Getting ready for your school PROM
Year 11 at school is an important and special time for every pupil preparing for exams and the excitement of their school prom. When looking for the perfect dress, a design that flatters every bit of you and in a colour that suits you perfectly you need to try different styles on. A dress fitting appointment is recommended where all options and possibilities are discussed with a professional, not just a shop assistant, but someone with a wealth of knowledge in fittings, including style, design, alterations, looking after your dress, how to get in your dress, stand, walk, pose and more!
As a parent what are your options?
Mums, dads and guardians will be considering what the budget is to either buy or hire the dress. There is also the possibility of alteration costs. Most dresses are made one length and may need the length shortened. Other tweaks to straps and design adjustments may be required too. Pre-worn or pre-loved prom dresses are also a great option, both financially and echo friendly. All can be discussed and alterations suggested and arranged during your fitting.
We cover the bases and discuss things you would not have thought to ensure a very happy and stress-free prom experience for all.
What happens after the school prom?
You have a delightful, very impressive prom gown that may NOT be worn again, so what can you do with it? Firstly, look after your prom dress to help keep its value if you wish to resell it and get as much of your hard earned money back. Advice on cleaning, storing and looking after your dress is important and will be discussed in your dress fitting appointment. Every dress will have a re-sale value if it’s of current season (still a sought-after fabric & style) and has been looked after beautifully.
What we can do for you
At Walk in Wardrobe we take in pre-loved & pre-worn current style prom dresses and re-sell them for you. We take in dresses bought from us or other boutiques with labels such as Tiffany, Angels Forever, Gurbani, Mora Lee, To the Nines, Red Carpet Ready, Gino Cerruti & Mascara to name a few.
Contact Katherine, proprietor, for all your prom questions and to make a dress fitting appointment.
Head turning long black glittery corset gown with feathers
Prom Dress Trends
Prom is upon us and we have been busy at the boutique helping prom girls from all across Sussex and beyond get ready for their big day. There are some amazing trends in elegant sleek dresses to sensational tulle bodice gowns. We’ve picked out some real wow factor trends so you can shimmer the night away at prom this year – which will you choose?
Illusion prom dress
Illusion prom dresses
We’ve always been big fans of illusion prom dresses, especially if the illusion panel has a bit of dazzle on it! Illusion panels are usually made out of tulle fabric and have sparkly gems attached to them. These tulle panels are usually on the neckline, on the back, or on the waist area of the dress. Great for any prom girl who wants to be elegant and classy.
Floaty chiffon prom dress
Floaty chiffon prom dresses
This style is a staple when it comes to prom dresses, and it is a firm favourite again this year. Made from floaty chiffons and flowing lightweight silky fabrics, their elegant floaty skirts are very popular with girls who want that fairy tale look for their prom. If in doubt when choosing your floaty dress, just ask yourself ‘what would Elsa from Frozen do?’
Long lace prom dress
Lace prom dresses
Lace is always on trend for prom. Lace dresses are timeless classics with their exquisite pretty details.
Mermaid prom dress
Mermaid prom dresses
Often seen on the red carpet, the mermaid dress has been another staple when it comes to prom fashion, and it shows no sign of going out of style any time soon! This type of dress is typically fitted down to the knee or the mid-thigh and comes out sharply from that point to emulate a mermaid’s shape.
Short prom dress
Short prom dresses
Cocktail dresses are perfect for fun loving prom girls who want to show off a fabulous pair of shoes! These dresses are super practical if you want to dance the night away.
Stay stylish prom girl!
Prom Trends over the years
We are delighted to show you prom dress trends over the years. Prom season is about having a fabulous time helping the prom girls pick out their prom dresses and accessories for their big night. As ever, we like to do our best to be helpful.
Red Backless Prom Dress
Backless prom dresses
Backless dresses have always been particularly popular on the red carpet, and over the years this style has trickled down to prom. The back of dresses have been dipping low, low, low at prom. If you want to keep an elegant air about you when you wear a backless dress, make sure that you have a high neckline, and you don’t over do it with the accessories; remember that the back is the key feature of this dress, so don’t make your back compete for attention. This particular style lends itself easily to the classic up-do hairstyle as it keeps the back clear and draws attention to the hair. The key issue with backless dresses is to make sure that you don’t have your bra on show. If you are not confident enough to go braless, go for a stick on bra which will give you support whilst giving you the ability to wear your backless dress with confidence.
This elegant red backless prom dress has a classically high neckline and a low, dipped back with gorgeous sparkles encrusted at the base of the back, neckline and straps. The train offers that little bit extra so you can feel like a Hollywood starlet when you go to prom.
Crystal Encrusted Gold Prom Dress
Eye-catching crystals and sequins
Whether it is all encrusted or a light scattering of crystals, bling is big for spring! Bling bling dresses have gained almost iconic status on the red carpets, and again, you can expect to see dresses twinkling and shining at Prom. Dresses with crystals and sequins look and feel glamorous and are a super way of grabbing attention for that ‘all eyes on you’ grand entrance. If you are going to be wearing a dress with fully encrusted crystals, be mindful not to go OTT with the accessories or you may run the risk of ‘over-bling’. Instead opt for subtle pieces of jewellery which compliment the dress, not compete with it. If you are going for a light scattering of sparkles, you can wear slightly heavier jewellery to bring out the shimmer and shine of the dress. As with all accessories, go for the same shade of shine as the crystals or sequins to accent the dress.
This truly enchanting, blingy fishtail gold princess dress (pictured left) is the epitome of ‘look at me’ glamour, wear this dress with simple drop earrings and a simple and elegant bracelet, let the dress to the rest of the talking!
Sheer Mesh Fishtail Prom Dress
Sheer mesh
These dresses are daring, yet safe, see through, but kinda not! In short, these dresses add a touch of the risqué whilst remaining oh-so-elegant and sophisticated. The beauty of these dresses is that they tend to utilise that special illusion panel well and you will usually find that these dresses are embellished with embroidery or sparkle on the see through tulle. These embellishments give people the illusion of a decorated second skin and allows you to stay modest with a peep of skin.
This stunning taffeta mermaid sheer mesh prom dress pictured to the right has the most beautiful embroidery creeping up the back with sparkles. This is ideal for those prom queens who want to do those much sought after ‘over the shoulder’ photographs for prom.
Do contact us with any questions about your prom.
What should ladies wear to a black tie event?
Gorgeous fishtail satin peacock gown a great dress which adheres to that all important black tie event dress code!
From now to December the social calendar is awash with black tie events, and many of our first time customers come to us having just received a black tie invitation and are in a panic as to what to wear. The black tie dress code has been modernized over time, but one thing has stayed the same: black tie events are gorgeously sumptuous, important social events! So, before you dip into your wardrobe, just make sure that you are aware that black tie means formal event and you will be expected to dress appropriately. However, don’t feel daunted by this concept; instead, see it as your big opportunity to show yourself off in a stunning gown and some statement pieces of jewellery.
Compared to men, women have to go through a much more complicated process when choosing their black tie outfits, but the staff at Walk in Wardrobe are here to help. Outlined below are a few tips and tricks to help you shine at your black tie event.
Can I wear a cocktail dress to a black tie event?
Black tie events usually mean that you will need to wear a full length gown, but as time has gone on, there has been some relaxation to this rule and some women prefer to opt for a knee length dress. However, caution must be exercised if you decide to go for a short black tie dress as cocktail dresses can be considered semiformal and you may feel underdressed in a short dress. If you do go for a short dress, make sure it’s as glitzy and glamorous as possible, and do not go for a minidress. Do remember though that it’s not every day you get to wear a floor length gown – so if I were you, I would take full advantage!
Do I have to dress conservatively for a black tie event?
Do not limit yourself to a conservative dress, try to keep modern and sexy whilst maintaining a touch of class. A plunging neckline or a backless dress can definitely be styles which are appropriate, but try to steer clear of anything too revealing, e.g. a backless dress with a plunging neckline and a thigh high slit, remember, it’s all about looking classy!
What colour dress can I wear to a black tie event?
There are no limitations for colour when it comes to choosing your black tie dress, so you can be pretty daring when it comes to the colour you pick, so be confident and play with colour, bold colours can be really attention grabbing!
What accessories should I wear to a black tie event?
At black tie events you can really show off your jewellery, but it’s really important not to go overboard and to accessorise well. Choose a necklace and a pair of earrings which go with the outfit or a complimentary colour. If you are unable to find a good match, go for a nice neutral colour for your jewellery, for example, clear sparkles or silver or gold jewellery. Choose a clutch bag which matches any embellishments your dress may have or matches your jewellery, but try to stay away from an exact match to the dress as it can blend in too much with your outfit. A stole to go around your shoulders works fantastically for a winter event, giving you that touch of Hollywood glamour whilst keeping you warm.
Our team at Walk in Wardrobe are very well versed in what to wear for a black tie event, if you have any other questions just leave it in the comments box below!
What to Wear to Henley Royal Regatta
Henley Royal Regatta is undoubtedly one of the biggest events of the summer sporting calendar. Over time, it has become the most internationally renowned regatta with thousands of spectators travelling miles and miles to attend. Although the raison d’être for this event is the rowing, the fashion is undoubtedly a huge part of the event, so you really do need to make sure that you look the part! Whilst planning your outfit for such an event is (and should be) good fun, it’s also really important to adhere to their dress code (especially if you are in the Stewards’ Enclosure), if you don’t, you are running the risk of being refused entry (how embarrassing!). Here are a few tips on the Henley dress code to ensure that this does not happen to you:
Floral pencil dress
1. Dress length
If you are lucky enough to be in the Stewards’ Enclosure, make sure that the hem of your dress is below the knee as knee flashing is a definite no-no! Likewise, make sure that you are not wearing divided skirts, culottes or trousers.
