FINERY: The June wedding season is upon us and while the bride has her mind set on a wedding gown, it's time to think about what to wear as a guest.
Cheong Phin discovers some of the prettiest summer dresses from British brand Ted Baker and the perfect clutch bag to match from designer Anya Hindmarch.
The rule of thumb for every woman as a guest at a wedding is not to wear white because it's impolite to compete with the bride on her big day.
Dark colours or garish embellishments should also be avoided, especially if it is a daytime wedding reception. Aim for light-coloured suits or dresses (but make sure it's not the chosen colour of the bridesmaids' attire) or better yet, a pretty floral dress.
Ted Baker
Their "Great Exhibitionist" Spring/Summer 2012 collection is packed with wedding-perfect dresses and feminine separates exhibiting rich floral prints, bold brushstrokes and sharp silhouettes in a palette of summer bright and soft romantic colours.
Flower power reigns supreme with English roses, peonies and cherry blossom in full bloom on feminine 1950s prom dress shapes with nipped-in waists and full skirts. They work beautifully for both day or evening reception while painterly wild flowers add a decorative summer mood to pleated dresses and girly skirts.
Chiffon and florals are made for each other and nothing beats a breezy maxi number for a garden wedding reception, which is offered in Rosebug print featuring bright roses, bugs and butterflies. The same whimsical print also appears on cropped jackets to tailored shorts and matching peep-toe heels.
Anya Hindmarch
The small, elegant Maud clutch by Anya Hindmarch couldn't be more perfect to carry with the wedding-appropriate dresses. The iconic diamante-hinge clutch is re-launched as the "Bespoke Maud Clutch" to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II this month.
Customers can now personalise it with embroidery of either a monogram or initials (in a choice of six fonts) on the front while the leather lining inside can be embossed with a secret handwritten message. However, for those who cannot wait out the delivery time of four to six weeks, the bags can be purchased off the shelf immediately.
Available in six exclusive "Jubilee" satin colours with a choice of silver or pale gold hardware, this heritage-style evening bag is handmade in the oldest purse frame workshop in England and has been worn by high-profile women such as the Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton, Carla Bruni, Kate Moss and the late Princess Diana, who often covers her cleavage with the bag when stepping out of the car, giving it the nickname "cleavage bag".
The award-winning designer, gripped by the "Diamond Jubilee" fever, adds a witty tribute by including a paper tiara and an illustrated guide to "How to be a Queen for the day" with every purchase of the clutch bag.
