Cupid pulls weekend wedding duty

SAN DIEGO — Love never takes the day off, of course. And so it was that Saturday, the day set aside for chocolates, Cupid, roses and romance, the county administration building was open and doing some business.
Undeterred by Valentine’s Day falling on a weekend, the San Diego County Assessor/Recorder/County Clerk Ernie Dronenburg and his staff processed marriage licenses and performed wedding ceremonies for scores of couples and families.
Valentine’s Day is usually one of the busiest days for weddings at the office, and Dronenburg wanted to make sure this year was no different.
The office was open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for couples who had scheduled appointments in advance. And those who were more spur-of-the-moment types could walk in and get in line for a license, too.
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That wasn’t exactly the case with the beaming Bricen Hargrace and his fiancee, Rosie.
The pair stood anxiously and clearly happily outside the second-floor offices of the recorder, paperwork in hand and just minutes away from being married by one of several deputy commissioners there to say the magic words.
“We’ve been thinking about it for a while now,” said Rosie. The couple have been together for eight years.
“And we wanted to do it on a special day like today,” added Bricen.
After going through the 15-minute process of getting a license, most couples elected to have the civil ceremony outside, on the expansive and sun-splashed front lawn of the County Administration Center overlooking the bay.
Dronenburg said that some 175 couples had made reservations in advance to get married Saturday. County workers who staffed the event and processed the paperwork volunteered to work the day at straight-time pay, he said.
“They wanted to be a part of this,” he said. “Many of them have done this for years.”
Later a different celebration was held at the Hotel del Coronado for some 50 couples who renewed their vows at the scenic and historic hotel. Dubbed “Vowentines Day,” the event was a group vow renewal and wedding ceremony for those not yet hitched in the Crown Room at the hotel.
For Tony and Catherine Barbieri of Dallas, the event allowed them to revisit the site of their 2012 wedding.
“For me it’s a magical place, it means so much to my heart,” Catherine said. “It’s a great way for us to come back as a couple and enjoy all the beautiful things there.”
The couples paid the $400 for the ceremony that included flowers, photos and cake from the hotel. They also got a shot at winning a second honeymoon prize of a five-night stay at the hotel.
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Charity ambassador Pippa Middleton cuts an elegant figure in striking red lace gown

Charity ambassador Pippa Middleton cuts an elegant figure in striking red lace gown as she leads the glamour at fundraiser
Pippa Middleton pulled out all the stops as she walked the red carpet at the British Heart Foundation's Roll Out The Red Ball fundraiser at The Park Lane Hotel in Piccadilly, London.
The 31-year-old, who is an ambassador for the charity, wore a striking scarlet lace dress to attend the important event on Tuesday night and wore a matching slick of ruby lipstick and heels.
Carrying a box clutch and accessorizing with a wide diamond bracelet, the sister of the Duchess of Cambridge wore her brunette locks in delicate curls which framed her pretty features.
Wow, who’s this lady in red? It’s Pippa Middleton at the British Heart Foundation fundraiser, of course, and she’s got our pulses racing in this striking scarlet floral lace dress styled with matching suede stilettos.
The nearly-royal went all out to support the Roll Out Red Ball fundraiser in aid of the charity with her head-to-toe scarlet style hit, accessorising the elegant lace dress with a pair of suede stilettos from her and The Duchess of Cambridge’s go-to brand when it comes to footwear, L.K. Bennett.
The elegant shoe, cloaked in smooth scarlet suede for a luxe finish, oozes classic elegance with its pointed toe and vertiginous heel, set to lift any outfit from a dress such as this to a pair of skinny jeans. And the best part is that the patent leather version is on sale for $175 – but not for long since Pippa’s just worn them, so hurry up and nab your pair now!
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If you're after a similar pair for less, then take a peek at the style edit below which crosses the whole spectrum in terms of price, starting from Jaclyn Smith's $14.99 pair to Gianvito Rossi skyscraper heels at $660.
Pippa arrived on the arm of her handsome boyfriend Nico Jackson, who looked rather dapper in a velvet suit.
