Tag Archives: wedding

Wedding Fashion Tips

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With Kate and William’s nuptials looming, wedding fever is definitely upon us.  I am really looking forward to seeing Kate walk down the aisle and marry her prince. I love her sense of style and am really looking forward to seeing all those lovely frocks! A real fashion feast! But as a guest at a wedding, what do you wear to a summer wedding to make sure you get it just right? Well here are my fail-safe wedding tips.

This season
The hot look for this season is for the bride to wear white, ivory or cream and the bridesmaids to wear nude or taupe tones.

Bridesmaids
Wedding photos last forever, so it’s best to wear a Spanx slip, so this enhances both your figure and the outline of your dress. Also, static electricity often causes problems, so add anti-static spray to your ‘getting ready list’. You will be very thankful for this on the day.

Mother of the Bride
At least 3 months before the wedding date, book an appointment with a specialist shop, which are used to giving high quality service and can advise you through getting the right outfit and accessories that will go with both the style of wedding and the bridal party’s dresses.

Shoes
If you are going to a garden wedding, then get a pair of Heel Stoppers, as they let you walk easily across the lawn and help you avoid ruining your heels.

Wedding Dress
For the bridal dress, I recommend you:

  1. Hang your gown the night before and steam and fluff out any layers, so it looks lovely and fresh on the day.
  2. Enjoy your dress. It’s best to enjoy your day and not be too precious, as you can get it mended and dry-cleaned afterwards.
  3. Use a specialist wedding dress dry cleaner. Have it boxed (with acid free paper) or hung.

To be a well dressed guest:

White Tie
Opt for a full length evening dress, ideally with some delicate sparkle.

Black Tie
Wear a bold coloured or patterned long evening dress.

Cocktail
Wear a pretty short dress with carefully chosen bold accessories.

Smart/casual
Wear a smart pair of trousers, with a fun/elegant top, with a clutch bag.

Garden wedding
Choose a flowing, short or mid length floral dress.

If you are confused as to dress code, call the bride or groom and clarify what’s required so that you dress appropriately. As it’s their party, I am sure they would appreciate you honouring their wishes and dressing correctly for the occasion.

Accessories
You will need a clutch with a strap, as you may be standing around a bit and need both your hands free for holding a drink in one hand and then nibbles in the other! Other key items you should consider in your bag are: blister plasters, a safety pin, powder set, a lipstick or lip-gloss and a little camera ready for those key photos.

Final Preparations
For a polished look, have your nails French polished. And then, match your hair style with your dress eg. vintage hair to go with a vintage dress. However, if you are planning on wearing a hat or fascinator, I strongly recommend putting your hair back in a pony tail, this looks sleeker and more finished off. I have seen so many ladies wearing their hair down and this makes their overall outfit look unfinished.

And finally, it is often a good idea for a summer wedding in particular to add just a hint of self tanning lotion. If you can, go for ‘St Tropez’ as it gives both a
natural and even tan thus avoiding the tangerine look!

Top image reproduced from Mario Testino / The Telegraph
Bottom image reproduced from healingdream / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Bridal Makeup Ideas

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wedding-bouquetWell he’s popped the big question. You’ve accepted and all the plans for the Big day are under way. Whether your hair and makeup is high or low on your priority list and whether you choose to do your own makeup or call in the professional’s there is no doubt that you would like to look completely flawless for that wow factor and for beautiful pictures.

Whether it is a natural fresh faced beauty look or a Vintage red lip and lash there are products out there to give you the look you so desire!
What are the top products that one would recommend to compliment whichever look you opt for? Facials once a month a few months prior
to the Wedding would be a great idea to get the basis for the makeup as buffed, smooth and pimple free as possible.

Hydrodermie by Guinot is said to be the most beautiful experience, relaxing with scents that envelope all of your senses and not only exude radiance but also have the ability to make you sleep at the same time. If a monthly facial is not something you can stretch to then a good base to give you that immediate radiant glow would be an old Favourite Clarins Beauty Flash Balm. It has qualities that can be used on it’s own or under your favourite foundation as a primer, perfect!!

On the subject of primers to give your skin that flawless perfection there is now a lot of choice on the Cosmetic Market. Daniel Sandler’s Primer is great for a drier skin and has a smooth consistency that feels like it is protecting the skin and acts like a natural filler at the same
time. Alternatively, MAC’s prep and prime with or without SPF can be applied under your foundation with a foundation brush.

