Whether you’re the Mother of The Bride, Maid of Honour, Bridesmaid or a wedding guest, finding your dream dress that will make you look and feel spectacular on the day itself needn’t be difficult. The high street is full of fabulous dresses to choose from, at purse friendly prices and upwards, so where should you begin?
ALL ABOUT THE DRESS
Whatever your role at a wedding it’s important to get your dress right. Remember the photographs will be around for years. Yet with so many styles to choose from, it can often prove a daunting task, so make sure you find the right dress to suit your individual style. Think outside the box for your dress and buy something that will give you excellent cost-per-wear, and if you’re on a tight budget, high street offerings mean you don’t need to compromise on style. With so much on offer it is easy to be inspired.
NEUTRALS UNDER £70
If you’re a bridesmaid then shunning traditional bridesmaid styles will not only allow for an individual and fashion-forward look, it can also save serious money. Investigate the eveningwear collections of your favourite high street stores, look for summery dresses in quality fabrics and look for dresses in a range of nudes, peaches and creams as tonally these shades will suit you and every other lady-in-waiting. If you’re a guest then shy away from nude and cream and go for peach or coral as you won’t want to blend in with the bridal party. Here’s our pick of neutral dresses for under £70, which you’ll be able to wear again and again.
Images: Quiz, River Island, New Look, Miss Selfridge, Primark
Nude Chiffon Dress by Quiz £69.99
Cold Shoulder Frill Dress by River Island £30.00
Embellished Wrap Dress by New Look £39.99
Pleated Dress by Miss Selfridge £49.00
Nude Chiffon Dress by Primark £20.00
PRINTS & FLORALS UNDER £50
If you so want to stand out from the crowd and wear something that you can enjoy for the rest of the summer then consider choosing a pretty floral print or a bright geometric print. Add cut-outs, simple necklines and the odd ruffle or two and you will look achingly fresh and chic. The bolder the print the better, as it will add an injection of colour to the wedding photos. Here is our pic of the crop under £50.
Images: New Look, Quiz, Dorothy Perkins
Pink Ruffle Midi Dress by DP £50.00
White Floral Prom Dress by New Look £34.99
Yellow Floral Print Maxi by New Look £39.99
Flower Print Dip Hem Dress by Quiz £34.99
Yellow Ruffle Midi Dress by DP £50.00
MIX & MATCH MAIDS
The rule of thumb with bridesmaid dresses is that one style rarely suits all. The answer is to either convince the Bride to let you and your girlfriends work within a colour scheme, choosing from a range of different dresses in the same shade and fabric, whilst retaining individuality through trims and embellishments, alternatively, you could select the same dress in different shades.
Images: Little Mistress
Images: Quiz, New Look, Dorothy Perkins
Chiffon Embellished High Neck Maxi Dress by Quiz £74.99
Satin Bardot Dress by DP £50.00
Lattice Back Midi Bridesmaid Dress by New Look £34.99
Lace Sequin Bardot Neck Scallop Dress by Quiz £36.99
Neck Maxi Dress by Quiz £69.99
DETAIL IS IN THE ACCESSORIES
Complement your wedding outfit with a beautiful bag. From envelope clutches in plain satin or lace or with sequins and beads, to hard-shell clutch bags ornamented with sparkling jewels, pearls and 3D embellishments, your bag needs to look premium to match your outfit, even if the price tag isn’t. Whether you choose an embellished or an understated design it needs to be large enough to hold your lipstick, a mirror compact, a handkerchief and your mobile phone.
Images: Claire’s
Selection of hair accessories from Claire’s
ADD A DASH OF SPARKLE
When it comes to jewellery the rule of thumb is less is more. Choose delicately crafted necklaces, bracelets and earrings with a subtle shimmer and a dash of sparkle or pearl. If you’re wearing drop earrings you may want to keep your neckline minimal. You can still make a statement; the trick is to go for understated elegance rather than bold bling. Whether you opt for precious metal or costume jewellery is entirely your choice.
Images: Warren James
The Mirabella Collection from £17.00
The Fortuna Necklace £15 & Lucille Bangle £58 all by Warren James
Images: Warren James
The Biarritz Collection from £18
The Channelle Collection from £24.00 all by Warren James
Lastly make sure you wear the dress and the dress doesn’t wear you. Irrespective of choosing a traditional or contemporary, elegant or quirky dress, it’s how the whole outfit is pulled together that says a lot about you.
