Celebrity Style for Your Wedding Day

-Jewelry and Style Expert, Michael O’Connor
Every bride should feel like a celebrity on her wedding day. Preparing for that walk down the aisle is really not that different than preparing for a trip down the red carpet. She will be photographed constantly throughout the day from every angle. All the details from the hair, makeup, dress and jewelry need to be planned and well thought out. So why not take a look at some recent red carpet looks for trends and ideas that will ensure that the bride always remains in the starring role.

Scarlett Johansson and Christina Aguilera show off post and pre '50s-style glam.

Flash to the Past

This year we’ve seen the simple Grecian gown styles from last year give way to embellishment with some highlight areas of beaded ornamentation. Concurrently, we’re starting to see a retro ’70s style surface, complete with longer sleeves, heavy beading throughout and, yes, the renewal of shoulder pads that would make Alexis Carrington Colby shriek with joy. This look through the rear-view mirror hasn’t stopped at the ’70s though. Due to television shows like Mad Men and films The Kings Speech, we’re looking back to the ’50s and beyond for fashion inspirations.

Dont' be afraid of all-over color.

Additionally, fashion designers are showcasing a variety of rich colors in their collections. We’ve seen some of the brightest stars today gravitate toward these looks: Angelina Jolie in green, Julianna Margulies in red and Mariska Hargitay in blue. For brides, this trend provides a wide variety of gown silhouettes to choose from, from simple sheath and trumpet shapes to the more elaborate ball-gown styles with lots of crystals and beading.

Helen's gorgeous statement necklace and Anne's return to shoulder pads.

Recent Red Carpet Trends

From an accessory standpoint the awards show season illustrated the move toward statement areas for styling. This is most likely in response to fashion designers keeping broad areas of a garment simple while adding larger, sometimes exaggerated ornamentation to one focal point. For example, the large red rose on Natalie Portman’s pink Victor and Rolf dress or Anne Hathaway’s Armani Prive shoulder pads, both from this year’s Golden Globes. The proportion of jewelry is evolving also, getting larger in order to keep up with fashions more important ornamentation. Stylists this year preferred larger statement necklaces such as Helen Mirren’s platinum and diamond Cartier necklace at the Golden Globes, or Amy Adams Academy Award large drop emerald and diamond necklace (also by Cartier), or stacked chunky bangles such as Halle Berry wore at the Golden Globes.

Amy Adam's colorful statement necklace can be used for a wedding look, too.

Think in Color

Like clothing, jewelry themes and colors ran from modern styling to retro, vintage pieces that stretched from simple white diamonds to bright juicy colored gems. For brides choosing a wedding look this gives plenty of styling options. If you’re wearing a white gown, think about bringing in one of your wedding color choices by using colored gemstones to create contrast and interest in your wedding look. Of course, the monochromatic all white look with sparking platinum and diamond jewelry will always be classic. If you’re a bolder bride and go with color in your wedding dress, either augment it or contrast it with a bold and richly colored gemstone piece.

January Jones' "Veronica Lake" hair.

Long Beautiful Hair

For hair and makeup recent red carpets revealed the same restraint as accessories. Overall makeup was sheer, creating a natural, healthy-looking base, with one chosen area of highlight, primarily the lips or eyes. Celebrities wowed us with dramatic heavier elongated eye treatments with rich black liner and colored eye shadows or voluptuous lips with pops of colors like red, orange and hot pink but rarely both. Hair was seen at a variety of lengths and styles. Short and fun, long and wavy, as well as formal up-do’s were popular this year. The hottest trend seen on celebrities seemed to be variations of the “Veronica Lake Style” hair, parted to the side and slightly curled to partially cover the face. Whether tresses were long or short actresses were working this look all season.
Hollywood red carpets are a great way to see the most current styles and trends. Use those trends to create a base on which to build an appropriate wedding style. The bride needs to wow them from the time she walks into the ceremony all the way through to her departure. So take some tips from the women who wow them on the red carpet regularly. The bride’s the star and this is her production!