Monday, 28 December 2009

It's Shoe Sale time at The Accessory Boutique!


Our winter sale has begun - with tons of utterly lush designer wedding and bridal shoes at some simply amazing prices (up to 50% off), there's a huge bargain to be had whatever your desired bridal look.

Our sale features an array of gorgeous and top-selling styles that have now been discontinued (that is, the designers are no longer making the shoe) and so they are only available in very limited sizes, colours or numbers so hurry! As once they're gone, they're gone! As always, if you need any help or assistance in choosing your perfect shoes for your Big Day, please just ask.

Fabulous new shoes from Filippa Scott for 2010.


We've long been fans of Filippa Scott wedding shoes, but this season she's surpassed herself with some amazing new styles for 2010. Arriving into stock for January delivery, we recommend ordering in advance to secure a pair (especially if yours is a Spring wedding), as going by previous years, the initial stocks sell-out very quickly indeed!

Our favourites from the new Fifi collection are the adorably chic Queenie (seen above) - a gorgeous heeled ballet pump style with pearl bobble trim to the toe at RRP £140. Lola also from the new Fifi range is also top of our list for summer brides with its retro peep-toe shape and luxurious knotted silk trim at RRP £135. Simply divine.

From the Filippa Scott collection, Phoebe (seen to the right) and Becca steel the show with beautiful silk uppers and shimmering Swarovski or beading. They would both instantly upgrade any outfit to red-carpet status. The new styles in the Filippa Scott range also feature new branding for this season - rather than the white linings with integral pink suede ball and heel cushions, the new styles have hot pink metallic linings with hidden padding.


Saturday, 14 November 2009

Stylish and WIDER bridal shoes do exist and are coming soon to The Accessory Boutique!

We know how hard it can be to track down your ideal wedding shoes, but throw in a wider-fitting into the mix and it becomes even more impossible a task (especially for those looking for something, well, a little more stylish and less frumpy!).

Well, we're thrilled to be able to share these beauties with you from Origa Bridal, the makers of the Van Dal brand your mum and nan may have heard of and wear! Origa is a brand new capsule collection of simply stunning new bridal shoes in either a D width (that's just a little wider than your average shoe to you and me) or EE width (extra wide) for those who always have to buy EE shoes and their wedding day is no exception.

Our favourite is Carmenta, an uber-glam T-Bar sandal that we know will appeal to the entire wedding party. But the range includes high heeled courts, sandals, low pumps and slingbacks, and so there's something for everyone.

These gorgeous wide shoes are brand new for 2010 and are arriving into stock for April delivery, so if your wedding or fitting is around that time, we recommend getting in early and reserving a pair to avoid disappointment as we expect a rush for sumptuous comfort to put a 'spring' in your pedicured step this Spring!

Monday, 12 October 2009

Beautiful evening or wedding ballet pumps.

Thankfully these days there are just as many low stylish bridal shoes available for the bride and her wedding party as there are high heels and we've cherry-picked our must have silk and satin ballet pumps for you to make choosing a fabulously comfortable pair of gorgeous little slippers a doddle.

Margot (pictured on the right) by Filippa Scott has earned its stars already as it's been carried over to the new season due to its popularity. A classic ballet shape with dinky bow in sumptuous duchesse silk satin with leather linings and soles. In our opinion, the perfect bridal ballet flat. RRP £70.

The new Indigo wedding shoes by Belle (from Paradox London) are a funky and fashionable new ballet shoe style that tap into the current trend for embellishment with aplomb. Sprinkled with Swarovski crystals, these stunningly sparkly ballet flats with add Wow factor to any outfit as they're also fully dyeable. Rock up to any number of festive parties this season with a pair of these dyed a fashionable plum, silver or classic black and your feet will thank you! RRP £82.

Lastly and by now means least, there is the very affordable Cutie style by PINK (from Paradox London) to suit all budgets and all outfit types. These are so wearable, we can see them worn by the Bride, Bridesmaids, mums and even guests as they're fully dyeable and the beautiful plain uppers are crying out for a little splash of colour to accentuate those pretty little sequins. RRP £55

Wednesday, 30 September 2009

Our Top 5 Platform wedding shoes

Up, up and away! We love platforms and it seems that you do too. What's not to love though? They flatter your pins, make high heels so much easier to wear and give any outfit a fashionable edge (a luxe pair do a great job in upgrading your outfit and make an off-the-peg bridal gown look like it cost ££££'s!). Our top Platforms from the new season's collections to suit all budgets are:


Let us know which is your favourite!

Monday, 28 September 2009

National Wedding Show, October 2009.

