Wednesday, February 10, 2021

BTS With Ellen Mirojnick Costume Designer Behind the Elegant Bridgerton Series

 


This Tuesday I got to attend the virtual panel presented by FIDM with Bridgerton costume designer Ellen Mirojnick. I got to hear all about the styles that inspired her the most while creating the costumes for the standout first season and now I am sharing them with you along with some juicy tidbits about the making of the show! I was so excited to attend this event because I absolutely loved this series and of course the costumes were one of my favorite parts. I actually read all of the original books and was so excited to see the television version. While the TV show is definitely different than the books there were so many elements from the original stories that I recognized in the costumes and it was so fun to see them come to life! 

Ellen revealed during the panel that she was the first hire made by the show which shows just how important the costumes are to creating the Bridgerton world. I loved that this show and Ellen put so much importance on the costumes and really made them a featured part of the story. Ellen told us that she and her team created custom looks for every single actor on the show including the background actors! So now if you'll excuse me I am going to sign up to be a Bridgerton extra for next season lol! Just kidding but apparently they even got custom jewelry too! Ellen started by showing us her mood boards which she created to inspire her throughout the season. She and her team used the same mood boards to work off of so that everything had the same feeling according to Ellen which I think she definitely accomplished! I loved how she described her ideas for each family in the series. She told us that the Duke was all about jewel tones, while the Bridgerton family pallete was inspired by French macaron boxes! I can definitely see those colors reflected in the series after re-watching some of the episodes it is honestly the perfect description! She described the Featheringtons colors as a fruit basket and said that she had the most fun designing their over the top costumes. She told us that it was an experiment for her and her team to see how much they could add into the costumes and that even when they thought it was too much it ended up working. They layered jewelry and accessories as well. Butterflies are the mark of the Featherington house according to Ellen and they hid butterflies in the costumes "almost everywhere you could think of" she said to us. One of the examples of this I noticed was Penelope's dresses and accessories where she wears butterflies in her hair, on her wait, and even embellished on her dress. Ellen also talked about the fabric they used to create the exquisite designs. They combined different patterns and fabrics to create the myriad of styles and designs in each scene and had a team to hand embellish every costume! One thing I found really interesting is that Ellen said that the break between the historical styles and the styles in the show was the weight of the fabric. Since the characters in the show have a lot of movement Ellen and her team made sure to use lightweight fabrics that would flow elegantly and be easy to move in. Apparently regency fabrics were much heavier so thank goodness we have modern fabrics now! She did mention that of all the characters Queen Charlotte's costumes probably ended up being the heaviest because her outfits and hair had to be the most over the top. She said the piece the actors found most annoying about their costumes were the corsets which every woman in the show wore. I can definitely imagine how wearing an authentic corset would get old but wow what an experience! 

Ellen also talked about the making of the show. As the first hire she was able to integrate her vision for the costumes and the inspiration she used into other aspects of the show. She talked about the great teamwork on the production team and how everyone worked together to create a cohesive vision. The costume team was able to work together with the production design staff to match the colors for each scene and  even make sure that the characters homes reflected their personalities as much as their wardrobe. I noticed that right away about the show and I honestly love this idea it really makes you feel like you are in a whole other world while watching the show. She also revealed that the show was actually shot in many of the most famous historic homes and palaces in England. She said that the sets they created in the studio were mostly the family homes and most other scenes were actually shot on location! She described it as the show that traveled across England and I am over here getting more and more jealous of the Bridgerton cast!

Ellen talked about the research she did before starting her design process and she pointed out that her objective was to create a whole fantasy world for the Bridgetons rather than to be confined to being historically accurate all the time. She said she was actually inspired by multiple decades including the 60s and even used the Chanel Spring Summer 2019 collection for fabric inspiration. She said that the royal and decadent feel of the Chanel collection was great for what she was going for in the Bridgerton series. I am definitely going to be taking another look at that collection now because who doesn't want to feel like a member of the "ton" even in the modern day!

