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		<title>Cocoe Voci</title>
		<link>http://www.cocoevoci.com</link>
		<description>Wedding Dresses</description>
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			<title>Cocoe Voci</title>
			<link>http://www.cocoevoci.com</link>
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				<pubDate>Wed, 21 Jul 2010 15:44:00 -0700</pubDate>
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			<title>Overuse of the word &quot;couture&quot;</title>
			<link>http://www.cocoevoci.com/blog/article/overuse-of-the-word-couture-</link>
			<comments>http://www.cocoevoci.com/blog/article/overuse-of-the-word-couture-#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 21 Jul 2010 15:44:00 -0700</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>Cocoe</dc:creator>
						
			<guid>http://www.cocoevoci.com/blog/article/overuse-of-the-word-couture-</guid>
			<description><![CDATA[<p><span style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode';"><span style="font-size: small;">I grew up loving haute couture. Now the word <em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">couture</em> strikes such a nerve because of how loosely it is used.</span></span></p>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" align="center"><span style="font-family: ">Overuse of the word &ldquo;couture&rdquo;</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "><span style="font-size: small;">I grew up loving haute couture. Now the word <em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">couture</em> strikes such a nerve because of how loosely it is used.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong><span style="font-family: " lang="EN">Couture </span></strong><span style="font-family: " lang="EN">refers to the creation of exclusive custom-fitted clothing.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: " lang="EN"><span style="font-size: small;">Unfortunately, couture is becoming a generic word. The term has been misused by many ready-to-wear brands since the 1980&rsquo;s with the misuse growing at lightening speed. These brands don&rsquo;t seem to understand the actual meaning.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: " lang="EN"><span style="font-size: small;">Real <em>Couture</em> is designed and made to order for a specific, private client, with one or more fittings. It is usually made from high-quality, expensive fabric and sewn with extreme attention to detail and finish by the most experienced and capable seamstresses, often using time-consuming, hand-executed techniques. </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: " lang="EN"><span style="font-size: small;">My heart goes out to the young brides who become enamored with the pages of bridal magazines that are emblazoned with the word Couture!</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: " lang="EN"><span style="font-size: small;">The truth of the matter is that these are not couture gowns&hellip;they are mass-manufactured pieces that are made in factories in the states or abroad. Can anyone truly believe that a couture gown can be featured at those low prices? It is impossible. First of all, a custom gown must begin with a sketch, a selection of textiles and ornamentation. These fine materials may cost hundreds of dollars per yard and so on&hellip; Next, the bride must experience a fitting in a muslin pattern, a mock up of the dress in a simple cotton fabric. After the pattern is perfected on the figure, the client will experience a couple of fittings in her final fabrics. This is true luxury and truly a special gown meant to be worn at this monumental time.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: " lang="EN"><span style="font-size: small;">I am making all efforts to not use the term, but rather embrace made to measure. What I love about made to measure is the style-factor of each client that inspires each creation&hellip;this transcends trends&hellip;</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: " lang="EN"><span style="font-size: small;">as Coco Chanel once quoted, &ldquo;Fashion passes, style remains.&rdquo;</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: " lang="EN"><span style="font-size: small;"><img src="http://www.cocoevoci.com/images/Hand-beaded-detail.gif" alt="" /></span></span></p>]]></content:encoded>
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			<title>Finding the Perfect Dress</title>
			<link>http://www.cocoevoci.com/blog/article/finding-the-perfect-dress</link>
			<comments>http://www.cocoevoci.com/blog/article/finding-the-perfect-dress#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 10 Mar 2010 16:57:00 -0800</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>Cocoe</dc:creator>
						<category><![CDATA[Finding the Perfect Dress]]></category>
						
			<guid>http://www.cocoevoci.com/blog/article/finding-the-perfect-dress</guid>
			<description><![CDATA[<p>Roots, heritage, ancestry&hellip;when we marry, these are among the things we hold dear. As a wedding is planned, the elements of the couple&rsquo;s individual past begin to fuse with the promise of a collective future. Traditions and customs open the doors to history. The bride and groom who embrace these curious concepts become the richer for caring.</p>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>History&hellip;<br />Roots, heritage, ancestry&hellip;when we marry, these are among the things we hold dear. As a wedding is planned, the elements of the couple&rsquo;s individual past begin to fuse with the promise of a collective future. Traditions and customs open the doors to history. The bride and groom who embrace these curious concepts become the richer for caring.</p>
<p>The Bridal Gown; Rich in Color&hellip;<br />Wedding dresses were as bright and colorful as the bride's family could afford. Before the mid-1800s, brides opted for gowns dyed purple, red or even black as those colors signified wealth and prosperity. Many brides chose to wear blue dresses, because it was thought to bring good fortune, prosperity, faithful husbands and fertility.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://www.cocoevoci.com/images/blog/1800-gowns.jpg" alt="" /></p>
<p>Current brides choose a dress that reflects their personality, style and the formality of their wedding.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://www.cocoevoci.com/images/blog/alexis-zoto.jpg" alt="" /></p>
<h6>Alexis Zoto (wearing Cocoe Voci) &amp; Evan Schnabel</h6>
<p style="text-align: left;"><br />The White Gown&hellip;</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://www.cocoevoci.com/images/blog/queen-victoria.jpg" alt="" /></p>
<p style="text-align: left;">A bride wore her best dress, of whatever color until 1840.<br />On February 10th, 1940, Queen Victoria impacted bridal fashion by wearing an all-white gown, a Honiton-lace veil and orange blossom wreath. The white bridal gown became a symbol of affluence with an aura of purity.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Today, white and its various shades are a symbol of celebration.<br /><img style="margin: 0px 10px;" src="http://www.cocoevoci.com/images/blog/jodi-blum1.jpg" alt="" /> <img style="margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px;" src="http://www.cocoevoci.com/images/blog/jodi-blum2.jpg" alt="" /></p>
<h6>Jodi Blum (wearing Cocoe Voci) &amp; Aaron Cohen</h6>
<p>&nbsp;</p>]]></content:encoded>
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