Once inside, Pippa caught up with her brother James Middleton and his pretty partner Donna Air, who wore an exquisite ice blue lace gown by Nevena London and heels.
Hosted by BHF celebrity supporter, Mollie King of The Saturdays, the inaugural Roll Out The Red Ball started with a champagne reception for 200 guests, followed by a three course meal.
Entertainment on the night includes a performance by a very special guest comedian, music and dancing, as well as an auction packed full of money-can’t-buy experiences and luxury items.
Mollie said: 'I’m honoured to be hosting the Roll out the Red Ball in aid of the British Heart Foundation. It is such a fantastic charity which is very close to my heart.
'My grandfather sadly died of heart disease. The BHF has already made vital discoveries in the prevention and treatment of heart and circulatory conditions but there is still so much work to be done.'
Mollie's dress had an extremely plunging neckline which showed off her assets and a sheer skirt detail which saw under a peplum waist.
Showing off flawless golden skin, Mollie drew attention to the red belted detail on her dress, with a slick of scarlet lipstick.
Pippa talks about the importance of the charity on the British Heart Foundation's website, saying:
'I was shocked to learn that nearly three times more women die from coronary heart disease than breast cancer.
'I’m passionate about raising awareness amongst women of this killer disease and I look forward to working with the BHF to highlight to women the risks of heart disease and importantly, how they can reduce them.'
The ladies were in excellent company on the night with appearances from The Jump stars Lady Victoria Hervey and Louise Hazel.
Classical singer Natalie Coyle also arrived wearing a green prom-style dress, while former Hollyoaks actress Ali Bastian wore her charity's trademark red colour
Made In Chelsea's Oliver Proudlock appeared to be feeling the love as he planted a big smacker on girlfriend Emma Louise Connolly's lips.
Fashion designer Elizabeth Emanuel and Sonique stepped out to raise awareness, as did Dragon's Den star Duncan Bannatyne.
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Figure-Flattering Flared Trousers Swing In for Spring

I’VE ALWAYS HAD a complicated relationship with pants. My misfortune in having a body with both curves and somewhat vertically challenged legs tends to guarantee fitting-room angst when I’m trying to find trousers.
The skinny-jean frenzy was absolutely my worst nightmare; I liken wearing them to being strangled from ankle to stomach. The moreforgiving boyfriend jeans make me feel stunted; and tailored cigarette pants give me what I call triangle legs. Trust me, it looks as bad as it sounds.
There is hope on the horizon, however, for my problematic form. Hip-balancing flares, those jeans and pants that widen to varying degrees from the knee down, seem poised for a full-fledged comeback. Granted, designers have flirted with wider pant styles for a few seasons now and certain denim brands have offered them for many years. Flares have also been creeping onto the runway: Joseph Altuzarra included them in his resort collection in 2014, while Céline designer Phoebe Philo showed ribbed-knit flares last fall. Both Ms. Philo and Louis Vuitton designer Nicolas Ghesquière did them for their resort collections, currently in stores. And for the upcoming spring, flares, bell-bottoms and boot-cut pants will be everywhere—from Giambattista Valli and Emilio Pucci to Derek Lam and Balmain.
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While flares are symptomatic of fashion’s current 1970s obsession—as evidenced at Saint Laurent, Gucci and more—there is absolutely no need to wear them as if you were a Bubble Yum-chewing extra on “That ’70s Show.” Jens Grede and Erik Torstensson, founders of cult denim label Frame, modernize the look by styling their “Le High Flare,” a high-waisted flared silhouette, with a simple white T-shirt or a half-tucked, button-up shirt.
“For us it was instinctive,” they wrote in an email. “There was a turn toward a more bohemian mood, rooted in ’70s sportswear, and the flare is an essential silhouette of that era, so we set out to update it.” True to their word, the jeans are kept quite clean. Let’s just say, you’ll find no embroidered rainbows here.
For those who are feeling a bit timid about revisiting this newly revived silhouette, denim is an ideal, easy place to start. Along with Frame’s flared pair, there’s MiH’s wildly popular Marrakesh jeans, with slimming front pockets, which are surprisingly flattering on most body types. (I know because I have a pair.) “Flares balance out the hips to create the appearance of a slimmer silhouette, and the high rise streamlines the tummy,” said MiH designer Chloe Lonsdale. The Marrakesh was the focal point for the brand’s recent ’70s-inspired collaboration with Net-a-Porter.
