There is not a lot to say here, just a smorgasbord of beautiful bridal shoes!  So I will just let you browse the sumptous photos yourself.  I might just have to add a pair of these to my Birthday wishlist… I wonder how many of my friends read this blog?

Subscription fashion services are the latest business trend for celebrities.  They have been popping up everywhere over the last year or so, from Kate Bosworth’s JewelMint to Kimora’s Just Fab.  I recently signed up at the UK ShoeDazzle (Kim Kardashian’s offering) to see what all the fuss is about…

The Basic Concept

Subscription sites work by identifying your basic fashion style and offering you a range of choices each month.  You can then pick which item(s) you would like sent to you.  The idea is that you don’t have to spend hours trawling through shops to find item, and that you can start to build a cohesive wardrobe of complementary fashion accessories.  Every item is a set price, so you also know exactly what your budget will be each month.

Pros

Like most women, I have a pretty mix and match wardrobe so the idea of having expert advice from a stylist who can help me to create a stronger fashion sense is appealing.

Since the sites are free to join, you get a customized styleboard of accessory suggestions each month at zero cost.

ShoeDazzle offers more than just shoes, with matching bags and jewellery you can create a full look of items that match.

I love that the site offers seasonal styleboards so that I can get suggestions that are suitable for right now.

The range of styles seems pretty diverse… while filling out my profile I had to choose items I liked from a list of suggestions.  Some I loved, some I loathed and the personal styleboards that I have received since signing up have been pretty spot on for my fashion sense.

Cons

With a monthly price tag of £39.95 I would expect a higher degree of quality on the items.   Also troubling is that item descriptions don’t reveal what materials are used.  For example the jewellery set pictured below was recommended for me this month, and is just labeled:

Colour:Gold

I am left with questions such as “Is it plated with real gold?” “Is it just cheap gold-toned metal?” “Is it hypo-allergenic?” Likewise, is the silver suggestion tarnish free?

The bags and shoes are obviously not leather (or that would be used as a selling feature).  Fine, however what are they made from?

Perhaps most shoppers aren’t as picky as me, but if you aren’t picky you could probably spread your £40 budget a little further by shopping the high street.   Stores such as Matalan, Primark, Peacocks and even supermarkets like Asda and Tescos all offer similar products at cheaper prices.

The fee is charged each month after your first purchase whether you order an item or not, with each payment logged as a “credit” on your account with each item being worth 1 credit, so if you don’t take an item one month you can order 2 the next.

My Verdict

I like the concept and I love the style suggestions, however I don’t like the idea of being tied to spending my shopping budget in one place each month.

I would love to see a tiered system… pay for 1 credit per month and have items that are worth 1, 2 or 3 credits with different quality levels that would let me save for higher quality or designer items.

If you struggle with putting together an outfit and want to keep your wardrobe up to date with the latest fashion trends (and don’t mind how long they last) then this is a great resource.  Me, I will stick to my monthly city shopping spree.  After all, you can’t get a Cappucino and the buzz of browsing the sale rails from a website!

Images from ShoeDazzle

Remember we featured Black and White Wedding Dresses a while ago?  And then we raved about Bridal Ballet Pumps?  Well here is a great find that works perfectly with both of those trends.

Coco Rose sell a variety of great footwear, with comfort and fashion at the forefront of their range.  I adore this black and white ballet pump, that offers the easy storage of a foldaway pump, comfort of suede and leather materials and sheer glam of the black and white design.

The shoes come with their own gold embossed bag to keep them in tip top condition while stored.

A word of warning:  although Coco Rose are dedicated to comfort, it is not advisable to wear pumps like these for long periods of time day in, day out, as they don’t provide a lot of support for your feet.  Wear them on a full day’s shopping spree around a city and you will soon find out what I mean!

Oh, and since our Black and White wedding dress post was so popular, stay tuned for more great features on Black and White Bridesmaids, and Black and White Wedding Accessories coming soon!

If you crave comfort over a six inch heel, or want to swap your designer kittens for a more practical dancing shoe for your reception, then a bridal ballet pump is a great choice.

