fab's guide to

Hello, bride-to-be. I'm Fab, your personal wedding dress shopper! Whether you have three months or twelve to shop for your dream dress, here is a guide to help you look your most beautiful, and keep your sanity. You be the bride and I'll be your guide . . .

First things first: determine your wedding style and budget. Close your eyes and try to picture your big day. Is the ceremony ethereal outside on a beach? Or more formal inside a formal church? Or is it something in between? You'll want a wedding gown that fits your picture. Choose something light and airy if you'll be beachside and something more lavish if you'll be in a church. If you're going the church route, remember to cover up with a shawl or bolero as you want to respect the dress code of the establishment. The most important thing is to set a budget so you don't go ga ga over a dress that's out of your price range!

To read the rest of my Fab wedding shopping guide, read more

LBD has become such a household term, it might as well be included in the dictionary. But it pains me when women use black as an excuse to not think creatively. If anything, you have to think more creatively with a LBD; it's a blank canvas waiting to be decorated. Your LBD may not be Fendi, like actress Kate Mara, but that doesn't mean you can't look as Fab. Here's how . . .

• Choose an interesting silhouette. Just because it's black doesn't mean it has to be boring. Off-the-shoulder, one-shoulder, halter, cowl, boatneck — find the one that flatters your figure, and most importantly, makes you stand out.
• Belt it. Belts have surpassed trend status and are now staples. We have seen them on the runways for countless seasons now. Remember, it was Sex and the City stylist Patricia Field who said belts accentuate a woman's curves and elongate her legs. Done and done.

For more tips to perfecting the LBD, and a closeup of Kate's Loubs, read more