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In Fashion

The top wedding dress silhouettes

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Wedding dress shopping can be stressful. With so many cuts and styles available, brides can easily become overwhelmed by the options. To make things easier, here’s our wedding gown 101 guide to the most popular wedding dress silhouettes.

 

Ball gown:

Also known as princess style, this wedding dress silhouette is characterised by a full skirt, fitted bodice and natural waist. It is the most traditional of the silhouettes, often considered the most romantic and feminine due to its fairytale-esque shape. This cut works well on most body types, especially more straight figures as it creates shape. However, more petite brides might get lost in the fullness of the skirt.

Famous brides that have worn this look include Mariah Carey, Serena Williams and Diana, Princess of Wales.

 

 

Mermaid:

This silhouette is for the daring bride. This curve-hugging cut is fitted to the brides body from the chest to the knees, where it flares out. It works best on brides that want to enhance their curvy shape.

Kim Kardashian, Melania trump and Khloe Kardashian stunned in this wedding dress style.

 

A-line:

While similar to a ballgown, the A-line silhouette skirt is more flowy in style. The fitted bodice flows into the skirt forming an upperclass ‘A’ shape.

Priyanka Chopra, Duchess Kate Middleton, and Allison Williams have worn this style.

 

 

Trumpet:

Also known as fit-and-flare, this style is fitted on the bodice and flares out mid thigh, making it a blend of an A-line and mermaid silhouette. It is typically easier to move around in than a mermaid dress. This style works best on brides wanting to accentuate their waists.

Beyonce, Ciara, and Michelle Kwan all wore this style on their Big Day.

 

Empire waist:

This wedding dress silhouette it fitted and flares out underneath the bust. They are flattering for most body shapes and are comfortable to wear.

Celebrity brides that have worn this style include Kelly Clarkson and Priscilla Presley.

 

Drop waist:

The drop waist silhouette is essentially an A-line gown with a lower waistline. Instead of flowing from the natural waist, drop waist gowns begin to flow from the hips. This style hugs your waist and hips, making it perfect for brides wanting to accentuate these parts of their body.

Caroline Kennedy and Poppy Delevigne have worn this style for their wedding day.

 

 

Sheath:

This classic style features a narrow shape that flows  straight down from the neckline to the hemline. Brides with more athletic or lean builds look best in this style. It also works well on petite brides as the straight lines work to elongate bodies.

Celebrity brides that have donned this silhouette include Jada Pinkett Smith and Princess Charlene of Monaco.

 

 

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In News

Bride stuns wedding guests with 63kg weight loss

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A welsh bride lost 63kg for her wedding day, stunning her wedding guests with her incredible physical transformation.

Claire Williams (44) from Wales has battled with her weight for the majority of her life.
Speaking to Fabulous Digital, she said, “I was a chunky child and in my early 20s I was about a size 14 which was fine. But I just got bigger and bigger. Any food I could find I’d put in my mouth.”

“I would eat a stupid amount of bread – almost a loaf a day. I’d have it with every single meal of the day. Breakfast, lunch and dinner, too.”

At her heaviest, she weighed 125kg. Her weight began to negatively affect her life in many ways.

“I was beginning to suffer with my mobility. When I got on a plane I sat in my seat the whole journey without moving once – terrified if I undid my seat belt I’d never do it up again.”

At her heaviest she weighed 125kgs. Credit: Facebook

When she met her now-husband Matthew in 2013, however, everything changed.

“Matthew loved me unconditionally. He met me when I was fat and he got a lot of stick. People asked him why he was going out with a fat lass like me.”

Matthew received lots of criticism for dating her, which is what made things truly change for her. She decided to embark on a weight-loss journey, this time sticking to it because she knew she had the full support of her partner.

“Having such a wonderful partner who loves you unconditionally is amazing. If it wasn’t for him, I’d not be the healthy and happy woman I am today.”

With his support, she joined a Slimming World group, a UK-based weight loss organisation. The group members quickly became family to her during her weight loss journey, so much so that she even asked her consultant to be one of her bridesmaids.

Through this programme, Williams lost a dramatic 63kg, almost half her body weight. She now feels full of energy, and has a renewed confidence. Her weight loss also had another important effect. As she lost the weight, she discovered a prominent lump in her stomach that turned out to be a tumour. She had the non-cancerous tumour removed, and feels lucky that her weight loss helped her discover the tumour.

“It’s shocking to think I had something that big in my stomach and I had no idea.”

Credit: Facebook

She confidently walked down the aisle on her wedding day, stunning guests with her transformation.

