Showing posts with label vogue. Show all posts
Showing posts with label vogue. Show all posts

Sunday, 30 December 2012

The BIG 2013 Wedding Blog

Happy New Year! Especially to those of you who have found themselves being proposed to over this Christmas period and are now starting to think about your upcoming wedding! It's nearly the first day of 2013 - and I'm writing this blog to discuss all thinks fashionable and fabulous for 2013 weddings.
 
First of all, congratulations. Congratulations on the new jewellery addition you are now sporting on that ring finger, wear it with pride. I hope you're still on Cloud 9 from the excitement of it all, but it's time to start getting down to the nitty gritty. Planning that wedding!

2013 is going to be a fabulous year for fashion and creativity. I'm going to first talk to you about the trends that we will see from the fashion world that will wean their way into the wedding realm. It is what tends to happen, a trend or fad will start in the fashion industry, make it's transition from the catwalks into couture shops, from there it finds it's way into the high street that we all know and love, and then that fashion is sometimes then transferred into a woman's wedding planning. The reason that weddings are the last to receive the fashion trend, tend to be because planning a wedding takes so much time. So when the bride is deciding on colour tones and what style dress to wear - she looks at the culture around her, the magazines full of current styles and colours - then 6+ months down the line when the wedding is oh so very close, the fashion industry design something new, and the cycle repeats. This is normal, it doesn't mean to say that the bride is being unfashionable or "sooooo last spring, darling!"; the wedding world is a completely different ball game as to what is defined as "fashionable". I'm writing this blog to tell you lovely readers, what you can expect to see at any weddings you may be attending this year, whether or not it's your own.
 
Firstly, mint green. Perhaps my favourite colour trend that has ever come about. If you were to look in my own personal wardrobe at home the amount of this colour you will see is enough to make you sick of it... Even my bedroom walls have been painted this beautiful colour. It truly is a fabulous colour, and for 2012 it has been a popular colour choice in fashion.
 
Keira Knightley:
 
Diane Kruger:
 
The Queen even wore it on her own jubilee!
 
As we all know, each year when Spring comes around, we are bored to death of hearing "Pastel colours are going to be big this spring." - WE KNOW. Every year it's the same, but what I really do love about this particular pastel colour, is that the palest of the pale (such as myself) can pull it off without looking pasty or washed-out. This again is what makes it such a fabulous colour for bridesmaids, if in your bridal party there are mixture of skin tones, mint green is guaranteed to suit them all!
 

 
Pastels in general for 2013 are going to be all the craze I think, especially for those who have opted for the "vintage theme". Baby pink has proved popular over 2012, particularly at the end of summer, so perhaps this summer it will be even more popular.
 
 
The Vintage Theme, is also going to be THE theme of the year for 2013. The great thing about it is couples are able to interpret "vintage theme" however they want. They can add as much sentiment or originality as desired, and this means that not one wedding with this  theme is ever the same. For example, "Vintage" could be anything. It could be taking inspiration from any particular era or decade, e.g. 1950s - this was proved popular over 2012 and reintroduced the fashion of tea-length dresses and birdcage veils. I think that we'll find the 1920s/1930s the most influential era for "Vintage" themed weddings this coming year, as we saw Art Deco fashion popular in retail and on the catwalks. Art Deco in the wedding fashion industry is already causing a stir, as proved by Amanda Wakeley in her new 2013 collection:
 
 
1920s styled brides, really are impeccably dressed. The photo below captures all the glamour and beauty this vintage style has;
 
 
The Chantilly lace, the glamorous waved hair and the cathedral length veil with that gorgeous capped headdress. It really isn't hard to see why this is going to be a popular look for 2013... Especially the capped veils! The capped veils just complete this fabulous look and are the piece-de-resistance for any 1920s vintage-themed bride! 
 