To help you plan your perfect day, visit the National Wedding Show at London's Earls Court this weekend (2nd-4th October, 2009). Opening times for the Earls Court show are:

Friday 12pm-7pm
Saturday 10am-6pm
Sunday 10am-5pm

Or visit Birmingham's NEC the following weekend (9th-11th October, 2009), opening times for the NEC show can be found on the National Wedding Show website.

You'll find a host of suppliers to fulfill every whim to achieve your dream wedding, from marquees to tiaras, cakes, shoes and flowers to men's attire. You really can find anything you'd ever need for your Big Day under one roof. And to make your day even easier, you can even register online to book your tickets or buy on-the-door. Happy Shopping!

Wednesday, 23 September 2009

Rock-chic bridal glamour from Benjamin Adams by Paradox wedding shoes


Photo source

You can't fail to have noticed the latest trend for strong embellishments on the very best accessories to be seen in (see above for inspiration) and if that's your style, then you'll love the new Mimi platform wedding shoes by Benjamin Adams (below). These stunning ivory duchesse silk sandals offer a similarly sexy, edgy, hardware look made from amazing Swarovski crystals rather than studs which contrast with the most feminine of outfits - your wedding gown. Or wear a pair dyed, perhaps to team with a fabulously girly soft party dress for a luxe look that has been seen on all the catwalks.

Now if you love the Mimi bridal shoe (above) then you'll practically drool over the new entire Siena Xzane collection. We heart the strong colours of the silks, the extravagant trims, the uber fashionable shapes and - oh my! - the highest of heels and platforms for more than enough WOW factor any girl can handle in one outfit.

Monday, 14 September 2009

A fun alternative to wedding shoes is here - the wedding trainer!

Personally, I jump at the chance to wear a pair of heels, but I understand that plenty of you either just don't get on with high-heels or simply prefer not to have the additional height (I need all the help I can get in this area, sadly). Well, tall or heel-phobic brides and bridesmaids need look no further than this season's gorgeous array of flatties, tiny heels and low pump wedding shoes.

One of our favourite has to be the brand new 'Bonnie' Converse-style sneaker by Rainbow Club in dyeable ivory satin - seen here looking decidedly glam paired with a very short 'n' sexy wedding gown to show off those amazing legs. Now, us mere mortals may prefer to pop these babies on under a full length gown in time for the dancing to begin...but just remember to get your skirt bustled or have a loop made so you can lift the hem if your 'day' shoes are higher, as tripping up is never an elegant look! These alternative wedding shoes also look very cute dyed and make a fun choice for Bridesmaids and Proms too.

Sunday, 13 September 2009

Purse-friendly wedding and bridesmaid shoes for all budgets this season

Whether you're feeling the pinch during this credit-crunch and are strapped for cash, or are splurging on the elements of your wedding you feel most important to you regardless of the current financial climate (and this seems to be the norm - dropping items you feel aren't 'you' or those you couldn't care less about so that you can still treat yourself on those areas you couldn't live without on your Big Day), there are some divine shoes for everyone in the new 2010 Collections to tempt and pamper whatever the price tag!

We've cherry-picked some fabulous new, but similar styles of varying price, to show you how you can achieve a similar look or feel whatever your budget...

SAVE... Dyeable satin and diamante 'Spring' wedding shoes by PINK, RRP £55





or SPLURGE? The finest duchesse silk satin 'Reese' shoes by Benjamin Adams, RRP £139







SAVE... Fully dyeable ivory satin 'Dolly' bridal shoes by Rainbow Club, RRP £69







or SPLURGE?... Fine silk and embroidered organza 'Buttercup' wedding shoes by Hassall, RRP £185








SAVE... Dyeable (free with this style) pleated peep-toe 'Shiraz'
bridal court shoes by ELSE, RRP £55.







or SPLURGE (below)? Luxe silk pleated 'Santi' wedding peep-toes by Rainbow Couture, RRP £110.

Monday, 7 September 2009

Most popular new season wedding shoes according to our Brides

Well, this is the divine new Gwyneth by Benjamin Adams (on the right) and to date, it's taken 1st place among the advance orders coming in from Brides who are looking for a brand new style to adorn their lucky tootsies for A/W09 weddings. Of course, we're not a bit surprised as it ticks all the must-have boxes: the elegant pointed closed-toe, vintage style Swarovski trim (which, by the way, matches the Stone handbag also by Benjamin Adams), oh-so-easy to wear halter straps to flatter the ankles and the most luxurious of silk and leather fabrics. Gwyneth retails at £139 RRP.


The other new bridal shoe flying right now is the adorable Spice by PINK (see left) which retails at £52 RRP and is being pre-ordered by both savvy budget-conscious Brides and Bridesmaids alike. It's a new high-heeled version of the best-selling Sherbert from the same range and looks just as amazing dyed as it does in it's 'naked' ivory satin state. Just the thing to show off that pedicure...




