For the lucky ones, wedding dress shopping is a once in a lifetime affair.

It’s the most important dress many women will wear. Shopping for your wedding dress is exciting and fun, but many women can feel a lot of pressure, and become overwhelmed by the whole experience.

Let’s take a look at some key tips for making your wedding dress shopping a wonderful and successful experience.

1. Before you even make an appointment to try on wedding dresses, take the time to pre plan.

– What kind of wedding dress do you like and suits your personal style?

– What type of dress suits your body shape and skin tone?

– What style of dress is appropriate for your wedding?

2. Set your budget and stick to it. Trying on dresses which are over your budget can lead to disappointment and heartbreak.

3. Sometimes too much choice is a bad thing. Don’t try on too many dresses, it can leave you overwhelmed and confused. Ten is a great number to work with.

4. Wear appropriate underwear when trying on dresses and take a long a strapless bra.

5. If you have already chosen some special items you will be wearing on the day, take them along to see how they suit the dress e.g. jewellery, veil.

6. Lastly, and one of the most important tips, take along shoes in a similar height to those you will wear on your wedding day, so you can see how you can move in the dress and if the dress will require alterations.

Stokes Thompson has a beautiful collection of wedding dresses to suit every body shape and event.

Here are just a few of our favourites and you can view more in our online store here.

The beautiful Juliette dress is collaboration between Brisbane based Designer Stokes Thompson and Melbourne Designer Hanni. This gorgeous silk georgette strapless dress, has a hand beaded feature on the waistline and a thigh split allowing great movement.

The Kiara is a gorgeous silk georgette dress, featuring a lace cut-out on the back, as well as small pleating around the waist giving the dress amazing fall and movement.

The Beautiful Rose Garden Floor Length Dress has been designed in Australia, featuring a beautiful, delicate lace.

Copyright © 2016 Stokes Thompson. All Rights Reserved. Contact Stokes Thompson or phone +61 7 3369 5119. This article may not be used without the prior written consent from the author. See below for more details…

In 2012, UK laundry specialists Dr. Beckmann commissioned an online survey of over 2,000 women and found it takes approximately 30 hours to find the perfect Little Black Dress “LBD”.

30 hours! So why do women put themselves through 30 hours of shopping for one dress?

Because we enjoy it?

Because we know the end result is worth the search?

Or because we know the little black dress is an essential item for every woman’s wardrobe and finding the perfect one is like a rite of passage.

The little black dress (LBD)is a well-established fashion icon, originating from the 1920s designs of Coco Chanel and Jean Patou. There is a perfectly good reason why the LBD has its reputation, the neutral colour and typically simple designs allow the LBD to be long-lasting, versatile, flattering and affordable for most women. It is a classic, elegant, and sophisticated dress which is suitable for all body shapes, skin tones and formal occasions.

We’ve saved you 30 hours of searching, because we have 3 beautiful Little Black Dresses, perfect for all body shapes and formal occasions.

1. The beautiful Sophia Dress is made from 100% Silk. This dress features a knee length hem, sleeves and pockets. It can easily be accessorised for many different occasions.

2. The Rose Garden Black and Rose Garden Black Lace dresses are beautiful lace detailed Little Black Dresses. The floor length option is a perfect choice for black tie events or formal weddings. Both the knee and floor length dresses make a sensational bridesmaid outfit. The sophisticated design flatters many body shapes.

3. The Jockey Black dress is the Little Black Dress with a twist. It has a feature neckline and waist band in white, which adds some extra detail to the usual LBD design. Perfect for cocktail events, race days or day weddings.

Copyright © 2016 Stokes Thompson. All Rights Reserved. Contact Stokes Thompson or phone +61 7 3369 5119. This article may not be used without the prior written consent from the author. See below for more details…

There is one accessory which is often overlooked when it comes to a daylight formal event – sunglasses.

Most people either love or loathe sunglasses at a formal event, and we can understand why.

They can dramatically change the feel of the event. Daylight formal events often have a more casual feel anyway, but this doesn’t mean jeans! For example, if you are attending a garden wedding you could opt for a cocktail look.

However, the Bride and Groom probably wouldn’t want their guests’ faces covered in large black sunglasses in all their photos, but the guests would like to be able to see the wedding in the sunshine, without having to worry about glare.

So let’s take a look at when it’s ok to wear sunglasses to a formal event, and how to successfully accessorise them to your outfit?

1.     It is not ok to wear sunglasses to a black-tie affair or very formal wedding. We are yet to find a pair of sunglasses that go with a floor length formal gown or tuxedo. If you receive an invitation to a wedding and the dress code is White Tie, Black Tie or Morning Suit, leave your sunglasses at home or in the car.

