Hope Lawrie recommends, if in doubt go for the one-piece.

Tag : Woollen Jacket

by Cassandra Solon-Parry

Whether one has any intention of getting married or not thequestion of 'what I would wear' is a dangerously compellingfantasy. In my mind the wedding gown falls into two groups: thereis the simple, a-line, elegant and modest dress that recalls to mymind the line, "a virgin's honour is a crystal tower" (ThomasMiddleton), and then there is the fairy princess dress that shroudsthe bride in a cloud of net, silk and lace.

The first dress is for a grown up, someone who understands theseriousness of the occasion and says her vows with piety; thesecond is for someone who has read a lot of Romantic literature andnever grew out of thinking that if she jumped off her bunk bed inthe right way then she might be able to fly. Haplessly, I fallinto the second of these categories - favouring whispy cirrustrails and bountiful cumulus skirts.

When this is your fate then you have no choice at this stage in thefairytale but to turn your wide-eyes towards the Godmother of FairyGodmothers, Basia Zarzycka and beg her to make all your dreams come true. This she will do,as nobody else could, without making you look like a DisneyCinderella wannabe but with all the magic and sophistication youcould wish for. Just take a moment to marvel at her lycra leotardand feather-effect net skirt creation which looks to me like theAmerican Apparel clothing line and the Swan Lake ballet romancedand had a love child: it is cloud, it is light, it is fantasy butit is also modern and of the moment - a perfect meeting ofsimplicity and extravagance. On the other hand I am riveted by thecaged skirt: Here is the bride who is to be trapped like a bird ina cage by the vows that will tie her to the love of one man, butshe is happy in her entrapment and wears the cage with pride - itbrings a tear to my eye.

Also transporting me to a divine haven in the clouds are the gownsfrom Atelier Aim