Welcome to Working It, where Racked follows street style into the office. Forget pedestrian khakis and button-downs—these fashionable professionals take dress codes to a whole new dimension. Quick, somebody call HR!
Photos by Driely S. for Racked
Fashion magazine staffers have to dress, well, kind of fashion-y. But what about wedding magazine staffers? For this week's Working It, we stopped by XO Group, a media company with a network of sites including The Knot, The Nest, and The Bump—basically, all the internet you need to consult when you're engaged or expecting.
After the jump, eight staffers from the online team at The Knot show off their office style and share an endless amount of wedding tips, from what's worth splurging on to who makes the best bridesmaid dresses.
Julie Keh, Creative Director, is wearing a Rag & Bone dress, Nine West shoes, a Cartier bracelet, and an engagement and wedding ring by Jemma Wynne.
What was your own wedding like?
We essentially had two weddings where the ceremony was on a different date than the official reception party. Our ceremony was small and intimate, while our reception was big and fun!
What wedding luxury is worth splurging on, and what's worth saving on?
Splurge on your honeymoon, save on your wedding shoes.
Who makes bridesmaid dresses that you'd actually want to wear again?
J.Crew.
What's the best piece of wedding planning advice you've ever heard?
At different times during your wedding day, be sure to take a few brief moments to take it all it in.
Lauren Kay, Style Editor, is wearing a J.Crew top, blazer, and jeans, Chloe shoes, a Celine bag, a Cartier watch, Cartier Love bracelet, Cartier Trinity bracelet, Gojana star necklace, and a pear-shaped diamond necklace that was her mom's engagement ring.
What was your own wedding like?
I had a really classic and elegant wedding, just last November. I wore a blush alencon lace gown by Ines Di Santo. We got married in the outdoor courtyard of an art museum in Sarasota, Florida with about 140 of our closest family and friends. It was black tie, we wrote our own vows, and we danced the night away—including a choreographed father-daughter dance. It rained, but was still pretty perfect. Here's the blog post I wrote about it for The Knot.
If you could bust one bridal myth for the general public, what would it be?
There is no such thing as perfect. When you're engaged, you'll become obsessed with this word. It'll plague every decision you make. No matter how many things go right on your wedding day, one or two will not go according to plan. It rained on my outdoor wedding—I know! Channel all those thoughts of perfect toward having the very best marriage you can possibly have.
Who makes bridesmaid dresses that you'd actually want to wear again?
I've been in enough weddings to know it's less about who makes the dress and more about "Does it fit my body type?" and "Will I ever wear this color again"? Brides-to-be take note: Let your ladies pick their style and choose a color that they might wear, like navy. I've re-worn a J.Crew bridesmaid's dress and an Amsale gown.
What wedding luxury is worth splurging on, and what's worth saving on?
When it comes to attire, splurge on things you're likely to wear again, like a great pair of earrings or a killer pair of shoes. Save on the dress. You will look stunning no matter what. Treat your guests to a really great time—be it delicious food or an awesome cover band. Save on the décor. It's unlikely anyone is going to be talking about your linens two weeks after. The dance party, on the other hand...
What have you learned at The Knot about the wedding industry that you wouldn't have known otherwise?
You can't really wrap your head around the cost of a wedding until you have one. I learned this through planning my own, but even more so producing style shoots for the magazine and working with wedding professionals. It's the most expensive party you'll ever throw, but totally worth it. Because you've never fed 200 of your family and friends, it's hard to know what that kind of dinner will cost you until you're looking a caterer in the eyes debating chicken or beef.
What's the best piece of wedding planning advice you've ever heard?
Hire someone to help you plan! I'm the worst kind of control freak, but the best move I made while planning my own wedding was hiring a planner. I still had tons of control over the colors, the flowers, the details, but I also had a great sounding board who was full of ideas and valuable contacts, like the right caterer or perfect videographer. You're making so many decisions that sometimes you need an outside party (read: not your mother) to give you input or reassure you.