“I did feel truly amazing on my wedding day. Walking down the aisle felt wonderful. Matthew did nothing but tell me how beautiful I was and the whole day was fantastic,” she said.

She looked confident and happy on her wedding day. Credit: Facebook

Picture: Facebook

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In Accessories

Why brides wear wedding veils

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One of the most time-honoured traditions still in existence today is the wedding day. Traditional weddings include a host of specific customs that brides typically engage in, one of them being wearing a wedding veil.

For centuries, lovebirds and strangers have been getting hitched and brides donned the famous headwear. Widely considered just another fashion accessory on your big day, the wedding veil actually has an interesting history.

The history of the the wedding veil

The wedding veil is arguably the oldest part of the wedding ensemble. There is some contention over its specific history, but most wedding historians pinpoint ancient Greeks and Romans as the first people to wear the wedding veil. According to Julie Sabatino, expert bridal stylist and founder of the The Stylish Bride, brides of this time wore the wedding veil to disguise themselves from evil spirits aiming to spoil their joy. Some accounts show that veils were red in hue to symbolise the fire of the betrothed’s commitment as well as to ward off evil spirits.

Wedding historian Susan Waggoner speaks of the Christian symbolism of the veil, telling Brides.com that in ancient times, people “wrapped brides from head to toe to represent the delivery of a modest and untouched maiden.” These were also the days of arranged marriages, when a bride’s virginity was her most important marker. The veil thus became a way of representing modesty and purity. The veil also acted as a method of concealing the bride’s face to the groom to prevent him from getting cold feet and running away from the stranger he was about to marry.

In Judaism biblical times, the groom would place the veil on his bride as a symbol that he was marrying her for her inner beauty.

The 18th century saw the veil fall out of fashion as brides opted for caps, bonnets, tiaras, jewels, wreaths and other adornments. However, they came back in style when Queen Victoria donned a four yards (3,7m) by 0.75 yards (0.7m) wide veil during her wedding to Prince Albert on 10 February, 1840. Following her iconic wedding, the veil became a symbol for wealth, status and style. The length, weight and quality of the veil all spoke highly of the status of the bride. This is why royal brides traditionally wore the longest veils.

Roger Fenton / Getty Images

The wedding veil today

Today, the wedding veil is largely seen as an optional accessory. Many brides opt out of wearing wedding veils. Some consider it too traditional and unnecessary, others just don’t like the look. However, it is still quite popular and is largely used as another fashionable element to your Big Day. Many celebrity brides have famously donned the wedding veil, including Ciara, Princess Diana, Kim Kardashian and Duchess Meghan Markle.

 

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In Decor

Stunning wedding arches to elevate your wedding

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As the backdrop to your wedding, your wedding arch quite literally frames your ceremony. Flowers, fabrics and unusual shapes bring your wedding arch a unique, personal touch guaranteed to wow your guests. Here are some ideas to elevate your wedding arch:

Flower power:

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bse0c15lGEl/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

https://www.instagram.com/p/BziTmsDAANc/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

https://www.instagram.com/p/B3JtUbKAEXo/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

https://www.instagram.com/p/B3LCJCDAJeD/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

https://www.instagram.com/p/B1uDEBtITCA/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

https://www.instagram.com/p/BzO2HOVpUcQ/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Boho bride:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BrgtQkpASOc/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

https://www.instagram.com/p/BxK5zscgSnp/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

https://www.instagram.com/p/B3NxKLSnpnX/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Quirky:

https://www.instagram.com/p/B0YAA3Ij9kh/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

https://www.instagram.com/p/B3MsrrDjtC8/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

https://www.instagram.com/p/B3Lcob1JoWk/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

 

https://www.instagram.com/p/B3ULL7yhJ49/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

https://www.instagram.com/p/BopMrBSF3An/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

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In Wedding Gowns

12 Wedding dresses with beautiful back detail

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When it comes to ‘business in the front and party at the back’, wedding dresses with gorgeous back detail have got it down.

Whether you’re looking for something simple, modern or over the top, we’ve got all the (local!) inspiration you need for your dream wedding dress right here:

Elbeth Gillis

Robyn Roberts

 

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Introducing: ✨ P E R L A ✨ Designed to appeal to the modern, relaxed bride who is looking for something a little bit different but still wants to feel comfortable on her wedding day. The geometric lace used for Perla’s bodice is really unique and we have a limited amount available. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Perla is part of our NEW Macao collection and is available to try on in our studio now ✨ by appointment only, visit www.robynroberts.co.za ✨ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #wedressdreams ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Can we also just take a moment to give some love to @nicola_katie who photographed our most recent shoot? She captured the delicacy of our dresses so beautifully and with such an artistic eye. We love your work, Nicola!

