Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility Wedding Accessories Archives - Flair Boston | Wedding Dresses in Boston MA | Bridal Gowns, Bridesmaid Dresses, Accessories, Wedding Dress Cleaning Wedding Accessories Archives - Flair Boston | Wedding Dresses in Boston MA | Bridal Gowns, Bridesmaid Dresses, Accessories, Wedding Dress Cleaning

Bridesmaids’ Shoes

Find the perfect pair for your pals

Seeing as Flair is a dress shop, we tend to focus on, well, dresses of course! Even we know, though, that much more goes into a wedding day look than just the dress. From hair and makeup to accessories, it’s these other details that really finalize your look and add a quick pop of personality. One of our favorite details? Shoes! Let’s face it, most of us ladies can happily shoe shop for hours, never tiring and never getting bored. Shoe shopping for a wedding, though, can come with a little more pressure than your average day at the shops. When it comes to bridesmaids’ shoes, there are a few things you brides should consider before you let your girls loose at the mall:

At Flair, most of the shoes that we keep in store for girls to try on are by Nina Shoes. They're super comfortable, affordable, and have tons of heel height, style and color variety!

At Flair, most of the shoes that we keep in store for girls to try on are by Nina Shoes. They’re super comfortable, affordable, and have tons of style, heel height, and color variety!

Uniformity – You probably made a similar decision when it came to your girls’ dresses – to match or not to match? If you really like that clean, matching look, then really the shoe shopping is up to you, not your girls. Find a style you like and give them their marching/shopping orders. If you’re less concerned about them looking the same, consider just telling them a color you prefer and letting them do their own thing!
Style – Even if you’re OK with your girls’ shoes being different, you may still want to consider giving them a little guidance when it comes to their overall shoe vibe. If you say “buy anything you like in black” you risk the chance of getting a wide range of styles. Imagine a glorified flip flop next to a black sparkly pump. Doesn’t really work, right? To avoid that, think about guiding them in the right direction by showing them a few pairs you like, or using descriptive words like “formal sandals” or “patent pumps”; whatever you like!
Height – Some brides hate a kitten heel, while others would die if one of their bridesmaids showed up in a 6 inch heel. Think about where you fall on that spectrum and be honest with your girls before you send them out to shop. If you opted for floor length bridesmaids’ dresses, height is even more important. Have each girl try her dress on with a few pairs she already owns to determine what heel height allows for her dress to just hit the floor. The last thing you want is for a girl’s dress to be that tacky few inches off of the ground!

Tell us – what shoes do you want your girls to wear??

Bridal Belts

The perfect finishing touch to your wedding day style!

While wedding planning, you really start to appreciate all of the little details that set your big day apart from the rest. You’ve probably been to other weddings that had peony centerpieces, but none of them had your chic mercury glass vases! We’ve all seen our fair share of wedding cakes, but none had your custom bobble head toppers! In pretty much every area of wedding planning there is the opportunity to really customize it and make it your own. With wedding gowns, one of the easiest ways to do so is with a beautiful bridal belt! If you’re considering adding one to your look, here are some questions to ask yourself to help you find the perfect one:

Our girl AB Ellie has a belt for every bride! Oh, and jewelry, veils, straps, and more. Yeah, she's pretty much a bride's best friend!

Our girl AB Ellie has a belt for every bride! Oh, and jewelry, veils, straps, and more. Yeah, she’s pretty much a bride’s best friend!

To bling or not to bling? – You might assume that all bridal belts are just covered in crystals, but for those of you who aren’t looking for super sparkle there are plenty of other options. With lace, pearls, flowers, and more, there is a belt out there for every style and taste!
To bow or not to bow? – With most belts, you have the option to either tie it in the back or keep it clean and simple. If you like the look of a bow in the back, that’s nice and easy; belts come with extra ribbon on the ends for just that! If you’d rather not mess with tying anything, though, you can have your tailor either sew the belt into your gown or make snaps in the belt to achieve your bow-free look.
How much detail? – Some belts come with embellishments all the way around, while others have a small section of detail. Think about your dress from all angles and decide if a belt covered in embellishment would be too much, or just right!
What color? – In general, ivory or other warm-toned dresses go best with gold toned embellishments, while white gowns pair nicely with silver. While your belt and dress are separate pieces, they still have to work together, so try to keep this in mind as you shop.
How much do I want to spend? – The general rule is that more bling = more money. If you want to spend a little less, consider a belt that doesn’t have sparkle covering the entire belt, or opt for another kind of embellishment. If your gown came under budget, though, then go for it and up the accessories anti!