Available in a huge range of styles and prices, ballet pumps can easily fit into your wedding fashion file.  Here are some of our favourites:

These silvery slippers from Dessy are soft and comfortable, with an elasticated area around the heel to make sure they stay on through even the longest conga session.

Also from Dessy, these satin Peep Toe Ballet Pumps offer a touch more elegance, with a pretty ribbon detail.

As with most Dessy offerings, the shoes are available in a range of colours, from classic Ivory to bold Claret, or summery Teal.

The price tag of £20 makes them an affordable shoe that is likely to last long past your wedding day.

For a truly traditional ballet slipper, try Henry Kaye’s white satin wedding slipper,  at just £16.95 for most adult sizes.  They also stock children’s sizes, and these shoes are absolutely perfect for flower girls!

For something a little more high end, look no further than designer French Sole, who are the go-to source for the in crowd for slip on shoes.

Their wedding ballet slipper range includes these beautiful porcelain coloured shoes.  Made of real leather, with a subtle metalic sheen, you are getting exceptional quality for your £87.

At the other end of the budget spectrum, look for the fold up ballet pumps available at places such as Posh Feet for just £10.

At such a low price, you could snap up a few pairs for you honeymoon too!

This year, Harriet Wilde, known for her stunning bridal shoes and handbags, has created a bespoke exclusive bridal footwear collection for the Harrods’ Shoe Boudoir.

Consisting of five different styles of shoe and two slippers, this is a bespoke bridal footwear collection, where you can quite literally create your dream shoe. In just ten weeks – Harriet Wilde will craft the style of shoe that you choose, designed with Swarovski crystal customization should you so wish, have it dyed to colour match the bride’s or bridesmaids’ dresses, and finished with a selection from an exclusive range of 8 trims including tulle and Swarovski crystal designs.

For the final finishing touch, the shoes can be presented in a shoe bag, with a personalized message and date to mark the momentous occasion.

Proudly selected as the first ever Bridal Shoe brand to feature in The Harrods Shoe Boudoir, Harriet Wilde has created a beautiful range of Shoes and exclusive luxury Slippers, all made to order with a Bespoke service. This breathtaking selection comprises of 5 silk satin shoes on a range of heel heights and 2 slipper styles.

The Bespoke Service offers clients:

• A selection of exclusive decorative shoe clips using the finest Swarovski jewellery and hand crafted flowers in silk, tulle and leather.
• Custom Swarovski’s service of the heel and platform to any required shade.
• Dyed to order service, the satin shoes can be colour matched to any gown.
• The exclusive Slippers can be ordered in a selection of colours of satins and velvets.
• The shoes and slippers are skilfully hand finished in 10 weeks and can be delivered in a personalized shoe bag.

Discover Harriet Wilde for Harrods at the 1st Floor Shoe Boudoir.

www.harrietwilde.com

Style has no boundaries. Stylish feet are no exception. That’s why Piggy
Pillows designers have added three new designs including two solid colors to their ever growing line. “We are so excited to finally be able to get our newest selection to our customers,” says Piggy Pillows CEO Michelle Ojea. “We have had clients buy every color design we offer, then immediately ask when we will be offering more designs in solid colors. They want as many Piggy Pillows as they have pairs of shoes. We plan to make that happen for them.”

Piggy Pillows are a designer sandal, flip flop and shoe insole manufactured with a strip adhesive on the back which keeps the pillow in place. The design allows a one size fits most ability and the insole is soft and comfortable. The patent pending design grasps the thong of the sandal for comfort and a stylish look. Piggy Pillows can also be slipped into shoes for a comfortable and stylish look. Six designs are now available. “We wanted to make sure we had the new designs up in time for sandal weather,” said Ojea. “Sales instantly shot up. Women clearly know a fabulous product when they see one.”

Piggy Pillows can be purchased on line at www.PiggyPillows.com or at a limited number of boutiques in the US. They retail for $9.99, which makes them affordable for everyone.

We will certainly be stocking up for our late summer weddings!

I love these robust but beautiful wedding shoes from Very.co.uk.  The petal shaped design and dainty peeptoe give an elegant but modest look, while the dash of diamante that runs up the back of the shoe adds a touch of glamour.  Great for a modern taken on the traditional wedding style!  At just £95 they won’t break your wedding budget either.