Ellen also talked about how she communicated each character's unique personality and eccentricities using accessories and jewelry. All the jewelry was custom designed and filled with sparkly jewels. She described it as the "exclamation point at the end of the sentence" on her characters. She talked about how Daphne's character was inspired by Audrey Hepburn's style so her accessories were very understated and delicate while the featheringtons were more baroque. And of course the queen had the most of everything. Another thing that Ellen explained was why the Queen's style and waistlines were so different from the other characters in the show. This was another really interesting point to me because I noticed it right away while watching and was wondering why the Queen was not "in style" like the rest of the ton. However Ellen explained that this was actually a historically accurate depiction since the Queen during the Regency era never changed her waistline after getting married and becoming queen so when the waistlines rose she kept her dresses the same. I honestly love this and find it so inspiring that even back then this Queen was all about waring what she looked best in and embracing personal style so I love that they kept it in the show as well! 

All in all this panel was super fun and informative. I loved getting to see behind the scenes of one of my favorite shows and I came away with some style inspo of my own for recreating some Bridgerton style. 

How to Throw the Cutest Galentine's Day Valen"tiny" Party

 


Galentine's day is such a fun holiay to celebrate whether you are in a relationship or living your best single life. It is a great excuse to get together with your girls and celebrate your friendships! Plus since pink is my favorite color I love going all out with decor and themed food and drinks! This is my guide to throwing an amazing Valen"tiny" party which is basically just another way of saying finger foods but I can't resist a good play on words. Everything at this party was mini sized and so cute but more importantly delicious. Read on for a list of my favorite recipes and have a great time celebrating! 


This tray was for the chocolate fondue. I used mini marshmallows, strawberries, clementine's (mini oranges), and more for dipping. I decided to take a shortcut and bought the Fruita microwaveable chocolate to use for the fondue which worked pretty well! It is just a little quicker to dry than regular fondue so make sure to eat right after you serve it!


I also did some baking. I baked mini cupcakes, and mini cheesecakes which honestly came out delicious. They were the perfect bite size and I even took some in my lunch the following week. I made these cheesecakes themed and swirled in some red food coloring to make a delicious pink swirl. I also topped it with fresh berries for a sweet and juicy finish. 

I didn't just serve desserts though! I also baked these delicious mini potatoes which is one of my favorite appetizer recipes. And for the main course I served mini smokies. These are one of my favorite party snacks because they are super easy to prep! I just threw them in the crock pot with some BBQ sauce and they came out great! 

For drinks I would highly recommend a Rossini cocktail if you want to serve alcohol. They are the perfect refreshing bubbly drink to hang with your girls and you can top them off with extra strawberries! It is the perfect glam drink and the best part is it's pink so it will be on theme! 

Let me know what your favorite Valentine's recipes are in the comments or if you have tried any of these! Happy Galentine's Day! 

Monday, February 1, 2021

The Top 7 Most Instagram Worthy Spots In Marrakech


Morocco is Bc such a beautiful country from the moment you step off the plane to exploring the desert landscape. Even the Marrakech airport is photo worthy! It’s a bloggers dream and I’ve put together this photo guide of the top 10 most Instaworthy spots in Marrakech. 

Let me know which ones are your favorites! 


1. Jardins Majorelles 



Any Marrakech photo guide wouldn’t be complete without the Jardins Majorelles. This beautiful garden full of exotic flowers is the perfect spots for getting those amazing shots that capture what Marrakech is all about. The cactus garden is a great place for some fun desert looks but some of my favorite photo spots are the colorful walls and flowers! I would reccomend going in the morning for the best photos but be careful not to go too early because the garden looks best in full sunlight!

2. YSL Museum 

The pink walls of the YSL museum are classic Marrakech. This museum is on the same grounds as the Jardins Majorelles and it is a must see spot for any fashion fans! The YSL sign at the entrance to the museum is also a must have photo that will have all your Instagram friends jealous! I would recommend going early to the museum to avoid the crowds. The best schedule I found was to do the garden first and then head into the museum. 

3. Jardins Secrets 


The secret garden is an oasis inside the Medina and it is another perfect spot to capture Moroccan architecture in your photos. I would recommend going before noon for photos as it does tend to fill up later in the afternoon. There are so many great spots to take pictures in here with so many different textures and styles to choose from I feel like you can get a little piece from everywhere in Morocco all in this one spot. I would especially recommend paying attention to the decorative doors here. 

