Q&A Fashion & Beauty Local experts offer advice on how to look your big-day best FIT TO PERFECTION What questions should I ask an alterations company before booking? When enquiring about your dress alterations, it is always advisable to go with recommendations. A lot of bridal boutiques will have their own recommended seamstresses, or you can get suggestions from previous brides. Make sure your seamstress has experience working in bridal. Wedding dresses can be a lot more complex than standard clothing alterations, especially with how many dress styles are available. If you require custom pieces, make sure you mention this at the time of booking, not only to ensure the seamstress books you far enough in advance to complete the work but also to make sure that what you are envisioning is achievable. Discuss ideas and send photos to help support your vision. Check how far in advance you will need to book your fittings and how many you will need. You can also ask for a rough quote at this stage and when the payment will be due to help you work out your wedding budget and avoid any surprises at your fitting. If you have bridesmaids or other bridal party outfits that will also need alterations, check if your seamstress will be able to provide these, and make sure you book them in alongside yours. If you want to keep your dress a secret, ask for a separate appointment for your bridesmaids so that the surprise won’t be ruined before the big day. Don’t be afraid to ask questions; your seamstress should be more than happy to talk you through the process. Rebecca Ferguson www.facebook.com/bitsXbobbins RING-A-DING-DING What are your tips for looking after my engagement ring? If you want your precious jewellery to look its best on the big day, we recommend taking your ring to a professional jeweller for ultrasonic and steam cleaning, followed by a full polish to remove any surface scratches. Although we always recommend having your jewellery cleaned and cared for professionally, there are a few methods by which you can maintain a shine at home. Bring your diamonds back to life using a toothbrush and dish soap. Yes, you read that correctly! Household items such as dish soap, a standard toothbrush, and a hairdryer can be the answer to bringing that sparkle back to your ring before your next cleaning service. As a precautionary measure, a top tip is to never wash your engagement ring over a sink, as this could result in a loose diamond falling down the drain! When it comes to cleaning, one thing to note is that there are ultimately two types of gemstones: those that can be soaked in water and those that cannot. Bearing this in mind, any porous gems should not be soaked, such as pearls or opals. This is because these particular gems are not as hard as other precious stones and need extra care when you’re cleaning them. There’s a whole host of ring cleaning ‘hacks’ on the internet that could result in your ring becoming damaged or tarnished. As engagement rings are certainly something to be cherished, cleaning them with gentle products is a must. Household items such as Coca-Cola, baking soda, toothpaste, and vinegar are to be avoided. Many of these materials can scratch or damage the stone and metal; therefore, it’s best to stick to the trusty fairy liquid bottle! Additionally, harsh chemicals such as hydrogen peroxide, bleach, and acetone can break down the base metal in your engagement ring, resulting in it becoming compromised. Max Brown – Retail director at Chisholm Hunter www.chisholmhunter.co.uk www.adamgrillsphotography.com Getty Images 76
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