In a floor-length, ostrich feather and sequin-adorned black Marchesa ball dress, Spanish screen siren-goddess Penelope Cruz proved herself to be the belle of the red carpet at the World Premiere of the fourth Pirates of the Carribean movie on Saturday. The 37 year old’s ball dress was set off by a healthy olive glow, and absolutely no sign of any remaining baby weight, following the birth of her and Javier Bardem’s son in January.

Black Beauty- The Ball Dress that Stole the Show

The actress’ ball gown, embroidered with feather and jet crystals, was complimented by Chopard jewelry, while her hair was swept back into a simple up-do- perfectly balancing out her lavish ball dress.   In her ball gown, Penelope looked like decadence personified, while her co-star, the sexily eccentric Johnny Depp, opted for a Keith Richards inspired tux/jacket, posing alongside his Rolling Stone idol on the red carpet.   Depp admitted that while still filming, seeing Penelope pregnant and her and Bardem with their newborn son made him feel rather broody.

Ball Gowns for Hire – Rent a Ball Dress Fit for Penelope

A customized ball dress, getting your hands on Penelope’s Marchesa ball gown would be near next to impossible. However, the following ball gowns for hire come close to channeling Penelope’s black beauty ball dress glamour.   Strapless and floor-length, the divine swirl detailing on this Ruth Tarvydas ball dress will lend your ball gown the element of Penelope luxury you’re looking  for. Ball gown for hire: £99 (original price £600.)

The 100% silk, backless Hedron Organza ball dress by PPQ, with its ruffled detailing, lives up to its name as the ultimate statement maker.  Hire: £79, (this ball dress would usually retail for £724).  Be every inch the goddess in this seductive long ball gown with diamante shoulder strap detailing.

With its plunging neckline and classic cut, the ball dress is the epitome of sexy sophistication, while the shoulder straps add that touch of Penelope bling for all of us that won’t be splashing out on Chopard diamond drop earrings quite yet.  (For similar earrings why not check out the GMD jewellery to buy section, where you’ll find fabulous pieces such as these Martine Wester crystal statement earrings.) But back to the ball dress! Rent ball gown: £79.  Original RRP: £325.  

What to wear to a wedding as a guest. Always a difficult one for us ladies to get right.  Especially given the expected dress code required of a female wedding guest = dress.  Don’t wear a dress, and you’ll be frowned at for being too casual.  Wear the wrong kind of dress, and you’ll be placed in the wrong kind of guest category. (Although, if you’re a person who hates weddings look at it this way: it may mean not have to worry about what to wear to a wedding as a guest every again, as given your dress performance, you’ll no doubt be crossed off all your other friends’ wedding guest lists!)

What to Wear to a Wedding as a Guest; Code of Dress Conduct

But, if you happen to quite like attending the odd nuptial bash or two, then we’ve got news, and designer wedding outfits for you!  The news is that the following wedding guest dresses will enable you to pass the what to wear to a wedding as a guest test with flying colours.  Wedding guest dress issues will confront you no longer!

Sexy But Appropriate Wedding Guest Dress List

When thinking about what to wear to a wedding as a guest, you need to think about the tone of the ‘do’ (there could be a Church involved for instance).  You want to look appropriate but that doesn’t mean your wedding guest dress can’t be sexy too.  This sequinned black silk drop waist Pailette dress by Proenza Schouler, with a hem that falls just below the knee, will ensure just that.  Hire this designer wedding outfit for £219 (it would usually retail at £2,493.)

A fresh floral number from TIBI stands as the perfect wedding guest dress option. This delightful designer wedding outfit, with it’s 3/4 length sleeves and knee length hem is sophisticated, while the cut-out detail at the back adds interest.  What’s more, we just love the Matisse-esque print! Designer wedding outfit for hire: £49.  (RRP: £400).

A what to wear to a wedding as a guest soldier-of-a-dress! Is all we can say.  A fantastic Dries Van Noten beige and black colour block Dione dress, with pleat detailing.  A not too low v-neck at the front is balanced by a seductive slit at the back of the dress, achieving the optimum wedding guest dress balance.  Rent this designer wedding outfit for well below it’s original £515.  Hire: £189.

The day when fairytale became reality saw the elegant Buckleberry bride marry her prince in a divine Alexander McQueen gown designed by Sarah Burton.  The now Duchess of Cambridge was positively glowing in her ivory and white satin floor-length gazar gown, with a full skirt and elegant white English and French chantilly lace heart-shaped bodice- narrowed at the waist and padded at the hips- a signature McQueen trademark. The bride’s face was covered by a delicate veil, crowned by a 1936 Cartier tiara on loan from her now grandmother-in-law.  Honouring the royal tradition, Catherine Middleton’s posey contained a sprig of myrtle taken from the tree planted in Queen Victoria’s garden; all royal brides including Diana have carried a myrtle sprig from the same tree on their wedding days.

The ceremony couldn’t have gone more smoothly, and with the vows said, spectators’ attention then eagerly turned to the balcony as we witnessed that slightly awkward ‘peck’ followed by a second newlyweds’ kiss.  Congratulations to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge! With most of the officialities over, the royal couple can let their hair down a bit and enjoy the festivities-well perhaps not Wills, given his brother’s doing the best man speech.

Less than 24 hours before her wedding day, Kate Middleton’s wedding dress remains shrouded in mystery.  With the world and his wife trying to guess the designer of the Prince’s soon to be wife’s dress, it’s no wonder the Guardian decided to send out an opinion poll on the matter.  ‘Crowdsourcing’ the event, readers predicted a Libélula dress in ivory for the bride.  Our choice too- we happen to be big Libélula fans! (And we should mention, have a lovely range of Libélula dresses available to hire).  But for now, back to Kate Middleton’s wedding dress.  Of the 3,000 people that took part in the Guardian’s poll, 20% plumped for Temperley to dress the bride on her fast-approaching big day.

Kate Middleton’s Wedding Dress – Your Predictions

Inspired by this public effort, we decided to ask you on your Kate Middleton wedding dress designer favourite. Amongst some of the answers we got, popular choices included Kate Middleton designing the wedding dress herself, while other Tweeters hoped to be see Kate Middleton in a Libélula dress tomorrow.  Alexander McQueen (of course) featured on the Twitter grapevine, as did Issa, a strong candidate, that is, if Kate Middleton plumps for a non-British designer- unexpected, but then, perhaps it would prove a welcome surprise!