Remember it like it was Yesterday: Great Gatsby Style Profile.

"Working on The Great Gatsby, I discovered just how popular the 1920s look still is today; and for good reason. Flattering to all skin types, I believe every woman can find a make-up look from the film to make their own."

   With summer upon us it is a great opportunity to try new & fun makeup looks! And with the debut of The Great Gatsby in movie theaters it has us dreaming of vintage inspired looks that are both smolderingly sexy but also something that can be tempered by airy pastels.

"It was essential that all eye make-up was created using a base (MAC's Prep & Prime Eye Light) to hold color in place during the long hours of filming. An eye palette was created especially for the film where the shades Scène, Contraste, Nehru and Club were all inspired by the colors of cars dating from the 1920s."

   Shown above are some of the featured colors used in this 2013 display of the roaring twenties. Lots of smooth browns that transition to the natural skin tone. But you will also see that POP of blue! Colors like Orb, Mylar and Girlie also make for wonderful shades that work on a range of skintones for this look.

MAC make-up used on set:
Impeccable Brow Pencil Dirty Blond, €15.
Carbon eye shadow, €17.
Smolder Khôl eye pencil, €15.
Blackberry eye shadow, € 17.
Old Gold tint, €21.50.
Prep + Prime eye primer,€16,50.
Snob lipstick, €18.

"At the beginning of the Roaring Twenties, women declared their own importance and independence, which we portrayed in the film through the make-up. Bold, smoky eyes, exaggerated mascara, highly-arched eyebrows and plumped lips were all set on a base of perfectly porcelain skin. It was during this time that make-up really became a medium of self-expression."

The lead actress is shown wearing lots of dusted pastel shades such as lavender and chinchilla...a palette evening wear designers like MacDuggal have included in their Couture lines for a while now. 

Shown in one of our first photoshoots of the year, style MacDuggal 78360D is a shoe-in for this style! The gown's claim to fame as it were, is it's unique freshwater pearl embellishments . Paired with the dusty lilac & ivory shades the pearlesent shades give it just the right amount of glitz to keep it elegant. Bits of silk are fashioned into violet shaped faux flower details all long the flared hemline and gradient up the legs beautifully. It also comes with a matching bollero jacket!

Shown above is another photoshoot which we acted as stylist for. The model normally has long mid back length hair but here we pulled it up into a faux-bob and heat treated barrel curls. A much easier way to get the finger wave feel without the fuss!  The makeup here is kept simple with a retro vamp red lipstick and strong brows.

The right gown and makeup will help you personify this historic time in a fresh way but lets not forget your date! Youll be in countless photos with your arm candy - why leave the tuxedo choices up to him?haha Once we started renting and selling tuxedos here in our long island NY shop we started seeing a hugeee trend for white tuxedos. Our inspiration for this look would be something along the lines of the Hackett Spring/Summer 2013 Collection.

White paired with sax blue or sand accents. Subtle textured pinstripes.

Met Gala 2013 Red Carpet Fashion For Less.

During the Met Gala 2013 Red Carpet Event we saw the bold and attention grabbing styles of the stars take a punk twist! While punk may mean different things to many people we saw a lot of common motifs we expect to see reflected in the seasons to come.

    A major trend in these 2013 evening gowns was the use of clean sleek lines arranged in geometric color blocks. Black slinky gowns were fitted with modest column drapes and mesh panel inserts. Most prominently rocking this style was mastermind to the Versace line, Donatella! The garment featured multiple split panels that jigsawed together with contrasting wet look fabric. The large chunks of spikes along the shoulder epaulette and bracer were a great way to break up the textures of her look. We would suggest looking at prom, pageant and evening wear designers Jovani for a more affordable celebrity fashion you could adopt yourself. To the right is style 762 which often retails for around $440. It comes in a range of colors from your classic black and nude to Blush and Red/Nude.

Noted Celebrities also wearing this look: TAYLOR SWIFT in J. Mendel gown and Lorraine Schwartz jewels.,  DAKOTA FANNING in Rodarte and ALLISON WILLIAMS in Joseph Altuzarra.

Some celebrities chose to rebel against the Metropolitan Museum of Art's 2013 exhibit, "Punk: Chaos to Couture,"'s theme of "Punk" attire with a more demure style. They must have caught wind of one of our top selling prom dresses , the MacDuggal 8179R! In layers of frothy semi sheer net and delicate lace this dress is much akin to the flowing white evening gown  actress Emmy Rossum wore. What the Macduggal designer image doesnt show you is that the bottom is so light that the godet inserts are somewhat sheer which is a great way to show that hint of leg and of course - cute party pumps!

