Question: What do you do when a very established, uber talented and achieved-more-than-a-few-magazine-covers photographer emails to ask if you would like to collaborate on their last “big” shoot prior to going on maternity leave?
Answer: Think they must have emailed the wrong person.
Or at least that’s what I did when Julia Boggio contacted the Rock My Wedding team back in February, so much so that I didn’t actually reply straight away. Then I thought maybe Julia wanted us to feature the last shoot she was putting together rather than be a part of it.
Eventually I stopped being such a self doubter, took a deep breath (had a um…. mini meltdown somewhere in the middle), emailed Julia back and said a big excited YES Please.
You see lovelies, it’s scary enough when the reputation of your own brand is on the line as it was with the Real Bride spectacular we created back in January, however, when it is a collaboration it’s no longer all about you. You’ve got to pull out all the stops for someone elses brand too.
I spent a significant amount of time studying Julia’s style – fun, colourful, kitsch, glamorous-glossy-magazine-flawless perfection. No wonder, as Julia’s main principle of wedding photography is that everyone not only deserves amazing images but sees it as her responsibility to make sure she brings out every brides “inner Claudia Schiffer” (or Keira Knightly/Catherine Middleton/Olivia Palermo/Leighton Meester/Rhianna….. delete girl crush as appropriate).
It was a case of designing a concept that incorporates all of the above as well as resonating with our community (yes that’s you gorgeous lot!) because as with everything we publish, we want it to be beautiful, inspirational and most of all accessible.
No mean feat.
And without boring you with the details of the (sometimes frankly unexplainable) creative process that occupies my dizzy blonde brain, VALLEY OF THE DOLLS was born.
We realise how lucky we are to have such a loyal, intelligent and varied readership, you guys really do have a wide variety of tastes, desires and opinions. And that’s brilliant. Because so do we.
And as a result, with all inspiration shoots the RMW team pull together we want to make sure there is always a diverse selection of styles for you to fall in love with.
Dolly Rock
Who is she?
Dolly Rock is sexy, sassy and confidently cool with a penchant for glamorous gowns and decadent jewels.
On the beauty front she’s a big fan of a smoky eye with a flick of feminine liner and a natural glossy pout.
Dolly Pop
Who is she?
Dolly Pop is fun, funky, super cute and a huge fan of the shorter shoe-flashing frock.
Her make-up is colour-pop pretty using a fresh spring palette of pastels whilst her hair is sleek, sophisticated and always picture perfect.
Dolly Daydream
Who is she?
Dolly Daydream is just that….. dreamy. A real barefoot beauty that loves flounces, frills and garden-inspired floral accessories.
An advocate of the outdoorsy “natural” look but with an extra length luscious lash this dolly brings boho festival-chic to W-day.
With the fashion and beauty proposal finalised we were left with a few little RMW unique styling ideas (which for now we’ll have to keep up our blogger behind-the-scenes-secrets-sleeves) to add to the mix before the final style sheet could be presented to Madam Boggio for approval.
I won’t fib. I wasn’t 100% positive she would be a fan.
Well luckily for us, a trip down to the Big Smoke later and Julia was definitely a fan.
So that leaves me with one question folks…..
Which Dolly are you?
BIg I’m Dolly Daydream with a sprinkle of Dolly Rock thrown in for good measure Love
Charlotte xxx
This is tricky! I think I am a all three! Day to day I would say I am dolly day dream, it is my default style, but I do love a bit of bright now and again, usually in shoes, or nail polish, or jewellery, so definitely dolly pop appears! And for a night out and when I am feeling a little bit edgy I can definitely channel my inner dolly rock!!!
LOVE THIS!!!
xox
oooh how lovely having returned to work after a double wedding weekend and feeling all a bit ‘boo back to work’.
I’m a little bit Dolly Pop and a little bit Dolly Daydream.
Big ‘must get out of bank holiday daydream and into work mode’ love x
wow this is so exciting I’m dolly daydream
Aaaahhhh!!!! I LOVE THIS!
Cannot wait to see this shoot!! You big dirty secret keepers.
I am gonna say that I’m smack bang in the middle of a head on clash between Dolly Rock & Dolly Daydream. Which I am gonna take the liberty of calling Dolly Rocks Boho.
Cannot wait to pinch some beauty inspiration here to cram into the next 24 days… Yes… 24 days to go folks
Just to quickly say Charlotte – you Rocked on Friday night, I actually raced back from my must-buy-cupckes-and-cocktails, royal wedding supermarket shop to catch you on the box! Loved it! Such a pretty lady!
Morning Lovelies!
Lynsey-Loo – I think maybe most of us are a bit of all three, I certainly edge towards POP with my nail polish and lipgloss – expecially in Summer!
rachel – me too, can’t believe Holiday is over, at least the sun is shining!
Stacey – Me too
Naomi…… Dolly Rocks Boho! Genius!……3 weeks to go!!
Hannah – Bless you pet, thanks so much, it was all thanks to my sisters make-up skills, underneath the warpaint I was a pale nervous wreck! Hope you had a fab RW party!
Loving hearing which Dolly you gorgeous lot are…..
Charlotte xxx
Oooh all of these looks are so pretty! You ladies are so clever… I think I am a Dolly Daydream. I have never worn bright lipstick and look like someone has punched me in the face if I do ‘smokey eyes’. I am just a bit rubbish with make-up really and a wee bit lazy! Very exited to see this shoot..
x x x x
I am TOO excited.
