The Bridal Bootie: Alternative Footwear for the Festival Bride

The Bridal Bootie: Alternative Footwear for the Festival Bride

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Image credit: Graham Dunn Photo

Good morning totally rad people!

Boy am I excited to share this one with you! I've been a huge fan of ankle boots for a fair few years now; I'm a suede lover, in shades of brown with a cute folk style dress. Yup, that pretty much sums up my wardrobe for every summer since 2012! So, when watching Free People's new video ft. Erin Wasson I had a little revelation that I simply could NOT resist sharing with you: the Bridal Bootie. You boho girls don them day in day out with skinnies and maxi dresses, so why on earth would you choose anything else on your wedding day?! Whether your dress is to the floor, a shortie or with a tapered hem (hell, especially with a tapered hem) a little ankle boot will work perfectly. If the full-on-amazing image above hasn't convinced you, just take a little look at the ladies below...

Image credits: Diesels Team Gypsy & Forever21

Image credits: Free People's Spin-me-right-round dress & Free People's Jayleen dress

Yeah, I know right?! SO gorge and pretty much anything goes: the Chelsea boot, fringed moccasins, buckled boots, something a little taller... Here at Festival Brides we love boots of every shape, style and embellishment. You'll also notice that in most of these images the gorgeous ladies are outside, which brings me to my next thought: outdoor weddings demand appropriate footwear. Sorry to get a little logical and practical on you for a second (granted it's a rare occurrence, but nevertheless...) even in the height of the summer, an outdoor venue often demands a flat, or barely heeled shoe. When we married in the secret woodland in Kent last year, my bridesmaids and I wore completely flat, peep toed shoes, and I'm mighty glad we did! Not only did the woodland slopes and hay covered paths not phase us in the slightest, but we remained comfy for the entire day and free to dance long into the night!

Plus, hello? Who'd pass up a running bridal shot, your dress flying elegantly in the breeze? It screams 'free-spirited bride' and looks all the cooler for that sweet ankle boot. Take a cue from Erin...

Image credit: Erin Wasson for Elle Italia via Something's Gone Awry

As ever, I'm going to show you bohemian beauties just a few of my current faves, so please sit back, enjoy my collection and be inspired!

First up is a boot that I've been lusting over for a little while now: the Talon. This open ankled boot is the lovechild of the glorious Ascot Friday and Matisse footwear, a collab that fuelled a lot of my thoughts for this post. Available in Cognac and Black, their textured leather upper and buckle details would pair amazingly with a lightweight folk style dress. I wondered if you ladies might be a little intimidated by the idea of a black shoe for your wedding day, but take a look at that snap of Laura (of Ascot Friday) below. The black leather looks beautifully striking against her long open chiffon dress, don't you think? Contrasting textiles are everything!

However, if you'd love a Talon style boot in a lighter shade, take a look at Free People's Riga boot in white. It's very similar, with a dark wood heel and an additional buckle. Seriously cool, aren't they?

Image credits: Talon Cognac & Talon Black both via Ascot and Hart

Image credits: Free People's Riga & Ascot Friday wears the Talon

For something a little softer, Ascot Friday x Matisse have the answer again: the Payton ankle boot. I mean, come on: suede uppers in perfectly rich boho colours and a gold-dotted, tassel-adorned back?! They're too sweet. Whether you want to maintain a relatively natural palette or want a burst of that berry red, the Payton is effortlessly awesome. These super short booties would work amazingly under a maxi-length gown, but are equally flattering for you leg-baring brides, making the leg appear lean and beautifully tapered. If you're a little cautious of wearing a completely filled in shoe for your wedding, have no fear, the super-soft suede and warm tones we've chosen will ensure a perfect balance with your dress. Say hello to pure bohemian country goodness and comfy feet for the whole day!

Image credits: Payton/red & Payton/tan both via Ascot and Hart

Image credit: Free People's Braeburn

Here at festival brides we love a little bit of distressed leather, and Free People's Braeburn fits that bill... and then some! They fulfil so many criteria: flat and comfy? Check. Sweet brass buckles? Check. On trend cutout detailing? Check. Rugged I-just-threw-them-on look? Hell yeah, check! I absolutely adore these little gems, I see them paired with something seriously light and feminine, chiffon maybe with delicate gold bangles, a multitude of tiny chains and super sweet loose braids... Oh, if I had my time again!

