From advice for brides on how to match the wedding dress to your skin tone, to the best styles and shades for mothers of the bride, grooms and bridesmaids, Melissa Nicholson from Kettlewell Colours gives her top tips on how to look fabulous on the big day
White, ivory or oyster – how does a bride choose the right shade to match her skin tone?
First you need to identify whether your skin tone is warm or cool. Your natural hair colour and eyes are good indicators. Then you need to check if you look better in brighter, clearer colours or softer shades. A raven-haired, pale-skinned bride with bright blue eyes will look striking in pure white. If you have auburn hair, hazel eyes and freckles then oyster, cream or gold are going to look more alluring and natural on you. Those with fair hair and light eyes will look softer and prettier in ivory.
As this is such an important day and the photos will hopefully be on show for many years to come, it is worth getting this right. My suggestion is to invest in getting your colours analysed by a professionally trained colour stylist.
How do you go about choosing the perfect style? What should you consider?
The most important thing is to dress for your shape or natural body architecture and then to consider your personal style. If you work with the shape that you are (instead of wishing for a larger bust or thinner waist or slimmer hips) then you can focus on highlighting your assets and disguising the bits that you don’t like. For example, if you have broad shoulders, a large bottom but a small waist – you must ensure that your dress goes in at the waist, falls softly over your hips into an A-line skirt and you stay clear of any ruching on the shoulders. Cristina Holm from My Shape Stylist will advise on how to dress for your shape, identifying the perfect cut and fabric for you. To work out your personal style it’s helpful to identify with a cartoon or fairy tale character and then imagine dressing them. A princess in pretty, delicate lace; Peter Pan in neat, youthful tunic style; fairy godmother in romantic, glitzy, glamorous dress; the witch in sleek, sharp and minimal; the queen in a classic, tailored and elegant dress. Which one are you?
What fabrics and styles work best for summer weddings?
This depends more on your personal style. Personally I think forget the weather and look the best you can. Make sure you have a cashmere stole on standby whatever time of year it is. If you suit structure then stick to tailoring, if you look better in pretty, floaty styles then choose silk crêpe de chine, organza and lace.
How have styles changed in bridal wear over the years?
Fashion trends in general are so broad and versatile nowadays and the same applies for bridal wear. This means that you really can dress according to your personal shape and style. I watched the film Four Weddings and a Funeral recently and there are plenty of meringues on display there! I would say that a less formal style has taken the place of the meringue or very traditional dress. The tousled hair and natural make-up is considered cool e.g., Kate Moss, Keira Knightley. However, if you personally look better in a polished, structured style you should definitely stick with this or you will look uncomfortable and out of place e.g. Princess Charlene of Monacco.
Who are your favourite wedding dress designers?
I absolutely love Alice Temperley. Her dresses are so feminine and a touch Edwardian, which gives them a vintage feel. If you want to look like a princess then she’s the one.
Do you have any favourite pieces that you think work well?
If you need to stick to a reasonable budget, you can make an outfit work for you by choosing a simple shift or strapless dress and add little lace bolero or organza wrap or jacket.
What, for you, makes the perfect dress?
One that accentuates all your good bits and disguises the bits you want to hide. Also you need to be comfortable on the day and wear a dress that fits you well so that you’re not fidgeting or worrying about a cleavage.
Are there any no-nos when it comes to choosing your outfit as mother of the bride? What colours work best and what to avoid?
Again the same rules apply for mothers of the bride. Before you even start shopping, find out which are your very best colours and then choose a style that suits you in one of your ‘wow’ colours. It’s the mistake that most people make at weddings – choosing a colour that wears them rather than a colour that complements them. You know you’ve got it right when people compliment you rather than your dress. Also you don’t want to see a mother of the bride with too much cleavage on display. This is where a camisole comes in handy. Not only can you ensure discretion but you can lift a neutral look with a pop of colour to match shoes and bag, etc.
What would you say is the perfect going away outfit?
I think this is the opportunity to shine in a colour that looks a million dollars on you whether it’s geranium red, olive green, musk rose or cobalt blue. It’s totally down to your colouring, body shape and personal style. A crisp, navy and white suit might look effortlessly elegant on one person but boring and uninspired on another. Conversely, a natural linen dress might look wonderfully understated and charming on one but crumpled and dull on someone else.
Cravats or ties; top hats or morning suits… What works best for men?
Men also need to consider which colours and styles suit them best. Which grey: silver, charcoal or dove grey? White or soft white shirt? Tone on tone or high contrast tie? Smart and structured or soft and textured? Personally I think cravats and top hats look over the top these days unless you’re a theatrical personality and can carry it off with your stage presence. I love to see men in morning dress at traditional weddings but I also think a well-cut suit can look elegant in a contemporary setting.
Are there any current favourite shades for bridesmaids and flower girls?
Quite often the bride will choose a colour that she likes but this might leave one or two of the bridesmaids looking washed out. Generally a soft white will suit more skin tones than a pure white. Other neutral colours to consider are light dove grey, pebble grey and mole or taupe. And it’s worth bearing in mind the universal colours, i.e. those that sit in the middle of the colour spectrum and are neither too warm or too cool and therefore suit most skin tones. They are scarlet red, turquoise and purple. These are not traditional colours for a bridesmaid but you might consider introducing accents of one of these colours in the hair, jewellery, shoes, flowers, etc. Alternatively you could choose a softer shade of each of the universal colours, e.g., coral red, soft teal and hyacinth blue.
And finally, any tips for the big day?
Look the best you can but remember to look like you. If you never wear your hair up, I would suggest not wearing it up on the day. If you never wear make-up – keep it fresh and natural.
Melissa Nicholson is founder of Kettlewell Colours. If you would like more information or details of colour stylists contact Kettlewell Colours
Main image: Alice Temperley
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