I don’t think I remember over the past 25 years, there being a wider variety of choices available to brides, than they can find now, this can only be a good thing.  It’s great as modern brides are independent women, keen to reflect either their own personal style or embrace their bridal vision, either way the sheer volume of options available to them mean that this is possible, they don’t need to morph into an old fashioned stereotypical bride.

If you scour the online fashion blogs and wedding magazines as they review, analyse and critique the latest looks from the just passed New York Bridal fashion week, you’ll find probably 20 or more key looks, this reinforces my belief that the range of choices has never been better.

WHAT ARE THE KEY BRIDAL TRENDS FOR 2020?

WHAT ARE THE 2020 BRIDAL ACCESSORIES TRENDS?

Trends come and go but there are many stalwarts here to stay (at least for now) including:

• Pockets - Who doesn’t love a dress with pockets?

• Lace - Although there is a lot more heavier, more geometric or crocheted lace around not just the finer gauzy weight.

• Jumpsuits -I think these are here to stay though the designs may vary as time passes, the time of brides being solely dress wearers is past.

• Separates - This must surely be a permanent fixture from here on in, with their mix and match flexibility and in some cases re-wearability (if that’s a word) they are a great option.

• Hi Low Hems - I’m not sure I’m a fan of this look (the lining needs to be right for it to look good) but they are still a firm fixture on the catwalk, from mini to train, to the more subtly dipping hemlines.

• Low Backs - Great if you’ve good skin, minimal back fat and no boobs to support.

I could go on but instead I’m going to look broadly at 5 key trends and discuss how I’d recommend accessorising them, so here goes, in no particular order.

VOLUME - SLEEVES, SKIRTS, TIERS & RUFFLES

Jesus Peiro, Monique Lhuillier, Zuhair Murad,, Pronovias, Costarellos, Oscar De La Renta, Jesus Peiro, Suzanne Neville

Volume, be that voluminous skirts, big sleeves or both.  Old fashioned romance is firmly on the menu with this trend, and I for one love it, probably because it appeals to my inner little girl who dreamed of big dresses.  

ACCESSORIES RECOMMENDATIONS

For me up to date styling on these dresses is key for the modern bride. You don’t need to don a “tiara” in the traditional sense just because the gown has “Princess” overtones, albeit modern ones. I’d strongly recommend the more modern Halo style tiaras and headbands to bring the look in to the new decade.

HIGH NECKLINES - HALTERNECK, VICTORIANA, 70’S

Jesus Peiro, Mira Zwillinger, Jesus Peiro, Lela Rose, Viktor & Rolf, Lela Rose, Costarellos, Jesus Peiro

There are a lot of high neck dresses appearing in collections, sometimes the look is very demure, sometimes revealing but after a few years of very low plunging necklines their return will be welcomed by many who didn’t embrace that hard to wear look.

BRIDAL ACCESSORIES RECOMMENDATIONS

There are exceptions to every rule, but for me the rule of thumb with high necked wedding dresses is to keep the accessories on show at the front to a minimum, or at least pared back. The bride should always be the key focus and her face and look can easily become overwhelmed with too much “clutter” at the front. I’d recommend a fairly simple earring, obviously no necklace and a comb or pins at the back. There are no size restrictions here, this really comes down to your own preference.

OFF THE SHOULDER & BATEAU NECKLINES

Stephanie Allin, Stephanie Allin, Sassi Holford, Suzanne Neville, Lela Rose, Costarellos, Costarellos, Jesus Peiro

There aren’t as many strapless dresses around as we saw a few years ago but the off the shoulder look is everywhere. Whether you prefer the softly draped, exquisitely structured or crisp neat plain cut off the shoulder look there is something for every one.

BRIDAL ACCESSORIES RECOMMENDATIONS

These off the shoulder looks offer a far wider choice when it comes to accessories styling. The lower necklines leave the brides face more room to be the focus so you are free to play around with larger or longer earrings, front facing headwear like halo tiaras, or the softer hair vines centrally placed, to the side or around the back. I would generally recommend against a necklace with this style of dress as the beauty of it is in the neckline the dress creates, there is a length and grace to the neck that a necklace would bisect and create the illusion of shortening and widening it, as well as “cluttering”. I’m not here as a hair stylist but unless a dress is very relaxed as the 2nd one in the grid, I’d go hair up, or at least swept away from the face for the beautiful grace. As a note of caution, I’d be wary of the heavy padded embellished headbands with this style of neckline as they’ll draw a heavy outline around the face when set alongside a strong neckline, the look could be quite hard.

