Thanks to the Royal introduction last week the Wedding Season has officially started ! So welcome to the next part of my bridal series- this look book focuses on all types of wedding related outfits so there should be something here for everyone.
One of my favourite occasions to dress for are weddings. Each one is so different and every bride has different expectations. There are ‘wedding rules’ (more of that later) but there are also the very important ‘bride rules’. The bride will set the dress code; cocktail, summer garden, beach vibes, formal, wear all white… her wish is *her* command. Once you have this clearly outlined, you now need to find the perfect killer outfit and also feel comfortable- key point here, which I will cover below.
Wedding rules. If it’s a super formal wedding you should cover your shoulders, and long sleeves are appreciated. Knee length or below the knee are ideal lengths and it is preferred that guests wear a hat or fascinator. Just look at the very recent fairy-tale wedding of HRH Harry and Meghan for inspiration.
You should avoid red, white and black and stay away from eveningwear/gowns unless black tie. No sequins or sparkles- you don’t want to upstage the bridge by bedazzling all the guests. Pearls are the perfect chic addition for all occasion wear. (as you know, it’s a favourite of mine!).
If the bride doesn’t mind you wearing red or white then fine but be prepared for the odd guest to whisper about you. If unsure, best to steer clear. I personally think black is more than fine if you are attending as an evening guest. I have dressed plenty of women that needed a black dress for a wedding so basically check in with the bride first just to get her blessing. Hopefully, this post will give you some ideas.
Comfort. Do not ever underestimate this for a wedding. Usually, they are all day, carrying on into the late late night, lots of dancing and time spent on your feet. Is your tiny bag really going to fit everything you need? You should always consider a cross body bag. Remember you will be eating and drinking so bear that in mind with your outfit, I know I do! Lastly, do not forget a cardigan or jacket. I attended a wedding once with no jacket. NEVER again because I was freezing. Also helps with the above mentioned formal look when attending any religious house.
Writing this post brings back so many memories of my time working at Harrods. The most common appointment I would have would be outfitted for a bride-to-be (sometimes for the Hen party, the reception dress for the evening, or a bride seeking a non-traditional dress) I am certain I have dressed over 100 women for this popular occasion so I am happy to offer lots of advice for all your needs as we enter the wedding season. *exciting*.
I have teamed up with one on my favourite luxury online stores Luisa Via Roma to bring you a selection of wedding inspo looks. I love the fact that LVR shipping is free, quick and the returns are so easy! They often offer discounts and promotions too. This week the discount code is “FLY”.If you download their app you will also receive 15% off. My favourite thing about LVR are the PRIVILEGE POINTS. Read more about it here. You gain points for every pound you spend and you can redeem those points to spend online.
DISCOUNT CODES:
20% OFF £800
30% OFF £1200
40% £1500
CODE: FLY
VALID ONLY ON FULL PRICED ITEMS EXCLUDES STARRED ITEMS.
I have focused on bride-to-be outfits for the Hen day/night/weekend. I know when I got married I felt really stressed finding Hen party looks and outfits for the wedding weekend. I wanted everything to be perfect. I also get so excited about attending my friends’ Hen dos, I think it is nice to make the extra effort and go all out.
Make sure you watch the video above to see the outfits come to life. I have styled the odd look twice to show day-to-night looks. Next week I will share a style haul from these looks.
The Zimmermann playsuit is the ideal look for a bride on her hen. Zimmermann is cut so well and they look and feel WOW. I feel so great in a Zimmermann outfit. I think this playsuit is also nice for a wedding weekend to keep the bridal feeling going. It is practical, comfortable but sexy and can be worn again and again. Click here to shop, I am wearing a size 2.
Another fabulous bride-to-be look is the Jacquemus white shirt dress. I love the uniqueness of this dress, it’s the perfect balance of sexy and fashion! Maybe not for a big church wedding, but great for the rehearsal dinner, or a reception the night before.
This could also work for a bride wanting an alternative look for a small legal wedding at a registry office. Make sure you check out this brand because it’s one to know about, not just for weddings! I am wearing size 38.
The bride to outfit can all be worn on the hen for the bride like the start print Self Portrait dress, it’s such a fab going out dress. For a hen party look, I chose the red Zimmerman off the shoulder mini. It may look like a simple beach dress in the hanger but on it looks killer! It can be worn in the day with flats, like the velvet Miu Miu sliders and a beach bag. Or you can dress it up with heels and a leather jacket for the evening. It doesn’t crease, easy to pack and a really good price point if you are looking to buy a Zimmerman dress.
I love wearing suits or trousers for weddings so of course, I included a trouser look. To make the trousers suitable for the dress code with a hint of glam, I went for oversized yellow wide leg trousers. They are such a statement but that is what I wanted and what I advise. If you are going to wear trousers to a wedding make it count – you don’t want to look like you’ve just come from a big important meeting in the City! I styled the trousers with a crop top. I know that sounds alarming but styled with high waist trousers it’s a winner.
I am a huge lover of lace and baby blue so when I found this dress by Self Portrait I had to get it. Self Portrait is made well and the price is reasonable. Luisa Via Roma always has a really good selection. This dress is not suitable for a formal super wedding. The shoulder is not covered and it’s fairly short. I would wear this to a close friend’s wedding but perfect for a hen and you can re-wear it for a holiday a summer party.
A great option for a formal wedding is the dress I wore to the DIOR dinner this week. The event was pretty much like a wedding. I felt so glamorous and loved the way it moved. It is high neck, long sleeves and has a dropped hem for that extra length.
I often wear black dresses to evening weddings so I wanted to show you my favourites for this look book. I love wearing dramatic long dresses to weddings and it’s the best way to sneak flat shoes on so you can dance all night. Who saw Serena Williams’ trainers under her dress at the Royal Wedding? I loved that!
This dress is from DE LA VALI, the panels are all in the right places and I love the sheer ruffles from the knee down. I think this dress is re-wearable with flats for a summers day. I was really impressed with this dress.
For a more party look you could choose something like the Self Portrait mini dress. This look is also nice for a bride-to-be on her Hen. There are so many nice dresses in stock for Self Portrait and Luisa Via Roma always have a strong selection.
I chose to pair each look with either my white BALMAIN blazer or my black SAINT LAURENT biker jacket. Adding a blazer or leather jacket can transform your look. A blazer will give you a chic, formal touch and the biker jacket will give you some edginess or make it slightly causal. This jacket is officially my favourite, everything about it is perfect but buy a size up, or in my case, I ordered two sizes up so I can fit cosy knits underneath in the winter.
Below are the bags I chose. A wallet on a chain like the PRADA one I wore is perfect. It goes with everything! It has a cross body chain, can be worn as a clutch and the price point is good. I love the PRADA CAHIER bags, they fit more than you think and I love the fashion edge it brings to any look. My favourite bag from this look was the Fendi pearl bag for obvious reasons. I wanted to feature a mini basket bag like the NICO GIANI as they are still a huge trend this summer.
I hope you enjoyed the video. I would love to know what you think. Don’t hesitate to ask me any questions about wedding advice.
Photos and video by Paris
This post was sponosred by Luisa Via Roma
3 comments
I love of all these looks, each different but still appropriate for the occasion.
Great post as always!
I just love your style videos and your vlogs of course 🙂 You are so real and funny! Beautiful inside and out 🙂
x Lisa | lisaautumn.com