 
 Continuing with this vintage fashion for 2013, the men will have some involvement too! Forget cravats, and welcome the bowties. Bowties of any size, colour or pattern - this simple little piece of fabric is going to be big for this coming year. What's fabulous about them is that they give a groom the chance to get involved in the vintage theme too, in a very quirky and stylish way.
Not only do I think the bowties are going to be a hit - what's going to be more fashionable is bowties with a pattern on them. Paisley, polka-dot, floral, velvet, you name it - he can wear it.
 
 
So why not get your hubby-to-be to wear this staple fashion piece of 2013, to heighten the quirkiness, the trendiness and the fun factor.
I personally adore this vintage lace mint green one - it wraps all the wedding trends for 2013 up in one!
 
 
Bows in general are going to big for 2013, not just to around the necks of the groomsmen; expect to see them in hair, on flower girls, in bouquets and on wedding dresses:
 
 
 Most importantly however is the bows that will be on the wedding dresses. The little detail can make such a huge impact on the dress and how it looks; such as this beautiful silk gown by Ritva Westenius (below). This dress to look at is rather plain, but it has that fabulous matching silk bow that practically covers the entire waist area, giving an illusion of a seriously tiny waist. What else is wonderful about this dress?... It has pockets!
 
Style: 598801
 
Pockets are a great little bit of detail and fun in your wedding dress, and on big skirts like this one, they're well disguised so people won't actually notice them until you start posing with your hands casually in your pockets. They're great for storing your lipstick too - just for touch-ups after dinner!
 
Pronovias - Style: Dakar
 
Nature will play a huge theme in many weddings in 2013. With outdoor venues becoming more and more chic, expect to see nature involved in a lot of weddings. Couples start taking inspiration from the location of the venue itself and turning it into a nature filled theme; this means bird motifs, wild flowers, feathers and bohemian looks all coming together for one wedding.
 
Bird motifs and inspiration will be a plenty, on invitations and in the décor...
 
Wild flowers will decorate the bouquets and floral arrangements...
 
Inspiration for a wildflower bouquet :  wedding Wildflower Wedding Bouquet
 
Feathers on dresses has started to become quite a desirable style for many brides, Pronovias designers have proved this through many of their designs for their 2013 collection.
 
 
Pronovias - Style: Benicarlo
 
So that's everything (for now) about 2013 weddings! I could go on and on, but what I have listed is what I believe is going to take weddings by storm for this fantastic new year.
This by far has been our longest post, and I hope it can help to some of you ladies and keen wedding planners, by opening your eyes into the fashions and upcoming trends of 2013. Keep your originality flowing and your ideas sparking - this is the year of individuality.
If anybody else has any other trend predictions or some fantastic ideas for their big day in 2013, share them below in the comments - sharing is caring!
 
Happy New Year, and much love to you all.
 
X
 
 

Tuesday, 25 December 2012

Marry Christmas

Well ladies and gents - it's that time of year, where the wine and food is flowing, along with proposals...
 
Many of you reading this may have actually got engaged today, and congratulations to those of you that have. Proposals on Christmas are always something to cherish. The day will from then always have a deeper sentimental value to you, and on the plus side, your fiancé can't forget the date ;)
 
 
For those of you haven't been proposed to today - have no fear. This is the season packed full of love and excitement, and new year is also yet to happen. New year is again, a beautiful and memorable time to propose.
 
 
And what's a better Christmas gift for your lady than an engagement ring? The one piece of jewellery that a woman fantasies over. Especially if you've already discussed the chance of an upcoming proposal. Let me tell any of you gentlemen who might be reading this - you cannot, will not and shall not go wrong if you go with Tiffany & Co.
 
 
I don't think any man understands the power this little blue box holds.
In fact, you really don't need to worry about the shape, style or colour of the ring - so long as it's all wrapped up in this beautiful case of aqua! ... Joking, the ring itself is important too, I'm just trying to put this into perspective for those who are contemplating where to buy the engagement ring!
 
