Trends & Ideas - SouthBound Bride

Bridesmaids in Skirts

23 May, 2013 by gaby

Images: Jessica Kettle Photography via Bridesmaid.com

Evening, lovelies! Time for some more bridesmaid fashion inspiration, but today instead of looking at dresses, the trend we’re focusing on is bridesmaid skirts. I think this trend started with LDS weddings in the US, but I absolutely love how stylish and sophisticated the look is, and it’s actually really budget friendly. As with all the trends I’ve highlighted so far, there are lots of ways of working bridesmaid skirts and tops – identical skirts and tops, mismatched tops, mismatched skirts, casual tops, formal ones… you can pretty much customise it to whatever look you want. In fact, I think bridesmaid separates a particularly good option if you’re struggling to find dresses that fit with the style you envision – definitely consider the skirt option, whether simple or textured, short or long. I’ve actually worn this as a bridesmaid before (my friend Abbie was so ahead of her time!) and I have to say that it was comfortable, flattering and really pretty. So here are my favourites from t’internets. *Links in bold denote affiliate links. The cost to you remains the same, but SBB may receive a commission for any sales made.

Great Gatsby Bridesmaid Dresses

17 May, 2013 by gaby

*UPDATED FOR 2021* Hello lovelies, are you all ready for your weekend? I have a rare personal post coming up today, but first, it’s time to look at another awesome bridesmaid dress trend and this is one I’ve been looking forward to highlighting for a while. I don’t know about you, but I LOVE The Great Gatsby. Ever since I read it, I’ve been a little bit obsessed with the roaring ’20s. I’m also a little bit obsessed with Baz Luhrmann – Strictly Ballroom is my ALL TIME favourite film, with Romeo + Juliet coming a close second (although, let’s not talk about Moulin Rouge or Australia, kay?). So as you can imagine, I am dying to see the film. And the timing is perfect, because fashion and wedding world have been jonesing for this for ages – 1920s keeps being a trend, and it keeps getting better, especially with all the gorgeous embellished dresses around at the moment. Seriously, could someone doing this please make me their bridesmaid? Because I so want an excuse to wear one of these beauties. Full disclosure: it’s not the most budget-friendly look, but it is mismatched (or even matched), glam, perfection. You don’t need to be having a vintage or Gatsby-themed wedding to pull it off either, but it will add a gorgeous touch of dapper flapper to your wedding style.

*Links in bold denote affiliate links. SBB may receive a commission for any sales made.

Glitter Bridesmaid Dresses

9 May, 2013 by gaby

Image: Chelsey Boatwright Photography/Badgley Mischka via Grey Likes Wedding

It’s time for GLITTER, y’all! Because, to paraphrase Audrey Hepburn, glitter is ALWAYS a good idea. Or at least, a little glitter. And one of my absolute favourite places to see some sparkle in a wedding is on the bridesmaids. Sequin bridesmaid dresses feel fabulous (ask me – I wore a sequin gold dress to my 21st – so ahead of my time! – and felt like a Bond girl all night long). They look awesome in pictures. And you get that touch of glitter and glam without having to use it on your tables if you feel like it may be a bit too much. Plus, with sequins and metallics on trend in general, there’s no shortage of options in the shops. So today we’re rounding up SBB’s favourite shimmery bridesmaids, and as always, adding shopping options for those of you currently on a BM dress hunt. Go forth and shine!
This post contains affiliate links. SBB may receive a commission for any sales made.