FEATHERS

Jenny Packham, Rosa Clara, Oscar De La Renta, Mira Zwillinger, Lela Rose, Costarellos, Jenny Packham, Zuhair Murad

Feathers started to appear last season and I wondered if they’d be a quick flash in the pan but they are here in force this time, whether as a sparingly used trim of covering an entire skirt or gown.  They are certainly an opulent and luxurious look.

BRIDAL ACCESSORIES RECOMMENDATIONS

I’ve been mulling this over and for me there are two key options for this trend. If you are going all out and going to embrace a feather embellished gown then keep the accessories bold, glamorous and feather free. You could opt for a glamorous headband, hair pins or the earring only route.

If you love feathers but don’t want to go all out on a feather gown, then a feather headpiece is the obvious solution to embrace this look. I have a new collection of feather headpieces in the making for launch early next year so for now I’ll share a few existing options.

The other way to wear the feather trend is with a bolero or wrap. These are available in a wide range of styles and colours for accessorising your look.

TEXTURE & APPLIQUES

Suzanne Neville, Kate Halfpenny, Costarellos, Kate Halfpenny, Suzanne Neville, Kate Halfpenny, Pronovias, Pronovias

Texture has been around for a long time but the appliques are getting a little bolder, often not covering the entire dress or skirt but added perhaps for a statement neckline.  They can be incredibly pretty and romantic but I do sometimes think if not used carefully they can appear to add a couple of dress sizes to the wearer, rarely a look sought by brides on their big day.

BRIDAL ACCESSORIES RECOMMENDATIONS

Pretty much anything goes, it’s about balancing the texture and reflecting the vibe rather than making a match so I’ll try and give a few pointers.

• If there is a large corsage details (particularly near the face) as in the 1st and 7th images, don’t try and reflect it in your accessories, this is the key focus apart obviously from the bride so simple understated earrings are enough, with perhaps some pins.

• If the look is glamorous as in image 6, then embrace the glamour with sparkle in the form of a halo headband, sparkly comb, statement earrings or pins, stay away from florals or texture.

• If the detail is very delicate as in images 2, 3 and 6 then small applique embellished combs or pins would work to continue the detail through, almost as if you’d been sprinkled with confetti petals. They are best made bespoke to compliment your gown.

• If the dress is very much a “fashion” choice such as images 2, 4 or 8 then embellished headbands would work, be they beaded or the padded type embellished with beads or florals (think Miranda Kerr style wedding headpiece). Having watched Maleficant 2 the other day I now suspect that pastel pinks, blue and pistachio hues (as seen in New York) may be very much present.

• If full on florals is your thing then a floral fascinator could work well with a dress like no 8.

OTHER STRONG TRENDS THIS SEASON WORTH A MENTION ARE:

• suits and tailoring (with trains thrown in for good measure)

• high splits which I think remain the reserve of the confident and

• exposed corsetry on show as the focal point of the dress, rather than beneath the surface of the fabric. 

These trends don’t have any specific accessories requirements to take into consideration though as they are both big statements in themselves for the most part they don’t require statement accessories as there is the risk of the wearer becoming secondary to the outfit, always a big no for me in terms of bridal, evening wear and red carpet is an entirely different matter.

Trousers - Jesus Peiro, Viktor & Rolf, Cushnie, Cushnie, Lula Rose, Kate Halfpenny

Corsets - Oscar De La Renta, Mira Zwillinger, Inbal Dror, Eisen Stein, Edem, Galia Lahav

Splits - Dana Haral, Suzanne Neville, Dana Haral, Suzanne Neville, Stephanie Allin, Jenny Packham

Well that turned in to a bit of a disseration! Suffice to say if you are looking for perfectly pitched and balanced accessories to complete your look then I am here to help and advise you, just get in touch and we can chat through your ideas and questions.

Until next time!

Harriet x