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A Modern Style Guide To Keeping Bridesmaids Happy.

One thing I see time and time again at weddings are bridesmaids wearing similar looks to one another which I can guarantee they would never normally consider wearing in their everyday lives. I’m always very confused by this kind of thinking because if I wear to watch a red carpet awards ceremony, I will never see any of my favourite actresses wearing cloned hairstyles and matching makeup. Women are currently celebrated for their unique take on fashion styling as well as grooming, so it only seems natural to me that this movement should filter through to the modern bridal party.

THE ORIGINAL ROLE OF A BRIDESMAID

The idea of having your bridal party all wear the same dress actually dates way back to an old Chinese practice during the feudal era for when a young girl would be soon married. The original role of a bridesmaid was to protect the bride from a potential kidnapping by a jealous suitor or evil spirit. The bridesmaids she chose would be requested to all wear white dresses so that if someone were to try and kidnap her, they would hopefully be confused by who the actual bride was and capture one of her maids by mistake. It wouldn’t be until after the ceremony that they would be aware that they had taken the wrong woman. Later, as legal protections for marriage were established, this was no longer necessary, and the role of a bridesmaid became more symbolic.

As we no longer need to trick our guests into knowing who the bride is, I believe it is more agreeable than ever before to allow your bridal party to look and feel as comfortable in their wedding attire as you do in the gown you have likely spent weeks or months searching for. Another thing to bear in mind is that often bridesmaids are told they could wear their dress again – however, if the dress doesn’t make them feel comfortable or like any version of themselves, that (pricey) dress will most likely end up in a charity shop, on eBay or at worst straight into the bin directly after your big day.

STYLING OPTIONS

One of my favourite bridesmaid styling options is allowing your friends the opportunity to find what looks best on them. If you truly have your heart set on a particular colour palette, something as simple as allowing them to pick alternate tones for their dress can make a world of difference to how they will perceive their dress. Another styling option would be to have them each choose a different cut in the same tone so that their varying body shapes all fit perfectly in their dresses, leaving them as confident in what they’re wearing as you do in yours. I find brands such as THE OWN STUDIO and SHONA JOY to be wonderful suppliers as they carry their dress styles across a range of different cuts and colour palettes which flatter different body shapes and skin tones.

Another modern but fun item for bridesmaids is something like a monogrammed boyfriend shirt to get ready in, rather than the ultra feminine bridal robes we have all seen before. The added touch of having their initials embroidered in is something they will appreciate alongside the fact this is a wardrobe staple they can wear again after the wedding day.

After the dress, the next clone culprit is usually to do with hair or makeup. So often I see women subject their friends to exposing unfortunate hairlines or wearing mismatched colour palettes just because it’s a wedding. Honestly, if your friend came out of the hair salon looking like their toner was off, you would tell them to march straight back in there and ask them to fix it, so I think the same could be said for style choices on a wedding day. These ladies are supposed to be your friends, after all.

Differing style height options and partings are not the only way to mix things up to suit everyone. If one friend looks better with her hair down and the other with a ponytail style, plan ahead and practice wearing these different styles together on dinner dates to make sure you can all agree on something which both makes them feel themselves and makes you happy.

When it comes to makeup styling, so long as everyone feels enhanced, I think you should let them wear makeup they feel comfortable in. There is honestly nothing worse than being told you have to wear eyeliner when you don’t have the eye shape for it. Tightlining the upper lashline will give enough definition to the eyes for those with small or hooded eyes, so there isn’t any need for every bridesmaid to wear winged eyeliner. Sometimes this classic look just doesn’t suit everyone, so it’s better not to force it.

FINAL TOUCHES

To make sure everyone is totally equipped for the day, designate a day around the week of your hen party to catch up and collect those final items to make sure you are all ready for the day. This can include things such as the perfect jewellery choices to match their style (and yours), touch up items, heel protectors and those magic curve huggers we all know as Spanx. Never underestimate the importance of girdle style support underneath silk finish fabrics!

The final step is now to organise any last appointments for you and your ladies to enjoy together a week before the wedding so that you all feel your absolute best and worry-free in the last two weeks before the wedding. This is a great way to ensure everyone is absolutely primed and prepared before the big day, as well as a means for you to have a little female bonding together through self-care. If you or your bridesmaids have any hair appointments during this time, just remember to save any big changes for after the big day so that no one ends up with a bad fringe choice in your forever photos! The same goes for facials. If you really can’t resist one, I personally recommend the FaceGym facelift. This one is more focused on lifting through massage, so there will be no nasty chemical redness, reactions or breakouts after. Just remember to try anything new before the big day to be sure of the results so that there are no surprises before the big day.

If you liked the above or have any questions, be sure to leave a comment below! I’d love to hear your thoughts and get chatting.

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Pre Wedding Countdown

With only a few weeks to go until you can say goodbye to being a fiancee & officially becoming Mrs. X, here’s my top tips on how to ensure your body is ready for the aisle. 

Smooth as silk - If thinking of ridding yourself of unwanted facial hair (brows, lips etc), book your appointment a week & a half before the day. This allows skin to settle as often hair removal can take away the surface layer, which can give makeup an uneven appearance if done a few days before. It also lessens the chance of ingrown breakouts. 

Tip: Tweezing or threading will lessen the chance of skin irritations.

