WHERE ARE THE DRESSES TO IMPRESS?
Has anyone else noticed the frenzy of weddings lately?
A combination of postponed and scheduled weddings all happening in a short time frame means my Instagram feed is awash with pictures of beautiful brides and their glamorous guests all posing up a storm.
While we may think it is summer, September is statistically the most popular month to get married, and a quick search for #weddingguest on Instagram came up with
3.2 million photos.
Dressing the wedding party is big business again. Dressmakers, tailors and milliners are all making hay while the sun shines – or more accurately, while there are no restrictions in place.
If you too have had to shop for a wedding guest outfit recently, you will have seen the pickings are slim. Unless of course you have a sizeable budget.
One influencer posted a picture of herself at her best friend’s wedding looking incredible in a fulllength metallic dress. I instantly tapped on it to see where I could find it. It was Oscar de la Renta and in the sale with 70% off. Perfect I thought.
Except 70% off took it from £8,880 to £2,600. A snip wouldn’t you say?
My search continued, but it wasn’t enjoyable. Physical shopping, especially regionally, is a sad affair.
If you have a boutique near you selling small interesting brands, cherish them and shop with them, if you can. They are like gold dust. It pains me to say this, as the previous owner has a lot to answer for, but at times like this I miss Topshop.
The store, not the website (the brand itself is available on ASOS). While it wasn’t a sustainable option, its big imposing stores have left a gaping hole on the high street and in the market. The Oxford Street store will go down in fashion folklore, like Biba – booming music, wall-towall accessories, new clothes and vintage, with lots of smaller brands represented alongside Topshop’s own label.
Who, if anyone, will take its place and create a space fit for the new world, for independent and sustainable brands?
I know I will be front of the queue.