This RT07 is one of the newest additions to the Reflections range – which combines NIEVE flair and quality with fantastic prices.

NT189 combines fabric and crystals to produce a quirky, yet commercial, headpiece.

Come and visit M28 for a refreshing look at bridal accessories, Richard Allen will be on hand to guide you through our new collection and match accessories to your new gowns!

We start with the best of British accessories collections, Richard Designs, which can be found as ever in Hall M on stand M33. This year we have a truly breathtaking display for you, just see last week’s blog for a hint of what surprises we have in store.

Tear down those veil rails! We truly believe we have the best veils in the business, the finest tulle (exclusively manufactured for us in the UK), the broadest range of styles, the most delicate detailing; so it is about time we showed them to be the best…come and see our brand new innovative veil display to see veils at their finest…no more ‘wall of veils’ here!

Beautiful silver detailing takes centre stage in our Indian-summer inspired tiara collection:

Those seeking accessories tailored to the destination bride will be spoiled for choice with lighter veils and beautiful flower headpieces.

We also have a beautiful 25th anniversary veil which will be yours for free if you buy 6 or more veils.

What can we expect to see in the new collection?
This collection has a very different feel to anything we’ve done before, much more innovative. I now have a team of four designers working along side me, so there is much more time to work through new ideas and techniques.

What kind of ‘innovations’ have you included?
It’s lovely to see more colour coming back into the gown designs, so we have incorporated antique silver filigrees and stones and even a few pieces with antique copper, muted tones such as nude, beige and fawn work really well with many of the new styles.

The veils look amazing, with many details taken directly from the new tiaras, we’ve also taken direction from some of our top customers to create some really light floaty veils for your destination weddings.

Magnetic clasps have been really popular, so you will see many more on this seasons necklaces and bracelets, again matching details with tiaras there are cuff bracelets and statement earrings alongside charm style necklaces.

Any last words for us?
I really can’t wait to get everything on display at Harrogate!

This is the first in the series of BBEH special blogs, look out for more in the run up to the show, including Richard Designs at Harrogate through history later this week.

** This position has now been filled **

Due to continued expansion we have a vacancy in our workrooms for a trainee in the tiara department. Being a trainee tiara maker is a much sought-after position within the company, and can open up lots of exciting opportunities.

For the first few months of the position you will be under supervision, being taught the fundamental skills required to make our beautiful tiaras. The position has the potential for advancing within the company, whether you are interested in design, customer service or sales. There are also opportunities for gaining City & Guilds qualifications, which over 80% of our staff have successfully obtained.

You do not need any particular skills to apply for the job, as full training will be given. The position will suit a creative person with a keen eye for detail who enjoys working as part of a team.

Our workrooms are a comfortable, friendly place to work and our staff love working at Richard Designs. This position has now been filled.

The NIEVE Designer Collection of accessories for Spring, Summer 2011, is inspired by two enchanting stories that illustrate the mood for the approaching season: Oriental Garden and Romantic Vintage. See the inspiration here.

Don’t forget to check out the ‘shop window’ featuring current styles of veils, tiaras and jewellery while you are there!

Choosing bridesmaid accessories is notoriously difficult, but our made-to-order approach makes the whole process as easy as possible. All of our bridesmaid designs are available in a rainbow of colours and can be enlarged or reduced in size as necessary. You can find out more about what services we offer for bridesmaid accessories on our ‘bridesmaid accessory advice page‘. If you need any further information then please call or email our fantastic customer service team.

If you would like a glimpse of our most popular designs, then take a look at the ‘bridesmaid accessories shop window‘ where you will find a wonderful selection of images which shows how diverse our collection is; tiaras with wonderful combinations of feathers, crystal and silk and jewellery made from the finest Swarovski crystals.

If you are a bride or bridesmaid and you would like to see more of our bridesmaid accessories, then please visit your local stockist. If you are unsure who this is you can contact us and we will happily point you in their direction.

If you are a trade customer and you would like to find our more about our bridesmaid accessories then please contact Vicki our Sales Co-ordinator, to arrange a no-obligation visit by one of our charming sales representatives.

Following these trend patterns, we have identified with Brides opting for the sometimes easier and less fussy destination wedding.  Many wedding gown designers have answered this trend by designing ranges that are much lighter, less formal and free flowing for the Bride abroad.

With this in mind we have taken the theme of floral forms a step further with the inclusion or a large selection of accessories designed specifically for the more tropical easy-going mood of this type of wedding.  Above you can see a F183 fascinator which is proving extremely popular; a handmade silk flower which is complemented wonderfully with sparkling set-stone crystals. The F116 fascinator below is an illustration of how touches of colour and a variety of sizes and shapes make this flower arrangement collection distinctly destination! The petals in this flower are handmade from Swarovski crystal fabric, which is covered in hundreds of tiny crystals which will shimmer beautifully in the sun.

