Category: Mother of the Bride Blog

With three models, ten sets, there was plenty to see at the Occasion Fashion Shows. Brands including John Charles, Condici, Olvi Lace, Fely Campo, Paule Ka, Goat, Aideen Bodkin, Riani and Gina Bacconi all featured and topped with some fabulous hats. If you have a wedding in spring and early summer, now is the time to come and look for your outfit. The showrooms are full of wonderful colours and styles.  You really will be spoiled for choice.

Christina Felix is a Portuguese coat brand that is classically smart but with a few added embellishments to make them just that extra special. Framed necklines, faux fur trims and removable broaches all add to the fabulous styling. If you are in a church they will keep you cosy warm and even if your event is in one place it will give you the stylish entrance you want. With prices starting from £199 they won’t break the bank.

Other options to consider are the faux fur collars, huffs and stoles from Helen Moore. They will certainly add some glam with their cosiness!

It is a unique opportunity to see the bride in her natural habitat, surrounded by her dearest friends and revelling in the joy of the occasion. Getting hair and make-up done, chatting about all sorts of nonsense is all part of the build up to the event itself.

As mother of the bride just make sure everything is organised as you do not want to miss out because something last minute needs attending to. You can enjoy that extra special bond in her final single hours. You will remember those special hours as much as you do seeing her walk down the aisle.

There are colours out there that are universally flattering no matter what your skin tone. If you get the right balance of warm and cool shades mixed together you are on a winner. So if you are struggling to know what colour to plump for you can play it safe with colour. That’s not to say go neutral, in fact look at the opposite and choose purple, blue, teal and red. Obviously you need to get the right tone within those but autumn is a great time of year to plump for really rich colours and whether you are fair or dark you can guarantee added flattery.

We have been thoroughly spoilt this summer with weeks of glorious weather and no doubt a whole host of happy brides delighted as the weather has been beautiful for their wedding day. However with temperatures looking to break records this weekend here are our simple tips to help you and your guests keep cool and look fabulous.

Have plenty of water and soft drinks available, Even if you have a water station with ice buckets full of small bottles of water that guest can grab both at the church and the reception.

Baskets of umbrellas are quite common place at weddings so just swop them for parasols.

Mini fans on the tables for guest to use, you could have them almost instead of wedding favours.

Stay away from liquid make-up, go with powder-based make-up to avoid any slippage!

Tie your hair back – simple but effective.

Most importantly enjoy the day.

As we have mentioned before on this blog, we love receiving photographs from our customers in their occasion wear. It gives the girls on the shop floor a real sense of pride to see their customers looking fabulous. We have now installed a TV Screen on the first floor so we can show off such wonderful photographs. If you have recently sent one in, come in and try to spot yourself!

If you haven’t already sent us a photograph, but do have one in an outfit from us (be it at a wedding, garden party, a birthday, the races or any other special occasion), please send it in. We would love to keep them coming so we can keep updating the slideshow. You can send photographs to us via Post, Email, Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

This season there have been lots of different shapes coming through in Mother of the Bride/Groom outfits. Fitted, fluted, peplum, A-line, you name it and it is somewhere on our wedding floor. Whilst a straight, fitted cut has often been favoured by many of the designers, A-line shaped dresses are becoming more and more popular among the collections. An A-line dress pinches in at the waist and flares out into a full skirt, giving a gorgeous feminine silhouette. This shape will do wonders if you are conscious about the size of your hips and thighs and is also perfect for dancing in!

If you are looking for a wedding outfit, make sure you try on different shapes to see which works best for you. If you fancy trying something A-line look out for collections by Fely Campo, Gabriela Sanchez, Aideen Bodkin and John Charles (featured in the photo).

It can seem daunting looking for a Mother of the Bride/Groom outfit that tones with the colour scheme of the wedding. Metallic shades, such as silver and gold, are wonderfully versatile and look gorgeous next to almost any colour. They also complement lots of different complexions. These shades offer a neutral palette that will allow you to accessorize with a pop of bright colour, or alternatively you can simply add different shades from the same palette.

When it comes to wearing neutral colours, the key is in the detail. Look for something with a touch of sparkle, pleating or lace. Beading, pearls, sequins or simply shimmer in the fabric. The overall look is sophisticated and elegant, glamorous at the same time as subtle and understated.

With Spring/Summer weddings just around the corner the wedding floor is busy with lots of ladies looking to find the perfect outfit for their son’s/daughter’s special day. Being a Mother of the Bride/Groom is sometimes a little daunting when it comes to picking an outfit, but it shouldn’t have to be. We have a huge selection of occasion wear and a knowledgeable team of personal stylists who have years of experience in dressing women for weddings. They will be able to help you in choosing the perfect outfit and instantly put you at ease.

With venues of weddings now changing and lots of people choosing to get married in barns, halls and the like, the rules of dressing for a wedding have certainly changed. Lots of labels (such as John Charles) are starting to incorporate dresses without jackets into their collections. Add a hat/fascinator and the right accessories and these dresses can look simply stunning.

Don’t be afraid to try something different.

We recently held our ‘Special Occasion Day’ in the shop – a thoroughly enjoyable day with lots of ladies trying on outfits for their Son’s/Daughter’s weddings, the races and other occasions. Complete with a fashion show and joined by Keith from OLVI’S it was a real hit.

OLVI’S lace is a totally unique brand and their dresses are one of a kind. Each dress is individually handcrafted with quality and skill. The studio is said to be “like a candy shop for those who work in fashion, with rolls of the finest French stretch lace and bobbins of yarn in all different colours.”

If you are looking for a Mother of the Bride/Groom outfit, or have a special occasion to attend, this season we have an array of dresses in striking styles and gorgeous colours.

OLVI’S lace dresses can also be made to order. If there is a specific colour you are after, or an extra scallop or two that you would like added to a dress, we may be able to sort this for you.