Coloured Glassware

17 April, 2013 by gaby

Image source: We Love Pictures/Wedding Concepts via Style Me Pretty

Hello lovelies! Sorry today’s post is a bit late – I had the most random technical failure in the history of SBB, no kidding. My laptop charger died, which very quickly meant a dead laptop. Gah. Thank goodness for the SBB technical department (aka my incredibly helpful housemate Olly) who had a spare. ANYWAY, it’s Wednesday Trendsday (how is it the first time I’ve called it that?) and we’re taking a little break from our bridesmaid dress series to look at one of my very favourite decor trends. Coloured glass, you guys. It’s such a simple thing, but it seriously makes a table, which is no wonder that every stylist I know uses this whenever they can (in fact, I think I myself have done it somehow on all of my shoots!). I first fell in love with it at this wedding, and since then I have always noticed the subtle but very cohesive look it gives a table, and the way that it brings a colour palette to life in such an elegant way, not to mention the visual interest it adds. Now, I know what you’re thinking – fine for a shoot, too expensive for a 100 people right? Well, actually, no. For one thing, you can hire coloured glasses, sometimes for not much more than those you’d be hiring anyway. (Of course, if you’re having an intimate wedding, I’d go ahead and buy a set of glasses, which will always be a treasured addition to your diningware.) Or try buying a particular colour of glass at charity shops and car boot sales – you wouldn’t believe what treasure’s you’ll unearth, and if you have a vintage or boho vibe, then they don’t need to match. Another way to recreate the look is to use the glasses as vases instead of drinking glasses – that way you need fewer per table, and you could even buy cheap clear glasses at second hand shops and colour them with glass paint or dip them in gold paint (colour at the base of the glass only works just as well). Today’s pics focus on coloured wine glasses, but you can find many, many inspirational pics on Pinterest for coloured glassware in general.Read More

Floral Print Bridesmaid Dresses

10 April, 2013 by gaby

Image: One O.A.K Photography/Sohomode via One Stylish Bride

It’s bridesmaid dress time again! So far you all have been loving this series, where we’ve already covered some of the other 2013 bridesmaid trends: lace, stripes and ice cream pastels. Which has been your favourite? Today we’re looking at florals, one of the prettiest sides of 2013’s print trend, and with floral dresses being very much in fashion right now, there’s plenty to choose from! There are lots of way to do this – mismatch prints, put bridesmaids in the same dresses – but for me the one I like best (and that I think will date the least) is to mix prints with block colours as you’ll see some of the bridesmaids in this roundup do. It’s such a lovely look! Whatever you do, try to remember the shape of the dress as well as the print – even with a lot else going on, your girls want to look their very best. For the same reason, make sure you take their colouring into account, the way you would do with a solid colour. As with previous posts in the series, I’ve rounded up my favourite real bridesmaid looks, as well as some off-the-rack picks for your shopping pleasure!

Ice Cream Pastel Bridesmaid Dresses

3 April, 2013 by gaby

Image: Skyla Walton/ via Green Wedding Shoes

Hello lovelies, have you recovered from the gorgeousness that was this morning’s wedding? Good-o, because this afternoon we’re continuing our series on the key bridesmaid looks for 2013, with inspiration from real weddings as well as some off-the-rack finds. So far you all have been loving this particular set of posts, and we’ve already covered lace and stripes, with more to come. Today is all about pastels – or more specifically, mix ‘n match ice cream pastels. I absolutely LOVE this look, whether with matching dresses in different colours or a complete mixed vibe. If your girls have quite different looks, this is a fantastic option, and it also goes brilliantly with the Cape country vintage look, as shown off by our Real Life Bride, Cheryl, last year. It’s colourful without being too bold, and just because you go for a mixed bridesmaid palette doesn’t mean that the rest of the wedding needs to be in multiple shades. That makes it really useable while still being pretty and whimsical and fun, which is probably why it’s gained in popularity. So here we go, my favourite sorbet bridesmaids – and some pastel pretties from the high street as well.

Click on any of the dress images below to shop. And for the most recent BM dress finds, check in with our Bridesmaid Boutique Pinterest Board.Read More

Striped Bridesmaid Dresses

27 March, 2013 by gaby

Image: Jonathan Canlas Photography/Thread Social via Brooklyn Bride

Hello lovelies – how are you enjoying your long weekend so far? Today I’m bringing you the latest in our new series on the top looks for bridesmaids in 2013, and this week we’re looking at a subset of prints – one of 2013’s biggest trends. Stripes are such an accessible print, particularly monochrome stripes, which are very much the look. They work well with a variety of looks – everything from a nautical wedding to a preppy one to those with a bit of a French influence, or just one that looks fresh and fashion forward. It’s no accident that the images I’m sharing today have already been pinned like crazy – every time a set of stripey bridesmaids hits the net we all fall madly in love with it. Just one word of advice – as a bride, you want your girls to feel comfy, and some stripey dresses can be super unflattering for a curvy bridesmaid. Opt for a narrower stripe, a stripey skirt with a block coloured top, or just make sure to let everyone try on your choice before you buy, as you never really know which are going to work until you get them on. Apart from that, stripes away! Here are some of my favourite looks, and some off-the-rack options to recreate them.

Click on any of the dress images below to shop. And for the most recent bridesmaid dress finds, check in with our Bridesmaid Boutique Pinterest Board.Read More

Lace Bridesmaid Dresses

20 March, 2013 by gaby

Image: via Belle the Magazine

Anyone who knows me would never describe me as a fashionista (I’m more of a uniform dresser – find one thing that works and buy it in every colour), but I absolutely love doing wedding fashion posts, especially since bridesmaid dresses have started taking on trends from fashion in general and not being a sort of fashion of their own (shiny, strapless, blush and bashful). Brides nowadays make so much effort to pick something their girls will wear again (although I wonder how many do, however pretty the dress is) and with the mismatched look here to stay, bridesmaids can also choose something that really flatters them and reflects their personal style. For 2013 there are a few key looks emerging, so in the next few weeks I thought I would bring you some inspiration from real weddings, as well as some of my favourite off the rack options. Today we’ll start with probably the biggest trend in SA right now – lace dresses. I personally love this one – it’s pretty, it’s textured, it works with the vintage look so many brides are going for without looking fusty, and believe it or not a lace dress is incredibly flattering (the one I own always draws compliments). Neutral lace works beautifully, but so do colours or little black lace dresses, as you’ll see below. And who says portrait backs are just for the bride? I love the way this extra touch of prettiness works in photos and there’s no doubt your girl will feel like a million bucks. Which of the looks below is your favourite? For the most recent bridesmaid dress finds, check in with our Bridesmaid Boutique Pinterest Board.Read More

Painted Ladies

13 March, 2013 by gaby

I’m hardly the first to this party, but I thought it was high time I shared this gorgeous trend that has taken the wedding world by storm in the last year. Hand painted cakes are the ultimate in cake art – fondant that has been either stencilled or painted free hand for spectacularly lovely results. Each cake is as unique as the artist who creates them – some are super feminine and delicate, with representations of flowers, birds and romantic patterns like delft and toile. Some use more graphic patterns. Many have been inspired by decorative wallpaper at venues, wedding invitations, etc. As someone who has zero art skills, this is definitely one I would leave to the pros, but in fact if you or someone close to you is a talented illustrator, I’ve read that the technique is relatively straightforward and plain fondant cakes are definitely affordable. So it doesn’t have to be a trend reserved for celebrities and zillion dollar brides, although it certainly requires patience and talent! Here’s some eye candy from around the web to show you just how many lovely possibilities there are.Read More

Affordable Coloured Wedding Dresses {Adrianna Papell & Elliot Claire}

8 March, 2013 by gaby

Afternoon friends! A few weeks back, we took a look at coloured wedding dresses as a big trend for 2013, and I have to say, I fell in love. Not just with the colour trend, but with the concept of using a special occasion dress that wasn’t necessarily designed with a bride in mind. Every time I see a bold bride doing this I fall more in love with the idea – they look spectacular. But where, I wondered, would you go looking for a dress like this? Well, there are two accessible designers that come up again and again for me – both are popular for bridesmaid dresses, but I reckon you could happily wear one of their creations as a bride (although if you’re going for a traditional dress, hopefully this will inspire you for your girls). And the best part? Not one costs more than £300 including post and packaging. Seriously. Now that’s something to make you sit up and take note, right? Because the wedding dresses that usually go for this price can be a little plain, and not everyone can afford high end designer, let’s be honest. The labels I’m thinking of are Adrianna Papell and Elliot Claire, and just for fun I thought I would round up some gorgeous inspiration on Pinterest combined with a budget friendly version from one of these designers. Which is your favourite?