This figure flattering floral pencil dress pictured on the left is an excellent example of a great dress for Henley Regatta. This style of dress looks fabulous on many different body shapes including curvy, hour-glass and tall and willowy. The gorgeous floral pattern adds vivid splashes of colours to ensure that you will stand out from the crowd. This dress looks great with black shoes and a bright fascinator or hat to match the print. Check out that length too – not a flash of knee in sight for the Stewards Enclosure!
Vintage style feather fascinator
2. Hats
Hats are not a requirement at Henley, but they have stated that it is customary to wear one. If you are concerned that a hat may be too much, a fascinator is an excellent alternative that wont block the view of anyone who is behind you who wants to take in the rowing!
This stunning, handmade, vintage inspired fascinator is a delicate alternative to a hat with gorgeous feathers and subtle bling.
3. Shoes
Although there are no formal requirements for shoes, the right footwear can really make the outfit. However, be mindful that for much of the event you will be tottering about on grass, so make sure that your shoes are sensible, like a wedge or block heel, as well as fabulous!
Sparkly box bag
4. Bags
Don’t forget to finish off your outfit with a gorgeous bag. If you are wearing a patterned dress, pick out the secondary or tertiary colour to match the bag with, it’s a great way to accent the other colours. If your dress is one colour, match it to the colour of your shoes or hat to break up the colour. If you are having problems colour matching, go for a trusty bag with clear sparkles (like the one on the left) – they look gorgeous with anything!
So, if you are lucky enough to be a ticket holder for the regatta, have a fantastic time and enjoy a Pimms for me!
Dresses and outfits for curvy ladies
Before I start this blog post I would like you to ask yourself one question: what exactly is it that YOU think makes a woman beautiful? Is it long legs? Is it a woman who is a size 6? Is it a tiny waist? I’m sure that if I asked 100 women I would get at least 50 different answers, which leads me to believe that what is beautiful is completely subjective to the individual. As I have not actually asked 100 women, the only thing I will be able to share with you is my own opinion of what makes a woman beautiful, which is confidence in how a woman carries herself. I have clocked up many years in the fashion industry and have fitted women of all different shapes and sizes. I have found that certain figures look good in everything, but there are very very few women who actually look GREAT in everything (big difference!). I remember many years ago fitting a lady who was very under confident about her body shape. She was a size 18, broad and nearly 6ft tall and felt most comfortable in loose fitting clothing as she wanted to hide her figure. When she came in to see me at the boutique the first thing she said to me was ‘I’m sure you don’t have anything which will fit me, but I just wanted to check as I have my friend’s wedding to attend and I don’t know what to wear’. When I produced a fitted dress she had a look of horror in her eyes and simply said ‘I couldn’t possibly wear that!’. I put the dress back on the rail and we selected a few more dresses she felt she would be more comfortable in. After trying them on with no joy I went back over to the rail and pulled ‘that dress’ out again and asked her to ‘just give it a go’. She begrudgingly agreed and lo and behold, it was as if an entirely different woman had just stepped out of the changing rooms! She looked fabulous and confident in her fitted dress which showed off the smallest part of her figure – her waist, and emphasised her fantastic hourglass shape. Ladies, we have to work with what we have been given, and if you are a curvy lady, don’t hide your figure in loose clothing, just find the right style of dresses and outfits to suit your unique shape.
At Walk in Wardrobe we have been working very hard on a line of outfits and dresses specifically to suit ladies with a curvy figure, I would like to share a selection of my personal favourites with you now:
I simply love this stretch denim dress on curvy ladies. The neckline is accommodating for a fuller bust without being too low cut, so you can feel chic and classy. The placement of the embroidery is extremely clever on this dress, following the flow of a woman’s figure vertically to visually break up the fabric. A few little sparkles scattered about here and there adds a touch of glitz to this fabulous day dress. The stretch denim of this dress hugs curves perfectly, and moulds to the contours of your figure, ensuring that the dress looks just as good from behind as it does from the front (a very important factor when purchasing a dress!). This dress looks great with a nice pair of oversized sunglasses and tan accessories.
If separates are more your thing, how about this gorgeous lace top and matching skirt (pictured right, also available in black)? Once again, this outfit is made from that very clever stretch fabric which moulds to the figure, showing off your curves. The asymmetric zip on the top adds a nice bit of detail to break up the white and the darling lace cut outs add a touch of femininity and interest as well as giving the top part of your arms a bit of coverage. The matching skirt (sold separately) has a feature zip back and matching lace trim. This outfit has scatterings of lovely little swarovski stones, making it a perfect day to evening outfit. None other than Kate Middleton was spotted in a white outfit with lace sleeves and trim, well, if it’s good enough for Kate, it’s certainly good enough for me!
I am aware that curvy girls can find it difficult to find a well fitting jacket, they tend to fit at the bust and be ill fitting at the waist or vice versa. Once again, we have identified this as a problem and have worked very hard to source jackets which are stretchy enough to accommodate ladies who have a different sized bust to their waists. Big success, they do actually exist! These fabulous jackets look modern, funky and flattering on curvy ladies, with none of that worry of an badly fitting bust or waist, simply zip up and go! Features of this jacket include zips going diagonally from waist to hips to enhance the shape of the smallest part of your body.
NB. The products above are by no means all we have in stock for the curvy lady, we have a full and fabulous range in our curvy section. If you have any queries regarding our curvy girl range or would like further information please leave a comment below or contact the boutique on 01273 775583, or email us at office@walk-in-wardrobe.co.uk
Curvy girls, you look fabulous, love the way dresses and outfits hug your curves and most importantly, don’t be shy about your figure!
What kind of maxi dress will suit me?
The versatile little gem also known as the maxi dress is simply a summer must if you are going on holiday, are out for the evening, or even if you’re going out shopping for the day. In short, you can wear your maxi dress to pretty much anything! So why are maxi dresses so popular? The answer is simply because they are low maintenance, comfortable, feminine, easy to accessorise and they can take you through right from day to night. For many years, I believed that my 5ft 2, petite frame would render it impossible for me to be able to pull off a maxi dress as I believed that they would swamp me and make me look even shorter. At the boutique we have dealt with many other ladies who also have the misconception that a maxi dress will only suit a lady who is tall, willowy and lean. Whilst this is true of certain styles, there is no reason why a petite lady or a fuller lady should fear the maxi dress, the trick is to just find ‘your’ maxi dress.
Maxi dresses for short women
If you have a a small, petite frame, it doesn’t mean that you have to avoid a maxi dress. It is true that maxi dresses with oodles of fabric will swamp a small frame and you do have to be a little careful if you are a petite lady and you are going out maxi dress hunting. I have found that an empire line can give the illusion of a longer leg and also a body con style maxi can look great on a petite lady as it gives the figure a bit of definition. A V-neck also elongates the figure, so small ladies should definitely opt for this style of neckline.
Maxi dresses for the fuller figure
Maxi dresses are great for slimming down the lower half of the body whilst still maintaining a much desired, curvy shape, so maxis can look fantastic on a fuller figure. As with petite women, curvy girls can go for a simple empire line dress (but make sure there is not too much embellishment on the bust line) like the one pictured on the left. An empire line has the benefit of having floaty fabrics around the waist line so it can hide any problem areas.
Maxi dresses for ladies with a big bust
If you are concerned about your bust area and/or are a bit top heavy, maxi dresses are particularly flattering for you as a loose dress hides smaller hips and balances you out. I have found that women with a fuller bust look fabulous in a dress with a v-neck, like this maxi pictured. It’s also fabulous because of the fact that you can comfortably wear a bra with it.
Maxi dresses for the pear shape
If you are a lady with fuller hips and a smaller bust, the trick is to find a maxi dress with an embellished top to draw attention to the top and keep the eyes away from the hips like the chiffon maxi pictured on the right. This particular maxi has a lot of definition around the bust, and falls gently to a softly flared skirt, which will glance over a larger hip.
Maxi dresses for ladies with a boyish figure
Ladies with a boyish figure are rather lucky when it comes to the maxi dress as the majority of styles will suit a lean, willowy frame. However, I have found that a cinch in the waist is very flattering on a boyish figure as it gives the illusion of a curvier shape.
Accessories to go with a maxi dress
Maxi dresses tend to speak for themselves, especially if they have a print on them, so don’t overload yourself with accessories. Personally, I love boho bangles, earrings and flat sandals with maxi dresses, and if you are going for a plain maxi dress, just add a necklace and you’re ready to go! If you are taking your maxi dress out on a night out, glam the look up with a few sparkly accessories.
If you have a specific question for a member of our styling team, why not tweet to us @walkinwardrobe with the hashtag #askwalkinwardrobe
Charity Cream Tea Fashion Show at The Hove Kitchen
On Wednesday 2nd April we hosted an unforgettable fashion event to launch our brand new day wear collection at the boutique. The event was held across the road from the boutique at the Hove Kitchen, and as we like to mix fashion and charity, the proceeds of this event went to Rockinghorse and the Martlets. Guests were welcomed to the event with the wonderfully smooth sounds of the Frank Sinatra style singer, David Williams and a glass of bubbles. Guests were then able to enjoy Cream Tea and sandwiches and scones made by the Hove Kitchen. Alongside the fashion show we held a charity raffle with a fabulous selection of prizes from local businesses such as the Hilton Brighton Metropole, I-bar, La Cave a Fromage, Chocoholly, Willsmer Wagg, the Naked Eye Gallery, Nadia’s Vintage, Florian and Tranquility.
A few words from the proprietor Katherine Tanswell: ‘It was a pleasure to organise this glitzy event with celebrity stylist Carol Ives and we would like to say a big thank you to everyone who came to the event and to the generosity our guests showed that night. We would like also to extend our thanks to the local businesses who donated prizes for the raffle. As you may be aware, both myself and Carol are embarking on a sponsored walk along the Great Wall of China in aid of Rockinghorse which will be a real physical challenge to us, so it was great to be able to have a light hearted event in amongst all the training we have been doing!’
