The Accessory Boutique

Thanksgiving, we're celebrating...

2010-11-24T11:41:00.004Z

The Accessory Boutique is a still family run business and to help celebrate our half-American heritage, we thought we'd give our Blog followers a special gift.

For Thanksgiving Day only (that's tomorrow, Thursday 25th November - and always the last Thursday in November), we'd like to share with you an ad-hoc 10% off any purchases via our website. Simply quote the following code at checkout when shopping online: turkeyday

But remember, this offer applies for one day only. We wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving, and of course, Happy Shopping!

Baby it's cold outside - wedding boots for winter brides.

2010-11-24T11:26:00.007Z

With the cold-snap already here, winter brides might like to know that you don't have to suffer frozen tootsies on your big day. Bridal boots have come a long way since the Victoriana style (which are obviously just the thing if that is your theme!), but these fabulous boots will work beautifully with all bridal looks.

Ryder by Benjamin Adams (Paradox London) are an ankel boot style and part of the sensational 2011 Collection. These beauties feature the finest ivory silk upper, fully padded insoles, luxurious suede leather soles and shimmering Swarovski crystals. Fashionista Snow Queen? Absolutely! Just add a (fake) fur tippet or cape to indulge in cosiness and look chic while the temperatures outside plummet.

Black Magic! The easy route to show-stopping one-of-a-kind party shoes!

2010-11-01T12:09:00.010Z

Spread a little seasonal dazzle with your party footwear this Christmas by selecting an luxe pair of wedding shoes and letting us dye them for you. Then just sit pretty and wait for total shoe envy to come your way!

Our favourites this season are those with more than a little sparkle in the form of the subtle vintage flourish to the full-on Swarovski encrusted to add a little red-carpet WOW factor.

To see just how amazing bridal shoes can look once dyed (and a pop of colour really changes how some of the style look, highlighting shape or design beautifully - and nobody will know they started off as 'wedding shoes'), here's more than a bit of inspiration... we welcome the gorgeous NEW Caron from the 2011 Rainbow Couture collection, certainly our #1 shoe crush this season.

What do you do next? Simply order your desired shoe, and we deliver them to you (undyed) so you can make sure they fit well and the style suits you - then either pop them back to us for dyeing (to your own swatch or to 'black', which needs no swatch) or for a refund or exchange if you don't 100% love them.

Our dyeing services can either be purchased online at the same time as your shoes, or separately only once you're sure the shoes are right for you, whichever you prefer. It's as easy as 1-2-3!

SALE NOW ON!!!!

2010-08-20T11:58:00.005+01:00

Our big end-of-season Bridal Shoe Sale is NOW ON!!!!

For some fantastic savings on a whole range of designer wedding shoes and bridesmaid shoes, look no further than our sale section, with up to 50% off. Oh, and you can shop with total peace of mind too, as all sale items are covered by our usual Returns Policy.

We have SALE wedding shoes from size 2 to 10 UK (35-43 EU), so we're confident that we have something to suit every budget savvy bride out there - but if you can't find what you need (or see the wood for the trees as there's quite a range to trawl through!) email us with your requirements and we'll happily recommend you a shoe (or shoes) to suit your needs and budget.

Visit the outlet section of The Accessory Boutique now while stocks last on the selected SALE styles and bag yourself a bargain!

A sweet Something Blue for your wedding shoes...

2010-08-06T09:51:00.009+01:00

We've sold this fabulously pretty range of shoe insoles since Day One, and so are very pleased to present NEW Bridal Blue Tip Toes and Killer Kushionz.

In a beautiful pale blue shade (which make a really great affordable and practical "Something Blue" to hide away in those prized once-in-a-lifetime dream wedding shoes!), paired with a delightfully soft baby powder scent, these beauties help keep your busy feet not only comfortable but also smelling sweet all day and night long.

We know these new goodies will be a huge hit and they compliment the already popular Foot Petals family of products available from us, The Accessory Boutique, in a variety of colours and options to solve most shoe comfort and fit dilemmas.

If this pretty colour (or scent) isn't for you, then you may also love Lavender Killer Kushionz, in a lovely lilac shade and matching lavender scent - to keep your shoes and feet fresh. Alternatively, you'll also love the classic White Lilly colour (available in Tip Toes, Killer Kushionz and Strappy Strips) which are unscented, but also perfect for special occasion, nude or pale-coloured shoes.

Dorothy's ruby slippers - only for Brides!

2010-04-11T21:23:00.004+01:00

We are so in awe of these fabulous new bridal shoes from Benjamin Adams that we had to show them off! We have Gaga (in front), which is a glittering rounded "Almond" toe court and Charlize (behind) is a platformed peep-toe. Both are in the finest ivory duchesse silk and encrusted with hundreds of Swarovski crystals to ensure you're the centre of attention.

