable organization, Gowns for Good) or are on consignment. Each dress originally retailed for more than $1,500, is less than five years old and is in good-to-awesome shape.

“I believe that every bride should be able to find her dream wedding dress within her budget,” said owner Carolyn Tao, who is hosting a public Grand Opening event Thursday night from 7 to 9 p.m. for former brides, inviting them to consign or donate their dresses.  

All who donate dresses Thursday evening will receive a tax receipt as well as a gift bag valued at more than $100. To attend the shindig, RSVP to yes@WhiteMagnoliaDress.com.

White Magnolia is open Saturday and Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. and various hours Wednesday through Friday. By appointment only. (310) 560-5743; appointments@whitemagnoliadress.com.

-- Emili Vesilind

[Updated at 3:30 P.M. August 9, 2011. A previous version of this post incorrectly stated that the White Magnolia boutique was located in West Hollywood. It is located in West Los Angeles.]

Photo: Browsing through wedding gowns. Credit: White Magnolia.

Morning Fashion and Beauty Report: Jennifer Lopez, Marc Anthony continue lines for Kohl's despite split. Vanessa Minnillo wears Lhuillier to wed Nick Lachey.

Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony may be splitting up, but Kohl's is continuing right along with its plans for forthcoming apparel and accessories lines from them. What had been billed as “the first celebrity couple to simultaneously design collections for one retailer” is now "two separate, distinctive collections," primed to be in stores in September. [WWD]

Designer Victoria Beckham and soccer star husband David posted the first pictures of new baby girl Harper on Facebook and Twitter -- acing out the paparazzi to give the world a first glimpse of the infant. [Telegraph]

Vanessa Minnillo wore a two-piece Monique Lhuillier dress to marry Nick Lachey in a small island ceremony Friday night. The ensemble featured an intricately embellished lace corset with rose and crystal detail, and a hand-tufted skirt made of silk faille. [People]

Net-a-Porter and Mr. Porter threw a party for Dolce & Gabbana in London to celebrate their new collaboration. Guests included Naomi Campbell, "X Factor" winner Alexandra Burke, model David Gandy, Peaches and Pixie Geldof and Solange Knowles. [Telegraph]

Gwen Stefani is partnering with Target to launch Harajuku Mini, an affordable version of her Japanese anime-inspired Harajuku Lovers clothing and accessories line for babies, children and tweens. [WWD] (subscription required) 

"Fashion Police's" Giuliana Rancic gave husband Bill a makeover to prep him for living full time in Los Angeles, where he recently moved from Chicago. So what did Bill need to look like an Angeleno? "First, I got him some aviators. Then, I had to tell him the spiky hair he favors was so four years ago. I got him to do a comb over like Cary Grant and wear some cool cargo pants, nice T-shirts and some Converse sneakers," she tells StyleList. Viewers can see the results Monday when the fourth season of their reality show, "Giuliana and Bill," debuts on E! [StyleList]

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-- Susan Denley

Photo: Marc Anthony and Jennifer Lopez perform on the season finale of "American Idol" this year. Credit: Michael Becker / Fox

Weekend Shopping: Sales at Monique Lhuillier, Funktional, Hillary Rush and Satine

A few notable happenings for a more stylish weekend:

Monique Lhuillier Semi-Annual Bridal and Ready-to-Wear sale Sunday: If you're even remotely considering getting hitched soon, it's probably worth hitting up Monique Lhuillier's semi-annual sale, where bridal gowns and ready-to-wear pieces are marked down from 40% to 90% off retail. A full lace gown that retails for around $6,300 "could be at the sale for $3,000," said a spokesperson for the company, while a satin gown retailing for $4,620 "could be at the sale for $2,000." Evening gowns will be priced between $500 and $3,000.

1201 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.  
 
Funktional Sample Sale Friday and Saturday: Cute L.A.-based contemporary line Funktional knocks 50% to 75% off its retail prices at this two-day sample sale.

915 S. Mateo St., Ste. 306, Los Angeles. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
 
Hillary Rush Annual Spring Cleaning Sale Ongoing: Nab looks from brands including Nili Lotan, Nicholas K, Charlotte Ronson, Coven, Iro, Kain and Il Bisonte — marked down from 30% to 50% off at this annual "clear the racks" sale.

8222 West 3rd St., 
Los Angeles. (323) 852-0088. 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday; noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.

Satine Summer Sale Through Aug. 30: Fashion-forward boutique Satine is slashing prices on chic looks from brands including Balenciaga,Isabel Marant, Lanvin, MM6 and Wren up to 60% off through this month and next.

8134 W. 3rd St., Los Angeles. (323) 655-2142.11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday; noon to 6 p.m. Sunday.

-- Emili Vesilind

Photo: A Monique Lhuillier bridal gown from the spring 2012 collection. Credit: Monique Lhuillier.

