THE PERFECT OUTFIT FOR WEDDING GUESTS THIS SPRING – BY LIPSY LONDON

At Wedding Ideas Magazine we’re always keen to speak to the experts and learn about new must-have trends for wedding guests. This year, we have recruited the ladies at fashion brand Lipsy London to give us some inspiration for the perfect outfit for wedding guests this spring. There are a lot of wedding dress codes that we’re all more than aware of – don’t wear white, eggshell or cream and never go too flashy or try to upstage anyone in the bridal party… let alone the bride!

But with that said, we still want to turn a few heads! Anyone who is aware of Lipsy knows that we like to make a statement, that’s hard to do when you don’t want to upstage anyone. So we’re giving the readers of Wedding Ideas some advice on how to find the perfect wedding guest dress!

If you’re brave, go bold and blue

Perhaps a little risqué for some, but the must-have colour for spring weddings this year is cobalt blue. We’ve injected it into our SS16 collections because it really does suit everyone, whether you’re blonde, brunette, pale skinned or tanned.

If you’re a fan of this shade of blue a strong bodycon dress with accents of lace would be perfect for you. If you’re a little bit unsure, then just mix it up by injecting this bold shade of blue into a print or go for colour blocking.

Floral is always a good fit

No round up of the best wedding guest dress trends would be complete without some fabulous floral pieces. Opt for soft shades of the bloomin’ print in a figure-hugging bodycon or a skater style which gives the illusion of a smaller waist.

You really can’t go wrong with floral for a spring wedding, pick out your favourite colour from the print and do your best to match that colour with your accessories. With these dresses, we’d pick out the pink and buy matching shoes and a clutch bag, even a fascinator if we fancy it!

A little bit of lace goes a long way

Another spring/summer favourite – lace! This stunning addition is always going to be high up on our list of the best trends for wedding guests. These gorgeous bodycon dresses are incredibly flattering and feature lace detail on the top half around the bust and in additional areas.

The great thing about lace is you can mix and match the colours to fit the bride’s colour scheme, guaranteeing that you’ll never clash with the décor! And, if you’re not a huge fan of too much colour, this black and pink dress can be teamed with neutral accessories, ensuring you stay comfortable throughout the occasion.

Pastel is perfection

These stunning dresses would be perfect for a cocktail or semi-formal wedding in spring. Thanks to their injection of black detail they can be worn during the day and in the evening when it’s time to celebrate harder.

Pastel dresses are tough to get right; if the dress is one block colour then it’s not even worth attempting to match that shade! You’ll be searching for weeks. To make things easier choose another colour and stick to it, that will really make the pastel colour pop.

The White Tie Wedding

If you’re attending a ‘White Tie’ wedding this year, do not fret! This style of wedding has the most formal of dress codes, and if someone is bothering to make their wedding white tie, you can guarantee that they’ll care if you do not follow it.

These full length gowns are absolutely ideal for a white tie wedding; glamorous, sophisticated and perfect for adding more accessories such as fine jewellery. Just make sure that your male companion is wearing a white tie, specifically a bow tie and a tux with tails.

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THE PERFECT MULTIWAY BRIDESMAID DRESSES BY IN ONE CLOTHING

As a bride, you want to find a beautiful dress that will suit and flatter all of your bridesmaids. You want a picture-perfect, consistent look but understand that each maid has a different body shape to cater for as well as their personal style to express. In One Clothing have the perfect dress to make your bridesmaids feel beautiful…

Their fabulous Multiway Bridesmaid Dresses can be worn 14 different ways so your bridesmaids will be able to choose a style that reflects their personality and suits their body shape – making sure they feel super confident on your special day. With a palette of 27 beautiful colours to choose from you’ll be able to find the perfect shade for your wedding…

These beautiful dresses are available in two lengths, and can be worn in 14 different ways. They are available from 4 years for your flowergirls, and sizes 6-28 for your gorgeous maids. Dresses start from £89 with free UK and International delivery.

If you’re unsure about how to rock the mismatched bridesmaid trend, make sure you read our top tips on how to pull the mismatched look off! Giving your girls the option to choose which way they wear the multiway dress will make sure they’re feeling beautiful and confident. You don’t want your best girls feeling uncomfortable on your wedding day – plus it will show in the wedding photographs if they’re feeling insecure!

New in for Autumn – these gorgeous tulle overlay skirts add volume and movement to your dresses. These ultra soft tulle skirts available in 10 beautiful colours to tone or contrast with your dress, available in sizes 8-18 and in 4 lengths starting at just £29!
Check out their sample dress service at In One Clothing and order your free scratch card!

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MORI LEE LAUNCH THEIR NEW FALL 2016 COLLECTION!

With over 60 years of experience under their well-designed belts, Mori Lee really know everything that there is to know about finding the best wedding dress designs to enhance brides’ best features.

The personal touch of designer, Madeline Gardner, is the signature of their beautifully unique collections and they cannot wait to share the latest designs with you all!