Of the countless ornate formal gowns on parade during this event the most streamline and classical came from actress Uma Therman with her pale green Zac Posen gown. The trumpet fit and flare silhouette is a great way to create an hourglass contour to your figure. On a similar style, the Mon Cheri BY21388 you can clearly see how it nips in the waist with a wrap of fabric while flaring at the knee gives the illusion of some bombshell curves. The pale color is also a lovely way to compliment a clear skintone. Made from an iridescent taffeta the fabric pics up different shades in the room to give a more lively appearance.

Perfect Prom Photos: Pt1: Tips & Tricks to make the most of your Gala Event!

    When choosing your prom dress you have to consider it is being seen in two different ways. You need to make sure the design is a knock out in person....as well as in a photo! After all, what is left of your epic night but for tons of photos with your friends and (maybe even) date? We always encourage our customers to take a quick snapshot with their i-phones n cells when trying on a dress. It is a great way to help make up your mind if you need to go back and look at them at a later time - clear of head. It also gives you a rough idea of how you photograph in it! But lets be frank, dressing room lighting is the most *unflattering* so take them with a grain of salt. Once under the lights n pulsing cam flashes they really come to life!

    On the night of your prom you may do your own makeup or choose to go to a salon for that professional touch. Our shop, Merrily Couture networks with plenty of local salons to give you exclusive deals on hair, makeup, nails, facials and all sorts of spa goodies. Be sure to ask your local retailer if they do the same!

    When getting your makeup done be sure to ask for some contouring of the face, neck and even bosom! Harsh flashes can wash you out and make you look flat and give that "extra 10 lbs" we always hear about. But a little shading with bronzer and highlighters and you can really show off your features and avoid a flat-fate.

Here is a quick video guide on how contouring can help you look your best:

CONTEST: Show off your Prom Fashion Style!

So you look fierce on your big day - no shocker there. And tons of photos are snapping left and right like your walking down the red carpet itself!...Then what? Show off to your entire school how amazing you looked by entering our Summer Contest here at Merrily Couture.

Send in your best photos of yourself wearing a dress purchased from Merrily Couture and you'll be put into the running to be our FB Cover Girl for the summer season. Graphics with your gorgeous self will be littered about the internet...and most prominently - made into our New FB Cover Photo!

In addition to your new found net-fame our winning local ladies will receive a FREE Photoshoot wearing their gowns with our staff photographer. What better way to immortalize your awesomeness ?!

From June 1st to Aug 31st you can Send in your photos to 

our FB Fan page: https://www.facebook.com/MerrilyCoutureFashions

Or email us at : Info@merrilycouture.com 

Illusions by Alyce Designs :Pt:2

Our most recent fashion blog post was a focus on the sensual and fashion forward designs by formal wear masters, Alyce. We went through some of their darker styles that would look right at home on celebrity Dita Von Tease but this entry will feature a collection with a lighter and more feminine allure.


One of the most popular colors to sell in our long island, NY prom shop has been Champagne, nude and gold. These warm and classic tones just scream high fashion so its only natural that Alyce carries a wide selection in this tone.

2155

Whether your shopping for homecoming, formal banquet or even a 21st birthday dress this Alyce designs cocktail dress will leave everyone in your wake utterly breathless! Upon a closer look you'll notice the skin tight ivory dress is comprised of thousands of striped seed beads. These panels lead up into the iconic nude net bodice that is lavishly decked out in iridescent crystals and stones of every shape and size.

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More at home at a formal black tie affair, this Alyce Designs evening dress is a feast for the eyes with scrolling patterns of delicate ivory lace. We suggest this dress for such a range of occasions due to its lovely champagne tone. It could easily be worn for a 2nd wedding or red carpet, hands down! This gown's claim to fame is it's open portrait back with french lace cap sleeves. Its a very flattering cut! 

2156

This down is not for the faint of heart! A crowning achievement in form flattering tailoring and eye dazzling details this is a gown you wear to steal awards and bring home ribbons! Perfect for the pageant girl or celebrity runways this frothy nude gown chizzels out a sexy bombshell figure with it's mermaid silhouette. The bold V neckline is enough to turn heads without being immodest. Its a fine compromise between sultry and chic!

2160

The Alyce style 2160 features a subtle fishtail flare more commonly known as a A-line cut.

Its a great way to minimize the waistline while creating subtle curves in all the right spots.

Organic clusters of clear crystals create an ombre effect as they fade from the strapless sweetheart neckline past the midsection. Youll notice some of these gems have a blushing pink tone to them for a hint of color. A great way to pull this color into your entire look is to go with a natural nude/pink lipcolor.

Colorful purple crystal prom dress from Alyce 6047A.

Alyce 2124 takes a more pastel approach to the crystal coated champagne styles we  have been seeing this season. It is offered in whimsical shades of lavender & powder pink ( as well as a black/nude combo for the dark romantic among us! ). Geometric patterns are sculpted on the fit & flare trumpet cut of this dress to compliment the fairy tear cut that heralds a full tulle skirt.