Image credits: Free People's Hybrid in Choc, Black & Tan

If I've done my job right, you'll be loving this trend by now, but I can totally hear a few of you crying at your screen: 'I need heels, give me heels!' As always, I got your back, girl. I'm also of the shorter variety and I love being petite, don't get me wrong, but if I could've worn heels on my wedding day I definitely would've gone there! (I'm just over 5 ft, hubby is over 6... You know how it is). With that in mind, I couldn't resist throwing a few heeled variations of this trend into the mix for you ladies to lust over. Although the heel might not be doable in every scenario, they remain a very comfortable, festival wedding friendly style of shoe, proving way more supportive than your minimal heeled sandal. No tripping down the aisle in these beauties, oh no!

First up is one of two laced booties that I'll show you today, the Talisman by Free People (who else, right?!) A sturdy medium height heel makes this lovely peep toe boot very woodland/meadow friendly and we're just loving the two tones of brown together. The Talisman would look great under a long hippie style gown, with a freshly picked bouquet and silver cuff bangles. It's a carefree look that'd suit strolling blissfully through a waist-high meadow toward your groom just perfectly.

Image credit: Free People's Talisman

Image credit: London Rebel/Black & London Rebel/Taupe

A little shorter and a little simpler, these budget friendly peep toe sling-back booties by London Rebel are just divine. No really, I bought them in black and I haven't taken them off since! They glide gracefully from a day to night shoe, they're insanely comfortable and ridiculously cool. Maintaining a minimal, feminine edge to the bootie, they work awesomely with a short loose-fit smock dress (it's my favourite pairing at the moment for mine) or create a sleek look with a longline gown with a split. I wear mine with a little anklet, a vibrant pedicure and a fair dose of sass.

Image credit: Boheme/olive via Ascot and Hart

Image credit: Boheme/tan via Ascot and Hart

A flat alternative to the London Rebel peep toe, the Boheme is one of Ascot and Hart's finest specimens. Boho luxe, beach cool and in that sublime Olive hue, really what more could you ask of a little boot! These ace little guys are as soft as they come and will keep your feet super cool if you're set to wed in the heat of summer. They're just everything; delicate triangle cutouts, laces finished with gold topped tassels: they literally couldn't be more festival chic if they tried! Peeping from beneath a tiered cotton gown, you could echo the triangular decal throughout your bridal look; try this Mara Hoffman Gaia lattice gown, these opal earrings by Free People and maybe this cute arrowhead ring by Double B on Etsy.

Image credits: Asos Alien & Shelly's London

Last but not least, you might've seen Abby and Liam's budget friendly wedding gracing our pages earlier this week, a whole wedding on an amazing £3000. Incredible, right? This set a whole other challenge for my concept: a budget bridal bootie. And yes, darlings, I found some! So, for the thrifty brides who loved the aforementioned Talon, may I present (do excuse the name) the Alien boot by Asos. Still with a leather upper, a beautiful matte finish and that totally rad cutout heel, these fellas come in at just £55. For a rocking bootie like this, I'm thinking that's a total steal.

Shelly's London Chanrut Suede Cut Beige Ankle Boots come in at a slightly higher price of £85, but my goodness are they gorgeous. In a warm Cognac suede, they feature a cute little stacked heel, a subtle cutout and a unique zipper front. These pretty boots would slip sweetly onto the feet of any flower crowed, bohemian bride.

Image credit: theLane

Trust me, festival brides, if it's good enough for the muse that is Erin Wasson, you gals should definitely be rocking it! The ankle boot embodies everything we boho brides stand for: freedom, warmth, earthiness and simple, straight up beauty. Run freely through your meadow, dance all night in your tipi, run through your magical woods and rock a killer bridal bootie on your wedding day!

Much love my favourites,

Clare xo

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