2.     You can think about accessorising your formal outfit with sunglasses if the event dress code is cocktail, smart casual or informal. Sunglasses are usually an acceptable accessory at other events like the races, charity and formal luncheons, engagement or birthday parties.

3.     If you feel sunglasses will be acceptable at the formal event you are attending, make a conscious effort to only wear them when needed. If you are being photographed its good etiquette to take them off for the photo, especially if you are part of the bridal party.

4.     There are a few key factors to choosing the right pair of sunglasses to compliment your outfit:

a)     Choose a colour which compliments your dress or suit. Black will look amazing with dark colours but if you are wearing pastel it is going to clash, try a brown, gold or silver frame.

b)    Simple styles with fine lines look more formal and will compliment more outfits, than a chunky frame.

c)     Style your hair and makeup with your sunglasses in mind. A heavy smoky eye might run and rub behind your sunglasses. Choosing to wear your hair up or down, may affect the way the sunglasses suit your outfit, so try a few combinations.

d)    Don’t wear sunglasses with a mirror or multi-coloured glass, they will instantly make you look more casual and should be left for the beach.

With so many styles to choose from, you could find the perfect sunglasses within your budget to suit your formal outfit, but if in doubt, they are not a necessity so leave them off.

If you’re looking for a formal dress for your next formal event click here to view our collection.

Copyright © 2016 Stokes Thompson. All Rights Reserved. Contact Stokes Thompson or phone +61 7 3369 5119. This article may not be used without the prior written consent from the author. See below for more details…

Valentine’s Day is celebrated all around the world. A day, were we celebrate our love for those dearest to us, and even our own self-love.

Whether you have a romantic date planned, an evening with some friends, or you’re going to spoil yourself with a new dress, we’ve picked our Top 5 Valentine’s Day Dresses which will have you feeling the love.

1.  The Beautiful Rose Garden Knee Length Dress, can be worn to the office with a blazer, or out to dinner, or cocktail event. The red lace and featured neckline, makes this dress a sophisticated and understated option.

2.  Valentine’s Day is a very popular wedding date, with many couples wishing to celebrate their marriage on this day of love. If you have a wedding or formal event to attend, we have the perfect dress. The beautiful Holly dress is a gorgeous silk georgette dress, featuring panels of pleating and hand beading over the bust, as well as small pleating around the waist giving the dress amazing fall and movement.

You’ll be ready to dance for hours. 3.  If someone special is planning to ‘woo you’ this Valentine’s Day with a romantic date, you will feel amazing in the beautiful Kiara dress. This gorgeous silk georgette dress features a lace cut-out on the back, as well as small pleating around the waist giving the dress amazing fall and movement.

4.  Nothing says romance quite like Lace. The Beautiful Alicia Knee Length Dress, is a White Silk Lace dress featuring a detailed neckline and v- neck bust, with lace sleeves. A perfect dress for dinner with friends or those dearest to you.

5.  While it is always fun to be bold and wear red on occasions like Valentine’s Day, nothing says classic, elegant, and beautiful like a Little Black Dress. The beautiful Sophia Dress, made from 100% silk, looks gorgeous on most shapes and ages, it is an absolute must have for every wardrobe.

Copyright © 2016 Stokes Thompson. All Rights Reserved. Contact Stokes Thompson or phone +61 7 3369 5119. This article may not be used without the prior written consent from the author. See below for more details…

Ok, how many of you choose your formal shoes before your dress?!!

While some might think this is silly, as it narrows down your dress choices, but it can have benefits.

Sometimes reducing choices and already having a style in mind, can help with your formal dress hunt. It’s a great way to ensure the correct length of your dress, and have your dress fitted perfectly, plus it’s usually easier to carry your shoes around while trying on dresses, instead of the other way around.

No matter which way, shoes can often make the outfit, so let’s take a look at this season’s must have styles…

1.     Suede – suede heels and sandals add a touch of class to a beautiful formal dress, especially in rich colours like maroon, teal and black. This elegant material is the perfect accessory to a great little black dress, like our Sophia Dress or Rose Garden Dress.

2.     Metallic – metallic heels make a fabulous statement to any formal dress. Plus they are so easy to match with a clutch and statement necklace.

Match a gorgeous metallic shoe, with our Zebra Dress or Diva Pewter dress.

3.     Natural Leather – looks amazing and is so versatile from day to night. Particularly with a woven detail. Perfect for a garden wedding, day at the races or outdoor formal function.

We love a natural leather heel with our Dusty Flamingo Dress and our Rose Garden Watermelon Dress.

4.     Pointed Toes are the go! Matching a formal dress with a closed, pointed toe shoe, adds an extra touch of refinement and is best suited for a black tie event. Pointed Toes with a sling back, low heel, are particularly on trend this season.

Our Alicia Iris Dress and Holly Red Dress, would be perfectly complimented with a pointed toe heel.