Pop your foundation on top and within ten minutes your face will be free of pink tones and will be the perfect blank canvas ready for the rest of your makeup. Not only do these primers have the ability to make you look completely blemish free with no need for heavy cakey foundation but they have a longwear effect on the makeup you apply on top of them.

I like this analogy: imagine you are painting a wall, first you have to smooth and buff out the imperfections a bit like using facials and gentle scrubs to exfoliate the skin, the filler and primer is then added to the wall to even out the base tone on the wall the same as a primer would
blank out the tones and blemishes on the face. It is then that you are ready to add you paint or in our case the foundation.

Foundations that are wonderful for Weddings for a natural flawless look are dependent on your skin type. They range from the Water based MAC Face and Body which works in synergy with the prep and prime without any heaviness and still manages to look flawless without completely mattifying which works well for a slightly drier skin. For more coverage you can add an Estee Lauder smoothing crème concealer, Diorskin nude skin perfecting hydrating concealer or Mac select cover up. Alternatively Estee Lauder have worked miracles with their double wear foundation with built in primer which may be too mattifying for slightly older skin so they have now introduced Double Wear Light which is amazing for a natural matte coverage without being too heavy and is perfect for photographs and staying in place all day.

For that just pinched skin blusher look there is nothing out there like Benefit Benetint that has a wonderful rose scented aroma. Use this for the blushing bride look alongside Benefit High beam on the cheek bones for a natural and beautiful radiant glow.

There are some great Eye Palettes which could be used for the purpose of Wedding Makeup. Amongst the favourites are the Louise Young Eye Palette that has 5 colours in it all of which can be used to create a soft smoky-eyed effect for a bride. Another lovely palette is the Urban Decay Naked Palette which incorporates similar nude tones but with a mixture of matte and frosted colours to suit all skin types. Add the MAC Smoulder Eye liner blended with a pencil brush for a soft smokey and sultry effect and Estee Lauder Double Wear Mascara which is Waterproof and you are almost finished.

The lipstick you choose would be dependent on your theme. A natural lip colour would be used with a smoky eye or a nice red lip for a more Vintage look. Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics have wonderful lip glosses with an opaque look to them which acts more like a lipstick and gloss together. The nude colours work well with a smoky eye for a more classic bridal look and the red lipstick look with a more natural eye, black liner and lashes can be combined for the more Vintage/Hollywood Starlet Bridal look. For a more Matte Red lipstick Chanel, Dior and MAC have numerous different reds to suit any skin tone and hair colour.

All of these items help to create a wonderful Canvas and Beautiful Painting in the form of Bridal Makeup. For longevity the primers and the brushes used to blend all these looks together provide a look that will last all day and into the evening for that special day.

What to Wear to a Balinese Wedding

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Adrian Fernand – Australia’s seriously stylish agony uncle and creator of idobelieveicamewithahat.com – answers your questions on life, the universe and everything. This week, Adrian has advice for a UK reader on what to wear to a tropical wedding.

Dear Agony Uncle,

I’ve been invited to a friend’s wedding in Bali and it’s very important to me that I look good and make a great impression on the other guests. The invitation says dress is ‘warm cocktail climate’, so no suit jackets, but not living in a warm climate, I’m not clear what this does include. Can you advise me of what I should be wearing and where I should be getting it?

Tyler, London

Dear Tyler,

A Balinese wedding is perhaps one of the only occasions where wearing white isn’t only practical, but it is the type of situation where you wouldn’t risk upstaging the bride. Of course, a tropical climate is also fraught with the perils associated with poor water sanitation – Bali belly.

Let me take you on a journey back to my halcyon days of being a PR tart, flying across international waters to coordinate photo shoots of luxury resorts. Envious? Don’t be – it was sleeves-up, sweaty-crack, arduous work that could crush even the most resilient of publicists. With a limited budget – read: none – and a fistful of business cards, it was my duty to create a mock wedding in a tropical hideaway, pushing my way through the throngs bedecked with Bali braids and contraband Chanel. No wardrobe, no models, no clue; I managed to assemble a motley crew of ‘present-day attractive’ folk and source a borrowed wardrobe from Bali’s continental Seminyak district. Mid-shoot after a prepared lunch, one of our ‘models’ forgot the cardinal rule to not eat the fruit nor drink the water for fear of days of discomfort. Needless to say, the cream linen trousers he sported remained pristine for half an hour before he had to be stretchered out and the trousers peeled off. After witnessing what I saw, I’m reticent to raise children.

