BRIDAL BOUTIQUES 51 BEST-DRESSED brides We ask local bridal boutique owners about their favourite styles for wedding season BUCKS & OXON LOCAL BUSINESSES TAKE TOP SPOT IN THE 2025 MUDDY STILETTOS AWARDS Now in their 12th year, the hotly contested 2025 Muddy Stilettos Regional Awards have been announced with 21 brilliant local indie businesses winning the coveted lifestyle crowns across Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire including fashion and lifestyle boutique Bea and Aud Lifestyle in Buckingham which won Best Woman’s Style in North Buckinghamshire. This store is a one-stop shop for dresses for honeymoons and guests as well as accessories for brides, mothers and more. www.beaandaudlifestyle.com www.instagram.com/beaandaudlifestyle Read more in our handmade in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire feature on page 53. What’s new? www.unsplash.com CELEBRATING MATURE BRIDES Buckinghamshire-based Sheque is an online boutique founded and run by Kate Andrews. She tells us, “As we get older, our clothing style changes. Brides over the age of 40 want different things from a wedding outfit than someone in their twenties or thirties. They want something that makes them feel gorgeous, yet that’s comfortable, simple, flattering and sophisticated.” Many brides-to-be over the age of 40 might feel uncomfortable not wearing a bra on their wedding day, so backless dresses or styles revealing the décolletage area might be impractical. Many want a dress which has sleeves or drapes to cover their arms. Kate adds, “Some women, especially those who have been married before, may not want to wear white or ivory. Priorities regarding their wedding also shift – many don’t want the larger wedding they would have had when they were younger so they want a dress which is more understated and affordable to reflect this.” When it comes to visiting bridal boutiques, Kate explains how some women don’t like getting changed in public. She says, “The thought of getting changed in a wedding boutique can be overwhelming and customers would rather try on dresses in the comfort of their own home, perhaps with a group of friends or family members and a glass of fizz.” That’s where Sheque comes in. The brand attempts to fill the second-time around dress gap with styles in cream, light grey, taupe and champagne tones for those who feel these shades are more appropriate for them. Kate says, “My ‘just-in-time’ philosophy allows me to minimise my overheads, making the dresses more affordable, and I can still deliver pieces to my customers within a working week.” www.sheque.co.uk www.instagram.com/shequeclothing
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