Client Corner ~ Colleen

Gals,

We were recently blown away by these stunning images from our client Colleens gorgeous New York Penthouse Wedding. Colleen purchased our "Ivory Tulle Rococco Wrap" to compliment her designer wedding gown and it worked out beautifully with her overall ensemble.

We were thrilled to have an opportunity to see Colleens album by photographer Jen Huang! Doesn't the wedding look like an absolutely gorgeous day! Colleen had a ceremony in Central Park and by the look of the smiles on the faces it looks to be a really magical day for everyone.

We loved working with Colleen , she was such a pleasurable client and really included us in her special day.

We hope you both have a magical life journey together.

xxx

Yvonne & Ger

~bonzie~

http://www.bonziedesigns.com/

The Heater's Warm but Fills the Room

Dress: Target, remixed * Cardigan: Anthropologie, thrifted and remixed * Flat espadrilles: Old Navy, remixed * Dino necklace: gift from Katie, remixed

So I'm just a smidge behind the times with these pictures. These are the last few that were taken in my old apartment! From now on there will be new backdrops, new brick walls, new wood fences. I mean, let's face it: the apartments in Chicago aren't exactly diverse in their setup, so it's not going to be that different. But these pictures make me nostalgic for my old apartment!! I love our new home, but this apartment was really important for me. It was the first home that Joe and I shared together, and it got us through a lot. I'll miss it, and its noisy radiators and sun-soaked dining room and doors that never quite closed.

It was my first "grown-up" home. I didn't feel comfortable in Chicago until we moved in there, and it made Chicago finally feel like home to two small-town kids. It was our space, from Joe's spice rack (a shower rack that he nailed to the kitchen wall!) to my three walk-in closets for my burgeoning wardrobe to our wall of plants on the windowsill to our two bookshelves, each overflowing, one for fiction and one for non-fiction. I'm unbelievably excited for the next phase, and I think that only good things are coming for both of us, but it's a little bit hard to close this chapter of our lives. The past few years could have been so much harder without that space. Having somewhere to call home, to feel comfortable, is more important than we give it credit for, I think, and we were lucky to have this place. So here's to our apartment, our first place together, our cozy safe haven, our bright, open, warm, inviting, wonderful home.

Title song: Ben Gibbard and Andrew Kenny, "You Remind Me of Home"

Everything's in Boxes

Romper: Target * Face-eating scarf, worn as headband: gift from Katie * Shoes: Urban Outfitters, remixed

I'm so, so happy that Emily and I got to share our awesome news yesterday, and totally flattered by your comments. It really has been an absolute delight to live with her, and we've already shared lots of fun moments that we can someday recollect while braiding each others' hair. Late night cinnamon rolls, just enough trashy TV, loads of awesome dinners (okay, this is not so much Emily or me, but more Joe, who is awesome), fabulous trips to Target, lots of home decorating, and, as Emily has so lovingly put it, tons of gooberosity. It's been fabulous, and I'm so excited about hanging out with her this year!

So this is actually the outfit that I wore on super-mega-huge-moving-time-day (that's what they call it in Japan). Being the sharp tacks that we are, we thought it was a good idea to move on the hottest day of summer. I think the heat index was dreadfully close to 100, and we were busy carrying a couch down the street on a Radio Flyer wagon (that's right, we used a wagon to move our shit). Anyway, it was hot, we were sweaty, and I honestly wished that it was possible to wear less than a romper. Having never worn a romper before, I was quite delighted at how fun they are. Oh, and this is the face-eating scarf from the other day. I tied it up all tight to keep it from eating my face. I think it worked.

We're all moved in now, and entering into the first stages of domestic bliss. It's a ball having another blogger around all the time, and though it might put my shopping ban at risk, it's totally worth it 'cause Emily's awesome! And I've reassured Joe that his position as my main photographer is safe, though he might have a new stand-in from time to time.

Title song: The Honor System (Chicago-based punk, yeah!), "Moving Day"

They Always Make Me Cry

Airing Her Dirty Laundry: Sartoriography

Good Monday, everyone. It's time for another edition (almost just wrote "addition"...must be Monday) of my interview-y feature, Airing Her Dirty Laundry. Emily, of the lovely blog sartoriography, and I have been IRL friends for a couple of months now, and we thought it was high time to have a proper introduction (that's right, we've been friends for months and have never asked each other a single question. We're awesome, but apparently rather uncommunicative). So we are asking each other the same series of questions today (here's my post on sartoriography). Some of the questions (and most of the answers) are a bit silly, but bear with us, and be sure to read all the way to the end.

