Engagement dresses and wedding shoes

 Wedding Bridal Dresses Q I am looking for a dress to wear to my engagement party. I wouldlike something daring and elegant in a style or colour that reallymakes an impact. There is going to be a dinner, then dancing. Whatwould you advise? A It would be impossible to ignore you in this hot-pink GiambattistaValli number (￡1,372, from matchesfashion.com). It is elegantand edgy. The designer has taken a chic silhouette, inspired byvintage couture, and made it pop with his unconventional choice ofcolour. For something similar but much cheaper, try Reiss, whichhas a pink chiffon shift dress with a ruffled skirt (￡179).If that is too demure, then go to River Island for this greatversion of Hervé Léger’s body-conscious bandagedresses, loved by starlets such as Lindsay Lohan, Victoria Beckhamand Eva Longoria. Q I’m dying to get some Audrey Hepburn-style sunglasses, likethe ones she wears in Breakfast at Tiffany’s. All I can findare oversized 1970s shades, which don’t suit my face. What isout there? A These Mulberry shades, which have been produced by the sunglassessupremo Cutler and Gross, are my favourite. They have that classicHepburn shape, but the lenses are blue, which gives them acontemporary twist. Luella has some elegant retro shades(￡150) and D&G has a pair with arched black plasticframes (￡75, from sunglasses-shop.co.uk). For the Hepburnlook on the cheap, Miss Selfridge has a retro-looking pair(￡14), Debenhams does 1950s cat’s-eye shades(￡12) and Accessorize has Hollywood-style sunglasses(￡12). Q I am getting married in August and have found an absolutelystunning wedding dress; however, I can’t find any shoes. Idon’t like the usual courts or slingbacks that brides tend toembrace – I want something a little unusual. I am quite short(5ft 2in) and the wedding will be on grass, so I would likeglamorous wedges. Also, I am looking for something in silver thatcan be worn again. A If you want to push the boat out, then look at Terry de Havilland,who many consider to be the king of wedge heels. A pair would workwith a wedding dress and they would make fantastic party shoes,too. At ￡320, they are expensive, but if you are prepared towait until the July sales, you might get a bargain. For somethingless expensive, look at Audley’s silver wedge platforms(￡145, from Allé boutique; 020 8420 2050), or try Oli,which has a dressy pair of silver shoes with clear wedge heels(below centre).