Your London Wedding - Sep/Oct 2019 (Issue 67)

HOW TO... WEAR COLOUR ON THE BIG DAY Jane Dyson, personal stylist at House of Colour, houseofcolour.co.uk Did you know? Only one in four of us can pull off pure white. A different shade on the spectrum – think oyster, cream, champagne, ivory, silver or dove grey – may be more suited to your complexion. Not everyone wants to wear a traditional white dress, and nor should we, as pure white doesn’t suit us all. But which colour to choose? Here are some pointers… ❤ Know your colours – Knowing what colours suit you ahead of dress shopping arms you with the confidence and knowledge you’ll need to choose a gown that looks as good on you as it does on the hanger. ❤ Don’t limit yourself – Follow in Jessica Biel and Gwen Stefani’s footsteps; both chose brightly coloured wedding dresses. You don’t have to stick to a pastel palette. Stand out from the crowd with a gorgeous rich hue or metallic shade. ❤ Colour pop – If you love all things bright and beautiful but want to wear white, you can add a splash of colour with a sash around your waist or ribbons in your bodice. Your shoes, accessories and bouquet can all serve this purpose well also. HOW TO… ACCESSORIZE YOUR DRESS Sophie Willis, Unveiled by Sophie, unveiledbysophie.co.uk You’re elated, you found the one . Now what about the veil? Suddenly something you’d never really considered turns into a minefield. The first step is to decide on length. If your wedding is set in a venue with a long or wide aisle, a cathedral veil is a great choice. It’ll give you the dramatic entrance (which let’s face it, we all dream of) and make for stunning photographs. Long veils work equally well outside, however, it’s really important to consider if it’ll get caught on twigs. Wearing a dress and veil is very different from day-to-day attire, so if you’re worried about adding a veil into the mix, a short one is a really great hassle-free option. You can also keep it on all night long! HOW TO... CHOOSE COMFORT WITHOUT COMPROMISE Janan Leo, founder, Cocorose London, cocoroselondon.com It’s almost farcical – brides from a generation that’s spent most of its walking hours in trainers, suddenly being expected to submit to the stereotype of bride-plus-heels for the wedding pics. And all in a supposed era of female empowerment! Rocking your wedding day is about being true-to-self, rather than doing what’s expected. Who wants to wear a grimace all day, anyway? Feeling comfortable – both physically and emotionally – is about having an identity and voice expressed through your fashion choices. So what if you are wearing silver, snake print trainers with your wedding dress? If that’s who you are, that’s who your other half is marrying, not the imposter teetering on towering heels. For physical comfort, cushion and cosset your feet wedding-day-long. These are long drawn-out affairs and tootsies need love. Why practise the first dance, if your feet are going to be so blistered by then that you can’t move? At Cocorose London, we have heel-less, supremely hand-crafted hybrid, flatten or fold shoes, with comfort factors such as double-cushioned insoles, padded Achilles heels and flexible and forgiving fabrics and leathers. But they are also darned stylish. So, heel debate time. Is it ‘I do’ or ‘I don’t’? You decide. HOW TO… PERSONALISE YOUR DRESS Valentina Mihalcea of Nivaldo, nivaldo.co.uk No single garment of clothing in your wardrobe is more significant than your wedding dress and, as such, it should accent your distinctive style. However, that’s easier said than done unless you choose to design your own custom gown – but we don’t all have bespoke budgets so here’s some ways to add that personal touch to any outfit. ❤ Embrace embellishments – When in doubt, adorn. Adding crystals or pearls to the bodice of a less expensive gown can really up the wowfactor. ❤ Work with what you have – Many brides love the idea of using a piece of heirloom fabric from different generations of women in their family to make a new dress. ❤ Don’t ignore what lies beneath – The underskirt of your dress presents a great opportunity to add some interest, print or colour, much like the lining of your groom’s suit. ❤ Accessorise – Channel your inner prima donna on your wedding day by sauntering down the aisle in an operatic caped gown. Adding a cape, bolero or customised veil is an easy way to personalise your look. ❤ Layer up – Overskirts are super on-trend. Why not create a detachable overskirt from your mother’s cathedral length veil and belt it over your new gown for the ceremony? The accessories 64