Need some guidance? Give us a ring to set up an accessories appointment at Flair!

Wedding Dress Accessories

How to make sure your bling and bridal gown are a match made in heaven!

When it comes to wedding planning, one thing leads to the next. You make your guest list which leads to finding the venue that accommodates it. Then, once you book said venue you can plan your décor. Checking one thing off of your to-do always seems to just add another. Luckily, though, most of this to-do list is fun! For example, once you choose your wedding gown, you can then think about accessorizing it! With the exception of those that have an heirloom piece they definitely want to incorporate, most brides choose their gown before their shoes, jewelry, headpieces, etc. The reason being is that, let’s face it; the dress is the most important part so you find that first and then work everything else around it. To ensure that all of your bridal style items work together, keep the following in mind:
1) Your dress neckline determines what jewelry you should wear: The basic rule of thumb is that the more covered the neckline the simpler you want to go with your jewelry. A strapless dress is obviously the easiest; add pretty much whatever you want! On the other hand, if you choose a one shoulder or boat neck, for example, you probably want to skip the necklace and stick to earrings and/or a bracelet. The same goes for your dress’ fabric; busier fabrics pair best with simpler jewelry that won’t fight with it. If you’re unsure what’s best, we always have jewelry on hand here to try with the gowns that you like!
2) Consider the color of your gown when choosing metals: Bright white gowns often pair better with silver tones, while off-white/cream mixes well with gold. For the bride looking for something a little different, rose gold tends to go well with either!

Now this is a bride (ok, model) that did it right! She skipped the necklace with her high neckline and opted for a sparly headband instead. Plus, it's gold tone totally goes with the off-white lace. Perfection!

Now this is a bride (ok, model) that did it right! She skipped the necklace with her high neckline and opted for a sparly headband instead. Plus, its gold tone totally goes with the off-white lace. Perfection!

3) Remember the style of your gown: We’re not talking the fit here, but rather the dress’ aesthetic. If you choose a vintage gown, for example, you probably shouldn’t pair that with a trendy, chunky necklace. At the same time, a sculptured, architectural, and modern gown wouldn’t really mesh well with a classic pearl necklace. This can be a tricky one to navigate, so again, we’re always here to help with style choices!
4) Last, and certainly not least, stay true to your personal style: Don’t let those around you talk you into an accessory that doesn’t feel like “you.” After all, while the dress won’t be easy to re-wear, the accessories definitely can be! Keep that in mind as you shop.

It’s a ton to absorb, so if you’re in need of some guidance, Flair is always here to help! We book half hour accessories appointments most days, and also have stylists standing by to chat at our online shop, Frills, that is chock full of beautiful, budget friendly baubles! Happy shopping 🙂

Wedding Veil Alternatives

Find the perfect piece for you!

If we had to sum up all of the weddings we’ve worked with over the years, we could do it with just four simple words: no two are alike. It’s fascinating to us; we meet with hundreds of brides every wedding season and each somehow manages to create this day that is totally unique and special. Even aspects of the wedding that may seem fixed have some flexibility and opportunities for personalization these days. Wedding cake seems like a given, but nowadays couples are mixing it up to better suit their tastes; an ice cream sundae bar, warm chocolate chip cookies, etc. Even the idea of a wedding dress has expanded and changed over the years. Shorter hemlines, colors, and even pants are making their way down today’s aisles. The same goes for the wedding veil. While long, gauzy veils used to be the standard, today the options are endless and there’s truly something to suit every bride and every style. If you’re looking to do something a little different with your veil, here are some of our favorite ideas:

Hair Vines and Headbands – Let’s face it, the veil is just another way to set the bride apart and make her look all fancy and formal, and a little sparkle can always accomplish that task! While she’s not a bride, Elizabeth Banks rocking this amazing headpiece at the recent “Hunger Games” premiere totally reminded us just how WOW a gorgeous, well placed headband can be! If you’re looking for something even more modern and unique, try a hair vine. Flexible and adorned with combs, this contemporary headpiece can be adjusted to perfectly fit in with any hair style!


