Hello, just little post today and again it’s one of my gorgous brides! This time it’s Katie, who wore the beautiful Minnelli marabou feather shrug by Sasso.

Katie chose the shrug as the final ‘missing piece’ of her wedding day look. I absolutely love Katie’s 1920s style wedding and think her beaded champagne satin shift dress and feather headpiece were unusual and therefore absolutely perfect for this classy, elegant and unique wedding celebration.

Katie in the fluffy Minnelli feather shrug by Sasso

Katie continued the nostalgic feel on her table settings too...

As these images by Annamarie Stepney show, with a little imagination and some great wedding accessories, you can really achieve a unique vintage look AND have the benefit of being able to wear the items again – especially when you incorporate totally flattering and wearable colours such as champagne!

The champagne colour of the shrug complemented Katie's beaded shift perfectly.

Shrugs are also perfect for keeping the chills off during outside photos and drinks receptions....

If you’re thinking of going for a similar look, why not take a leaf out of Katie’s book and add a pair of killer heels and a feather headpiece? Our beautiful wedding shoe range by Harriet Wilde is perfect as all of the shoes can be dyed to match any outfit and our little Tiffany feather headpiece is perfect for recreating a 1920s Art Deco feel.

Harriet Wilde wedding shoes can be dyed to match your outfit and feathers add a 1920s feel.

So if you dream of expressing your individuality on your wedding day and fancy wearing your wedding accessories again and again after the big day, consider alternatives to ivory and choose a pair of wedding shoes that can be dyed before or after your wedding. These photos are testament that you won’t regret it!

Express your individuality on your Big Day!

Thanks again to Annamarie Stepney for these amazingly beautiful images.

Kate. x

Hello! Although I have been quiet on the blog lately, I have been busy pulling together other delights for you – in the form of new Inspiration pages for the Queens & Bowl website! I had some lovely feedback about my original Inspiration pages, which covered how to pull together a 1920s, 1930s, 1940s or 1950s vintage wedding – so I thought it was about time to add some more!

So here’s the first one that came to mind – of course – the vintage princess look! Yes, totally inspired by the Royal Wedding of William and Catherine and, in turn, the influence of Grace Kelly.

Catherine mixed classic Grace Kelly style with her own sleek look.

Kate’s intricate A-line, long-sleeved lace wedding dress drew heavy influence from Princess Grace’s own dress when she married Prince Ranier of Monaco in 1956. Kate also took influence from Princess Grace’s signature sleek, simple styling with her wedding accessories too.

To get the look, complement lace details in your wedding dress with an heirloom-style tiara like the Alexandra tiara by Ivory & Co.

Wedding jewellery really needs to be simple little accents that won’t fight with the intricate detail of the dress. If you’ve gone for a short sleeved dress, then a thin crystal bracelet, like the square crystal bracelet by Filippa Scott, is a great accessory. If the sleeves of your wedding dress are long like Kate’s, then choose simple drop earrings like the Madison earrings by Stephanie Browne that won’t upset the balance between your dress and accessories.

Mid-heeled wedding shoes are perfect for this kind of classic look – choose a simple style in a sleek fabric like duchess satin with some slight detail, like the beautiful Marcie Wedding shoes by Harriet Wilde.

If you’ve gone for short sleeves or a strapless wedding dress, then a little marabou feather shrug like the Minnelli shrug by Sasso is perfect for finishing off the look.

Kate. xx

Are you counting down to a winter wedding this year? Or maybe the early snow this year has inspired you to plan a wedding for next winter? Whatever the case, if you stick to a few simple rules, you’ll be guaranteed to look like a  snow queen rather than be mistaken for a Christmas tree…

1. If you’re going for a twinkly dress with lots of embellishment, resist the urge to turn yourself into a human snowflake with sparkles elsewhere. A couple of hair pins or a dainty bracelet will be just right and prevent your guests from needing sunglasses or mistaking you for a glitter ball.We have some great hair pins by Rachel Simpson and some beautiful Swarovski crystal wedding bracelets by Stephanie Browne.