Tiffany&Co. have some absolutely stunning designs, such as this beauty:
Style: Embrace
 
This shimmering piece of magic comes in two colours, you have Crystal, or Sapphire... which matches that little blue box perfectly!
This ring will be the subject of plenty of conversations whether you know the people or not - it's bound to grab the attention of passers by... It's too big and beautiful not to!
 
The jewellery company Pandora have also caused quite a stir in the retail market over the past few years, and their popularity is growing! They're infamous for their charm bracelets, but with their fame increasing - people are beginning to go to Pandora for more than just charms. Pandora have some incredible ring designs too, and are a great alternative price-wise if Tiffany&Co. is just a little bit over budget! A lot of the designs at Pandora are unique too, so if you're a lady who doesn't necessarily want to follow the crowd with a traditional ring, you may want to drop some hints about this fab company!
 
I wish all you lovely readers, a happy Christmas and a wonderful New Year. I hope it's full of surprises, excitement and most of all - love.
Marry Christmas... ;)
X
 
 

Monday, 17 December 2012

Our "Brides of the Day"

Nothing is more exciting to me, than hearing about people's weddings. How the day went, the highlights, the guests, the after party, his face when the bride entered the room, who cried. I love it all.
What's even more exciting for me, is seeing the pictures. The pictures that capture the love that married couple share. The pictures that show how made for each other they are. The pictures that make the bride look like something out of a magazine.


Bride of the day: @messvaleria
 
This is why, my company and I decided to broaden our networks by creating an Instagram profile. On here, we share with our followers our new blog posts - but most importantly, we recently set up a "Bride of the Day " project!
 
 
Bride of the day: @littlemissbeliy
 
If you're married, on instagram, and have some gorgeous photos of your wedding - you too could feature on our instgram page that is getting more and more popular by the day.


Bride of the day: @jewlz0312

By sending us photos of yourself on your wedding day, or brides you know - it gives our followers all over the world the chance to see your wonderful photos!


Bride of the day: @illnana
 
All you have to do is send us your favourite photos to: voguebride@gmail.com
or you can tag us in a photo that you've already uploaded by simply commenting "@voguebride".

We look forward to seeing your gorgeous photos!
X


Bride of the day: @jordansvaughn

(All the photos featured in this post are real brides who have sent us their wedding photos, and have had the chance to feature as our bride of the day on Instagram)
 

Tuesday, 4 December 2012

Vintage Accessories: The Birdcage Veil

In previous blog posts, I have gone into detail about vintage wedding themes, and briefly mentioned birdcage veils. With the vintage wedding theme clearly becoming more and more popular, I've decided to dedicate a blog post to each individual aspect of a vintage wedding theme, in order to help you brides who as lusting after this fabulously fashionable theme.
 
So I've decided I'm going to do my first post which is solely dedicated to the vintage theme, about birdcage veils...
 
 
Veils are fabulous, as I'm sure you've read elsewhere on my blog, I'm a sucker for tradition. And nothing screams "traditional bride" to me, like a veil does. I've noticed too, when at work and dressing up brides-to-be, that conversations go a lot like this:
 
Me: Have you thought about a veil?
Bride-to-be: Erm, yes I have. I don't like them.
Me: Shall we just try one? You don't know unless you try!
Bride-to-be: OK then
*puts veil on bride-to-be*
Bride-to-be: Oh my God! I feel like a real bride! 

And it's true! It sounds pushy - but a bride doesn't know if she likes something unless she tries it. As I'm sure most of the brides reading this have found, you have to expect the unexpected when it comes to finding your outfit for the day. A dress style that you think you like might not be right for you, and those dress styles that you ruled out before trying them on might look absolutely drop-dead gorgeous.
 
So, you're a bride with her heart set on a vintage wedding for your big day. You've found your dress, you've got the men kitted out, you've got the venue, the transport, the bridesmaids sorted, the catering, the flowers, the seating plan... What about your accessories?
For me, nothing is as effective for a bride wanting to look retro and vintage, quite like a birdcage veil. I have to admit, when they're not being worn, and you are just looking at them on a display cabinet - they can look a little frightening. But don't let that put you off!
 
