Loulou Boutique Occasion-ready style, curated with love.

Loulou Boutique

Occasion-ready style, curated with love.

Latest Articles

The Borrowed Dress Diaries: Is Wedding Guest Rental Worth It in 2026?
Wardrobe Notes

The Borrowed Dress Diaries: Is Wedding Guest Rental Worth It in 2026?

Renting a wedding guest dress sounds like the obvious answer to a wardrobe full of one-wear outfits. But between delivery windows, fit anxiety and the emotional pull of owning something beautiful, the decision is more nuanced than the adverts suggest. Here is an honest look at when rental earns its place in 2026.

Hats, Heels and Mud: A UK Race Day Dress Code That Actually Works in 2026
Style Edit

Hats, Heels and Mud: A UK Race Day Dress Code That Actually Works in 2026

Race day style has a reputation for being either fiercely formal or faintly fancy-dress. In reality, the best-dressed people in 2026 are the ones who read the enclosure rules, dress for the weather, and choose shoes that can handle a grassy car park. Here is a practical guide to Ascot, Goodwood and your local point-to-point.

Buy the Almost-Right Dress: Five Alterations Worth Booking Before the Big Day
Wardrobe Notes

Buy the Almost-Right Dress: Five Alterations Worth Booking Before the Big Day

The almost-right dress is often the one that fits you best—after a small trip to the tailor. Here are five common occasion-dress fit fixes, what they cost, and how to style the before-and-after.

Cocktail Doesn't Mean Cocktail Dress: A UK Wedding Guest's Guide to Getting It Right
Style Edit

Cocktail Doesn't Mean Cocktail Dress: A UK Wedding Guest's Guide to Getting It Right

Wedding dress codes can turn a happy invitation into a mild panic. This friendly guide decodes cocktail, smart casual and black-tie optional for UK weddings, with outfit formulas and hemline advice that take the guesswork out of guest dressing.

One Dress, Three Weddings: The 2026 Guest Swap Guide
Style Edit

One Dress, Three Weddings: The 2026 Guest Swap Guide

One well-chosen dress can handle black-tie, garden-party, and city-chic weddings with a few clever swaps. Here is how to change its register without looking like you have simply repeated an outfit.

From Church Pews to Dance Floors: 12 Occasion Shoes That Go the Distance
Wardrobe Notes

From Church Pews to Dance Floors: 12 Occasion Shoes That Go the Distance

Elegant shoes that survive the ceremony, the dinner, and the dance floor are out there. This guide covers heel heights, toe shapes, straps, and the practical details that keep you comfortable from church to carriages.

Texture, Colour, Tailoring: The 2026 Party Dress Update Your LBD Can't Give You
Wardrobe Notes

Texture, Colour, Tailoring: The 2026 Party Dress Update Your LBD Can't Give You

The little black dress is still useful, but it is no longer the whole story. For 2026, we are making a case for velvet, satin with sleeves, and structured knits that bring depth to winter occasion wear.

The December Party Edit: Five Looks That Earn Their Place in Your Wardrobe
Style Edit

The December Party Edit: Five Looks That Earn Their Place in Your Wardrobe

December invitations pile up fast, and the last thing you need is a changing-room meltdown. Here are five outfit formulas that move from office party to midnight with comfort, layers and a bit of sparkle.

Would You Wear It Twice in One Day? The Desk-to-Dinner Dress Test
Wardrobe Notes

Would You Wear It Twice in One Day? The Desk-to-Dinner Dress Test

A truly useful occasion dress should survive a working day and still look ready for dinner. We put a handful of silhouettes through a simple desk-to-dinner test, looking at fabric, layering, shoes and the small swaps that change the mood. Here is what passed, what needed help and the checklist worth using before you buy.

Style Edit

The Finishing Layer: Seven Occasion Coats That Work With Your Dress, Not Over It

A good occasion coat does more than keep the drizzle off. It finishes the silhouette, frames the dress and makes the whole look feel considered. Here are seven outerwear styles for British autumn weddings, race days and winter dresses, with notes on what to wear underneath and how to handle the forecast.