4. The Souks 

This is a great insta photo op to show off your Marrakech vacation. Find a store with an interesting display out front and take your pictures with the goods displayed in the background to show the eclectic style of the souks. I loved this pottery shop but some other popular places are lantern shops and rug stores! 

5. Riad Dar Kleta 


My Riad was the perfect place for photos. There was literally a photo op in every room! They had 3 different patios including a rooftop patio with amazing city views. My personal favorite was the patio in front of my room which was decorated in the classic light pink Marrakech style. I also loved the downstairs patio which was filled with beautiful plants and also had some amazing doors! I would definitely recommend staying here if you are looking for great photo ops this Riad was even featured on a photo walk tour of Marrakech while I was staying there and people from all over the world walked through to take pictures of the decor! 

6. The Palm Groves 
 The Palm Groves are a beautiful place to visit right outside the city. The best time to go is at sunset for great pictures of all the palm trees against the desert backdrop for a truly exotic Moroccan photo op. When you go out to the groves you will pass by tons of giant mansions where celebrities and even some royalty stay when they visit Marrakech. The Queen of England herself even has a house out here! I would recommend booking a camel ride at the same time so you can get that perfect Instagram shot of your Moroccan adventures on the back of a camel too! 

7. The Bahia Palace 


The Bahia Palace is an ancient palace located in the Marrakech Medina. It is a great place for capturing photos of Marrakech architecture and you will have no shortage of insta-worthy spots in this colorful palace! The intricate tile floors and the beautiful doorways and carvings make perfect backdrops for your photos! I would recommend going early in the morning as well because this palace is large and it can get quite hot after touring the whole thing! 

CdM Guide: Desert Adventures in Marrakech Morocco




Last February I took a trip to the amazing city of Marrakech in Morocco. I am so excited to share my travel guide with you guys finally after a crazy year of 2020 and hopefully you will be able to use these tips soon on your next trip! 
I spent 4 days in Marrakech which I felt like was the perfect amount of time to discover the city without feeling rushed. By my 4th day I was even navigating the winding streets of the Medina all by myself! An accomplishment I am pretty proud of considering on my first day of walking in circles I felt like I would never get the hang of it! 

Where to Stay: 

I stayed at the cutest Riad in the Medina or "old city" tucked away from the bustling souks and Jemma El Fna Square Riad Dar Kleta is the perfect place for travelers looking for a relaxing and authentic Marrakech experience. A Riad is like a Moroccan bed and breakfast and this one is known for it's delicious and authentic breakfast with fresh fruit, yogurt and more served every morning on the patio or in the dining room. The Riad Dar Kleta is also one of the better places to stay in the city because they also offer a homemade dinner option on your first night in town for only 18euros. This is definitely worth it in my opinion because finding a place to eat after a long day of traveling is always hard especially in a different country. They made me the most delicious chicken Tajine out of ingredients fresh from the market. It was a huge dinner and absolutely delicious. I also loved getting to taste the local cuisine without having to wonder if it was authentic. The owners of Riad Dar Kleta used their own family recipe so you know it was the best! 
The Riad was also perfect for photo shoots and I loved exploring all the different levels and patios they had. Each one had a slightly different theme! 
My favorite part of Riad Dar Kleta was that they also had a fashion boutique in the souks marketplace and we definitely bonded over a love of fashion! I even got to visit their store one day while doing some souvenir shopping in the souks. 

What to Do: 

Jardins Majorelles and the "New Village" or French city
The Jardins Majorelles is the thing that brought me to Marrakech. Yves Saint Laurent's Marrakech hideaway is an artists dream. The garden is filled with exotic desert plants and flowers and you can also visit the YSL museum on the grounds as well. The museum houses vintage YSL pieces as well as describes the history of the brand and Yves Saint Laurent's Moroccan inspiration. The designer came to Marrakech often in the 1970s and used the garden and surrounding scenery as inspiration in many of his collections. I loved getting to see this piece of fashion history! I would recommend stopping for a cup of famous Moroccan mint tea in the café after your visit as well. Then you can head out into the French city which is also known as the new village. It was founded by French settlers after the original Median was already built and so it lays outside the city walls allowing for the wide French style boulevards and European architecture. It is so interesting to see the comparison of the ancient walled city next to the European style designs. 

