Marriage lines

THE film, Bridesmaids, which opens this Friday, puts the spotlight on wedding fashion. Stephanie Smith has suggestions.

For brides-to-be planning on being followed down the aisle by a retinue of at least two bridesmaids, there is a major style problem to be addressed – how do you find a dress that suits both wearers?

Different heights, shapes, colourings, tastes – it can all become quite a headache for both bride and maids. And the more bridesmaids you have, the bigger the headache.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Kate Middleton neatly side-stepped the problem by having just the one, her sister, Pippa, as maid of honour, surrounded by four little ones, and it was interesting to note that there was little matchy-matchy business going on, with Pippa wearing a gown that, although also by the House of McQueen, was in a slinky, draped silk style, in contrast with Kate’s fairytale fitted lace bodice and full skirt number.

This will, no doubt, become a look copied up and down the country for many years to come, although any bride who dresses her sexy sister also in ivory is taking a risk, in terms of being compared and overshadowed, and Kate had to make sure that her own wedding gown was a showstopper, and quite different in style.

Less confident brides may find (as so many have done before them) that it’s much safer to dress maids in a vile shade of peach and watch them sulk all day.

And it is true that brides-to-be (and their mothers) do become control freaks when planning the perfect wedding, and the colour scheme is very much a part of that. Choose the bridesmaids’ colour, and you’ve got the starting point for everything else, from flowers to napkins.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

So, we’re back to the problem – how do you find a dress that is going to suit everyone?

The answer is, you probably shouldn’t. The same colour, yes, but don’t try to force the same style of dress on all wearers.

BhS has this covered by stocking dresses in the same colours of silk and taffeta, but in different styles, so bridesmaids can choose strapless, perhaps, or V-neck, or matching bolero, or even long or short. There’s a sale at the moment (merlot, burgundy, teal and coral in sale; fuchsia, champagne, powder blue and pale mint green are not in the sale – as an indication of which colours are coming in and going out).

If you’re after something a little bit different, consider a retro theme, with bridesmaids in prom dresses – black can be very stylish and is the perfect base to accessorise, so don’t rule it out.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Again, though, variety of style is key, so let them choose the little black dress that suits them best, and then add stylish flashes of pink, or lime, or peacock blue, in fascinators and flowers.

On your big day, you want to be surrounded by stylish, smiling bridesmaids, not a troop of miseries squeezed into pastel taffeta.

Related topics: