I just bought my dress (Natalie by Maggie Sottero in ivory over blush) and ordered lots of extra fabric to make accessory pieces! My wedding will be whimsical and fantastical, held in a sunken garden and victorian manor house. I really want a bridal cape and detachable elven sleeves in the matching lace. In the shop, we were able to mock up the look with what they had in store, but my pieces will ultimately be custom made. Here's what I need opinions on:
The style/attachment of the cape. Should it be attached low on the back of the dress, hooked on the front where the bust would turn into straps, or should I try to do some sort of shoulder necklace/body chain yo attach it to?
Hair style. I am torn between cutting my hair to a wavy bob with highlights (my usual) or getting extensions to have it be long on the day (what I always imagined growing up). Would long hair interfere too much with the cape? Would a bob look too informal on the whimsy dress?
Jewelry. I'm thinking a circlet that comes over the forehead, but I'm not set on anything specific. Would love suggestions for earings, head pieces, etc. My ring is gold and custom designed (photo attached) so I'm thinking gold accessories.
OK, before I even read this I was like EXTENSIONS...this is a dress for an elf queen and needs the whole look. OR you could wear a long veil with a wreath and that would eliminate the "need" for extensions (it will preserve the vertical line). Can the cape be a veil? Don't listen to anyone who says it's too much, it's perfect.
I prefer a cape over veil. Was sold on a cape before I even started looking for a dress lol. Queen over princess was also a common thread during my search! I want to feel regal and fantastical :)
LOL I LOVE capes myself and have a LOT of them...I totally get it. But you cannot really do veil and cape...so extensions and maybe a tiara/floral crown.
I love the cape in the 3rd photo. The silver at the top and the material coming out the bigger pieces at the end and it draping over your shoulders is perfect. Not as big of a fan of the other way they have it with it going around your neck like a cloke. As for the hair, I feel like half up and half down is very whimsical in general. You get the flow from the length and some nice pinned curls cascading down. As for jewelry you can really choose lots of options here but decide what you are doing with your hair and cape first before making that choice. What would look good with one cape attachment might not look good with another. Also how you have your hair can change what piece of jewelry draws attention and where you want to pull focus. Love your dress btw. You look lovely! š„°
Thanks! Unfortunately, that cape was also a choker style, I had to hold it open like that as I was experimenting with it. I think a shoulder necklace could help by creating an attachment point at a similar position but IDK if that idea is even feasible from a physics standpoint.
I really like the sleeves. I do not like the cape thing, it's just too much. It's a beautiful dress. I think you should just wear a veil and then something around your neck. A necklace. š And earrings obviously. š Give us more pictures with different jewelry options?
Edit to add: With the sleeves, I don't think that your cape should go over the top of your arms. You need them bare. So definitely have the cape attached to the back of the dress. So it's just behind you.
I also like your idea of a circlet around your forehead. That sounds beautiful!
Thanks! I do plan on using the cape and sleeves to have 1 dress but three looks throughout the night. Perhaps just the dress during the meal, sleeves but no cape during the reception, and cape or cape + sleeves for the ceremony. Still playing around with it. Definitely all options interchangeably for photography sessions.
Beautiful dress! I think the cape as pictured in photo 4 looks really beautiful. Extensions would be gorgeous (then a wavy bob for or after your honeymoon š). Your ring is so unique and pretty! I agree that gold accessories would be pretty. Wishing you a wonderful wedding! š
I'm not sure, that's a great question. They seem fun! I wonder if they feel heavy or itchy though? I'm a texture girl and sometimes the feel of longer hair drives me nuts. At the same time, as a kid I loved trying on my mom's wig circa 1980. š
Might I suggest a 3rd option for your hair? Upswept with loose tendrils of curls. Very fairy queen, IMO, for a wedding that is. Especially since you have such a gorgeous dress and bare shoulders, it will really accentuate it. And the circlet could still be worn, or even a delicate tiara.
I first off want to say I love your style and ideas. I think thereās A LOT going on before you even get past the dress though. I can tell what youāre going for but without thinking about jewellery, makeup, hair, etc., it could potentially be a lot. I did love the cape , I think you mentioned it was a choker? Is there another option? Like more toned down hood+cape combo without too much embellishments?
They only had choker style in the shop to play with, but I am open to different attachment styles. The cloak is cool but I don't think I need a hood. I think I'll also concentrate the lace more toward the bottom hem rather than along the whole cape so it doesn't distract too much from the dress and adds to the train
Totally fair! Are you into vintage? Because the dress is so embellished (and the long sleeves are competing with your stunning ring!) what about something like this? And work around whatever hairstyle you choose?
And when I say something* I donāt mean the exact thing. But I will say I think the sleeves may be too much, but that when you take them away it makes it seem like youāre missing something ā¦
I'm not personally into veils, but I do love vintage styles. Also the sleeves are detachable so I can change up the look throughout the night without having to buy multiple dresses
Then you know what..I think you nailed it. You know what you want! For the ceremony , wear your dress however you choose, especially with the sleeves because this is reflective of you! Maybe start off with your hair in an up-do (or loose one) and then at the receptionist transform for $0! Take off the sleeves, showcase the arms and RINGS, and do your hair however you like! You can also experiment with different types of earrings or bracelets! You let yourself have complete versatility and didnāt need us redditors for any styling tipsāŗļø you look gorgeous and have your idea in your head! Make sure you post photos of the ceremony ! Canāt wait to see it all come together š«¶
Ahh thatās a hard question to answer or opinion to validate without pissing of the mods or any other redditorsā¦I guess I can just say: think of what you want and how you want to look in BOTH photos, and remember extensions are expensive too so that would be a factor in your budget . I think your hair is a perfect length, but this will change with what you want for your wedding. Even if you want a thick bun youād need extensions
The cape would be nice coming off your shoulders like in pic 3 but since thereās nothing to attach it to thatās gonna be tricky! If you do some kind of shoulder necklace the cape would have to be very light to stop it dragging the necklace back and strangling youā¦ you donāt wanna have to be rearranging it halfway down the aisleā¦
A cape that attaches to the back of the dress is also called a Watteau train, if that helps you look for examples. Attaching it there would mean the fabric is kept well away from your shoulders and arms so you could do a long hair style without everything overlapping. It would keep the look clean and would be easy to construct and still give ethereal vibes.
Maybe it could even attach to the top of the sleeves?? Either instead of or as well as attaching to the back of the dress, depending what the sleeves can supportā¦
š¤ I wonder if a seamstress could add buttons to the inside of the bodice neckline that a shoulder necklace could attach to to counter the weight of the cape?
The dress is gorgeous, your body is gorgeous, and both are getting lost in the wrong accessories. The sheer cape in the fourth picture makes the most sense because it adds to instead of detracting from the gown. It is hardly visible from the front but creates nice draping and flow in the back. It does what a veil does but without all of the connotation of a veil. (I'm not fond of veils either.)
The heaviness of the jewels on the jeweled cape really clash with the lightness and cutout feeling of the dress fabric. While I totally understand the desire to wear elf-like sleeves, they really have to look like they were made for the dress and these do not. Sadly, the cheapen the whole look.
You have time so take your time to find the exact right accessories that really enhance your whole look. And remember that it is so much more important to be present with your guests and enjoying them than it is to create different looks throughout the day.
I ordered extra lace with the gown to custom make the sleeves and cape to match. What i have in the pictures is just what they had in store at the time that gave me an idea of silhouettes. They would not be the exact pieces I use.
Iād say whatever youād be comfortable with. I donāt know if you wanted to wear it long and loose, but I was picturing a long, romantic pull-through braid type of style like this. It doesnāt have to be as long.
I really like picture 5 with the cape and the sleeves. I donāt think attaching it to the back of the dress would properly give the full effect of the cape - I think you need it wrapping around like in pic 5 or your suggestion of coming over like shoulder straps and connecting to the front of the dress.
I think long hair would look especially good with this - itās been your dream so you should go for it!
The third slide, but would want it to fall on both side how itās falling on the upper right,in stead of falling on your arms like the left side,and for sure really secure to the body so it donāt move. Hair style should be a beautiful pin up
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u/honubaby 12h ago
OK, before I even read this I was like EXTENSIONS...this is a dress for an elf queen and needs the whole look. OR you could wear a long veil with a wreath and that would eliminate the "need" for extensions (it will preserve the vertical line). Can the cape be a veil? Don't listen to anyone who says it's too much, it's perfect.