The 2022 bridal edit: Wedding shoes, accessories and party-starting extras
You’ve bought the dress – but what next? Delve through the Luxury London edit of wedding shoes, partywear, accessories and new season trends for the modern bride
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When it comes to a bridal wardrobe, there is much to consider aside from the dress. There’s wedding shoes, accessories, jewellery, perhaps a dancefloor-ready dress for the evening reception, or an outfit for the rehearsal dinner. One of the best things about these all-important added extras is that you can wear them long after the band has packed up and the guests have gone home, as a joyous reminder of your special day. This in part also helps to justify the cost, whether it’s a luxe sleepshirt, an extravagantly priced headband or a pair of diminutive diamond earrings.
This season, flirty feather trims continue to waft ubiquitously, from swathes of ostrich and marabou at 16 Arlington, the London-based label that excels at look-at-me partywear, to the ever-viral Sleeper pyjamas, which can be credited with sky-rocketing the ongoing trend for opulent plumage. Glossy pearls are also trending, whether hung from hoop earrings or adorning the strap of a shoe.
“We have noticed a huge surge in sales of wedding accessories over the past few months, with hairpieces proving most popular,” comments Georgie Le Roux, founder of online boutique Gigi and Olive. “Brides that have been waiting for their dream day for one, two or even three years are investing in every part of the celebration, from the hen to the honeymoon and all of those other bridal moments in between.”
Wedding shoes
Jimmy Choo and ‘I do’ go hand-in-hand, or should that be foot in shoe. Its bridal boutique sparkles with megawatt mules and sandals delicately dripping with crystals, akin to a piece of jewellery. For platform heels that you can dance in all night, Miu Miu is the modern bride’s favourite, while Manolo Blahnik’s Hangisi satin pumps are an absolute classic, topped with a bejewelled buckle. Available in a spectrum of white, ivory and bright jewel tones, they have been a Net-A-Porter bestseller for the past two years, alongside Gianvito Rossi’s silver Portofino sandals.
Wedding reception dresses
If there was ever a time to indulge in unabashed glamour, then 2022 is it. Following two years of reduced numbers and restrictions, high-octane partywear is back on the agenda in all its lustrous lamé glory. Whether looking for the perfect hen night ensemble or a racy number to slip into for your first dance, this season’s edit of flapper-style trims, shimmering fabrics and dazzling embellishment will undoubtedly get the party started. Nadine Merabi, 16 Arlington and The Vampire’s Wife can always be relied on for high-voltage separates and statement dresses that are primed for a good time, while De La Vali dishes up disco-perfect minis, flourished with ruffles, feathers and diamanté crystals.
Wedding night sleepwear
Waft around on your wedding morning in the perfect slippery silk pyjama set, or perhaps a billowing, off-the-shoulder gown that is every bit as photogenic as your wedding dress. Choose silk slips and camisoles from Simone Pérèle, lingerie-inspired designs by La Perla or Sleeper’s chic yet utterly comfortable dresses which easily double up as honeymoon beach cover-ups. These pieces are also wholly practical, as they fall off easily when the time comes to get ready for your grand arrival.
Bridal headbands
Headbands have long shed their girly connotations and now signal something much edgier – consult Zoë Kravitz’s 2019 wedding outfit for proof. When Ariana Grande wed Dalton Gomez in 2021, she also kept her short bubble veil in place with a white satin bow headband.
Jane Taylor is London’s go-to for bespoke millinery and crafts made-to-measure headbands that will stay comfortably in place from the first photo until last dance. There is also no shortage of ready-to-buy regal headwear this season, spanning bands, bows and barrettes from ateliers including Maison Michel, Jennifer Behr and Lelet NY.
Bridal jewellery
Never underestimate the sartorial power of a little added sparkle on your wedding day. Statement jewels can add a modern twist to a more traditional bridal look, from swinging chandelier earrings to modern pearl pieces. For something more subtle, Mejuri is a Canadian demi-fine jewellery brand with a flagship boutique in Marylebone Village. Its mix-and-match huggie hoops, bands and bracelets are surprisingly affordable and will effortlessly slip into your everyday wardrobe following the big event. Gentlemen, if you’re reading – these pieces also make wonderful gifts for your bride-to-be.
All-white extras
From rehearsal dinners to dress fittings, fill your wedding wardrobe with standout, showboat pieces that you will love forever. Cecilie Bahnsen’s full skirts and puff sleeves are insouciantly cool and tremendously pretty, while Galvan’s languid, glossy gowns are inspired by the supermodel style of the nineties. As with every other element of your wedding, attention to detail is paramount, so accessorise, acessorise, accessorise.
Wedding fragrances
Yes, scentscaping your wedding is a thing, and nobody does it better than Jo Malone. Brides-to-be can book a complimentary Scent Your Wedding consultation to select the perfect olfactive pairing for their big day. The Duchess of Cambridge notably enlisted the British perfumer to scent Westminster Abbey for her wedding in 2011 with a bespoke Orange Blossom aroma. This was reminiscent of Queen Victoria, who wore an aphrodisiacal orange blossom fragrance when she wed Prince Albert in 1840. Meghan Markle requested Diptyque Baies diffusers for Westminster Abbey, much to the indignation of the Queen, and wore Bergamotto di Positano Eau de Parfum by Floris London.
Set the mood on your wedding day with beautifully scented candles that also look the part. Try Loewe, August & Piers, Byredo and Ormonde Jayne, while my personal favourite is Ottoman by Cire Trudon.
Rentals
For your something borrowed, the UK’s ever-growing roster of rental platforms offers bridal accessories at affordable prices (and somebody else will take care of the dry cleaning). Try HURR’s edit of little white dresses and vintage costume jewellery by magpie collector Susan Caplan; Frontrow’s sophisticated array of designer belts, bags and eveningwear or Covett’s dazzling vault of fine jewellery.
