IS FOR TRENDS County Wedding Magazines’ fashion editor Claire Ridley tells us what to look out for in the world of wedding fashion in 2023... Plain dresses featuring clean-cut lines with a minimalist aesthetic. Statement sleeves, which are here to stay with lightly puffed styles adding the wow factor. Lace bodices adorned with beautiful beadwork and voluminous skirts made with layers of organza offering a new take on princessstyle dresses. Contoured corsetry boasting square or strapless necklines. Wide, low backlines, which provide a fresh update to the illusion look, as does the option to include a cape veil. The midi-length dress with a soft tulle skirt (à la Carrie Bradshaw) combined with off-the-shoulder sleeves Couture details such as structured box pleats with hidden pockets, lace appliqué and floral motifs VIS FOR VEIL “A veil always adds drama and frames your beautiful bridal image. I always favour a long veil due to the softness it creates. A shorter veil definitely works too as it frames the whole silhouette. Have fun trying different lengths and styles when you’re narrowing down your favourite dresses, even if you think you don’t want one – you might surprise yourself,” Claire tells us. WIS FOR WILD CARD Our golden rule when it comes to wedding-dress shopping is to go in with a completely open mind, as tunnel vision could lead to a stressful situation if the style you set your heart on just doesn’t work out how you thought. Your stylist or one of your entourage may pull out a wild card, something you never thought you’d go for. Trust us, try it on, it could be the one. IS FOR ZOOM It’s inevitable your dress will have a little travelling to do – when you collect it and when you take it to the venue, as a minimum. To keep it in tip-top condition invest in a good quality, acid-free garment bag to store it in, and once it’s home keep it away from any harsh light or temperatures. When you’re heading for the venue lay down the seats of the car and place the dress flat if you can, or hang from the garment hook if that fails. Just be sure to hang it up again as soon as you arrive. We’d also highly recommend taking a handheld steamer with you – we speak from experience! Your seamstress will steam it for you once she’s worked her magic, but it doesn’t take much for some fabrics to crumple again. Y IS FOR “YES” How do you know this is the dress for you? We have some ideas... You don’t want to take it off. You compare every other dress to it. You feel beautiful and confident You can picture yourself walking down the aisle in it. You’ve already started accessorising in your mind Z UIS FOR UNIQUE Couples are finding more and more wonderful ways to personalise their wedding days, and this is something easily extended to your attire. If you’ve found a gown that’s nearly there but not quite discuss options with your consultant, whether it be a few extra sparkles, lace, appliqué detail, or buttons. They can often work with you to make sure your dress is everything you ever dreamed of and completely you. You could even make it super-personal by adding a swatch of fabric from a loved one’s wedding dress or go all out and commission a bespoke gown. www.icphotographics.co.uk for Clara Fitz Bridal T www.airebarcelona.com XIS FOR X-PERT Ok, we cheated a bit, but we couldn’t finish up without extolling the virtues of the amazing local boutique consultants. They have your best interests at heart and they really know their stuff. When you arrive for your appointment you’ll have an initial consultation, which will help your stylist to understand you and your vision. We like to think of them as the dress whisperers! Check out our little white book of local lovelies: Clara Fitz Bridal, www.clarafitzbridal.com | Eva Rose Bridal, www.evarosebridal.co.uk | Fross Wedding Collections, www.frossweddingcollections.co.uk | Proposals of Chichester, www.proposals.co.uk | Rosedene Bridal, www.rosedenebridal.co.uk 66
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