{"id":453,"date":"2025-03-27T14:06:48","date_gmt":"2025-03-27T15:06:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/prosperitywithory.com\/?p=453"},"modified":"2025-05-13T02:06:11","modified_gmt":"2025-05-13T02:06:11","slug":"so-chic-very-chic-rhinestones-for-spring-groundbreaking","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/prosperitywithory.com\/index.php\/2025\/03\/27\/so-chic-very-chic-rhinestones-for-spring-groundbreaking\/","title":{"rendered":"So Chic, Very Chic: Rhinestones for Spring, Groundbreaking!"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

This is So Chic, Very Chic, <\/em>PAPER\u2019s examination of Bravo\u2019s sprawling cohort of fashion obsessives. From haute couture to TJ Maxx, they\u2019ve literally worn it all. Sometimes they stunt, sometimes they turn the look, and sometimes they burn holes in retinas my ophthalmologist says might never heal.<\/em><\/p>\n

<\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

<\/h3>\n

<\/p>\n

I must announce some very big news: Bridal gowns and rhinestones are very in at Bravo reunions. In the words of The Devil Wears Prada<\/em><\/em> anti-hero Miranda Priestly: “Groundbreaking.”<\/p>\n

Sarcasm doesn\u2019t read on the internet as well as I\u2019d like, so let\u2019s make it clear there\u2019s nothing groundbreaking about rhinestones on the Bravo reunion stage. What is noteworthy, however, are the addition of actual bridal gowns to the rotation. We\u2019ve always seen pageant gowns and Dubai ateliers make big showings amongst the women, but of late, I\u2019ve seen more and more proper wedding dresses get passed off as reunion outfits. It’s not a bad thing, but is there some connection between frivolously worn wedding dresses and the dozens of fractured marriages on these shows? I\u2019m only just superstitious enough to think there might be.<\/p>\n

If anything, the proliferation of wedding dresses makes me feel we are approaching an event horizon where white is no longer associated with bridalwear, or there is some mass convergence of pageantry, bridal and couture. I use couture loosely here, as most of what\u2019s described as couture on these shows is made by upstart designers who\u2019ve slapped couture onto the side of their small town boutiques. <\/p>\n

The most egregious display of this rhinestoned bridal wear event horizon happened at the upcoming Married to Medicine<\/em><\/em> reunion. Since we haven\u2019t talked about this show in some time, I\u2019ve curated select looks from the past few weeks alongside their reunion looks. <\/p>\n

Shall we?<\/p>\n

Married to Medicine<\/h3>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

<\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

<\/h3>\n

<\/p>\n

Quad Webb<\/strong><\/p>\n

Here is a lady who will put on some clothes. Thank god! And more often than not, the clothes fit her beautifully. Amongst a cast like this, I cannot understate what a rarity that is. This leather-look latex dress is something else. While not particularly novel, the effect against the jewelry and hair is perfection. I\u2019m especially keen on this necklace, even if I wish the neckline of the dress came down a few more inches. It squishes her proportions down, but really, I\u2019m nitpicking. Fabulous job, Quad!<\/p>\n

<\/h3>\n

<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\nSee on Instagram<\/a>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Her reunion dress was less successful, but I applaud the theatricality, even if it circles back around to slightly tacky. The Kosovo based designer, Pajtim Raci, has designed for Bebe Rexha and Tyra Banks and Blac Chyna, which is quite the ensemble. When not posting bridal looks on Instagram, they mix it up with things a vampire in a gothic sci-fi cable TV show might wear, or what Lauren Sanchez will show up in to Jeff Bezos\u2019 eventual coronation as the global dictator supreme.<\/p>\n

My primary beef here is with the sculptural details, which aren\u2019t quite ugly but totally contrast with the otherwise plain looking lam\u00e9 fabric. It\u2019s like something you\u2019d see in a department store window for an Art Basel activation in partnership with the latest healthy popcorn startup brand. <\/p>\n

<\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

<\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

<\/h3>\n

<\/p>\n

Dr. Jackie<\/strong><\/p>\n

This look isn\u2019t particularly special, but I did want to point out her leather jumpsuit and platform mules. Imagine your OBGYN comes rocking up with her pearls on and a leather jumpsuit with five inch patent leather platform mules on. I guess I\u2019d have to trust her with my life and copay in perpetuity. <\/p>\n

<\/h3>\n

<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\nSee on Instagram<\/a>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Her reunion look is notable for the designer behind it, Harbison Studios, ran by \u201cdemi-couturier\u201d Charles Harbison. His client list includes Mindy Kaling, Kelly Rowland and Queen Latifah, and starlets like Sabrina Carpenter and Victoria Monet have also popped up in his designs of late. Let me not forget Quinta Brunson either, who wore a fabulous technicolor gown in New Yorker<\/em>\u2019s Style Issue last year. Harbison\u2019s work is exquisite and his tailoring impeccable. He\u2019s also got a real eye for color, which is why I was dismayed to see her go cream for the reunion. It never reads the right way!<\/p>\n

Likewise, this dress fails to excite because it’s a plain column gown with a cape and exposed bra. An impeccably fitted column gown, certainly, but when a dress like this is neutral, let alone a cream like this, it runs the risk of fading into the background. Sadly, not even the massive cape-shawl could fix it squarely in my mind. <\/p>\n