Both shoes arrive in store mid-end June and retail at £250 and £275 respectively. An investment rather than impulse buy, granted, but we're convinced that these sparkly little numbers will instantly upgrade any 'going out' and occasion outfit for years to come and so the cost-per-wear will actually make these a great buy!

Inspire shoe envy on your Big Day and slip on a pair of these sparkly beauties on and you'll shine brighter that you could ever imagine.

Our gift to you, our Blog followers...10% off for this weekend!

2010-03-20T12:00:00.006Z

We love the fact that you're visiting and following our Blog, so as a "Thank you" for loyally keeping in touch with us - and do keep your emails, recommendations and comments coming please! (we love to hear from you) - we're offering you 10% off for this weekend only.

Simply quote the special discount code Blog0310 at checkout.

Love,

The Girls x

New wedding shoes in time for summer, to suit every budget

2010-03-17T11:23:00.006Z

We love surprises, and after seeing the same bridal shoe styles all season (September through till the following September, that is), those lovely guys at Paradox London decide to treat us with some yummy new shoes mid-season for us all to marvel at - and with delivery from mid June, they're here just in time for all of your summer functions and weddings!

There's a brand new Belle shoe, 5 new PINK shoes (one being a stunning silver number perfect for proms and holidays as well as Bridesmaids too) and 7 new additions to the Benjamin Adams collection.

Our favourite new PINK styles are featured above (Tease in front, with Flower behind - a flattie jewelled peep-toe). But do check out the fabulous Audrina (show right). Available only in silver PU, it's The Sandal for petite Brides and bridesmaids and, we think, would be such a great choice for paring with this season's brightly printed holiday maxi dresses along with the ubiquitous jeans. Obviously.

Your time to shine in Swarovski covered wedding and evening shoes!

2010-03-15T11:53:00.008Z

Spring is the air with the promise of warmer weather around the corner, it's time to think about those summer invitations. Whether you're the Bride, perhaps it is your best friend is getting married or you have a special Christening or Ball to attend, we have some brilliant new styles to tempt and complete your look to help you shine to spectacular effect!

Siena Xzane is the superb luxe range of evening shoes from Paradox London (makers of the oh-so-covetable Benjamin Adams bridal line of shoes) which will appeal to bridesmaids, Mothers of the Bride and guests for any special occasion and our favourite new style (available for late June delivery) is the utterly amazing Monte Carlo shown here in dazzling fuchsia silk (above) at £250. But glamorous Brides needn't feel left out this season as the new Gaga shoe from Benjamin Adams offers the same styling in sumptuous ivory duchesse silk to compliment your bridal gown beautifully.

For those who prefer a bare look to show off those tanned pins (a healthy faux glow rather than three weeks on a sunbed, obv) and a great pedicure, you'll love Greta by Benjamin Adams. A sumptuous gladiator style sandal in ivory silk with Swarovski crystal detailing - also echoed in the Siena Xzane collection in Champagne with gold coloured crystals for those seeking to work with a 'gold' wedding theme or to give a sexy Grecian feel.

It's Shoe Sale time at The Accessory Boutique!

2009-12-28T19:38:00.007Z

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.

2009-12-28T19:20:00.006Z

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.

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

2009-11-14T11:09:00.004Z

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!

Beautiful evening or wedding ballet pumps.

2009-10-12T20:03:00.006+01:00

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

Our Top 5 Platform wedding shoes

2009-09-30T12:20:00.009+01:00

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:

Faye by Rainbow Club

Tesi by Rainbow Couture

Montana by Belle

Dita by Benjamin Adams

& Barbie by PINK Paradox

Let us know which is your favourite!

National Wedding Show, October 2009.

2009-09-28T11:59:00.007+01:00

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!

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

2009-09-23T10:50:00.023+01:00

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.

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

2009-09-14T14:46:00.015+01:00

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.

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

2009-09-13T09:41:00.027+01:00

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.

Most popular new season wedding shoes according to our Brides

2009-09-07T19:20:00.017+01:00

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...

Simple Dresses - Great gowns for Brides, Bridesmaids and Proms

2009-09-01T10:56:00.013+01:00

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.

Giant Cupcake Wedding cakes

2009-08-30T21:11:00.010+01:00

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.

Designer Wedding Show (9-11th October 2009)

2009-08-29T11:18:00.015+01:00

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...

New season, new wedding shoes, handbags and accessories!

2009-08-28T19:51:00.006+01:00

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!

2009-08-28T10:29:00.005+01:00

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!