life
WEDDINGS
Gowns, suits,
flowers and
rings
Getting the essential things right can make your wedding
a real day to remember.
“We say just look and try on any dress
you fancy,” says Mrs Elizabeth Barrow of
Elizabeth Pack, Ryde. “If the lady looks
lovely, she’ll often look no further.”
It is, she believes, a marvellous time to be
getting married. Wedding gowns this season
are intricately cut, ornately decorated affairs
which suggest opulence
without showiness.
Flattering diagonal cuts,
built-in trains or floaty
organza trimmed with
a scattering of crystals
are among the many
choices. Silk A-line dresses
hang alongside two-part
outfits, with lacy camisole
and plain panelled
skirt. Floor-length or
knee-length; the choices are
endless.
If the bride has no
particular idea in mind,
does Mrs Barrow offer advice? “I’ll give as
much advice as is wanted,” she replies. “But if
a dress is obviously not right for the lady I’ll
strip them out of it double quick! I don’t give
them the chance!”
It is worth listening to the voice of experience.
After all, as she says, “We don’t just sell
dresses, we dress ladies.” So getting the
underwear right is crucial. “I often say:
‘”When you’ve got the right underpinnings,
madam, the outfit will look very different.”
36
The Miracle Body Suits she sells create the
desirable smooth line without being hemmed in
by bones or firm elastic.
It is an equally exciting time for bridesmaids and
mothers of brides. The quality and variety of
dresses is stunning and colours almost endless.
They are clever, too: straps can be unbuttoned,
gowns have built-in
underwear to enable you to
be strap-free, and a strapless
dress comes with an optional
tailored stole. Hats which
complement floaty dresses
or stylishly tailored suits are
there for the picking, and
shoes can be dyed to match
a dress. Stunningly delicate
tiaras and fascinators pick up
the colour-scheme.
If ladies are so spoilt for
choice of apparel, why should
men miss out? If they visit
Osbornes in Ryde their choice
of morning suits might well be overwhelming.
However, manager Steve Pagan will effortlessly
guide them through the available choices and
even give little tutorials on the correct way to
wear wing-collars and cravats. Visit the website,
osbornes-online.co.uk and you can practice a bit
of virtual dressing.
Once you and yours are tailored from top to toe,
consider having the most important accessory of
all tailor-made. At Shanklin Jewellers couples
can see all stages in the making of their rings,
Island Life - www.isleofwight.net