Peta Puts It Together

Mix and match any way you choose. The designers have gone to town and there are pieces are out there that tell a thousand different stories

When I entered the bridal world thousands of years ago, separates seemed quite a normal thing buy. We had a corset top, with or without sleeves and skirt, so nothing unusual there. Then somehow or other they got forgotten and the dress really came into its own.

There was a brief period of time in retro land, when girls wanted to wear their corset with jeans, (thank you Posh Spice) to go out post wedding.

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Now separates are back in a big way and not to the detriment of the dress, but as part of the whole bridal wardrobe. Of course, it’s all about our old friend ‘customisation’ and being able to use various components to create your own individual look. (We know how everybody wants to be an individual, following insta trends, of course!)

Different times, different looks. Today, we are allowing the bride- tobe to design her outfit. Scary, I know, when there are professionals who do this for a living! Enabled to create her

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vision, the bargain hunter will be so happy when she can get two looks for her big day, for one price, whether a mini dress with an overskirt or a fullon ballgown with a body underneath, both will transition perfectly from day to night by removing one of the pieces involved.

Let’s face it, the bodysuit is the perfect accessory, it can be worn under gowns to personalise the style to the bride’s taste, also allowing for a 2-in-1 look from ceremony to reception.

With the choice of endless combinations, wedding day looks can be perfectly tailored to a particular destination – a crop top and skirt for that hot climate, jackets on for a UK wedding.

Additionally, choosing a two-piece is quite possibly the BEST way to find ways to wear your bridal look again. Yes, we are back in the 80s, but this time we are celebrating our green credentials, showing that we are not frivolous, but budget conscious and that our future heritage pieces could be repurposed and refashioned.

Many of these pretty crop tops, jackets, vests, corsets, can be put with jeans for an evening out, frilly and high-low skirts worn with simple t-shirt works for a party or even dinners in the future.

Separates are easier, too, for the bride whose shape requires two different sizes to try and buy. I am certainly not saying fittings and alterations are not needed, but I do think that from the bride’s perspective, it is easier to find a top and bottom that perfectly captures her sense of style, and find cuts and silhouettes that flatter her unique proportions.

We are not used to dressing up

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in a formal way (I have only just cut the umbilical cord post-covid with my grey tracksuit trousers. Putting on a pair black crepe trousers to go outside I felt so, well, overdressed!) We are gradually getting back to dressing up as the new norm.

Combinations

For our old friend the boho bride, chances are she’s already been wearing a crop top and skirt combo. So by upping the ante come shopping for her wedding day, a top with delicate flutter sleeves and a flowing maxi skirt tick her boxes.

Once the bride has adjusted her mindset that separates are part of the bridal world, we can satisfy the desires of many, whether they want a high-street-style trouser suit and blouse, or a jacket to dress up a simple slip dress or, for the fashion forward, the opportunity to customize her own look. Two-piece wedding dresses let you play with proportions. You’ll never find that with traditional bridal gowns.

As ‘Masters of Separates’, Charlie Brear and Kate Halfpenny, interestingly both fashion stylists in a previous life, have been showing retailers how to do it for a long, time, because not every bride-to-be understands how to build an outfit; it does take time, skill and an eye.

Putting on a dress is more straightforward, but starting from scratch with a basic slip dress layering it up takes ability and patience. For me, the joy of customising a ballgown with a body underneath, is that I can turn a simple dress into my vision. Yes, I want my dress to look like a couture gown (I

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still have Paris Hilton envy!) but not have to pay that top-end money.

In my opinion both Charlie and Kate – and I am on first name terms with both of them – are able to show you how to combine half a dozen different pieces into 20 different outfits. They both should hold masterclasses or have a style off… I’d definitely pay to see that!

Kate’s separates allow you to select a cool combination of pieces that give you the opportunity to be a glamourous red-carpet bride with something short and sweet that’s perfect for a civil ceremony. If you’re looking for glamour and simplicity, a top and skirt offers the best of both worlds.

The inclusion of removable sleeves sold as a separates with the dress really encourages people to be a bit more interesting and brave in their choices. Again, it’s that whole two looks for the day thing and, if a religious ceremony is planned, jackets and sleeves come into their own.

It’s great to see people like

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ROMANTICA

Catherine Deane and Kelsey Rose doing great trousers and jackets – blazers and biker jackets ramp up the fashion barometer. E&W Couture is a must for boho beauties.

I loved their blossom top with the beautiful 3D flowers and palazzo pants, although I had a nasty accident in a pair of them a few years ago; not good to run in, I ended up in A&E with a broken wrist, but not everyone is as accident prone as me, and maybe running down the aisle is not a thing?

For upgrading classic ballgowns, Ellis Bridals and Sottero and Midgley have beautiful jackets and bodies. Gold stars there!

New to me is a company called Stately Soirée and I really admired their short skirt with a huge over skirt. Rasha London has done a combination of fabulous separates that includes a cheeky pair of shorts and a puffy sleeved crop top which may not be perfect for everybody, but for a beach wedding or as a second dress look, it is flaunt-worthy.

The message to brides is “It’s your day, your way”, and that maiden aunts (are there any still invited to weddings?) will get over it, a bride in shorts that is.

Alan Hannah has a variety of tops and skirts enabling you to be bold with your choice, and Katyakatya always does a fantastic range of cool all-lace numbers; I love the crop lace top with a tulle floaty skirt.

Romantica of Devon in its Pure collection also has a tulle skirt and lace top, but aside from the traditional bridal shades,

It is available in black with a blush underskirt for the bride who really wants to make her day her own.

Rebecca Ford bridal, a small UK designer, has a really cute jumpsuit with an overskirt which has a slight 1950s Hollywood vibe about it. And Rima Arodaky made a killing online with her famous jumpsuit with attached skirt, it was one of the most popular posts on social channels.

Take a look at Theia for its lace over-jacket with a train from its 2023 collection, it really plays up the style stakes, with a simple crepe dress underneath.

For me it’s all about being able to layer, whether you’re mixing and matching an embellished crop top with a structured skirt, a lace overcoat over a dress or opting for a chic bustier and trousers pairing – there’s a wedding look out there to suit every taste. WT

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