Undergarments - Never underestimate the power of Spanx! Even the most slender woman on the red carpet has been known to request a little extra help from their stylists when wearing unforgiving fabrics such as silk or satin, so if your dress picks up on a few little areas which you would like to appear seamless, have a think about grabbing a set for the day. No one needs to know but you.

Facials - If you are already someone who books a weekly facial, then stick with it. However if this is a treat for you so you can zen out before the day, I would suggest booking it a week & a half before the day. While relaxing, professional facials are designed to rid skin of dead skin cells & plump the skin with hydration, & this can result in a post-facial breakout. For best results, book in advance!

Tip: Celebrity facialist Kate Somerville is known for her hydrating facials just before red carpet moments, which plumps skin with glowing moisture & minimises fine lines. For similar instant at-home results, try her Quench hydra serum. 

Nails - Some women overlook the importance of a freshly manicured hand, however, when having photos taken of the ring both you & your hubby have chosen to mark the biggest day of your romantic lives, why wouldn’t you want your hands to look as spectacular as the stone which adorns you? There are many options to choose from - french mani, nude nails, dramatic reds or modern minimalist designs - but whichever you choose, I would suggest having a gel top coat to seal the manicure & avoid any unwanted chips before you have the chance to say “I Do”.

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How To : Wear Red Lipstick Down The Aisle.

Timeless. Elegant. You.

Nothing says classic & sophisticated quite like a red lip...but just how do you wear such a colour on your wedding day? We give our tips tips just below. 

1. If you've never worn red lipstick before - try it before the wedding! As lipstick is so personal, we would advise trying it on in day to day life before thinking of wearing it down the aisle. You will be Tuesday in the office with it on, it may be the same when wearing the big white dress. 

2. Lip prep is key! There is nothing worse than getting those beautiful closeups back from your photographer only to realise your lips were dry & chapped beneath that expensive Rouge Louboutin! Before the makeup ritual begins, have your makeup artist do a little sugar lip scrub with a soft toothbrush to remove any flaking skin & follow with a lip conditioner such as Elizabeth Arden's Eight Hour Cream. We swear you'll thank her for it!

3. Unless you have it tattooed on, chances are you will require a touchup or two. Matte textures do last longer, but they aren't for every bride. Once you have found the one, make sure you have it with you on the day. If you have been advised which shade to wear by your makeup artist during the wedding trial, ask her to pick it up for you as part of your touch up kit. A matching liner isn't always necessary, but if you are one to feather then opt for either an edge tamer such as Laura Mercier's Lip Liner in Clear, or a liner of similar colour. For the ultimate finish, our Platinum Artist Quelle recommends Wei's Lady Berry around the edge of the lip line to keep even the most glossy lipsticks in place.

4. To keep makeup modern, try mixing textures when it comes to choosing your lipstick & your base. For example, If you love dewy, glowing skin, then a matte lipstick such as the Hourglass Opaque Rouge in Icon is a nice subtle contrast in texture which brings the look together. The staying power of this lipstick is another added bonus!

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Serious flashback to one of my first shoots.

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Recent work for @outfitfashionuk #hair & #makeup by me, featuring the gorgeous #face of @fifinewbery. #topshop #fashion #ootd #model #blogger #beauty (at Oxford Street)

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Testing...testing...1...2...3...📸 #beauty #editorial #makeup #hair #bblogger #blue #model #potd #blog #makeupartist #turnyourskinon (at London, United Kingdom)

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Last one! #beauty #makeup #blue #makeupartist #fashion #editorial #hair #blogger #blog #model #theglamapp #potd #ootd #motd #strobing #turnyourskinon (at London, United Kingdom)

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Take 2. 📸 #model #potd #blue #bblogger #hair #makeup #makeupartist #beauty #fashion #gopriv #ootd #motd #strobing (at London, United Kingdom)

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Fresh faced #beauty @fifinewbery for @outfitfashionuk today using @beccacosmetics & @ctilburymakeup. #moretocome #blondehair #makeup #makeupartist #maquillaje #mua #summer #london #bblogger #blogger #charlottetilbury #fashion #bts (at London, United Kingdom)

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Loved playing with this #Hair today!@fifinewbery for @outfitfashionuk. #thatsummerfeeling #beauty #fblogger #bblogger #makeup #makeupartist #london #blonde #blondehair (at London, United Kingdom)

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Day 2 with miss @parishilton on #hair for @TheGlamApp. 😊 #beauty #ootd #london (at London, United Kingdom)

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#hair for the delightful @aliciarountree with @TheGlamApp last night. Booking code BOB6 😉 #debenhams @matthewwilliamson #ootd #beauty (at The Ritz London)

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Well, looks like I found something new for my next #bridetobe! #love #bridal #wedding #hair @thebeautydept #beyonce

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Pleasure working with @styleisleirl yesterday for @ashleylouisejames new website! The countdown is on! #makeup #london #girls (at Jet Studios)

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On set with the gorgeous @voguewilliams for an exciting project with @ashleylouisejames #makeup by @quelleuk #privUK #girl #beauty #blogger (at Jet Studios)

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#Repost @pandoratweets with @repostapp. ・・・ Love having my make up done!!! 💋 @quelle_uk you're a star ✨

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#Monday #makeup for @ariellefreepics for main lady @ashleylouisejames & her new girl project 🙌🏻💁🏼✨🎉👍🏼😎#london #redhead #beauty (at Jet Studios)