A huge thank you to our models who gave up their time to do the fashion show, and thank you to Cove Hair in Brighton for doing such a fantastic job on the models hair and thank you also to Tranquility for the glamorous makeup!
Katherine’s Just Giving China Walk page can be found here: www.justgiving.com/Katherine-chinaWall, Carol’s can be found here: www.justgiving.com/ivesstyle
Our next charity event is on Wednesday 7th May at 5.30pm at the boutique, where we will be joining forces with Janine from Sassy Style and Tranquility for a One Stop Style and Shop. At this event Janine will show you what style of outfits and which colours will suit you and Louise of Tranquility will be on hand to give you make up tips and how to keep your face looking fresh. Tickets are just £15, please contact the boutique or Janine on 07557818103 to book. We look forward to seeing you there, but for now, enjoy a few photos of our Cream Tea Event….
*all photos by Hannah of Instant Forever
Day to evening dresses at Walk in Wardrobe
Time waits for no one, and we have noticed that some of our customers always seem like they have to race against the clock in their busy lives, juggling work, special events (such as weddings) and social events. At Walk in Wardrobe we are seeking to make your lives just a little bit easier in providing dresses for the day time which will carry you on into the evening time – no more having to dash home to change after work for your evening cocktail event!
Our new day wear range contains day dresses, tops, skirts and jackets to ensure that you look tip top and stylish when you are out and about, and they are chic enough to ensure that you are looking your absolute best when you go on to your event in the evening. The trick with jam packed social days is to be prepared – pack some twinkly earrings into your bag with a glitzy bangle and add them to your ensemble once your day event is done (adding a touch of instant glamour!). Don’t forget to bring a small makeup bag to refresh your make-up and some extra Kohl for a glam evening look.
Chic slimline zip front beige dress by Dimare.
I couldn’t begin to explain my excitement when this dress (pictured left) arrived at the boutique. This Italian desk to dinner dress is a particularly streamlining dress with it’s clever panelling and fitted shape. These simple, elegant colours give you an air of sophistication whilst maintaining a modern look.
A couple of ways to wear this dress:
In the office – I simply love the idea of wearing this classic dress at the office and I would personally put a little bit of a 1960’s stamp on this dress and wear it with a few simple black accessories such as black heels, a chunky black bangle and some big black stud earrings. If you wanted to (and had the time to in the mornings), a beehive updo would really complete the whole look – voila! A classic 1960’s pencil dress ensemble with a modern twist!
In the evening – Due to the neutral colours in this clever little dress, it is easy to swap over your office jewellery for something more glamorous in the evening. After work is done simply swap your black accessories for accessories which are gold in colour and whip on some nude heels – this instantly lightens the outfit and gives you a very different look! If you want to stick with black accessories, just add a sprinkling of glitz into the accessories, such as one of our black sparkly bangles, and you’re ready to go off and enjoy a few cocktails after work.
Dimare shift dress with pink roses
This darling little shift dress from Dimare (pictured right) quickly won a place in my heart as one of my favourite dresses we have ever had at the boutique. With it’s delicate chain and rose embellishment with Swarovski crystal stones at the neckline it’s a real winner if you are going to a wedding and is especially appropriate for a spring wedding with it’s pale pink rose print. The back of this dress has a gorgeous deep V with a matching chiffon rose back panel and a beautiful little cascade of frills, after all, the back is just as important as the front!
A couple of ways to wear this dress
For a day event – there is quite a lot going on with this dress, so if you are wearing this dress as a wedding guest, stick to minimal accessories. Don’t worry about wearing a necklace with this embellished neckline as there is a danger that the neckline will look too busy, feel free to opt for a gold coloured, delicate chain bracelet to match the chain on the neck and go for some gold earring studs. Naturally, add a hat or a fascinator in a neutral tone or in a pale, shell pink to compliment the rose print. As this dress is so delicate in colour we suggest that you opt for pale beige heels, or if you are going to be walking on grass, some beige wedges (wedges have the dual advantage of being modern and also practical as they are brilliant if you want to avoid that ‘sinking’ feeling!).
For an evening event – in the evening, take the accessories up a slight notch, stick with the nude heels or wedges and add some delicate gold dangly earrings with some sparkly Swarovski crystals to match the stones on the neckline and add a sparkle bracelet. I would recommend mixing our rose crystal mini bangle with a gold band.
These examples are a mere snippet of the day wear dresses we currently have at the boutique, and we are always adding more! To shop the full collection visit our website here.
The High Split dress
If you want to have a daring peep of thigh with your dress you would certainly be in good company as celebrities such as Paloma Faith, Angelina Jolie and Jenny from the block (aka J-Lo) have all been spotted recently sporting high split dresses. These thigh bearing dresses come in a variety of styles but by far my favourite is the high split long dress – it’s elegant and classy but still has that ‘a little bit sexy’ look with a slight tease of thigh. However, with all dresses which show off a lot of one part of the body, you have to be careful on how you wear this style as you don’t want to end up looking tacky. Here are some helpful tips to make sure you fall into the latter category:
1. If you are going for a split dress where the split doesn’t go up too high, feel free to go for a lower neckline. However, if you are going for a really high split, go for a higher neckline to ensure that there isn’t too much on show.
2. At least one of your legs are going to be on show in this style of dress, so make sure that you go for some really glamorous shoes. Flats are becoming more trendy with teenagers, Adults tend to opt for a fabulous pair of open block heels or better still, wedges. If you go for a fully closed shoe you will run the danger of making your feet look a bit too heavy – the trick is to keep it delicate.
3. Pictures are bound to be taken, so make sure you practise how you intend to pose in front of the mirror before you go out. Avoid just sticking your leg straight out of the split to the side, instead opt for a stance like our models below, where you peep the leg slightly through the split and place your foot delicately on the floor – this is why you need a splendid pair of heels or wedges!
This stunningly gorgeous full sequin, midnight blue fishtail high split dress (pictured right) with black lace trim is an absolute knock out and is guaranteed to get heads turning at your function. This dress is also in stock in bright red for a very Jessica Rabbit look. A fishtail dress suits many body shapes and is the perfect dress if you want to show off your curves! The lovely model pictured is our dear friend Lyndsay who is showing you the perfect way to pose in a high split dress.
If a fishtail mermaid dress is not for you, how about this floaty black one shoulder Grecian style black dress? This is a real celebrity dress and has been spotted on the likes of Lucy Mecklenburgh of TOWIE on the red carpet. This dress offers a classic style with a modern twist with a slightly daring cutout and a thigh high split. With figure flattering ruching at the stomach area, it is the perfect dress if you are concerned about your midriff.
For something completely different and unique, we also have a beautiful and elegant satin fishtail dress with train with delicate peacock embroidery and a scattering of sparkly beading.
If you have any questions for our team of stylists why not give us a call or message us on our social media pages.
Prom 2014 trend focus: the high low dress
The high low dress has also been aptly named the asymmetric dress, the mullet dress, and, if you’re really really funky, the hi-lo dress. Regardless of what you call it or how you spell it, the one thing that is agreed is that these dresses are burning up the red carpet and are set to be a really big hot trend for prom 2014.
So what exactly is a high low dress?
Well, it’s exactly as the name suggests: a combination of a long and short dress. Although high low dresses have been around for a few years now, each year they have increased in popularity. At the recent Golden Globe Awards ceremony, celebrities such as Sandra Bullock were spotted wearing glamorous high low hems, so if you do decided to sport a high low hem dress to prom, you will certainly be in good company!
What’s so good about a high low dress?
The first great thing about the high low dress is the drama and impact of having a long back skirt wafting and billowing about behind you, making you look every inch the Hollywood starlet! With their long and elegant back skirts and shorter front hems these dresses are particularly suited to young ladies attending their prom night as these dresses simply scream ‘I look elegant, classy, grown-up and sophisticated, but I’m young and sassy too!’
If you have read my posts before, you are probably aware that I am slightly challenged in the height department, and so I can feel a little swamped in long dresses sometimes. The high low dress really has been a fantastic alternative for me, giving me the chance to enjoy the full on glamour of wearing a long evening dress whilst retaining the style I feel most comfortable in – a short dress. The high low dress also gives me the chance to show off my pins and a fabulous pair of shoes, as well as giving me the opportunity to dance the night away in comfort (heel height permitting!) and style.
Designers have twigged on the increase in demand of high low hems, and have come up with many fabulous ways to incorporate a wide range of fabrics such as taffeta, chiffon and contrasting coloured lining for the back skirts. These fabrics come in a gorgeous array of colours, animal prints etc and many have been jazzed up with sparkles, sequins, bows and ruffles! Here’s a little peek of some of the styles we have in stock:
Lemon yellow high low chiffon prom dress
I can confirm to you that pastel colours are in again for the prom season, and you can expect to see at prom plenty of champagne, mint green and sorbet coloured dresses. This gorgeous chiffon floaty high low hem prom dress (pictured left) is simply stunning and, being lemon yellow, fits in perfectly with the summer colour scheme. This dress has darling shimmery rhinestones along the neckline and a low back. Simple, elegant iridescent jewellery are a perfect match with this dress.
Silver sequin high low dress
If you want something really jazzy and sparkly, this head-turning silver sequin high low dress (pictured right) by Dynasty is the one for you! This dazzling dress has whimsical organza skirts over it’s short, sequinned under dress and boasts a fabulously waist cinching band to give you a stunning shape. Don’t be tempted to over accessorize this dress, keep everything simple and let this dress do all the talking!
Forever Unique animal print high low hem dress
If animal print is your thing then why not try this stunning leopard print high low corset dress by Forever Unique? This dress is the ultimate in modern style with it’s body con mini dress top half and long flowing chiffons skirts behind. This dress looks fantastic with neutral accessories such as black, silver and gold.
