Ask an Expert: Fashion

I'm getting married this year, and my mother is in a dilemma over her outfit as she really hates hats (and has a large head). Any ideas?

To be honest, I'm not much of a hat fan myself, so I understand how she feels! Tell your mother she doesn't have to wear anything on her head - as long as she looks gorgeous in an appropriate outfit with beautifully done hair, she'll look absolutely fine. Read more

I'm going with red bridesmaids, but don't know what colour to use as an accent colour - I don't want to use red or white. What do you think?

I really adore a plummy purple with red - I think it's a fabulous combination. But there are lots of other gorgeous options too - you could go with yellows and/or oranges, or even for a bit of a clash and go with pink (sounds terrible but can work... Read more

I've got a very definite idea about the kind of wedding dress I want to have, but I keep getting told I should try on other options. Is it a bad thing to have a definite dress idea??

I would definitely try to find and try on that dream dress you have in mind, but the other advice is good advice - you won't actually know the most flattering gown for your body shape until you try on different wedding dresses, and sometimes brides find... Read more

What do you think the most cutting edge thing is in bridal fashion at the moment? I want to go with something new and different.

Actually, I'd probably say laser or die cut lace would fit that bill - designers are getting some amazing patterns and textures into gowns that can't be achieved using regular lace. Read more

I love peplums and want one for my wedding dress, but I get married in two years time and am worried they won't be fashionable anymore! What do you think?

Peplums are still appearing on catwalks both bridal and regular, so I think you're safe for the next couple of years. If you love it, wear it with pride - that's all that matters, at the end of the day. Read more

I went for my measurements in december, and tried on the gown in the shop with my bridal shoes. My dress was ordered one inch longer than it needed to be. Why should I have to pay when it is there mistake that it was ordered in the wrong length?

The main issue is that there's variation in the cutting of wedding gowns, and therefore some variation in length. It's much better if your wedding dress comes in and is too long (resulting in a hemming job) rather than being too short, which would require... Read more

My friend is getting married in Australia in February and I need to find a suitable bridesmaid dress to wear for the beach wedding. I am looking for something long but strapless in a burnt orange colour ideally. Any suggestions? Thanks very much!

Burnt orange sounds gorgeous. If you're looking for a close colour match, I'd probably go to Dessy as my first port of call - they supply a Pantone colour match service, and have many options in burnt orange that are both long and strapless. Read more

Are there any extra costs when buying a wedding dress?

You'll need to pay extra for any alterations required when you purchase a wedding gown, so budget for a bit extra on top of the cost of your gown. Read more

How much time should I leave myself to go shopping for my wedding dress?

Most bridal shops require six to nine months to get the dress made and delivered, and you also need a little time for fitting, so I'd recommend you go shopping 12 months before your big day. Read more

Can you take photos of gowns you try on in bridal shops?

Generally speaking, no, bridal shops won't want you to take pictures. It's not the bridal shop trying to be awkward - it's to stop copying. Read more

My mother is a larger lady, and doesn't know whether a hat or a fascinator is the way to go. What do you think will be more flattering?

Hats are definitely the way forward for anyone who is a little larger - they're much more flattering and stylish than a fascinator. Read more

My man has a rather round belly (to put it politely!) - do you have any tips on how to slim him down visually?

Waistcoats are your man's best friend - they slim down large stomachs. Avoid at all costs cumberbands - they'll only make him look bigger. Read more

I've got a long face - is there anything I should know about what type of hairpiece I should pick?

Basically, you'll want to try and balance out a long face, so I'd recommend you go for something that is fairly short, rather than a tall tiara or poufy veil that adds more height to your faceshape. Read more

I'm thinking of changing my hair colour before my wedding back to blond as that's my natural colour. However, I'm a bit worried that my hair accessories won't look as good.

The one thing to think about with hair accessories is that bridal ones tend to stand out more against dark hair than blond, so blonder brides can get away with larger accessories than brunettes. My advice is simply to try them on with your blond hair (or... Read more

My fiancee wants to have mismatched groomsmen. While I'm aware of mismatched bridesmaids, would it work for groomsmen?

Absolutely! Just follow the rules as per the mismatched bridesmaids (there's a blog post on Getwed.com about it - have a search). Basically, you'll need to have some element that is a common theme to tie everything together. Read more

I think I've found 'the one' on the dress front, but I haven't bought it as (silly as it sounds) I didn't cry when I tried it on. Is that an unrealistic expectation on my part?