 
Birdcage veils are extremely easy to pull off, so long as you have the confidence to do so. They surprisingly suit a number of different style dresses - not just that stereotypical, lacy, vintage dress. These style of veils also look their best with an updo, just to stretch your theme even more, try a twisted updo with perhaps a little beehive bump, to make you look super retro!
 
One of the best places I've found to buy these fabulous accessories is the online store "Not on the High street". They've got a rather impressive collection of these veils, and they're also not too costly!
I personally love this full faced birdcage veil, by Faulkner & Carter London, for only £55...
 
Silk Bow With Birdcage Veil
Style: Silk Bow with Birdcage Veil
 
Click the link below to browse their collection of birdcage veils.
The best thing about this website is also that a lot of the vendors on it, ship worldwide!
 
What I also love about the birdcage veil - is that anybody can wear them. You don't have to be a certain age in order to pull them off. I've seen brides ranging from all ages, from 20 to 50+ who plan on wearing these veils - and each bride who wears one looks absolutely timeless.
 
 
Although I harp on about the tradition of veils, a birdcage veil is a great way to step away from tradition if you're wanting a different type of wedding style. Some brides just don't feel like they suit the typical tulle style of veil, and the birdcage veil gives a unique twist on that tradition and allows the bride to have fun with her outfit.
 
 
The birdcage veils also look absolutely incredible with tea-length dresses. Again, because they just heighten the vintage-ness that a tea-length dress brings. A splash of red lipstick - and before you know it you're a 50s bride, in the 21st century, turning heads for all the right reasons.
 
So go out there and try one! You don't know until you try
 
X
 
 
 

Monday, 12 November 2012

Be our Bride of the Day!

E-mail us your most gorgeous photos of you on your wedding day and you could have the opportunity to be our "Bride of the Day" on Instagram!
All you have to do is attach a photo (or a few!) and include your Instagram/Twitter/Facebook name for a chance to feature on our page!
Get sending, Ladies!
 
 
 

We're on Facebook!

Our network is expanding! Like our brand-spanking-new Facebook page for fashion updates, competition chances and lots, lots more!
 
Just click the link!
 

Sunday, 11 November 2012

Wedding Hairstyles

After deciding on the dress, what's next? Well - (depending on the bride of course) the suits, the bridemaids, the rings, the decor and after the bride takes a step back from the planning and preparation, she realises she needs to decide on finalising the look on the day. This then includes finding the underwear, the accessories, the jewelry and most impotantly - the hairstyle!
 
Just like the bridal magazines, in any supermarket you will find shelf after shelf of hairstyle ideas mags, and a lot of these are in fact specialised for the bride herself. Infact, most of the actual bridal magazines tend to have sections on hairstyles, for example this months issue of Wedding Ideas Magazine...
 
"40 HAIR LOOKS THAT SUIT YOU"
 
But what is the most popular wedding hairstyle? Are you interested in going for a long and flowing, curled and bouncy style? ...Are you wanting a sophisticated and classy, glamourous and elegant updo? Or maybe you're indecisive and have your heart set on a half-up/half-down look? The choices are endless. However, the choice itself always tends to resort back to the dress itself (probably like a lot of the decisions that go into planning a wedding!). For example, if you were to wear a dress with a high collar, a silhoutte which has become very popular this year - especially in lacy fabric such as this Charlotte Balbier fishtail gown...
 
Style: Etta
 
Then you wouldn't want to have long, tousled hair as it would hide the detail around your neck and shoulders. An updo is much better suited to a dress with a high collar, as the model in the picture demonstrates. As I mentioned earlier - this lacy high collar neckline is becoming a very popular option on the market, especially for those brides who are indeed wanting that antique, vintage look. So why not set off the vintage lace detailing on the shoulders and neckline of a dress like this, with a striking updo?
 
Plaits, twists, buns, pins... an awful lot can be done to make not only the perfect hairstyle for your wedding, but a mini work of art! Check out this hairstyle from BrookeHackettBeauty, the hairstyle is so bonny and sweet, and could work for anyone from the bride herself to the bridesmaids.
 
