Ladies Day

The latest summer fashion trend for 2013 – Monochrome

Black and white monochrome bodycon dress with frills by Forever Unique

Black and white monochrome bodycon dress with frills by Forever Unique

Unfortunately there is little we can change about the horrible weather in the UK by moaning about it, but we can cheer ourselves up by looking fabulous!  I can feel a bit silly wondering about in this murky grey in a summer floral dress, but I can look just as summery and stylish in one of the hottest summer fashion trends – colour blocking monochrome.  Indeed, the spring and summer catwalks 2013 have been dominated by a bold glare of black and white monochrome prints incorporating stripes, zebra print, polka dots and big blocks of black and white.  This is a timeless trend with roots harking back to the 1960’s mod era; the trend has now undergone a modern twist and has been endorsed by celebrities such as Beyonce Knowles, Rhianna, Kim Kardashian and Kate Middleton but to name a few.

There are so many reasons why I love monochrome, mainly because there is something very clean and simple about a black and white ensemble, giving the impression of modern, powerful self-assuredness, whilst still remaining elegant, sophisticated and not too overbearing.  Monochrome is also such an easy trend to wear, so it is no problem finding it in shops in all seasons, and it will never go out of fashion (and believe me, fashion waits for no-one, so it’s brilliant to be able to have a good solid staple style in the wardrobe!).  It’s also great for plus size ladies, as the black minimizes the areas you want to hide, and the white enhances the areas you wish to show off.  Another big tick in the monochrome style box is that it transcends seasons, so it is a great transitional trend which will take us seamlessly from summer into autumn and beyond.

Stunning black tie monochrome summer silk floaty maxi dress

Stunning black tie monochrome summer silk floaty maxi dress

So how do I wear monochrome?

Monochrome can be a single coloured black or white dress and you can contrast the black or white with the opposing colour for your accessories.  Alternatively, you get the best of both worlds and combine both colours together in one dress with a gorgeous print or with dazzling, bold blocks of colour.

How do I accessorize monochrome?

The key is that if you are going for a monochrome look, stick to monochrome only.  Adding an extra colour with your accessories can lessen the whole effect.  Instead, stick with black or white accessories and shoes.  If you are going for a one colour, completely black or white dress, go for the opposing colour for your accessories to break it up a bit.  If you go for the same colour for the accessories you can be in danger of your outfit looking too black or too white.  Likewise, go for an opposing colour bag so it doesn’t blend in too much with the outfit, and it will give a nice little colour break to your ensemble.  Another look I love if you are going for a plain black or white dress is to add zebra print, stripes or polka dot accessories into the mix.  Again, try to make sure that these accessories are predominantly in the opposing colour.

If your dress has both black and white, match the accessory colour to the colour which is least reflected in the dress.  Another piece of advice when it comes to accessories is not to mix the colours of the accessories too much (e.g. a white necklace and black earrings), particularly if you have a dress with both colours as it can be a bit too much for the eye and can look a bit messy.

Monochrome black and white disc fascinator - perfect for Ladies Day at the Races!

Monochrome black and white disc fascinator – perfect for Ladies Day at the Races!

If you are going to the races, don’t forget to complete your monochrome look with a daring and sophisticated hat or fascinator for a real Audrey Hepburn kind of look.

How should I wear my makeup with a monochrome outfit?

I believe that as black and white gives a very clean, bold effect, bold makeup looks fabulous with it.  Dash a nice, thick black line with some liquid eyeliner on the upper eyelid with a flick at the corners of the eyes and use an eye pencil for the inner rim of your lower eyelid.  Being a fan of false eyelashes, I recommend a pair of these also for a dramatic look.  I also love red or pink lipstick to finish off a monochrome outfit, remember, the look is bold, so don’t be shy when it comes to the lip colour!

Ladies Day at Sussex County Cricket Club

The judging panel for best hat - left to right, Denise Cobb, Mayor of Brighton and Jim May, Chairman of SCCC, Leah, Walk in Waradrobe

The judging panel for best hat – left to right, Denise Cobb, Mayor of Brighton and Jim May, Chairman of SCCC, Leah, Walk in Waradrobe

I was lucky enough to be invited to Ladies Day at Sussex County Cricket Ground to be on the judging panel with the Mayor of Brighton and Hove Denise Cobb and the Chairman of the Cricket Club, Jim May for a time honored tradition, the best hat competition.  The event, which took place on Friday 19th July 2013 was a truly glamorous event, with stunning dresses and the most extravagant hats and fascinators.  It was fantastic to see so much glamour under one roof, and all for a good cause – the Rockinghorse Appeal.

At the event, guests were truly pampered with a complimentary 15 minute beauty taster treatment by the newly launched Spa at the Grand Hotel, Brighton and celebrity favorite jewellery designers Stella and Dot were showing off their fabulous jewellery.  There were also some fabulous prizes up for grabs, including champagne afternoon tea for two at one of my favourite places to socialize in Brighton, Bohemia Grand Cafe and Late Lounge.

