The Bargain Basement Dress
Has anyone else noticed the frenzy of weddings lately? A combination of postponed and scheduled weddings all happening in a short time frame means my instagram feed is awash with pictures of beautiful brides and their glamorous guests all posing up a storm, September is statistically the most popular month to get married and a quick search for wedding guest in Instagram came up with 3.2 million photos, dressing the wedding party is big business again, dress makers, tailors, milliners are all making hay while the sun shines (which in 2021 simply means there are no restrictions in place)
If like me you have had to shop for a wedding guest outfit recently you will have noticed how slim the pickings are, unless of course you have a sizeable budget, an influencer posted a picture of herself attending her best friends wedding looking incredible in a full length metallic dress instantly tapped on it to see where i could buy it, it was Oscar de la Renta and it was in the sale with 70% off, perfect i thought, then came the price, reduced from £8880 to a mere £2600, a snip wouldn't you say?
My search continued, but it wasn't enjoyable, physical shopping, especially regionally is a sad affair, if you have a boutique near you selling lots of small interesting brands, cherish them and shop with them if you can, they are like gold dust. It pains me to say this, as the previous owner has a lot to answer for but at times like this i miss Topshop, the store not the website (the brand its self is available on ASOS) while it wasn't a sustainable option, their big imposing stores have left a gaping hole on the high street and in the market. Surely i am not the only one to miss their accessories? The Oxford Street store will go down in fashion folklore, like Biba, booming music, wall to wall accessories, new & vintage, with lots of smaller brands represented along side Topshop own label.
Who if anyone will takes its place, lead the charge and create a space fit for the new world, for independent and sustainable brands, I will be front of the queue.