5.     Fancy Flats are so on trend! So, if you don’t like heels, or your dress is best suited to flats, you’ll have plenty of options to choose from. For a more formal affair, choose a flat with some beautiful embellishment or a gorgeous fabric.

Our Diva Foam Short Dress or our Rose Garden Hibiscus Dress, both look exceptionally beautiful with a fancy flat shoe.

Copyright © 2016 Stokes Thompson. All Rights Reserved. Contact Stokes Thompson or phone +61 7 3369 5119. This article may not be used without the prior written consent from the author. See below for more details…

You searched for the perfect formal dress for weeks, or perhaps a bride-to-be dragged you around the shops for months in search of her bridesmaid dresses. Once you found it, it was the most exciting moment, and you looked spectacular, but now the event has passed and you have a beautiful dress just sitting in your wardrobe.

We are lucky enough to be living in an era, where formal dresses are holding their appeal for a lot longer. Gone are the 80’s and 90’s, where women would wear ghastly satin and tulle puffy dresses. These days bridesmaids and formal dresses can be worn on many different occasions, like formals, cocktail events, or the races.

Here are some options for “After the Event”…

1.     Store your dress correctly and save it for another formal event. You just never know when the next invitation is going to arrive and your dress may be just perfect for it. You can change up the style with different accessorises, hair and makeup.

2.     You could also store it for future generations, your beautiful bridesmaid dress may just be the next ‘vintage must have’!

3.     Refashion your dress. There are so many creative people out there, just jump onto Pinterest and you can spend hours checking out how people have refashioned their old bridesmaid, wedding and formal dresses into amazing new skirts, tops, even dolls clothes for their children. If you refashion an old formal dress, share it on our Facebook page!

4.     One woman’s used dress is another woman’s new dress. If you really feel like you won’t wear your dress again, you can sell your dress on sites like ebay, gumtree or facebook groups. Alternatively, you may wish to donate your dress, so it can be used by underprivileged woman, or schools girls, who are attending formals. Speak with your local high school or charity organisation for more information.

Copyright © 2016 Stokes Thompson. All Rights Reserved. Contact Stokes Thompson or phone +61 7 3369 5119. This article may not be used without the prior written consent from the author. See below for more details…

A red dress is an elegant and sexy dress, which creates a classic look, suitable for many formal occasions.

However red is a bold colour, a colour which exudes confidence and attracts attention, and many women tend to shy away from it, worried they cannot “pull it off”. But red is one of the easiest colours to add to your wardrobe and brighten your complexion.

With Christmas just around the corner, it’s the perfect occasion to try out a red dress at your next party or even Christmas Day.

Let’s look at our top tips for wearing a red dress, plus a selection of our favourite Stokes Thompson red dress designs…

1.     Combine your red dress with neutral accessories and shoes. White, camel or black work best, as they allow the red dress to stand out. They compliment your dress, without overpowering your look. Also keep your makeup neutral and classic, if you want to try a red lipstick, we recommend taking your dress to a makeup artist, for assistance choosing the right shade. Professionals always get it right!

For a glamourous look, Holly Red is a silk georgette dress with hand beading over the bust, as well as small pleating around the waist giving the dress amazing fall and movement.

2.     Choose a flowing or delicate fabric to soften the overall effect and create a classic style. Chiffon, silk or laces are beautiful fabrics to wear in red. You will look and feel feminine and elegant.Our Kiara Red dress is a perfect example of how a lace cut out back creates a classic, elegant look.

3.     Choose a shade of red which suits your skin tone. There are many shades of red available,in either cool or warm undertones. Learn which tones suit your complexion in our blog “Why you should match your formal dress to your skin tone” and work with these shades.

For example: bright red, tangerines, and corals are great for warm skin tones, while maroon and deepreds are perfect for cool skin tones, like our Rose Garden Red dress.

4.     Choosing the right shade of red is just half the job, just like with any dress, the most important factor is the cut and style. Does it suit your body shape? Do you feel comfortable? Is it appropriate for your event? Our blog “The perfect dress for your shape” will assist in your search for the perfect cut.

5.     Own it! You’ve found the perfect red dress, now don’t hesitate, wear it! If you feel beautiful, confident, elegant, sexy and brave, your personality and mood will shine through and you will be the belle of the ball.

Copyright © 2015 Stokes Thompson. All Rights Reserved. Contact Stokes Thompson or phone +61 7 3369 5119. This article may not be used without the prior written consent from the author. See below for more details…

It’s September and that can only mean one thing, Spring Racing Carnival is back for another year.

So what are you going to wear?

The great thing about the Spring Racing Carnival is it’s a fantastic opportunity to try something new and bold.

This season’s trend is all about the 70’s! Think fringed skirts, bell sleeves and 70’s floral prints.

