After the general hoopla and giddiness of the recent announcement of my brother-in-law’s engagement (congratulations Henry and Tina), my other sister-in-law, being rather concerned that she is going to be asked to be a bridesmaid, called me in a panic.
It turns out, she’s offered up my services, as Fashion Director and general taste-maker, to help with the task of finding the perfect bridesmaid dresses. My challenge is to make five grown women look good in the same shade and/or style of formal dresses, hopefully in something they *might* consider wearing again. No pressure, then…
Buying your own wedding dress can be stressful enough, so imagine how overwhelming it can feel to find the perfect dress for your entire bridal party. From dealing with various personalities, shapes, sizes and different taste preferences, brides often find the process more difficult than they anticipated.
You want your friends and family to feel happy, comfortable, attractive and as excited about your wedding day as you are, not dreading it because you are making them wear a peach tulle dress inspired by Scarlett O’Hara in Gone with the Wind.
Who could forget that scene in 27 Dresses where Katherine Heigl flings open the doors of her overflowing wardrobe to reveal an assortment of bridesmaids dresses made up of sparkly mesh crinolines and badly-fitting satin corsets, each one being more comical and poofier than the last.
Or how about when Carrie Bradshaw in Sex and the City dressed her bridesmaids in totally different bold colours – incase you don’t remember, black, red and purple, Maybe that’s what sent Mr Big running in the other direction?
Now here’s the dilemma. Do you go for colour or shape? Answer: colour.
I suggest choosing one colour but in different styles, but you’ve got to think seriously about the colour. Blush and taupe maybe the ‘in’ bridesmaid dress colours right now, but they don’t suit every skin tone – they can easily wash some people out.
Top tip: If you’ve got a range of fair, olive and dark skin tones, go for a two-colour palette to please everyone. How about pink and a darker coral?
Bridesmaid dress inspo 1: Jerry Hall’s daughters, Georgia May and Elizabeth Jagger, stole the show at her wedding to Rupert Murdoch when dressed in different shades of blue to compliment the bride’s formal dresses uk.