Right at home with an "Under the Sea" themed school formal the mermaid flared Alyce 2231 is riddled with intricate scalloped bead work that give it that Little Mermaid - feel! You'll notice this design also features semi sheer mesh panels that cut out the hip for a lil extra sensuality but these can easily be blocked out by a local seamstress! 

Illusions by Alyce: Unique dresses for Prom & Parties.

    This season we have seen illusion gowns short, long, glittery, smokey and everything in between! It is no doubt that this sophisticated style has been a HOT choice for the fashion forward lady looking to be noticed. It certainly is a style that is a step beyond the demure Grecian a-lines that come to mind when you think of prom.

    Heading the vanguard of this style trend is the formal wear designer Alyce. Alyce offers such a wide range of personality in their garments that if your looking to step out in this provocative style you will want to familiarize yourself with their options.

Getting the look of hauteur dark romance styles woven by designers such as Gucci, Emilio Pucci & Prada during their Fall/Winter 2013-2014 line is a breeze with these Alyce Designs dresses. Each of these 2013 evening gown styles feature the option to purchase in black and boast a flowing semi-sheer floor length skirt.

The Alyce-6919 was featured in SEVENTEEN Magazine's Prom issue under the tag line

 "Look Great for Less". Certainly a fine pick for a fashionista looking to make the dance floor her own personal runway. *note* The bow is easily removed for a more chic styling.

True to trend, this sexy homecoming style takes the form fitting bodycon trend to new heights! 

Unlike the other styles featured here, it is a short cocktail length that is perfect for a range of occasions  A smokey net top is drizzled with swirling floral appliques and just a hint of sequins to give it that extra twinkle in photos! Pair this dress with a cropped bolero jacket to give it a lil more of your own personality!

As if torn from the pages of a Jason Wu lookbook, this fierce Alyce design is made from whisper thin gauze fabric that wraps around your form like smoke! The somewhat see through lace covers all the areas modesty demands while giving the illusion of skin just beneath twinkling sequins. Worth noting is it's open cameo style back!

Alyce #2188

2171

Stay Tuned for PART TWO: Colorful Crystals & "The Nudist".

Style Profile: Back Details to Swoon For.

Terani: 6352J ( short: P1601)

There is something inexplicably alluring about a chic little dress with powerful back details.

Timeless silhouettes seen in evening gowns and homecoming cocktails alike all benefit from

the drama a detailed or unique back design offers. Sometimes this is managed through unique

straps creating a harness like effect. Other times shimmering crystals are arranged over sheer

net fabric to create romantic illusions.

Jovani: 110636

Like a renaissance tapestry an intricate filigree pattern scrolls down the length of this stunning jovani evening gown. This style would be lovely for a wedding - or in any of it's other colors as an evening / red carpet dress.

MacDuggal 76491

Shown again in white to realy let the details stand to attention is a halter neck pageant dress by MacDuggal. This trumpet flare gown boasts an intense geometric pattern created by hand placed sequin details.

Primavera 9616

Primavera 9624

Two of our most popular short dresses for homecoming, junior prom and clubbing are by the designer Primavera Couture. These sequin covered designs have cleanly tailored lines in the front of the garment with unique back detail that make it all come to life. To the left we see a drape cowl that shows a low backline where as Primavera 9624 contrasts the openness with a spiderweb crisscross network of straps.

9619

How to OWN a simple prom dress with Unique Style.

Style Profile: Crystal Clean Cuts : Silver Prom & Clubbing Dresses.

Some girls like a gown with all the bells and whistles. From horsehair illusion skirts to intricately beaded appliques. However all those embellishments can come off as confuted and busy sometimes- which is why today we are putting a focus on clean and sleek evening gowns!

Atria clothing makes beautiful evening gowns that feature timeless cuts ranging from a strapless sweetheart neckline to the popular bodycon silhouette. These gowns often have very simple tailoring meant to flatter an array of body types while letting your natural beauty shine through. Because they are often a bit simple they give you room to accessorize in ways that best show off your personality. One dress - MANY looks!

It helps that going with Atria prom and homecoming dresses your saving big on the cash department which leaves room to drop a petty penny on some unique high heel party pumps! 

Ways to really OWN this sharp style would be putting a little extra into how you do your makeup or do your nails. Consider a traditional catty winged eyeliner. Its a very safe choice for prom and homecoming as it realy draws you to the eyes. To spice it up smoke the lid out with a pop of color and add a bit of glitter to the inner corner or across the entire upper portion if your feeling daring!

Chalked Hair

Lets not forget about the hair! Popular for the 2013 prom season is a messy natural wave texture that is worn in a side swept ponytail, fishtail braid or even in a fake bob! Adding a small streak of fake hair is a great way to have that little "something something", that sets you apart on the dance floor. 