Weekend Shopping: Monique Lhuillier trunk show; Foam mag's pop-up party; Moody Mamas' major sale

A few notable happenings for a more stylish weekend:

EVENTS

Monique Lhuillier spring 2012 bridal trunk show Through Saturday: L.A. bridal label Monique Lhuillier hosts a weekend trunk show featuring stunning, romantic gowns from her spring 2012 collection.

8485 Melrose Place, Los Angeles. By appointment only. (323) 655-1088.

Foam magazine's spring party and pop-ups Saturday: O.C. surf, skate and fashion magazine Foam hosts a party featuring pop-up shops erected in a Venice parking lot. Brands setting up shop include Alexandra Cassaniti, Me & Arrow (donating proceeds to Japan relief), TTT Scrunchies, Philomena at the Sea, Hansel from Basel, Unearthen and Black Crane.

The parking lot at 2320 Abbot Kinney Blvd., #B, Venice. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

Second Annual Armani Exchange + 944 Neon Carnival Saturday: Armani Exchange and 944 magazine co-host a late-night hipster carnival 10 minutes from the Coachella music festival, featuring carnival rides, games, food, music and dancing in the desert.

Tradition Aviation, 56850 Higgins Dr., Thermal. 11 p.m. to 3 a.m.

Matthew Campbell Laurenza appearance Saturday: Jewelry designer Mathew Campbell Laurenza is to personally showcase the latest pieces in his fine jewelry collection, M.L.C. by Mathew Campbell Laurenza.

Neiman Marcus, 9700 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills. (310) 550-5900. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

SALE

Moody Mamas online sale Through Saturday: Save up to 89% on chic maternity clothes from the Moody Mamas' website. T-shirts, dresses and tops are marked down to as low as $10 -- and the brand is typically on the pricey side, with dresses ranging up to the $300s.

-- Emili Vesilind

Photo: A look from Monique Lhuillier's fall 2011 collection. Credit: Monique Lhuillier

Your morning fashion and beauty report: Kanye West gets into scarves, Reese Witherspoon wears pink, American Apparel launches denim line

Rapper Kanye West, a dabbler in fashion who recently completed a design internship at Fendi, is launching a collection of scarves incorporating artwork inspired by his album "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy." The limited-edition pieces will be sold exclusively at the Colette boutique in Paris and online at M/M (Paris). [Telegraph] 

Splendid, known for its soft basic wardrobe pieces for men, women and children, is coming soon to the Grove in Los Angeles. Look for a summer opening. [Mondette]

Splendid's expansion is good news, especially because the retail scene in L.A. seems to have been especially hard hit in the past year or two with a number of boutiques (including Fred Segal Fun, Tracey Ross and Petro Zillia) closing up shop. [PopSugar LA]

When Reese Witherspoon married Jim Toth recently she really was a blushing bride: She wore a custom-designed Monique Lhuillier blush-hued gown with a Chantilly lace corset bodice and full tulle A-line skirt. A nontraditional choice but she did look pretty in pink. [People] 

Former French Vogue editor in chief Carine Roitfeld, already on board to be guest editor and stylist at Barneys New York this fall, was tapped by Karl Lagerfeld to style Chanel's fall-winter ad campaign as well. [WWD]

American Apparel, in the news much of the time lately for bad stuff (financial problems, sexual harassment claims, as my colleague Andrea Chang has reported), hopes to have some good news, as its new denim line hits stores Tuesday. [Fashionista]

Aerin Lauder, a senior executive and high-profile face for Estée Lauder, plans to launch her own brand as well. [WWD] (Subscription required)  

Vera Wang is bringing back her Lavender label after a yearlong hiatus as a capsule dress collection at Neiman Marcus. [WWD] (Subscription required)   

The business and romantic relationship of Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé is explored in the documentary "L'Amour Feu" (Crazy Love), screening later this month at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York. For fashion fans this is a must-see.  [StyleList] 

And what would a fashion and beauty news roundup be without something about Kim Kardashian? She's appearing on the May cover of British Cosmopolitan's "body issue," clad in a yellow bikini and talking about cellulite -- not that it looks like she has any! [Daily Mail] 

-- Susan Denley

Photo: Rapper Kanye West, who is offering a collection of scarves based on his album. Credit: Andrew H. Walker / Getty Images

Your morning fashion and beauty report: Gwyneth Paltrow, Orlando Bloom and Maria Bello celebrate opening of 'Balenciaga and Spain' in San Francisco

Reese Witherspoon wore a custom Monique Lhuillier gown for her wedding to Jim Toth on Saturday. [Us magazine]

Rodarte's Kate and Laura Mulleavy have been invited to be guest designers for Pitti W, the women's wear counterpart to Pitti Immagine Uomo, Europe's largest men's trade show. [WWD] (Subscription required.)

