Rebecca Holland-Johnstone

Now, wedding shoes, are super-important. They have to be stunners, obviously, but also check the box for comfort and dance-ability. Now I’m not a satin-sandal-wearing bride, no way. I had my heart set on some Victorian-style wedding boots. Oh yes, funky, lace-up boots that I might be able to wear again, and definitely none of the square-toed varieties that seem to fill wedding mags either.

Unfortunately I wasn’t able to actually find a shop to try out any wedding boots (or any boots of suitable ilk/criteria) so had to try online. There are plenty of sites selling the sought-after boot in ankle or full length varieties, but then there is the whole ‘what size?’ debacle, especially when like me, you fluctuate between a size 7 or 8 in shoes/boots, depending on the shop or brand.

So I did nothing. Which is what I always do when I get overwhelmed (or underwhelmed) by choices. I sat back and thought about it, deciding that the perfect boot would find me, when the time was right and the stars were aligned and the moon was blue.

Then, I happened to stroll into the shoe department of my favourite store and see The Shoe on display. I tried her on, and she fit like Cinderella’s glass slipper (size 7 and a half!). She is a creamy white patent court with a decent and sturdy heel for maximum height impact without any of the uncertainty or wobble of a stiletto (I am not great in heels, being a bit of a clumsy giraffe, so reassurances of sturdiness in shoes are welcomed).

There is a striking gold buckle over the toe, which will perfectly tone in with the gold/cream theme of the dress. The leather on the sole was stroke-able, and inside the lining was cushioned and springy. It was then I realised The Shoe was none other than a Gucci number - oh the delight! I have never had a proper designer shoe before, and before I even had time to check the price, I knew The Wedding was the one occasion where splashing out was allowed. So I proudly handed over my card and purchased The Shoes that will see me into married life, (and that I will be dying to wear again after!)

That isn’t the end of The Shoe story. When I got them home, I found to my delight that a shoe bag for each shoe is provided for safe storage, with the Gucci logo embedded in the soft material. There was also a booklet all about the brand. That’s what I call a pair of stunning shoes, fit for a wedding!

The elves at Cotton Candy Corsage HQ have been busy these last months, while the rain has been battering the mean streets of Glasgow!

There are lots of new shapes and vintage, ‘upcycled‘ creations to get you in the autumn mood, and keep up with the mutation of the floral corsage as it makes the transition to the new season.

Look out for funky, wear-with-everything ‘button belles’ mounted on glitzy cards and mixing tartans. tweeds, beads, buttons and prints.

The more elaborate belles can take centre-stage on a new a/w Mac or trench, or simply to pin your printed silk-scarf in place, a la Gok’s Fashion Fix! Enjoy and look out for the designs hitting the website mid-September 2008…

Arguably the most important component of the wedding day, the wedding dress is causing a bit of a problem at the moment.

I have a dress, but I’ve changed my mind. I want a different dress. But really there is nothing whatsoever wrong with the existing dress. Am I being foolish here? Needlessly chasing a second dress, when I have a sumptuous gown fit for a princess not more than a metre away in my very own wardrobe? I don’t think so, as I’ve now decided its the wrong colour. It’s perfect. But the wrong colour. And that’s important.

It’s an absolutely stunning, brand new (with tags) bridal gown from couture designer Ronald Joyce. In a rich satin of ‘clotted cream’, the bust is encrusted with crystal beading in a very unusual scallop-edge bust line. An in-built corset and elasticated strap means it does the hard work for you – so I wouldn’t need a separate corset (which is what I had originally thought, and had my eye on an Agent Provocateur number, but now I can get one of those as well!)

The clever gathering/ruching down the torso gives a very flattering effect, which merges into an A-line skirt with three gathers that would be much more pronounced once ironed out and fitted properly on the body. Inside the lining and tulle are impeccably white and perfect. A tulle underskirt provides a bit of body, and I was originally planning an additional hooped underskirt to really go to town on the ‘I’m a toilet-roll-holder doll’ look!

The train is classic and forms a delicate, neat circle behind the dress, which can be bustled up for the evening (bustle ribbons have not yet been added though). It is a zip fastening at the back, and comes with matching straps, though I much prefer the bandeau strapless look. This would sit perfectly with the matching stole in the same crystal beading at the edges as on the bust.

Basically, I was in ‘wedding dress excitement’ mode, and I bought this dress on a wave of bridal fever (the first dress I tried on!). We bonded, we connected, it felt right. However I realise now that if I was shopping for cup-cakes, impulse buying would not be something I would come to regret! An expensive mistake to make.

If this divine Ronald Joyce number (style number 54019) sounds like it could be the one for you, or a friend who is looking for a wedding gown with couture affiliations, then please email me for more info as I would love to hear from other budding brides and share the Ronald Joyce love.

I am a marilyn-monroe-esque curvy UK size 16 and this dress gave me the most wonderfully flattering shape. For an idea of how this gown looks on, follow this link, hovering over the bottom left image which shows the exact same gown in white.

Oh to have my own column SATC style! This is my online diary, wanton, wannabe fashion journalist stylee, of my yet-to-be-realised career dream. The first day of the rest of my life. What a cliche. I mean, everyone says that, except actual journalists who are constantly striving for original, witty intros, descriptions and middle bits, surfing along to the perfect denouement.

When you are a real journalist, each word, sentence, paragraph or unwitting simile has to convey a unique concept, untapped idea or irreverent joke. I want to be like them, writing about what I love. Fashion. I want to cover the shows, making clever references to vintage collections/modern art/urban culture, and intelligent commentary on the latest style, shape, colour, silhouette. The pre-shows, the real shows, the after-shows. I want to sit in the front row at the shows - I mean, anyone would KILL for that job, right? Working with Miranda Priestly of Runway fame, clickety-clacking with the other clackers, going to Paris…yes ok, The Devil Wears Prada is one of my favourite comedic fashion films.

All I can do is dream, masquerading as a pink-wigged mannequin named Penelope!

So, it has to be said, I’m not sure what all the panic is about seeing as I have nine-whole-months to plan my wedding. A baby could be born in that amount of time (not that we’re planning that anytime soon)

I mean, the key things are done - venue, photographer, rings - and more importantly, the groom! However I woke up this morning at the crack of dawn (around 8.30am, which is pretty early for me at the weekend), and couldn’t stop thinking about wedding plans. By 9am I was sitting at my laptop searching for florists, bands and delighting at the many styles, colours and shapes of wedding cake available to me.

Within an hour I had booked a beautiful hotel for myself and my bridesmaids to stay in the night before the wedding (complete with pool, spa, spacious rooms and stunning views), contacted a prospective music supplier, narrowed the search for footwear down to two choices, contacted the local florist and enquired about a cake! Phew! I also have a bridal appointment next week at my chosen dress boutique - the second viewing of a dress I coveted from the moment it encased my hips and turned me into a 1950’s hollywood starlet.

It’s all suddenly happening in the ‘wedding zone’, so I must get off and write up all my latest plans in the wedding planner…