You can get these colored hair clips for a very cheap fee that certainly beats getting it done at the salon! They come in a range of styles from ombre tip dyed to out there patterns like anime print. You can weave them into the hair for a natural inclusion or have your stylist do it for you. Its a very cheap way to get that trendy chalked hair look.

Fake Hair Clips

Vegas, Baby! D&G Inspired Prom / Homcoming Fashion

85088B from Mac Duggal.

Honey what screams GLAMOUR and SEX APPEAL quite like VEGAS?! Well many

designers have drawn their inspirations from the golden city of lights and vice including

Dolce & Gabbana and prom designer Mac Duggal.

In Mac Duggal's "EDGE" line of dresses we see a strong focus on a modern girl who is up with the most cutting trends. Cutting. Edge. See what we did there? har har.

Jokes aside these fitted bodycon styles are worth the penny you drop on them. The styles work for a range of occasions from Homecoming to a night out in the city! Its because you can keep wearing these quality garments over and over youll find they pay for themselves within the year.

Today's style focus is on the  "Wild Beauty".

Pair this MacDuggal cocktail dress with smokey bedroom eyes and a stained plum ( or be brave- do the classic red! ) lip to maximize the "va-va-voom" effect.

Prom Accessories Trend: Get it for Cheap!

Thats right, we all LOVE the way these models look sharp in their designer wears as they strut down the runway. But lets be honest, we arent dropping thousands of dollars on one of these pieces anytime soon. But thats okay! Stay Calm and Bargain Shop! Or DIY.

We are looking at two trend setters for the 2013 season Lavin and Betsy Johnson.  They are pretty night and day when it comes to their identity but the fact that we are seeing such similarities in how they are accessorizing this 2013 prom season it has to be mentioned! Ever bubbly, candy coated and all about FUN Betsy Johnson's line featured laser cut necklaces with unique colored chains and clear crystals. Lavin also featured this 80s throw back with script text pendants.

 What you might not know is that you can get this look for anywhere between $12-$30 on places like etsy. Some sellers offer you options of chain color and the ability to have what ever text ( or shape! ) made up to your specifications! The same goes for the chunky graphic chains sported by Lavin's Fall/Winter runway.

When worn with a sleek little black dress ( say, for Homecoming ) you can use these necklaces to give it a more edgy city chic feel where as when worn with the bright harajuku shades seen with Betsy's gowns its a more girlish playful appearance.

Choose to go with a rainbow palette or the more subdued blacks and gunmetal to really let your personality show through this prom season! Think outside the box if you want to stand out and be remembered on your special day.

Under the Spotlight: 2013 Prom Fashion Shows.

One of our goals as a new prom shop on long island, NY is to reach out and connect to the community around us. There is such a lack of focus on the community these days that it seems pretty odd to us. After all, without you girls we wouldnt be much of a store!haha So with this in mind Merrily Couture has been hosting tons of fashion shows at local Highschools to raise awareness to these epic designs!

Two of our most recent shows have been with New Field Highschool & Comsewogue Highschool. Each had their own flare to the show itself, one focusing purely on the decadence of evening wear styles and the other offering a range of styles from mother of the bride/groom and even casual street fashion.

The New Field Highschool fashion show had this lovely runway set up for both students & teachers to strut it out on. The platform had a backdrop of their art student's finest work tiled behind and strips of glowing multi-colored lights trimming either side. Their theater crew had large spotlights trained on them that just showed how lovely these sequins & crystals look under light. In many of the photos you can even see how the light refracts onto the skin creating a rainbow prism effect that is just... mega dazzling!

On the left we have MacDuggal 50116M & the right is Primavera 9707.

Both dresses feature a silver touched champagne color and flirty aqua fabric, which as it ends up - are two of our most popular selling colors for this 2013 prom season. Champagne is flying off the shelves as it tends to be the color some of our most unique prom dresses that would easily outshine half the Oscars! 

Check our more photos of the New Field Prom Fashion show 2013 at our FB Fan page:

Girls were lined up in tiers across the Comsewogue Highschool auditorium's stage in every shade you could imagine! It really gives you an idea of the true range of styles we carry in the store when you see 50 some odd girls glittering before ya! Again, the most popular shade was that of Champagne , ivory gold & mochas.

In terms of the silhouette our mermaid fit & flare gowns really made waves. When you think of a mermaid dress a lot of people have such an outdated, 80s mental image associated with it that they tend to veer away from the style all together. These days the trumpet shapes are much more sophisticated and a fine way to chisel out a bombshell hourglass figure!

( Seen above on left are 2 of our most popular MacDuggal designs.)

These gowns feature semi sheer netted bottoms that are somewhat like the sheer illusion skirts we are seeing off the runway. Its a great way to show a little leg while keeping the mystery and extravaganza of a full length red carpet gown.

You can see all of our photos on FB! Or scroll down to watch a small video of them in action!