Fascinators – The royal wedding may have happened over four years ago, but we’re still kinda obsessed with it. One of the biggest takeaways for us was how amazing fascinators are! They are the perfect combination of vintage yet modern, chic yet classic. For the bride who really wants to stand out, this is the perfect veil alternative!

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Lace – There are far more ways to wear lace besides just on the edge of your veil. After all, lace is the quintessential bridal fabric, so you might as well rock is as much as you can! Lace adorned combs, headbands, and other accessories are perfectly bridal and totally worthy of ditching the veil.

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Of course, wearing nothing at all is another perfectly acceptable option! The bottom line is, when it comes to your wedding veil, and really all aspects of your wedding, do what you like! Don’t get caught up in traditions and what you think you have to do. Make your wedding day truly YOU!

Should you like any of the headpieces seen here, they’re all by Flair vendor Mariell! Give us a ring and we’re happy to help you get yours, or help you find the other piece that’s perfect for you!

Wedding Dress Necklines

The latest and greatest tops for the 2016 wedding season!

We’re still on fashion cloud nine after our recent trip to New York Bridal Market. Seeing the latest wedding styles hit the runways is so exciting! The only downside? Now, we have to wait an excruciatingly long few months for those new 2016 beauties to arrive at Flair. We simply cannot wait to see them on our gorgeous brides and bridesmaids! So, in the meantime, we’re going to get our 2016 style fix by taking over the blog and drooling over photos with all of you 🙂 Today’s topic: tops! It’s no longer just strapless and v-neck; there are tons of amazing new necklines to choose from! Check out some of the fresh top trends that we caught below and then keep your eye on the AMAZING Long’s Jewelers blog. We shared these new necklines with them, and they’re going to be pairing them with jaw-dropping jewelry to match. Prepare to swoon over their stunning pieces!

Tops that feature cut-outs are the definition of modern and chic! This Theia Fall 2016 style is a stunner! (Photo courtesy of The Knot)

Tops that feature cut-outs are the definition of modern and chic! This Theia Fall 2016 style is a stunner! (Photo courtesy of The Knot)

Spaghetti straps aren't just for a casual, weekend look - they are becoming a bonafide wedding staple! We are loving this Spring 2016 Willowby by Watters style (photo courtesy of Brides.com)

Spaghetti straps aren’t just for a casual, weekend look – they are becoming a bonafide wedding staple! We are loving this Spring 2016 Willowby by Watters style (photo courtesy of their facebook page)

Off shoulder tops are the epitome of romantic elegance and this brand new Jenny Yoo Fall 2016 style is no exception! (photo courtesy of The Knot)

Off shoulder tops are the epitome of romantic elegance and this brand new Jenny Yoo Fall 2016 style is no exception! (photo courtesy of The Knot)

Amy Kuschel's Fall 2016 collection is full of stunners - and illusion tops! (photo courtesy of their Facebook page)

Amy Kuschel’s Fall 2016 collection is full of stunners – and illusion tops! (photo courtesy of their Facebook page)

Double straps create a unique look in the front AND back of a dress. Theia did it right with this new Fall 2016 style (photo courtesy of The Knot)

Double straps create a unique look in the front AND back of a dress. Theia did it right with this new Fall 2016 style (photo courtesy of The Knot)

Deep V necklines are elongating and elegant - as long as you have a smaller bustline! We're obsessed with this Hayley Paige Fall 2016 beauty! (photo courtesy of The Knot)

Deep V necklines are elongating and elegant – as long as you have a smaller bustline! We’re obsessed with this Hayley Paige Fall 2016 beauty! (photo courtesy of The Knot)

Crop tops are the ultimate style for the modern, trend setting bride! Thanks to Brides.com for showing off this Spring 2016 Willowby by Watters stunner; we're in love!

Crop tops are the ultimate style for the modern, trend setting bride! Thanks to Brides.com for showing off this Spring 2016 Willowby by Watters stunner; we’re in love!