The Mulleavys were among the guests last week at San Francisco's M.H. de Young Museum opening celebration for "Balenciaga and Spain," a 120-piece fashion retrospective of the couturier's career. The exhibit, curated by Vogue's European editor, Hamish Bowles, will be open through July 4. [ArtDaily] Other guests at the opening party included Gwyneth Paltrow, Orlando Bloom, Miranda Kerr, Maria Bello and Mia Wasikowska. [WWD] 

The Jane Pratt-Tavi Gevinson magazine and website for teenage girls is expected to launch this summer. The collaboration between the former Sassy and Jane editor and the now 14-year-old fashion blogger will be produced under the umbrella of JanePratt.com, a site Pratt is building to try to reach an audience that falls somewhere between Jezebel and Cosmopolitan. [WWD]

India's fashion industry is booming, with its top designers enjoying success in Europe and the United States, while local fashion shows have grown in importance. But now some of the country's top models are complaining of discrimination, saying designers want women with lighter complexions to show off their clothes. They say it's a holdover from the era of British dominion. [Telegraph] 

Shape magazine's April issue marks the debut of a redesign under new editor in chief Tara Kraft. Henceforth, the mag will incorporate more beauty and lifestyle stories along with its fitness material. The issue's cover girl is Vanessa Hudgens, looking quite fit in a teeny bikini. [WWD] 

Colombian designer Silvia Tcherassi has a capsule collection of bags and shoes in the works for Payless ShoeSource. [WWD] (Subscription required.)

Pringle of Scotland has named Alistair Carr of Balenciaga as its new design director. [WWD] (Subscription required.)

-- Susan Denley

Photo: Kate, left, and Laura Mulleavy in 2009. Credit: Evan Agostini / Associated Press

Your Morning Fashion and Beauty Report: Claire's and Whitney Port get ready for the prom; Kate Middleton's sexy dress gets ready for auction

Happy St. Patrick's Day! If you're not wearing green, you should be. And choices abound, in dresses, shirts, sunglasses, watches ... even underwear. [FabSugar]

Are there too many fashion weeks? Some designers are starting to say so. Azzedine Alaïa is the latest to question the breakneck pace of showing multiple annual collections (spring, fall, resort, couture...) in cities around the world. [WWD] (Subscription required.)  

Claire's, the fast-fashion accessories chain, has teamed with reality star and designer Whitney Port to offer teens help in getting ready for the prom. A quiz on clairespromstyle.com will help users establish their personal style -- which of course can then be shared via Facebook and Twitter. Then there are videos of Port offering fashion and beauty advice based on the different prom styles. [WWD]  

Reese Witherspoon reportedly has chosen a Monique Lhuillier gown for her pending wedding to CAA agent Jim Toth. [Us Magazine]

The see-through dress Kate Middleton was wearing in a charity fashion show when Prince William first caught sight of her is going on the auction block. [Telegraph]

Eva Mendes has been named the face of Angel by Thierry Mugler. [WWD] (Subscription required.)

Coco Chanel continues to fascinate. Karl Lagerfeld has created a series of original sketches for a new edition of Justine Picardie’s recent biography of the legendary designer. Lagerfeld and Picardie plan to host a cocktail and signing session for the launch of the French edition on March 24 at the Paris bookstore Galignani.  A German edition is slated for release in April, with the English version to follow in June. [WWD]

Demi Lovato is wearing her feelings not on her sleeve, but on her wrists, where she is sporting new tattoos reading "Stay" and "Strong" with a tiny heart. The tats are to show gratitude to her fans for their support during her recent personal troubles. [People] 

Men's Wearhouse is aggressively upgrading, with plans to remodel or open 135 stores in the next year. [WWD] (Subscription required.) 

-- Susan Denley

Photo: Whitney Port, looking as if she could be dressed for prom herself, at a premiere last May for "Sex and the City 2."   Credit: Stan Honda / AFP/Getty Images 

 

See Monique Lhuillier's new bridesmaid dress line at O.C.'s Bella Bridesmaid

Los Angeles designer Monique Lhullier -- whose wow-factor wedding dresses have, at this point, reached cult status -- has finally launched a signature bridesmaid dress collection for spring (she sells a lower-priced line, ML Monique Lhuillier Bridesmaid, at Nordstom).

And Bella Bridesmaid in Corona del Mar is among the first boutiques to carry the entire line of 16 figure-friendly frocks, which are priced between $275 and $395.

Styles range from fitted dupioni and taffeta cocktail dresses to long, flowing crinkle chiffon gowns.

Among our favorite looks is a bateau-neck shift dress with sunburst waist pleating (the high neck is modest but totally modern); a one-shouldered, fitted silk dupioni cocktail dress with a self-tie that needs no accessories; and a floor-skimming strapless asymmetrical column gown that highlights a toned upper body.

The collection's color palette is more high fashion than traditional bridesmaid, and includes canary yellow, earthy green and a perfect pale pink.

Bella Bridesmaid, 2620 East Coast Highway, Corona del Mar. (949) 717-7800. By appointment Tuesday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Call for Sunday availability.

-- Emili Vesilind

Photos: A trio of looks from Monique Lhuillier's new bridesmaid collection. Credit: Monique Lhuillier