We catch up with the talented Nicola Ball, one half of the dynamic duo behind one of the UK’s most celebrated accessories collections – Halo & Co
To quote Coco Chanel: “Accessories are what makes or marks a woman.” Accessories can define a look. They are the personality added to an outfit, so they play a crucial role in bridal. It is during the accessory appointment that the bride sees all the details come together; the icing on the cake so to say. In our 30-year experience, we know that brides love their final styling appointment and rely on retailers for help and advice on how to style their look. Too many, or not enough, can make or break an outfit. It is also often part of the bridal attire that the grandmother or mother can purchase at the appointment, making long-lasting memories and family heirlooms.
Accessories are all about personality - take one dress and you can make it look classic, modern, funky or fantasy-inspired. That’s the beauty of accessories.
As dresses become simpler and cleaner in style, stylists, retailers and brides are reaching for something to add, whether it’s a large headpiece or statement earrings. Pearls continue to play a major role, but our floral collection with coloured pieces seems to be at the forefront of the styling arsenal right now.
When we design, our main objective is to ensure we can provide retailers with a good cross-section of shapes, styles and prices. It’s so important to have a large enough selection to cover as many different brides as possible and don’t be afraid to layer and combine to create different looks for brides. Every bride is unique, so having a good cross-section of choice is paramount.
There are trends and then there are best sellers, it’s often not the same. The trends will be big crystal stones and large tiaras but, as we know, brides want their weddings to reflect their own personality. So we will continue to create pieces based on the winning formula of ensuring we have a style for everyone, whilst having fun creating the new exciting trends for retailers.