Corset tops give brides an amazing look, feel and fit, and this new Jenny Yoo Fall 2016 is the perfect example (photo courtesy of The Knot)

Corset tops give brides an amazing look, feel and fit, and this new Jenny Yoo Fall 2016 is the perfect example (photo courtesy of The Knot)

Tops that feature beaded straps are an easy, chic way to add some shine to your bridal look! Hayley Paige would know, she's the queen of bling, as you can see with this new HP Fall 2016 style! (photo courtesy of The Knot)

Tops that feature beaded straps are an easy, chic way to add some shine to your bridal look! Hayley Paige would know, she’s the queen of bling, as you can see with this new HP Fall 2016 style! (photo courtesy of The Knot)

What do you think? Which top would you rock?

Wedding Accessories

Belts with Bling: A Bride’s Best Friend!

In honor of our AB Ellie trunk show this weekend, we’re dedicating this week’s blog to the benefits of a bridal sash/belt. Considering one? We think you should because:


1) They are a relatively inexpensive way to take your dress over the top – Fall in love with a dress that is a little on the simple side? A bridal belt is an easy, fun way to add detail without breaking the bank! Or, if you’re worried that your dress budget won’t get you all of the bling you’re seeking, don’t be afraid to choose a clean, chic dress and pop on an intricate belt. Likely that will be much less expensive than choosing a gown with the bling already built in!

This classic, floaty ballgown got a major lift from this stunning AB Ellie sash!

This classic, floaty ballgown got a major lift from this stunning AB Ellie sash!

2) They truly make a dress your own – Unless you’re Duchess Kate, you’re probably not going to get your dress custom made. So, that means that the gown style you choose will be worn by other brides too (Shock! Horror!). It’s kind of unavoidable, but one way to make your dress unique to you is by adding a belt! The chances that another bride wearing your dress also chooses the same belt – slim to none.
3) They add detail and drama to the back of your dress – We hear this complaint a lot: “I love the front, but the back of the dress is a little boring.” Sash to the rescue! Whether it ties in a fancy bow, or if the bling continues all the way around, a bridal belt is a great way to add some pop to the back of your dress! Cue the oohs and aahs as you walk down the aisle!

Fabulous Flair friend and bride Ali had her chic, black AB Ellie belt sewn into a slight v at her back. So glam!

Fabulous Flair friend and bride Ali had her chic, black AB Ellie belt sewn into a slight v at her back. So glam!

4) They make your waist look super hot – A nicely fitted belt/sash does wonders for bringing in your waist. Enough said.
5) They can start a tradition – Every bride has that secret wish that their daughter will one day wear their wedding dress on her own big day. However, we all know that that doesn’t happen too often. Instead, get a timeless, sparkly belt and have that ready to pass along to your girl. Her something old can come from your something new 🙂

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Not sure what bridal gowns will look like in 30 years, but pretty sure this beauty will look good on them regardless!

Wedding Jewelry

Meet Flair’s newest designer: Elizabeth Bower!

If you follow Flair on social media then you know that we have a fabulous new jewelry designer: Elizabeth Bower. We have flooded our Instagram account with swoon-worthy shots of her pretty pieces (check them out here) but we also wanted to take some time out now to introduce you to this talented lady!

We LOVE Elizabeth's cream collection (these pieces range from $39.50 - $65); they works for brides AND bridesmaids!

We LOVE Elizabeth’s cream collection (these pieces range from $39.50 – $65); they works for brides AND bridesmaids!

Elizabeth has been designing jewelry for over 12 years, starting in her native Australia and later transitioning to New York City. She has designed for Nicole Miller (another Flair fave!), sold her pieces to Anthropologie and has even had her designs grace the 2002 Academy Awards red carpet! So yeah, she’s a pretty big deal!

Blush has been such a popular color for bridesmaids' dresses, and Elizabeth Bower's Rose collection (pieces shown here are $45 - $75) pairs with it perfectly!

Blush has been such a popular color for bridesmaids’ dresses, and Elizabeth Bower’s Rose collection (pieces shown here are $45 – $75) pairs with it perfectly!

Whether your style in modern, classic or vintage, Elizabeth Bower is sure to have designs that you’ll love. Made with semi-precious stones and real Swarovski elements, her wares are sure to WOW! Check them out at Flair today; they’re the perfect accompaniment to any of our wedding or bridesmaids’ dresses!

These bridal earrings and headband are pure perfection!

These bridal earrings and headband are pure perfection!