I can assure you that crying is not necessary - a big smile and a knowing nod will also fit the bill! Read more

I'm normally a size 10 and was really shocked when I went to try on wedding dresses and couldn't get into a size 10! What's with that?

Try not to get too worried about what the label says - it's a well known fact that bridal gown sizing is considerably smaller than a regular high street sizing. Be guided by what the people in the shop recommend you try on. Read more

I've really struggled to my perfect wedding dress and assistants in shops keep putting me in dresses I really don't like! Any advice?

I would recommend you be as vocal as possible about the things you don't like about dresses you try on - that way, the assistants in shops get more of a steer on what you do and don't like. As a designer, I know how hard it is to design for clients who... Read more

I'm a bride on a budget and have bought a cheap sample gown which I love. However I've lost weight and need to get it altered. What could I expect to pay for alterations?

It will depend on the dress and what needs taking in. I would strongly encourage you to shop around for prices - there can be quite a variation in pricing (climbing into the several hundreds), but make sure you absolutely trust the person you choose as... Read more

I've chosen a lace-up gown for my wedding dress, but am a bit worried about how I'll get into it on my wedding day. What would you recommend?

I'd recommend that you get help to get dressed on your wedding day - getting into a lace-up dress is a nigh impossible task on your own! Decide who you're going to ask to help and take them along to your wedding dress fitting so they can be shown how to... Read more

I already know the type of dress I want, so was just going to have a dressmaker make it up. However my mum says I should try some on first so that I'm really sure. Should I?

I agree with your mum - some brides think they know what they want until they try their dream dress on and find it doesn't do much for their body shape. Instead, I'd recommend you keep an open mind when you go gown shopping. You may be surprised at the... Read more

I'm going to lose a lot of weight for my wedding, so am worried about fitting my gown before the big day. What do you recommend I do?

If you have the time, I'd recommend you lose as much weight as possible for purchasing your dress - this will reduce the angst of purchasing a dress and having to have it taken in by several sizes. Whatever you do, I wouldn't recommend you purchase a... Read more

I'm about to book a few appointments in bridal gown shops - what's the maximum for one day you'd recommend?

I would say the most you should go for in one day is three shops - otherwise you'll just end up getting overwhelmed by the whole experience. Personally I think I'd probably only go for one per day, but I'm not much of a shopper. You'll know your own... Read more

I'm about to buy my dress and was thinking of taking all of my bridesmaids along to help with the choice - is this a good idea?

In short, no! You'll get as many different opinions as you have bridesmaids and you'll only end up feeling confused. Instead take one friend whose opinion you really value and trust - this will make the decision making process much easier. Read more

I've got an idea for a wedding theme but am unsure whether I should purchase my gown first and then my bridesmaid dresses or the other way around. What do you think?

I would probably go for buying your dress first and then your bridesmaid dresses - your dress is ultimately the most important one, and it's better to have your bridesmaid dresses match it than the other way around. Read more

I've bought a dress that has a train - how am I supposed to dance in it??

This is really a question for your bridal consultant, but the simplest thing to do with a train is to bustle it - basically, with the aid of a button and a hook sewn into your dress, you can bunch it up at the back. This may take a little practise to make... Read more

What's the best way to store my gown after the wedding?

I would recommend you buy a specially made wedding dress box with acid free tissue paper that will keep your wedding dress safe and enable you to store it properly. Ask at your local bridal shop - they tend to sell them. Read more

How many dresses should I try before I buy?

Try on until you find the dress that makes your heart skip a beat. It could be the first one you try on, or it could be the 50th. If it is the first, it's probably a good idea to try on a few others just to make sure you haven't just fallen in love with... Read more

I'm really keen on an eco-friendly wedding. What fabrics would you recommend that fit into that category?

There are three definite eco-friendly fabrics - bamboo, soya, and hemp. Each have unique qualities that make them ideal for bridal fabric. Read more

I've got a plunging back wedding dress, but am not sure what kind of necklace to wear with it. What would you recommend?

There are gorgeous back necklaces that look absolutely amazing with low-cut backs - I'd definitely recommend you check those out. Read more