If you’re not feeling adventurous with a race day outfit, then choose an outfit which is classic and elegant. A dress or outfit which makes you feel good and suits you will work better than going current trend and missing the mark.

We love a classy knee-length hemline, capped sleeves and a feminine silhouette.

Our red dress and ivory dress both create a chic, elegant and comfortable look, which can be accessorised with an amazing hat or fascinator.

Derby day is traditionally a black and white affair, and some traditions just shouldn’t be broken. Look at styling a white-on-white outfit, as it is still the most on trend option.

If you’re heading to a Melbourne Cup event this year, thenit’s all about colour. You could choose a bold colour but 2015 sees a lot of pastel as well. The Luxe hippie 70’s floral prints and Japanese inspired floral prints, are a great choice for Melbourne Cup 2015.

Our teal dress creates pretty pastel spring look, while our Japanese Garden dress and Iris Hibiscus dress will have you dressed in this season’s hottest trend.

Copyright © 2016 Stokes Thompson. All Rights Reserved. Contact Stokes Thompson or phone +61 7 3369 5119. This article may not be used without the prior written consent from the author. See below for more details…

A beach would have to be one of the most romantic settings for a wedding.

It does provoke a more casual theme, compared with a ballroom or church.

A beach wedding dress is usually a light, flowing material and elegantly simple.

So how do you accessorise and style your beach wedding dress?

Here are 5 tips to help you create a beautiful beach wedding look:

1. Decide on your theme and choose a dress which compliments it. Your overall theme is “beach” but are you also incorporating a vintage, classic romantic or modern theme? We have three beautiful examples of a perfect beach wedding dress.

Our white lace dress really captures a vintage beach theme, the lace detailing and flowing skirt looks beautiful gliding up a wedding aisle.

Our long white dress has a delicate crystal detailing and full skirt, which gives a classic romantic feel and is sure to wow your guests.

While our white diamante dress with high side split, crystal detailing and sweet-heart neckline is a beautiful, sophisticated and modern design, for those wanting a high fashion look.

2. Once you have decided on your wedding theme and chosen your dress, you can now start to accessorise. Pearls compliment a beach wedding theme flawlessly.  A pearl necklace and earrings or bracelet will add glamour and elegance, along with keeping to your theme.

3. Flowers are always a striking accessory for a wedding; why not try a floral hair garland for a vintage or romantic look. A floral corsage is a creative alternative to a bouquet.

A beach wedding allows for an exotic feel, so take the opportunity to see what exotic flowers are available to use.

4. Shoes or bare feet? This is completely up to your personal preference and the theme of your day. You can even wear crystal embellished thongs! Just ensure the length of your dress is perfect for your footwear, so you are not tripping on the front of your hem.

5. Bridesmaids! A beautifully styled bridal party will always compliment a bride & groom and enhance the overall theme of your wedding.

Ensure your bridesmaids dresses are beach friendly. This is a great opportunity for a classic knee length style. You may wish to draw inspiration for the dress colour from the location.

Our teal dress provides a light, flowing design with subtle embellishment to effortlessly take it from day to night.

Our aqua dress is a beautiful pop of colour for a coastal location.

Copyright © 2016 Stokes Thompson. All Rights Reserved. Contact Stokes Thompson or phone +61 7 3369 5119. This article may not be used without the prior written consent from the author. See below for more details…

Party season is about to kick off. There are school formals, weddings, Christmas parties and New Year’s Eve celebrations.

For those of you who will be attending a special occasion with a date, or your wedding is coming up and you want to pull off a striking couple effect, we have some tricks to make it happen!

1. Black and White is always right. If you want to play it safe, while still looking remarkable, a tuxedo will match any formal dress. A black and white tuxedo or suit combination will compliment many formal dress colours and will especially look alluring next to a white wedding dress.

2. Colour. Matching a formal dress colour and suit tie exactly is so 1990. These days you can still look individual but striking together. Choose colours which compliment yourselves and each other’s outfit. An aqua formal dress and a red tie are going to clash but a cream or navy tie will balance the aqua dress and show sophistication.

3. Work with a particular style. A striking couple effect can be achieved if your style matches. The Beckhams are masters of creating a “power couple” effect. Take a look through some magazines, Pinterest or blogs for inspiration. Then take these images when you go out to purchase or hire your outfit.

4. Play with accessories and indulge in subtle similarities. Are there cufflinks or a tie clip to match your jewellery? Perhaps the suits pocket square has a pattern or colour to match your clutch. These subtle similarities will draw the outfits together but won’t be obvious to the naked eye.

For further inspiration, take a look through our extensive formal and wedding dress catalogue here.

Copyright © 2016 Stokes Thompson. All Rights Reserved. Contact Stokes Thompson or phone +61 7 3369 5119. This article may not be used without the prior written consent from the author. See below for more details…