A second look…to wear or not to wear?

Welcome back Brides…to the Bellamme Blog!

This month, we’re here to talk about the increasingly popular ‘second look’. If you’ve been on any form of bridal social media in the recent months, you have probably seen endless amounts of dramatic quick changes, mid-wedding hair cuts, and glitzy after party looks.

It may have left you thinking…would I do something like this on my big day?

We can see why you would consider it, and personally we’re all for a bit of added drama! After all, you’re the bride…this day is about you! (and of course the groom is there too.)

Alternatively, you may be sat there wondering why someone would want to change out of their dress, and we get that too! Sometimes you love your gown so much you don’t want to take it off for the entire week following! This is where something fun like the change of a sleeve or introducing new accessories can give you the ‘wow’ moment of a second look without having to change your dress entirely…but before we get ahead of ourselves, lets discuss the many ways  you can achieve a second look with either the same dress or a new one entirely!

---

Overskirts…you may be familiar with them, you may not be! An overskirt is an incredible way to give you an entirely new dress…without the new dress part. With an overskirt, you can go from having a full ballgown moment, to a sleek fitted gown in mere seconds.

You can have your totally new look, but in a way that takes minimal effort, and also doesn’t take any time away from your special day…you could even do your quick change on the dance floor! Overskirts are an easy and effective way to get the best of both worlds. There is no compromise with this option, which is what makes it the perfect accessory for any brides out there who may be struggling to choose between a full skirt and a fitted one…why choose at all when you can have both!

---

Maybe overskirts aren’t your thing and instead you want to swap out your full dress for an ‘easy to dance in’ number for the evening. A mini dress is the perfect gown for this occasion! Afterall, what could be easier to dance in?

With a mini you get the unrestricted-ness that comes with the territory of a shorter skirt. Not only this, but it is also the perfect opportunity to show off a cute pair of bridal shoes! And need we mention the drama of a dress change! What could be more show stopping than walking into the room in an entirely new dress? And if mini dresses weren’t your vibe, what if we took ‘mini’ out of the equation?

---

A second dress is becoming more popular as time goes on, and it doesn’t have to be a mini! Want a dramatic change out of your clean satin A-line…how does a fitted embellished gown sound? Sometimes creating contrast is just enough, and this can be done by fabrics and silhouettes alone…not just by changing your skirt length!

A full length second dress is also perfect for any brides who plan on a destination wedding…Need a gown for your legal ceremony but want something different for the ‘big day’?

Maybe a pair of contrasting gowns is the way to go!

---

With all that being said, creating contrast doesn’t always have to take a total dress change to achieve! With the simple move of bustling your train and removing your veil, taking your hair down from an updo, or swapping out an off the shoulder sleeve for a fitted lace one, your entire look can be changed! These small changes are quick and simple yet SO EFFECTIVE…making these the perfect options for those brides who don’t plan on taking their dress off any time soon!

The idea of a ‘second look’ is neither as complex nor difficult to achieve as it might seem. It doesn’t always take a team of hairdressers or your entire bridal party to make such a difference in your look. It can take the smallest of tweaks to transform a gown

from one look to an entirely new one.

---

Next time you find yourself wondering…would I be open to the idea of a second look? Maybe broaden those horizons further in thinking about what you could do to achieve this! Personally, we cannot wait to see what you brides out there come up with, and we’re sure you’ll have some ideas for us to!

And remember…

Trust in yourself, trust your stylist and enjoy every moment!

It’s all part of your bridal journey.

Cleo & Annabelle x