Instagram: brookhackettbeauty
 
Curled, flowing locks are much better suited to a strapless dress with anything from a straight-cut to a sweetheart neckline, such as this Vera Wang wedding dress from the current Fall Collection 2012...
 
Style: Jasmine
 
The long hair is great for breaking up your decolletage area from your shoulders, as from experience I have known some brides to feel a little over-exposed with having too much flesh being bare.
That doesn't mean to say however that updos do not work with strapless dresses, and having your hair down with a dress that has detailing around the collar can't look "right". It depends solely on your comfort as a bride, the dress itself and the hairstyle you're wanting.
This is just a guideline!
 
 

Thursday, 8 November 2012

The vintage wedding theme

So 2012 saw the rise in popularity of the vintage styled, shabby-chic wedding theme. It introduced brides to explore the ideas of pastel colour pallettes, classic cars, whitewashed wood, bunting decoration, antique iron birdcages, farmhouse venues and handmade wedding favours. Regardless of what a bride has spent during the planning process on this theme, the required outcome is something that is supposed to look "thrown together" and effortlessly done.
 
 
What's also great about this theme is the amount of personal touches you can add throughout the decoration. I really love this, because I am one of those who favours sentiment, and I especially enjoy the weddings when the couple themselves has added personal aspects. From my point of view, it gives the guests a better understanding of the two of them, and demonstrates the love and that's brought them to where they are on that special day!
 
One of the main reasons I am so pleased that this vintage theme has risen to popularity, is the fact that is has reintroduced the elegance of The Lace Dress. Ahh, The Lace Dress - it's had its highs and lows and it's funny to think that merely 5 years ago lace was seen as a boring, granny-like, netcurtain-esque (yes - that is a word) fabric, and here it is now at the peak of bridal fashion. This is another reason that I love fashion in general, the way in which fashions, trends and opinions change is fascinating and how people can be influenced by merely a fashion icon wearing something once. The prime example of this in the wedding industry, is that of our very own princess, Kate Middleton, who wore the infamous lace gown designed by Sarah Burton for Alexader McQueen. She is lady who I would hold responsible for making lace the wedding fashion statement of the year,  I do actually want to dedicate an entire blog post to this fabulous woman and ofcourse that dress (so stay tuned!) Therefore I am actually trying to refrain myself from going off on a tangent here... Let's just say if it wasn't for her wearing that stunning gown last April, lace probably wouldn't be as popular as it is right now. (I also want to quickly commend myself for keeping that part about K Middy so short)
 
Currently, brides-to-be having every single shape, style and silhoutte possible all with with elements of lace, whether it be figure hugging, slim line and covered in chantilly lace like this Amanda Wakeley gown from the Morocco collection...
 
Style: AW156

... Or whether the dress has a full skirt with the traditional princess look, like this Justin Alexander half tulle/half lace. The high neckline on this with the lace overlay radiates elegance and it also helps the bride step away from the traditional neckline that the majority of these full-skirted dresses have. The small silk gloves, the pop of red lipstick and the twisted loose updo all contribute to that vintage look...
 
Style: 8630
 
Regardless of the silhoutte, pattern, quantity or type of the lace on a dress, it is definitely the must have for the majority of brides who are aiming for a vintage themed wedding. The lace dress is the pièce de résistance in a sense, and a vintage wedding is complete with one. Put it this way, it is basically the very elegant, beautiful, ultimate-bride cherry on top!
 
So if any of you reading this, are headed to a wedding with this theme, prepare yourself for delicateness, daintiness and perfection. If you're lucky enough to have been invited to one of these fabulous occasions, I urge you to get involved. A vintage styled wedding is not one to be missed!



Wednesday, 7 November 2012

We have got instagram!

Follow us @voguebride for latest bridal pictures, "bride of the day", catwalk fashion show snaps and upcoming designer collections!