Red Carpet Favorites from a Danvers Fashion Expert

Former Lorraine Roy owner and current Bella Sera Bridal consultant Jeanne Hennessey offers some picks from Sunday night's Oscar awards.

Danvers-based fashion expert Jeanne Hennessey, former owner of Lorraine Roy and currently a consultant at Bella Sera Bridal, said she saw many trends that she is seeing locally in the best dressed Hollywood A-listers on the red carpet at the Oscars. "It was one of my all-time favorites in terms of the gowns we saw (Sunday) night; really gorgeous, sophisticated styles," she said. She saw four emerging themes:

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THIS WEEKEND: Hip Hop and Hope, Running of the Brides and More

Wondering what to do this weekend? Here are our picks around the North Shore.

It's officially the weekend, Danvers. Not sure how you're going to spend it? Here's a look at some of the events going on in town and nearby. Check our calendar for more, and if there's something we missed, be sure to add it and let us know in the comments. Girl Scout Cookie Booth North Shore's Own 'Running of the Brides' Evening With Singer Songwriters Xerxes: A Comedy of Errors Gospel Journeys II: Hip Hop and Hope

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North Shore's Own 'Running of the Brides' Coming up Saturday

Brides-to-be will flock to Bella Sera Bridal on Saturday for lots of deals.

The North Shore's own version of the famous "Running of the Brides" is coming to Bella Sera Bridal on Saturday in the form of its "Designer Dash." Filene's Basement's "Running of the Brides" no longer happens, but a similar version is planned on Saturday. The boutique is keeping the tradition alive and well by drawing brides-to-be from all over the Boston area who will be all lined up and be waiting to dash in and find their dream gown for a steal. Doors will open at 9 a.m. and the sale will run until 5 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 23. Hundreds of designer sample gowns will be for sale starting at $200 and will be the biggest sample sale the boutique has ever hosted. New this year will be some Mother of the Bride sample gowns after Bella Sera …

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PHOTOS: Lorraine Roy Ties the Knot with Bella Sera

The merger of Lorraine Roy with Bella Sera is official and was celebrated at an event on Saturday.

Bella Sera Bridal celebrated its "grand reopening" on Saturday to mark its new partnership with Lorraine Roy Designer Collections. Last year, Lorraine Roy - a longtime fixture in Danvers Square - announced it was merging with Bella Sera and moving to its location on Route 114 at 85 Andover St. The cocktail event on Saturday included about 100 guests at the store, now called Bella Sera and Lorraine Roy at Bella Sera, where Lorraine Roy is now set up as a boutique within a boutique. Take a look at several of the photos from the evening event.

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Kimberlee

6:13 pm on Thursday, January 24, 2013

I must brag and say that I did the makeup for these lovely ladies ! hahaha, so adorable!   more ›

Business Spotlight

Newest Arrival in the Square, Glitterati, Opens with Disney Prom Dress Trunk Show

Hand-picked by Disney to debut their Disney Forever Enchanted Prom Dress 2013 Collection, Glitterati aims to take prom season by storm.

Glitterati Prom and Pageant Superstore owner Katherina Mena has worked tirelessly to establish herself in the business world, while maintaining a solid reputation in the fashion industry - all before the age 30. With Glitterati in Danvers opening this week downtown, Mena's sister store to the Salem location has brought full service, upscale, high-end fashion to Danvers' younger set - just in time for the prom. The Danvers Glitterati already has exciting news to share. Disney is launching the Disney Forever Enchanted Prom 2013 Dress Line, an inspired collection sprung from the nostalgia of the beloved animated classic Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Mena was hand picked to debut the collection in an exclusive trunk show that will run this …

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Lorraine Roy to Merge with Bella Sera, Move from Danvers Square Location

Lorraine Roy plans to merge with Bella Sera by the end of the year, meaning Lorraine Roy will leave Danvers Square and move into Bella Sera's store on Route 114.

When Lorraine Roy Women's Appearel leaves Danvers Square at the end of the year, it won’t be going far. Across town, Bella Sera Bridal has bought Lorraine Roy and part of its inventory and plans to keep the name, merging the two stores that will mean a portion of Bella Sera on Route 114 will be called “Lorraine Roy at Bella Sera.” “It will be a store in a store,” said Lisa Almeida, co-owner of Bella Sera Bridal. The merger will be complete on Jan. 1. The two businesses have worked together for the past seven years, at first when Bella Sera was located on Route 114 in Middleton and later when it moved down the road to its current location in a plaza over Giblee's in 2009. “We talked with each other to make sure we did not carry the same …

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PHOTOS: Free Gowns For Military Brides

Last weekend, Danvers business Bella Sera presented wedding gowns to qualified military brides.

Last weekend, Bella Sera on Andover Street offered free bridal gowns to qualified military brides, and by all accounts, the event was a great success. In fact, during the first 90 minutes of the event on Saturday, 15 brides had already reportedly found gowns for the big day. For more, check out the article previewing the event that Michelle Gilliss did last week for Danvers Patch.

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Business Spotlight

Free Wedding Gowns For Military Brides At Bella Sera

Partnering with Brides Across America, Bella Sera on Andover Street will give away free gowns to qualifying military brides this weekend.

  Planning a wedding is stressful in its own right. There is so much to think about, and there seems to never be enough time to cross off everything on the bride's to-do list. The entire process can be downright overwhelming. Every bride wants to look her best on her special day, but finding the perfect wedding gown can be daunting, and even more so when the wedding date is moved up unexpectedly. The cost alone can put that dream of affording the perfect gown just out of reach. Perhaps nobody knows this pressure more than military brides, especially those who have very little time to pull it all off before deployment.  With this thought in mind, the non-profit group Brides Across America was born. The Massachusetts-based charitable …

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