Thank you to Fiona and the events company Midnight Communications, for putting on such a fabulous event, we are looking forward to next year!  Thank you also to Stephen Lawrence, the professional photographer who took some fantastic shots at the event.  Please visit his website here: www.snapitnow.co.uk

If you are interested in attending Ladies Day at the Cricket Club next year, please  call 0844 264 0202.

All photographs by Stephen Lawrence

 

 

A hundred shades of pink – perfect colours for summer dresses!

Pink is a hot fashion trend for the summer, and don’t worry, it doesn’t mean you have to look like a Barbie doll!  Pink is one of those colours which is extremely varied, including shades of baby pink, dusky pink and hot pink.  With all the different shades and hues, it would be impossible not to find a shade that works for you!  Pink dresses are: fresh, summery, pretty, soft and feminine and are perfect for a wide variety of events such as parties, prom, black tie events, bridesmaids and mother of the bride.

Long pink dresses

Stunning light pink low back dress by Forever Unique, perfect for black tie events or the red carpet!

Stunning light pink low back dress, perfect for black tie events or the red carpet!

1920's Great Gatsby style cerise pink beaded dress

1920’s Great Gatsby style cerise pink beaded dress

Long pink dresses have been in real demand for prom this year.  This is particularly understandable because of their girly, fresh, summery shades.  However, don’t feel that pink dresses are only appropriate for young ladies going to prom.  Pastel pinks can give a whimsical and feminine look for a black tie event and a hot pink can give a daringly stylish look.

Light pink long dress pictured right:  this pale pink dress is a timeless classic with a gorgeous, bead embellished low back.  A subtle front slit gives you that touch of sexiness whilst still remaining classy and elegant!

Fuchsia pink dress pictured to the left:  This fully beaded cerise pink dress has a true touch of the 1920’s Great Gatsby style about it and gives a look of bold femininity, a guaranteed head turner!

Floaty dusky pink and leopard print one shoulder dress

Floaty dusky pink and leopard print one shoulder dress

Dusty pink chiffon and leopard print dress pictured far left: this dress is gorgeously whimsical, modern and floaty, a perfect blend of feminine colours with a bit or ‘roar’ from the animal print!  This dress has gorgeous, sparkly beading on the waist and on the shoulder.

We also have a few show stopping (and very cheap!) big pink ball gowns with stunning embellishments.  This style is particularly suitable for proms.  If you would rather have a more subtle prom dress but nevertheless want all the ‘wow’ of a classic ballgown, you could go for one of our pink fishtail gowns, which will give you that much sought after hourglass figure.

Short pink dresses

Burlesque style dusty pink feather mini dress with jeweled bodice

Burlesque style dusty pink feather mini dress with jeweled bodice

I really love short pink dresses as they are flirty and feminine, with the added bonus of giving you the opportunity to show off a pair of fabulous shoes!

This gorgeous little feather dress pictured right also has a touch of the 1920’s style and would be fantastic for a burlesque style night, but it would also make a gorgeous party dress.  This stunning mini dress has a heavily beaded bodice, an ultra fun mini feather skirt and also has that much sought after corset back for a great fit.

Pink and black pencil dress with matching jacket, perfect for mother of the bride or for ladies day!

Pink and black pencil dress with matching jacket, perfect for mother of the bride or for ladies day!

This gorgeous light pink pencil dress pictured left is perfect for ladies day or mother of the bride.  This dress and jacket set is a gorgeous soft baby pink with gorgeous black embellishments for a very modern look.  This dress would look perfect with black accessories!

This season is all about the feminine, and what better colour to do it in than pink?

 

 

 

Ladies Day at Sussex County Cricket Ground 19-07-13

The summer social calendar this year has been positively bursting with Ladies Day events, and WiW HQ are particularly excited about the upcoming Ladies Day at Sussex County Cricket Ground on Friday 19th July.  Tickets are £70 and include ALL drinks AND a three-course meal, or just £35 if you want to do a cash bar; if that’s not a complete steal, I don’t know what is!  This promises to be a fantastically entertaining and glamorous day, including complimentary taster spa treatments and some fabulous raffle prizes, such as a champagne afternoon tea for two at Bohemia Grand Cafe in Brighton.  The fun doesn’t just stop here, there are some undisclosed surprises (which certainly intrigues me!) and also a slave-for-a-day charity auction, which features some of Sussex’s most well respected business people!

So what to wear?  Ladies day’s are traditionally fashionable, theatrical yet sophisticated and elegant.  Ladies day really is the day where you can take your chance to have some fun with fashion and really step out of your comfort zone.

Ladies day pink and black dress with matching jacket

Ladies day pink and black dress with matching jacket

The dress

As ladies days are all about the ladies, we understand that the task of finding the right dress for these ‘all eyes on you’ events can be a little daunting.  Fortunately, our team of in-house stylists are well versed in dressing ladies for their ladies day events and will know what outfit will suit your shape.  We will also keep in mind your personality and will help you find a dress that you not only look great in, but also feel comfortable in (comfort is a MUST as you will be in the dress for the whole day!).  The style pictured right is a particularly appropriate dress for a ladies day.  This European, designer dress is a truly unique dress with it’s luxurious black lace over a gorgeous dusky pink, giving you a fresh, modern look yet also an air of elegance and chic.  The matching jacket is a perfect addition, ensuring that you won’t be caught cold when the party goes on into the evening!