Block colour high low hem dress
This beautiful high low hem taffeta dress (pictured right) is glamorous, fun and flirty with it’s contrasting blue colour lining to the underskirt. The bodice on this dress is fully structured and comes down a little lower than other high low hem dresses, giving it more of a mermaid shape than the others. This dress looks stunning with black shoes and accents of blue accessories such as our blue mini bangles.
Sale dresses at Walk in Wardrobe 2014
The women’s clothing sale is continuing into 2014 at the most crazy knock down prices! Dresses in our sale start from just £30, so it might be possible for you to add accessories to your party dress all for under £100! Here are some of our top picks from our bargain sale:
Leopard print one shoulder mini cocktail dress by Forever Unique – buy for just £50
Anyone who has been following my posts will be well aware that I am partial to leopard print, and this gorgeous little dress is an absolute steal at just £50 by renowned, celebrity endorsed label, Forever Unique.
This dress looks fabulous with a killer pair of black heels and black accessories and is the perfect dress for an evening out or ladies day at the races.
Hunter green mini prom dress – buy for just £29.99!
Not many young ladies will be able to say that they found their prom dress for £29.99, but we are pleased to confirm that such an opportunity is perfectly plausible at our boutique! This stunning little mini dress has darling ruffles at the bottom and figure flattering ruching which will give a great shape.
This dress looks lovely with silver accessories which will really pop against the dark green. Although many girls and mothers of prom girls wonder whether short dresses are acceptable for prom, I can confirm that short dresses can look just as sophisticated and elegant, and are a perfect way of ensuring that your daughter can dance the night away in comfort and style!
One shoulder burgundy bridesmaid dress – buy for just £59.99!
We are well aware that weddings can be quite expensive affairs, but just because you are on a budget doesn’t mean that your wedding wont be a beautiful day to remember. Any savvy bride will know that a few tweeks here and there can save a few pennies (and we all know that pennies make pounds!). For example, your bridesmaid can look absolutely stunning and elegant in this one shoulder maroon bridesmaid dress with puddle train. This dress gives a stunning shape with it’s fitted bodice and is a must for any bridesmaid who is part of a whimsical, fairytale wedding.
Whatever occasion you are attending, we are confident that you will be able to find your perfect outfit at our boutique, and the current sale prices, you may even be able to buy TWO perfect outfits!
What to wear for New Year’s Eve 2014
The boutique has been positively bursting at the seams with customers who are busily organising themselves for their Christmas and New Year’s Eve parties, and we’ve had great fun helping them choose their accessories and dresses for their events. This blissful little collection is perfect for a New Year’s Eve party and will have you looking classy and sophisticated as you twinkle and dance your way into 2014!
What prom dress is right for me?
I have been really impressed this year at how organised the 2014 prom girls are! We had our first one at the boutique early last month, and have had several since then. Although some mums coyly say to me when entering the boutique: ‘we’re looking at prom dresses, but we’re a bit early’, I think it’s extremely sensible, just like a bride, a prom girl KNOWS when she has found her dress and it matters not a jot that she has found it months in advance. Another reason to start early is that we never release the same dress to the same function, so make sure that your daughter gets first dibs on her dress for prom!
Nowadays there are so many different styles available, and there appears to be much less restriction on what is acceptable than before, so you could wear long or short, long and short, full on ball gown, or subtle and elegant. However, we are well aware that although the increase in styles means more variety, it can also make the decision even harder and more intimidating, especially if you are a young lady who is not used to wearing formal attire. The aim of this blog post is to give a little direction to prom girls who are starting out their research into which prom dress to wear on prom night.
The first golden question you should be asking is ‘what style of prom dress will suit me?’. It is all well and good having your heart set on a particular style, but if it does nothing for you, you won’t feel comfortable on the big night and you will spend the whole evening feeling self-conscious and doing your best to hide in the shadows. I recommend getting out a piece of paper and writing down what body shape you have, try to be as honest and objective as you can. Remember that what you see in the mirror isn’t necessarily the same as what everyone else sees, so mum, dad, sisters or any other close family members are usually very helpful and will give honest opinions on your shape. Try not to take anything they say too personally, after all, they only want you to look your best on prom night! After you have established what kind of shape you are, pick out your body features you wish to show off and write them down. Lastly, write down the body features you wish to hide.
In order to help you decide what prom dress style would suit you, I have pulled together the key prom dress styles with a general guide on what body shape would suit, so you can concentrate on the most important thing when choosing your prom dress: having fun!
nude colour prom ball gown – a perfect princess look!
Ball gown prom dresses
Ball gown prom dresses are traditional, or ‘classic’ prom dresses, and are the perfect way to achieve that fairy tale princess look. With their full, flared skirts and their fitted bodices, there are not really many body shapes which don’t suit this style. If you are a curvy girl, they are a great way of showing off a cinched in waist, or if you don’t have much of a waist, they are great at giving the illusion of a waist. If you are pear shaped or are concerned about the bottom half of your figure, this dress emphasises the waist and completely hides your bottom half. The only body shape which might slightly struggle in this style is if you are very small and petite as you can look swamped by the skirts. If you fall into this category but you still want that fairytale look, opt for an a-line dress instead as it still gives you a full skirt, and maximises the chance of you wearing the dress but minimises the risk of the dress wearing you!
Sequin fishtail prom dress – perfect for showing off an hourglass figure!
Mermaid prom dresses
These dresses are also known as fishtail prom dresses or trumpet prom dresses. The mermaid prom dress typically has a figure hugging fitted bodice that goes right the way down to the mid-thigh and then flares out to give the illusion of a mermaid’s tail. These dresses look great on prom girls who have a hourglass shape (i.e. who are well balanced at the bust and hips with a proportionately smaller waist). If you have more of a boyish figure, this style of dress will probably emphasise the straightness of your figure and will probably not show your body off in the best way. These dresses tend to fit very closely to the body and will give a true silhouette of your body shape, so if you are a bit shy about your body, it’s probably best to stay away from this style.
Pinky nude chiffon empire line prom dress
Empire line prom dresses
These dresses have a high waistline with the skirt gently falling from under the bust. They tend to be made out of a light, floaty fabric such as chiffon which falls elegantly to the floor. This style of prom dress works well on most body shapes and is probably one of the most forgiving styles. It also makes a great plus size style. They are fabulous if you are concerned about showing off your mid-section, providing you with a bit of extra coverage, whilst still giving you the ability to achieve that whimsical, elegant look. At the other end of the spectrum, they also make great dresses for girls who have a less defined waist, or a ‘boyish shape’ as they don’t emphasise the waist and drape graciously to the floor.
High low hem prom dress – perfect for showing off your pins!
Mullet prom dress
These dresses are also known as high low hem dresses. These dresses come in a variety of styles, e.g. fitted down to the thigh, fitted to the waist or empire line. It’s a fantastic alternative to a full length gown and is absolutely brilliant if you (like me!) are a little vertically challenged as you won’t have to worry about having the hem shortened or tripping over a long dress at prom! If your legs are the feature that you want to show off, but you still like the idea of having a long prom dress, this could well be the option for you. Make sure that you team up this style of dress with a fabulous pair of shoes, but if you are going for a pair of peep toes, make sure that your feet are in tip top condition and that you go and get yourself a good pedicure beforehand!
Once you are aware of what shape you are, the process of prom dress shopping changes from being stressful to being exactly what it should be – fun! Remember that it’s not every day you get to wear a glamorous dress, so I recommend taking full advantage while you can and seek out a really special dress. This is definitely one of those times when high street just will not do!
If you require any further help regarding what style is best suited to your shape, feel free to leave us a comment below, facebook us at Walk in Wardrobe Brighton or tweet us @walkinwardrobe
Tips on looking amazing for your Christmas party 2013
Whilst some people shudder at the mere mention of ‘Christmas’, the Christmas season for me is by far one of my favourite times of the year for so many reasons – the cosy darkness, the smell of spicy mulled wine in the air, the fairy lights and of course, the Christmas parties! For me, the winter season is the most glamorous time of the year, the sparkles on dresses are emphasised by the twinkling Christmas lights, I can glam up red carpet style with a faux fur wrap and pretend I’m a 1950’s Hollywood starlet and I don’t have to worry about my make-up getting messy under the hot rays of the sun.
We like to be prepared at the boutique and so have been busily collecting together Christmas party dresses and accessories for our customers. In this post I would like to share a few tips and tricks on how to get yourself noticed under the mistletoe this year!
Long full sequin Christmas party dress, perfect for a black tie or white tie event!
What dress shall I wear to a Christmas party?
This depends on so many factors. Although black tie events are becoming more relaxed in their dress code, it’s not everyday you get to wear a long dress, so at Christmas time, when the opportunity arises, I like to take full advantage of the situation! This stunning long gown with long sleeves (pictured right) is perfect for a black or white tie Christmas event and perfect if you are a lady who hates her arms. This dress has been worn by stunning celebrities, so it just goes to show you that arm coverage does not automatically mean ‘dowdy’. The full sequins give a perfect Christmassy effect, offering a subtle, elegant shimmer when you move, and it has the added bonus of that bit of extra coverage to ensure that you can keep the chill at bay.
Red off the shoulder corset dress
If you are going to a more relaxed Christmas party e.g. a Christmas meal out with your work colleagues, a short dress is most likely going to be a better option. This Vivian Westwood inspired, off the shoulder pencil dress (pictured left) is simple yet absolutely gorgeous. As this dress bears little by way of embellishment, you can really go to town with the accessories and team it up with sparkly bracelets and a bag, and the low neckline means that you are able to wear a big, statement necklace. As always, with a shorter dress, you have to make sure that your feet look just as good as the rest of you, so make sure that you have some twinkly shoes to complete your look (see below).
Are there any alternative outfit options to dresses?