2. On the otherhand, if you want to make a real style statement with a knock-out headpiece, make sure your dress complements (rather than fights with) your accessories. Raw silk and plain taffeta are perfect as they ooze luxury and quality. This leaves you free to run wild with a big, head-turning number. We have some amazing frosty-inspired headpieces from Jo Barnes Vintage and Madeline Isaac-James.

L-R from top: Valenica stole, Astor brooch, Sparkle shoe clips, Astor earrings, Balboa side tiara, Prague cape, Monique shoe boots, Fleur shoes, Westwood bracelet, Star Dust side tiara

3. Wrap up warm against the biting cold with cosy but chic feather shrug, cape or stole. These are also ideal for bridesmaids who often have to spend an hour or so out in the cold, shivering, having photos without the benefit of the adrenalin rush that tends to keep brides warm! Our range by Sasso offers a great choice of styles and are available in many colours – just ask if you have something in particular in mind.

4. The unpredictability of the british weather means that come your wedding day, we could be basking in winter sunshine, avoiding the puddles or crunching along the snow…so closed-toe shoes are the order of the day. We have some beautifully feminine court shoes by Rachel Simpson, or if you really want to stand out, how about some of her oh-so-stylish Monique bridal shoe boots?

5. Finally, try not to go totally crystal-crazy. If you love the twinkle of Swarovski, then why not go with the pearl option for your bridesmaids, or vice-verca? The pearls really do help to add some warmth to the sharp coolness of crystals. There are some beautiful, wintry white and ivory pearl pieces in our range that really complement the snow queen look. The Balboa side tiara by Madeline Isaac-James is the perfect example.

If you are having a winter wedding I wish you a perfect dusting of pure white snow – no more, no less!

Kate. x

A little while ago, Louise at Bow Occasions wedding planners did a fantastic ‘Vintage Week’ on her blog. Being a HUGE lover of vintage AND weddings, I jumped at the chance to talk about my 2 favourite vintage eras and give some suggestions for how a vintage bride may pull off the look with shoes, jewellery and headpieces. Here’s the article in full:

Hi, I’m Kate Bowl and I run Queens & Bowl wedding accessories – an online boutique offering gorgeous wedding shoes, jewellery and headpieces. I love vintage style and all of my products are either inspired by vintage fashions and trends or are created from genuine vintage pieces. I stock amazing, award-winning designer names including Rachel Simpson, Halo & Co and Magpie Vintage.

One thing I’m really keen to do on my site is to provide inspiration for brides planning or thinking about having a vintage wedding. I’ve had a lot of positive feedback from brides on my ‘Inspiration Pages’ so I thought I’d share a couple of my favourite eras here as part of Bow Occasions’ vintage week!

First up is the 1920s….

I love 1920s for the dramatic change in women’s fashion that took place during this period. Women were asserting the independence and liberty they’d tasted during WW1 and there was a real sense of rebellion in the air! It was also the decade that first brought us the Art Deco movement and screen legends like Greta Garbo and Clara Bow who are still mysterious, enigmatic figures even today.

Ideas for a 1920s wedding. Image credits: Rex, Rosa Clara, Photorazzi, Ritz Hotel London

The most iconic 1920s fashion was of course the Flapper style which became popular in the mid 1920s. This look is probably the most recreated ‘20s look for modern brides and needs these key touches to pull it off:

• A loose knee-length shift dress that shows off bare arms. They were often heavily beaded with a scalloped hemline. The alternative if your figure doesn’t suit this style is to choose a drop-waist dress of longer length. Drop-waists were popular throughout most of the 1920s.
• Mary-Janes with a single strap or T-Bar shoes like the Hettie or Mimi styles by Rachel Simpson
• Pearls – and lots of them. Long length pearl necklaces, made famous by a certain Coco Chanel, are ideal. Our Luxe Pearl Necklace by Stephanie Browne is made of Swarovski crystal pearls and features 2 Swarovski crystal Deco brooch pieces that are detachable.
• A close-fitting headpiece worn low down, towards the forehead. The Tiffany pearl and diamante headpiece by Ivory & Co is perfect.
• Feathers. Headpieces with feathers (try our Vienna headpiece by Ivory & Co) or a shrug like the Paris by Sasso add an authentic 20s vibe.

