My little heart will always remember the first time I laid eyes on the fabulousness that is Preston & Olivia. It was most certainly love at first beautiful sight when I saw the images Dara’s talented husband Trent of Trent Bailey Photography took of her completely breathtaking line of fashion accessories. Gushing much? Yes. But I feel like I have every right to covet each of these beautiful works of art that other people refer to as accessories – I like to think of them as necessities. And when they are presented in such a fabulous shoot styled by Merci New York, well, I just can’t be held accountable for all the gushing. Click here for even more pretty!
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What do you do, how long have you been doing it and what makes you awesome?
I like to think of myself as apparel designer by day, accessory designer by night. I am a full time freelance apparel designer and I run Preston & Olivia when I am not freelancing. I like to think that I have the best of both worlds. Though I just recently launched my first collection for Preston & Olivia entitled, Home, I have had the concept for my wedding day accessories company for well over a year now.
I am very much inspired by fashion, whether it’s vintage or of the season. I try to incorporate what is relevant in fashion now into my collections as fashion trends ultimately dictate wedding trends. I think that my southern roots also give me an edge among the other New York based wedding day/bridal accessory designers as I have a deep appreciation for southern charm.
What kind of weddings do you love the most and what is your favorite trend right now?
I love intimate weddings with lots of attention to detail. My favorite trend in weddings right now is the use of the color blush. From rose gold wedding bands, to blush pink wedding gowns, I love it all. This collection is all about color and texture, and I think it’s awesome when a bride is brave enough to wear color on her wedding day.
What is your biggest piece of advice for people planning a wedding?
Don’t be afraid to take risks, this is your big day, and be sure you allow the wedding to express who you are as a couple.
Who are your favorite vendor friends in New York that keep your inspiration flowing?
I feel so blessed to have made so many creative friends within the industry, and they all truly inspire me. With that being said, my husband, Trent of Trent Bailey Photography, keeps me inspired daily. We love creating concepts for shoots together, and I love seeing his work from concept to final image. Jackie of Merci New York is beyond talented. I had the privilege of having her on board as stylist for my first collection shoot, and I love that she is able to do fashion and set design at once, she’s so versatile. Kathleen of kat flower is lovely. Her work is so organic, and I’m always blown away by her floral designs.