Dramatic and elegant hat for Ladies Day

Dramatic and elegant hat for Ladies Day

The hat or fascinator

A hat or fascinator will be your crowning glory, so this is your chance to really indulge yourself, take a fashion risk and go completely over the top with your head gear!  For Ladies Day at the Sussex County Cricket Ground the hat is particularly important as there is a Best Hat Competition!  We have a wide range of dramatic and elegant hats at the boutique, so not only will you will truly be spoilt for choice, most importantly, you will certainly be in with a good chance of winning this competition!

Keep your eyes on the blog next week for my report on Ladies Day at Sussex County Cricket Grounds!

Walk in Wardrobe are also offering a special discount for ticket holders for this event, please visit our events page for more details! http://www.walk-in-wardrobe.co.uk/events.php

Tickets for Ladies Day at the Sussex County Cricket Ground can be purchased online at www.sussexcricket.co.uk or over the telephone on 0844 264 0202.

 

Hats and fascinators for the races

The summer social calendar is positively bursting with race day events.  If you are lucky enough to be a ticket holder for any of the horse races across the UK, not only will you be experiencing the excitement of the racing, you will also be experiencing some of the most exciting, theatrical fashion events of the year.  Without a shadow of a doubt, the crowning glory for any lady attending a race day is a hat or a fascinator.  An ostentatious fascinator or hat is your perfect chance to go for something you would not normally wear, so try something outrageous to set off your outfit.

We have decided to truly spoil you this year with the range of hats and fascinators at the boutique and we are sure that we will be able to find something to suit your taste.

One last point which I would like to make is that a hat or fascinator to match your outfit does not have to cost the earth.  Many of our fascinators and hats are available to hire as well as to buy, so if you are working to a budget, do consider this an option as you can get that fabulous designer look for a fraction of the cost!

A comfortable, elegant and chic fascinator, this one can be made bespoke for you so you can ensure that you have a perfect colour match!

A comfortable, elegant and chic fascinator, this one can be made bespoke for you so you can ensure that you have a perfect colour match!

Dramatic flower hair fascinator

Dramatic flower hair fascinator

Fabulous feather hat - perfect for Ascot!

Fabulous feather hat – perfect for Ascot!

Fun and fashionable checked black and grey hat with feathers

Fun and fashionable checked black and grey hat with feathers

One of Britain’s most exciting fashion parades – it can only be Ascot!

Champagne Ladies Day Ascot dress with matching jacket

Champagne Ladies Day Ascot dress with matching jacket

Ladies day at Ascot is drawing very near and we have been inundated with ladies looking for fashionable outfits that adhere to Ascot’s strict dress code. Ladies day at Ascot is a very special day as it is a stylish parade of only the most fashionable attire mixed with traditional British heritage. The fashion police at Ascot will refuse admission to anyone who is not dressed appropriately, so it’s essential that you get it right. Our staff at Walk in Wardrobe have many years of experience of dressing ladies for Ascot, so we can help you dress correctly and avoid any embarrassing refusals on the day!

Ladies outfits for the Royal Enclosure

Although there is a strict dress code for the Royal Enclosure don’t think for a minute that you can’t still look sexy and glamorous. I can inform you now that midi-dresses are IN, so even though you are required to wear a dress which is just above the knee or longer, you will still look fashionable. Strapless, or off the shoulder dresses are a big no-no, and you need to make sure that your straps are at least 1 inch thick, regardless of whether you are wearing a jacket or not.

For Ascot, we have some stunning collections with fresh and modern designs make out of high quality fabrics in plain or with stunning prints.  Our race day outfits adhere to the dress code at Ascot and come with jackets which are very suited to the unpredictable English weather!

Fabulous feather hat - perfect for Ascot!

Fabulous feather hat – perfect for Ascot!

Hats and fascinators for the Royal Enclosure

Hats are required in the Royal Enclosure, although a substantial fascinator with a base of at least 4 inches is acceptable instead of a hat.

Ladies outfits for the Grandstand

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Classy yet sexy pencil dress for the Grandstand at Ascot

Although the dress code is slightly more relaxed in the Grandstand, ladies are still required to wear formal wear. As with the Royal Enclosure, regardless of whether you have a jacket, you are not permitted to wear strapless or sheer strap dresses. Our pencil dresses are particularly suitable for the Grandstand, and have the added benefit of being made out of stretchy fabric which are really comfortable – a must if you are going to be in the dress all day!

A comfortable, elegant and chic fascinator

A comfortable, elegant and chic fascinator

Hats and fascinators for the Grandstand
A hat, headpiece or fascinator must be worn at all times, so it’s essential to get the right one for you with reflects your personality so you feel comfortable.

Although no one likes to surrender wardrobe autonomy to anyone, if you adhere to the rules you will have a fun packed and fabulous day.  And if you get your outfits and accessories from us, you will not only have a fabulous day, you will be looking stunning and feeling confident too!