“Exhibiting at the trade shows is our most exciting time of year, it’s the time we reveal our most latest designs to retailers and boutiques nationwide that will then go on to stock our label and sell to this year’s brides to be! We love nothing more than seeing the looks and smiles on brides faces when they try on their Mori Lee for the very first time!! As you will know, when you find the one, the moment is priceless and the process starts here!”

Mori Lee has had a tremendous start to 2016 after the launch of the spring 16’ collection in September last year, the Spring 16’ designs have had significant success and can be seen at authorised retailers now. The bestselling style from their Spring 2016 collection is style #2823. This dress has been nominated for Bridal Buyer Awards, Wedding Dress of the year 2016. The mermaid silhouette is a real bridal favourite bringing together a touch of Hollywood red-carpet glamour and a bit of body-sculpting sizzle. This classic tulle mermaid design with low back and intricate crystal beaded embroidery, is simply breath-taking!

Mori Lee has also been nominated for Best Bridesmaid Collection 2016, Best Wedding Dress Supplier 2016 and Best Customer Service – 2016.

Madeline Gardner truly loves what she does and the Mori Lee Fall 2016 collection is in no way an exception in showcasing the beautiful signature of this incredible designer. Every gown is adorned with fine detailing and expertly crafted embellishments.

The future for Mori lee will be influenced continually by the international fashion trends whilst not forgetting their heritage and Madeline Gardner’s unique designs. We’re sure Mori Lee will continue to produce elegant, beautiful, lace and beaded dresses to the highest standards. The pieces in this season’s collection master a perfect blend of traditional classics and modern styling, whether you prefer delicate embroidery, meticulous beadwork, or romantic ruffles. With a variety of stunning silhouettes and luxurious fabrics you are sure to find the perfect dress for your special day!

TIPS FOR CHOOSING WEDDING HATS AND FASCINATORS

Wedding hats.  Hold that thought.

Because one of the defining effects of the Royal Wedding will be the influence it has on wedding headwear.

(You just have to look at all the articles written about which Royal Wedding guest wore what hat (see Wedding Ideas mag’s previous post on this).

Mind you, choosing a hat to suit your features is quite an art.  Whether you’re a friend of the bride looking for a stunning wedding hat or fascinator or the mother of the bride looking to emulate Carole Middleton’s Royal Wedding elegance.

To help you, here are some style tips on the latest wedding hat trends from Sarah Rhodes of Get Ahead Hats

• ‘Percher’ hats and half hats worn at a dramatic angle above the right eyebrow were by far the most popular hats at the Royal Wedding, with mother of the bride Carole Middleton wearing a perfect example.
• Wide brimmed hats should be worn in bold colours that contrast with the wedding outfit, rather than matching.
• A black shift dress with a lime green big wedding hat is eye catching and sophisticated.
• Cerise pink and purple wedding hats are very popular colours – why not pick an outfit in one shade and a hat in the other?
• Hats can either match a colour or provide a spectacular contrasting statement.  It’s the finished look that’s important.
• Always try your hat on with the wedding outfit you’re wearing.
• Consider the hat in the context of your whole ‘look’  – and wear the same height shoes you’re planning to wear.
• Hiring is a good option to consider for designer style on a budget.

Wedding Hats and Hairstyles

• Concentrate on volume and body.
• Hats flatten hair, so give your style plenty of bounce by blow-drying, curling and using hairspray.
• Use stronger products than normal to make your style last.
• Style shorter hair by bringing hair forwards so it comes below the hat at the front and sides.  (A good hat for short to mid length hair is the ‘Mitzioni’ shown above.)
• Unless you add a bit of drama to your hair, your hat can look as if it has just been placed with little thought.  A well styled hair-do brings your hat to life and looks great when you eventually take your wedding hat off.

Hats and Face Shape

• Round faces can get away with big-brimmed hats
• Choose a ‘hatinator’ if you have a small face or petite frame (it’s a half hat with more structure than a fascinator).  (‘Inferno’ shown here is a good option.)   Or a small ‘percher’ that’s worn at an angle so your face can be seen clearly.

Thanks to expert wedding milliner Sarah Rhodes of Get Ahead Hats for these tips.  We’ve some more advice on choosing wedding hairstyles too.

The Perfect Hat For Your Ugly Mug

What humans find attractive is largely based on symmetry. The more symmetrical a face is, the more appealing it appears to others. But there’s not much we can do, short of surgery, to change the symmetry of our faces. There are ways to mitigate our asymmetries, however. You may have heard a woman in your life talk about getting a haircut that flatters her particular face shape. While dude’s haircuts don’t come in enough varieties to have the same effect, there is another way guys can balance out their faces: hats. All hats make a man look more dapper. But picking a hat that is right for your face shape will increase your attractiveness and give you a sharper appearance. If you’ve been inspired to bring back the hat, but weren’t sure what kind of hat to get, this guide will help you pick the right hat for your ugly mug.

Anatomy of a Hat

Before we get started, let’s do a quick rundown of some of the terms we’ll be using to fit a hat to your mug.

“Taper” describes how narrow the top of the crown is compared to the bottom.

