Style by Claire Lopez

Wedding Belles

It’s that time of year so dust off your hats and heels because it is wedding and event season. With Ascot only a few weeks away and churches and venues booked up here, there and everywhere it is highly likely you are faced with the prospect of needing a frock. While there may still be dress codes at play, the way we dress has changed and gone are the days when a structured, hold in your tummy Reiss bandage dress was what was required. And that’s a good thing because the dresses du jour have a whole lot more to them versatility wise and because grown up dressing is on the agenda, there are plenty of affordable high street options.

Here’s how to do the silly season without filling your wardrobe with one trick ponies and bankrupting yourself in the process (ok there are a couple of pricier options but lots under £100 to tempt too).

Floaty Florals

Monsoon’s Heidi Print Maxi Dress £109 is perfect for an English country wedding but is so bang on trend it would do the job for many a celebration.

As too would the Heidi Print Kaftan Dress £129.

&Other Stories has some lovely wrap dresses including this little floral number £69.

Zara’s Floral Print Midi Dress £69 is also very lovely.

As is their Ruffled Floral Print Dress £79.99 minus the ridiculous hat, boots and clutch combo which you would obviously lose immediately unless you have a fancy dress/festival theme going on. Fingers crossed you don’t.

Massimo Dutti has this Floral Print Dress with buttons £99.95 . 

Or you can kill two trends with one stone in this Spot Floral Bead Maxi Dress £65 from Topshop.

And with Rixo London’s Rose Ruffled Printed Silk Maxi Dress £315 from Anthropologie.

Boden’s Icons range has this very special Cressida Tassel Dress £300  with the sequin embellishment. It’s already sold out in 8, 16 and 18 so hurry if you like the look of this. Their Beatrix dress which was to die for is sold out already damn it.

While the other options have been pretty and feminine, this is a bold number great for weddings abroad: Floral Printed Dress £89. Not that I have any weddings abroad, nor any weddings for that matter but I still tried it on.

And although this is not a dress, jumpsuits are a firm fixture on the event circuit so try this Floral Print Jumpsuit £59.99 from Mango.

Sporty Stripes

I love this Wide Strap Midi Dress £56 from Warehouse which is in a lovely floaty, silky material and although it looks casual with a pair of flat sandals, add some strappy block heeled sandals and you will be turning heads.

Another goodie is this Diagonal Stripe Midi Dress £49 from Topshop. And it has sleeves which is always a bonus.

Boden’s Kathleen Midi Dress £130 comes in this stripe.

Or try LK Bennett’s Ambery Poppy Silk Dress £295 which comes in this red stripe and a blue stripe as well.

Bold Brights

If print and pattern are not for you, then fear not, because there are a whole host of block coloured options to choose from and bright red/orange is the colour of the season. This Asymmetric Sleeveless Dress £69 from Warehouse oozes style in a nonchalant way and that is why floaty wins hands down for me.

For a black tie type wedding or one abroad, this Robyn Maxi Dress £169 from Monsoon is beautiful.

Or there is this Silk Dress £110 from &Other Stories.

A more traditional option would be this Nora Lace Pleat Mix Dress £199 from Whistles. You may need to order from store as the website is out of stock in most sizes but House of Fraser has stock on all sizes except 14.

For a different colour try Topshop’s Jacquard Ruffle Wrap Midi Dress £49 which also comes in a bright pink.

Or this Pleated Dress £89.95 from Massimo Dutti.

Or following on from last week’s blog, try this Blond Lace applique dress £69.99 from Mango. If you don’t like the canary yellow it also comes in a sophisticated nude. The Self-Portrait effect has had a welcome trickle down effect onto the high street with lots of very good versions at a fraction of the cost.

One of a kind

Ok so not strictly speaking falling into a particular category – and not one for Ascot or a traditional wedding. However, if you have need of a dress for a fun wedding – be that Ibiza/abroad or even festival-y at home, then this Luiza Embellished Dress £199 from Monsoon is where I’m putting my money. You can wear it with flat sandals or heels depending on the vibe.

So now all that is left to do is raise your glass in a toast (oh and the hair, make-up, shoes and accessories… it’s tough being a woman!)

 

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