British Bridal Show

We have had New York, then London & Milan, followed by Paris fashion weeks: now it is back to Britain for the bridal shows.

Alice Temperley

This is one occasion when you can't beat going and seeing what is happening. It is a brilliant opportunity to meet up with other people in the bridal industry and to catch up on the latest news. The UK show cases all its talent and international competitors join the celebration.

Lots of bridal ideas

The Latest in British Menswear

International Catwalk shows

Stunning accessories

I will keep you up to date with anything new and exciting once I am back.

London fashion week

It was a fabulously fashionable affair filled with the best of Britain's style crowd.

But superstar Rihanna had no trouble at all eclipsing everybody when she attended Stella McCartney's Winter 2012 London Evening Wear Presentation and dinner in Mayfair, London on Saturday night.

The singer oozed sex appeal in a slinky green wrap dress which broke all the tradition rules with a plunging neckline, tantalisingly low back and thigh-high slit, but worked beautifully.

These days I find that this luzurious flowing satin is very popular.
There are the most beautiful shades to choose from and you can use the shiney side in contrast to the dull side.

However I loved the detail  of her outfit for the Brit Awards.
She wore a gold backless gown by Givenchy Haute Couture by Riccardo Tisci
The mix of dress detail and the beads, even the contrast of the leather gloves were stunning.

               

 

Katie Melua wore a black flrity dress by Danniii Minogue's fashion line

Kylie in an Yves St Laurent dress

Jessie J at the Brit AwardsSongstress Jessie J wore a striking red sheer gown by Falguni & Shane Peacock

Then in anVivienne Westwood red dress Lana Del Rey. However back to the London Fashion Week.

Designer Vivienne Westwood hits the runway with models from her Red Label show at My Beautiful Fashion held in Goldsmith's Hall on Sunday. On launching her new collection, the couture queen said people have "never looked so ugly as they do today, regarding their dress".
However Dame Vivienne got a hard time for what she was wearing .

Ambassador for the British Fashion Council (BFC) Samantha Cameron hosted a reception for the movers and shakers of London Fashion Week at 10 Downing Street on Tuesday night. From left: BFC chief executive Caroline Rush, designer Mary Katrantzou, designer Roksanda Ilincic, designer Sir Paul Smith, Samantha Cameron, Net-a-Porter’s Natalie Massanet, BFC chairman Harold Tillman, designer Anya Hindmarch and Vodafone’s Danielle Crook

Model Cara Delevingne leads the runway at the Burberry Prorsum show in a specially erected glass house in Hyde Park. The production team put on special weather effects to show off Burberry’s autumn/winter collection for London Fashion Week.

While Issa's collection seemed to have a "Kate" look.

Models walk down a carpet of brown autumn leaves for the McQ Alexander McQueen show.

Inspiration indeed.

New York Fashion Week

Models walked a wintry runway for Badgley Mischka’s fall 2012 fashion show on Tuesday, the sixth day of New York Fashion Week, taking place at Lincoln Center, New York
Last weeks New York fashion week as always was an inspiration. It is good to see the trends and to keep up to date with what is up and coming. This week we have London Fashion Week. I thought I would help you follow what I find interesting.
So you know and adore Alexander McQueen. You've followed Sarah Burton down the aisle at the royal wedding. Now it's time for you to get to know Sebastian Pons, one of the founding members of the McQueen design team.
Formally one to shy away from the spotlight of the McQueen legacy, Sebastian Pons recently unveiled his watermark collection under his own name at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York City.
After gathering his inspiration back in his hometown of Majorca, Spain (not a bad 'hood to pick up some visual inspiration), Pons prepared his collection in the heart of Gramercy Park here in Manhattan.

Sebastian Pons' two-part presentation featured demi-couture womenswear inspired by folk art, laced with Victorian period details. He's totally fascinated with American heritage, so it's no surprise he held his intimate presentation at SPiN, Manhattan's finest ping-pong club-turned-bar owned by Susan Sarandon.

Pons' pieces definitely have a little McQueen in their silhouettes of bustles and bustiers. But his personal flair is all in his daring mixing and matching of textures.

"Vintage revival is something relevant to the American story of today and something I focus on with this collection," said Pons. "I start by recycling elements and materials of the old to create something new in the dresses, skirts and jackets in a similar way that pieces and love and heritage are brought together to create the American quilt. I hope my designs touch all kinds of women–modern women inspired to incorporate pieces of this collection into favorite wardrobe looks".

I know it is not what we would be seen out in while doing our shopping in Northern Ireland, but it is good to think outside the box and take a bit of inspiration from the past and mix it up and make it funky and modern . These ideas can easily translate in to bridal. Study the veil in this picture with the hat and this is a modern take on the idea of a veil for a bride.

To give you more inspiration from the New york fashion scene, have a look at these designs from

Badgley and Mischka with a more sharper edge for 2012.

To all the brides out there, be as individual as you can. The bride who dires to be different will be remembered, hopefully for the right reasons. If you reflect who you are, and your friends and family know you, you should be able to get it right. My favourite compliment is when I hear someone say that was just the bride. Get help and advice if you are not sure of what you think suits you. Try on different things just to check that you are sure that you have got it right. You only do this once so enjoy the fun of it all and also make sure you don't make any mistakes.

Something Old, something New.

"Lace" and "Vintage" seem to be still here for 2012, but the new thing is the idea of colour. Vera Wang has followed the trend of being influenced with a hint of colour in her bridal range. It is easier to do if you are having no bridesmaids, then you don't have the problem of what colour to add for the bridesmaids. My own personal preference is that the bride should always be in the lightest colour. The bride that dares to be different, the idea of a colour however isn't different, has got a good chance that she will wear her dress again and again. Colour is evident in the collections of wedding dresses in the Ulster Museum and the Folk Museum as it was a more common practise at the beginning of the last century. To be honest colour is easier to wear than ivory or white.

Say it with lace

Something different with lace, note the sleeves.

Dresses at special offer

Call in and see for yourself or make an appointment to try on dresses

If you can't find a dress off the peg that is perfect then it can be made for you.
Nothing but the best for you on your wedding day.

Still some sale items on offer this week.

Thanks to everyone who supported me at my Open weekend. I have some things still on special offer if it is of interest to any of you.

classic strapless dress for £750

If you are the same size as this dummy then you ae in luck as I did this dress after seeing the dress that Kate wore for the night time of her wedding day. Mine has a train floating from a cirular skirt in the dress. I added the idea of the belt to show off a tiny waist. This dress is on offer off the peg to the first person that loves it.
It is ivory zibeline with silver and crystal beads as the decoration.