<\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

<\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

<\/h3>\n

<\/p>\n

Toya Bush-Harris<\/strong><\/p>\n

If there\u2019s one thing Toya was put on this Earth to do, it was put on little scoochie dresses and show off her red bottoms. She\u2019s lived up to that task this season! I\u2019ve taken big issue with her wanton use of designer clothing in the past, specifically when she\u2019s slapping on labels and throwing her new Birkin on top. Thankfully, there\u2019s nary a label in sight, and I generally think this color is gorgeous on her. Sure, it\u2019s giving a bit 2000-and-late, but my god, is it a gorgeous color on her. <\/p>\n

<\/h3>\n

<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\nSee on Instagram<\/a>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n

On the opposite end of the spectrum, blame Sophie Couture for what you see above, which is so obnoxiously on-the-nose I burst out laughing. That Paris Hilton pops up in this same designer\u2019s clothing frequently should tell one everything they need to know about the brand, which specializes in maximalist Dubai attire. When not doing interesting imitations of Schiaparelli\u2019s weaker looks, they\u2019re dressing celebrities in things just like this.<\/p>\n

Now, the detail I\u2019ve become increasingly befuddled by are the feathers sewn into the lace. It\u2019s a design detail I don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever seen before in my entire life, and certainly not on Bravo. It\u2019s like the ateliers thought: \u201cWhat if we used feathers like pearls?\u201d I\u2019d like them to have less ideas like that in the future. <\/p>\n

<\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

<\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

<\/h3>\n

<\/p>\n

It\u2019s funny that I almost found this look a relief after that reunion something-or-other, considering the mixed metals and questionably deployed stilettos. As I said previously, Toya loves to show off her designer possessions. Zoom in on her bracelets, and you\u2019ll see exactly what I mean.<\/p>\n

<\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

For our last look of Toya\u2019s this season, I\u2019d like to present this hat. I won\u2019t be commenting further.<\/p>\n

<\/h3>\n

<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\nSee on Instagram<\/a>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Dr. Heavenly<\/strong><\/p>\n

One of the first results when I searched Albina Dyla, the designer for Dr. Heavenly\u2019s dress, was something that looked suspiciously similar to Quad\u2019s architectural marvel. It\u2019s what I mean when I say \u201cDubai-wear.\u201d No shade to the city, which faces more pressing criticisms than its fashion, but there\u2019s this weird amalgam of Daniel Roseberry, Pierpaolo Piccoli and Olivier Rousteing that comes out of its ateliers these days. I\u2019m not a fan, even when it\u2019s as simple as this rhinestone and illusion lace mermaid gown. Apologies, Heavenly!<\/p>\n

<\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Sweet Tea<\/strong><\/p>\n

Considering everything going on in her marriage, and the deep sympathy I have for her as a result, I\u2019ve decided to show everyone this sequin button up and glam combo without commenting further. <\/p>\n

<\/h3>\n

<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\nSee on Instagram<\/a>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Her reunion look will get the same treatment from me, sans one small note: Please don\u2019t ever show up on TV in toothpaste blue. Please.<\/p>\n

<\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Dr. Contessa<\/strong><\/p>\n

When this look popped up in the final episodes of the season, I literally said, \u201cOh, wow.\u201d Nobody was in my home but my cat, so I followed her around for a few minutes just saying it over and over again in the hopes she would develop human speech and have a conversation with me about it. What a look! What a choice, to wear pageant jewelry and this dress. What a series of choices! So many choices, and they were all made by Dr. Contessa. Wow! Choices.<\/p>\n

<\/h3>\n

<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\nSee on Instagram<\/a>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The most predictable of these choices was her reunion dress. In my effort to be comprehensive, I\u2019ve included it here. In the interest of time and my own sanity, I\u2019ll simply say, “Great gowns, beautiful gowns.”<\/p>\n

<\/h3>\n

<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\nSee on Instagram<\/a>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Dr. Mimi<\/strong><\/p>\n

I had to read episode descriptions on Wikipedia to remember who Dr. Mimi was, let alone what she was up to all season long. I believe she was on vacation with the group, but that\u2019s as far as I got before I gave up and stopped caring. That said, this dress sure is something! We\u2019ve got more sculptural details and a train, but the most confounding part is the illusion effect on the skirt with these thin tendrils of color. It gives her a wonky look, like she\u2019s a woman in a Final Fantasy<\/em> game who\u2019s been frozen in a crystal that\u2019s floating over an underground lake. <\/p>\n

<\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

<\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

<\/h3>\n

<\/p>\n

Phaedra Parks<\/strong><\/p>\n

Phaedra didn\u2019t show up to the reunion and wasn\u2019t much of a player this season \u2014 too busy vying for her spot on The Real Housewives of Atlanta<\/em> back, I suppose. In honor of her time on this show having come to an end, I figured I\u2019d display her tackiest outfit this season. If Toya is label obsessed, Phaedra is straight up label delusional. Au revoir!<\/p>\n

<\/h3>\n

<\/p>\n

Photos courtesy of Bravo\/NBCUniversal<\/em><\/p>\n

<\/br><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This is So Chic, Very Chic, PAPER\u2019s examination of Bravo\u2019s sprawling cohort of fashion obsessives….<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":459,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[12],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/prosperitywithory.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/453"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/prosperitywithory.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/prosperitywithory.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/prosperitywithory.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/prosperitywithory.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=453"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/prosperitywithory.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/453\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":480,"href":"https:\/\/prosperitywithory.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/453\/revisions\/480"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/prosperitywithory.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/459"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/prosperitywithory.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=453"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/prosperitywithory.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=453"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/prosperitywithory.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=453"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}