Tag: Bridal Beauty

Black Natural Wedding Hair Inspiration

by gaby

I thought it was about time we did some hair inspiration, and this one is especially for our beautiful brides of colour! I’ll be honest with you guys, I know next to nothing about black hair care, and what goes into the decision to wear yours straightened or au naturel for your wedding day, but I have to tell you, I absolutely adore this look and I wish I saw it more outside of styled shoots and fashion editorials. Whether it’s a long mass of curls or twists, a stylish fro, or something super-short, Lupita-style, each of these looks is super glam in an unfussy way, but what I like best is that I feel like each of the brides’ best features are really able to shine. Flawless makeup is a must, and as you’ll see, the choice of accessories is wide and wonderful, from chunky statement necklaces to delicate hairpieces and lush flowers. Which is your favourite look?Read More

SouthBound’s Best 2013: Bridal Style

by gaby

Hello lovelies! We’re continuing our countdown of my favourites from 2013 – but I think this might have been the most difficult to choose of them all! The truth is that I think every bride I feature is stunningly beautiful – not just because of the dress (although we LOVE the dresses) or the accessories or the makeup or the hair, or even because each bride shows off her own unique style and beauty on the day, but because of that special glow that just makes brides look amazing. Call it the look of love. That said, there are some brides whose sense of fashion and style just goes beyond – here are the ten looks that really blew me (and you) away this year. Each has something different and inspiring to offer – and they’re proof if ever there was one that some of the best wedding day looks come from those who aren’t afraid to bend or break the rules. It’s YOUR day. Dress YOUR way.

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Hair Inspiration: Gatsby Glam

by gaby

Sources (l-r): The Nickersons/via Vintage Tea Roses/Willow Moone

Fact: I am more than a little bit obsessed with Gatsby right now. Although it’s not a new thing – the novel is one of my favourite books, and I have had a huge crush on the ’20s since I read it as a teenager. And I am also a huge, huge Baz Luhrmann fan. After the movie tanked with reviewers last year, I was so nervous to see it, but I ADORED every second of that film. No kidding, I watched it three more times on the flights from the UK to Dubai and Dubai to Durban last month. Now I won’t go into the many reasons why it’s one of my new favourite movies, except for one – Gatsby styling is awesome. The dresses, the hair… wouldn’t we all want to play dress up as Daisy Buchanan for one night? Incredibly flattering. So it’s really no surprise that I love the 1920s trend that has made its way into weddings (and stayed) – what is surprising to me in a way is just how popular it has been with everyone else. The post I did a couple of months ago on Gatsby bridesmaid dresses turned out to be one of your all-time faves, and it got me thinking that maybe it would be fun to do a hair feature on 1920s and 1930s-inspired styles. They’re not period replicas, but this series of beautiful (very flattering) styles incorporates some 1920s trademarks – finger waves, bobs, beautiful hair accessories, soft buns curled into the nape. I dare you not to fall in love with one, or several… old sport.Read More

Hair Inspiration: The Boho Bride

by gaby

Sources (l-r): Clayton Austin; The Robertsons; Plum Pretty Sugar

It’s been a while since we had some hair inspiration on SBB, but I know from Pinterest that it’s something you brides-to-be are always looking for. If you’re anything like me, i.e. incapable of explaining what I want to a hairdresser without a picture, then it’s no wonder. So today we’re bringing you a gorgeous selection of inspiring looks, from loose curls to braids and updos. There’s one thing they all have in common, and that’s that they’re perfect for the boho bride. Flower crowns optional!Read More

Ballet Buns

by gaby

Sources: Elizabeth Messina via Wedding Chicks (left); Jonas Peterson via Once Wed (right)

So there I was a few months back working a styled shoot with Sev Hubert of The Hepburn Collection (who happens to be a hair god) and I was having a minor OMG-I-didn’t-know-I-was-going-to-be-on-the-video-but-my-hair-is-just-stuck-back-in-my-go-to-bun freak out moment. And he just sort of looked at me appraisingly and said: “It is fine. A bun is always chic.” And you know what, the man knows what he’s talking about. A bun IS always chic, and never more so than at the moment, where the ballet bun/top knot/high bun has become the hottest style of the season. From sleek to a little messy, piled on top of the head or a little lower, it’s been an unexpected and welcome addition to the bridal hair repertoire, and has featured in some of my favourite wedding looks this year. I thought it was about time I collected some inspiration for you, so that’s what we’re doing today!Read More

Hair Inspiration: The Post-Wedding Haircut

by gaby

Usually we’re all about the wedding look, but today I thought I would share some inspiration for after the big day. The post-wedding chop is one tradition almost always observed by South African brides (in my experience, anyway!). All those months of growing your hair to get it up into a braid or chignon seems to culminate in a post-honeymoon trip to the hairdressers for a chic shorter hairstyle with which to begin married life. So here’s a bit of hair inspiration for that day after the big day, from our friends the slebs. How short will you go?

SUPER SHORT
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Bold Wedding Nails

by gaby

So, nailpolish. Do you love it? I love it. And I don’t know if it’s a fashion thing or a me thing, but I’ve become way more experimental as I’ve got older (totally rocked ombre nails at a wedding this summer, which was fun). Thing is,  I always thought weddings were a strictly French manicured zone. Lately though, little pops of colour and funkiness are turning up across the wedding blogisphere, and it’s starting to become clear that brides are getting bolder with their digits. Read More

Bespectacled Brides

by gaby

There’s a group of brides out there who have to make a very personal fashion choice when it comes to their styling. Many of you ladies who wear eyeglasses as part of your everyday life choose to go with contacts on the Big Day, but what if you feel your glasses are part of your identity? I’m a big believer in the ‘you, only better’ school of wedding looks – after all, you want to feel comfortable and your husband doesn’t want to see a stranger walk down the aisle! Unfortunately, there’s not a whole lot of inspiration around for brides who wear glasses, and I regularly see brides asking if it’s okay for them to rock their frames with a wedding dress. The answer is yes, absolutely!

I was lucky enough to feature an absolutely stunning bespectacled bride in one of my first weddings, and I’ve loved the look ever since. Here she is, the gorgeous Louise of Lovelab (and by the way, if you haven’t seen this wedding, you totally should, it’s insanely gorgeous):


Source: Annemari RuthvenRead More