Of course there are! If you don’t feel happy wearing a dress, don’t wear one. If you are wearing something that is ultimately not ‘you’, you wont feel confident and you’ll only remember the Christmas party for feeling uncomfortable. There are simply hundreds of sparkly Christmas outfits out there, it would be quite an achievement if you were unable to find one to suit you! One of my favourites at the boutique at the moment is the hot pant suit (see below, right). This unique and sparkly Cheryl Cole style suit is perfect for Christmas parties and that special Christmas night club event, ensuring that you look sassy yet classy whilst tearing up the dance floor!
Black and beige sequin hot pants suit
If you still feel uncomfortable by the thought of a hot pant suit, one of our glamorous tops with a pair of skinny jeans or a pair of black pvc skinny trousers teamed with a pair of killer heels would be just the ticket for you. Even if you are not wearing a dress, just remember that you can still be just as glam, just don’t forget to accessorise appropriately to ensure that you still look twinkly and Christmassy!
Glamorous chiffon party top
What are the best colours to wear for winter parties?
Christmas party outfits are usually bold in colour as opposed to pastel colours. The usual staple colours being red, black, navy, gold and silver. However, don’t feel restricted to these colours, I find that royal blue and purple serve equally well, just keep in mind that the watchword for winter parties this year is ‘opulence’. Providing your dress or outfit is rich in colour, you will look stylish and fashionable and bang on seasonal trend. Regardless of what colour you choose, just make sure that you feel fabulous in it!
What accessories should I wear with my party dress?
Statement jewellery has never been more in than during this season. Look out for dramatic chokers, dramatic earrings and bangles (a particular favourite of mine is currently the Indian inspired bracelet and ring sets). A sparkly bag will finish off your ensemble nicely and will ensure that your emergency provisions such as your lipstick and chewing gum (for mistletoe purposes!) are kept safely in style.
Don’t underestimate just how cold the midst of December can be, and make sure that you are not caught out at the end of the evening shivering whilst waiting for your taxi to take you home. Instead, opt for one of our faux fur wraps to keep you feeling super warm and yet uber-glam!
What shoes should I wear to a Christmas party?
Sparkly black and silver stiletto high heels
As I err on the slightly small side, I am partial to a pair of sparkly high heels for Christmas parties. However, if you feel nervous about wearing skyscraper heels, stick to smaller heels which are equally as glamorous and you wont worry about wobbling around on heels at the party. Don’t think for a minute that party shoes are solely heels, celebrities such as Alexa Chung have really made flat shoes not only acceptable at parties, but also desirable. Once again, the watchword is still ‘opulence’, and this opulence MUST spread right the way from the top of your head right down to your feet! Bearing this in mind, I would just like to say that you should wear a style that you feel comfortable in, and think you can last the whole night in (without forgetting that dancing may be a part of the evening!), just make sure that there is plenty of bling!
Great, the outfit is sorted, but what about everything else?
Preparing the body before you get dressed up for your Christmas party is very important. You can spend a few hours doing it yourself at home, but I have found that whilst I begin the process with much gusto, after a while I do find that the process can become quite tedious and I begin to cut corners. Instead, I would opt to go to one of my favourite salons in Brighton and Hove, Tranquility in the City, based at Station Road. At the salon I always feel like I’m in the hands of the professionals, and always come out glowing from top to toe, it really is the perfect place to get pampered before a big night out! I personally recommend their manicures, my own favourite being gel nails with a leopard print minx wrap on the ring finger, the perfect finishing touch! Beauty expert extraordinare and owner of the salon, Louise is always on hand to give you a professional makeover for your big night, her advice for the perfect Christmas make-up this season is: ‘Two big trends for this xmas are glitter and using skin perfectors and primers to achieve a flawless look. The first step to professional looking make-up is to prepare well. Start with a really great skin perfecting primer and the rest of your make-up will glide on with ease and last all night! We stock the award winning Vitage skin perfector at Tranquility, which is a primer and skin perfector in one and at just £25 will save you money on buying two products. Once you have created your look, add glitter in a more grown up style by using a liquid glitter liner. This can be used on the upper eyelid to add sparkle to your usual liner or underneath in the corner of the eye to create a flash of colour.’
Once the rest of you is sorted, don’t forget that you will need to make sure that your hair looks perfect. After seeing their work at our recent fashion show, we highly recommend the very swanky My Salon Looks based at Western Road, Hove for a great Christmas party hair do. Their team of creative and artistic professionals really take the time to listen to you to make sure that your crowning glory goes perfectly with your outfit and suits your own individual look.
If budget is a factor for your Christmas outfit, don’t forget that you can always hire your Christmas party dress instead of purchasing it, so you can look a million dollars for a fraction of the cost, meaning that you will have a bit more money for a few extra cocktails!
Whatever you decide on for your Christmas party, remember that Christmas isn’t Christmas without twinkles and sparkles, so make sure that you dress to impress so you can shimmer the night away and be merry (it is Christmas after all!).
If you have a question for me that I haven’t answered, why not tweet to us @walkinwardrobe with your question with the hashtag #askwalkinwardrobe
WiW Charity Fashion Show 29th October 2013
After several weeks organising our charity fashion evening and showing our AW13 collections in the boutique, we were thrilled to have such an over whelming turn out on the 29th October, everyone enjoyed the fashion extravaganza. We aimed to make this fashion evening super glamorous and glitzy, and we are thrilled to report that our event was described by guests as ‘Walk in Wardrobe’s best fashion show to date, the atmosphere was buzzing!’.
Guests were entertained with live singer Aneesa Chaudhry, we enjoyed luxury canapés courtesy of La Cave Fromage, sparkling wine and goody bags with treats from us and My Salon Looks. Alongside the fashion show was a charity raffle in aid of Chestnut Tree House with a fabulous selection of prizes from local businesses such as hair straighteners from My Salon Looks, a cheese and wine evening at La Cave a Fromage, a training session with MissFit, a massage from Tranquility in the City, luxury pillows from the Red Bed Co, a print from the Naked Eye Gallery and of course, a Victoria Beckham style pencil dress from Walk in Wardrobe.
A few words from the proprietor Katherine Tanswell: ‘We were thrilled with the reception we had from the fashion show, we were packed to full capacity and really pleased with the generosity of our guests and raffle donors who showed massive support to both the boutique and the Chestnut Tree House Charity”.
A huge thank you to our models who gave up their time to do the fashion show. We were lucky to have My Salon Looks create the models hair and SJE Make-up who gave the models glamorous and sparkly look for the show. Thank you to all our guests who attended the fashion evening, we look forward to seeing you at our next event! A comment from one guest was “we need a bigger boutique to get every one in!”
Always leave them wanting more is what we say.
*all photographs by Stuart Butcher
New accessories at Walk in Wardrobe
When our customers speak we listen, and what our customers said was that they wanted more designer quality, unique and affordable accessories – and we have certainly delivered! I am well aware that finding the right accessories to go with your dress can be pretty hard work, but fortunately we have done all the hard work for you, and we have now expanded our jewellery section at the boutique, so you really can get kitted out under one roof regardless of whether you are looking for bridesmaid accessories, bridal and wedding accessories, accessories for prom or accessories for a night out with the girls. These delectable little pieces of glamour also make perfect Christmas presents, and although Christmas is a couple of months away, there’s no harm in being organised! Below are my favourite picks of our new jewellery range, for more, have a little peek at the accessories section on our website.
Statement necklaces
Stunning statement necklace
My jaw definitely dropped when I saw this utterly gorgeous necklace, and it’s probably my own personal favourite of all the statement necklaces. The trick is with statement necklaces is to let the necklace do all the talking, and what I’m really getting at is to keep everything else very simple with your outfit. Keep the rest of your jewellery simple, in particular the earrings (I find that sparkly stud earrings are the perfect accompaniment to this necklace). Don’t ever worry that your outfit may be too simple, the statement necklace will change your outfit from plain to show stopping.
If you are concerned that a statement necklace may be too uncomfortable to wear due to weight, think again. This particular necklace is made out of long silver coloured chains and is dotted with twinkly crystals and is very lightweight, so you can feel comfortable whilst still looking utterly fabulous! This necklace stands out particularly well against a plain black dress, or if you are feeling particularly cheeky on holiday, over your favourite bikini! When storing this necklace, use a padded hanger to minimise tangling.
Vintage style choker necklace
Vintage style jewellery
The Great Gatsby film created a huge demand for vintage style accessories. The key things to remember when choosing your vintage style accessories is to keep them glitzy, bold and opulent. This vintage style black lace choker is the epitome of vintage style with it’s starburst flowers and black jet glass beads. This choker necklace looks great with a dress with a low, round neckline, a square neckline, or my personal favourite style of dress to wear with a choker, the strapless dress. With this choker keep the dress fairly simple and match the choker with a matching cuff bracelet and some simple matching black earrings.
Vintage style cuff bracelet
This vintage style cuff bracelet (left) is simply beautiful with it’s intricate design and soft pink colours. This cuff bracelet is delicate and is an absolute must if you are wearing a dress or top with 3/4 sleeves. This particular bracelet is brilliant if you have tiny wrists due to the fact it opens and closes on a gentle clasp, so it can fit any size!
Vintage style sparkly hair comb
Of course, no vintage style outfit is complete until you have your glitzy hair accessories in. These little bits of sparkle (pictured right) nestle subtly in your hair to give your crowning glory a bit of glamour. These look very sophisticated if you are wearing an updo such as a bun or chignon. The comb simply slots into your updo and secures into place, so you don’t have to worry about losing these little gems. If you are wearing your hair down, you can still use a hair comb, but it may need a few extras to hold it in position, kirby grips are great if you want a little extra security, but make sure you purchase clips which are the same colour as your hair and pop them in deeply so they remain hidden.
These accessories are just a few we have in stock at the moment, for our full range visit our accessories online here.
Don’t forget that we are always here to answer your style queries, and if I haven’t answered your question here, send a tweet to @walkinwardrobe and use the hashtag #askwalkinwardrobe
What’s in fashion autumn 2013?
