Details Make the Day

Megan Thorne Fine Jewels

Feminine with a vintage flair, Megan Thorne Fine Jewels shows its namesake’s background designing lingerie with lacy designs rendered in recycled 18-karat gold and set with ethically sourced stones. Crafted in Fort Worth since 2007, Thorne’s work is now sold internationally, with a look that’s both distinguished and timeless. This summer Thorne, husband Jaz Short and their team moved from a 900-square-foot basement studio on Magnolia into an airy new 2,500-square-foot atelier on St. Louis Avenue. By mid-July, the showroom will be open 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Wednesday-Friday and 11:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. —Laura Samuel Meyn

Q&A with Megan Thorne

We recently caught up with the founder of Megan Thorne Fine Jewels to learn more about the shop’s move from Magnolia to St. Louis Avenue — and what’s next.

360 West Weddings What prompted the move?
Megan Thorne Growth! I loved my tiny jewelbox of a studio on Magnolia Avenue and was happy there for nine years, but the company has changed quite a bit — we’ve gone from me as a one-woman show to a wonderful team of six.

360 What does it give you room to do that the old location didn’t?
MT The new production area is bright, airy and so luxuriously spacious, which is quite a contrast to the low-ceilinged basement of our original space. It’s perfect for where I am as an artist right now; I feel ready to breathe in all this possibility and take a leap. And for the first time ever, I have a real office, which I’ve outfitted with a play area for my 3-year-old son.

360 Are there any new lines or styles being added as you expand?
MT We’ll be offering even more color with gemstones, expanded engagement ring and wedding band styles, new men’s bands and a wonderful range of price points, with fine jewelry gifts starting at $200. We also carry niche designer fragrances and will be adding a few new hard-to-find perfume brands, too.

360 How is the visitor experience different in the new store?
MT My favorite part of the new space is the integration of the workshop and the showroom floor with a full window wall. The coolest part of what we do has always been covered up — the flames and hammers and saws. I am so proud of our jewelers.

360 Do you have any advice for those shopping for engagement rings?
MT I will shout from the rooftops that antique stones are the way to go — they have quirky irregular elegance and charm and are such a great ethical choice. We’ve always carried a few in the collection, but our new showroom will feature antique and vintage diamonds heavily. Brides to be, you simply must come drool over these one-of-a-kind stones.

THE DRESS

Wed Bridal Boutique With its large glass-paned garage doors, concrete floor, exposed brick walls and racks of ethereal gowns, Wed Bridal Boutique opened in Fort Worth’s Near Southside in January. Owner Irene DiVincenzo’s unique background — the Fort Worth native has been sewing since childhood and went on to work in New York’s apparel industry — gives her special insight into fabrics, construction and what’s possible in alternations, such as using strategically placed appliques to tone down a plunging neckline. “I’m very particular about the gowns we pick up here,” she says. “I’ve curated a selection from boho chic to modern to classic and traditional looks.” DiVincenzo developed a love for all things bridal by working in a Charleston, South Carolina, boutique. “Working with brides, being part of their big day felt so phenomenal,” she says. “I wanted to bring some fun designers to Fort Worth.” Part of creating an inviting atmosphere means offering bridal sizes 8-20, from such labels as Eddy K, Wtoo and Allison Webb, in addition to the Studio Levana collection of half a dozen plus-size gowns, for which DiVincenzo says Wed is the exclusive retailer in North Texas. “Bellowed sleeves are big this upcoming season,” she says. “Illusion lace is still going strong, and I’ve seen a trend toward modern looks with classic silhouettes.” Gowns start around $1,000.  115 E. Daggett Ave., Fort Worth, 682-250-5448, wedbridalboutique.com.

PRESENTS

Well Gifted With the tagline “Happiness one gift at a time,” Well Gifted was launched in late 2017 by Fort Worth-based friends Heather Pittman and Andi Longsworth to offer party favors and gifts that are as beautifully presented as they are thoughtful and fun. A recent welcome gift they designed for out-of-town wedding guests paired a bottle of wine with two Fort Worth coordinates wineglasses, plus Texas-print cocktail napkins, brie wedges, rosemary crackers, spicy snack mix, chocolate-covered pretzels and a fancy chocolate bar, all arranged in an attractive wooden box. Well Gifted also has produced customized bridesmaid proposal boxes, attendant gifts and parent thank-yous, drawing from North Texas’ Winton and Waits, Cowtown Made and Rosanne Beck, among other resources. While it serves customers nationwide, personal delivery is available to Fort Worth area customers. Gifts typically range from $35 to $75. Call 817-999-9244, email wellgiftedfw@gmail.com or send a private message through Facebook or Instagram.