Palm Grove Sunset Camel Ride



One of my favorite experiences while in Morocco was getting to ride a camel into the desert sunset in the beautiful palm groves. I found this through Airbnb experiences and it turned out great! It was not too expensive and even came with a car transfer which picked me up in the Medina and took me to where the camels were and then dropped me back near my hotel after the ride was over. This was an important benefit for me since I didn't want to be trying to find my way back alone after dark. I also loved this one in the Palm Groves specifically because it was far enough out of the city to get some great views of the desert but was only a 20 minute car ride away. A lot of the experiences I looked at were over an hour away so this one was super convenient and perfect for my schedule! 

Place Jema El Fna
The Jema El Fna Square is definitely a must see while you are in Marrakech. It is the main town center and always busy with street vendors, music, and restaurants. My favorite place to go for a great view was one of the many upstairs restaurants located along the edge of the square. The rooftop patios offer great views to look down on all the lights of the square at night and you can enjoy your meal away from the crowds on the street. 

Jardins Secrets 

The secret gardens are another must see spot in Marrakech. While the jardins majorelles are beautiful and exotic this spot is just as pretty in its own way. It truly is a secret garden tucked away inside the medina. The calm atmosphere washes over you as soon as you step into the walled garden from off the busy streets. My favorite part was all the colorful and intricate details on the walls and doors in this beautiful garden. It is also a great spot to grab lunch in the afternoon as the restaurant offers lots of great options if you are looking for some non Moroccan cuisine like fries and paninis. I loved sitting on the patio and just enjoying the weather while eating my food. 

Bliss Riad and Spa 
Right across the street from the secret gardens is Bliss Riad and Spa. It is the perfect stop to top off your relaxing afternoon. The beautiful Riad offers an oasis once you step inside. The all white decorations and palm trees growing up through the center of the spa create a luxurious atmosphere. I booked a massage and then sipped on mint tea upstairs on the rooftop patio while waiting for my appointment. The traditional Moroccan massage was perfect for relieving the stress and knots from all my travels. I would definitely recommend this as a clean and professional place to go for a spa experience in Marrakech. 

Souks Marketplace shopping: 



The Souks are another great place to get an authentic Marrakech experience. You can honestly get lost in the maze of a marketplace that covers half the city thought so I'd recommend bringing a map! The souks are an ancient marketplace that has been around for centuries and they have people selling  everything you could imagine and more. The souks are separated into sections based on the type of product so you will find a metal/jewelry section, the tannery section for leather goods, a pottery section for traditional hand painted Moroccan pottery, and of course a section for rugs as well as many more things! I found a cute little silver camel charm and even bargained on the price for it in true Moroccan fashion. I would recommend reading a couple blogs or guides on how the souks work if you plan to do much shopping there so you don't get taken advantage of but all in all I really enjoyed the experience. 
Here are a few links I found helpful
You can also check out the DK travel guide to Morocco which has a great section on shopping in the Souks. 

Bahia Palace: 
The Bahia Palace was on the far side of town from my Riad so I saved this for my last day. It was a pretty far walk in the sun but definitely worth the trip! This ancient palace is another great place for spotting traditional Moroccan architecture especially the beautiful carved doors. It also has some colorful tile work and amazing history. 

What to Eat: 
I brought some granola bars and water bottles with me on my trip so I would have a few things to eat that I liked but it wasn't that hard to find good food during my stay. Staying at Riad Dar Kleta really helped as I had a delicious fresh breakfast every morning and the Tajine for dinner on my first night. 
I also found a few restaurants in some tourist locations like the Secret Garden that served different kinds of food. My favorite dish from Moroccan cuisine was the chicken Tajine which you can find at almost any restaurant. 

I hope this travel guide helped you and you found some helpful tips for your next adventure! Thanks for reading! You can also check out my photo guide to Marrakech here for more info on where to take the best photos!