Marco Carag, Engineering Lead, is wearing a Zara jacket, a Madras shirt from CPT by Cockpit USA, Uniqlo chinos, Meermin shoes, a Seiko 5 watch, and a wedding band from Marissa Alperin Studio in Brooklyn Heights
What did your own wedding look like?
It looked like lunch in downtown Brooklyn! We eloped on a sunny August day, getting a close friend to witness our ceremony at Brooklyn's Borough Hall. Then we walked down to Atlantic Avenue and had lunch on the patio of a French restaurant.
Whose wedding has blown you away?
Friends of mine got married last year at Locust Grove in Poughkeepsie, New York, in a ballroom that opened to a beautiful garden. It started raining, but the time of day allowed the sun to gleam through, creating an amazing visual and aural backdrop when the vows were delivered, tears shed, and kisses committed.
What wedding luxury is worth splurging on, and what's worth saving on?
I was extremely happy with my wedding band, which was designed by Marissa Alperin in Brooklyn. She helped me tremendously with the choice, which made me glad I didn't go with something more cookie cutter.
What's the best piece of planning advice you've ever heard?
When we were still planning to have a wedding and were browsing for venues, one of the event coordinators at The Green Building suggested we pick our top three must-haves and be prepared to sacrifice budget for everything else. Her advice makes a lot of sense—especially in New York where money doesn't go as far as it does in other cities.
Jennifer Porter, Senior Marketing Manager, is wearing a Carven Skirt, a G.V.G.V. shirt, Rachel Comey shoes, Opening Ceremony socks, a Nora Kogan ring, a Mansur Gavriel bag, and nails by Valley NYC.
What was your own wedding like?
I got married in New Haven, Connecticut, which is a very special place for my husband and his family. I wore a birdcage veil and switched to a custom feather fascinator for the reception. We attached white mini pumpkins to our place cards since our wedding was in October. We wrote our own vows, and part of my husband's included telling me a "secret"—he whispered a private joke in my ear, and we both just started laughing. It was a very sweet moment and also took some of the pressure off!
What wedding luxury is worth splurging on, and what's worth saving on?
I was really into invitations. I knew I wanted to do letterpress early on and chose a custom design to reflect our personal style and appropriately set the tone for the wedding. We collaborated on the design with one of our very talented friends. I also sourced vintage stamps on Etsy and eBay, and made sure that every single invite had a different combination. It certainly wasn't cheap, but it made me so happy.
What's the best piece of wedding planning advice you've ever heard?
Enjoy every moment. You spend so much time planning the most special weekend of your life and it goes by incredibly fast.
Your closet is on fire! What three items do you save from the flames?
I would have to start with the shoes I'm wearing in these photos by Rachel Comey. I was lusting after them for months and finally saw them online for a pretty reasonable price. Next would have to be the dress I wore for my rehearsal dinner by Manoush. The top is covered in embroidered daisies and gold buttons, and the skirt is a crushed velvet floral pattern with layers of black fringe. Aside from its obvious beauty, it makes me think about my wedding whenever I wear it. Lastly, a lace and silk coral dress by Sandro.
Z'hara Green, Executive Assistant, is wearing a vintage Levi's jackt, an H&M top, Zara boots, a vintage skirt and belt, and a David Yurman ring.
You're walking down the aisle tomorrow. What are you wearing?
A very simple and sleek gown. Something modern that I can dress up with vintage accessories.
Whose wedding has blown you away?
Mick and Bianca Jagger's wedding will always be my favorite. If I ever wear a veil, it will look like Bianca's.
If you could bust one bridal myth for the general public, what would it be?
The one bridal myth I would bust—for American weddings specifically—would be that the bride has to wear either white or ivory. Why not red? Why not purple? I think what a woman wears down the aisle should be representative of her personal style. If I'm going to get that dressed up, you can be sure I'm going to choose a dress color I love.
What wedding luxury is worth splurging on, and what's worth saving on?
Splurge on the dress, save on the cake. Personally, I don't see the point in splurging on something that's going to be eaten in a few hours. I would much rather spend on a dress I can have forever, and maybe hand down to my daughter, than splurge on a cake that's gone in the blink of an eye. Plus, I'm a much bigger fan of cupcakes.
