No. 1 Futura Poster, Etsy, $22;  No. 2 Kern T-Shirts, Studio This & That;  No. 3  Alphabet Type Poster, Etsy, $24;  No. 4 Serif Tote Bag, Etsy, $27

No. 1 You're Perfect Poster, Etsy, $19;  No. 2 Hand Drawn Type Letterpress Poster, Etsy, $100;  No. 3 Calligraphic Michigan Poster, Etsy, $10;  Calligraphic Florida Poster, Etsy, $10

I'm behind the times, but I must comment on how impressed I am that The Limited added a wedding and events line last year. Though the collection is still rather small, the gowns are simple yet romantic and the bridesmaid dresses are classic. Their bridal jewelry collection includes statement necklaces, bracelets and right-hand rings, plus earrings that could go for everyday wear.

I'm especially thrilled to see bridesmaid and event dresses at prices comparable to David's Bridal. I'm always excited to see more companies giving the behemoth bridal stores a run for their money.

Here are my favorites:

No. 1 Romantic Wedding Dress $298; No. 2 Pleated Strapless Dress $98;

No. 3 Pearl Cluster Necklace $98 (Photos taken from The Limited.)

Lettering & Type: Creating Letters and Designing Typefaces by Bruce 
Willen and Nolen Strals; Euro Deco: Graphic Design Between the Wars 
 by Steven Heller and Louise Fili; Logo, Font, & Lettering Bible  
by Leslie Cabarga

You are what you read (and ogle). And if you're interested in learning about typography and hand lettering, you might consider this route. I stalked a few good type designers like Jessica Hische and Dana Tanamachi, and I learned about their experiences and work, and got a good idea of what was on their reading list. Jessica Hische, perhaps one of my favorite hand letterers, was a student of the aaaa-mazing Louise Fili. A self-dubbed "serious over sharer" she gives refreshing advice to those interested in hand lettering in her FAQ interview. She also recommends purchasing Euro Deco, co-authored by Louise Fili herself. It gives you a great reference for art deco typesetting and also looks great on a coffee table. Another one of my favorite designers is Dana Tanamachi, the chalkboard lettering enthusiast from Brooklyn, who seems to have also followed Jessica's footsteps and now works at Louise Fili. (This must be the place to be! I admit, when I first explored their website, I must have squeal with delight at least a 100 times. Oh Louise...)

Anyway, back to the point at hand. In addition to Euro Deco, I purchased two other type books and am working my way through them. Lettering & Type: Creating Letters and Designing Typefaces by Bruce Willen and Nolen Strals provides readers with a good history of typography and the historical and cultural changes that have influenced type over centuries. Leslie Cabarga's Logo, Font, & Lettering Bible gives type examples and practical advice for creating your own typefaces. 

Reading provides the basis of knowledge, and on a note from Confucius, I'll sign off...

“No matter how busy you may think you are, you must find time for reading, or surrender yourself to self-chosen ignorance.”

A. from Dillards.com   B. from Pier One   C. from Crate and Barrel   D. from ferm LIVING

Gianni Bini Farrah Dress Dillards $98; Tibi Painted Blossom Dress Piperlime $176; Audrey 3+1 Tribal Print Dress t.i.l darling $33