FLOWERS

The Fox and Flower Stephanie Bergmann is a longtime occupational therapist, but she now has a second profession — floral design. Being an active member of the Fort Worth Garden Club led her to launch her own flower business in July 2018. Bergmann was visiting local businesses asking for donations for the club’s juried flower show prizes, when, at Fixe, she was asked if she could do flowers for the restaurant. She did, they loved it, and The Fox and Flower — named for her mixed-breed rescue dog, who has an uncanny resemblance to a fox — was launched. Bergmann’s client base grew from there, with requests from more restaurants and retailers, and also for proms and weddings. The pictured bouquet was done for a daring bride. Red chrysanthemums, chocolate Queen Anne’s lace, scabiosa pods, spiky red astilbe and barley made for a stunning and long-lasting bouquet. Bergmann typically orders flowers but occasionally draws from her own backyard garden, too. She teaches a “Supermarket Bouquet Hack” flower arranging class 1-3 p.m. July 20 at BRIT; sign up at brit.org and bring your own vase. For more information about The Fox and Flower, call 817-797-7898, visit thefoxandflowers.com or find the business on Instagram.

COCKTAILS

Pop Up Bar Pamela Moncrief worked as a bartender for a decade — much of it at The Usual, known for its imaginative craft cocktails — and also had a stint as director of spirits for an event company. In spring of 2018, she funneled all that experience into her own business, Pop Up Bar, which brings efficient and charismatic bartenders to the party. While the job is occasionally as simple as serving beer and wine, oftentimes Pop Up Bar also mixes and serves classic cocktails like old-fashioneds, mint juleps, whiskey smashes and margaritas — or even a custom concoction. No matter what’s on the menu, the goal is the same. “Every cocktail has to be picture perfect and taste amazing. We freshly squeeze every citrus juice the day before or the day of the event. For garnishes, we order specialty items like edible flowers. Even the way we cut garnishes — every single lime wedge is perfect,” she says. “A lot of the drinks are being photographed, and we want to give every single guest the same experience.” Bartending services start at $40 an hour per staffer, plus the cost of goods. For more information call 817-308-7818 or send a private message through Facebook or Instagram.

FLOWERS

The Fox and Flower Stephanie Bergmann is a longtime occupational therapist, but she now has a second profession — floral design. Being an active member of the Fort Worth Garden Club led her to launch her own flower business in July 2018. Bergmann was visiting local businesses asking for donations for the club’s juried flower show prizes, when, at Fixe, she was asked if she could do flowers for the restaurant. She did, they loved it, and The Fox and Flower — named for her mixed-breed rescue dog, who has an uncanny resemblance to a fox — was launched. Bergmann’s client base grew from there, with requests from more restaurants and retailers, and also for proms and weddings. The pictured bouquet was done for a daring bride. Red chrysanthemums, chocolate Queen Anne’s lace, scabiosa pods, spiky red astilbe and barley made for a stunning and long-lasting bouquet. Bergmann typically orders flowers but occasionally draws from her own backyard garden, too. She teaches a “Supermarket Bouquet Hack” flower arranging class 1-3 p.m. July 20 at BRIT; sign up at brit.org and bring your own vase. For more information about The Fox and Flower, call 817-797-7898, visit thefoxandflowers.com or find the business on Instagram.

PARTY FOOD

Cheese Lover Artisan Wedding Cake If your ideal wedding cake isn’t cake at all, consider Costco’s new Sid Wainer & Son Cheese Lover Artisan Wedding Cake, which fits the tiered profile but indulges tastes that lean more savory than sweet. The “cake” totals 24 pounds of cheeses, sourced from around the world, and serves 105 to 150 people. Shipped in a flat crate, the kit includes an 8-pound wheel of Red Leicester; 7 pounds of Danish Blue; 5 pounds of Murcia al Vino, a drunken goat cheese; 3 pounds of Tuscan Sheep’s Cheese; and 17 ounces of White Angelique Triple Cream Brie. All that’s left to do is to unwrap each wheel of cheese, stack them from largest to smallest and garnish with edible flowers or fresh herbs. $439.99 including shipping from costco.com.