Who makes bridesmaid dresses that you'd actually want to wear again?
BHLDN makes my favorite bridesmaid dresses.
Your closet is on fire! What three items do you save from the flames?
The first item I would save are vintage Reggae Sunsplash T-shirts that were handed down to me. The next item would be my ring that I never take off. Lastly, I would save a vintage Fendi tea suit that was a gift from my aunt.
Josh Stewart, Engineering Lead, is wearing Levi's 527 jeans, a vintage shirt from Housing Works, Minnetonka moccasins, Ray-Bans, and a vintage turquoise ring from Etsy.
What did your own wedding look like?
I can't take any credit for our wedding. I was the luckiest groom ever. I was living in LA at the time and my wife, Lindsay, coordinated everything for our Seattle-area wedding. All I had to do was show up.
If you could bust one wedding or bridal myth for the general public, what would it be?
That shoving cake in each other's face is cute. It's not.
What wedding luxury is worth splurging on?
An amazing photographer.
What have you learned at The Knot about the wedding industry that you wouldn't have known otherwise?
I was amazed to learn people spend almost $70 billion on weddings each year.
Your closet is on fire! What three items do you save from the flames?
Minnetonka moccasins, Ray-Bans, and Levi's.
Bridget Clegg, Online Photo Editor, is wearing AYR jeans, an H&M top, a Silence + Noise jacket, BC Footwear shoes, rings from Dekalb Market's Lanie Lynn shop, and a vintage sweater closure from the Brooklyn Flea.
How do you keep wedding coverage fresh?
I like to see what's happening in the non-wedding world. Weddings are basically a big party, so I troll lifestyle blogs, stalk cool people on Instagram, and subscribe to a ton of food, music, and current events email newsletters.
You're walking down the aisle tomorrow. What are you wearing?
A Sarah Seven gown! Preferably a short-sleeved ivory one that would pair well with an Enchanted Atelier headpiece.
Whose wedding has blown you away?
This may seem out of left field, but I really loved comedian John Mulaney's romantically rustic Catskill Mountain wedding. Also: Olivia Palermo's shorts-under-skirt Carolina Herrera look was pretty amazing. Like, why doesn't my ponytail ever look like that?
What's the worst wedding trend of the last year?
I am not a fan of unplugged weddings, where couples ban their guests from using phones. If I'm going to a wedding I definitely want to get some Instagram likes out of the day! And I'd like to stalk you with your couple's hashtag if I wasn't there, thank you.
What wedding luxury is worth splurging on, and what's worth saving on?
Splurge on your wedding photographer (because I want to feature your pretty wedding on TheKnot.com!), save on bridesmaid bouquets.
What Pinterest trend do you wish you could ban?
I cringe every time I see bridal portraits, couple's shots, or wedding party pics in bathtubs…and I think we've all seen enough "Live Laugh Love" signs to last a lifetime full of living, laughing, and loving.
Your closet is on fire! What three items do you save from the flames?
A perfectly worn pub crawl T-shirt from college, my Motorcycle Mama leather jacket that I inherited from my aunt and—oh no, I can only choose one of my boxy black tops?!
Brett Olson, Associate Producer, is wearing a Topshop jacket, a Banana Republic shirt, a vintage tie, Uniqlo jeans, and JD Fisk shoes.
How do you keep your wedding coverage fresh?
Our brides and grooms! All the personal touches are always my favorite part. Family heirlooms, quirky traditions, and unique guests cannot be duplicated and keep your day special.
You're walking down the aisle tomorrow. What are you wearing?
A slim-fit black tux, a crisp white shirt, and a skinny black tie.
What's the worst wedding trend of the last year?
Trash the dress. Such a waste!
What wedding luxury is worth splurging on, and what's worth saving on?
Splurge: Flowers, dress, booze. Save: Favors, welcome bags, shoes.
Who makes bridesmaid dresses that you'd actually want to wear again?
Jenny Yoo and Donna Morgan.
Your closet is on fire! What three items do you save from the flames?
A black Burberry trench, a navy Topshop blazer, and an All-Saints leather bomber.
· The Knot [Official Site]