Bridesmaids Styling: Harmonizing Mismatched Dresses For A Cohesive Look

Mismatched bridesmaids' dresses are a growing trend, allowing each bridesmaid to showcase her unique style and ensuring she feels great. There are three ways to pull off this look: different dress styles but the same colour, a uniform dress style with varying colours, or a mix of dress styles and colours. The key to successfully mismatching bridesmaids' dresses is to maintain cohesion by choosing a unifying element, such as the same fabric, neckline, or colour palette. This can be achieved by providing clear direction to your bridesmaids, such as creating a vision board or suggesting they choose dresses from the same designer. Mismatched bridesmaids' dresses offer a win-win situation, allowing for personal expression, comfort, and budget flexibility, making your special day memorable for everyone involved.

Same colour, different styles

Opting for the same colour but different styles for your bridesmaids' dresses is a great way to achieve a cohesive yet individual look for your bridal party. This option is perfect for those who want to stick to the tradition of dressing their bridesmaids in the same colour, while also acknowledging that not every dress will flatter every person.

• Choose a colour that suits all your bridesmaids and that they feel comfortable and happy in.
• Allow your bridesmaids to pick their favourite style of dress, whether that's a halter neck, strapless, or a dress with sleeves.
• Consider sticking to the same fabric for all the dresses. This will ensure that the dresses photograph well together and will help create a cohesive look.
• Play around with different silhouettes to suit each bridesmaid's preferences and body type. For example, you could have a mix of A-line, sheath, or fit-and-flare dresses.
• If you want to add a unique touch, you can choose a unifying design detail, such as a rhinestone belt or a hair accessory that all your bridesmaids can wear.
• To ensure the look remains cohesive, it's best to limit the variations to no more than three per colour.

By following these tips, you can achieve a charming and elegant look for your bridal party, allowing each bridesmaid to feel comfortable, confident, and beautiful on your special day.

Same style, different colours

If you want your bridesmaids to wear the same style but different colours, there are a few things to keep in mind. Firstly, while rainbows are pretty, they're not necessary for a bridal party look unless you're going for a rainbow aesthetic. So, if you're not aiming for a rainbow effect, it's best to stick to no more than three colour variations.

Before settling on a colour scheme, it's a good idea to examine and play with fabric swatches. This will give you a better idea of how the colours will look together. It's also important to remember that small swatches can look very different when made up into a gown, so try to see the full-size samples in daylight if possible.

If you're having trouble deciding on colours that complement each other, consider choosing colours from the same family and playing with different tones and hues. Alternatively, you can use the palette of your wedding inspiration to guide your choices.

Another way to ensure cohesion within your bridal party is to have your bridesmaids wear identical accessories. For example, you could give them all the same rhinestone belt or hairpiece, or statement necklaces or earrings as a gift. You can also tie the look together by representing each colour in the bridesmaid bouquet.

Finally, remember that less is more when it comes to mixing and matching. Try not to vary too many features, and instead, focus on changing just one or two elements, such as the neckline or sleeve length, while keeping the rest the same.

Different styles and colours

Mixing and matching different styles and colours for your bridesmaids is a great way to allow your maids to rock a look they love and feel comfortable in. It's also a good way to ensure that each bridesmaid is wearing a dress that flatters her body shape and highlights her personality.

• Consult your bridesmaids: Ask them about their preferences, and take their opinions into consideration when deciding on silhouettes, lengths, and necklines. This will ensure that each bridesmaid feels confident and happy with her choice.
• Stick to one brand: Shopping for your bridesmaid dresses from the same brand or designer will help create a cohesive look, as the fabrics and colour palettes will be the same or subtly different.
• Switch up one or two features: A good rule of thumb is to change only one or two things about each dress and keep the rest the same. For example, you could choose different necklines and colours but use the same fabric. Or, select a different dress fabric and neckline but in the same colour.
• Don't forget accessories: Matching jewellery, shoes, and bridesmaid bouquets can help tie the whole look together. You can even give these items as bridesmaid gifts!
• Consider hemlines carefully: When mixing and matching different lengths, ensure there is a good mix of silhouettes and lengths to avoid an awkward look in bridal party photos.
• Choose your wedding colour palette carefully: Pick colours that look good together and complement each other. Get small samples of fabric to see how they look next to each other.
• Give your bridesmaids direction: Provide your bridesmaids with an inspiration board or sample photos to show them the types of dresses you like. You can also suggest they look at dresses from the same designer to ensure a cohesive look.
• Same style, different colours: Opt for the same dress style but in different colours. This is a great option if you've found a dress silhouette that flatters everyone but still want to embrace versatility within your bridal party.
• Different styles, same colour: Choose different dress styles but in the same colour. This is perfect if you want to hold on to the tradition of everyone wearing the same colour while acknowledging the diversity of your bridal party.
• Mix styles and colours from the same shade: Start with light colours and gradually darken the shades to create a stunning ombré effect.
• Mix styles and colours in different shades: This is a challenging but stunning way to mix and match. Select colours from the same family or your wedding colour palette to ensure they complement each other.
• Mix styles and colours in different fabrics: Combine unique fabrics such as velvet, chiffon, tulle, and satin to differentiate each bridesmaid's style.
• Mix and match different necklines or dress designs: Make minor modifications to the same dress design, such as changing the neckline or altering the silhouette from fishtail to A-line.

Remember, the key to pulling off mismatched bridesmaid dresses is to keep the looks complementary. With careful planning and consideration, you can create a stunning and cohesive bridal party ensemble that celebrates the individuality of each bridesmaid.

Same colour family, similar styles

If you want your bridesmaids to wear the same colour but different styles, there are a few things to keep in mind. Firstly, decide on a colour. You can then ask your bridesmaids to pick their favourite style in that colour. This will make your friends feel comfortable and happy, and they will appreciate the freedom of choice.

However, it's important to be mindful of the different shades of the same colour. For example, if you ask your bridesmaids to wear navy blue, they might end up with six different interpretations of navy. To avoid this, you can create a vision board with swatches, dress silhouettes and photos of what you picture the group to look like. You can also consider sticking to one designer's collection, so that each lady shows off her own personality while wearing a very similar dress to the others.

Another thing to keep in mind is the fabric. Different fabrics of the same colour might not photograph in the same way. To avoid this, you can decide on the fabric and colour, and then let your bridesmaids choose the style that suits them best.

You can also tie the look together with identical accessories, such as a rhinestone belt or hairpiece.

Same colour family, different styles

If you want your bridesmaids to wear the same colour family but with different styles, there are a few things to keep in mind.

Firstly, you can allow your bridesmaids to pick their favourite style within the same hue. This will ensure that your bridal party feels comfortable and happy, and it acknowledges that not every dress is flattering for every person. You can also allow your bridesmaids to pick their own styles within a certain fabric type, such as velvet, chiffon, or satin.

If you want to have more control over the process, you can pre-select a few dress options within the same colour family and then let your bridesmaids choose their favourite. This will ensure that the dresses complement each other and that there is no shade variance within the same colour.

To help you visualise how the different dresses will look together, it's a good idea to create a digital vision board that can be shared with your bridesmaids. You can also order fabric swatches to see how various colours, patterns, and textures look next to each other.

Finally, remember that less is more when it comes to varying dress features. Try to stick to changing only one or two things about each dress, such as the neckline or colour, and keep the rest the same.

Frequently asked questions