Remember that in the tropics comfort is key. An open-necked button-down shirt, pressed trousers are acceptable , but don’t be afraid to wear a splash of colour in the form of a silk handkerchief or a neck tie. Oh, and that splash of colour? I think you know there’s one you should avoid…

Image reproduced from puriwedding.com

Prince Harry: When Will He Propose?

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Relationship Expert and London Life Coach Sloan Sheridan-Williams talks about Prince Harry, Cressida Bonas, marriage proposals and the signs to look out for which tell if your boyfriend is about to propose. Sloan Sheridan-Williams is a London Life Coach, Relationship Expert, Wellbeing Consultant, Clinical Hypnotherapist and Sports Performance Coach. Watch Sloan’s relationship advice video and check out the links below for more on London Life Coach Sloan Sheridan-Williams.

Follow Sloan Life Coach on Twitter: @SloanSW_London

Like Sloan Life Coach on Facebook: www.facebook.com/sloanswlondon

Check out the website of Sloan Life Coach: www.sloansw.com

Sloan Sheridan-Williams

Kim Kardashian’s Wedding Extravaganza

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Being dubbed “the wedding of the summer” 30 year old Kim Kardashian, who garnered 74% of viewer vote up against rival Paris Hilton in the battle for the media proclaimed ‘REALITY TV Queen” married for the second time on Saturday 20th August in Southern California. The groom, 26 year old old New Jersey Nets basketball player, Kris Humphries prosposed to Kim in June.

The two dated for only 6 months prior to becoming engaged. On 20th August with 400 plus in attendance, including an approximate report of about 50 A List celebs in attendance, and under the glare of a reality television camera shutter lens, the two exchanged vows.

Kim’s stepdad, Brue Jenner escorted her down the aisle. Her younger sisters, Kylie and Kendall wore ivory bridesmaids dresses and the ringbearer was none other than little Mason, Kim Kardashian’s nephew and the son of Kim’s older sister, Kourtney and ill-fated boyfriend, Scott Disic.

Kim Kardashian has come a long way since the infamous relationship sex tape she made with her then boyfriend, Ray J , Brandy Norwood of ”Moesha” little brother. When Kim sued and settled for an undisclosed amount against the tape being released, the world became kim Kardashian’s “oyster!”

She ventured into a Reality TV Show with her family, called “Keeping Up With The Kardashians” where viewers got to see all sides of the Kardashian family dramas. The show became so popular that it produced several spin-off reality shows for the Kardashians; “Kourtney And Kim Take New York” follows the two sisters around the city as they open another of their Dash stores clothing line.

The younger of the three sisters, Khloe married Los Angeles Lakers basketballer Lamar Odom in 2010, after only 4 weeks of knowing each other which led to their reality show – “Khole and Lamar”.

Kim and her sisters, along with their manager mom, Kris Jenner, have amassed a small fortune in hocking everything from swimwear, fitness, fashions, perfumes, books and shoes to gracing the cover of famous magazines but it’s truly the relationships of these once lesser known industry publicity seekers that have viewers tuning in to watch. And did I tell you? The Kardashian number of tweets nearly tops The President Of The United States!

I think the Kardashian’s are on a roll and they’re not going away anytime soon. Kim and Kris’s Saturday nuptials will be televised in October as a special wedding documentary. Can’t wait for that…

The wedding of Kim Kardashian to Kris Humphries was, according to one insider, ”well produced and well staged.” And Kim was definitely channeling the British Royal Wedding as she oversaw preparations for her extravagant California nuptials.

From the themed black and white guest lists to the bride’s three Vera Wang gowns and 10 tier wedding cake, the event was from all reports a wedding fit for a princess.

And the money made from this wedding according to The Post totals a whopping $17.9 million. As of this writing, it’s being reported the couple are heading off for a short European honeymoon… hmmm, maybe they’re headed to collect from Britian’s OK! Magazine for allowing them exclusive rights to Kim’s bridal shower!

Okay, lovelies, the follow-up to the “show me the money” post will have to wait for another day of entertainment news and views. You won’t want to miss it!

Images reproduced from bellasugar.com and earsucker.com

William and Kate – Will They Last?

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London Life Coach & Relationship Expert Sloan Sheridan-Williams talks about Prince William and Kate Middleton giving her opinion on the likely success of their relationship ahead of the forthcoming Royal Wedding. Follow Sloan Life Coach on Twitter @SloanSW_London and check out Sloan’s Life Coaching website www.sloansw.com

Well a question no doubt on everyone’s lips is whether Wills and Kate are destined to be together. Many people wonder whether the temporary split is still a niggle between them or whether it is the foundation that will hold them together. When people are not pondering about this they are questioning whether Kate has what it takes to be part of the Royal family given her different background, but perhaps it is these differences that make this couple so special.

