White hot fashion

YOU MIGHT associate falling in love and finding ‘the one’ with your husband-to-be, but the very same principles apply to your wedding dress.

Just as you need to kiss a few frogs in the dating world, the search for your dream frock can be a real journey.

You’re looking for the right shape, the right shade and exactly the right amount of sparkles, feathers or flounce.

If in doubt, turn to the catwalks for inspiration. Bridal designers are seasons ahead of the aisle game so you can tap into the fashion mood for your upcoming nuptials.

Check out the trends and find a wedding ensemble you’ll be smitten with.

FABRICS TO FALL FOR

Satin, silk, tulle, taffeta – the bridal options are endless but one fabric is sending everyone wild.

“For this season, it’s lace, lace and more lace,” explains Susi Rogol, editor of trade magazine Bridal Buyer.

Not only as full-on gowns a la Duchess of Cambridge last April, but as accents too. “Lace is being used in little sculpted shrugs to give a hint of cover-up through to strapless gowns and as detachable straps to complete top layers,” says Rogol.

Meanwhile edgier brides are loving lasercut fabrics to create surface texture and 3D effects, also achieved with swirls of ribbons or fabric forming an entire skirt of flowers or petals.

BRIDING YOUR TIME

If you’re looking ahead to a wedding next year, look back in time for inspiration.

2013 will be a vintage year, according to Rogol. “Vintage is the direction that every influential designer is taking, harking back to the Thirties and Fifties in particular.

“So, slinky body-clinging dresses in slippery satins with clever fabric manipulation to form shape and accentuate curve on one hand, boat necklines and ballerina lengths on the other.”

Think Audrey Hepburn for inspiration, with Fifties hallmark details like nipped-in waists, bell skirts and crisp silhouettes.

SWEET SILHOUETTE

Use your body as a guide to choosing a shape that will flatter as you saunter down the aisle. There are two major silhouettes this season: curve-enhancing fishtails or retro ballgown styles.

Samantha Neville, founder of Mamfii Bridal, says: “Fishtail shapes accentuate the classic hourglass figure and look fabulous in full lace, or very simply made in the finest silk duchess where the beauty of the gown is all in the fabric and cut.

“Ballgowns are cut with a slightly lower waist, ensuring a flattering fit for all figures. Damask fabrics are making a comeback in classic shapes and are a beautiful choice for the fashion-forward bride, as are softer fabrics such as tulle and chiffon but cut into a fuller shape.”

HIGH STREET BRIDE

For brides who are short on time or cash flow, buying off-the-peg is the obvious option and, thankfully, the trusty high street is going from strength to strength.

“It’s obviously a completely different experience to buy your wedding gown from the high street to experiencing the service of a boutique,” Neville warns.

“But stores such as Coast and Monsoon have some lovely styles that are both stylish and cost-effective.”

Increasingly, big bridal manufacturers are also introducing diffusion lines at accessible prices so brides can still get a killer cut and perfect fit, all within budget.

BRIDE ON A BUDGET

Don’t begin married life in debt so you can wear a fairytale designer gown for less than 24 hours. Consider asking a local dressmaker to adapt a style of dress in a cutting-edge magazine – it could help save hundreds (and even thousands) of pounds.