Emily is wearing...Dress: Kelli's closet * Sandals: Target * Belt: Target * Bracelets: "small boy street vendor in Namibia"

1. Who's your style icon? May I say fictional people? Probably an amalgamation of Joan Holloway (of Mad Men fame) and Charlotte Gainsborough or her sister, Lou Doillon. I love the idea of blending sexy, curvy, vintage silhouettes with tough, rocker glam. Also, you are my style icon. I really love that you try so many typed of trends and outfits- jean shorts, pencil skirts, cuffed pants, wide-leg linen trousers, belted dresses, face-eating scarves... It's funny, because you and I are so physically different- short and tall, petite and curvy, short hair and long, etc. etc. And yet I get super inspired by what you wear and how you wear it. Our differences engender pride in my own unique appearance AND new ideas for interesting fashion I hadn't considered before seeing you rock them. :)

2. Name some of your favorite places to shop in Chicago. I'm a really big fan of thrift stores, especially Unique. You should know that, since we went there together and found a treasure trove of sartorial delights.

3. If you had to work at a fashion magazine, which would it be? Probably Mother Jones. My favorite material is hemp, my favorite scent patchouli. Actually, I think we should make our own fashion magazine. You quit your job, I'll drop out of school, and we'll breathe life back into a dying industry!

Wind baby! (self made...see original here)

4. How does your interest in fashion intersect with the rest of your life- your job, your relationships, your ethical perspectives, etc.? If I were answering this question seriously, I'd say something about how, when I need thoughts on an outfit, my boy person is incredibly generous with his advice and artistic analysis (relationship); about using fashion to negotiate the context of a male-dominated classroom and to inspire confidence in often intimidating intellectual situation (job); and about how my commitment to environmentalism and responsible consumption inspire (at least some) of my clothing choices and how my identification as a "feminist" is inextricably linked to my ideas about clothing and fashion (ethics). Instead, I'll say that fashion is what facilitated my friendship with you, and that's all that matters.

5. Is there any exciting news you'd like to share with the blogosphere? Yes. I'd like everyone reading this blog to know that...

Clare and I are roommates!

Uh...we got caught in the mother of all rainstorms and thought that documentation was in order.

That's right, world, an unstoppable blogging duo has been created. Joe will be leaving Chicago for graduate school soon, and though I plan to follow eventually, I'm happy to be hanging in Chicago for the time being, especially with my awesome new apartment and new roomie!

Happy Bank Holiday Weekend!

new embellished maxi at Smoking Lily Boutique , Kilkenny!!

Gals, for those of you living outside of Ireland you might not know that this particular weekend is a very busy weekend for activities and festivities. Our hometown of Waterford is taken over by the fabulous Spraoi Festival where the Arts Community literally lines the streets to share local arts, music and culture along with a few treats of the liquid variety for the spectators. With no work for most on the Monday it's a long weekend that is enjoyed by many!

Since our lovely day out at the new Artisan Craft Fair at the Limerick Milk Markets ( more posts to come on that!) we then made a drop to our official stockist in Kilkenny, Smoking Lily Boutique ( Kierans St, Kilkenny City) to deliver some new pieces to Shona in anticipation of the upcoming Kilkenny Arts Festival hitting on the 6th of August! ( that and the fact that the bonzie corner was running bare with all the July sales and literally needed an injection of new lovelies )

It's been such an incredibly busy week gals, with a lot going on for bonzie. We are now expanding into other projects and spreading our wings a little so we hope you stay and enjoy the flight! :)

We have two new photoshoots coming up this week, and some good news of the Limerick Variety with a new boutique stockist coming onboard for the lovely ladies of Limerick to frequent when we are not at the monthly market there! :)

I took to the coast this weekend for a much needed break. We stayed in a mobile home just behind the Sand Dunes at Bonmahon Beach with our mini yorkie and it was absolute bliss. No phone signal, no internet ( this was a tough one for me! lol) and no city sounds, it was absolutely fab. I'm home now wading through emails, convos, picture editing, facebook etc...... I can feel the rash coming on already! lol

ya gotta love Bank Holidays! :)

Hope you guys enjoyed your one too!!!!!

Hitting the streets!!!!

First one taking place TODAY!! Thursday 29th of July!!!
Snazzy New Development, one of Ireland's finest All Weather Market Venues!

How to find us today!!!

Gals, we are very excited to be hitting the road today and heading for Limerick City to participate in the first ever Artisan Fair at the newly developed Milk Market Venue in Limerick City. The Market today brings arts and craftspeople from all over Ireland together once a month ( last Thursday of each month!!!) to sell their wares and deal directly with the public.

Well we have the car packed to the brim with stock, mannequins, coffee and "oursmelves"! Hoping to have a nice day and hoping to meet lots of market browsers throughout the day. I believe there are also fellow Irish etsy shops going to be there too so it will be lovely to network and mingle with our fellow etsy sellers.

Market is open from 12 midday until 7 tonight... so why not pop by after your working day for a gander around! We will have lots of 'bonzie' goodies to tempt you!! ;)