I told you Get the Look was back with a vengeance! Here’s our second installment of the day were I’m taking a look at the kind of outfit you can achieve for under £200. (We’ve already seen the outfit you can get for £100)
A number of the items I’ve picked, including the dress, are all on sale which just goes to show how easy it is to pick up an elegant ensemble for a song.
Sex and the City fans will remember the episode where Carrie finds the hideous engagement ring Aidan has hidden. You don’t want that to happen to you! So here’s a few easy steps for guys and gals to find out just what kind of engagement ring their intended would really like.
1. Rope in one of her mates. And by mates I don’t mean your mum or her jealous pal. True friends know their friends tastes and should be relied upon (unless said mate is pregnant in which case steer clear).
If you’re looking for a statement piece of jewellery, take a look at the Frank Usher collection. I picked out this drop stone necklace and earrings for it’s glam potential, perfect for wedding dresses and ballgowns, if you are so inclined. I don’t think you’ll get much change after paying for these sparklers but seeing as you speculate to accumalate, maybe your end of year bonus or new hubby will see you adding to your collection. Ah, optimism! See more styles here and find stockists here.
Related: Link’s Lovestruck necklace I Polkadot retro jewellery I Classic pearls I Find more wedding rings, engagement rings and jewellery here
I hope you didn’t switch off the second you read the title of this post. For our overseas readers Tesco’s is a huge supermarket retailer that has branched out – successfully – into clothing and homewares on top of their groceries. One of their latest ventures is a foray into the jewellery fields and they’ve produced a diamond and gold engagement ring for a mere £47. Real fake diamonds, you ask? Actually no. The diamond is 1/10 of a carat set into 9 carat yellow gold and it is actually rather nice. By contrast a 1/2 carat diamond ring from Tiffany’s is going to set you back at least £2000. The ring pictured is very similar to the £47 ring and also from the Tesco’s range.
Guys – if you want to propose with a ring but would rather let your bride actually choose the style after you’ve surprised her, then this is a good substitute. Alternatively snap it up and upgrade later if you want to.
Weddings are all about love – showing it off, confirming your vows, rubbing it in the face of your single mates. I like this necklace and not least because it is from the ‘lovestruck’ collection. It features three golden hearts intermingled with plenty of sterling silver hearts on arrows topped off with a white topaz pave heart. It’s £425 which you may think is a lot for a single piece of jewellery but it is gorgeous and would certainly make a difference from traditional pearls. I’m certainly lovestruck by it.
Related: Midnight Firefly’s Rose Quartz and pearl set I Carol Ann Dickson’s bespoke jewellery I Foot jewellery
These rather fetching matching earrings and necklace may very well be intended for brides on their big day, but who says they get all the fun, especially when this set is 50% off! Made from sterling silver, freshwater pearls, rhodonite, and rose quartz, it was $110 but is now reduced to just $55 in Midnight Firefly’s sale. The set is a limited edition, so you better hurry if you want to add it to your collection, as it’s bound to sell out fast right after I press the ‘publish’ button. [Via The Bag Lady]
Former painter Carol Ann Dickson is one of those designers who brings really unique and creative pieces to life. Using semi precious stones and beads on silver wire, everything is handmade by Carol Ann. She will even work with you to create a bespoke piece.
This jade, crystal and amazonite style with amazonite pendant drop is a really stunning necklace and is available at a very reasonable £120. You’ll also find bracelets and earrings in everything from amathyst, crystal or baroque pearl to peridot and beyond.
Find more bridal rings and jewellery here.
Looking for something old to go with your something new gown? Try taking a look at Polkadot Jewellery. They have a range of antique and unique pieces that could easily be added into your outfit and worn long after the day. I love these white freshwater pearls for a classic look but you’ll find many more quirky pieces.
Related stories: Get the Look – polka dot I Ethical diamonds are forever I Tiffany pearls
We all know that nautical is going to be the big theme for 2006. The question is how do you incorporate the theme into your wedding without looking like you are ready to walk the plank?
Use barely there pieces in shimmering silver and the odd dash of colour to make sure this theme swims rather than sinks. Don’t go overboard with ideas – dress flowergirls and pageboys in sailor outfits and bridesmaids will look fab in flattering navy with a white or scarlet sash. Tables can be decorated with centrepieces of driftwood, shells and tealights, using anchor charms to secure place settings. And if you really want to push the boat out – host your reception at a lighthouse!
Dress – ‘Coral’ by Allison Blake Designs
It’s funny that with all the wedding talk that takes place on Bridalwave, I’ve barely touched on rings – the one item that you will always wear long after the wedding day itself has finished.
So how do you pick a ring? How much should I spend? And what kind should I get? There are no fail safe answers to these questions – mostly you should go on intuition. Ask yourself, do I like this ring and will I be happy wearing it for a long time? And it stands to reason that you should buy the best you can afford.
Ladies 18carat, 4mm white gold diamond set band £325 at Goldsmiths
Just in case you (like me) are not quite over the polka dot trend and are not fed up of seeing it gracing everything from your tea towels and mugs to your dresses then I thought it was about time I popped a polka dot feature in. It will never be too late to pick up on this trend – polka dots have been in fashion since the forties! Forget your Cath Kidston reds though, opt for subtle lemon and delicate creams for upscale dotty weddings.
Dress by Michael Kors. Cream strapless full length dress with polka dot tulle layers. £2345.01 at Net-A-Porter.
Related stories:
Find more ‘Get the Look’ bridal styling here
Thornton’s polka dot favours
Marc Wallace waistcoats for the groom – polka dots!
Las Vegas weddings have had such bad press and not without good cause! If it’s not Britters getting married whilst drunk (how chav is that?) or another celeb marrying on the sly then it’s Joe Public eloping to the modern day Gretna Green.
But if you’re going to marry in Vegas you should at least think about wearing something cool for five minutes rather than something you’ll spend a lifetime regretting. Remember the heat can top 100F during the summer months so go far a dress that is light and sleveless. And don’t forget to add a nice liberal dose of Elvis… but leave the blue suede shoes at home!
If you’re not planning on wearing a veil or hat then you may think about adding a little sparkle in other ways. Up hair styles look great when they have pearls or crystals peeping out. I particularly like to see them wound into curly locks too.
The range from Raisa is fairly extensive and covers classic pearls to sparkly sprays, miniature roses (like the lilac ones pictured here) as well as larger flowers. Prices start from £6 per pack.
Pink is a great alternative to white and it presents such a huge variety of options. You can start off with the palest blush pink for a feminine, romantic picture postcard bride. Or you could go right up to full on hot pink to create a real statement.
Don’t be afraid to mix and match and hues but don’t go overboard with sequins and glitz – Barbara Cartland was never a style icon!
Dress ‘Aseel’ from a selection at Maggie Sottero.
Wear shoes? Pah! That’s just so last year! Well, actually, pretty though My Glass Slipper’s range of foot jewelry is, I can’t see it catching on in the UK – we’re just too wet and windy over here to risk not wearing shoes. But on a hot beach or even a summer meadow, I guess there is a slim chance. Prices start at $170. This pair is the ‘true love’, available in silver or gold and listed at a cool $350.
From:Madeline Isaac-James launches two new collections