After a short stint away from the boutique I am absolutely delighted to say that I am now back. And just imagine my excitement on my return to see the boutique positively full to the brim with brand new sumptuous gowns with sequins galore! As much as I will always adore full sequinned gowns, what has really held my interest is the batch of new printed party tops and cocktail dresses. This season’s catwalks have been overrun by geometric patterns and prints, and, on viewing the new collections from top designers such as Givenchy and Cavalli I can confirm that patterns and printed outfits are IN this season!
Party Tops
I do concede that it may not be wholly appropriate to go out to a semi-casual evening dinner donned in full on ball gown (as nice as the whole concept may be!), so a glamorous top with a nice skirt or pair of trousers means that you can still stay classy and chic in your more casual attire.
Versace style print top
Unicorn and bling zebra off the shoulder top
I adore this gorgeous long sleeved Versace inspired shirt (pictured left) made of satin and chiffon with tails. This shirt utilises a modern mirror print technique perfectly and uses a vibrant colour spectrum of burnt oranges, ruby reds, shimmering golds, turquoises and my favourite – animal print. The style of this top is so versatile and can be dressed up with a pencil skirt or pair of trousers, or you can dress it down with leggings or your favourite jeans. With it’s fantastic feature lace up back you can guarantee that you will have a perfect fit, even if (like me!) you are different sizes on different parts of your body!
Pictured right is a truly unique, whimsical, mystical printed top with unicorn and gorgeous little bling bling zebras. This carefree, easy to wear modern top has a little bar across the back of the neck to ensure that you get none of that annoying ‘slippage’ from your shoulders. This top looks fabulous when teamed with a pair of skinny jeans or black trousers.
Printed dresses
Versace style mini dress with mesh back
Printed dresses are also really in vogue this season, this particular mini dress to the left has uber-modern, ultra-cool features such as a mesh back and darling little studs around the shoulders. This dress has all the opulence of fashionable prints and colours at the moment plus a bit of biker chic with the leatherette sleeve features, giving it a fresh, unique look and makes it the perfect dress to take you from day to evening.
Sleeved knee length printed dress
This stunning Cavalli style knee length sleeved dress pictured right is a fabulous way of keeping in line with the current print fashion trend and it’s sleeves are great if you are an arm hater! Being more subtle in the colour department with it’s earthy colour tones of golds and greens it reminds me somewhat of a Raphaelite painting, and, just like a Raphaelite painting, it is a true masterpiece. This dress gives you a great figure hugging fit with it’s super stretchy fabric and the low open back gives a touch of sexiness whilst still remaining classy.
Accessories to go with your new printed dress or top
With patterned outfits I usually suggest simple jewellery, however, I am prepared to do a complete U-turn with this fashion trend and recommend that you wear grand, statement pieces. The opulence of this look screams out for some sumptious and regal jewellery. Think chunky necklaces and bangles in golds and burnished coppers along with matching oversized earrings.
We are offering these distinctive, creative dresses and tops at super value prices to buy, or if you are on a budget, don’t forget that you can also hire them for a fraction of the cost!
What wedding dress would suit me?
If you are looking at this blog post you are probably getting married, so the first thing we would like to say to you is ‘Big Congratulations!’. Choosing a wedding dress can be quite a daunting task and it can feel pretty overwhelming, so I’d like to give you a few pointers in how to approach the situation to make it a little easier, so you can concentrate on the most important thing when choosing your wedding dress: having fun!
Do your research
Before you hit the bridal stores have a little look on the internet to see what styles of dresses there are on offer. There is a whole wealth of information on the World Wide Web which you can access for free, so take full advantage of Google image search and bridal discussion boards. Put pen to paper and write a list of how you want your whole day to be. Don’t limit this list to ‘the dress’, instead consider all factors such as the venue, where your photographs will be taken, the season the wedding day falls into and most importantly, your personality. By way of example, you could make a list with words such as: spring season, princess gown, fairy tale wedding, beach wedding, whimsical, grand, simple, vintage, etc. Once you have finished your list you will probably have a much better idea of not only what kind of dress you would like for the day, but also how it will fit in with your whole wedding experience.
Decide on the shape of wedding dress you would like
At the boutique we like to have a good spread of different shapes and styles of wedding dresses so brides can experiment with what style will suit them best. There are so many different styles to consider, so even if you are a bride who is particularly under confident with your figure, there simply MUST be a style which will suit you and will make you feel fabulous on the day. Our friendly team of in-house stylists are always on hand to offer you advice, and as we have seen so many different types of figures in wedding dresses, we know which will suit you.
Ivory ball gown wedding dress
Ball gown wedding dresses
Ball gown wedding dresses are the perfect way to achieve that fairy tale princess look. With their full, flared skirts and the usually fitted bodice suits most types of body shapes (but may be a bit too full on a small slim bride – see the next section if you are one of them!) and looks great on a bride who has a pear shaped figure. This style of dress has the advantage of hiding the bottom half of the figure if you are concerned about your thighs and/or rear and emphasises the waist dramatically.
This stunning wedding dress to the left is in typical ball gown style, made out of ivory taffeta with a fitted bodice and corset back and full netting under the skirts. The gorgeous silver embellishment breaks up the ivory colour perfectly on the front and the embellishment on the back around the corset adds interest for those nice over the shoulder photographs.
A-line wedding dress with feature lace back
A-line wedding dresses
An A-line dress is similar to the ball gown dress but is a little less full in the skirt. It falls naturally from the waist, again to emphasise the tiniest part of your body and falls in an “A” shape. If you are a small and slim bride a ball gown wedding dress may swamp you a little too much and an A-line wedding dress will probably suit you better. These dresses are great if you are petite but you still want to get that full fairy tale effect!
This gorgeous A-line wedding dress to the right is perfect for the bride who wants a more subtle fairy tale wedding. The vintage style lace feature at the back demands to be shown off, so an up-do hairstyle with this dress is a must!
Mermaid style champagne wedding dress with feature bow
Mermaid wedding dresses
These dresses are also known as fishtail wedding dresses and trumpet dresses. The fishtail dress typically has a figure hugging fitted bodice that goes right the way down to the mid-thigh and then flares out to give a kind of mermaid tail shape. These dresses look great on brides who have an hourglass figure and who are well balanced at the bust and the hips and who have a proportionately smaller waist. These dresses tend to fit very closely to the body and will give a true silhouette of your body shape, so if you are under confident with your shape, it’s probably best to stay away from this style.
This elegant mermaid wedding dress has a gorgeous feature bow at the front and darling little buttons down the back. It’s figure flattering rouching will ensure that you feel confident on your big day and will really show off your curves. This mermaid wedding dress is now in our sale for under £300!
Champagne one shoulder empire line wedding dress
Empire line wedding dresses
These wedding dresses a have a high waistline with the skirt starting from under the bust. They tend to be made out of a light, floaty fabric such as chiffon which falls very elegantly to the floor. This style of wedding dress looks great on most body shapes and is probably one of the most forgiving wedding dress shapes. They are fabulous if you are concerned about showing off your mid-section, providing you with a bit of extra coverage, and still giving you the ability to achieve that whimsical, elegant look. Empire line dresses make stunning maternity wedding dresses and they give that little bit of extra space around the waist if baby decides to grow dramatically in the run up to the wedding. These dresses have also been extremely popular at the boutique for a casual wedding or look gorgeous on a beach if you are having a tropical beach wedding. They also have the benefit of being floaty and light so you can keep cool and pack them in your suitcase easily.
This whimsical champagne coloured wedding dress pictured right is absolutely stunning and extremely flattering, even if you have some bits you wish to hide! The gorgeous lace bust has a few sparkles, so you will be able to twinkle and shine well into the night!
Celebrity column wedding dress in ivory
Column or sheath wedding dresses
These dresses are also known as sheath wedding dresses. This style of wedding dress runs virtually straight down from the shoulders to the floor with no flair and are typically narrow and slim. These are easy to wear and are great dresses if you are having a less formal wedding. These dresses look great on most shapes and also look fabulous on small brides because the shape tends to elongate a small bride perfectly.
The beauty of this column wedding dress pictured left lies in it’s simplicity and a really beautiful cut. The figure flattering rouching is perfect if you are concerned about your mid-section, and the feature frill partially obscures the side slit so you can add a touch of sexiness to your wedding dress whilst still remaining a classy bride!
When you are trying on wedding dresses make sure you don’t put the blinkers on and disregard all other styles other than the one you are determined to have, the trick is to try on many different shapes of dresses and to bring your friends and relatives with you and sit down and explain to them what kind of look you are going for at your wedding. When selecting which friends to bring with you remember that it is of absolutely no help if you bring a friend who is going to say that every dress looks wonderful on you! Instead, bring a friend who is going to give you a really honest opinion, and try not to take it too personally if there is a dress they do not like on you. After all, if they are a true friend, they are only trying to help you look fabulous on your big day!
Whichever style of dress you go for, just make sure that you love it and feel comfortable and confident in it. Remember that you will show your wedding photographs to all your family and friends and any potential grandchildren you may have in the future, so make the right choice for yourself so you can feel proud every time you look at the photos of wedding day.
Long sleeved dresses at Walk in Wardrobe
The long sleeved dress has become a real fashion essential of late, and you only have to glance at the red carpet to see top celebrities such as Anne Hathaway and Angelina Jolie looking like they are at the height of sophistication in long sleeved gowns. Long sleeved dresses are brilliant to have in your wardrobe for a couple of reasons, firstly because they keep the chill off of you in this unpredictable British weather, and secondly these dresses can provide excellent coverage for ladies who are concerned about a bit of an arm wobble when they wave! At the boutique we are frequently visited by ladies who want to look show stoppingly glamorous for their special event, but are finding it hard to find a nice dress with long sleeves. Please feel rest assured that wearing a long sleeved dress does not automatically mean that you will look ‘dowdy’ or ‘old fashioned’ as we have sourced for you some absolutely stunning dresses with long full sleeves, chiffon sleeves, tulle sleeves and lace sleeves.