I think the official interview (courtesy of the Royal Channel) given by the couple as shown in this clip below is a good indicator as to the success of their relationship.

In the beginning of this interview, Prince William is asked about how he proposed. All in all he seems proud that he was romantic and the setting in Africa seems idealistic. It is interesting to note around 58 seconds into the clip, he purses his lips almost as if he is holding some information back. He then licks his lips which could be as simple as a comforter or could be because his mouth is dry which is one indicator that someone could be withholding information. At the end of the day, this couple should have some secrets and be allowed to not reveal everything so I would conclude that the proposal story is genuine and although a long time coming was actually perfectly timed for this happy couple.

It is interesting to note that William’s comforters increase when Kate is talking. For example, his hands touch each other more, at some stages actually rubbing his fingers. This is seen throughout the clip, a good example is just after a minute in but if you watch closely it is pretty constant. He is obviously no stranger to media questions so I would also hazard a guess it is because Kate is now being subjected to questioning, which she has not been accustomed to in such a way before.

The couple are however very natural at times, William more so. A good clip to see this is approximately 2:18 minutes in when he is talking about how he feels like a duck calm on the surface of the water but little feet paddling frantically beneath. William is full of genuine smiles, animated language and hand gestures. He continues to openly discuss his feelings and how it was difficult to hide the engagement which again seems genuine, his hand gestures are open and there are no signs of deception on his face. It appears he also kept quiet about the engagement to give Kate time to adapt and change her mind. Luckily she didn’t as they do seem like a potentially good couple, it is almost beautiful to watch as the interviewer proceeds in asking about children (approx. 4:18mins in) and Wills has a shy but excited smile and Kate’s face lights up with a full on nervous giggle to boot. It is a shame that this natural burst of emotion is quickly maintained by both parties and you see Kate very aware of the cameras again. This is not a criticism as no doubt it must be hard for her. You cannot choose who you love.

The interview continues on with a lot of hand comforters from William and a few mouth indicators from Kate showing at times a repressed desire to speak and at others a frustration and tension.

At 9:18mins in the interviewer has asked about the break up and you can see immediately Kate brushes her hair back, then you can see her physically relive some obviously very tough moments for her. Her lips turn down showing outwards signs of sadness and displeasure but she brings it back with a vocabulary that makes her appear like the strong woman that she will have to be to live in this media spotlight.

The couple no doubt have extra stress and strain from the press but when William talks about the relationship being fun (11:10mins) you see a genuine interaction and exchange between the couple which is no doubt how their friends see them

The interviewer then takes it to a point which I think a little unfair, but perhaps that is just life in the spotlight, when he mentions Diana and how Kate will live up to her memory. William quite obviously looks sad and it does not take an expert to see this. Kate on the receiving end of the question deflects it as best she can but her body language including nose flair, pursed lips, deep swallow and even a lick of her lips during the word intimidating tell a very different story. It seems an unfair question as no-one is asking Kate to be Diana but one that they both did well to recover from considering how difficult they found it.

Another potential unfair question (in my opinion) was when the reporter asked Kate how she felt about criticism. No doubt anyone would be lying if they said they were ok with horrendous rumours going around about them whether they are true or not, so it was no surprise to see deeper swallows (15.10mins onwards) with Kate looking down, lips turned downwards, and an outright deflection of the question. This reporter didn’t give up and repeats the question and Kate shows that she is already learning to deflect questions, she needs more practice in controlling her body language but I think that will come in time as her vocabulary although slightly stilted is very good at avoidance.

It is nice to see the couple return to a happier state at around 16:32mins in when they both have very genuine and animated reactions to the question about whether they are excited about the wedding. It is even sweeter to see Wills comfort Kate at 17:10mins by patting her on the knee while she is talking about learning the ropes and working hard at being his wife.

The interview finally ends as expected with relief from the couple that they survived.

I think this video showed Kate can handle the press, yes she needs work but it will come. It was a valiant effort; Will is obviously there to support her through it all. As a couple I think they will do wonderfully, although a quick brush up on controlling a few of their indicators from their experts and speech writers would probably hold them in good stead for the future as the media can be a tough forum to start out a marriage.

I wish them all the best and hope for sunshine on their happy day.

Top image reproduced from MamaPop
Bottom image reproduced from Bespoke Wardrobe