How to accessorise your wedding dress

OUR FAVOURITE STYLIST IS GETTING MARRIED!!

Ann Russel of fantastic, fashion blog Frock Trade has agreed to share her wedding planning top tips in the lead up to her Big Day. Ann is a professional writer and stylist working in the fashion industry – in high demand at all times, she frequently writes for British Vogue and in 2014 was nominated for a Scottish Fashion Award. So without further ado, we will let Ann take it away with her fab advice on how to find the best dress style to suit your figure and how to accessorise it to maximum effect. 

WEEK 2 - THE DRESS...

From bateau to sweetheart, the world of wedding gowns can feel like a minefield for brides-to-be. Choosing the perfect dress largely comes down to finding the right style for your body shape and understanding which necklines suit you best. Before you find THE ONE read through our handy guide to popular dress necklines and browse our hand-picked selection of jewellery to accompany each dress design.

V-Neck

The v-neck dips into a v-shape at the chest and exposes the neck and décolletage. Because of its plunging nature larger busted brides might want to avoid this style to ensure they don't reveal too much! Ideal for petite brides, the v-neck lengthens the body giving the illusion of height and slims the figure. Accessorise this dress with a classic pearl and diamond pendant that rests just above the central point of the V.

High Neck

Like its name suggests, a high neckline typically rests around the throat. Elegant and regal, this style suits tall and slim brides who want to draw attention to their décolletage. Avoid heavy necklaces or earrings with this style and invest in a 18ct rose gold statement bangle complete with 0.22ct of sparkling diamonds.

175 Gold Collection Rose Gold and Diamond Bangle

Bateau

Also known as a boatneck, this dress features a slashed opening across the neck. If you're conscious of your upper chest this is a great choice for extra coverage. For a contemporary alternative choose a bateau neckline with a sheer or lace overlay, pair with simple pearl stud earrings and wear hair off the face.

Asymettric

Featuring just one shoulder strap, asymettric dresses are popular with larger busted brides who want to accentuate the collarbone. Brides with broad shoulders or fuller arms should avoid this style unless the shoulder strap is sheer and the main dress structure is strapless. Avoid any further detail around the neck and instead pick a set of pretty pear drop earrings. We think these white and blue stone earrings are the ideal length to compliment an asymettric wedding gown or bridesmaids dresses.

Strapless

A traditional option, strapless wedding dresses are the easiest to accessorise with the full collarbone area exposed and the dress fitted securely across the bust. Avoid this look if you have particularly heavy upper arms or a very large bust as the upper body is the main focus of the dress. Simlarly if you're quite flat chested, a strapless gown is hard to fit and might appear oversized at the chest. Wear this classic style with a soft and elegant string of pearls - we love this fresh water grey pearl strand necklace with 9ct white gold clasp.

Sweetheart

The most universally flattering dress, a sweetheart neckline dips subtly at the front creating an outline that resembles the top of a heart shape. Great for creating a classic bridal silhouette, the sweetheart neckline is the most sought after dress shape and is ideal for a variety of body types including medium to well-endowed busts and brides looking to enhance their curves. Let the dress do the talking and pair it with elegant jewellery like this stunning synthetic pearl and white stone pendant suspended on a sterling silver chain.

Faux Pearl Pendant

We hope you have found this article informative, we would like to thank our superb stylist Ann Russell for sharing her wedding advise with us, please feel free to like, share or comment! If you want to keep up with the latest from Laings please follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram & Pinterest. Thanks for reading! Love Laings X