Whether you are getting married at home or abroad, click here for our head designer Kelly Harper’s thoughts on next season’s influences; blooming marvellous!

At this September’s Harrogate show we will have on offer the styles that are designed to complement gowns that you will have purchased in March, so be ready to see many key trend influences within the designs.  Dominant trends include a green-fingered influence with bountiful blooms adorning gowns across the board.  Delicate repeat appliqués were sewn with larger coiled silk rose corsage details.  Not a bust line or side gather was left without some kind of lace lily or crystal chrysanthemum!

Indian Summer

The sizzling summer theme continues with designs that complement the style influences of next year’s gown collections.  With the intense popularity of Eastern culture through fashion and cinema, I have been inspired to create ‘Indian Summer’ for my second story.  The British Empire and its involvement with India, during a period where climbing the social ladder was paramount has been illustrated through films like ‘Vanity Fair’.  It is the Indian design influence on the classes, through trade and importing goods, that has inspired this theme of refined, luxurious design.

Taking inspiration from Indian textile patterns and ceremonial dress, I have found a wealth of original patterns and forms that are inspiring truly unique veil and headdress designs for the new collection. Indulgent use of jewels and precious metals in paisley and floral forms, symbolic of their culture, has seen a progressive link with bridal fashion, which when diluted provides beautiful appliqué designs.  Influence from ceremonial jewellery and the hues of Indian summer are evident in our new designs, with Eastern-inspired headdresses answering a voiced demand from customers who desire this more exotic style-sensation!

- Kelly

Our gorgeous flower hair combs offer a refreshing option for brides who tend to shy away from the traditional diamante or rhinestone tiara. They compliment today’s wedding gowns with ease, and are so light and comfortable to wear. It’s no wonder that the demand for them is at an all time high!

This season our design team have produced more varieties than ever. Featuring textured leaves with glitter tips, clustered jewel centres, built in cage veils, and many more with exquisite detailing. These have just started making their first appearance in the US, with thanks to our 6 dedicated Sales Representatives. If you are a US trade customer and would like an appointment to view our collection please email maria@richarddesigns.co.uk or call 888 UK VEILS. For UK trade customers please email vicki@richarddesigns.co.uk or call 01353 661 600.

Thank you to Nouvelle Vogue of San Mateo, California USA, for providing us with this beautiful picture illustrating style TR506A in Ivory.

If you have not had the chance to explore our shop window this week, please take a look at page 2 in the tiara section. We have added a selection of popular flower hair combs for you to see. This is just a small example, as we have many different designs available. As always they are hand made to order so they’re fully customizable, and can be mounted onto our flexible headbands instead of combs if required. Please feel free to contact us by phone (01353) 661600 or email for any additional pictures or information.

This week’s blog was written by our US Operations Manager, Maria Contreras. Thank you Maria!

Before we get started with the excitement of the new pictures, we would like to remind you why our tiaras are so special:

- All of our bridal tiaras are handmade to order in England, meaning you can tweak, tinker and tamper with colourways to suit the style of your dress collection.

- Because we make our tiara bands by hand, they are particularly comfortable, especially compared with the sprung steel bands you see elsewhere.

- Another benefit of our handmade tiara bands is the option to have the band in a different colour, to allow it to blend into brides hair.

For a comprehensive overview of on choosing a tiara and taking care of it, please see our tiaras advice page.

Now for the fun part, a glimpse into the new collection…you can see all of these pictures and more in our new tiara gallery.

In the last blog we described the 1920s and ‘30s vintage style that is so popular with dress designers at the moment and how our tiaras complemented this style. As well as attending to this trend we also have some more contemporary designs. Like the TR1160A above, a beautiful side spray with lots of little silver backed stones which will shine as your bride walks down the aisle.

After Cheryl Cole’s X-Factor appearance last series in a beautiful headpiece, we were inundated with requests for similar tiaras. Having anticipated the demand, we were able to provide similarly stunning bridal tiaras. The TR1133A tiara above adds to this collection.

You can see even more new tiara pictures in our new tiara gallery, however, we have over 60 new tiara designs for this season and the only place to see them at once is the British Bridal Exhibition Harrogate on Stand M33, Hall M.

The British Bridal Exhibition Harrogate is trade only; if you aren’t a trade customer but you love our tiaras, then we’d love to hear from you; give us a call on (01353) 661600 or an email and we can direct you to your nearest bridal shop.

Next week we’ll be adding a blog every day as we go BBEH mad. With 5 different collections we know you’ll be spoilt for choice, so we’ll be profiling each of them on a different day, so watch this space!