Long dresses with sleeves
Long sleeved black full length sequin dress
Full length dress with full sleeve
Stunning long black dress with chiffon sleeves
I hope that you will agree with me that this black full sequin dress on the left is testimony to the fact that long sleeved dresses are not dowdy! This gorgeous dress is the absolute epitome of red carpet glamour with it’s mermaid style cut and sexy-but-classy feature open back. This particular type of sleeve is fabulous for ladies who are particularly under confident with their arms as it provides full coverage whilst maintaining that full on, glamorous, red carpet look.
A sheer sleeve can give you a highly sophisticated look whilst still providing you with a fair bit of coverage and gives you a stunning silhouette. If you want a more see through, sheer sleeved dress try our gorgeous, show stopping long black dress with chiffon sleeves (to the right). This easy going, carefree style dress offers you effortless glamour and sophistication and gives you that floaty, whimsical look whilst still making sure that your arms are covered!
Knee length dresses with sleeves
Lace sleeved knee length designer pencil dress
3/4 length sleeve peplum pencil dress
The long sleeve in lace is a huge fashion trend which I can only attribute to Kate Middleton’s Alexandra McQueen wedding dress. The moment she emerged from the limousine we had ladies at the boutique desiring this dreamy, classic style. This gorgeous designer knee-skimming corset pencil dress on the left incorporates the lace sleeve to ensure that you get a perfect blend of whimsical, sexy and just the right amount of sophistication to be able to be worn out to a classic semi-formal black tie event. It’s the perfect dress for a daytime function, but is eye catching and glamorous enough to take you seamlessly through to an evening event.
This fabulous desk to dinner dress pictured on the right is brilliant if you want to hide your upper arms but still want to remain cool in the summery months. Dress this gorgeous peplum dress up with sparkly accessories and you are ready to go straight out for the evening from work.
Mini dresses with sleeves
Chiffon batwing mini dress with sleeves
If you are lucky enough to be the proud owner of a great pair of pins, a sleeved mini dress is a great way to show off your best assets whilst covering up the arms. This gorgeous dress on the right offers you that sexy mini dress look alongside a vague hint of that Wuthering Heights couture with it’s chiffon batwings. This dress looks fabulous when teamed up with a pair of our sparkly high heels and some glitzy drop earrings.
These are just some of the long sleeved dresses we have in stock at the moment, please check our website here for more styles: www.walk-in-wardrobe.co.uk
What to wear to Goodwood Revival 2013
Retro inspired ladies hat
It’s that time of year again where you need to dig out your biggest hair rollers, seamed stockings and get practicing your most dramatic eyeliner flicks! Yes, one of my favourite events in the social calendar is coming up: the Goodwood Revival Festival. Goodwood Revival is a truly unique annual event which is held at the world renowned Goodwood race circuit in Sussex, UK. This event allows you to take a magical step back in time to the golden era of motor sport from the late 1940’s to the 1960’s and is jam packed with fun, cars and celebrities. However, although I am always fascinated by the racing (in particular saloon car racing!), what I really love about the event is the theatrical fashion parade.
Dressing up for Goodwood Revival allows you to channel your inner Katharine Hepburn for an opportunity to take a fashionable step back in time and to embrace the culture and glamour of the 1940’s, 1950’s and 1960’s. This event is awash with gorgeous swing and pencil dresses, and not to mention some stunning accessories! I feel that the effort put in by the ladies to capture the style of these periods gives the heartbeat to the whole event, giving ticket holders a feeling of true retro glamour. It’s not just the sense of inclusion you have when you dress up for the Revival Festival, there are also fantastic prizes to be won for the Best Dressed Lady, so it’s important to get it right if you want to be in with a chance!
The first thing I would like to say regarding style when you are choosing your outfit is to stay away from the ‘fancy dress’ mindset. Instead, try to capture the spirit and authenticity of the event. Fancy dress could lead you to looking tacky, and at big fashion event such as this, this is a big fashion faux pas. When first exploring what to wear I recommend looking on the internet for golden era actresses who you can get inspiration from. This list by IMDb is a great place to start: http://www.imdb.com/list/P80HvOfFoyc/ Try to find an actress who has a similar colouring to you and is a similar shape.
Golden Era inspired black peplum dress
Pencil dresses for Goodwood Revival
Pencil dresses were all the rage during the 1950’s and are perfect dresses to wear to Goodwood Revival. The pencil dress was a super sexy alternative to the fun and flirty full skirted swing dresses. To me, these dresses are the epitome of golden era glamour, provide you with an iconic Audrey Hepburn style look, and also give you a classy little wiggle when you walk! These dresses look stunning when teamed up with a pair of heels, but remember that you will be walking around a lot at the Festival, so unless you are well versed in wearing sky-scraper heels, stick to a lower, thicker heel.
Accessories to complete your golden era inspired look
Accessories are a must when you complete your outfit. Furry stoles were hugely popular in the golden era and offer you the function of keeping warm when the day turns into evening and also looking like a glamorous 1950’s fashion goddess! Team up a pencil dress and a stole with a gorgeous pair of long gloves and a 1950’s style hat.
It’s rare to find someone who embraces the golden era full time, and if you’re not one of them, don’t worry, stepping out to this event doesn’t have to cost the earth. Our dresses and many of our accessories can be hired rather than purchased both at the boutique and online, so you won’t be stuck with a dress and accessories you are unlikely to wear again. We pride ourselves on sourcing excellent quality outfits and accessories, so you can feel rest assured that you don’t have to resort to ‘fancy dress’ style outfits, and you will be able to wear a stunning high quality dress and accessories at a fraction of the cost!
Visit http://www.goodwood.co.uk/revival/welcome.aspx for more details of the event.
The latest summer fashion trend for 2013 – Monochrome
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
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!
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
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.
Stunning light pink low back dress, perfect for black tie events or the red carpet!
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
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.
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!
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?
Reasons why hiring dresses has become such a big fashion trend
Stunning low back sequinned hire dress, perfect for a black tie event and prom!
For us ladies, idealistic fashion can be a difficult thing to obtain, especially if you have to work within your monthly budget. Unfortunately we ladies can be left in the position where we have spent lots of money on a designer dress, but we don’t want to be seen in the same dress twice. This happens especially if you are lucky enough to have a close circle of friends with whom you go to the same events with. If this sounds like you, then I’m sure you are no stranger to the sad feeling when you open the wardrobe to see an expensive dress hanging there which you will probably never wear again. As this is an issue which affects many women, there has been an increasing trend of renting dresses for black tie events, weddings and proms, and we are proud to be one of the first companies on the South Coast to offer a professional hiring service. Here are just some of the benefits of hiring a dress:
Fashion is ever changing
The world of fashion has always been a bit fickle. What is in vogue one day may not be a week later. As we strive to stay on the ‘what’s in fashion’ pulse, so our rental dresses are always in style, so you can feel rest assured that you are always stylish and that you are not letting thousands of pounds go to waste from purchasing dresses! Going on from this, as fashion is so fast and styles can fall out of fashion favour, the more you wear a dress, the more the value of the garment could deplete, rendering the thousands of pounds you spend on dresses worthless.
No problem with storage
Not everyone has a special occasion to go to on a regular basis and so, if you are buying many dresses for different events, you will be surprised at how cluttered your wardrobe can get! Gone are the days when wedding dresses are handed down from mother to daughter, daughters now tend to prefer to choose their own dress, and if you opt for a flamboyant, large wedding dress, it is unlikely that you will wear it again, so storing the dress can become a problem.
The designer look for a fraction of the cost
Gorgeous wedding dress with lace back, available to rent
For formal events or Ladies Day, you really don’t want to sacrifice quality and purchase on the high street. Due to the fact that designer dresses have a superior quality to high street dresses, the price naturally goes up, so it can get quite expensive! We offer fabulous designer dresses which are from top quality brands such as Catwalk Collection, Forever Unique, Dynasty and Hybrid, but to name a few. We also hire out the majority of our wedding dresses. Renting your wedding dress will be far cheaper than purchasing it, which means that you utilise the extra cash for that extra special honeymoon!
You can try before you buy
At our boutique we also sell our dresses as well as hire them out. If you have hired a dress from us and fall in love with it on the night (this situation seems to occur on many occasions!), you can buy the dress after your rental and we will take the rental fee off of the purchase fee.
You don’t have to worry about the cleaning
Cleaning delicate dresses can be a bit of a chore, but if you hire a dress from us, the cleaning costs are included in the hire price, so that’s another thing off your mind!
Hire a dress from anywhere in the UK
We do not limit our customers by location and offer an online hiring service. Please visit our website for more information about how to hire a dress from us here.
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
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
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.
Work Experience at Walk in Wardrobe 2013
I’ve never really known exactly what prom dress I would like for my prom until I started my work experience at Walk In Wardrobe. The choices of dresses that this unique boutique provides beats any other dress shop in Brighton and Hove. They have short dresses, long dresses, midi dresses, pencil dresses, maxi dresses and many other styles which you cannot find anywhere else apart from Walk In Wardrobe. I now know exactly what dress I would like for my prom next year; a backless, floor-length, long sleeved garment which has been inspired by the dresses at Walk In Wardrobe.
Thanks to my work experience here, I now fully understand how a boutique is run and what efforts are needed to create a successful business. I have seen Katie make many different sales to many different customers, and as different events pop up, the sales are only going to increase. From what I have experienced, customers feel very comfortable whilst choosing a dress for whatever event they are going to, and if a customer needs help, there is always somebody to help them out, and I was pleased to also have the chance to help out customers whilst on my work experience. I have enjoyed this factor a lot as I love to see customers with a smile on their face and knowing that you have made them feel happy and special in their new dress. I am also always intrigued as to what the customer will look like in the dress that they have chosen.