I might Pop.
xoxo
Amazing!! Can. not. wait. to. see. this.
The looks are fabulous… I think I’m a cross between Dolly Rock and Dolly Daydream!
I’m now going to shuffle back into my quiet corner as currently HANGING from epic hen weekend number 1 (not sure I’ll manage another!)
xoxo
I am between dolly daydream and dolly rock! Can’t wait to see this! Julia Boggio is so amazing (and you girls are too!) so it know it will be fabulous!!! Xx
This is beautiful, so excitiiiing and embodies all the many awesome dimensions of RMW style that I love to see….
(….and I am definitely Dolly Rock. Every day, every night, and unquestionably on my wedding day -bride with a guitar anyone??)
Can’t WAIT to see more.
Bring it!
Px
PS Valley Of The Dolls is amaaazing, if any of you haven’t read it – DO IT!
100 % daydream 10% slut – that should definitely be a doll.
100 % in love with this post
Dolly Pop for me with Dolly Rock tendencies!
Excited to see what’s coming! Off to try and concentrate now, wish me luck!
Daydream with a liner flick!
Cant wait to see the shoot!
Off away for 2 lovely days with the man, so will be glued to this site when get back!
X
Katie – Eeek can’t wait to see pics!
Rachie – Oh the pressure – hope you like it!
Penny – Did you say bride with guitar? well then…. so did we!
Miss Pickering – I just laughed so hard I got hiccups
Charlotte xxx
You must have blown Julia Boggio’s MIND with this!
I can just imagine you getting that email. “Er…it can’t possible be for us. Autocorrect must have made a mistake. I can’t possibly email Julia Boggio back accepting something she didn’t even offer. Mortification alert!”
But it WAS meant for you guys, and this style sheet is brilliant. Really, really innovative and great stuff.
I’ve got the wardrobe of a dolly pop, the face of a dolly daydream, and the soul of a dolly rock…
Fab post! Think I’m a dolly pop with a little bit of dolly rock on my days off!
Ha ha Love it Anna!
We actually got the email while we were doing the last shoot – cue complete confusion about the whole thing!
I can’t wait to see what you all think of all the Dollys
xoxo
OK, so its my first day back at work after three weeks off, an AWESOME wedding and a welsh minimoon and I STILL don’t get to see the shoot?!
meanies!
I’m putting myself smack bang in the middle of rock and pop, you gotta love a smoky eye but a sunshine-y day like this definitely calls for a sweet, frosty pink lip.
big ‘just made an executive deciiosn to go to the pub at lunchtime’ love
mrs r.now x x x
PS anyone fancy joining me?
PPS I heart Julia B a.lot
Ooooohhhh, LOVE it! I have my Dolly Daydream Teacher persona and my Dolly Rock for nights with the girls methinks!
Charlotte- please can I be you for a day?! You do the most amazing stuff! xx
Hmmmmm it appears I am Dolly Rock…..
I’m not too sure about the sassy and confidently cool bit though, lol more like trippung over my heels and hoping no one noticed
I cannot wait for this! Julia Boggio and RMW together is a total dream come true!
Charlotte and Rebecca, can you please become wedding planners? Pretty please? I would so get married again (lol only get married in August) if you two were planning my second big day!
xx
I’m definately dolly daydream….
even my grandma calls me so….
its usually because my heads been in the clouds somewhere and im in a total tizz but hey ho!!
Cant wait to see the shoot!!
and yes i vote charlotte and rebecca for wedding planners extraodinairreeeeeeee….
Dolly Daydream all day for me! Love this. Ooh — and congrats to MRS recycle now! I hope we get to see your wedding report x
thanks sarah! of course I am hoping that a certain wedding blog will consider it worthy (stares and ground and scuffs shoes with hopeful look on face)
mrs r.now x x x
I think I am a mixture Dolly Rock and Dolly Daydream. I wish I had a bit of Dolly Pop but had a bad experience.
I wore a pink lipstick, channeling my Dolly Pop, saw the pictures and have never worn it again! Bye bye Dolly Pop!
I apologise for my ramblings, it is because I am very excited to see the shoot! xx
You guys certainly know how to cheer us up when we all have back to work blues!
I’d say I am a bit Dolly Pop (bright nail varnish, plastic jewellery, dressing up as Gaga, cheap plastic glasses), and daytime Dolly Daydream (printed dresses..I have ridiculous amount of them)and will probably take a bit of inspiration from all for bridal look (maybe the subtly of daydream for make up and hair, with perhaps a more Dolly Pop dress…)
Loving it girlies!
On a different note… found a dress at the weekend, I loved it, it loved me… price however I was not enamoured by. Suggestions? I know a few of you have gone down the dressmaker route…were you a bit scared?!? How did you find someone? The dress I liked had quite a bit of detail on the bodice so not sure what to do….
Question: What to do when you don’t fit into any of the above categories?
Answer: Make up your own!
Am definitely not edgy enough to be Rock, nor poppy enough to be Pop, nor boho enough to be Daydream. Although I would give up most things to have half as much elegance as the lovely recent bride Catherine Middleton, the classic natural elegance is more the sort of look I aspire to (emphasis on the aspire), therefore, I am inventing the alternative category of ‘Dolly Duchess’.
Oooh I just had a thought – if you’re a mixture of ‘Dollies’ does that make you a ‘Dolly Mixture’…??
Am totally loving this!
I am definitely a dolly mixture-a little bit of all 3 xx
seeing as i’m known for rocking the blunt fringe and nails it would seem im dolly pop!