Tuesday, 1 September 2009

Simple Dresses - Great gowns for Brides, Bridesmaids and Proms


Simple Silhouettes is a US based company specializing in simple dress shapes with a fabulous array of colours and trims to choose from to make up your perfect ensemble. I came across them several years ago when planning my own wedding, but see that they now ship Internationally which is great news for those 'this' side of the pond.

If you or your Bridesmaids cringe at the run-of-the-mill "Cookie Cutter" Bridesmaid look (that is, several adults all kitted out in the same 'uniform' of a great dress they'll never wear again), then these funky dresses will certainly let your individual styles and personalities shine through so that you all feel special on the Big Day and they'll honestly *want* to wear their dress over and over again - not just say they will out of politeness!

All of the dress styles can be made in all colours and fabrics, so the possibilities are endless for simple, but stunning wedding, prom, party or Bridesmaid dresses without the 'princess-y' pomp if that just isn't your thing. Only chic shapes available here and check out their website for great model shots of how they can be accessorised for maximum effect. We love.

Sunday, 30 August 2009

Giant Cupcake Wedding cakes


We had to share this idea with you for an easy and cost-effective way of creating a stunning (albeit informal) wedding cake for your Wedding reception. This would look great topping a tower of smaller cupcakes, but even better still, if you have one on each table for guests although you'll have to nominate someone to be 'mum' and cut it when the time is right. Just think of the fun you could have choosing the right sprinkles, icing colours and decorations and flowers to dress them up to suit your theme and style. The one shown here was made by YummyMummyCupcakes where you can order your own bespoke Giant Cupcake from £27.50.

Okay, so these are very relaxed and may not suit the Traditionalists among you, but honestly, they will instantly will transport your guests back to their childhoods with all that frosting...plenty of napkins (or finger bowls if you're feeling squeamish!) will be appreciated.

I actually made one of these fabulous massive cupcakes myself for my son's 1st birthday - which you can see right (a dark Devil's Food chocolate cake with vanilla buttercream complete with cowboys) and they're really so dead simple to make. The clever tin makes the top and bottom in two sections which you then just sandwich together with your choice of icing, but good old buttercream is certainly the way to go here how ever fancy you decide to dress them. Take my (greedy) word for it! You can buy the tin online here.

Saturday, 29 August 2009

Designer Wedding Show (9-11th October 2009)

You may have yet to find The Dress and still merely dreaming about the other finishing touches to your day, or perhaps having a last minute panic about finding the right tiara! Either way, get yourself to London's renowned Designer Wedding Show at Battersea this October for a day of inspirational window shopping, although the best bit is that you can buy or order while you're there if anything catches your eye and may meet the actual designers themselves. Glamour and shopping, it's the perfect day out!

The Designer Wedding Show runs from the 9th-11th October 2009 at the amazing venue of Battersea Park, London and tickets can be purchased in advance either online or by phone. Divine shopping and a good excuse for a day out with your mum or Bridesmaids, stopping off at the in-house Champagne Bar of course...

Friday, 28 August 2009

New season, new wedding shoes, handbags and accessories!


It's that time of year again, when all the bridal designers (dresses, shoes, all of them!) launch their new collections so come September, all of the brand new 2010 ranges become available.

So grab a cuppa, sit back and browse our top tips of the very latest inspirational wedding must-haves...

Okay, okay. Biased, I know, but I just adore the new range by Benjamin Adams so much that I've already ear-marked half the range for myself as I can't choose which will finish off my 'Christmas Day' outfit this year! By default, I'm a sucker for a pretty shoe and it'll probably be either the adorable Tyler peep-toe or Bisset court that win it for me. Both are real classic investment shoes, but with not a hint of Mumsy about them - always a bonus being a Thirty-Something working mummy who finds most days lacking a much needed bit of glamour! They'll look amazing dyed a funky colour to dress up a fitted sweater and smart jean combo.

The fashionista Brides (or not!) out there will just love the on-trend luxe that Dita, Mimi and Bridget provide - not to mention the glorious extra height from those sexy platforms. These styles are positively the antithesis of the traditional "It doens't matter what they look like as nobody will see them" wedding shoes.

Welcome to The Accessory Boutique Blog!

Welcome to the official blog of The Accessory Boutique.
We'll be sharing lots of fresh ideas to help you choose your perfect Bridal look, along with indulgent ramblings on everything else wedding-y. We'll also share wedding-related sites we love, tell you about new buys we adore, give you sneak previews of new products we sell, and everything in-between. Congratulations on your engagement and Happy Planning!

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