Here’s an example of a hat that tapers. Notice how it gets narrower near the top of the crown.

Here’s a hat that has no taper. Notice how the crown doesn’t narrow as it gets to the top.

Now let’s match a hat to that ugly mug of yours:

Short, Full Face

Your face is shaped like: Jack Black

A round face tends to look short, so you want a hat that will give you a little height.

Crown: Medium height and size

Taper: Slight

Hat Band: Narrow band of a contrasting color will add height

Brim: Moderate width. Snap the brim to its full width and turn it up. Never snap it down or it will make your face appear shorter.

Tilt: Back from face; tilting it over your face will make the face appear shorter.

Recommended hat: Fedora, Gambler, Panama

Long, Thin Face

Your face is shaped like: Will Arnett

Look for a hat that shortens the appearance of your face.

Crown: Shorter height. Avoid crowns that are square, full, or too high.

Taper: Moderate

Hat Band: Wide (will make you face shorter) with a contrasting color to break up your vertical lines

Brim: Moderately wide, snapped from ear to ear

Tilt: To the side with a slight back tilt

Recommended hat: Fedora, Homburg, Derby

Top-Heavy Face

Your face is shaped like: Jon Favreau

The top-heavy face is wider on the top half and tapers to a more narrow chin line. You want a hat that will balance the top and bottom out.

Crown: Medium to short height, pinched toward the front. Avoid crowns that are full or too high.

Taper: Moderate taper

Hat Band: Medium to narrow, in a color similar to the color of the hat.

Brim: Medium width, rolled at back and sides, flat in front

Tilt: To the side, and not too far back on the head or you’ll show too much of your wide forehead

Recommended hat: Fedora, Homburg

Square Face

Your face is shaped like: Orlando Bloom

Pick a hat that will add some curvature to your face and make it appear less boxy.

Crown: Medium height, full and round

Taper: Minimal to non-existent

Brim: Wide width, fully snapped or turned up

Tilt: A side tilt will break up your square face lines. Don’t push it too far back on your head.

Recommended Hat: Homburg, Bowler

Long Nose

Your nose resembles: Adrien Brody, although perhaps not that long

Pick a hat that will break up the line from the brim to the tip of your nose.

Crown: Medium height, and not pinched too tightly at the front.

Taper: Minimal to non-existent

Hat Band: Wide and colorful

Brim: Wide width, you want it to extend beyond the tip of your nose

Tilt: To the side

Recommended Hat: Fedora

Prominent Jaw

You’ve got a chin like: Aaron Eckhart

Pick a hat that will balance your strong chin.

Crown: Medium or low height, avoid crowns that are full or too high. Pick one with side dents, this adds just the right amount of fullness.

Taper: Slight

Brim: Medium width, snapped fully across. Make sure it doesn’t turn up in the back sharply or it will make the jaw appear even more prominent.

Tilt: Level, with a side tilt.

Recommended Hat: Fedora

Receding Chin

You’ve got a chin like: Paul Dano

Pick a hat that will draw attention upwards, away from the chin.

Crown: Low height

Taper: Significant

Hat Band: Narrow

Brim: Flat, or very shallow snap

Tilt: Level, with significant side tilt.

Recommended Hat: Porkpie, Trilby, Fedora with short crown and brim

Prominent Ears

You’re ears stick out like: Will Smith

If you ears are large or stick out, pick a hat that will cover them.

Crown: Full and moderately tall

Taper: Minimal to slight

Brim: As wide as possible in order to cover the ears and make them seem smaller. Flat or fully snapped. Do not roll the brim as this will highlight the ears.

Tilt: Down in the back.

Recommended Hat: Gambler, Panama, Wide-brimmed Fedora

The Best Hat for Hair and Complexion

Most hat colors look good on any man. But some go particularly well with certain complexions and hair colors.

The Best Hat Color For Your Complexion

Ruddy: Brown, Blue, Gray

Dark: Brown

Darker Olive: Brown or Green

Pale: Dark Blue, Gray

The Best Hat Color For You Hair Color

Auburn, Red: Brown, Green, Blue

Blonde: Brown, Green, Gray

Brown: Gray, Green

Gray Hair: Green, Gray

Pulling It All Together: Matching Your Clothes with Your Hat

You can wear a hat any old time, with any outfit, of any color. But when you want to look particularly sharp, make sure your hat color complements your suit or outfit.

The Brown Hat

Brown hats look best with brown or green suits or coats. If wearing a dark blue or dark gray suit, a dark brown hat may also look acceptable.

The Gray Hat

Gray hats are quite versatile and can be paired with black, blue, and dark gray suits and coats.

The Blue Hat

Wear a blue hat with a blue or gray suit or coat. If pairing a blue suit with a blue hat, the colors must match fairly closely. Alternatively, you can pair a dark blue suit with a light blue hat or vice versa. You can also get away with wearing a blue hat with a light brown or tan suit.

The Green Hat

Green hats are surprisingly versatile. They look best with tan or light brown suits. But they also accent black, green, and gray suits very nicely.