Finish the look with finger-wave hair and dark red lips, re-applied at regular intervals!

Next up, the 1950s….

….another period of fun mixed in with elegance and I love the pure glamour of the decade. Speaking of glamour, how much more glam can you get than Hollywood screen siren Grace Kelly marrying into royalty in the South of France!

Ideas for a 1950s wedding. Image credits: Rex, Shutterstock, Photorazzi, candyanthony.com

So many enduring icons came to fame in the 50s – Liz Taylor, Audrey Hepburn and of course, Marilyn Monroe. The timeless fashion of the 1950s also became iconic and is very much growing in popularity amongst brides. Here’s what to focus on for a ‘50s wedding theme:

• A knee-length dress with plenty of under-netting to give the A-line shape. If you have a bigger bust, a strapless style top is ideal, if not, go for a higher neckline like a boat-neck or slash-neck. Lace or taffeta were the signature fabrics.
• Pearls – but keep it simple. Go for either small pearl stud earrings or a short, single strand pearl necklace. We have some beautiful freshwater pearl necklaces by Magpie Vintage featuring original vintage ornaments.
• Sparkle. As Marilyn Monroe could testify, the ladies loved their diamonds, so look for vintage-style jewellery featuring large crystals or diamante, such as our glamorous Boucheron earrings or detailed Astor bracelet.
• Bows and lace details. Both were popular in the ‘50s and contributed to the femininity of the look. The appropriately named Marilyn bridal shoes by Rachel Simpson fit the bill perfectly.

Whichever vintage era you choose, you’re sure to have a truly timeless and elegant wedding. For more vintage inspiration, visit the Queens & Bowl blog and feel free to leave your comments!

Kate. xx

Great news for lovers of twinkle and sparkle everywhere – Filippa Scott Jewels are coming to Queens & Bowl! We’ve had lots of enquiries on our website from brides-to-be looking for pieces from Filippa’s collection – and now they’ve arrived…

Filippa Scott Jewels head to Queens & Bowl

In case you didn’t know, Filippa, who is well-know across the world for her amazingly elegant, timeless and glamorous wedding shoes has recently branched out into jewellery and has designed a stunning range of bridal bracelets, brooches, headpieces and earrings. It’s a huge range, so we’ve had a great time sifting through the pieces and selecting the most sophisticated, the most glamorous and the most timeless designs for our Queens & Bowl brides.

Some of our favourites from the Filippa Scott Jewels collection

Some of our favouries include these fabulously decadent vintage style diamante earrings, perfect for an ultra-glamorous look, particularly with a slim-fitting wedding dress. For an 1920s or 1930s wedding theme, this Art Deco style crystal bracelet is perfect or alternatively, for an Edwardian or Victorian wedding look, why not go for this beatifully detailed vintage style pearl flower brooch, which looks fantastic pinned to a feather cape or shrug for some extra glamour.

If you’ve seen an item from Filippa’s range that you can’t seen in our collection, drop us a line, we’ll find it for you!

Kate. x

Another day, another fab vintage-inspired brand signs up to Queens & Bowl, this time it’s Sasso Bridal, makers of the most exquisite vintage-style feather cover-up creations!

No other brand offers the same fantastic range of styles, materials and colours to the same exceptionally high quality standard as Sasso, making them perfect for adding a vintage touch to any style of wedding dress. Styles include capes, shrugs, vests, stoles muffs and jackets, fashioned out of the finest ostrich, marabou and coque.

Again, these pieces hark back to the decadent yet elegant 1920s and 1930s and can be styled up with wedding shoes and jewellery to get a complete vintage look. Alternatively they’re perfect for a winter wonderland wedding, or simply to add a bit of Old Hollywood sparkle, these pieces will last the test of time and ensure your look has the WOW factor it deserves!

QB x