Every savvy bride knows that the key to enjoying the whole wedding day is to be comfortable.  Having a pair of flat “back up” shoes to slip on once all the photos have been taken, and the first dance danced will let you trip the light fantastic for the rest of the night without a thought of blisters or aching feet.

We love this cool project from Ruffles and Stuff that adds a modern chic flair to basic ballet pumps.  Easy, affordable and a great way to create a unique fashion statement for your feet!

Ah, is there anything a gal loves more than shoe shopping?  The biggest problem with shopping for the perfect pair of shoes to match your wedding gown is choosing from the huge selection of great options available!  Once, wedding shoes were limited to simple, clunky enclosed shoes, but no longer!  Brides are now spoiled for choice.  Here are some of our favorite examples of bridal shoes…

Killer Heels will kill you!
So you think you have the guts and core strength to strut your way down the aisle in towering heels?  Not that we want to sound frumpy, but we urge you to reconsider.  At best  wearing slim, high heels will leave your feet throbbing after several hour of standing and dancing, at worst you risk tripping on your gown and ending up face down in the aisle.  Not a great entrance!  Compromise with a pair of platforms or wedges, which offer support along with height.

Cute Kittens
Kitten heels offer a touch of elevation, a graceful line and a comfortable fit.  We love the white satin kitten heel bridal shoes with a snazzy diamante buckle, shown above.

Color me Pretty
More and more brides are showing off their fun loving spirit by wearing colorful shoes under their snow white gown.  Popular colors are red, fuchsia and turquoise.  These bold colors make a unique talking point when flashing out from beneath the layers of tulle on the dance floor.  For a summer or spring wedding, why not add some floral fun to your wedding ensemble with the comfortable pumps shown below?  For a more subtle look, try the metallic wedding shoes available in silver or champagne.

To Dye For
Not wearing a bright white gown? Many brides buy shoes that are designed to be dyed to match the color of their wedding gown perfectly.  We might just have to grab a pair of the  stylish heels that feature and fashionable asymmetrical rhinestone strap detail.  Dyed black they could be worn time and time again without going out of fashion.

Flat but Fashionable
Women who never wear heels often feel pressurized into wearing strappy sandals on their wedding.  However, the most important thing is that you feel comfortable on your big day.  If you spend most of your time in sneakers, pumps or flip flops don’t be bullied into wearing shoes that you will feel uneasy in.  There are plenty of pretty flat bridal shoes available for you to choose from.  Look for plain ballet pumps, or flat sandals – ideal for a beach wedding.

We’ve all been there, whether its after a long day at the office or a long night of dancing, when you’re not sure what part of your feet hurt more.  But no bride needs to be more worried about her aching feet than enjoying her big day.

For this very reason Emily and Jessica Leung started Hey Lady – a range of wedding shoes for brides and bridesmaids that you can actually dance in.  This is thanks to both the PORON insole, a memory foam developed by NASA which is both breathable and shock absorbing and the hidden arch support which helps to distribute your weight evenly across your foot.  But the science bit is all very well if the shoes look awful or remind you of something a granny would wear but I’m pleased to report that their collection is fa, with a variety of styles which are available in either a 3″ or 4″ heel.  (Yes, that’s right ladies: a high heeled shoe that is comfortable!)

For a bride wanting a traditional looking shoe the “Heel, Boy” comes in white, decorated with re-embroidered lace at the back of the shoe and down the heel, or for those looking for a bit of sparkle “Twinkletoes” is a peep toe design decorated with rhinestone crystals.

Wedding guests need not feel left out, “At Tiffany’s” is a court shoe which can be purchased in either Baby Blue/White or White/Black or “Coco Puffs” made from a quilted microfiber suede.

And as hard as it is to narrow down a favourite design, two contenders are “Knotty Girl” white satin shoes decorated at the front with rhinestone crystals and “Straptease”, offering the wearer lots of bling and could also be worn after the big day.

Visit https://www.shopheylady.com/ to browse the full collection, or buy online.