Another factor I have loved about doing my work experience here is that I have taken part in different photo shoots, taking images of different products that need to be listed on the Walk in Wardrobe website. I loved this part as I had access to the exclusive photo studio in the basement part of the boutique which gave me the opportunity to take professional images. I have learnt a lot from taking these types of photos and I now know how to present different items of clothing to potential customers browsing on the internet. I also feel that I have been trusted with this type of equipment and that I have received a lot of respect since working at Walk In Wardrobe.
By doing my work experience at Walk in Wardrobe, I have learnt a lot about the world of work that I didn’t know before and it has made me eager to start working as soon as possible. Overall, I have loved my work experience here and am very thankful to both Katie and Leah for helping me with the whole experience and making me feel very welcome.
Written by Grace from Cardinal Newman
The backless dress at Walk in Wardrobe
Stunning celebrity backless dress, available at the boutique in Royal Blue.
The most popular look at The Oscars 2013 was definitely the backless dress. Top celebrities such as Renee Zellweger wowed the crowds with a subtle, elegant-yet-sexy flash of skin, bringing the backless to the forefront of style. The backless dress is a perfect prom dress, party dress, black tie event dress, and of course, the perfect red carpet dress. Walk in Wardrobe are thrilled to be able to bring back one of our bestselling backless dresses, giving you the chance to get that red carpet look for yes, you’ve guessed it, a fraction of the cost!
Our customers who have been looking for backless dresses have many questions with regards to underwear, accessories, etc. We would like to share some of our tips with you to ensure that you can bring the sexy back when wearing your glamorous backless dress.
Accessories to go with a backless dress.
With a statement dress like a backless dress, you don’t need to many accessories as the dress will do most of the talking for you! Opt for a sparkly hair tiara or hair band, some simple dangly earrings and a nice glitzy bangle to offset the look. As many backless dresses do not have a plunging neckline, you can also wear a necklace in reverse with a single long dangle and a bit of sparkle so it trails elegantly down your back.
How should I wear my hair with a backless dress?
I am a firm believer that if you are wearing a backless dress you should be showing off your back! If you want to show off your back fully, wear your hair totally up in a tight bun for a high end, elegant look, or in a messy bun with a few bits of hair trailing down at the front for a sassy, flirty and fun look. If you really like having your hair down, wear your hair in a half up, half down style, so you can still have your back on show, but have a trickle of gorgeous locks going down your back. Another favourite of mine if you want to show off your back fully but want to have your whole head of hair down is to have your hair swept over one shoulder and coming down the front of your dress. I particularly love this look if you have your hair cascading down your shoulder in big, glamorous waves.
The million dollar question: What bra can I wear with a backless dress?
You have to be ever so careful when selecting what underwear to wear with your backless dress. Seeing your usual bra band across your exposed back or wearing a bra with a plastic band is a big no-no. But fear not! You still have several options from here:
- If you are small busted you can go completely bra-less with a backless dress. If you are feeling a little exposed, you can carefully apply some adhesive dress tape which is specifically designed to stick to skin and fabric to make you feel a bit more secure. If you are going bra-less, try to avoid the Anne Hathaway ‘nipple issue’ she had at the Academy Awards by applying plasters, or, if you want a less painful option on removal, you can purchase some silicone gel petals to go over the relevant areas!
- If you have a medium sized bust you can opt for an adhesive bra which sticks to your bust.
- If you are a busty lady and/or want or need a bit more support, go for a fabulous multiway bra which has a band which will wrap around your tummy with the band sitting low enough so it doesn’t peep over the back of your dress. Another option is to try Maidenform’s truly revolutionary strapless and backless bra, specifically designed to give you support whilst giving you the ability to wear your backless dress with confidence.
Heat Wave Fashion
It appears that we are finally in a heat wave in the UK (touch wood!). To be frank, no matter how divine you are as a creature, that sweat is at some point going to emerge on your brow. Nevertheless, that chic, a la mode look is still attainable, even throughout this heat. Here are our top tips for keeping cool and classy throughout this summer:
Full length summer kaftan
Loose Clothing
Wearing as little clothing as possible doesn’t necessarily mean that you will feel cooler. The trick is to cover up a bit and wear loose clothing which will allow air to flow around your body. This extra layer will also protect your skin from the sun (big bonus if you are prone to sun burn!) as it will provide you with some shade as you waft about like a summer goddess. Kaftan tops are a gorgeous addition to any summer wardrobe, giving you the practical benefits of keeping cool whilst also looking amazing. If you are a lady who likes to hide her arms, kaftans are also a real boon!
This stunning full length kaftan to the right fuses bold, bright summer colours with an exotic print. As it is 100% silk, it is a natural fiber which is perfect for the hot summer months due to the fact that it is super breathable and helps you to maintain a natural temperature.
Capri pants
Capri pants
Capri pants (aka cropped trousers) are fabulous if you want to stay cool but not show off too much leg. Try to make sure that you get capri pants which finish in between the knee and ankle (a good length is pictured left). Tight fitting capri pants are best for a modern look.
Pictured left are our capri style pants which look great with loose fitting boho tunic tops for a contemporary, modern look. Our capri pants come in a gorgeous array of colours such as fuchsia, navy blue, black, white and dove grey.
Printed summer jumpsuit
Jumpsuits
Sleeveless jumpsuits are very much in fashion for summer . Pictured right is a fabulous style we have at the boutique and is a relaxed yet classy jumpsuit with a fabulous print. What I particularly love about this style is it’s versatility. It can be dressed down for the day time, coupled with a belt or just wear it as is, and for the evening time, jazz it up with a few blingy accessories for a classy and sophisticated look. You can even add a cropped jacket if you are going to a more formal evening party to make it look a bit smarter.
Prom dresses: High Street vs. Independent Boutiques
Long prom dress £89.99 – UNDER £100!
The high street stores are awash with cheap prom dresses galore, so you may be considering going to purchase one from one of the many that are out there. Your pull towards a high street store may be due to reasons including the big one; because they offer cheaper dresses than more exclusive, independent boutiques. This is a common misconception amongst many shoppers, at least in our case! Walk in Wardrobe HQ have been busily sourcing stunningly beautiful dresses for prom 2015, the majority of which either match or beat the high street stores in price!
Whilst high street chain stores do have their place in shopping for fast fashion, I would still not shop in one if I was going to attend a special event. There are several reasons for this, the main one being that I would want a dress for my special event which screams good quality as well as being unlike anything anyone else would wear. I wouldn’t settle for anything less, so why should you?! The dresses we provide are uniquely handpicked by our exceptional buying team who look for: excellent designs that are not mass-produced, good quality workmanship and good quality fabric. Our rule of only providing quality items means that if you look after your dress from Walk in Wardrobe well enough, it can last for years, meaning that you are getting true value for money and you will have a distinctive and unique dress which will really make you stand out from the crowd!
Prom dress by Forever Unique 65 RRP £345.
Secondly, as you are going to a special event, don’t you need special customer service? The customer service culture amongst high street chain stores is very different to the customer service you can expect from an independent boutique. We offer a fun, relaxed and friendly atmosphere where we can take the time to assess the individual customer’s needs and we like to get to know them personally so we can help them choose a dress which will reflect their personality for their special occasion.
Unlike the high street chain stores, we also offer a hiring service, which means that you can get that designer look for a fraction of the cost and it also means that you can save on space in the wardrobe! We also never release the same dress to the same function, so shopping with us also means that you will never be in that embarrassing situation where you turn up to a function and someone else is wearing the same dress as you!
Work experience at Walk in Wardrobe 2014 by Imogen
Going out to work for the first time can be very daunting for many young people, however my week in the hands of Katie and Leah from Walk in Wardrobe has demolished all those worries. My name is Imogen Smith, 15, from Longhill High school and I have been working at Walk in Wardrobe as part of my work experience. As I am interested in fashion and the world of retail I thought this would be the perfect place to spend a week off school.
I have learnt a lot in the past week; from how to sew on a hook and eye, to how to keep a business going in these tough times. However, the main thing Katie and Leah taught me was about customer service and how to give a personal shopping experience. With their warm personalities and expert knowledge of their industry, they are able to offer help and guidance for customers to find an entire outfit: dress and all accessories. At Walk in Wardrobe, Katie and Leah will be able to find the perfect outfit for you to go to the races, a wedding, prom etc. They have recently expanded their daywear section so they can also help you select the perfect outfit for the day.
You hear all sorts of rumours about work experience and how the employers restrict you from doing anything, but my employers were determined to make my experience the best possible. They have shown me the ways of a business and the importance of reputation in business, that making friendships with customers and clients can build up your customer base. They also found it was important to them to give me an opportunity, even when they didn’t have to; proving they go out of their way to do what they can to help.
The boutique also has a beauty therapist, Louise, who works downstairs at Tranquilty. Not only does Walk in Wardrobe benefit from Louise bringing new customers to the boutique, but Louise also benefits from the boutique sending customers to her for beauty treatments. Fashion and beauty work very well together and brings a new, more personal touch to the business. Another aspect that I love about the boutique is that you can hire most items which allows customers to find new outfits for special occasions and not have the problem of not wearing them again and at the same time you won’t be breaking the bank!
Overall I feel that I have had a full experience of what the industry is like. I have found that hoovering and cleaning is only normal but also helping someone find their next new favourite is all part of the job; therefore I have experienced it all. I am extremely thankful to Katie for allowing me to help her (I hope) for the week, additionally Leah both for giving me such a happy, exciting and helpful week. But to conclude, over the past week I have found that I now know exactly where I shall be getting my prom dress and other outfits for all kinds of occasions, because why would I want to go anywhere else? Especially when I know I can get the best clothes at the best prices with the best quality and above all the best look!
Recent Comments