Those wanting to make a higher-end designer commitment will be spoiled for choice. “[For spring], I bought flares literally everywhere I could,” said Justin O’Shea, buying director for online retailer MyTheresa. “From Saint Laurent, Acne Studios leather, Peter Pilotto…”
So many choices from so many brands may prove helpful. As with all pants, finding great-looking flares is all about landing on the right fit. Stylist Stevie Dance, a self-professed flare fanatic, has all of her flared jeans tailored, not just in length but also in the waist. “I like vintage denim, so I often fix the fit,” she said.
Ms. Dance also brought up a pivotal decision when it comes to flares: which shoes do you choose? “You also have to tailor flares to the shoe you are going to wear them with,” she explained. While she typically wears hers with Converse sneakers (“a brilliant combination”), she will alter other pairs for high-heeled boots so that the hem falls mid-ankle.
MyTheresa’s Mr. O’Shea is also a proponent of wearing flat shoes with flares. “I think a very natural and casual look is the best,” he said. He suggested shoes with a slight ’70s slant—gladiator sandals, espadrilles, platforms or sneakers.
But of course, part of the allure of flares is their magical leg-lengthening properties when paired with very high platform heels, which are obscured by your pant legs and can add several very flattering inches to your gams. It’s an illusion, yes, but one that leaves you looking quite smashing.
The best advice may be to buy at least two pairs—one to wear with heels, another to wear with flats. The investment could well be worth it: The more overt ’70s-redux versions might burn bright and fade out in a few months, but a classic pair of flares is likely to have, ahem, much longer legs.
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Fashion show benefits St. Jude’s

Fashion show benefits St. Jude’s
Forty-five high school girls from across West Tennessee got the runway experience Saturday night at the Lights, Camera, Fashion! Prom Runway Fashion Show at the Carl Perkins Civic Center.
The 4th annual show was sponsored by FrozenZen photography and My Best Friend Jenna Boutique, and all proceeds went to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. Beverly Acker of FrozenZen photography said the program benefits St. Jude’s, but it also benefits the girls who participate.
“It uses tools that make them feel good about themselves and also build life skills,” Acker said.
She said the girls get runway training and are required to do all of the fundraising for the show. They also meet people outside of their schools.
“There are so few programs designed specifically for high school students outside of school activities,” Acker said. “They get to meet girls from all over. It’s a great transition to college.”
Brixton Bishop, one of the models in the show, said she was the only one from Memphis, so she did not know anyone when entering the program. She said she has gained self-confidence from the program.
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“You have to go out and meet people and learn how to present yourself,” Bishop said. “There’s a lot more that goes into it than I first realized.”
Project Runway All-Star Johnathan Kayne and Miss Tennessee 2010 Nicole Lay emceed the event. Kayne said the program is unique in that it promotes a very positive atmosphere.
“They have such camaraderie,” he said. “It’s really an enriching experience for every girl involved, not just the winners.”
He said he enjoys seeing how much the girls grow and how comfortable they become on the runway. Lay said the experience can be terrifying because the models are walking in front of their peers and friends, but she said the confidence shines through.
Lay commended FrozenZen and My Best Friend Jenna for involving St. Jude’s in the event.
“This started out as a business endeavor,” she said. “They could have kept all this money to pay for their costs and promote their businesses, but they wanted to give it away.”
Acker said the event raised about $23,000 in its first three years and she was hoping to raise another $11,000 this year.
Saturday’s show featured five judges, including Project Runway All Star Joshua McKinley, Jovani Fashions Executive Maria D’Annunzio, model Ashley Durham, Justine Magazine Fashion Director Monica Hudson and television host Harrison Forbes.
The Saturday Shopping FRIENDzy took place at the civic center before the show and featured dozens of vendors showcasing a variety of clothing. McKinley and Kayne signed autographs at the event. The program included live music from electronic dance group Viral Animal and Nashville singer Mandy Allyn.
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