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Anna Georgina

Lena Lisa

Cindy Bam

 

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#cindybambride “I felt so amazing in my dress and loved working with you.” Laura

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Vagabond

Image: Pritti by Migneon Marais (model wearing Cindy Bam)

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In Advice

Sure-fire ways to keep your skin calm for your wedding day

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You wake up on the day of your wedding and your skin is on fire. Although it’s not ideal, there are easy ways to soothe and calm skin down in a flash by following a few simple steps and being prepared.

In advance

It’s an absolute fact that stress and anxiety causes inflammation, which could potentially worsen conditions like eczema, psoriasis and general sensitivity. It also disrupts your sleep pattern, leading to less efficient time for your skin to recover and, thus, a duller appearance. However, saying you should reduce stress and actually doing it are two very different things. But it is crucial to your skin’s sanity. Helping your body and mind relax a little could be as simple as going for a walk, taking a well-deserved nap or starting your day with a few minutes of meditation. This will help reduce cortisol levels which will bring down inflammation. Along with that, make sure you drink enough water to keep your skin hydrated from the inside and up your energy levels.

The day before

Try to keep your skin as clean as possible the day before – that means no make-up, no harsh products, and no crazy masks or treatments. Also, stay out of the sun completely. Avoid salty food and alcohol as this can cause further puffiness. Before you go to bed, make sure your skin is properly cleansed and do a very light exfoliation with a formula that you trust. Lastly, seal in moisture with a good, hydrating moisturiser while your skin is still damp, then call it an early night.

The day of

If you’ve been taking proper care of your skin in the months and days leading up to the big day, you should be fine – but Murphy’s Law always has something else planned. Don’t fear, just reach for the ice. Should you wake up with red, itchy and inflamed skin on the morning of your wedding, wash your face with a gentle cream cleanser. It should contain ingredients such as chamomile, aloe vera, and lavender for an ultra calming effect. Then, take a few ice blocks and wrap them in a soft, damp face cloth or muslin cloth. Gently press the ice to irritated areas on your face for a good few minutes to help calm down inflammation and constrict blood vessels. Take this time to relax and lie down, or take a cool bath. Apply a soothing mask with a high aloe vera content afterward and keep it on until you need to start getting your make-up done.

Our favourite redness-reducing heroes:

Bioderma Cicabio Creme R236.95 Available at Clicks. Picture: Supplied
The Body Shop Aloe Soothing Rescue Cream Mask R210 Available at The Body Shop Picture: Supplied
Aloe Unique Aloe & Honey Gel Mask R119 Available online at aloeunique.co.za Picture: Supplied
Dermalogica Calm Water Gel R949 Available online at dermalogica.co.za Picture: Supplied

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In Accessories

From drab to fab with these hair accessories

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We’ve rounded up some of the coolest hair accessories under the sun, fit for the modern bride looking for something a little different.
Headbands
They’re back! Big and bold, or slim and subtle, which ever you prefer. Headbands have the power to uplift your entire look with an added touch of elegance. What’s more, they’re reusable long after the wedding, and if you grow tired of them on the day, you can simply slip it off without compromising your perfectly crafted ‘do.

Dramatic veils
Although some brides are opting to forgo the tradition altogether, the veil still adds a romantic element that few other accessories can compare with. Instead of going the traditional route, set your sights on something more dramatic – think embellishments, opulent details or interesting fabrics to take you from basic to breathtaking.
3-D Florals
Forget flower crowns. Floral appliqués offer a fresh take on the otherwise bohemian alternative. Incorporate them into your hair in any way you deem fit. Clip it into your updo or ponytail along your hairline, or scattered throughout loose strands to look as though confetti has landed perfectly on your hair.
Barrettes
This quirky look has come a long way since the 90s. From  glitter and crystals, to pearls and diamonds, bridal barrettes are the perfect addition to your hairstyle for an updated take on traditional bobby pins that are mostly hidden away. Keep it subtle, or stack them on – either way you’ll win.
Hats
There’s absolutely no reason why you can’t wear a beautiful hat on your wedding day. It can take you from relaxed boho bride to ultra sophisticated, and you always have the option of taking it off when you feel it’s done it’s job (of making you look cool, that is).
Image: Unsplash
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